.
I had been the property of a griffon, when a pink mare by the name of Pinkamena Diane pie just trotted up and bought me. For some reason, she gave me the name Sapphire, just after she had taken me out of his sight.
“Out of sight, and out of mind; you can imagine he never existed, because you will never see him again!” Pinkie Pie explained, to me.
“Oh, and you will not need this, either!” she points out, taking the leach off of me, while keeping the collar.
“This is the strangest pony I have ever seen, not that I had seen all that many ponies before! Was she by any chance part of a movement, aiming towards freeing all the captive humans in the land? Even if she had paid for me, but still!” I ponder.
“I will take you to a friend of mine, by the name of Rarity; she will fix something more appropriate and fitting, for you to wear! I can always give her these items the griffon had placed upon your body, maybe she could find a better use for the material?” she then adds.
“I guess anything is better use, than it had been on my neck?” I suggest; tentatively, in the hopes I was actually pleasing her.
“I guess you do have a point, Sapphire; anything is better, than what it made to you!” she responds, no giggling, as if I had been telling her a joke.
“Ponies are weird, strange and borderline insane!” I ponder.
She herself is wearing exactly nothing, but the grin on her face. Unless you count the mark on her flank? It is a mark on her body and person; even if it may not be removable, in her case. I have no idea, as to what the mark means or represent; the griffons doesn’t have the mark, and they are not explaining what it is. At least, they never talk about it; when a mere human girl like me is in the room.
“Rarity?” I merely inquire, not sure what the word means.
“She is the seamstress of Ponyville, she is crafting the most beautiful garments and suits for any pony who feels the need or urge to have and wear them!” she responds, giggling as if it had been general knowledge.
“Ponies are wearing clothes?” I inquire; “Even in a small town like Ponyville?” I ponder, but does not push that question further.
“You do not try the patience of your owner or patron; lest you are prepared to face the pain that comes with it!” I ponder, remembering what the griffons taught me, by demonstrating the point .
What use is a pet, if she is not perfectly obedient? That is, what I had been; to the griffon who owned me, and later sold me to this pink mare. Her behaviour is actually even more scary; than that of the most aggressive and violent griffon ever could have been. Maybe it is in her expression and how she is constantly smiling and giggling.
Of course, she is a pony; what am I expecting, when I have a pony before me?
Sometimes, it is easier, if you do not expect anything; don’t even expect, the unexpected. Anything expected could be turned into a disappointment, or made reality.
Minutes are passing by, like the grains of sand on the streets in the village. She is greeting and encouraging ponies, waving her right hoof at any one and every one of them. Who, and what is she? A celebrity or something? Each and every pony is greeting her, waving back to her. Most of them ignores me entirely, as if I had not existed.
Maybe it is for the better.
In the end, we are reaching the destination that is the target of her excursion. The white building that looks like a carousel. The Carousel Boutique, she had called it; and what a perfectly descriptive name that had proven to be.
Inside, I see the white unicorn herself. A rarity and a marshmallow. Pure and unblemished. I can but stare at her. I try to hide my gaze and turn away.
“Hiya, Rarity!” Pinkie Pie exclaims, shattering any attempts to be invisible in a single exclamation.
“Greetings, Pinkie Pie; and before you ask, I do have everything since you asked me about the uniform for your girls. Since you have a girl with you now, take a box with you to Twilight Sparkle; I am certain, she could enchant the suit for her right away!” she points out.
“Now is the time to be worried and scare; all the things mentioned, everything I can’t even begin to grasp!” I ponder.
“She does have other girls in her service?” I ponder; “What girls, and what are they doing now?” I finally managed to ask.
“They are working at The Pink Balloon Cafe, serving pastries!” Rarity points out, giggling.
“Serving pastries, at a cafe?” I inquire, not knowing what to think.
“Of course, ponies are not griffons, so what my previous owner told me; may not apply, to what I am to expect from Pinkie Pie!” I realize.
“Ponies love my muffins, with a cup of tea!” Pinkie Pie explains, grinning.
“You do know that ponies are vegetarians? Baked goods, like muffins; flavoured with some spice or berries can lighten up an entire day!” Rarity explains.
“While I did not buy you, to liberate you from the griffon who owned you; but I do have perfectly legitimate reasons to take you away from him, I have a business to run and ponies to serve!” Pinkie Pie explains.
“I will leave you to tend to your boutique, Rarity; since you had everything ready and prepared for me, I will be out of your mane and on my way to see Twilight Sparkle!” Pinkie Pie continues.
“She does live in Ponyville, too?” I inquire.
“Twilight used to live just next door, but then her home was destroyed. She used to live in a library located in an oak, there is just an empty lot, where the oak stood. Now she lives just outside town!” Pinkie Pie points out.
“Hope you managed to cheer her up, after that happened!” I point out.
“That was tough, on everypony; back in the day, but we have recovered, by now!” she points out.
I can see her mane deflating like a balloon, when the air is leaking out of it. Even the pink hue of her body desaturates, while she is thinking of it.
While it does take time, and is hard exercise; we did manage to get to the castle. It is apparently cut right out of purple crystal. Almost the same hue, as the mare living in the castle.
Pinkie pie knocks on the door; and out of everything that could have been peaking out, a purple dragon named Spike. I almost fainted, right then and there.
“Hiya, Spike; is Twilight in, right now?” Pinkie inquires.
“Hiya, Pinkie; nice to see you over!” Spike replies, opening up the door more and stepping to the side.
“Thanks, Spike; always fun to see you too!” Pinkie responds.
“How did ponies get to be so warm, friendly and all fuzzy? Griffons certainly are anything but!” I ponder.
“Right this way, come-on in, please!” Spike continues.
“I really don’t see enough of you, these days; Spike!” Pinkie exclaims.
“Promotions, promotions, promotions; at first it was fun and made me feel secure in my position, but now I have come to realize just how much work and responsibilities that come with it!” Spike puts forth, matter of fact in a dry and tired tone of voice.
“You knew where that was leading, from Princess Celestia; while you still lived with filly Trilly in the Royal castle?” Pinkie points out.
“I guess I did get a whiff of it, back then; but I was too young to understand or care! Back then, it was mostly fun and games; aside from the lessons actually concerning me, in person!” Spike points out, now much more enthusiastic.
“Sorry! That is growing up, Spike! Princess Spike was a fun game, but Prince Spike isn’t quite as fun, in real life; now is it?” Pinkie points out.
“Oh, and yeah; it was. Takes a tough dragon, to get used to it all, even after all I went through!” Spike responds.
“There are a few advantages of growing up, too; I know you have seen and enjoyed some of that by now!” Pinkie Pie continues.
“Oh, yeah; I did get my wings, finally!” Spike points out, flexing his wings for a moment.
“This is her office; just knock on the door, and see if and when she is ready to see you!” Spike adds, before he is returning to his ordinary duties.
“Thanks, Spike; and see you, soon!” Pinkie Pie exclaims, after the dragon as he is walking down the path we came from.
The hall is still and quiet, as we reached the door, the halls remains still and quiet as the mare is knocking the door. The hall is still and quiet, it always still and quiet here. Cold, shiny crystal. The crystal is a deep purple, just like Spike.
While the crystal floor is hard and cold; it is still feeling warm and soft under my bare feet, while I stand and wait for the pony to emerge from the room referred to, as an office.
“Am I comforted by the sensations, or is it scaring me even more?” I ponder, while I wait for what is to come.
After merely a few minutes; a soft voice is emanating from behind the door.
“Enter!” the Princess speaks in soft and measured tones, just before the door opens before the mare who just guided me into the maze referred to as a castle.
“Why are the walls the hue of Twilight?” I ponder, before I realize the meaning of the name of the pony on the other side of the door.
“For some reason; it feels wrong and unnatural for someone to actually live here! A pony all the more so, she is a horse and should be most comfortable with the freedom of the open air outside!” I ponder.
Since the door is open, and we had been bidden to enter; Pinkie Pie steps right in and I follow her into the small room. This room does feel a bit warmer, due to the decorations of her Royal office.
A purple mare is sitting behind a desk; eagerly looking at Pinkie Pie, and me as an extension. She is clearly excited over having her friend Pinkie Pie with her; just as she is happy to have a short break from her Royal duties. At least, so I would assume.
“Duties, duties, duties, duties, duties, duties, duties and more duties; at least, I do something for my friends and fellow ponies!” she ponders, before she snaps back to the room and the pony before her.
Then she is ogling me for a moment curiously looking at me for several minutes. Should I be honoured, indifferent or very, very, very scared, right now?
She is clearly smiling; if it is directed at Pinkie Pie exclusively, or if I am included, I have no idea.
“Greetings, Pinkie; nice to have you over again!” Twilight exclaims.
“Hiya, Twilight!” Pinkie Pie responds.
“Is this the Twilight Sparkles?” I ponder, feeling the gears ticking within my brain.
Of course; twilight is this deep purple. Both the pony and the early night sky is supposed to be this deep purple hue. I do feel stupid and embarrassed; imagining my cheeks burning, like an erupting volcano.
No pony is taking notice, but merely chatting amiably about the business and the order of things. All goes right over my head. Until, Pinkie Pie points out the business of the day; the box she had just brought from the Carousel Boutique and Rarity’s.
“You could enchant the uniform, for me; and in extension, the girl I have before you who is going to wear it!” Pinkie Pie exclaims.
“Yes, I could! You do refer to the old enchantment, you asked me to perform on your behalf; on the uniforms for you three girls?” Twilight responds.
“If you can use the same enchantment, for this uniform, why bother digging up a new one again? You would be digging up a new spell, for each and every girl, brought before you?” Pinkie Pie points out.
“Since we are all here; how about you put these on, before I am enchanting them for you?” Twilight suggests.
“Am I supposed to wear anything? Just for you?” I inquire.
“Yes, I was hoping you could put on something nice! You should be a close enough fit, for the clothes I had in mind for you!” Pinkie explains, as she is pulling out the contents from the box Rarity had given her and now me.
“It was just a chock, to be asked to wear actual clothes; I am not used to it, but I guess it could feel good to wear something nice!” I respond.
“A pair of panties, a skirt, a top, stocking and gloves!” I ponder; as I slowly and deliberately slips into the given uniform.
Each garment, a solid, deep pink; matching the hue of the coat of fur on the pink mare who bought me and brought me here.
As I look closer; there had been an option, there are two pair of seemingly identical stockings. On second thought; I realized, how I had chosen the cervine variety of stockings, lending me a pair of cloven hooves to stand on.
I watch the box, then the purple mare before me. Her horn lights up; the deep purple ball of light growing and intensifying, before the light spreads down the entire length of her unusually long horn. She continues to focus her magic, the light reaches out and touches me and grabs all the parts of pink rubber; performing what the pink mare referred to as an enchantment. I feel the material contract and form after me and my body. These garments, now my personal uniform.
As she is withdrawing the magic from me; I realize that it is much easier to stand up, on my rear hooves, than it had been before. It is, as if it had been natural and I had indeed been born to walk around like this.
My skin is now the marshmallow white, under the shiny rubber of the uniform. My lips are pink and my eyes the radiant blue of the Sapphire. While my eyes had been blue, but now it is obvious. My lips are shiny and bright pink. Of course; now I have inch-long, semi-square, crystal clear nails, befitting my new position. The pink touch-pads is something, I just will have to get used to.
“That, is just beautiful!” Pinkie Pie exclaims.
“This works directly, and is even easier to control with the girl in the ensemble!” Twilight points out, eager and excited.
“Why do I have the impression; she would love to enchant uniforms for an entire army of little girls, just like me?” I ponder, in stark chock of the realization of what she had actually just said.
“Enchanting the entire uniform directly is more efficient, particularly, when you have the girl that is the target of the enchantment before you and actually wearing the suit!” Twilight ponders.
I had been wearing the entire uniform, while she cast the spell. Although, I had only been wearing one out of two pairs of these stockings or boots. Neither had I been wearing the hat that comes with the uniform. Did that even matter, when she enchanted the entire ensemble?
“Oh, and why do I not feel odd; wearing these clothes I was just given, despite the overt and obvious implications. I do enjoy the top and skirt, for what they are!” I ponder.
The box is still glowing, even after she had ceased the spell, referred to as an enchantment. I put the top of the box back on, hiding the eerie glow within the box.
“Thank you Twilight; I think it is time we get home and out of your hair!” Pinkie Pie points out.
“Okay, Pinkie Pie; see you on the next meeting and for the next enchantment!” Twilight responds.
I follow my owner, Pinkie Pie; as she trots out of the room and bounces on her way, while navigating the maze of crystal towards the door through which we came. Following her pace is a challenge, but I try my best not to lose her and thus get permanently lost in the castle.
“What if that had been her original intent; just to lose me in the castle?” I ponder, shivering and hasting my step.
After a moment, I realize something utterly unexpected; when I hasten my step more, I find myself bouncing forwards just a step behind her. That is odd, and I am growing even more scared. This world is indeed messing with me, and these ponies seems to be the tool with which it is doing it.
Pinkie Pie really do go all out, when she acquire me, for her cafe. While I still think I am a girl at heart, under the uniform she had me put on; I am turning into her, or at least a replica of her.
“What would others think of me, now; looking like this, bouncing like an insane pony who just does not bother with what the world at large thinks?” I ponder, quietly; not putting breath behind the words, and voicing my thoughts.
She leads me back to town the same road she trotted to the castle, before; while I notice that we are not going to the Carousel Boutique or the market, where she acquired and bought me for Celestia knows what purposes.
“What did that expression come from? I could but guess the expression makes sense, following this pink mare to wherever she was heading!” I ponder, as I reflect upon the surroundings of us.
There is a large building, coming up before us all of a sudden; as we continue to bounce down the street. I follow her up to the open door and stop short, just to casually walk into the building.
There are three girls, dressed exactly like me, while they do wear the hat of the uniform too. These girls each have horn of one variety, or the other; just as they all have hooves, as well.
“Ruby; the unicorn has equine hooves! Emerald; the deer has cervine hooves and Amethyst; the giraffe also have hooves and horns according to her personality!” I ponder.
In chock, I realize I know their names and who they are. Of course, Pinkie Pie is the only possible explanation; even if I don’t know her well enough to say. Yet, I came with her and she obviously is owning and operating this cafe.
“When grasping for straws, logic and reason is abandoned as the first casualty!” I ponder, giggling at how that came out.
“Welcome, Sapphire!” Ruby exclaims; the moment she notices my entrance, turning towards me.
“Let me help you, finding your room!” Emerald offers.
“Now, this is a surprise; unexpected and welcome as it may be!” I ponder, accepting the offered guidance to my room.
“Wait, do I have a room?” I inquire, not even daring to consider the possibility of being given anything more.
“Yes, but of course; right this way, and I will explain everything to you!” Emerald explains.
While Emerald is following me up the flight of stairs, Pinkie Pie is trotting up behind the counter in the middle of the room. Just like Pinkie Pie, Emerald is bouncing up the flight of stairs before me.
“Actually, we even have a girls’ room on the second floor!” Emerald points out, pointing at the door as we walk towards my room.
As I open the door; I notice the glossy pink walls with balloon and confetti relief structure. There is a bed by the wall behind the door. I even have a bed stand and a wardrobe.
“Look into your night stand!” she points out and I follow the instruction to the letter.
There is a bottle of hoof polish, intended to be applied by hand. I will have to apply this polish, or lacquer by myself, but I guess that is fine by me.
“She afforded me tall this?” I gasp.
“Yes!” she responds, flatly; “And by door count, she is going to acquire more girls for this cafe alone!” Emmerald then adds.
“Maybe I could as well accept the offer and enjoy myself!” I respond; “I do not exactly have all that much of a choice!” I ponder.
“I wait, downstairs; while you polish your hooves! I am at the cafe, if you need anything!” she points out.
I notice that she is actually closing the door behind herself, before I hear characteristic squeaking noises from her hooves as she continues back to the cafe.
“If these stockings are made out of rubber, or a similar material; they are bound to give of the telltale sounds of it!” I ponder.
I had chosen these stockings, for a reason; before I had realized they came with hooves. I guess these cervine hooves could be taken as an extra bonus for me, or a cure if I did not like them. Once I had walked the entire mile, they had literally and figuratively grown on me, I could not imagine, not having these hooves anymore. Why should I not have hooves, they are a part of me.
“The rest, the clothes; is just a uniform, I am expected to wear at work!” I ponder; “But I still need to take care of myself!” I add.
I uncap the bottle and pull out eh brush, coated with the clear and highly viscous gel passing for the lacquer I am about to polish my hooves with. I open my legs and spread my hooves as wide as I could feel comfortable with; before I start applying the gel from the top and at the middle. I continue stroking the brush to the right and left. Just slipping the brush into the bottle each time, in order for the brush never to become dry.
As I had applied the lacquer to the right side, I continue with the left side; before I finish that last part. Once I had finished my right hoof, I repeat the process with my left hoof. Funny how natural that feels. I am not even making a mental double-take on this.
While I know little to nothing about these gel lacquers, I imagine it had to take several minutes for it to set alone, not to mention curing completely. I sit on top of the bed with my legs wide apart and my hooves spread enough not to touch.
On second though; as I look closer, my hooves are turning a darker ping and are now glistering generously.
After several minutes, I end up touching the tip of my right hoof; finding it completely dry and cured true and through. I jump down onto the floor, chocked by the squeaking noises from my freshly polished and shiny hooves. Of course, the sensitivity is considerably more acurate, than it had been as I walked home. This cafe is my home now.
A stupid idea, is stupid; yet I had chosen to do it, and will just have to live with the consequences of what I do. Fingernails are the same as hooves; equine, cervine or otherwise. At least, it is my image of it. If I am wrong, so be it; I will have to live with the mistake.
There is considerably more polish in the bottle, so I decide to polish my nails. From the middle, then right and left, fight and left. I had started at the edge and puled the brush down towards the tip of each nail. Of course, I had even painted the back of each inch-long nail. I had started with the thumb and continued finger by finger. I had taken each nail in turn; right and left hand. I do enjoy how glossy it is making my nails; even if I have no idea, as to the effects this will have upon me later.
Maybe, just maybe I could give my hooves another round; just for the fun of it, to see the effect? I did go through with it and polished each of my hooves all over again. The polish dries and cures in a mere minute; I now realize.
I cap the bottle and hide it in my night stand. Slowly and carefully, I put my hooves onto the floor and raise to my hooves. Once I stand up, I walk to the door and open it.
“Wait, I clearly forgot something!” I realize, picking up my hat and hide the box under my bed.
I close the door to my room behind me and walk to the flight of stairs, finding myself bouncing all the way down. The flight of stairs is just a level or about six feet. It is quite easy to navigate; even when I am bouncing down.
There is no remark, on the effects of how I applied the polish on my nails. Maybe they had not noticed, but I did not explain it either.
“Nice of you to come down to the cafe, we certainly could use another pair of hands here!” Emerald points out.
“Oh, dear!” Ruby exclaim, in excitement over a second pair of cervine hooves on the floor.
“That, is what she is noticing and putting emphasis on? Oh, well!” I ponder, saying exactly nothing.
“Well, just get your hands on the head of a pony; know you will love it!” Amethyst points out, giggling in glee.
Of course, this is exactly when the mail-mare arrives on the scene. Derpy is eagerly trotting into the room.
“A delivery for Sapphire!” Derpy exclaims, scanning the room in search of me.
“Now, what did I do?” I ponder.
“Of course; that would be me, or the delivery would never have gotten to our cafe!” I ponder slowly approaching the grey mare.
Just as I reach her; she is pulling out the package from her saddle-bag, she is using to carry the mail she is carrying in the service. She manages to pull it out with her mouth and extends it towards me; looking strangely at me with her derped wall-eyes.
I accept the large package; “Thank you!” I respond.
“You are quite welcome, courtesy of Rarity’s!” Derpy responds, with a wide grin.
“Oh, yeah; I should have expected!” I ponder; “But, thank you, anyway!” I point out.
“She is such a sweet little muffin!” I realize; “Is this when I should get my hands on the mare?” I ponder.
“She could scream!” I ponder.
Yet, I lift my hands and spread my fingers, scratching her head between and behind her ears. There is no scream, but the room is still and quiet. She does not even move, but closes her eyes and just stands there. As if she was enjoying herself, somehow.
Once I finally do withdraw my hands, she is just standing there; like a large plushy-doll, looking like a pony. Her eyes remain closed, but she is breathing.
“I hope I did not do anything wrong!” I whisper to Ruby, as I carry the package out to the kitchen.
I place the package on the table and break the seal with the nail of my extended index finger of my right hand. The seal is breaking, easily and quietly; without as much as a single complaint.
“Okay, that was easy!” I ponder, realizing just how useful the nails could be now.
“Maybe I should thank Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle?” I ponder.
I finally do open the package and withdraw its contents; placing it beside the box. There is a tiara with cervine stags. Another tiara with giraffe respectively a unicorn horn. I ignore the secondary tiaras and put on the one with the deer stags. It feels natural, and the tiara soon melts and leaves me with just the stags.
I pick up a full face mask and slaps it on; forgetting to consider the effects of the act.
I also find three pairs of alternative gloves; equine, cervine and giraffe hooves in place of hands. Curious, but I guess this could be useful. I put the remaining contents back into the box and closes it.
Once the box is closed, I walk up the flight of stairs and hide the box under my bed, before I return to the cafe. My sisters; Ruby, Emerald and Amethyst are eagerly awaiting me.