//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Tales From Tinies: Tanya's Tour // by Pixel Berry //------------------------------// It isn’t long before Sven gets into a fancy carriage, and inside introduces her to her “bandmates” comprised of a few mares and stallions playing different instruments, and one mare who seemed to be in the lead singer role for an odd reason. “Alright Tanya, this is your band. This is the drummer.” A Blue-furred stallion strums and nods as an introduction instead of talking. “These two are the guitarist and the bassist.” Twin mares nod at her, one being a lighter shade than the other. “Here is the pianist.” A different stallion waves at her. “Finally, here is your co-star, Off Key.” A shy unicorn mare in the back hides behind her mane. “She’s got the most important job out of your entourage, she’s going to lip sync, while you sing,” Sven says, cantering over and giving Tanya to the shy mare. “W-wait, what?” Tanya couldn’t help but speak up at the last part. “B-but didn’t you say I was gonna be a star? If someone is lip syncing for me, then how will anyone know it’s actually me?” “Oh, well, we’ll figure that out when the time comes. And don’t worry, when we have to record your records, you’ll be out in the open. Wouldn’t want some stomach noises to be in the way of the recording.” He said before he took a sip at some bubbling cider. “For now, just relax and enjoy the ride to the studio.” Tanya wanted to say something against his idea, but she kept her mouth shut, worried about what might happen. She didn’t want to let down Lindsey or Blueblood by coming back not even a day after trying to reach stardom. “Alright Off Key, you and Tanya should practice your lip syncing while we have the time,” Sven says to the mare, handing her a headset while she levitates a smaller one to Tanya. “Don’t worry, when you’re on stage it’ll be too loud to hear Off Key’s stomach and such.” The unicorn mare only nodded as she turned on her headset, Tanya reluctantly doing the same thing. They first started regular speaking, which worked smoothly, before Tanya finally sung a small tune, Off Key moving her muzzle the same way as if she was the one singing and not Tanya. “Perfect. It seems that these headsets work just fine.” Sven said, looking out the window of the carriage. “And we’re here. For now, we’ll just do some audio recordings, so we can save the power for the headsets.” He said, one of the band members opening the door before they all came out, Off Key still holding Tanya as they took a look at the large studio before them. The group heads inside and finds that the studio is not only set up for use in recording songs but that they’ll essentially be living there. There are several rooms, however only Sven has his own, the others are paired up, one room for the two stallions, one for the twin mares, and one for Off Key and Tanya. “Alright, first things first, get settled in for a moment and then we’ll begin recording. We want to get a few songs for the airwaves to get started, I’ve got some times booked.” Tanya remained silent the whole time, still not on board with the idea, but feeling that she had no right to say anything about it, just getting into this career. The group separates into their rooms. Off Key places Tanya on her back and canters into their room. They find a room that has a set of counters for makeup and such, a large wardrobe for Off Key and a small one for Tanya, however, there only seems to be the giant bed for the mare. “Hey. Where’s my bed..?” She couldn’t help but ask. Key canters over to the bed and looks around, before setting Tanya on the bed. Her face is still hidden behind her mane, but she points to a tiny inflatable mattress on the bed that has a bed set on it. “Th-that c-could b-be it.” She says in a voice so tiny one could assume it wasn’t actually her but some girl in her mouth. “So I just get an air mattress?” She asked out loud. “So much for being a star.” She mumbled, already feeling that this is how things will go. Key canters off to explore the room and finds a note on her counter, after reading it she sets it on the bed, her face pale as she looks at it. “R-read the note.” She says, moving slowly away from Tanya. The note from Sven reads. The inflatable mattress is to get you two used to your roles. Before she goes to bed Off Key will swallow Tanya and the mattress. “Wh-what?” Was all she could say, but her mind was going everywhere. ‘This can’t be real. A tiny would never have to go through this.’ She was now feeling like she needed Blueblood now more than ever. But she remembered how confident he looked seeing her off. She couldn’t dream of seeing his disappointed face if she bailed out of this after all that encouragement. Off Key stops moving away and in her quiet voice says, “I-I don’t w-want t-to either. E-especially a-after r-reading the news this m-morning.” She’s clearly uncomfortable with the arrangements, and the pale grey fur on her face seems to be going white with it. Tanya let out a small sigh. “But I guess we don’t really have a choice here.” She mumbled. Off Key let’s out a squeak like a kitten, that being her only way of protesting the situation. “A-a-at l-l-least i-it’s n-not until we go to bed.” She says in her tiny voice, glad that there was still time until then. “S-s-sven s-said w-we h-have to record a song first.” “Well, I didn’t mean you had to do that now,” Tanya said, wanting to waste as much time as she could so she wouldn’t have to go into somepony’s stomach. “W-well, I-I don’t w-want t-to e-eat y-you a-at all.” Off Key replies, not liking the idea either. “I can see that, but would you rather up and quit before we even started anything?” She asked, not even thinking that there can be ‘her’ way. “N-no.” Off Key admits, looking down. “W-well, I-I guess w-we better go t-to the r-recording room.” She says cantering over and lowering herself next to the bed so Tanya can climb on her back. Tanya didn’t say anything as she climbed onto the mare’s back, getting herself comfortable for a moment. Off Key seemed to slightly recoil at Tanya’s touch and seems to be really tense now that Tanya is on her. It wasn’t noticeable before, but now it’s quite obvious. The mare then canters out their door and toward the sound booth. Tanya didn’t say anything around that, but couldn’t help but question her slight actions. ‘Was it something I said?’ She thought. Off Key reaches the room and lets Tanya off onto her specialized table, made for her to sing without sound interference from the rest of the band. Sven sits at a table with the sound staff getting ready. “Alright, Tanya, ready for your first song? Choose whatever you like, the rest of the band will join in when they’re ready. I’m certain they’ll be able to sync up with you and your magic.” He says. It took some time for her to work up the courage to start singing, but once again her collar took the lead by making a small tune to start it, the band members listening before they figured out what instrument would do, right before Tanya started to sing. “Ever since the day I was born There’s always been a rhythm inside of me To keep it hidden away from your ears I sneak a breath and my heart keeps its beat At 128 beats per minute The rhythm keeps on dancing inside of me As much as I want to tell you what I’m hiding Something I can’t explain is stopping me.” Tanya couldn’t help but smile at the upbeat song, the twin mare’s making a small tune to make it better. It could’ve been cause of the magic in her collar, but who’s to say. “Jumping up in happiness again and again That accelerating beat, that bpm Dancing away all my feelings to the heavens Letting my heart beat to that thumping bpm.” The musicians shined for just a small moment before Tanya resumed singing, it goes along with the song. “Ever since the day we were born There’s something there that’s tied us to each other But since it’s hidden away inside our hearts I’ll try to find it and track it to you I’ve lost track of the number of beats per minute These words I want to say won’t go together I’ve never fully been able just to say it So I will write the words, that ‘I love you’.” “Jumping up in happiness again and again That accelerating beat, that bpm Dancing away all my feelings to the heavens Letting my heart beat to that thumping bpm Until the day that I will have to press mute On repeat, I want to tell you I love you If we can be born again and find each other I’ll be waiting for you” Once again, the now also background sung a little while the music continued, Tanya swaying to the beat, seeming to be lost in her own music. “Bpm” “Jumping up in happiness again and again That accelerating beat, that bpm Dancing away all my feelings to the heavens Letting my heart beat to that thumping bpm Jumping up in happiness again and again That accelerating beat, that bpm Dancing away all my feelings to the heavens Letting my heart beat to that thumping bpm” “Could you love me til the end bpm Happy love as groovy sound bpm Could you love me til the end bpm Happy love as groovy sound Bpm” And as soon as it started, the song was finished at a sudden halt, it being obvious that it was supposed to happen. The sound crew stop recording and Sven sits in his with his mouth agape. Truly things are looking up for him, not only is she an extremely talented singer, but something about her spread to the rest of the band causing them to stay in tune and get the beat of the music instantly. He sits there for a moment thinking about rearranging it so that Off Key might be the backup singer for duets and choruses. After a moment he applauds and cheers. “Good job all of you, that’ll be enough for the day. We’ll get this broadcasting soon, and then it’s on to stardom for you guys!” Tanya was currently catching her breath, it being the first time she’s sung so many times in one day. She was a little glad that he decided to signal a break, the girl using the stand for the mic as more of a staff to keep her standing. ‘It’s okay. If you keep this up, your control and magic will only get stronger.’ She told herself, also telling herself that this is what she had to go through to reach stardom, hard work, and even going out of her comfort zone. Off Key approaches and lowers herself so that Tanya can get on her back. She still keeps her face hidden behind her mane, all Tanya can see is one of her eyes watching as she waits for the tiny girl to climb onto her back. Instead of going on without a word, she decided to speak up. “Off Key… is something wrong?” She asked, only able to look at the eye that was watching her. “It’s… nothing…” Off Key responds, waiting for Tanya to climb on her back. She waits, patiently but there’s something else evident in her staring eye, she seems to be afraid for some reason. “L-let’s j-just g-g-get b-back to o-our room.” Seeing the mare was too scared to say anything, she felt she might as well comply. Perhaps if they got closer in a friendship kind of way, she would tell her what’s going on. She didn’t say a word, but let out a small sigh as she climbed onto the mare’s back. Off Key tensed once again but when Tanya was safely on her back, she makes her way to their room. When she gets there she gets onto her bed, carefully laying down so that Tanya can easily get down. “Y-y-you c-can g-get down now.” She stutters to Tanya. Tanya slipped off her back before she fell on her rump, feeling that now was a good time since they were alone now. “Off Key, what’s wrong? You’ve been acting weird ever since I suggested we do as Sven told us since we don’t want to risk being kicked to the curb so soon.” “I...I… I don’t want to talk about it.” Off Key replies, hiding her face both with her mane and the pillow on her bed. She then starts to mumble softly to herself. “Why not? We’re working together, so you should at least comply to me after I was told I had to do something I’m not fond of.” She said, sounding a little impatient. “Do you not like me? Are you jealous or something? What is it?” “I-It’s n-not th-that, I-I j-just…” Off Key stutters in reply before mumbling into her pillow again, she also does her best to hide her cutie mark, shaped like a broken musical note. She raises her face and sighs, looking at her cutie mark. “You see my Cutie Mark? What do you think it means?” She asks. “Uhm...” Tanya didn’t want to guess, knowing the obvious by her name and the image on her flank. “As you might guess, that cutie mark means that whenever I attempt to play an instrument or try to sing, it’s always off key, just like my name.” She says, hiding her face in her pillow again. “Well… maybe you just didn’t practice enough… or the music genre isn’t suited for you.” She tried to think of a way to make her feel better. “I mean… there are some singers that don’t even sing well in my world, yet they are famous anyways.” “Well, that’s in your world. Here in Equestria, whenever ponies break out into song, it’s always in perfect key, perfect sync. I don’t, no matter how hard I try, and no matter how much I practice. The worst part is, I want to sing, to play music, but because of my cutie mark, I can’t do that. Not without being made fun of by everypony else. I-I thought that maybe tinies would be nicer, but they just threw rocks at me, I mean, it didn’t hurt, but at the same time…” Off Key says as tears well up, then she smashes her face into the pillow. “Oh ahea, ma fu oh me oo.” She adds, muffled by the pillow. “Oh, come on. I wouldn’t make fun of you. Besides, there are plenty of other things you can do with music besides singing and playing an instrument.” Tanya said, trying her best to comfort the mare by petting a small section of her coat. “And I still go by the same claim that you’re just singing the song types that aren’t accustomed to your vocal range.” Off Key just sighs into her pillow. “I’ve tried singing every type of song, playing every type of instrument, writing music, I even tried making wind chimes, but I can’t do it. Th-that’s why I signed up for this, b-b-but a-at the s-same time, well…” “Look, Off Key, I oddly know the feeling on what you’re going through. You think my singing is natural? Not in a million years. I had to learn about myself, try things and even push my limits. When I was younger, I was… just terrible. I remember the old videos my parents filmed, and I almost didn’t believe that it was me.” Tanya said before she cleared her throat again. “Even my voice now isn’t real. Some of the things that I sing is cause of magic or whatever, but I can’t really just shut it off.” She messed with her collar a little before she continued. “You know what, if you stay with me on this, then I’ll find a way to get you into the music business. And if I can’t, well you can leave whenever you want to. I think you know that music is your talent, but you just need to find a way. A cutie mark is a symbol of achievement, not your failure. And if you really think you aren’t cut out for this, then what are you even doing here?” “B-because this was my only chance. I-If I don’t have to sing, not really, then maybe I can be involved in music, if only as a means to keep you safe on stage.” Off Key replies. “Y-you may not know this, but a cutie mark’s effects aren’t always good. I told you what it did for me, but there’s more. Some ponies get cutie marks in certain types of rhyme, after that, that’s the only way they speak or write, they can’t stop. Or there was this pony named Trouble Shoes, sure I suppose he’s found the good in the bad, but it doesn’t make him any less of a cantering disaster area when he’s not being a rodeo clown.” “Look, do you want my help or not?” She bluntly said, not wanting to keep this simple argument going to the point where things will go too far. Off Key sighs. “Yes.” “Alright, good. So I think the first thing we need to figure out is your vocal range.” Tanya said, taking a seat by the pillow before she readied herself for a bit of a music lesson she was teaching. “Do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti, do.” She sang. “Now you try.” Off Key repeats, only every note goes as her name implies, off-key in a random pattern. The pony then coughs into her hoof. “Pretty bad huh?” She asks. “I’ve actually heard worse,” Tanya admitted, thinking on what she could do. “Well, judging by how quiet you sound, maybe the problem is that you just don’t use your voice as much.” She said, hearing her cough after she tried to sing some notes. “I think the first thing we need to do is work out your vocals.” “Actually, that cough was on purpose, I didn’t do it because I have a dry throat or anything, I did it because, well, that was pretty bad.” Key replies. “Are you sure you even want to try? Cause you sure aren’t acting like you want to sing.” Tanya asked once more. “Why don’t you actually think about it before you give me your real answer.” “Y-yeah, y-y-you’re r-right.” Off Key replies with a sad sigh. “I-it w-was j-just a dumb dream anyway. After all, my cutie mark means that no matter how hard I try, I’ll never be good at music.” Off Key gets up, and starts stuffing her belongings into her saddlebag. “Thanks, Tanya, for straightening me out.” She says as she continues packing to leave. Tanya couldn’t hide the small groan as she placed a hand on her face. “Look, just cause I said to think about actually doing this, did not mean for you to just up and quit.” She said, getting up from her spot on the bed. “Maybe doing this lip sync thing will give you a better viewpoint and can make you think more on if you want to do this with your own voice. Again, a cutie mark represents your accomplishments, not your failures.” “Really, are you sure that’s what cutie marks represent?” Off Key asks angrily, with tears in her eyes. “That’s not what I was taught in school. I was taught they represent our talents, our destiny.” “But would your cutie mark really only say to give up on music? You already knew about that stallion who thought his mark was just bad luck, so why can’t you find a loophole around your talent as he did?” Tanya asked, knowing that a mark wouldn’t show what they are bad at. “I mean, with a music note of any kind, it obviously means you play some part in it.” “It just might, considering how I got it.” Off Key replies, now crying more in sadness remembering what happened then in anger. “I was just a little filly wanting to sing in the school talent show, one moment I was singing fine, the next moment it was like I became an old out of tune violin. Not only that, but I found I couldn’t even play any instruments either.” She says looking down in shame. “For the longest time, my parents and I thought that some unicorn had cursed me for whatever reason, but no, it’s my cutie mark. The one I got, for my voice cracking once during a song, while on stage.” Tanya felt that Off Key just wouldn’t want to try hard enough to give music a second chance, a lump in her throat finally forming, she turned away from her and sat down. “Then just go… I might as well go with you since my one shot at being famous is sinking just like your want to even sing.” She said, already seeing her vision go blurry with the small tears forming. Off Key just sighs, and slowly starts unpacking her things. “Well, just because my dream flopped, doesn’t mean I should crush yours.” She says as she gets back on the bed and nuzzles Tanya a bit, with some hesitation. She didn’t give an immediate reaction, only a small blush on her cheek cause of the nuzzling. “You don’t have to stay.” She mumbled, still feeling down. “No, I don’t, but I’m going to.” Off Key replies, before nuzzling Tanya again. “Well, thanks for staying, I guess.” She said, knowing full well that she wasn’t staying so she could try and get into music again. “Hey, just because my music career ended, doesn’t mean I should end yours. For all we know, this could actually be the reason for my cutie mark.” Off Key suggests. “I mean, my name obviously doesn’t inspire many ponies that I’m any good at music.” “Yeah, your mom did really think hard on that name.” She said with sarcasm, now feeling that it was pretty much her parent’s fault for even naming her that. Off Key giggles. “Yeah, I’d always wondered why they named me Off Key, because I used to sing really well. Then I got my cutie mark and it all made sense.” “So… they only assumed a unicorn did that to you? Like some kind of curse?” She asked. “What if it wasn’t from a pony?” “Well, that would be pretty scary. If some creature could change a pony’s talent, a pony’s destiny. Wh-what if my name isn’t actually Off Key and the creature altered every ponies’ memories to make us all think it is?” Off Key asks, suddenly quite worried. “Maybe we have to look more into it, than some doctor pony that you probably met,” Tanya suggested, recalling one pony that Twilight mentioned seeing Cody once, it started with a Z. “Really. Do you know somepony I should see?” Off Key asks with interest. “Well, not me personally, but I do know Miss Twilight, and she might know other ponies who could help or even herself for that matter,” Tanya suggested, thinking about what it could be, but her mind coming up with blanks. “W-wait, y-you know the Princess of Friendship Twilight Sparkle?!” Off Key asks incredulously. “Uhm, yeah. Is that surprising?” She asked, thinking that everyone knew her. “Y-yes! N-not everypony knows the newest Princess in Equestria. What next, you know Celestia and Luna too?” Off Key asks, not really thinking it is possible for someone so tiny to get around that far. Tanya only stayed silent, it being enough to give a clear answer. “Y-y-you do…” Off Key gasps. “I-if you want to become famous, you might want to mention that. I mean, that’s a really, really big deal.” She says still quite surprised. “Well, I could. But I feel like I’m mistreating my friendship with them. I may be from Canterlot, but I’m not going to act like those snobby ponies.” Tanya said, knowing that any noble who had the kind of link like she had would use it for their own selfish wants. “I guess that’s true, but, I mean it sounds like they’re going to be showing up at some point. So it sounds like it’s going to be happening sooner or later, whether you want it to or not.” Off Key points out, knowing that Sven would likely make that part of an advertisement. “I mean, no manager would pass that publicity up.” “Well, all he really knows is that I’m friends with Lindsey, and I’m dating Blueblood.” She said, the last one making her blush. “B-blueblood! You’re dating him?” Off Key looks at her incredulously. “I-I mean I-I heard he’s tiny now, b-but, I didn’t know tinies would fall for a stuck up noblepony like him too.” She says, a little bitterly. “Well, he’s not like that anymore. He’s shyer and scared of everything, but I think time with me and Celestia showed him the errors of his ways. Though, from your reaction, I guess not everyone knows that yet...” She mumbled the last part, feeling that Blueblood will never escape from this. “Nope, that’s news to me. I never liked eating tinies, never have either, and then, of course, that news came out this morning, so, I mean I wouldn’t now, but before I probably would’ve just to get back at him.” Off Key replies. “We went to school together, and he was just as bad then as he was, well before he got shrunk I suppose.” “Well, then again, if you were related to the princesses, you would feel like you can get anything you want,” Tanya said, vouching for the pony. “But I know that isn’t an excuse for what he’s been doing all that time.” “No, it certainly isn’t. Oh how I’d love to get my hooves on him now, but I suppose that would make me the bad pony, wouldn’t it?” Off Key asks with a sigh. “A little.” She answered. “But to be honest, he would be more accepting of a punishment, seeing that this also wiped away any ego he had about himself.” “Great, that makes me feel even worse about thinking like that.” Off Key sighs and lays down. She wraps her hooves around the pillow and scrunches it up under her chin. “Well, you aren’t gonna do it now, so you aren’t bad. You just have some bad thoughts. Everyone has that once in a while.” Tanya said, trying to make the mare feel better. “Well, I’m staying and I guess it’s time for bed, so, we’ll just tell Sven I’ve been swallowing you and your bed.” Off Key says, not particularly wanting to swallow Tanya, especially after the morning’s paper. “Alright, but you know that you can’t really hide it when we have to perform,” Tanya said, getting up from her spot on Off Key’s bed once again. Off Key sighs. “Well, then I guess we better start getting used to it.” She says, sighing again. “Well, pick up your bed and climb on in then.” Off Key says laying her head on the bed and opening her mouth wide. ‘I mean, we don’t have to now. But might as well get used to it.’ She thought, mentally sighing as she grabbed her air mattress and tossed it onto her tongue, not caring that her pillow bounced off and onto her tongue as well. She soon climbed on and onto her bed, pulling the pillow back and covering most of her body under the quilt. “Ready when you are…” She mumbled. Off Key lays still until Tanya says she’s ready. When Tanya steps on her tongue, she does her best to keep from toying with the tasty tiny girl, and the thought of playing with her makes Key feel bad because of it. When Tanya says she’s ready, Key carefully tilts her head back, feeling the tiny mattress slowly slide down her tongue towards her throat. Then in a fluid motion, she swallows, sending the mattress down her throat. She feels it slide down her throat and land in her stomach. “Well. Th-that was interesting.” Off Key comments. “S-so, that’s why ponies, well, used to like eating tinies. I-is i-it o-odd that I think this feels nice? I-I wonder i-if this is kind of what it’s like to be pregnant?” She asks, placing a hoof on her chest and softly rubbing it lovingly. “Well, you aren’t the first, and I hope you will be the last,” Tanya admitted, a little surprised that the mattress stayed upright through that whole thing, but she was gladder that she wasn’t covered in saliva, it being the one thing she didn’t like about being eaten. “I just hope the news of vore doesn’t make everypony think all tinies are like that...” “What do you mean?” Off Key asks, not sure what Tanya means. “What do you think the news will cause ponies to think of tinies?” “Well, just like you were acting now, you were very hesitant in eating me. Like ponies avoiding tinies as if they were the plague.” Tanya explained. “You make it sound like you wanted me to play with you when I ate you.” Off Key comments. “I-I don’t think ponies will avoid tinies like you’re the plague, probably just not be eating you guys at all. I mean, the only reason I did is because Sven wants us too. I-I just don’t understand, you seem to not like this vore thing. Why are you acting as if this is bad news?” She asks. “I don’t think it’s bad news, I’m just concerned over the outcome and if it’ll be bad, seeing how Twilight reacted to the information the first time,” Tanya explained, feeling like she might be over exaggerating, but the fear just wouldn’t go away. “Well, how did she react?” Off Key asks. “I mean, from what I saw, ponies have well, just stopped eating tinies.” “Let’s just say she blocked every way a tiny could get inside her stomach using layers of clothing.” She answered. Off Key simply nods. “I can see that ponies aren’t as, well, sexual as humans. Do some humans really, you know, enjoy being eaten, um, way too much?” She asks. “Well, some people do, but they always keep it to themselves just cause of the negative reactions they might get,” Tanya explained. “Kind of like ours I suppose.” Off Key comments. “Well, from what it looks like, they’ll have to either find a mare or colt friend or, well, just have to get used to not being eaten. That’s just from what I’ve seen. I suppose that’s probably what it was like before you came here. That is what it was like, isn’t it?” She asks, not sure if there was a way for the strange tinies who are into vore to fulfill their fantasy back home. “Not at all. Of course, there can be artwork, literature, or even videos around that, but no one could ever experience it in real life.” She shook her head, figuring that this would also be a dream come true for them. “U-until they came here…” Off Key says, realizing some definitely might become desperate now that they’re in a world that they can finally experience their fantasy in. “Suddenly I can definitely see why ponies might be a little worried about some tinies doing whatever they can to get eaten. So, I mean yeah you seem worried that ponies will avoid tinies completely, but I’d think you’d be glad if ponies stop eating tinies entirely. You don’t seem to like this whole thing. So, why are you so concerned?” She asks. “Well, I don’t like vore at all, but just having that mindset that you have, it’s obvious that everypony would avoid people.” She mumbled, figuring that this gonna be on an endless loop. “Probably not, after all, plenty of ponies and tinies have relationships, I’ve even heard of some dating. So far, as I said before, I think it’s just that ponies aren’t going to eat tinies. I mean, yeah, we might worry that a tiny is going to try and sneak inside of us in a meal or while we sleep, so we’ll be extra cautious, maybe even paranoid, but I don’t think that we’re suddenly going to gather up every tiny village and move you all to a safe portion of Equestria away from everypony.” Off Key replies. “I’ve heard tinies complaining about how the princesses don’t seem to be working to get you guys back to your world. This might actually push them to look more into it.” “Yeah, to get rid of the creeps.” She mumbled, still thinking the news will go with bad results. “Don’t you want to go home though? Does it really matter what we think of you if you’re back home on your own world?” Off Key asks, not sure why any of the humans would care if they’re back on their own world with the ponies absurdly far away. “Well, I do want to go home, but judging by how many people are here now, I can only assume that the economy went down with people vanishing left and right, so our planet is probably in ruins now and is more like an apocalyptic nightmare.” She said, figuring that once she gets there, there would be nothing for her to be looking for. Off Key’s ears flatten against her head. “Oh, yeah, I could see how that might make one not too eager to get home.” She replies. “Well, if that’s the case I don’t see the Princesses sending you home, at least not if you don’t want to, and I doubt they’ll banish you from Equestria just because a few of you like being eaten too much. After all it’s not like you can hurt anypony more than emotionally. Not unless you get equipped just like those Wings of Freedom, anti-pony tinies.” “Well, I could see why people like that would be here, but probably the news of vore making ponies stop eating humans might make them hesitate for a moment.” She said, rubbing her arm as she felt that if she didn’t have the life that she had today with no family nor the close bond of some Equestrian friends, she might be out for payback as well… but not for killing, of course. “Well let’s hope so at least, it’s gotten so scary out there I flinch every time I see a tiny. I-I’m sure you noticed that… Sorry.” Off Key replies. “I think that might just be you,” Tanya said, but thought more on it and knowing a shy pegasus who would do the same with the information she and Lindsey shared. Off Key just makes a sad noise, like a puppy whining. She thought back on how her fear had grown in the past few days and the possibility that a few of the tinies she’d kept away from might have just wanted to befriend her or might even have needed help. “I guess I really am a bad pony… Or at least the biggest coward… Running away from tinies.” She says to herself sadly. “Oh come on, Key. You aren’t a bad pony. I bet there are worse ponies out there. And even so, like the princess of friendship told me a while back, there is good in everypony, you just need to find it, and help others in doing the same.” She said, a small smile on her face as she tried to assure her by petting one of the walls of the stomach, much to her inner disgust towards the action. Off Key lays there, feeling the odd sensation of a tiny hand rubbing the inner wall of her stomach. She sighs partially because she still feels bad, and partially because the sensation feels oddly good. “I suppose there might be some good in me. Oh, watch out, I’m going to roll onto my side.” She says, warning Tanya. “O-oh, okay,” Tanya mumbled, unsure if she would be flipped over or just be perfectly fine on the air mattress. Off Key slowly rolls onto her side, which causes the mattress and Tanya to slide along the stomach wall to the “new” floor of the stomach. “Are you okay in there? Still on the mattress and not covered in my stomach juice?” She asks. “Y-yeah, I’m fine.” She said, feeling a little awkward just having to answer that kind of question. “Well, um, g-goodnight I suppose. I hope my stomach isn’t too loud or anything and that you can get to sleep with all the, uh, noises my body is making.” Off Key replies in a somewhat embarrassed tone, finding it awkward to ask these questions. “It’s fine. Strange enough, when I was a kid, I used to rest my head on my father’s stomach, you could say that was one way I got used to sleeping through some stomach sounds since his stomach would make some sounds of their own.” Tanya admitted, a small blush on her cheeks. “But sadly he doesn’t have that soft stomach anymore, so even if I wanted to, I don’t think I can anymore.” “Well, I suppose this’ll be kinda like that, only you’re inside it.” Off Key replies. “How about tomorrow night you sleep on it instead?” She asks, liking that much better than their current predicament, seems less awkward to her anyway. “Sure, but just as long as you don’t move in your sleep. I don’t think I can wake you up if I end up between the bed and your body.” Tanya agreed with the idea, figuring that it might be better than this. “Nope, I’m pretty good at falling asleep and waking up in the same position.” Off Key replies, as she lays there, feeling the air mattress in her belly move as Tanya does. Tanya only nodded as she moved a little on her mattress, noticing that the small amount of stomach acid that was inside was gently rocking the bed, almost as if she was in a rocking crib again, it starts to lull her to sleep. “Well, good night Tanya.” Off Key says softly, not really feeling the girl or the mattress anymore and since Tanya didn’t respond she assumed she was getting tired. Off Key snuggles into her bed a little, using her magic to wrap the blanket over her, and moving her hooves protectively in front of her stomach. Tanya yawned one last time before she finally fell asleep, the warmth of the stomach also helping her fall asleep in an odd way. Off Key snuggles into her pillow a bit, stifling a coo at Tanya’s adorable yawn so as not to wake the sleeping girl, and slowly drifts off to sleep herself.