//------------------------------// // Switched! // Story: Tales of the Green Hill Club // by markzilla6895 //------------------------------// Canterlot City Park Sandymane and her boyfriend Rouge Candle sat together on a bench, glancing around at other locals taking walks or playing on the nearby climbing frame. Thanks to the new law, of course, everyone was able to do so with virtually no clothing on, apart from the occasional sandals, hat, sunglasses or jewellery. "Still feels rather surreal, doesn't it?" Sandymane remarked with a smile and a slight blush. "I wonder how many of these people could have imagined themselves doing this a week ago?" "Not many, I am sure," Rouge replied, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "All ze same, it is comforting to see zem accept our lifestyle so quickly, yes?" Sandymane nodded and laid her head on his shoulder. "So I heard you're planning to move into the neighborhood." "Oui, zat is true. Mother says we might as well live closer to all my friends now zat our club is... 'fully integrated' into Canterlot, so to speak." "Will we finally be able to meet your mom?" Sandymane had a legitimate question. Ever since Rouge joined their group, they had not had a chance to meet his mother. "Of course! She's been dying to meet all of you." Before Sandymane could respond, a strange glowing from the bushes caught her attention. "What the hay...?" She frowned, trying to guess what it could be. "What is it, Sandy?" Rouge asked, not having noticed it himself. She stood up and walked towards the glow, almost like in a trance. Rouge began to get worried. "Sandy, are you all right? What are you--?" He was cut off as he saw the glow too. Almost instantly, he reached out towards it as Sandymane knelt down to investigate. His fingers touched what seemed to be a stone lying underneath one of the bushes. Almost immediately, a large flash of light engulfed them, knocking out both of them. Pinkie Pie and Lily Pad happened to be heading towards the climbing frame at that moment. But their plans were interrupted at the sight of what was happening to two of Pinkie's friends. "Omigosh, are you two okay?!" Pinkie rushed over to the fallen Sandymane and Rouge. "What happened to them, Pinkie?" asked Lily nervously. "I dunno." Pinkie poked both of her friends' foreheads. "Maybe we should carry them home?" "'We'?" Lily gestured to herself, indicating how she was not big or strong enough to carry either of them by herself. "Yeah, me and Sunset," she pointed to Sunset Shimmer who was walking behind her. "I saw that glow!" Sunset cried. "And it reminds me of-- Oh my Faust, what's happened to Sandymane and Rouge?" "I don't know! But we should get them home!" "Wait!" Lily interrupted. "Look - under the bush!" She pointed to the unmistakable sight of a glowing stone lying amidst some leaves the bush had shed. "What is that...?" Sunset picked up the stone, no flash occurring this time. "Ugh..." Sandymane groaned as she slowly came to. "SANDY!" Pinkie squeaked, grabbing the girl by the arms and rapidly pulling her to her feet. "Are you all right? Speak to me!" "W-W-What do you mean?" Sandymane sounded different than usual, with an accent like her boyfriend's. "Where is Sandy? And what was zat flash of light? And... what's wrong with my voice?!" At the same time, Rouge rubbed his head as he sat up. "Please keep it down..." he said in a Trottingham accent. "My head hurts a lot..." Sandymane turned towards him with a mortified expression. "Hey, how is zat my voice... but with my girlfriend's accent? And wait - I'm wearing glasses?!" She then looked down and patted herself, shocked to find herself in a female body. "Sandy...?!" "Rouge...?!" "Did we...?!" "Swap bodies?!" There was a brief silence, during which Pinkie awkwardly whispered "Three, two, one..." "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGHHHH!!!!" "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGHHHH!!!!" Soon "Are you two finished now?" Sunset asked dryly. She was as worried about the situation as her two body-swapped friends were, but their seemingly endless bout of panic had also annoyed her. "I'm a boy!" Sandymane moaned. "I have every right to panic!" "I... I've tried to keep zat body clean and fit... if it's any consolation," said Rouge sheepishly. Pinkie couldn't help but giggle a bit at how it sounded with his now feminine voice. Even Lily was slightly amused. "Oh no..." Sandymane's eyes narrowed. "How are we going to explain this to our parents?!" "My mother will zrow a fit..." groaned Rouge. "Right before she gives me an awkward lecture about how to handle... periods." "Why don't you just pretend to be each other then?" Fuchsia suggested. "... I beg your pardon?" Sandymane replied, clearly unhappy with the implication. "Well, since you're in each other's bodies, it's easier to go home as the other person." "For your information, I've never been to Rouge's house," Sandymane replied. "And I could not imitate somebody else's accent to save my life," Rouge added. "Well, I just wrote to Twilight about this," Sunset said as she held up the stone. "Apparently, this is another Equestrian artifact that switches people's bodies when they both hold it. Its effects will wear off after a day." "And until zen, we're stuck like zis, mais oui?" Rouge moaned. "Well... it could be much worse," Sandymane told him, starting to loosen up a bit at the news that it was no longer than a day. "Though we may need to imitate each other's accents for a bit..." "I told you," Rouge repeated, "I just CANNOT mimic accents. Acting was never my strong suite." "Oh, Pimpy already knows," Fuchsia held up her phone. Sandymane frowned. "All right, WHEN did you go and tell my brother about this behind my back?" The younger girl shrugged. "While you two were going bonkers." "That's also when I contacted Twilight," added Sunset. "So... I just have to pretend to be you then," Sandymane reasoned. "You said your mother wanted to meet your new friends, right? … Err, Rouge?" asked Sunset. At the last part, she remembered that the one she was talking to was in Sandymane's body, and turned towards him accordingly. "True," the boy-turned-girl replied, "but how will zat help us?" "Well, maybe if I came with Sandymane to your home, she'd at least have a bit of help in keeping up the act. Plus, I could ask for a tour of the place, which would let Sandymane learn about it too." "That's actually pretty clever," Sandymane said. "Meanwhile, Pimpernel could tell his mom and dad that you can't talk because you have a sore throat or something," Fuchsia suggested to Rouge. "Looks like we have this covered until it's over, then," said Sunset. A sly smirk then spread across Fuchsia's face as she turned to Sandymane. "By the way," she whispered to the girl-turned-boy "I just can't resist asking - what's it like having a--" "Shut up, Fuchsia," groaned Sandymane. Rouge Candle’s House “So… this is where Rouge and his mom live,” Sandymane mused. “Well, if his directions are reliable, it must be,” said Sunset. The two girls - or rather, one girl in her own body and one in her boyfriend’s - stood before the house that used to belong to Svengallop, Chalk Breeze’s cruel father. “Feels kind of… awkward, visiting the place where that poor kid Chalk was suffering so much,” Sunset remarked. “Well, I’m sure Rouge and his mother have been making it much more pleasant,” Sandymane asserted. “From what he’s told me of her, she’s a perfectly nice and open-minded person.” “Feeling ready to meet her, then?” “I guess so… though I wish I didn’t have to pretend to be her son while doing it…” Sunset had to nod in agreement. The circumstances were awkward. “I know what you mean. But if you try to mimic his accent as best you can, and maybe let me do most of the talking, we might just pull this off until you’re safely back in your own body, and she’ll never suspect a thing.” Sandymane took a deep breath as she walked forward to knock on the door. They soon heard the sound of someone in the house bustling about, perhaps trying to reach the door while already in the middle of something. Then the door opened, revealing a woman with curly scarlet hair, teal eyes and freckled, peach-coloured skin. She was draped in a blue bathrobe. “Um, hi?” Sunset waved nervously. “Oh! Bonjour, young mademoiselle,” the woman replied with a smile. “You must be one of my son’s friends zat he has told me about. I have been wondering when I would get ze chance to meet one of you in person.” “Yes, I’m Sunset Shimmer. I just offered to walk Rouge home.” “Ecarlate Candle at your service.” Rouge’s mother held out her hand, and Sunset gladly shook it. “So you are a nudist, oui?” Sunset shrugged and chuckled. “Me and all my friends, and also Rouge here, as you’ll already know. I think the majority of people in Canterlot are, since the new law arrived.” “I have certainly noticed,” said Ecarlate with a slightly awkward smile. “So many people walking around au naturel... My son has suggested I join his new lifestyle and get to know ze… benefits. I have certainly tried it when alone in ze house, but I am still working up ze courage to be nude in the company of others, hence zis.” She gestured down at her robe, though her feet were bare and it was clear she had nothing else on underneath. “Oh, but enough about moi! Rouge, why do you not invite our guest inside for a drink and a proper chat?” It took a second or two for Sandymane to remember the role she was supposed to be playing, but then, in the best imitation of Rouge she could muster, she replied: “Oh, err, bien sur, mere.” Mentally, she thanked Faust for having picked up some useful phrases from Rouge’s language during their dates. Ecarlate led Sandymane-in-Rouge’s-body and Sunset through a hallway and into the house’s kitchen, where they could see cooking equipment and ingredients such as eggs and brown sugar on the counter. The oven had also been set to heat up. “I was just starting to make a cake when you two arrived,” the woman explained. “Rouge and I decided zat it would be ze perfect way to celebrate our proper integration into Canterlot’s society.” “Well, it certainly would be a nice gesture,” Sunset smiled, gesturing to Sandymane to smile a little. “Ah, so he told you about how he planned to take a portion to share with you at ze club?” Ecarlate smiled. “Err, oui, oui, I did zat, all right,” said Sandymane with a slightly frantic nod. “Of course, we both agreed zat ze largest slice should be saved for a certain someone, didn’t we?” added Ecarlate with a wink. For a worrying moment, Sandymane didn’t know how to reply. “Oh, do not play stupide,, son,” the woman teased. “Zat amie of yours from Trottingham! Sandy-something, correcte?” Pleased by the romantic gesture her boyfriend had planned, Sandymane nodded and gave a genuine smile. When Ecarlate’s back was turned, Sunset took the chance to give her friend a thumbs up for having found such a generous and thoughtful beau. Globe Family’s House Rouge-in-Sandymane’s body had, with Fuchsia’s help, met up with his girlfriend’s younger brother Pimpernel, who had a hard time getting his head around what Fuchsia had told him. “Is it really true?” the boy asked. “My sister’s mind is in Rouge’s body, and vice versa?” Rouge sighed. “Oui, mon ami. Awkward, but true.” At the sound of the accent coming from his sister’s mouth, Pimpernel couldn’t help but chuckle slightly. At the same time, however, Fuchsia could not help noticing that the boy she loved seemed a bit on edge that day, as if worried about some sort of impending trouble. Before she could ask him what was on his mind, an unfamiliar voice came from up the stairs. “Oh, Pimpernel? You promised you would look after poor little me, remember?” It sounded like a young girl, and Fuchsia found that the way it addressed Pimpernel triggered a twinge of distaste inside her. “Pimpernel, who the hay is that?” she demanded with a frown. The boy flinched, as if preparing for her to suddenly explode in anger. “Err, I can explain… I didn’t want her in here, but--” “But his mom and dad said I could come in,” the voice interrupted, and its owner came down to show herself. She was shorter than Pimpernel or Fuchsia, probably at least a year younger, with a pinkish freckled face and frilly striped arctic blue hair decorated with a pale yellow bow. Unlike everyone else in the room, she was fully dressed, her turquoise and white dress giving the impression of a charming little schoolgirl. Fuchsia immediately recognized her from her class. “Cozy Glow,” she almost snarled. “Hello there, Fuchsia,” Cozy replied with a smile that felt rather too sweet to be genuine. “Why are you here?” Rouge asked. “Oh, I got myself lost while walking, and Pimpernel’s parents saw how scared and helpless I was, and they insisted on letting me stay here until my poor nerves got over their fright,” the girl declared in a way that sounded rehearsed in advance. “Spare us the pity party, Cozy,” Fuchsia snapped. “I know you, and how you like to play the innocent and toy with people.” “Aw, widdle ol’ me?” Cozy deliberately made her eyes wider as she tried to look as innocent as possible. “Why does your girlfriend have to be so mean and grouchy, Pimpernel?” And to Fuchsia’s visible outrage, the smaller girl latched onto Pimpernel’s arm and pressed herself against his body, as if urging him to protect her. Pimpernel himself squirmed unhappily in an attempt to shake her off. “Besides, he promised to give me a tour of the garden in the back.” After a moment’s thought, Rouge-in-Sandymane’s body pulled a fuming Fuchsia aside as discreetly as possible. “Okay, I can see that you don’t like zis little drama queen,” he whispered, “but wouldn’t zis be a chance to help me learn about Sandymane’s garden and home too?” “I guess…” Fuchsia pouted as Cozy led Pimpernel to the backyard, nuzzling his arm along the way. “I know you’re up to something, Nosy Glow,” Fuchsia hissed when she got the chance, making sure to use the most demeaning nickname she could come up with on the spot. “And by messing with my boyfriend, you just made it personal.” “You’re starting to sound like Pinkie during the ‘Pie Conspiracy’ incident,” Pimpernel sighed, recalling when Pinkie grew paranoid over Rainbow Dash not eating the pies she made. “Come on, Pimpernel, it’s Cozy cloppin’ Glow!” Fuchsia replied, making him gasp at her language. “She always has some ulterior motive!” She was interrupted by Cozy’s dress smacking her in the face. Pimpernel went bright red as he saw Cozy wading into the pond completely naked. “Don’t you want to swim with me and make sure I don’t get hurt, Pimpy?” she weedled. “I need a kind, handsome boy to look after me, remember?” “That’s MY pet name for him, and that’s where WE first got together!” Fuchsia was on the verge of losing it now. Pimpernel tried to diffuse the situation. “I-I can easily just watch you from here, Cozy...” “Oh, but it’s a warm day, isn’t it? Wouldn’t you like to join me in the cool water?” “Mon dieu,” Rouge rubbed his forehead in frustration. “Does she deal with zis every day?” “She tells me she does,” said Pimpernel. “Though I don’t share as many classes with Cozy as she does, and until now, we’ve never met her outside of school.” “And I’ve been very glad of it,” Fuchsia muttered. “Plus, I think your little friend needs to cool off as well,” Cozy smirked, ignoring the discussion the others were having. Now Pimpernel was blushing even more intensely than before. He did his best to hide his lower body behind the garden’s plants. “We need to get her out of here,” Fuchsia whispered to Rouge.”I will NOT allow her to get him excited before I do!” Rouge had an idea and whispered it to the irate young girl. “Well, I’m meant to be Sandymane at ze moment. Why don’t I take her to her home, and Mr. and Mrs. Globe will understand my generous gesture?” “Or just leave her on the curb,” the middle schooler grumbled. “She did say she was lost--” “She’s lying, trust me. She knows Canterlot’s streets perfectly well - she’s been around playing on people’s sympathy a lot. Plus, I’ve never seen her take her clothes off at school - seeing her do it so quickly here just feels so…” “Suspicious?” “Exactly! So we’ve gotta kick her out before she decides to get to second base with him!” “Do you even know what zat means?” “No, but Emerald says it all the time and it sounds dirty!” Despite Cozy’s efforts to distract him, Pimpernel had managed to overhear what Fuchsia wanted, and decided to help to make it happen. “Err, Cozy? Sandymane says she’ll help you get back home, so you don’t have to stay here after all.” He picked up the girl’s clothes and offered them to her. “Aw, and we were just starting to have fun.” Cozy pouted a little, but she stepped out of the pond and took her bundled clothes back, though Fuchsia couldn’t help but notice that she didn’t put them on immediately. Instead, the girl seemed to make it a point to give Pimpernel one more show with her nude body, wriggling her backside, batting her eyes and even rubbing one bare foot against his leg. “Ugh…” Fuchsia began to forcefully shove Cozy through the house and out the front door. Rouge-in-Sandymane’s-body stepped out after them, leading Cozy away into Canterlot’s streets. Fuchsia groaned as she fell onto the floor, back first. “Are… are you alright, Fuchsia?” Pimpernel dared to ask, stepping towards his frustrated girlfriend. “I am, it’s just… she’s such a pain.” Pimpernel kindly offered his hand, lifting Fuchsia up and pulling her into an embrace. “How about an ice cream?” “I’d love that,” she smiled. “Y’know, mom did say we’d be having our own room on the cruise.” She booped his nose teasingly, her grouchiness now gone. “Wow, really? With all the friends we’re bringing along, I’m surprised there’d be one available…” “Maybe we could do something a little… private?” She raised an eyebrow naughtily. To her delight, Pimpernel began blushing again. “Y-You mean… when we’re on the boat?” “Of course, it’ll be just us.” She gave him a quick peck on the cheek, and laughed as a goofy smile spread across his face at the thoughts she was putting in his head. Candle Residence Sandymane looked around Rouge’s room, taking a look at his belongings. “I never realized he liked art so much,” she remarked, seeing several books containing collections of paintings by renowned artists from across history. “It’s a wonder he doesn’t hang out with Fleck Paint more.” She quickly moved her head up when she noticed her eyes were starting to look down again. “...I am never going to be used to seeing that… thing on my body…” Despite herself, Sunset couldn’t help but laugh. “Guys have it so rough, don’t they? Getting their bodies to behave with us girls around?” “Not funny, Sunset,” Sandymane sighed as she saw a photo of her and Rouge on his nightstand. “That’s from when he joined me at the NLAC party…” “Ah yeah, when you plunged him fully into the world of social nudity for the first time,” grinned Sunset. “He was so embarrassed and nervous.” Sandymane blushed as she felt that reaction happening again. Sunset handed her a cool towel in response. She quickly wrapped it around her lower area as the feeling subsided. “Relax,” she assured her friend. “I think we’re through most of your day as a boy already.” “So tomorrow, I’ll be back in my proper body?” “Unless Twilight hasn’t got her facts straight about that artifact. And trust me, if anyone understands stuff related to ancient or obscure magic, it’s her.” “And it’s a good thing you’ll be spending the night,” Sandymane sighed as she dried off. “Hey, that’s what friends do, right? Stick out for each other?” “Hard to believe you used to be the mean girl…” “Not my proudest days,” Sunset frowned, remembering how she had terrorized the Twilight Sparkle of Equestria and the friends she had gathered around her, even being briefly transformed into a demonic monster by the crown she had stolen. She was certainly glad that those days were long past and that she’d proved herself capable of being so much better. “I wonder if Rouge told his mom about the cruise in a few weeks…” Sandymane climbed into Rouge’s bed, noting it wasn’t as soft as her own. “We’ll talk to her about it tomorrow,” said Sunset. “Or rather, Rouge and I will, since your minds should be swapped back by then.” “Well, this was a… weird experience…” Sandymane slowly drifted off to sleep. Globe Family House “So you and Sandymane usually sleep in ze same bed?” Rouge asked Pimpernel, feeling awkward about the idea. “Yep,” Pimpernel replied. “I remember the day when we first started doing it, when we had first started trying out nudism and she was getting over her grumpy behavior from days before that. I gotta tell you, our change in lifestyle really helped us bond.” “And neither of you get… ideas?” Rouge asked. Now it was Pimpernel’s turn to be embarrassed. “I won’t deny… as a boy, I appreciate her natural beauty. But hey, she’s got you and I’ve got Fuchsia…” Rouge gently patted the boy’s head as he climbed into the bed. “Well, I won’t be in zis body much longer anyway. Might as well act as though I’m not by zis point, mais oui?” Pimpernel pressed his head against his breasts, causing Rouge to blush a little. “You know… being a girl felt rather… nice…” Hearing that, Pimpernel began to grin mischievously. “Maybe you could ask Twilight to invent something that’ll turn your own body female, if you like this so much?” “She actually could do zat?” “Of course, she managed to turn Flutter into a dog once.” Promising himself that he would get his friends to tell him the full story at any cost, Rouge settled down into Sandymane’s bed, appreciating the softness of the sheets compared to his own. Pimpernel climbed in next to him and snuggled against the female body that would soon be his sister’s once more. “Good night, sis,” he remarked, again making a little joke. “Good night, little brother,” Rouge smiled as he slowly drifted to sleep. The next morning Candle House Rouge blinked a few times as the familiar sight of his room came into view. To his relief, he also found himself safely back in his own body. “Hey, Rouge,” said Sunset as she opened his door. “That… is you in there, right, Rouge?” “Oui, it’s me,” the boy smiled. “Twilight got her predictions right zis time.” “Well, Ms. Peace is on her way over. Apparently, Fuchsia insisted she do so.” This surprised Rouge. “Any reason as to why?” “Maybe it’ll be about the cruise?” “Ze cruise! Of course! She must be coming to invite my mother!” As if on cue, the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it!” Ecarlate called up to her son as she opened the door to meet Rosie Peace. “Ms. Candle, right?” Rosie smiled as she shook Ecarlate’s hand. “Oui, madame. Care to come inside?” “Gladly. In fact, I’m here to invite you on a special trip we’ve been planning at the Green Hill Club…”