//------------------------------// // 013 Those Unlucky Seven Ponies Part I // Story: Unlucky seven // by Pinklestia //------------------------------// ~~*Silly 'ol Surprise*~~ I am dreaming. How do I know I am dreaming? Well... a few reasons come to mind. First of all, I know for a fact that there isn't a literally cotton candy mountain on earth, or surrounding candy based fields and forests. Second, that one feeling I have while I'm awake just isn't really there... though don't ask me to describe what that feeling is. Then you have all the copies of myself jumping all around me. Though to clarify, I mean my 'pony self' not the human me from before the change. I'm fairly certain that watching a bunch of depressed salarymen jump around would be... awkward to deal with. Also, they all seem to be dressed in different little outfits... not sure what that's all about. Anyway were was I? Ah yes, dreaming about a land of candy literally full of Surprises! The Surprise wearing the incredibly cliche Noir detective costume stops jumping for a moment when she lands in front of me and frowns. "The magic in the air... I think it is getting ticker." she noted with a click of her tongue "I already knew that!" It was pretty easy to notice if you paid attention, specially in Moonie's forest. Normal forests are not that creepy after all. Plus all the randomly changing plants, such as the Poison Joke which was popping up, were overly abundant in her forest and the nearby rural town she lived in. "Given the rate of change, I'd guess that bugs or even animals are probably becoming magical as well." she added and I blinked. Where did she get that idea? "Why would you say that?" I questioned curiously and the other Surprise hummed. "Why it's elementary, my dear pony." she responded and I gave her a look, "Oh c'mon! Tell me you've never wanted to say that!" she declared with a manic grin and I paused... "Okay, I'll give you that." I admitted with a nod, "now about that explanation." I urged and the mare cleared her throat and nodded. A few of the bouncing Surprise's paused for a moment to snicker as she did, then continued on with their happy little lives. "Right, what we know thus far is that we all changed but for seemingly no reason. Meanwhile all we have seen change aside from ourselves were plants. Now with that in mind I theorize that magic works harder to change things that can resist it." she replied and I blinked slowly. I then arched a brow and tilted my head to one side. "Aaannnddd?" I stressed and she sighed. "Essentially anything with it's own 'will' or determination will always work against whatever change magic tries to force on it." she replied and I hummed. "So plants first because they lack a 'will' to fight it off, followed by insects since they are easily manipulated by natural stimuli like pheromones and the like, followed by animals which are ruled by instincts, and finally ending with people, who have their own will to work against it." I summarized and the pulp-noir themed clone nodded her head excitedly. "Yes! And, further, as the plants are devoured by insects and beasts the magic is transferred to them, causing a sort of magic buildup that quickens their change." she continued and I froze and felt my eyes widen in worry. "So... when bigger animals start eating the smaller ones who have been munching on those magic plants." I began and she finished for me. "I'd assume we'll start seeing a whole mess of large magical creatures, such as manticores and the like." she reasoned with a shrug while I grimaced. "Well that sounds particularly dangerous." I remarked with a shiver. I then had a sudden thought and glanced at her curiously. "So I'm going to guess that Moonie's forest is probably the center of all this somehow." I reasoned. I mean it was the most magical place I'd seen thus far. The trees themselves seemed mildly magical, giving off a sort of 'go away' field of sorts. "Maybe?" the detective responded with a shrug, "I mean I'm just a creation your mind made to represent your more inquisitive nature to assist you towards a reasonable explanation for the things that have happened thus far." she remarked and I blinked. "Oh." I remarked and she rubbed her chin with a thoughtful noise. "That said, it does make since, I think?" she murmured and then slowly nodded her head, "Yeah it does. The first magical plants did start to show up around there... and what's with the weird coincidence of that kids show having a white pegasus? That was a tad convenient." "Just like it was convenient that I was able to convince the people that work on the show to warn kids about the blue flowers?" I remarked and she slowly nodded her head. "Yes... hmmm. I know! Even before we became ponies there was... something." she tried to describe then halted and frowned. "Something? That's your big guess?" I questioned and she gave a long suffering sigh. "Give me a break, we are good at surprises and comedy, not at figuring things out without the right clues!" she responded and crossed her forelimbs over her chest. She then stuck her tongue out at me in a raspberry and I snorted and snickered. And then one of the other Surprises gave both of us a surprise hug. We were silent for a moment, before then glancing at the cheerful ponies. "Really? Even when I am sleeping? No wonder Moonie finds me annoying." I say and pat the silly pony, who looks like a much younger pony me, on the head. Well, this is still better than being a salaryman, or at least the salaryman that I used to be. "We are what we are, and we are happy that way, why chance what we like? It would be like Firefly becoming a bookworm or Applejack becoming a fancy mare, they would hate it." the pulp-noir Surprise remarked. Then yet another Surprise, this one dressed like a stereotypical witch, said while adjusting her witchy hat. "Oh? Then what about what we were before? Did the human life not count? Wasn't that a huge change? From human to pony? Why us? What was it that changed us, yet so few others?" she questioned with a raised brow. I mutely glanced from her to the Pulp-Noir Surprise, while still idly patting 'Baby Surprise' on the head... "Mmm... that's actually good question." Pulp-Noir Surprise said as she pulled a pipe from her hat. She then started to chew on the end as a mass of soapy bubbles started to rise from it. She paused however when she saw my amused look and swiftly put the bubble-pipe away. "Ahem! I think we might be special in some way, since we changed way early, maybe we were ponies in a previous life, as crazy as it sounds." she began and I rolled my eyes. "And it sounds really crazy." I noted with a nod of my head, to which Baby Surprise nodded in full agreement with me. "It also sounds like the plot of several fanfics, most of which Discord was involved in." the witch noted blandly. "W-Well yeah, but we're all clearly G1 era ponies so that is right out!" Pulp-Noir Surprise declared firmly and the rest of us just gave her a look. "N-now hear me out girls, G1 is rather unique in its own way with far greater magical relics in it." she began and I frowned. "Have you not seen Friendship is Magic? They have plenty of magical relics." I remarked and yet the Witch Surprise hummed. "Aside from the Elements and Alicorn Amulet... not too terribly many." she noted and I blinked and glanced at her. "What, I'm just saying we should get our facts straight." the witch noted with a shrug as she glanced at the detective, "Also, that also depends on if you mean the G1 cartoon or the comics." she remarked and the detective shrugged. "Fair." she admitted, "and as I was saying, G1 had a vast array of magical relics, from things like the Golden Horseshoes, to the likes of the Pony Princesses Wands." she began and I frowned. "Really?" I questioned. The Pony Princesses were kind of ridiculous in G1, mostly stupid despite all their power and waged war on one another for no apparent reason other than pure jealousy. "Also given that we have a wish granting unicorn, I think I should be given the benefit of the doubt at the very least." she added and I blinked then inclined my head. That was fair. "Now, If my theory were true, then maybe something bad happened. And the only way to save us was to be reborn as humans on an Earth without any magic. Maybe because whatever tragedy that happened was magical in nature." she began to suggest and I frowned. "That's sounds like one really long leap in logic." I noted and she sighed. "At least I'm trying!" she snapped and I gave a sigh. "Sorry, but it also doesn't explain why magic is showing up, why we were the first to change, or how we can stop this from changing the rest of the world, or doing more damage than it already has." I responded. The witch nodded her head while Baby Surprise had settled on my head and was sleeping soundly like an adorable filly... "Again, this really sounds like you're reaching." the witch remarked bluntly and the detective's eye twitched as she inhaled a breath and then calmly exhaled. "Maybe, but... wait a second." she began then paused to look elsewhere, then yelped, "Duck!" she exclaimed as she ran to the side. I watched as she went then turned to the witch with a frown. "Why did she say duck if she was going to run?" I questioned, only to blink when I didn't see her, then saw a shadow cast over me. "Oh pony-feathers." I muttered and then ducked down and shot out of the way as a giant duck landed where I had been naught but a moment before. I landed on all four hooves and skidded for a moment, then frowned as I turned back to watch the duck. It quacked and I snorted out a laugh. "Okay, is everypony okay?" I asked and then paused at the pony-ism. I shrugged it off and then watched Pulp-Noir and Witch Surprise as they trotted back over. "Fine." the Witch responded while Pulp-Noir sighed. "Peachy, aside from both of you hating my theory." she grumbled and I shrugged. "I have no idea what's going on, I'm just trying to be realistic in my expectations." I responded and the Witch shrugged. "I'm all for magic being the cause myself, just that all of us accepted the change subconsciously and so it worked faster in us than in others." she responded and I glanced at her. "What?" I asked and she sighed. "If we are working under the theory that magic has to work against most creatures will to change them, then it also stands to reason that any creature who accepts the changes will do so far faster than others." she responded blandly and I slowly nodded. "Still crazy." I noted and she shrugged. "Everything's crazy right now." she responded and I began to open my mouth to interject, only to close it a moment later and incline my head. That was fair. "Yet my idea is the craziest?" Pulp-Noir questioned and I gave her a look. "Just a little bit." I responded. In response, Pulp-Noir threw a mustard pie into my face and then a food fight started. I'm not sure where she got the pie, nor am I sure where Baby-Surprise got a pie-cannon, or where Witch grabbed a cake-catapult... I just know it was messy. Truly, I pity however decides to take a peek inside my head, I can barely handle myself. ~~*Clumsy but well-meaning Applejack*~~ You know what, even with as hungry as I'd been before, I can say now without any hyperbole that I definitely overate. My stomach is full up like a balloon, and I can't really move. I mean normally I don't eat too much, but today? Maybe it's due to the fact I haven't had a decent meal in like... a week... or something like that. I just... ate everything in the fridge that was remotely vegetarian... then four cereal boxes of the sugarless variety. All while being a small roughly dog sized pony. And Sparkler is... not happy with me. Not just because of the food but because I also made a huge mess. "Sorry." I said quickly, ears splayed back. Meanwhile Sparkler's eye was twitching violently. "Sorry? You think you are sorry?" she questioned and then let out a snort. "Ooohhh no, you are not sorry, not yet in any case!" she declared and I frowned. "I mean I graciously allow you into my home and then, like an overweight pig, you decide to eat anything remotely edible you can get your dirty hooves on!" she declared and I frowned. "I haven't eaten much in days!" I tried to counter, but she scoffed. "Oh please, you are exaggerating at best I'm certain." the prissy pony remarked and I scowled. Excuse me!?" I growled while she continued on her tirade. "But no, that isn't the part I'm mad about." she began, which admittedly caught me off guard. "It's not?" I questioned and she blinked. "Well... actually I'm angry about that as well, positively livid actually." she admitted and then glared at me, "But nooo, that isn't why you're not sorry yet." she began and then placed her snout against mine, glaring at me heatedly. "No what I am truly furious over is this absolute mess in my kitchen, the fact you didn't even ask for that much, and that's not even mentioning how much you got all over yourself!" she snapped and I glanced down at myself... I was apparently dirty again... whoops... "Uhhh." I began only to yelp as she hooked her forelimb around my neck. "Now then." she began, only to pause and then narrow her eyes. She hummed and tapped at her chin thoughtfully, and then grinned nastily down at me. "Actually, I think I have a rather marvelous idea." she remarked and I grimaced... "Then why doesn't that look make me want to run for the hills?" I questioned weakly, yet received no reply as the mare physically dragged me back to her bathroom. Well, hopefully I was at least getting another shower out of this. I seriously needed one... ~~*Sparkler the Diamond Diva*~~ It took giving the... the disgusting pig in pony form another bath but my master plan was complete. I had made the pig look even more like a dog... as long as you didn't look too close that is, but it was getting late and as it was night time, it would due. "Were did you even get a dog collar my size?" the pig demanded and I rolled my eyes. "Most dog collars are rather adjustable you know." I noted and then she frowned. "Okay, then why do you even have one!?" she demanded and I smirked. "My mother left it behind, she has a rather large pet." I responded bluntly, and then continued my impromptu disguise for the pig. "And... why are you disguising me up like a dog?" she continued, only for me to smirk. "Blackmail!" I replied after taking a picture of me with an old, bulky analog Kodak camera. She actually didn't protest, instead just staring at the admittedly antiquated piece of technology with a strange expression. "Is... is that one of the ones that spits out the pictures on its own?" she asked and I blinked. "Yes...?" I responded unsure of her meaning and she scratched her head. "I... I've never seen one before." she admitted, "cept in like movies." she amended with a blush. "I see." I responded, holding back my amusement as she looked at the camera curiously. "So did your smartphone break or something?" she asked curiously and I sighed. "No, I simply cant use it with hooves, luckily the button on this camera is large enough I don't need to worry." I responded with a glare down at said appendages. I also casually took another picture of the mare who blinked at the flash. "Apparently the screens just aren't designed for them." I replied. The pig slowly nodded her head and then frowned. "Well if you think about it, a horses hooves are kind of like big nails." she responded and I paused. "Your point?" I questioned and she sighed. "You ever noticed how you can't use your nails as a pointer on your phone?" she asked and I made an oh with my mouth. "Oh is that what's going on?" I questioned with a glance at my hooves, "I had assumed they were simply too big." I admitted with a shrug and the orange mare face-hoofed. "Right... yeah, so do you feel better now?" she questioned as I took yet another photo and then frowned. "I suppose, though admittedly I feel less satisfied than I thought I would." I admit with a grumble as the other mare glances at the camera again. "Oh come now, it can't be that interesting!" I snap and the pig glanced back at me. "Kind of, I mean how often do you see an old analog camera like this anymore?" she questioned and I sighed. She was right of course... I just don't want to give her the satisfaction of me agreeing with her. Sure that's petty, but it's the principle of the matter! ~~*Posey the Gentle Gardener*~~ "Alright, how do you actually have anything that fits me?" I questioned, even as I stared incredulously at the ridiculous yellow pajamas... the pink flowers didn't help either. This was definitely not my style. I also can't help but think the magenta pajamas Firefly is wearing blend in a bit too much with her coat, and her, ugh, cutie-mark is on them, but whatever, I suppose the wing holes make 'em comfy at the very least. "Well the lady who's letting me stay here was a fan of Gen one." Firefly noted and then glanced at my pajamas and her own. "I think she just wanted us to be comfy after she knew you were coming over, and assumed you would be the same size as me." she admitted. I frowned at that and glanced at Firefly curiously... She was actually a little smaller than me... which explained why the pajamas were a bit snug. Though given that they were mostly just really long shirts, this wasn't too terrible. It just meant that if I glanced back the shirt was a tad small on me. On Firefly it looked almost perfect, the sleeves could probably stand to be a tad shorter as they nearly touched the floor on hers. However, after I realized I was paying just a bit too much attention to the appearance of the other mare, I decided to quickly change the subject... "Speaking of." my little sister began, leaving me grateful for the change of subjects, "where is she anyways? If I'm going to be staying over, I should make sure she's alright with it." she stated with a nod of her head. I inwardly agreed, as I hadn't seen hide nor hair of the mysterious woman since we'd arrived here. Wait... what was that about staying over! "Brat! Did you plan for us to stay here or something?!" I demanded hotly. I then growled when I saw my sister pull a set of pajamas from a backpack she'd brought with us. "Well of course." she responded, "everyone likes a sleepover!" she declared and I felt my eye twitch violently. 'Oh why me?' I wondered as I brought my hoof to my face and Firefly rolled her eyes. "Anna's out working right now." she replied and then grimaced, "she's a nurse at the hospital, but mostly does the receptionist stuff." she continued and then started to fidget in place. "And with that nutty polka-dot plague going around, she's been super tired lately so try and keep things quiet when she gets home." the magenta pony admitted and I frowned. The 'Polka-Dot Plague' was no laughing matter no matter how silly some of the changes seemed. At the moment no one really knew what it was, or why it did what it did. All that was known was that it moved quick, and everyone reacted differently. No one had died yet, fortunately, but some had been radically altered by it all the same. The man who had somehow been altered into a little girl being only the most obvious example. "You mean the Poison Joke?" my sister questioned and Firefly blinked. "Wait... that's what it is?" she questioned and my sister gave her an 'are you serious' kind of look. "Blue polka-dot spots are kind of unique even in MLP." she remarked with a bit of snark. Sniff, sniff... I can't believe it, but I feel unnaturally proud of her right now. Probably wont last... "I haven't seen that episode in ages!" Firefly retorted with a blush. "Poison Joke?" I questioned suddenly, and both turned to me. "Why aren't you picking on her?" Firefly questioned and my sister giggled. "She hates the show! Why would she know what it is?" she retorted and Firefly stammered. I allowed a slight smirk to cross my lips, then focused on my sister. "Poison Joke, what is it?" I questioned clearly. Instead of answering my sister looked over to Firefly who let out a sigh. "I... might have the first few seasons of the show on my laptop, as well as a couple of older Gen one movies and episodes I thought might be useful in some way given how I turned into Firefly." she admitted and my sister frowned. "And yet you haven't watched it?" she questioned, causing the magenta mare to growl. "I just haven't gotten around to it in a while!" she declared and I snorted out a snicker in response. Okay maybe the brat will continue to make me proud for a bit... wow, maybe the world is ending or something. It took only a little while for Firefly to get her laptop, which she then managed to plug into the wall and boot up. I watched, mildly curious, as she somehow managed to use her primary feathers as foe-finger tips, though with only minimal skill. I could tell that it took a lot of concentration, and that despite whatever she thought, her feathers and wings were clearly NOT made to be used in this manner. "Err, isn't that kind of uncomfortable?" I questioned and she sighed. "Very... my wings aren't really supposed to bend this far forward." she admitted with a grimace. "I've seen 'em do things in the show a lot like this, but I think they have to train to do it with any proficiency and... well I've only had wings for like a week." she replied with a grimace. "Train?" I questioned and she frowned in thought for a moment. "Wing pushups mostly, I think they strengthen the wings muscles or loosen 'em up enough that it isn't as uncomfortable to move 'em in such weird angles." she admitted. "Are you doing those exercises then?" I ask and she shakes her head. "Why?" I ask and she sighs. "To be honest, I tried to do it, but it didn't work." she admitted and rubbed at her face. "I think there might be a special way to do it, but... well, they never really go in depth in any of this stuff in the show so I haven't really figured out the proper way to do it." she explained and I hummed. "Then why are you doing this?" I questioned with a nod at her wings and she shrugged. "Well it's a lot faster than when I used the plastic pen." she admitted and I placed my hoof against my face and let out a groan. "I mean why don't you just get the brat to do it for you?" I questioned with a nudge in my sister's direction. There was a moment of silence as she let that thought sink in for a moment, then brought her hoof to her face. "Didn't even consider it did you?" I questioned and she groaned. "Oh c'mon! What is this? Pick on Firefly day?!" she demanded and I snorted. "Only when you do stupid things." I responded cheekily as I meander over and plop down next to her as my sister practically bounces to us. She quickly seats herself between us while Firefly pouts and looks away. As she does my sister brings up the files she'd been looking for and then glances at Firefly curiously. "So how much of MLP have you seen?" she questioned and the magenta mare sighed. "Mostly Gen one, with a few episodes of season one." she admitted and my sister gasped. "But season two is so good! I mean three can be kind of filler-y, but four is also good." she declared and I rolled my eyes. And there it is, all pride killed... "Honestly I haven't had time." she replied and I blinked. "Your a pony who literally lays around all day in this place with nothing to do... how do you not have time?!" I demand and Firefly grimaces. "I've been trying to work out a little." she replied and then started to paw at the ground with her hooves. "Mostly running, but I managed to figure out how to get into the air too, I can only hover but I'm working on gliding." she replied and I sighed. "So you prioritized flying over watching a children's cartoon show?" I questioned and she blinked. "Yes?" she questioned unsurely while I nod my head. "Good, there might actually be hope for you." I note, which gets looks from both my sister and the other pony in the room. My sister stuck her tongue out at me in response and then glanced over at Firefly curiously. "So should we watch the whole first season, or just the episode with Poison Joke?" my sister asked and the other pony hummed and rubbed her chin in thought. "Don't you have school tomorrow?" she asked and my sister shook her head. "They cancelled it, they think we'll be safer from the 'polka-dot-plague' if we're all at home." she responded with a shrug and Firefly nodded her head. "What about your parents, aren't they going to be worried about you?" she asked and my sister shook her head. "Nah, I told them I was staying over at a friend's place." she responded with a flippant wave and I fixed her with a frown. "Wait, wouldn't they call to check on you?" I asked and she shook her head. "Not usually, I mean they never check on you." she responded and I frowned. That wasn't... untrue anyways. But with me, it was due to years of never being able to find me when they wanted too... That actually sounds pretty bad now that I think about it. As I considered that thought Firefly clicked her tongue and nodded her head. It took her another minute or so of thought to decide, before she shrugged and grinned at me. "How about we play it by ear and just watch as much as we can before bed." she declared and I let out a semi-anguished groan in response. "Oh great we'll be here all night..." I moaned while my sister and Firefly snickered. "But speaking of calling, have they called the cops about you yet?" Firefly asked me and I blinked. "No." I admit with my eyes splayed back and the brat snickered. "She's had years to build up a reputation for disappearing on us. She usually goes to her friends place for whatever and doesn't show back up for days at a time." the brat responded with a grin. I grunted in annoyance and Firefly arched a brow. "Isn't that kind of dangerous?" she questioned and I started to grumble to myself. "Kind of." My sister acknowledges and I grunt in annoyance. "Look who cares! What about you!?" I snap and Firefly's wings extend out in alarm. "O-Oh um." she began and then frowned, "T-Truth be told I haven't noticed much of anything since I posted those pictures on face-book." she admitted and then frowned. "Also, what kind of horse-apples is it that no one believed I was real!?" she demanded. I mutely rolled my eyes in response. 'Kind of a good thing given the kind of crazy people live in the world now a days,' I can't help but think to myself. "What about your mom and dad?" the brat questioned and Firefly frowned. "I... actually don't know." she admitted and frowned, "I mean with the poison joke and everything else happening around here, you'd think they would message me at the very least." she admitted. "Huh..." I murmured and then started to tap my hoof on the floor. With me it wasn't weird that my parents wouldn't notice I was gone. Especially if my sister told them I might have gone over to one of my usual friends places. But Firefly seemed less... like me... which is kind of a depressing thought if I'm honest. "Do you ever disappear on them like I do?" I question and she shakes her head swiftly. "N-No, usually I tell them whenever I'm out." she admits and I frown deeper. "Okay that is really weird then." I admit mostly to myself. My sister frowned and then snapped her fingers, which caused me to glare at her. I miss being able to do that... "Maybe something magical is involved." she suggested cheerfully and both myself and Firefly grimaced in response. "That sounds possible... but not good." Firefly noted with a worried glance around. The brat blinked in response and then frowned at us. "Why?" she questions. "Because it means something magical is being used actively." I replied with a frown. That was bad, very bad, like potential witch-cults forming once they discover true-magical power bad. "What happened to me and Firefly seems a bit random, the crazy polka-dot plague seems random, but actively hiding us has to be focused and controlled." I noted and Firefly nodded her head. "It could even be that it isn't focused on us but on hiding someone or something else magical and just happens to cover us as well." the magenta mare remarked. I... actually hadn't quite thought of that, more assumed someone was specifically targeting us. If they weren't but were instead trying to hide themselves in some way... that could be dangerous. Magic was currently an unknown, we didn't know what it did or even what it could potentially do. We knew that, most likely, it had been what had changed us into ponies, and potentially all the other weird changes recently. But aside from that, there was really nothing to go off of. We could maybe base guesses off of what was possible in MLP though... Something I was loath to consider seeing as that would mean I'd have to actually watch the show. Though... now that I think about it, I'm probably going to have to watch the show anyways with all this other crazy stuff happening. If nothing else, preparing my expectations for what a witch or wizard could do with this magic is probably a good idea. So with a sigh I look over to the brat and fix her with a hard stare. "Start the show sis." I sigh with a resigned sigh. She gave a grin in response and then immediately turned the first season on. Then she started to sing along with the opening... Kill me now...