“You sure you want to come on the walk?” John asked Lorraine as he headed for the door. Koromaru bounced around his legs. “And you, you don’t need the leash, you’re sapient.”
Koromaru planted his furry butt on the floor and stared at John with the leash in his mouth.
John deadpanned at him.
Koromaru’s tail wagged and he gave out a “Wuff.”
“Fiiiiine.” John groaned, switching into his squat bipedal form so he could kneel and hook up the leash to Koromaru’s collar. As he did he looked at Lorraine. The doe was wearing her hoodie, and she looked quite cute in it, if the bug had anything to say about it.
“You and I both know I need to get back into the swing of things. I’m not all that fit, despite the polymorph.” Lorraine replied. “So I need to get used to moving around again.”
“Well you got a point there. I’m just not used to seeing you up this early, then again, I did wake up being cuddled by a cat, a dog, and a doe.” John chuckled.
“Well you said you didn’t mind.” Lorraine said with a small smile.
“That is very true. And I don’t.” The bug nodded while standing back up. “Okay, wanna walk Koro?” He said with a happy gasp, getting the happy shiba to spin around and race towards the door.
“Sometimes I think he’s more dog, then sentient dog.” John commented as he waddled over to the dog at the door. “Hey, lemme grab the leash first, goof dog.”
Lorraine just followed the two to the door.
“Hey! No tugging!” John scolded as his hand lit with green light and the door opened, only for Koromaru to rush out, half-dragging the bug behind him. Lorraine followed and shut the door behind them.
The pair were already at the split in the path that led to Ponyville, The Everfree, and Sweet Apple Acres. “Okay, which way?” John asked the dog as the shiba sniffed the air and looked around between the different paths.
The three sat there for a moment before John was tugged towards the left path heading towards town.
Thankfully Koromaru finally got past his initial Walk reaction and slowed to walk just in front of the pair. The other two took it slow. John because he was smol with little legs, and Lorraine because she was simply going at her own pace.
“You know I might use the mirror and try to modify this form a bit. If I can. I basically just thought of having two legs and two arms and got this. I was a writer, I can think up better dammit.” John thought aloud as he looped the leash around his wrist.
“You’ll get there, and you can bounce ideas off me if you like.” Lorraine replied.
He glanced at her. “Oh, so like normal?” The bug snickered.
“We’re both writer’s. What did you expect?” Lorraine deadpanned at him.
“Mmmm, point.” John said, pausing as Koromaru sniffed at some weeds by the bridge leading to Ponyville.
"I'm going to start planning my meals," Lorraine casually mentioned. "I don't eat snacks a lot like... fuckin' everyone I know and since I need sunlight to digest anything not loaded with sugar and vegetarian stuff gives me a crook gut, I think it'll be best that I stick to the loose meal plan I had as a human, four meals a day and nothing after midnight."
“Sounds like a plan to me.” John said as the dog marked the bridge and the three started towards Ponyville. “I only really eat when I eat with everyone else. Beyond that I’m not really hungry. Then again… Mmmm might need to ask Thorax about how changeling body chemistry works with food in general. I mean, I’ve had no problems so far. Oh, and let me know if you ever want me to fix you something, like if you’re tired, or feeling lazy, or whatever.”
“If it’s something I can fix up myself, I’d rather do it myself.” Lorraine replied.
“Fair enough.” John nodded. “Just thought I’d offer.”
“Let me know in advance, better off planning ahead.” Lorraine said as they started through the market. Koromaru made himself busy by sniffing at everything they passed by.
“Can you imagine it? We have royalty staying in Ponyville.” Roseluck gushed from her section of the Flower Sisters’ stall.
John glanced over at the three.
“I know! Prince Akechi is… Oh, I wouldn’t mind having him in a herd.” Lily gushed just as much.
John rolled his eyes.
Lorraine slouched a bit, her ears flattening back as Akechi was mentioned.
John paused. He felt like he was being watched. He blinked. Daisy was staring at him from the stall. Not exactly creepy, but just… watching.
He waved a hoof and she started giggling.
“And it was time to leave, John was getting nervous.” John muttered as Koromaru wuffed for them to keep going.
Ponies gossiped and gushed as the trio made their way through the market, conversations halting as ponies caught sight of Lorraine in the corner of their eyes.
It was to be said that although Lorraine looked like a doe, she didn't move like one. She carried herself with a casual, almost lumbering gait more befitting of a larger creature than the dainty deer she appeared to be.
Add on her slouch, flattered ears and resting deadpan expression, she went from unassuming in the eyes of the ponies to something that was best to be avoided.
Human mannerisms didn't translate well to a mostly herbivorous society.
“How am I not the one getting more looks?” John asked. “I’m a fucking biped.” He waved an arm. “I know it’s probably the way you hold yourself or something, but still.” He rolled his eyes. He suddenly snorted. “Oh you should have seen Thorax’s face the first time I turned into this.”
“I bet he was surprised.” Lorraine said.
“Well, he actually hid behind his bed, peaked out and asked if I was okay.” John chuckled. “I had to coax him out. Oh, and now that it’s in my head. I started moving a bunch of those boxes we’ve never opened into storage. I might take a look at ‘em sometime now that we have space for things. And if we run out, I’m sure the house will adjust accordingly.” He nodded.
“TARDIS logic.” Lorraine nodded too.
The three continued through town.
And the gossip continued.
“Why hasn’t Prince Akechi started a herd yet?”
“He's such a hard worker, he shouldn't be pushing himself so much... I bet he'd be happier with a few mares to lighten his workload."
"What sort of Prince doesn't have a few mares looking after him? He has duty to produce a heir doesn't he?"
"I heard the Traditionalist Group in Canterlot are pressuring Princess Celestia to marry Prince Akechi off to some noblemares."
"Just imagine being Prince Akechi's marefriend, the fame, the money... Imagine how cute his foals would be!"
"I read in an interview he's waiting 'for the right people', he's a prince, he can't wait forever!"
John looked as deadpan as Lorraine by the time they walked by Golden Oaks Library.
“Ah! John, Lorraine! Hello!” A loud, yet happy cry made all three jump. The small blue alicorn trotting towards them was surprisingly loud for her size.
“Hey Luna.” John said as Luna grinned at Lorraine and him.
“Hi.” Lorraine said a little awkwardly.
“Are you two heading to the festivities as well?” Luna asked as she stopped in front of them. As she did Koromaru sniffed at her hooves.
“What are you-” John got cut off.
“Wait!” A voice in the distance called out.
Suddenly.
Pinkie Pie.
“Bwah!” John yelped as his face was full of bubblegum-colored fur.
Lorraine blinked, deadpan. “Hi Pinkie.”
“Hey! Sorry, been running late! Here! Take these!” Three invitations were shoved at Lorraine, which a root-claw took.
Then Pinkie zoomed away.
John proceeded to hack and spit the pink fur out of his mouth as Lorraine looked at the invitations. “We’re invited to Prince Akechi’s Welcome to Ponyville Party.”
“That’s today?” John blinked. “Huh.”
“Yes, that is where we- I was headed.” Luna nodded. “Come, let us trot together.”
Koromaru must have liked the idea, because John was tugged after the blue alicorn. Who was then followed by the doe.
“Koro-kun, I know you’re better than that. Slow down.” Lorraine chided the shiba.
Koromaru proceeded to whine the same way he did when he was asking for food.
“He just wants party food.” John readjusted himself and the leash so he could walk properly.
“Party food is good though.” Luna nodded.
Koromaru barked in agreement.
“Not stuff that can get him sick.” Lorraine replied, getting a pout from the dog.
“Thou has a point.” Luna agreed, getting a slightly irritated look from the dog this time.
"Ah, Lorraine. I'm glad you could make it," Akechi said with a friendly smile and nodded politely at John as the couple entered the side room in Sugarcube Corner where the party was in full swing. "And you must be John, I'm sure your girlfriend has already told you about me but my name is Goro Akechi, Celestia's ward and named heir."
“Yep. I heard.” John nodded. “Nice to finally meet you in person.”
It was at that point that, from his vantage point, John noticed the amount of feminine eyes on the three of them. “Mmmm, joy.” He muttered, rolling his eyes.
“You are much cuter than Lorraine and the girls said.” John jumped at the voice behind him. He turned around to see a bat-pony.
“Thank. You?” John said, blinking. He was taken aback at the casual flirting.
Akechi sighed in exasperation. "Wild Card, May I remind you that these two are in a committed relationship."
"Aw, c'mon Gororo, it's not like I want to sleep with them." Wild replied with a smirk.
"I hate you." Akechi said flatly.
"Hi, Wild." Lorraine said politely.
"Hey, so, you two are friends now huh?" Wild Card asked and grinned at the prince who was trying to keep up a mask of polite indifference. "Maybe with these two following you around, the locals will cut you some slack?"
“I doubt it.” John said as he shook himself out of his shock. “It took forever, even after I went giant monster, to get treated something remotely like a normal person. And don’t get me started on how people see Lorraine now.”
"Wild, if you value our friendship, you will drop this conversation," Akechi said calmly with a hint of a warning in his voice.
The bat pony looked sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck. "...Sorry, it just sucks hearing all this stuff being said about you... You deserve better."
"And by better, you mean a herd that won't objectify me yes?" Akechi countered. "You have your role to play as I have mine. I won't be reduced to nothing more than a cog in someone else's machine."
"... I know..." Wild replied.
“Isn’t this supposed to be a party?” John asked. “Shouldn’t we be, I don’t know, partying? So we can forget about all the drama.” The bug shrugged.
"I suppose we should. I'm not too sure what counts as partying around here as I've only ever attended the balls held by Canterlot's elite," Akechi admitted and looked thoughtful. "Either way, this should be an interesting experience."
Wild clapped the prince on the back with a wing. "You three have fun now, I'll keep the ladies off your back."
With a cocky grin, Wild Card sauntered away towards one of the larger groups of ponies watching the prince.
Akechi shook his head and smiled. "He never fails to surprise me," the pegasus turned his attention back to the doe and the bug and looked apologetic. "I apologize for his behavior, he only wants to help but his methods aren't quite as helpful as he thinks they are. He truly does mean well so don't hold it against him."
"It's fine?" Lorraine said and realised something. "... Wait, was he suggesting the three of us… God dammit Joker..."
“He’s exactly like you said, flirting, and euphemisms and all.” John nodded. “So, what do you want to do, Prince?” The bug looked up at the stallion.
John was quite content. He was sitting at a table, people-watching. Koromaru was running around, playing with foals. Akechi and Lorraine were sticking together, the Prince seemed to be using her as a shield for all the mares at the party.
“John. A word.”
John had a moment to recognize Rarity’s voice before he was yanked off into a side room.
“John! Details!” Rarity hissed as she set the smol bug down. “And I should really do more costumes for you when you’re bipedal, you’re adorable!”
“Thanks Rarity.” John sighed. “Now, can I help you?”
“Ah! Right! Yes!” Rarity jumped and quickly nodded. “That-” she thrust a hoof in the generally direction of Akechi and Lorraine, “is Prince Akechi!”
“Yes it is.” John nodded.
“Prince Akechi is in Ponyville!” The mare hissed again.
“Yep, he’s been here for a bit.” John nodded. “What about him?”
“What about him- He’s Prince. Akechi.” Rarity stated.
John blinked at her. “Okay.”
“He’s the suave Detective-Prince! The stallion that every mare swoons over! Every mare from here to Nippon wants him in a herd!” Rarity waved her hooves. “He’s the- the unobtainable stallion! He’s perfect! And he’s here!” She looked out to the party. “And he’s with Lorraine.” She sighed, somewhat sadly.
“But he’s not interested in herds.” John frowned, following her gaze to Akechi leading Lorraine over to some plates of cake. “At all. At least, at the moment.”
Rarity sighed again. “Maybe I’ve just been putting him on a pedestal, just like every other mare. He’d probably not even find me interesting in the least.”
Wild Card trotted by with a plate of cake held in a wing. He paused, looked at Rarity, then to Akechi, then back to Rarity. “You know, he’s not even into ponies.”
Rarity seemed to deflate even further.
Wild Card winced. “Sorry… I thought you should know.” He said awkwardly before trotting away.
“Rarity, you know where you start with someone like that?” John spoke up.
“Hmmm?” Rarity looked at the smol bug.
John patted her side with a claw. “Just go say Hello. Introduce yourself. Everything starts with Friendship.”
“You sound like Twilight.” Rarity gave a small giggle.
“Oh God, I hope not.” John gave a faux-gasp of shock, which only made the mare giggle more.
“Should I, possibly, lower my standards, or maybe stop romanticizing stallions?” Rarity asked the bug.
“Yeahhhh… That might be a good idea.” John chuckled. “First things first, treat them like people. Though I think Akechi’s in full Public-Image-Equestrian-Prince-Mode.”
“You have a point.” Rarity nodded with another giggle. “I’ll do my best not to be star-struck.”
“Lorraine’s there, she’ll be morale support.” John nodded and pointed at the pair. “Now go say hi.”
Rarity took a breath. “Okay.” She nodded and trotted into the party.
John sighed and crawled up onto a chair in the side room so he could go back to people-watching.
“You seem like a nice guy.”
John blinked at the voice. He looked over to see the orange haired mare, wearing a long-sleeve, green coat with faux-fur around the collar, sitting in the corner playing… a Switch?
“I can see why Lorraine likes you.” The mare raised her eyes and adjusted her glasses.
If John had skin, he’d be blushing. That being said, the chitin of his cheeks turned blue. “Yeah. Lorraine’s great. She’s with Akechi, like, over there.” He waved a claw at the party. “You’re Futaba, right? You look like… you.”
"Yup, that's me, Futaba Sakura." The mare replied and looked over at Akechi and Lorraine and whipped out a small camera from her coat and snapped a few pictures. "Mweh heh heh, shipping fuel acquired."
John blinked, looked over to Akechi and Lorriane, then looked back. “You ship them too?” He gestured a claw at the pair.
"Blame my sort-of-brother, he indoctrinated me with an epic tale about a lonely, angry Detective Prince and the stifled, subservient angel that just wanted to help him. He's the captain of the ship," Futaba shrugged. "I mean, if I had an alien in my head that got emotionally invested in my Arch Nemesis and wanted to save him, I'd ship them too."
“Well that’s one way to think about it. And now I’m over thinking every RPG I’ve ever played. Oof, my evil runs in Fable.” John winced. “New topic! What are you playing?” He asked trotting over to the mare.
“X-COM.” Futaba replied. “Specifically, X-COM Two, Iron Man on Hard.”
“That’s…” John blinked as he peeked over to see what she was doing. Only to see a Sniper pop an alien from across the map. “That’s gross.”
“The harder the better.” She glanced at him.
“I prefer power fantasies.” The smol bug commented.
“This is a power fantasy.” She blinked at him. “Or did you mean more story-driven stuff?”
John deadpanned. “I tend to skip cut-scenes, more often than not, especially if it’s something I’ve played before.” He cleared his throat and adopted a Russian accent. “I don’t know who I am... I don’t know why I’m here... All I know is that I must kill.”
Futaba, not missing a beat, adopted a gravelly, convincingly masculine voice. “Why are we here? Just to suffer?”
John snorted. “List of Khornate Massacres. This list is incomplete. You can help by expanding it.”
“For Khorne.” Futaba grinned at him.
John gasped as his eyes widened. “I love you!”
Lorraine looked over, seeing John bonding with Futaba. “I ship it.”
“If you are aware, those two probably ship us.” Akechi commented.
“Probably.” Rarity nodded. “But they’re just as cute.”
“I mean, if everyone agrees to it.” Lorraine commented, glancing at Rarity. "I'm kidding, it's not like any of us takes those ships seriously."
Akechi commented. "I wouldn't be so sure if I were you."