Barb turned left and right slowly as she played with her fins. They had become soft, wobbly even. To a dragon, perhaps this was a sign of weakness. But she wasn't a random dragon. She was Barb, sister of Twilight Sparkle. She had helped defeat huge monsters and saved Equestria and possibly the entire world a few times. Also, she was cute, but that was mostly her opinion on the matter.
"And the only one that counts." She fired finger guns at her reflection, who was polite enough to return the gesture with the same smile, though that faded. "I hope." Her transition hadn't meant her insecurities had just faded away entirely, but it felt... different, from the toes on up. It was a brand new day for a brand new her! "Time to get out there!"
She rushed from the room just to almost crash into one of her roomies. "Oh, hey Starlight."
"Hello, Sp--Barb." She was still getting used to that name change. "How are you feeling?"
"Great! How do I look?" She saw Starlight's doubt. "Not on a 'how pretty I am,' kind of scale." She waved that away. "Just making sure I look right. I'm... new to prettying up in the morning. You've been a mare a bit longer..."
"Oh!" Starlight parked and closed in, looking Barb over intently. "I don't see anything out of place. And, last I remember, you prettied yourself up as a boy. It hasn't changed that much, has it?"
Barb colored at Starlight's words. "It's not exactly the same thing, but I guess you're a little right. Boy dragons I know don't care about that... So long as they looked properly tough and dangerous, they were happy..."
Starlight looped a leg over Barb, drawing her in. "Maybe you knew what you were long before we took any steps about it."
"Yeah..." Barb wrapped both her arms around Starlight in a happy embrace. "Thanks for being awesome!"
"Any time, Barb." Starlight released her draconic pal. "So, besides... this." She waved over Barb's changed form. "Anything else changing today? You're still helping Twilight at the school, right?"
"Actually." Barb shrugged softly as she pointed out a window. "I was going to meet up with Smolder. She's a she-dragon around my age. First, um, gonna show her, then maybe get some advice, dragon to dragon."
Starlight hiked a brow. "Watch out about that... You two are close in age... from my perspective. For young creatures, every year makes a big difference. I bet, from her point of view, she's way older than you. You're a little dragon, barely out of being a hatchling. I'm not trying to badmouth her, you two get along well enough."
"We're friends, Starlight." Barb rolled her eyes at Starlight's worry. "Besides... If I'm younger, that may work out. She can take me under her wings like a little sister." She began to glow in the cheeks, shuffling in place. "That'd be... kinda nice actually. Don't force it!" That last she aimed at herself, bidding herself to not screw it up.
Starlight smiled gently at Barb's situation. "If it helps at all, you're already in that camp with me, even if I'm still getting used to the idea."
"Did I mention you're the best? Is Twilight already at the school?" Barb hopped up, wings carrying her the rest of the way to a window sill to look down on the school of friendship. "If you think you're getting used to things, she practically fell apart about it." Barb worked her fingers together, fidgeting as she hovered. "I hope she comes around."
"Spi--Barb. Twilight is your sister, and loves you. You haven't done anything wrong, just... new. She'll get over it, because she loves you. Besides, you're still her #1 assistant." Starlight winked sharply. "And she can't find another one of those."
Barb giggled, just to stop, surprised. "Was that me?"
Starlight peered at Barb curiously. "What, the giggle? You've giggled before, Barb."
"Sorry... I sound new, even to me. It... It's not bad... Good even! Just surprises me once in a while." She landed, only to hurry for the stairs. "See you later!"
Starlight waved at the vanishing Barb. "Nice to see you smiling." Even if her he-dragon friend had become a she-dragon, they seemed pretty happy about it, so she mentally ticked that in the 'good thing' tally. "Even if Discord was a bit of a jerk about it..."
Barb emerged from the tower and considered her first target. Class was on, so she couldn't bother Smolder just yet. Hm. Right! She went towards the town instead. She had so many ponies to meet, again.
A sharp gasp reacher her fins. "A new dragon? No way! Are you just flying past or hanging around?" Pinkie had spotted her, trotting up in a spirited jog. "What's your name? What's your favorite color? Flavor of cake? I need all the details!"
Barb laughed at Pinkie's eager attempt to figure out her party preferences. "Hey, Pinkie."
Pinkie came up short. "Wow, you already know me? That saves some..." It was dawning on her. "You sound like Spike. I didn't know Spike had a sister! Oooo, that's amazing!" She was dancing in place, cantering with a joyfully swishing tail. "Hiya!"
Barb considered how to approach that. "I am them, uh, Spike. But I'm not Spike anymore."
"What are you then? Also, neat." Pinkie leaned in, sniffing at her altered friend curiously. "Still look like a dragon to me."
"I meant my name." She couldn't muster the will to be properly angry at Pinkie's innocent mistakes. "I'm Barb now. Nice to meet you, again." She offered a hand, quickly met with a hoof for a proper shake.
"I changed my name before, if you remember, so I get that." She bobbed her head. "And that's a new one. Barb, huh. That feels like it's short for something..."
"Barbara," offered Barb. "But just Barb's fine. When did you change your name? You've been Pinkie the whole time I knew you."
"It was before I came to Ponyville." One could see Pinkie's eyes sliding off the present into the past. "When I was a little filly, I was Pinkamena Diane Pie. They'd call me Pinka or Pinkamena, not Pinkie. Pinkie is a name I gave myself, and it's super special. I bet Barb feels the same way, so congratulations!"
"Thanks!" Pinkie was taking it quite in stride, to Barb's relieved pleasure. "Is it a good one?"
"A good name? Silly! You picked it, so it's good for you. Nopony can take that from you." She nudged Barb with the flat of a hoof. "But if we're being honest... I love it! This feels like something that deserves a party. We'd throw one for name changes usually, though those are usually wrapped up in weddings or cute ceneras. Whatever! You deserve a party. Any of your preferences change that I should know about?"
"Nope. I'm still me, just, uh, improved." Barb considered Pinkie with some amazement. "So you're really alright with... this?" She waved over her new self.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Pinkie half-turned away. "I'm a little upset I don't get to greet a new creature, but welcoming a new name for an old friend sounds about as good to me!"
"I meant the she-dragon part," yelped out Barb, faintly colored. "You're alright with that?"
"Oh." Pinkie looked over her shoulder at the changed Barb. "Mmm... Cute, but too young, sorry."
Barb listed forward, arms flailing a moment to keep upright. "Not as a special somecreature!" She laughed at that misunderstanding. "I'm happy being your friend."
"Well so am I." Pinkie reached out to help Barb get back to being properly upright. "Oh! Are you asking how pretty you are? Because I'm not a pro with dragons, or anything really..." She ruffled her own fluffy mane. "Pretty's not my specialty, but you are cute. Is that good enough?"
"Cute's good." She waved at Pinkie. "But don't let me keep you. You looked like you had something to do."
"I do! Thanks for being awesome, Barb." She hugged Barb warmly, but vanished just as quickly afterwards, back to her various baking duties.
"Psst."
Barb looked over to see Bon Bon looking quite... discrete. She was hiding behind a bush and waving Barb closer. "Psst."
Barb pointed to herself. When Bon Bon nodded, she scampered over. "What's --" She squeaked as she was grabbed and pulled into that bush. "What's wrong?!"
Bon Bon waved a strange device over Barb. "You are loaded with chaos magic. Do you feel alright, Spike? The physical effects seem... obvious. Don't panic! I'm here to help."
Barb pushed Bon Bon away. "Woah, relax! I'm fine."
Bon Bon raised a brow at that. "You are clearly not fine, Spike. You appear to be female. Were there mental alterations also involved? How many hooves am I holding up?"
"Seriously, calm down. Also, I'm not Spike anymore." Barb held up her hands wardingly at Bon Bon. "And that chaos magic is entirely welcome. I asked Discord. We're friends, remember?"
"You're not Spike? You... look like Spike, mostly... If you're not Spike, who do you allege yourself to be? If you are being forced, just blink twice." She rapid fired her questions and statements, looking quite serious about things. "I am here to help."
Barb had to focus on not blinking. "My new name's Barb, but it's still the same me, inside here." She patted herself on her chest. "Just a lady dragon instead of a guy dragon, on the outside."
Bon Bon leaned in, nose twitching faintly. "And on the inside?"
"Girl dragon," Barb rapidly assured. "All girl."
"But you were a guy dragon..."
"I was forcing myself to... do that, yes." Barb ran her fingers through her soft fins. "You ever wear a disguise before? You get used to it after a while... But it's not the real you, right?"
Bon Bon recoiled. "Oh! Oh... Yeah... I... I should probably go." She stuffed the strange contraption away. "If you're sure you're alright. You know where to find me."
Barb dashed in front of her. "Wait! What was that thing?"
Bon Bon flipped her ears back. "It came in a box of snacks. Ha ha... Kinda cool, right?"
"It must work." Barb tried to peek at it, but it was lost in Bon Bon's furry pocket. "Cool. Where can I get one?"
Bon Bon shook her head sadly. "That promotion's all done, sorry. If I see it again, I'll let you know... Barb?"
"That's me." She fired two thumbs at herself with a big smile. "It's still me, promise. We're still friends, right?"
"Of course! That's why I brought you over here... I thought you had been attacked or something... I never saw a creature rate that high in chaos magic that wasn't Discord himself. Still, if you're alright, then... okay." One could almost feel her setting the objection down. "So long as you're happy, and not being brainwashed into being happy?"
"Nope! Big Mac was there if you want to double check. Oh, and Twilight. You know she would have gotten way involved if Discord was messing with me."
"Now that's true." Bon Bon relaxed at that news. "And if she couldn't resolve it, I imagine she would have fetched Fluttershy."
"Dirty pool," laughed out Barb. "But that'd get him to fix things. Everything alright then?"
"That's what I was asking, but, yes, everything is alright it seems." Bon Bon patted Barb on the shoulder. "Stop by for a treat." She emerged from the bush and walked off like nothing had happened.
Barb popped free of the bush herself. Two ponies down! So many more to go. Maybe she would be better off waiting for Pinkie's naming party. She could tell everypony at the same time! That would be easier than going up to each pony one by one.
Maybe she had a point, it was a party worthy event. But then, Pinkie thought about everything was.