My name is Leon Harrison and I’ve a fairly normal life and it’s been that way for a while. I’ve no real complaints- or at least none that I can actually do anything about. See I’m actually picked on a lot, even by my own family members, though it’s mostly just teasing from them but from others it’s much worse. First off there is a new show that has come on recently that’s like a new generation of this really girly show, I thought I wouldn’t like it because of its history but I watched with some insisting from people that I couldn’t really call friends but they weren’t mean like the others. I was actually amazed that it was as good as it was it actually was pretty entertaining. I found it strangely addicting and people found out about me likening the show and now I’m bullied mercilessly, I was already picked on enough because of the fact I could play instruments like the harp and even have a lyre that my grandma gave me, I didn’t even know where she found a lyre but I loved the thing. It was cool and it made a nice sound, I would actually play it to calm me down at home whenever I’ve had a stressful day so I’ve grown to be pretty good at it.
So I’m a lyre playing brony, the perfect target for hazing and bullying. For crying out loud I’m a Junior in high school, from the way everyone talks about Juniors and Seniors you would think I get a little respect. Then again it doesn’t really matter; I have my share of fun messing with them. You’d be surprised at how much you can beat someone down just by smiling, joking, and acting friendly. Even if they refuse to actually be any sort of friend they wouldn’t mess with me for risk of others attacking them for picking on someone innocent. Try this at home kids, it works a lot.
Anyways I was walking home from school, the day was nice, the sky was clear and the air was crisp with fall weather. I loved it because I could wear my favorite hoodie; it was plain but had a nice mint green color to it. I was walking down the street with the forest off to my side, my house was next to the forests edge but it was on another street it took a while going around it and I’ve only cut through it a few time to get to my home faster when I was late or I had to do something important, neither of these were the case but I had an urge to take the short cut so I started going through the woods… I’ve been told I have lousy impulse control problems, but I don’t think so. “I don’t even know why I’m going through here.” I said to myself, I have a bad habit of doing that. “I guess it doesn’t really matter, it’s a nice day, and I can stand to be outside longer. My little ponies can wait awhile; I did record it after all.” They play a new episode last Saturday and I was busy both on that day and on Sunday so today I can make up for it today. It’s only the third episode they’ve made so far anyways. My thoughts went on to what it could be about; they fixed the Nightmare Moon problem and all. So maybe it’s just some normal episodes from here on, it was cool but it didn’t strike me as the type of thing that would delve too deep into violence
My thoughts were interrupted by me tripping over something. I didn’t make the most graceful landing ever and actually fell flat on my face. “Good thing no one was around I guess. That’s pretty embarrassing.” I laughed in embarrassment spitting out some dirt I ended up tasting. I pulled myself into a sitting position and turned around to see what I tripped over. To my astonishment it was a weird piece of metal. It was a shiny golden color and was shaped like a sun. the odd thing about it was that, as I said, it was shiny like someone just lost it, but also that it was impaled into the ground half of it under the dirt, like someone tried to use it as if it was a ninja star or something- something doesn’t just happen to fall in such a perfect position like that. Even more importantly is that, to the best of my knowledge, I’m the only one that goes through here. It was odd but I felt like touching it I crawled over to it to inspect the thing closer, nothing too odd about it but whoever made this did a fine job. It looked like it was made of real gold and was flawlessly made, not a single scratch, dent or imperfection to be seen… whoa, I sounded like Rarity for a moment. I had to pick the thing up, I want to touch it.
But as soon as I did something happened “Ah!” I yelled dropping the thing and looked at my hand, a scratch. It was small but it was right on my palm. “Geez, that hurt.” I said to myself, stating the obvious. I didn’t know what happened really, I was carful and it didn’t look too sharp either. I looked at my hand closer, it didn’t look too bad or anything, maybe a Band-Aid or something but nothing to worry about “I’ll try this one more time.” I said and even more carefully picked it up. Nothing else really happened and I headed home.
(~@)
As soon as I got home I through myself onto the couch and flipped on the TV I had the episode’s made so far on DVR, my parents don’t know how to work the thing so I have that handy little feature all to myself and I planned on having an ever growing playlist on MLP on my TV DVR “Hehe, lots of acronyms all in a row.” I chuckled quietly to myself. I decided on another of my weird whims that I would watch all three in order and started to first one. I set the odd sun emblem on the coffee table for now and picked up my trusty lyre from the other side of the couch and started to play the tune for the opening along with the show. It was actually easier to play when your reference was playing at the same time.
“Hey I’m pretty good.” I commented as I was playing, it didn’t matter if I was watching a rerun because my mom and my grandma have both said “Anything worth seeing is worth seeing again.” I let out a small yawn, guess school took more out of me than I thought.
(~!)
“Look around, I’ve been told that they saw someone enter the stalls.” I heard a strong tough voice call out. I stirred groggily waking up, I didn’t remember falling asleep. I heard several other voices start talking but I couldn’t quite make them out and I didn’t want to open my eyes to find out. I wander if those loud neighbors had some people over or something. Honestly can’t a guy get some sleep.
“I found somepony.”
I let out a short quiet laugh, I still had the show on the brain it seemed, and I thought he just said “Somepony” Then I felt someone poking me in the side apparently trying to wake me up…or in my case, getting up. I waved my arm at whoever it was and rolled over “Not now,” I said “come back later.” At the time I should have noticed something odd, like how my voice sounded higher, but I was still half asleep.
“Can’t do that Ma’am your trespassing and I’ll give you one last warning to get out peacefully.” This caught my attention immediately. I pulled myself to a sitting position.
“’Ma’am?! Just who do you think you are telling me to get out and why gives you right to order me?” It was after this comment that I made a shocking discovery. A white Unicorn in shining armor with several other armored ponies stood in front of me.
“We are the guards of Celestia and she gives us the right to protect the castle from intruders.” I apparently just used up my last chance because I was suddenly being dragged out of what apparently was a stall filled with hay. Something told me I wasn’t in Kansas anymore.
After a while of being dragged through the castle my brain had time to catch up with the situation. This is all a dream of some kind, no way something could actually drag me out of my world and put me here in a cartoon. However it was extremely awesome to see the show from a 3D perspective. Dream or not it was awesome! I was asked a lot of questions all revolving around the basic idea of how I even got in the castle, to which I could honestly say… I have no idea. “Sleep walking?” I questioned innocently. They didn’t seem to like that too much. A few moments of silence later and I got bored so I started asking questions. “So what’s it like in the castle? Any fun being a guard? How come that one guy has a cool sliver and purple set of armor when the rest of you have the same thing? Boooring! I think there should be more color here, don’t you agree?”
“Be quiet. For the love of Celestia be quiet!” Well that was rude, I thought ponies would be a little more open and welcoming. He didn’t even want to answer a single question, the rudeness.
“Hey,”
“What?!” The guard on my right moaned angrily
“Where are we going?” before I knew it I was literately thrown out of the castles front doors and right on my face, why my face?! I lifted the top half of myself from the concrete and rubbed my head “That answers my question… I guess.” Then I felt a piece of metal being thrown at the back of my head “Ack! Hey that was unnecessary!” I said angrily shaking my fist at them… only I had no fist, I had a hoof, a mint green hoof. No wait I had two-no four! Other ponies were walking around and a few I could tell were looking at the strange green pony lying down in the road looking over himself like he just grew an extra appendage. Well I should say herself now and that freaked me out more. My manhood was gone!
I wanted to believe this was all a weird dream but after getting my lyre thrown at my head- which was still hurting by the way- I had a good amount of pain to tell me this was so terribly real. “Oh crap,” I said to myself and looked myself over again and poking various parts as if they would suddenly appear normal “No, no, no, no.” I stood awkwardly on four legs, it was so weird but it felt natural. This isn’t good at all, I fall asleep and I just wake up as a pony and not just a pony, but a female one! Oh universe, you have such a sick sense of humor. But I guess in the grand scheme of things it made a little sense, I mean I have noticed that there are a lot more Mares and fillies than Stallions and colts. But still, Why me?
I picked up my lyre that somehow managed to follow me into another universe and decided to look around, this is Canterlot and there is bound to be something here that could give me a sense of what is happening around here. It was awkward holding my instrument in my mouth but it was the only physical way I could hold it unless I was like a unicorn or something, I’m defiantly not a Pegasus and that’s a shame, I thought they were kind of cool. I had to walk slowly because it was a little strange having to coordinate four legs into walking. It gave me a chance to take a look around too, all the fancy dressed ponies and the nice looking houses and stores. The street was pretty one way and a lot of ponies ignored me or looked at me strangely like I didn’t belong there, I defiantly didn’t like the looks I got from a few Stallions. I felt a few chills go up my spine on that one. The street eventually met three other streets, a lot of different ponies were sitting around the small park in the center and many others just walking by on whatever business they had. I felt someone push by me “Oh sorry.” A young male voice called out.
I spit out my lyre “Oh, it’s all… right?” I slowed down as I saw a familiar purple dragon carrying a gift go past me in a rush. This looked familiar I sped up to a trot to try to catch him but I quickly lost him in the crowd. I went back to pick up my instrument and went on my way, no real sense in trying to find him and I had my own problems. As I made my way to the center of the crossroads I sat my instrument on the side of the fountain and I happened to catch me reflection “Huh,” I said with a grin “Fancy that. I’m actually not too bad looking. Wait did that sound vain? Oh well.” I had golden eyes and a mane the same color of my coat with white or lighter streaks of green in them. It was messy looking but at the same time didn’t look too bad, it was like organized chaos with my mane. Not bad if I do say so myself, also I’m a Unicorn! I got to wondering if I had a mark as well and turned to look at my flank, I honestly had doubts since I’m not really-or not supposed to be- a pony. Amazingly I did and it was my lyre, pretty cool. I saw an old pony walk by and he looked like he was a smart guy, er Stallion or whatever you call them! He had a plain colored coat that was a beige color and a grey mane to match his apparent old age. He had a mark on his flank that looked like a scroll, I think my sister and she was a fan long before I was of my little pony, called them cutie marks. I decided to ask him a question “Um, Excuse me!” I called to him and he turned to me.
“Yes ma’am?” I cringed at that remark but tried to play it off.
“Uh, do you know where a library is?”
“Of course, you just go down that road on the right.” He said pointing down a different road. I thanked him and went off with my Lyre in my mouth again, I really need to learn that whole magic thing. I went down the street with not much a change in scenery other than various colorful, snooty ponies that would go by. It was after a while of dull walking that that I bumped into a purple Unicorn with a similar mane style to my own and three cut diamonds cutie mark.
“Oh, hey” She spoke to me “Cool you have a lyre!” That was the first thing for her to say to me? No “I’m sorry for bumping into you”
But what she said was shocking and amazing “Yeew wike wa wyre” I said with the thing still in my mouth, but she could still make it out.
“Of course! I’m not very good at it myself but you have a lyre cutie mark so you must be good.” Well isn’t she nice. “I’m Amethyst Star, what’s your name?”
“wewa harsting”
“Lyra Heartstring?” I spit it out
“Lyra?” I repeated somewhat dumfounded I’m not really a guy anymore and Leo wouldn’t really work all things considered but still it felt weird to be named anything other than my real name. Amethyst looked at me expectantly “I mean- yeah I’m Lyra, it’s just that I’m surprised you understand me so well.” I smiled. We spent a lot of time just talking, she had so many interesting things to talk about and although I wasn’t learning about what I wanted know at this point it was still helpful in a different way. Talking to me about the better places to eat around here and not a whole lot of the food mentioned sounded too edible, except for things like pastries, and apples. I’m going to probably have to eat something so I might as well prepare to eat sandwiches with grass and hay in it.
It was then I heard the rushed clopping of hooves and saw another familiar sight. A certain studious purple Unicorn was galloping our way. If anyone can help it’ll probably be a main character! I waved her down but she totally ignored me and ran past me! Well that was rude too. Amethyst Star commented on it too but despite myself I couldn’t help but laugh “I can’t believe I just met Twilight Sparkle!”
“You can hardly call that ‘meeting’ Lyra.”
“Ha, it was amazing- even though she ignored me- I came almost in complete contact with a main character.”
“What are you talking about? Main character? Is there some sort of play happening?” I realized what I just said a little too late, but at least I had an idea of what’s happening. I’m in the first episode! In theory I should just be able to leave this world as soon as it ends.
“Oh, it’s nothing important that you need to worry about.” I smiled innocently and looked to see a small town out in the distance; Ponyville was probably the best guess. “Out of curiosity, what’s the best way to get to Ponyville?”
“By train, why?” Because if I’m only in this world for one episode then I’m going to enjoy it to the fullest. That was the real reason but I dare not even speak of it here. I don’t know how they would react, first off and I don’t want to take the chance. I thanked her for the company and ran off to where she told me the train station was, I get to go to a Pinkie party! I only got to see a part of it in the show but now I get to experience the whole thing, it looked amazing! My heart was beating so fast from pure excitement and I was bouncing and skipping in complete unrestrained joy. I’m sure I looked strange to everyone watching me but I didn’t care. I would have to get used to adopted name of Lyra and my new gender role for the time being but other than that it was a good day.
However there was a snag in my plan, apparently money still existed except they called it bits and I was bitless. Hehe, never thought I’d say that. The short ride to Ponyville was only 20 bits relatively a lot by this worlds standards but since one bit is only a single coin it seemed like I only had to give twenty cents by human standards. The only problem was I had no idea how to get that much in a short amount of time. The day was still young but if I spent my limited amount of time just working then I’ll miss my chance. My thoughts drifted from an instrument store I saw further back down the street I came from and down to my Lyre. I knew what I had to do get enough money but it hurt so much to think about. Well good buddy… we had some good times. I hesitantly trotted off from the train station to the store.
The store had so many different kinds of instruments, quite a few I wondered how a creature with hooves could play but I let it be. My mind was somewhere else entirely the thought of parting with the love of my life and my best friend, Lyre. I’ll miss ya’ buddy. I set my Lyre on the counter in front of the store owner. “Who much can I get for this?” I said trying to hide the sadness.
(~!)
I managed to get on the train just before it took off. I had just ten bits left and the store owner, Record Tapes, was nice enough to give me a saddlebag to keep the money in for free. He told me something interesting too he had a Granddaughter that lived in Ponyville. He warned me that she loved loud music, but she was nice and he also told me to tell her that he said hi. He didn’t give me a name but I think I might know her when I see her- or hear her. At the moment I was trying to find enough space to set my stuff down and sit. When I finally found a place to sit I came onto another problem, how do I sit on an actual seat? I looked at others and they had different positions they were sitting in. Some sat like I expected a pony to sit but some would seem to lie down. I tried both positions but it didn’t feel right to me. I shifted around in my seat hoping to make it feel more comfortable but it didn’t work. I eventually tried my own way and sat in an almost slouching position like a person instead of a pony. I had a feeling the other ponies were staring at me but when I would look over at some of them they were looking the other way… must be my imagination.
The train ride was short but then again you could see Ponyville from Canterlot. I hurriedly got off the train and for the first time stepped foot in Ponyville. It was Different from Canterlot in a lot of ways. First off it was big in size but not in height like Canterlot, I think the biggest building there was town hall. Everyone seemed happier and friendly, the atmosphere itself felt welcoming. I met a few nice ponies in Canterlot but a majority of them were snooty and rude. Got to be honest here I had barely contained excitement, I can’t really tell if it was actually me that was happy or if it was because of the body I had, I can’t remember being this excited about something since elementary school. It was pure and simple joy, mixed with my own excitable curiosity. I had to get a better look of the town, I need to explore every inch of this new land before Nightmare Moon comes, OH THAT WILL BE COOLER TOO! It was interesting and well made just on TV but now that the show has become a reality it will be cooler. My thoughts of how things will look from my new perspective were effectively interrupted when I heard my stomach growl… maybe I should get something to eat first. I have ten bits and things seem fairly cheap by people standards so I could probably get something good for only ten bits.
I trotted through town trying to find a place to eat I saw a few places but they had mainly food I didn’t care to try. Seriously a child could literally make some of this stuff; they had a sandwich with dandelions in it. My protesting stomach was telling me to eat something and a few times my mind crossed over into wanting to try one of those odd sandwiches. After what felt like a long time I caved in and decided to eat at one of these odd places when my nose caught the scent of something sweet- no, a lot of sweet things! “Candy?” I wondered out loud “I didn’t know there was candy in Equestria.” I hope nobody overheard that remark, there might be some suspicions of some kind and the show hasn’t been around long enough for me to know very much about this place. I followed the smell into a store that just read as Bon Bon’s. At least it seemed to promise candy.
I entered and saw an amazing amount of candies covering shelves along the walls with prices on them and a huge wall of candy even behind the counter. It all looked so good and smelled even better. There were ponies looking at the different candy trying to decide which one they wanted. A lot of these ponies were little fillies and colts but one stood out to me in this whole store. A Pink mare with a pink fluffy, curly mane and tail and a cutie mark that bared three balloons, she was talking to another mare that was behind the counter. She was cream colored with a fluffy mane and tail that was split in half by a second color, her mane and tail color were both pink and a dark blue. I tried to play it cool and walk up to the counter to get myself some candy but my excitement of meeting yet another main character was huge. “Oh hi,” the cream colored mare greeted as she noticed me approach “My name is Bon-Bon, welcome to my shop.”
Pinkie Pie let out a huge and deep gasp as soon as her eyes locked on to mine and quickly turned around “Make that DOUBLE! I need DOUBLE the candy!”
Bon-Bon seemed a bit surprised “B-But that’s the whole wall.” Does Pinkie even have the money for such a buy?
“It needs to be for two super duper big parties!”
“Why are you making a party?”
“Oh, for this new pony that came to Ponyville- but now there are two new ponies in Ponyville. I know you’re new because I’ve never seen you before and if I’ve never seen you before then you must be new because I know everypony in Ponyville and if you’re new then you don’t have any friends yet- and that must be so sad so I’m going to throw you a surprise party and invited tons of ponies!” She stopped after that long breathless sentence to take in huge breath.
I took this moment to get a word in “but if you just told me about it then it’s not a surprise.” This didn’t seem to bother here any and started to mess up my mane playfully.
“Silly filly, I didn’t say it would be today. It could be today or tomorrow or even the day after that or even next week.” She let go of me and backed up speaking the next part in an almost sinister way “You just never know…” she made a motion with one of her hooves as she backed up pointing her at her eyes and to mine.
“Not this again.” Bon-Bon moaned exasperatedly and covered her face with her hooves as if to ward of an oncoming headache.
If she was going to throw a party a later it may be when the episode ends and I would never get to experience a Pinkie party. “Hey wait! I’ve got a better idea for a party.”
“You do?” Pinkie asked
“You do?” Bon-Bon asked as well. Oh, I love to catch people off guard.
“Yeah, instead of two different parties, you should just make one huge super awesome party!” Pinkie let out a shocked gasp at the realization.
“You’re right! I should make a super-awesomely-amazing-fantastic-mega-party! I’ll invite everypony in Ponyville! Oh, this is so exciting!” Pinkie smiled running in place trying to contain herself.
“Will there be games?” I asked not nearly as excited but still pretty stoked.
“Of course, what party would it be without them? Oh, there needs to be tons of food too!”
“Right, you should go and visit all the other stores in town quickly.”
“Yeah, I should thanks for the help new pony!” she yelled as she sprinted to the door. I couldn’t just let her leave without my name but my real name would leave a lot of questions I don’t want to answer.
“My names Lyra, by the way!” I don’t know if she heard me or not but it did make me feel better somewhat. I hate that I have to refer to a female name but those are the cards life deals sometimes… the cards that tell you you’ll lose any attempt at winning it’s rigged little game. Seriously, I know there are a lot of mares in the show but there are plenty of stallions, albeit not as many, but still!
“So your Lyra, it kind of matches the Lyre cutie mark you have.” Bon-Bon said “Thanks for saving my store by the way, Celestia knows I need the bits but I can’t just be sold out for a few weeks.”
I smiled at the compliment “No problem, happy to help. Oh! I almost forgot why I came in here.” She gladly gave me a discount on the really sweet candy, which was fine by me. I wasn’t really into stuff like chocolate. I got a bunch of different kinds of colorful candy and they were the best thing I’ve ever tasted. Bon-Bon rocks at making candy. Yes, she makes her own but needs the supplies delivered to her. I thought it was fascinating actually, how does someone make candy with hooves?
We spent some time talking, sharing stories about the finer points of candy and music. Eventually I decided to leave, I needed to look around some more before the episode ended. As I turned around I was face to face with a blue mare with a mane that reminded me of toothpaste. She was smiling a big toothed grin and I swear her teeth were giving off their own light, they were so white. “Whoah!” I yelled out in surprise.
“Colgate, I never see you in here.”
The pony in question, Colgate, looked around me and at Bon-Bon with a look that wasn’t exactly friendly but not hateful either, it was more like… angry disappointment. With a name like Colgate I had a feeling I knew why “Honestly, under normal circumstances I would never step hoof in this teeth rotting sugar filled hole but Pearly White suggested that if I had a jar of candy at my office kids might like the dentist more. I don’t approve but, it kind of contradicts the whole visit but if it will stop them from struggling so much.” She let the last part hang in the air, we already understood. She was certainly eccentric with teeth, but her cutie mark confused me.
I pointed it out “Judging from you cutie mark your talent must have something to do with time.”
“Yeah,” Colgate said as if not understanding
“You’re a Dentist.”
“Yep,”
“… Well, uh… What does an Hourglass have to do with Dentistry?” It was the golden question but I didn’t get the answer I wanted.
“Nothing, I don’t really even remember what my talent is.” How does someone forget something like that? Especially when it’s tattooed on your butt.
“You’re a new face. Pinkie was talking about two unicorns, Lyra and Twilight, so which one are you?” It was odd but my new name was starting to grow on me a little… like a wart you want removed, I hate being called a girl-even though, you know, I technically am one- wait is there a difference between a woman and a Mare?
“I’m Lyra Heartstrings- but just call me Lyra.”
“I’m Colgate Fluorine Minuette, but just call me Colgate. I knew you were new because everypony in town comes to my building eventually and I never forget a face I’ve worked on. Can I say that you are just perfect?” She commented with a bright smile. ‘I am?’ I wondered “You’re coat is such a beautiful green and is just as clean and shiny as your teeth.” Probably because this body is brand new but for some reason the comment on my appearance made me feel far better than any man should feel. It made feel… pretty. I loved the thought and at the same time hated it; I have a girl brain in my head but have the essence of a man! It’s like I have two brains in my head. “I mean really, you must take good care of those teeth seeing how much you love sweets.” She gave me a friendly hug “I think we’re going to be fast friends.” Well this was certainly different and I didn’t see any of this coming. I left the shop the moment Colgate turned her attention back to Bon-Bon and the two started arguing. I couldn’t make heads or tails if they hated each other or not. But my mind kept going back the several times today I’ve been referred to my new gender. It made me feel uneasy, people-err, ponies- treating me in a way that no one would treat a man, being called miss or Ma’am. Just the girl name itself was odd feeling to me. But the last and most critical part that made me feel weird beyond what women could understand and what few men could imagine. Walking around naked without you’re manhood. Just normal naked would feel weird but it was a step more than that. The worst part is that it was really breezy, it’s super awkward. I could feel a blush crawl up my face the more I thought about the oddity. I tried to think about something else, think about the positives.
Sure I was a female now, but that was sure to be temporary and I’ll be back to normal in my own world as a man when the show ends. They all treat me differently here since I’m female; though the looks I get from a few stallions are creepy it’s nothing to worry about. There are things I couldn’t do as a male, just think of the possibilities. I stopped in my tracks at that thought and blushed harder. I sat down and buried my face in my hooves “I have a sick mind.”