Mary stretched her hooves and yawned widely. From the side of the bed, a ticked off Stan glared at her. She smacked her lips and looked over, innocently, towards him. "Hm...?"
The displaced husband raised an eyebrow at his mischievous wife.
"Oh, good morning, dear. How did you sleep?" Mary fluttered her eyes at him mockingly.
Stan pushed himself all the way up with the help of the bed's side, eyes studying his orange furred wife's half hearted attempt at a casual greeting. "Don't think that just because of present circumstances you can get away with anything, Mar." She giggled as her only response, then lowered those strange hooves that she now had from behind her head, and slid off of the mattress. "Where are you going?" He thought he probably knew already, but wasn't quite sure yet.
"Uhm, to wake up the kids?" Mary replied; Stan had guessed right. His legs pushed him up to stand as Mary fell out of sight for a moment, then reappeared on her own hind legs, slipping on that bathrobe she wore so much. Mary all but lived in that thing now, he'd washed it yesterday to help out.
"Not to mention getting breakfast ready...making your lunch..." She smirked at him under stern, knowing eyes, because yesterday, he hadn't woken her up.
No, he'd turned off her alarm and used that inexplicable military super power of his to only wake up when he wanted to, and gotten things finished himself. Now, she wasn't upset by the sentiment, that had better be what it had been...and not protecting his defenseless wife from the rigors of every day life.
Well, I'm not going to sit back on my butt all day, Mary concluded stalwartly. Doing that every day until I'm back to normal wouldn't feel right. It's not an option...
So, for the mom now made mare, it was very simple as to what she was going to do now. She half pranced, half hopped out of the bedroom away from her irate husband, and in the direction of the stairs. The sound of him asking if she "was sure" trailing behind herself.
Mary cantered spiritedly up the flight and then down the hallway, still smiling from pushing Stan off the bed. I've always wanted to do that... She mused to herself, and laid a hoof over the now shoulder level door knob to Anna's bedroom door, a smile still plastered to her face. The mood had even made her forget about having hooves for a moment.
"Annaliiiiiise, time to get up little girl!" Mary reared enough to get her front hooves on the bed and nudged her daughter until signs of life showed themselves. "Breakfast in twentyyy." She sing-songed on her way out, smirking from the mumbling her daughter made.
Mary stopped outside Anna's room, and her cheer faded immediately upon looking at her other child's lair. The blue and tan tail she had swished erratically as she watched Bobby's foreboding door. Her hesitation to go in lasted long enough for her to notice the swishing...
A hoof stepped back on her tail to assist in stopping it, while her frown merely deepened the longer she waited outside the room.
Mary let out a defeated sigh, then knocked twice and winced. It sounded louder than she'd intended with hooves, that would take some practice too apparently. Still, no answer came, so she tried calling. "Bobby?" Nothing. "Boooobby, it's time to get up and go to school. Are you awake?" Her son didn't respond though, even after another, slightly more controlled knock. She scowled a little and opened the barrier to peek inside. The floor was a mess of clothes which her eyes immediately took note of, there were dishes stacked on the desk too, and every surface seemed occupied by something.
Well this is a sty... she thought irritably, a disgusted grimace forming.
The clock on the wall tocked quietly as Mary took a few careful steps inside, trying her best not to step on anything but carpet. The unmistakable lump in the bed at the corner of the room had to be none other than her rebellious son. "Heeey," she called out in a sweet voice. "Time to get up sleepy head." The mound of blankets didn't move though.
Mary's eyebrows drew down in confusion. She bit the end of the blanket, then pulled it off of the bed with a sharp tug.
"Gah!"
"Oh, sorry dear..."
"What the hell, it's not bad enough you-?" Bobby's voice lowered into indiscernible grumbling and muttering as he flung the covers back over himself and rolled over.
"So you were awake." Mary said irritably.
Bobby refused to answer again.
The orange mare stood at the end of the bed with a solemn look and heaved a weak sigh. Her eyes searched over the comforter and surroundings absently. "Well," she began, unsure if she had actually hoped he'd be kinder today, or if her happy mood had just been denial all along. "Alright, breakfast will be..." She bit her bottom lip in thought. Should I not make him anything or... In the end—after another lengthy pause—she simply said, "don't be late getting up Bobby..."
The lump responded callously to her. "Go away, and don't come in my room."
Mary drooped, and left the room. She didn't want to simply leave, but it wasn't in her to fight back anymore. Why did it ever have to come to fighting... The door remained open as she walked back downstairs. "I could've said something about him talking back, or his room, or the other day, but I didn't...what should I say...?" If only I could just cheer him up, or win him back. Hah, not likely as long as I'm stuck like this. Her scowl took in one of her orange shoulders, then she huffed her way into the kitchen.
The shower was going as she passed the bathroom and the table was still bare. Alright Mary, you can do this, no problem. It shouldn't be terribly more daunting than usual, getting breakfast ready. Although, she almost needed a stool to reach the cabinets, if only just. Standing as tall as she could and stretching she just managed to slip a hoof into the nudged open pantry and pull out the cereal. Yesyesyes, yes! You're amazing Mary, next you need to learn how to drive...again. She tried to pinch the bridge of her nose and laughed harshly at her own silly encouragement. In the end, all her hooves could do was rub the top of her muzzle.
Mary fixed toast, eggs and made Stan's lunch. During the normally mundane process, she had to relax on all fours before finishing. One hoof massaged her back legs while she made a pained, but quiet hissing noise. Stupid legs...
Once victorious against the routine, she sat down at the dining room table. Or rather, climbed up front hooves first, making carefully sure that the chair was close enough to the table before doing so. "Alright," she leaned forward onto one arm, coffee in hoof, "so breakfast is out. Next I would shower and get ready for work...I wonder how I'm going to steer the car." She chuckled a little at the idea, she did want to drive, though.
The sound of footsteps from behind made Mary point her ears around to face them. Strange new things she had begun to get used to aside, that was still a very weird feeling. Stan took a seat across from her, a tired look plainly worn on his face.
"Mar, come on, you and I shouldn't even be planning or considering things like that." It took a moment for her to realize he was answering what she'd said to herself. "We should only focus on getting you back to normal, right? I don't doubt you could drive, if anyone could without hands it'd be you, certainly." Stan watched Mary's ears lay back at the statement, her big eyes flickering to her arms' ends and her mouth working as if about to speak. "We can't risk this getting out, you need to stay here, inside."
"Well true," Mary tapped a hoof on the table while her face heated. I know that, I don't want to be ridiculed for worse than I already am... "But...that doesn't mean I should just give up those things, does it?" She bit her lip before continuing. "I don't want to be helpless, Stan. I certainly don't want to just sit around the house all day, every day, either. If I want to go outside, or drive, or go to the supermarket, I will! Agnes agrees I could still go to work for her...so how else would I get there if I don't drive?"
"Mar, promise me you won't actually try to drive or go out like that. It's just a bad idea...and work? How would you talk to the customers?" Stan wasn't really awake enough to argue, and he tried his best to keep his tone soft.
"Well I wouldn't, obviously..." Mary replied in a heated tone, looking at the floor. "I would just plant, and move things, restock... I was practicing writing the other day, my hooves worked fine, but I had this thought about trying to use my-"
"Mary...Mar, please just," Stan visibly worked to find the right way to convince her, tactfully.
Mary's face wilted, and they were both quiet for a moment. She shrugged and kept her eyes on the tablecloth. "I know," she muttered. "I just don't want to give up more than I have to Stan..." Her face buried itself behind the cup of coffee she held, trailing off.
Stan wore a grim expression and stared into his own coffee. He opened his mouth slowly to speak, and apologize, when Anna appeared, walking sleepy faced towards the table.
"Morning mooom." Still rubbing her eyes, Anna walked up and hugged an already awkwardly seated Mary.
Mary managed to curl one hoof around her daughter's shoulder from the chair. "Morning sweetie, how'd you sleep?"
The sounds of his family talking were a distant buzz for Stan. She doesn't really think that things can go on normally, does she? He tried not to let it show, but that just made his face angry. Worry bent his still tired mind. This coffee needs to kick in... Mary had actually been...pretty happy yesterday, and seems to be today, too. That actually made him more irate instead of glad, irritatingly enough, as if his subconscious had decided that with her being alright, that it was his turn to crack. The red haired man stared absently at his guard uniform while in thought. He didn't want to enforce anything on her, far from it. I have to keep her safe though, and I won't be here yet again, to do it.
Stan had been wracking his brain over his jobs, and whether or not he could work on quitting one without bankrupting his family...
A half an hour passed by, and then it was time for Stan to make the drive further into the state towards his unit. Bobby rode the bus, while his father dropped Anna off at the nearby school.
Mary stood on the back porch waving to them as they pulled out of the driveway, a smile cheaply hung on her face. She stood there a moment and didn't move, just looked around frowning, her family now gone once again.
"I need to get, like, a dog or something," Mary huffed out. "I hate being left alone." She flipped her braid in irritation and went back inside.
The unwieldy cardboard box slid noisily across the dining room floor as Mary pushed it, her head planted firmly against its side. She grunted as the container caught on the lip on the mud room doorway. Her face peered around the side scowling, and she reached over it to pick it up an inch.
"I should have done this a month ago..." Mary's back legs shook as she set the heavy magazine laden box back down. "I wouldn't have to do this without hands then." I cannot believe I'm moving these on my own though. She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but it seemed that her body was a lot stronger than it had been. Sure it was still annoying without hands, but she wasn't straining herself at all moving the heavy boxes.
Mary walked around the box as it slid to a halt by the back door, and opened it. Now the tricky part...getting it down these stairs. It was the last of the things she'd organized and needed to move out to the garage. Everything else had been shelved or put away elsewhere. Her bedroom hadn't been so clear in months.
After casting a wary glance down the little path that led past their garage to the driveway, Mary proceeded forward. They didn't have any immediate neighbors, but she couldn't help but be cautious. The last thing she wanted was people finding out about her. Or do I? I don't want to live in secret forever, I bet Stan thinks that's what I should do if we can't fix this, judging by this morning... Oh, I so hope it just wears off. And maybe it would, she certainly didn't know.
Mary's eyes shifted to look out across the backyard while she pushed the box with her head. Her gardening boxes and vegetable garden needed tending to, everything was past due to be picked and things needed sheltering for the winter. She thought she could feel adrenaline building in her legs from looking at the greenery, it had been doing that all morning. Fortunately nothing weird had happened this time, she'd even sat down by a potted plant and stared at it earlier, trying to make it grow. I'd say that I was just going crazy... but Herbert saw it too. Also, I'm a four legged orange ball of fur at the moment, there isn't much that can top that.
The garage was dark, the end of her tail flicked up and hit the light switch.
Mary smirked back at it and continued to push the box to the back of the small building. From weird to weirder every day. Her expression sobered up and let out a sigh, she usually managed to kill any positive thoughts about her curse quite easily.
Using the wall to slide the box up and over her head, Mary pushed it to rest on top of the other two cardboard containers she had already put into the garage. She blinked in the dim light up at them, then flexed one of her front legs appreciatively. I'm not even sure if I could have lifted that back in my military days.
The door shut with a click, and Mary walked back, hooves clicking on the stone path leading to the house. The clicking stopped, and her eyes were scanning the field behind their house again, past her garden. She looked around the spacious area, then snorted derisively. "Oh, what the hell, why not?" The snort had caught her by surprise, but she continued unperturbed. "Stan won't know."
Mary tightened her bathrobe ready for the run, then hesitated a moment after a couple steps. She considered if she could get away with taking the clothing off altogether, it would probably get in the way on a run... Well no one's here... and the whole point is to stay unseen, anyway... She looked around nervously at the idea of what was for all intents and purposes, being naked. Meh. The robe was shrugged off and her hooves took her out into the field at a sprint, a grin creeping onto her face.
The tall weeds whipped at her harmlessly, and her legs navigated any uneven terrain with ease. She hopped over scraggly shrubs and even the back fence without a hitch.
With the fun Mary was having, bursting out into laughter was unavoidable. She did cast a wary glance behind herself though, searching for anything out of the ordinary. Thankfully, nothing was there this time. Grin replastered to her face, she focused her attention ahead of herself once more, giggling and pushing herself to run harder without abandon. I swear, I haven't laughed at anything like this since I was little.
Why is this so much fun...? Mary had finally begun to trot her way back to the house, having run nearly to the woods in her elated state. It hadn't quite been an hour... she thought. Now I'm just worried if this has changed my brain or something, too. Augh, I just want to do something about this besides worry for a change. A sigh escaped her. At least I felt better while I was running... Her grimace changed into a smile as she spotted a familiar face on her back porch.
"Hey mom!" Mary stood up onto two hooves and waved one leg at her. She was holding what looked like a set of clothes.
"Heeey, look at what I've got! It looks like I brought these over not a moment too soon, too." Agnes chortled out, leaning over the side of the porch. She raised an eyebrow questioningly above her smile.
"Aah... yeah." Mary fell back on all fours quickly, and scrunched her legs closer together. She shuffled the rest of the way up to the building. "I was running and, well I've been cooped up...the bathrobe I've been stuck with was kind of...you know." She frowned down at herself, and at her tail which was somehow instinctively covering her shame.
"It's fine Mary, you are covered in fur after all so I guess it's not really public nudity, right?" Agnes started laughing harder than before while holding the articles over the railing to display them. Mary could see that what she held was in fact some kind of clothing. "So, what do you think?" The older woman asked intently.
Mary looked over the short sleeved shirt and strange sort of skirt curiously. The skirt was particularly odd, it swallow-tailed at her hindquarters, making the back portion of it a lot longer than the front. Her hooves clopped on the wood steps as she made her way up to her mother-in-law.
"Where'd you get these?" Mary lifted the fabric with a hoof and inspected it more closely.
"Well I made them, of course. I haven't sewn in such a long time, but you need something other than a bath robe to wear so... tah dah." Agnes laid the outfit over an arm and opened the door to the house. "I guessed about your new measurements, but the styles are pretty loosely fitting so there was a lot of room for error. I brought my tape measure as well, we should take those measurements while I'm here." She beamed a look of anticipation down at Mary as she walked into the house, Mary herself wearing a nervous grin, followed after her.
"Well, thanks mom really this is great... but, this better not turn into when you and Anna played with my hair, I mean it." The previously accosted pony said up at her flatly, and wearing deadpan expression.
"Oh you thought it was funny too, stop trying to play the victim here." Agnes waved a hand dismissively and laid the clothes on the couch.
Mary squinted her eyes derisively. I am the victim! Making light of the situation certainly doesn't make me any less of a victim!
Agnes held up a small box in front of Mary's nose, making her pull back. "I got this for you by the way, I think you mentioned breaking one."
Mary took the object in both hooves. "It's empty?" As she turned it over in her grasp, she could see the picture on the side of the box was a phone.
"Already set it up, you were out there having fun for a while." Agnes chimed. "So, would you like to put these on now?"
Mary could tell she was anxious to see her clothes put to use. "Heh, uhm, let me shower real quick mom. I think I just ran ten miles back there." Her mom's eyes widened at that. "Be right back."
Mary played idly with the tail of her new dress. Is it a dress? Yeah, it's a dress. It looked a bit like something you'd see in a very old timey retro picture from the fifties, the ones where the mothers had their hair up and the family standing by their two cars was utterly perfect. Automatically, her mind pictured her current figure standing beside her kids and husband. She suppressed a shudder and cringed.
At least her new homemade clothes fit well.
"So, how've you been holding up, anything new?" Agnes was calmly rebraiding Mary's still damp, dual-colored hair, both were seated on the couch once more.
"Well, let's see," Mary began contemplatively. "I think meat makes me sick now, that or I've had a really wimpy flu lately... I've been thinking about how to adjust living indoors mostly other than that, I need to call the guild and tell them I have to quit. Hm, I should probably tell Father Conrade we can't come anymore either, though I'm really not sure what explanation would be believable and tactful for that." She drooped her head forward a bit, and Agnes' hand pulled her chin back up from behind, then resumed braiding.
"Oh just tell them you're all too busy, Mary. Honestly you have bigger things to worry about than others. For instance, we should figure out how we're going to take Anna out to eat after her big night tomorrow!"
The braid finished, Mary stood up on the couch and circled around to face Agnes, laughing at her mother-in-law's sarcasm. "I think we'll have to skip that dinner, mom." She blew a strand of hair away from her eye as her expression sagged a bit, now recalling that morning. "Besides, Stan said I shouldn't think about leaving the house, that's...kind of a depressing thought, I'm practically a prisoner in my own home."
Agnes clicked her tongue and frowned at her. "Dear, you're not a prisoner, and I'm sure he's just thinking about your safety. If Stanley's being pushy about it and you really want out for a bit we'll think of something, and I'll put him in his place." She crossed her arms and gave Mary a confident look.
The mare smirked sheepishly at the stout woman's moxy, then frowned again and continued. "Well, yeah, I know that mom. But... I mentioned driving and he was completely against it, and when he suggested watching the recital? I think he meant from here at the house, not in the car. I didn't bring it up but... He's probably right, I shouldn't risk it. Doubt I could drive like this anyway."
Agnes frowned down at her daughter-in-law. "Mary, this thing's only got you beat when you give up. There'll be some adjustments, I mean this is pretty out of the ordinary, but you're still a Morris, that makes you a fighter too. If you want to drive or work there's no reason not to try, understand?"
Mary's expression was flat, before working into a weak, reassured smile. Her mother took that as a response.
"Good, so what's next!" Agnes clapped her hands together and rubbed them searching across the room as if the problems were tangible and needed clobbering.
Mary rolled her eyes from the show before her, then the biggest weight on her mind—next to her current ponydom—reared its head in response to Agnes' question. "There's always Bobby." Her son was always a concern. "Did Herbert tell you anything about that?" she asked tiredly.
The room went quiet except for a hum from Agnes, searching for a good response.
The new phone rang abruptly, almost as if to end the awkward silence before it somehow made the air in the room stale.
Mary looked towards its home beside the couch, where she could reach it easily. "Oh, it's Marge! I actually needed to talk to her." She blinked, confirming the number, address and name flashing on the newly installed phone.
"What about?" Agnes asked casually.
"Uhm..." Mary held a hoof up to her face and kept from looking at the older woman. "Well, about this." She gestured at herself, waving with one hoof.
Agnes' face became more serious.
"She doesn't know though, I called her a few days ago!" Mary reinforced. "It seemed like a good idea, she's big into the occult, I thought... maybe she'd know something helpful? I know it's a long shot but..." The french braided mare trailed off, gaze hovering over the beeping phone.
Agnes made an understanding face and patted Mary's wrist. "Do you think she'll have anything?" she asked, before shaking her head. "Oh, never mind me! You'll find out in a moment. Well, go ahead then, dear. While you're talking I'll take your measurements, actually. That way I can get started on making some better clothes when I get home."
"Aw mom, you don't have to..." Mary's smiled wanly at the sentiment, it felt really nice to have the support from family.
"Nonsense, I completely do, now answer the phone before your friend hangs up." Agnes was already straightening a tape measure from her purse.
The orange mare clicked the now all too easy to press answer button without any fuss. "Uuh, AAH!" Only to immediately dive off of the couch and onto the floor.
Marge's face looked up from a bowl of what appeared to be macaroni salad. "Hm? Mary you there? Stan? HelloooOOooo." Her face leaned over and pressed against the her phone's screen. "Agnes? Is that you?"
Mary was prone beside the couch, and hissed up at Agnes. "It's a video phone!? Really mom?"
"Ooohooo, I know I just heard Mary! Where are you girl?" Beside the couch the pony gritted her teeth, even knowing she was safe. "I'm sure you hair's fine whatever color it's ended up this time, come on out! Oh, Agnes how've you been?"
Agnes smiled across the couch at the video. "Oh just peachy Margery, you know how it is."
Mary groaned and buried her head in her hooves from where she was on the floor. "I can't believe you're just going to ignore me."
"I'm not ignoring anything dear, I'm just trying to speak with Marge...normally." Agnes shrugged at Mary, then smiled back at the phone. "Sorry though, I just looked for big buttons like you'd asked for the thing, didn't realize the panel was a video."
"Do they even still sell normal phones? It's getting so hard to find what you want in stores these days. Half of it's cutting edge and the other half is junk recycled from decades ago."
"I know, the world gets crazier every day, those stupid wars, the government mismanaging everything, all the riots and-" Mary interrupted her mom, she was picking up speed on the current events and that never ended well.
"Agnes, please can we see why Marge called?" Mary stood up and gestured to herself with a flourish.
"Oh, right. Where are you though, Mary?" Marge raised an eyebrow at Agnes.
"I'm here...let's not talk about it, please. Uhm, so what's up?"
"Just calling to see if you'll be coming to the quilt meeting love!" Marge said cheerily around a mouthful of food.
"I... I can't Marge. Uhm, my curse, remember?" Mary asked pleadingly.
"Your what?" Her friend replied, now watching television.
"The curse! I asked you to look stuff up on transformations? The hair color thing?" Mary almost jumped in front of the little screen, her anxiousness and incredulity at her friend's cluelessness building quickly.
"Ooooh, right, I looked into that. Sorry I forgot, I half assumed you were just kidding around actually, too." Marge looked over again at the phone, but there was still nothing to be looked at.
"Maaarge." Mary rubbed her hooves against her temples.
"Well, I did. But you're not very funny so I looked some assuming you'd just lost a screw or two and were serious about this."
"And?" Mary ignored the insult, and scowled at Agnes who started snickering.
"Aaaand, I don't know what to tell you, there's a million things that are obviously fake about the subject. What you told me was just too vague, show me what's wrong maybe? Oh, I did find something about a lard bath that supposedly cured a man's paralysis though. Either he'd faked being immobile for a decade or that thing really did fix him up-"
Mary sat back against a chair and let out a sigh, tuning her out entirely. She's entered into a rant again. The orange mare pawed absently at the tail of her new skirt-dress thing, entertaining an annoyed thought. I should have been friends with a mad scientist, apparently magic is failure.
The clock on the nearby wall's minute hand ticked over to one o' clock sharp, noisily. The classroom was quiet except for the older woman speaking at the front of it, pointing every now and again to some figure up on the board. The other students around Bobby were as quiet or detached as he was, with only two or three actually looking up at the speaker.
A couple were talking though, albeit quietly, one of them had even just addressed him.
One of the students, a short fellow with grimy, blonde hair, finished speaking, then sent a wicked grin across the isle.
"What are you talking about, dude?" Bobby sighed quietly, looking at his friend through the corner of his eye, and tried his best to ignore the look he was getting.
"I mean, why do you look more depressing than a three legged dog?" Following up the question, he jabbed Bobby roughly on the arm with an intrusive finger. "Seriously, you about to start crying right here in class?"
Bobby formed a fist under his desk and raised an eyebrow back at the other kid. "Yeah, you're funny." After a moment's hesitation, he added, "Cory, I don't wanna talk about it." The much bigger of the two crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, glaring up to the front of the classroom.
Cory tilted his head in a questioning manner. "Why, what's up?"
"I said it was nothing, dude," Bobby repeated.
"Oh, okay." Cory paused for a split second, then continued. "So what is it?" he asked again, persisting.
"Dude, I just sai-" Bobby let out a tired sigh. "It's just crap back at home man, same as usual."
"Oh." Cory looked back forward, making sure the teacher still didn't care that they didn't care. She was watching them now. "So, your mom's still being a-"
"A nag?" Bobby smirked at the pun, not that Cory would get it, which kinda killed the cleverness of it.
"Uuuh, not what I was gonna say, but sure." The other punk scratched the side of his face and leaned lazily on one arm to look as though he were paying attention.
"Yeah, she is..." Bobby grimaced at the thought of his mom, period. What the hell has even happened to her, nothing dad said made any sense at all.
Cory smiled across at him and poked him again. "Well cheer up dude, your dad's gone all weekend right? We should ask your mom if we can use your garage again, it's got way more space than mine."
"Yeah I don't think that's likely to happen man." Although I guess she wouldn't be able to stop me... Bobby considered the thought, which grew into another one promptly, finally, he just said it aloud. "Hey, dude, we also got a new pet."
"Yeah? Cool."
"Not really," Bobby replied from under his stringy hair. "It's kind of...annoying as hell."
"Hm, that sucks." Cory had begun half answering him, only slightly vested in the conversation any longer. He didn't much care for what was being said, just getting a reaction out of his friend.
Bobby leaned forward and stared down at the desk angrily. "Yeah, I can't stand the thing, kinda wish I could do something about it."
"Well, why don't you?" his friend responded absently.
Bobby looked over at the scrawny teen, not following him fully. How the hell am I supposed to do something about mom? Oh, right, pet. "What do you mean...?" He asked, slowly.
Cory grinned at him again. "I mean, if you don't want the thing then just...call animal control or something, maybe that'll get the hint across to your folks?"