//------------------------------// // Where's A Montage? // Story: Taking A Stand // by ShadeJak //------------------------------// I awoke to the gentle rays of Thorsday morning light, stirring and feeling Stephanie’s lap beneath me. Oh please tell me that I’m back to normal… I thought to myself, lifting my head up and looking down, and groaning loudly when I was greeted by the sight of pink hooves instead of my own hands. Steph snapped awake, apparently my noise must have disturbed her and she brushed back her hair and looked down at me. “Happy Thorsday, Kyle.” She said with a small but sad smile. I guess she was disappointed too and I can’t say I blame her. “Not much to be happy about. The days are screwed up all to hell, and I’m still a pony…” I muttered, feeling my tail involuntarily flick back and forth and I rolled to my side, looking down at myself. “Guess I gotta resign myself to this body after all.” Steph turned my chin up. “Well, what about our plan? I seem to recall we had something in store for those PAPA freaks that involves costumed vigilantism?” She asked. “Heh, and here I almost considered I wasn’t thinking right when it came to mind, but I guess that’ll give us something to do.” I said. “We should probably go and grab all our materials if we wanna get an early start!” “And work?” Steph asked, reminding me of something else I needed to handle. “Oh… right.” I muttered. ~ One extremely awkward phone call later that problem was solved, and immediately after we went into the room I kept all my cosplay supplies in. Between the two of us, she had hands and I did not, so she’d be doing most of the work. “Alright, we got all the fabric and stuff we need, you said we got enough for, like, three costumes? We should probably do that just so we got spares in case anything happens.” I explained, floating out numerous sewing and gluing equipment, along with all the fabrics and a few pieces from old cosplays that could probably be remade into some things I could use, like the tactical gear I had from a few more… militant cosplays. “This should be everything and we’re set to go!” I explained, smiling as Steph carried the sewing machine over to the table and plugged it in. “Once I got your measurements we are!” Steph said, taking a tape measure from a box of pins and a notepad from a compartment under the sewing machine. “After I get the first one done, the rest should be easy-peasy.” She explained, and after doing several measurements of my pony body and writing them down, she returned to the desk and sat down, switching on the sewing machine. “This is gonna take awhile so I hope you’ve got something you can do to pass the time.” I raised a hoof and was about to speak when I realized I had nothing. “Well… uh…” I muttered. My activities were a lot more limited as a pony. “Hey, maybe work on your magic?” She offered. “I mean, if you’re gonna do this whole superhero thing you should probably work on the magic. You know, make it easier to defend yourself and all?” I guess that made sense. “Alright…” Now I just needed to think of a way to start… Telekinesis! Try something more complex like opening a jar! I jerked upright, my eyes wide as I heard the voice in my head again. Weird. “Ooookay…” I muttered, earning a look from Stephanie. “Where’d you put the peanut-butter jar?” I asked. “Third cabinet from the left, top row near the fridge.” She answered. I trotted into the kitchen and used my magic to open the cabinet door. From my height, it was hard to see inside so I had to balance on my hind legs while leaning against the lower cabinets to get a closer look. Spotting my prize, I grinned and floated the jar down and set it in front of my hooves. “Alright, little jar… prepare to face the might of Mare Do Well!” I sneered, and my magic aura surrounded it. ~ Forty-five minutes later, I had come dangerously close to flinging the unopened jar across the kitchen floor as I'd fought stubbornly against it. “Open, damn you!” I shouted, focusing harder, but to no avail. “Problem, officer?” Steph asked from behind me, I turned and looked up at her. “Yeah, somepo—“ I began, facehoofing at nearly using another ponyism for some reason. “Somebody has apparently krazy-glued this thing shut!” I protested. “Any progress with you?” “Yeah, I got the first bodysuit done. Perfect piece of work if I do say so myself and amazing how much time the machine saves.” My girlfriend said with a smirk, pulling it out from behind her back and my mood quickly improved. “Whoa, cool!” I said, grinning and suddenly the lid popped off the jar, causing me to glance back at it and sigh. “Practice makes perfect, Kyle.” Steph said, returning to the sewing room. “I’ll get to work on the collar and mask, then we’ll worry about the boots and cape and all.” “Thanks.” I replied, shaking my head and staring down at the jar, using my magic to float the lid back on and screw itself back in place and try again. Some time later, I’d finally managed to master it, getting the jar lid to open and close at will, and moved onto adding a pickle jar in the mix. This one took more effort, tiring me out more, but eventually I was able to get a similar result though I needed to get the paper towels to wipe down the floor afterwards. Twilight made it all look easy... hell the Cake twins pulled this stuff off! Thinking about them made me realize there was one other magic ability I’d probably need to figure out if I was going to pull this all off: teleportation. If I could figure that out and master it to an adequate level, I’d be able to make clean getaways, be harder to track, and not to mention be tougher to hit if I fought any nastier opposition. I doubt I’d ever reach remotely the skill Twilight had that allowed her to transport herself miles away, but I could probably figure out something that could get me several feet away or to a rooftop at most, which was sure to come in handy. Once I got this telekinesis down, I made a mental note to move onto that next. Staring at the jars, I felt my progress just wasn’t fast enough. I needed motivation, something inspiring, like… “Hey, Steph, can we turn on my work music?” I called into the other room. I heard a slight groan and my girlfriend peered out the door frame. “Kyle, are you expecting some kind of training montage?” “Would it hurt? Maybe some inspirational music will get me through this a little faster!” I said with a grin. Rolling her eyes, Steph went over to the laptop on the coffee table and loaded up the playlist, and sure enough the first one on it, Eye of the Tiger, started playing. “Really, Kyle? How cliché can you get?” She asked, looking over at me. “Hey, go with what works…” I said, dancing to the music far better then I normally ever did and far better then I expected I would with zero experience in a pony body. Ooh! This song’s amazing! The voice in my head said. “Uh, that’s not practicing, that’s dancing.” Steph remarked when the song ended moments later. Wait… did I dance the whole time? I wondered to myself. I sorta spaced out there, just got caught up in the rhythm… “Weird, I never was that much of a dancer.” I said. “Sorry, guess I was caught in the moment.” “Well, try not to let it distract you if you’re gonna have it play.” She replied, returning to the sewing room again as another song played. This time, however, I kept focus and walked over to the laptop in curiosity. I couldn’t help but wonder why I got so enraptured in the song and danced to it like that, but I had work to do! Hitting the playlist on shuffle and returning my attention to the jars, I set to work and let myself focus, remembering what the voice in my head told me…. Don’t think, just do Right, whatever you say. Sure enough, the lids popped right off! And to think I forget sometimes… I shook my head in frustration, trying to make the voice stop. I had enough problems being a pony with compulsive dancing disorder! Eyeing the lids, I gave a little focus but more just will and desire to control them where I wanted them; and I wanted them to orbit my body. Sure enough, they lifted up and spun around me back and forth in a criss-cross orbiting fashion. “Cooool…” I said with a smirk, watching them spin back and forth. Looking at an empty soda can on the table, I willed one of the lids to fly straight at it, knocking it over and leaving a nice dent in it. Grinning, I looked at the other lid, noticing it had fallen to the floor and having a new idea in mind I walked over to the paper bag near the trash where I kept empty soda cans for recycling. Floating five out one by one, I levitated them to the table and returned where the pickle jar lid sat on the floor. “Alright, let’s get dangerous!” I sneered, my horn glowing again as I floated the lid up and looked at one of the cans. The lid spun and flew straight at it, knocking it over and falling to the floor with it. Nodding, I sustained my magic and floated the lid back to me… a lot faster then I intended and I barely had time to dodge it. Taking a few breaths having avoided getting smacked in the face, I turned my attention to the next can, shooting the lid at it and bringing it back; feeling like the the main character from Krull only with a much less cool-looking spinny-weapon-thing. Three more cans later, I jumped up with excitement and let out a cheer. “Yes! Yes!” I shouted, grinning and noticing Steph had returned. “Having fun?” She asked, looking down at the dented cans. “Loads!” I said. “I think I got this down now!” “Good to know.” Steph replied. “I got the collar and mask done. I’m gonna add the tactical gear and resize it to fit you. You’ll have a belt ready for you shortly. The pouches should fit those smoke bombs and firecrackers we still have from last year.” Right… last year called off on account of sickness. Well, blessing in disguise apparently! “Firework smoke bombs and firecrackers? Steph, I love you!” I said with a grin, throwing my forelegs around her. “Well, figured that might help if you’re up against people twice your size with hands and probably more strength then you have.” She said with a smile. “All that’ll be left then are the boots, hat and cape.” “Good. I’ve seen unicorns open saddlebags and float stuff out of them, so a utility belt should work the same way.” I replied. Telekinesis was covered now, and with Steph occupied on a few other things, it gave me time to figure out teleportation. Whenever she finished I could test out lighting those fireworks if they were gonna be of any use. Well, chatty voice in my head, how hard could this be? I thought to myself. Always been great with telekinesis, but... kinda can't remember anything else...! Crap… guess I’m on my own. ~ “Come on, don’t think, just do. Fillies and foals could learn this stuff! Hell somepony along the way invented it! Come on, come on…” I thought to myself about a half hour later. My patience was normally thinner but when I had a goal in mind I found I was willing to give myself more chances, especially when said goal focused around defending myself and others from out of control extremists. My horn was glowing, I could feel it, but nothing was happening. I tried imagining the spot five steps away from me, imagine it, imagine it, come on… POP! My eyes snapped open and I was five feet off the floor. Yelping, I fell to the ground with a thump and stood myself back up. “Okay… that didn’t work…” I muttered, then I felt a wave of nausea come over me, like I could throw up any moment and clumsily hurried to the bathroom. Thanking the heavens I didn’t toss it all on the floor, I moved away from the toilet and used my magic to flush. I guess it was a side-effect of the teleportation; so it’d probably make more sense to practice in here. It took some time, but I was eventually able to control where I went with not much charge-up or sickness, but it only really worked when the distance was no more then six or seven feet. Any further and I’d feel dizzy and wind up either upside-down or sideways on the wall or several feet off the ground again. “Huh…” I muttered, getting up off my back when I had ended up off on the ceiling upside-down and landed on the floor. “Guess that’s my limit for now…” I stood back up and shook my head to fight off the dizziness and go check in on my girlfriend. Entering the sewing room, I found Stephanie working on the hat and smiled at her. “Nice work!” I said. Turning, she took the cape from the table and swooshed it in front of her. “Whaddya think? Pretty badass, huh?” She asked. “I’m almost done with the hat. I’m getting a little hungry though, so we can get the spares done once I eat. How’s the magic going?” “Eh, alright, I guess.” I said. “Telekinesis is spot-on, but I think my teleportation level is just barely leaving Magic Kindergarten; like I can only teleport about six feet or so, I go any further and it has side effects. How does Twilight make it look so simple?” “Aside from having spent more time then you have practicing it? No idea.” She answered sarcastically. “Well, I guess it’s passable for now, I’m sure I’ll have more chances to work on it later” I replied as Steph finished up with the hat. “Well, I think we’re ready to try it on!” She said, taking all the stuff and putting it into a pile for me. “…You… can put clothes on, right?” She asked. Ten minutes later, I came to the conclusion that I had another thing to work on, and that was putting on the costume without hands, so Steph helped me out with that in the end. Fully geared up, I approached the full-length mirror I kept in the sewing room for when I needed to see how any finished cosplay looked. “What do you think, Kyle?” Steph asked. “Suddenly this whole ponydom thing isn’t as bad as it was. Lemme try something.” I replied, smirking under the mask. Floating a few empty spools, I had them orbit me a few times and sent them at the walls one by one, then tugged my cape with my hoof and vanished, reappearing three feet away. “Yes!” I shouted triumphantly… ..before noticing I no longer had the costume on. It lay on the floor in a heap three feet next to me. “Awww!” I groaned. “Guess I still need more practice.” I said. “Well, I feel like going out, you feel like going out?” Steph asked. “I think I need some more thread, so how’s our favorite shopping area sound?” I smirked, big-ass JoAnn, plus movie theater and plenty of eating places it was a great location. It’d handle our late lunch and her sewing needs quickly. “It’s a date then.” ~ “Good thing one of us can still drive.” I said, hopping out of my seat as Steph parked the car in the lot near the Cici’s we frequented. As we did, however, we were beset by an unpleasant sight nearby. “Stop ponydom! Work towards protecting humanity’s future!” some twenty-something stringbean standing on a set of crates with a small table on it with several fliers with a very familiar acronym printed on them stacked near him that matched his shirt and what I swore was an egg carton. “Wonderful.” I muttered, my tail flicking back and forth at my tension. “Don’t let yourselves be fooled, for this is a curse wreaked upon them by God to make examples of those of immoral nature!” The protestor continued, then gave a hateful glare at a woman and a small colt. “You! You tolerate your son when he has been marked?!” He yelled, causing the colt to hide behind his mother. “He’s my son! He’s done nothing wrong!” The woman said angrily. “Look at him, he’s been transformed into a lowly animal and you say it’s without cause?” The PAPA protestor asked, reaching into the carton and removing an egg which he threw at the colt, who barely avoided it. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you are claimed next for betraying humanity and society by defending that thing!” “ENOUGH!” I shouted, rage boiling as I approached, my horn glowing. However, the man just laughed. “Go ahead! Attack me and prove I’m right that you magic-using unicorns are especially a threat to us!” He said, taking out another egg and looking at me with a smug sneer before flinging it. I stared down at where it’d broke in front of my hooves and looked back up at him, my teeth grit so hard I swear they were about to crack. If I did do what I wanted to do, he’d use it against me and everyone else who had become ponies. “The only threat to people is idiots like you.” Steph said, joining my side and glaring at the man. “And you’re just asking to get arrested for throwing stuff at ponies.” “Not a chance, I'm careful not to actually hit anyone, I clean up after, and I’m on public property, so I haven’t broken any rules! You’re gonna criticize me when I’m only doing this to show everyone that this country gives us a freedom of speech to state our opinions and you have the nerve to oppress that?” He sneered. “Right, that old excuse you and every other youtube commenter who gets called out on rude behavior makes, where you expect us to be responsible for protecting and respecting your verbal assaults that you pass off as 'opinions' when you're so quick to attack ours.” Steph answered, rolling her eyes, and I looked up at her and slowly edged back, knowing where this was going. “Big talk little lady! By the way, you two sure are close! Didn’t think it’d get so immoral people would start having relationships with those animals!” The protestor said with a laugh. “Why don’t you take your beastiality somewhere it’ll actually be tolerated!” It all happened so fast. One second Stephanie was at my side. The next… she wasn’t. The impact of her fist slamming into the protestor’s face was strong enough to send him off his feet and off his makeshift podium, right onto his stack of fliers. My eyes were wide as saucer plates from what I witnessed before me… “N-no! Please! You weren’t supposed to attack! The ponies were! Th-this wasn’t how they told me it was supposed to go!” The protestor pleaded, flailing his arms and crawling away from a positively livid Stephanie, who stood over him nursing her fist but maintaining a furious glare. “Heh, figures! I thought PAPA had standards that were above taking sniveling cowards like you into their ranks. Take your class act and clear out before I do decide to ‘oppress’ you.” She said in a tone that sent chills down my back. The protestor stood up hastily… I swear his crotch area looked noticeably darker then it was before… and gave her a quick, frightened nod before he ran away as fast as he could. I clapped my hooves and trotted over with a smirk as the mother and her child nodded approvingly before leaving. “Not bad. Remind me to never get on your bad side!” I said. “I got a feeling he was more in it for the attention then the actual message, but when he started saying those things, guess I just kinda lost it.” Steph answered, brushing back her hair. “But I feel better now. So, shall we?” She asked, giving me a smile and gesturing back over to the Cici’s a few doors away. “Sounds good to me!” I said with a wide smile and we went inside to enjoy our lunch. Things could only look up from here! ~ An hour and a half later, we were on our way home. Steph looked pleased, I just sulked in my seat. “Aw, come on, Kyle, it wasn’t that bad!” She said, trying not to snicker. “Says you.” I said. “But they loved you! I’ve never seen so many excited little girls since my cousin’s 8th birthday party!” I snorted in response. While Steph enjoyed her food I was being provided the latest emasculating experience of my new life as a pink unicorn mare by being cuddled, petted, hugged, and fawned over by a bunch of young girls that had been in the diner. “Loved when one stuck their hairbow on your mane.” Steph said, letting the giggles finally fly free. “Oh shut up.” I muttered. It would have been a lot easier to endure having a gigantic Applebloom-sized hairbow on me if they didn’t all whip out their phones and take pictures of it. I was definitely not making a facebook account for my pony self now. “Hey, now. Don’t be mean.” She said. She was loving this, I knew it. “Soon as I find something to win against you on a bet in, I’ll make sure the terms involve you cosplaying the most girly, feminine character I can think of.” I said. “Good luck.” She replied. Sighing, I sank back down on my seat and waited for us to get home. I guess on the positive side, it was a better reaction to my appearance then the protestor had… well, maybe. Hard to say, but now we could get the spare costumes done and I could get back to practicing my magic. ~ A couple hours later, we were finally done. Two spares made, both fit me perfectly, and it felt like time to celebrate. I sat on the couch in my new costume minus the hat and mask, leaning against a very exhausted Stephanie as we tried to decide on something to watch. -"Worst singing I've ever seen."- “Change.” -"Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?"- “Change.” -“This is The Factor and today’s pinheads are these pathetic man-children called ‘bronies’ defending these animals—“- “CHANGE!” -“Lauren Faust and Tara Strong, who have become the characters known as Celestia and Luna, have gone missing. There is still no confirmation as to where they could have gone or the cause behind their disappearance—“- I stared blankly as the news reported this. They were missing?! What could have happened to them? My heart sank, if they were gone, there was no way of meeting them now… “Jeez… tardy to the party.” I muttered. “Well, maybe they’ll make it back eventually?” Steph asked. “Better to be there when they turn up then to be down here and be late again.” “Then we better be ready by tomorrow morning. We got plenty in our savings, I’m sure we can talk your mom into helping pay, and no I’m not changing my facebook.” I said. An awkward silence followed after. “…Netflix marathon?” Steph asked ten channels later, looking at me with a tired smile. “I guess.” I said, moving over and laying on her lap. “I’m so sorry you had to do the work on these. If I had hands or even the third of Rarity’s skill with using magic for sewing stuff I’d—“ “Hey, hey, it’s all fine, baby.” Steph replied, brushing her hand through my mane. “We got what we needed done, right? Cool costumes made. Spares ready, food in place. When we start our trip up north nothing's gonna get in our way!” “That’s a relief.” I said, floating one of the towels we bought over and making it fold into a makeshift pillow on my girlfriend’s lap and rest my head on it. “This is still so messed up. We can’t really enjoy all the stuff we used to do together anymore… not with me as a pony.” I muttered, I could feel my eyes getting watery as that all hit me. Squeezing my eyes shut for a moment, I fought back any possible tears. “I just want this over, but I’m not gonna sit around and wait, or sit on my hooves and let the real monsters make things worse for others who have it harder… they have to pay, and when we hit the road I’ll see to it they do.” The thoughts of what I could do to that hateful group I have to admit I was grateful for as it negated any emotional trauma over the wedge in my relationship. “Things’ll get better, Kyle.” Steph said, brushing her hand through my mane again, causing me to smile from the relaxing feeling that gave. “I promise.” “Thanks.” I said, closing my eyes and leaning up, giving her a peck on the cheek. “Now, I think the Mysterious Mare Do Well must retire for the night, and encourages the best girlfriend in the world to do the same!” I said, getting up and taking a pose, and focusing my magic as I vanished. Reappearing in my bedroom, I discovered I was once again clad in only pink fur and feeling a horribly turned stomach. “Hey, Kyle? I think you left something behind.” Steph called, entering seconds later with the pile o’ costume in her arms. “I may just... have to forget this one…” I grumbled to myself, hurrying to the bathroom before all my meals found themselves on the floor ~ As we turned in, Steph lay sound asleep on the bed in the clothes she wore, I lay curled up by her, staring at my thick tail and watching it occasionally flick. So much was on my mind, I didn’t know how I was going to get to… Sleep had a funny way of creeping up on you, when you least expect it and even when you feel certain you aren’t gonna pass out any time soon. I was suddenly in a field of some kind, on a picnic blanket, and sadly, still a pony. Next to me, though, I heard humming, expecting Steph, I looked over and saw instead a double of the new me, smiling as she hummed to herself preparing her lunch, then moved onto the peanut-butter jar… and opened it with ease. “So, I take it you’ve had a pretty eventful day, huh?” She asked, causing me to flinch a little. “Nice to meet you, and I’m sure I don’t have to explain who I am, right?” “No… probably not.” I said softly. “Good.” She answered. “As a sidenote, I really have no idea how this even happened, but the days changing in this world, I’m going to assume Discord is responsible for this as well. How’s ponydom? Enjoying being a mare?” She asked with a mischievous smirk. “Oh yeah, it’s bundles of fun. Got mobbed by a bunch of little girls today.” I said flatly, earning a chuckle from her. “Well aside from dancing, I always loved making kids happy. Guess it comes from having a little filly sister.” Amethyst replied. “Well, I guess if it makes sense it felt pretty good helping that filly yesterday.” I said. “Yeah, about that. I’m not really a pony that does that sorta thing, but what you did for that filly was really brave, and your girlfriend’s been wonderful too. Have you ever done anything like that before?” Amethyst asked. “No, not really. Kinda glad I never had to.” I said. “One time, wish I had the chance to…” “Yes, your girlfriend’s father… I’ve seen a few of your memories, nopony should ever have to go through what she did. You’ve been the best boyfriend you could be for her, I’ve always been the best sister I can be for Dinky.” Amethyst smirked. “Won’t she be surprised if she sees me… or us, I guess… running around in that Mare Do Well costume.” She said with a laugh, floating her finished sandwich up and taking a bite out of it. “Ffpeekng uff…” She began, her mouth full of sandwich for a moment, and she swallowed. “Speaking of… yeah it was annoying at first but in hindsight, I admit Rainbow making a complete foal of herself when she got jealous was kind of funny. Who knows… maybe being a superhero going against those awful people will be satisfying.” The unicorn mused. “Celestia and Luna… they’re gone.” I said, causing the unicorn to pause and look at me. “Well, I’d say we should find out what happened, or go with what your girlfriend said, and at least try to be there whenever they get back. I figure they’re our best bet at setting things right.” Amethyst replied. “I guess so, I mean, what could get in the way of that?” I asked and everything began to fade away. ~ My eyes snapped open and I sat myself up, looking down I could tell that I was still very much 100% equine. I looked over, and realized that I wasn’t the lone example of that statement. There, next to me, sleeping peacefully in Stephanie’s clothes that now hung loosely off her body, was a lilac-colored pegasus mare with a long sea-green mane done in a very feminine style. Looking at her flank, I saw she had a trio of dragonflies pictured on the side, I have no idea how it equated to a talent or purpose, honestly, but I was not one to judge by my own abstract cutie mark of three diamonds. She looked familiar somehow… Flitter, was it? As if to compound the situation, the pegasus stirred, letting out a cute yawn as she stretched her hooves, her wings spreading briefly and causing the back of her shirt to stick out a little. “’Morning, Kyle…” She said, looking at me and noticing the likely shocked look I had on my face right now. “Uh… Kyle? …Why are you staring…?” Note to self, watch what I say, even in my dreams, and in the future to be REALLY careful to be more specific when I wish for removal of a species barrier...