I felt a soft surface and turned a little, making a small grunt as I woke up. Where was I? How did I get here?
My eyes slowly opened and I saw my living room ceiling above me. “I’m back h—“ I covered my mouth when a female voice came out, and looked where my hand should be, seeing a pink hoof and memories of the fight against that man in the mask came back to me. I was still a pony, and my Mare Do Well costume was nearby on the floor. What I’d done who-knows-how-long ago was real, and I could only hope that pegasus couple were safe. I felt some slight discomfort and noticed where I’d been cut earlier had been tended to, though it still hurt. Thankfully it shouldn’t leave a scar, though ordering some kind of body armor pads might be a good idea in the future.
“How long…” I wondered aloud, watching my thick, purple tail swish back and forth as if to remind me of what I am now. Laying on my belly, my forelegs resting atop the pillow I’d woken up laying against and resting my head on them, I stared out the window the couch was near, noticing the faint form of Amethyst Star’s reflection staring back at me.
“Hey, Amethyst Star…” I said softly, watching my reflection mouth the words back at me like I were being addressed. It made me wonder again, if I’d return to normal or if I’d end up stuck this way permanently. Ponies weren’t meant to live in this world, we—no, they… belonged back in Equestria… a harmonious world where they could live without fear of things like stupid wars, political pissing contests, and hate-mongers like PAPA. Why did I think ‘we’? I wasn’t one of them! I’m human, dammit! Just… in a different body, just like…
Stephanie… she lay sound asleep next to me, looking so peaceful as she lay there, her wings tucked in and her tail curled to the side near where her head was turned. I slowly put my hoof over her, gently brushing her long, teal mane and she cooed a little in her sleep. The pegasus that was, no still is my girlfriend nuzzled up to me a little and I hugged her tighter.
“Thanks.” I whispered, giving her a kiss on her soft cheek. Having had to fly me must have worn her out badly. “I dunno how I can say this…” I began, looking at the window again. “No matter what happens, if we both end up stuck this way on earth, or just one of us, or one of us ends up in Equestria or something… I love you. If this hadn’t happened, a week from now I was…” I stopped myself. I couldn’t tell her I had a promise ring in my drawer. If she knew, and fate decided to be as cruel as it had been, it’d only make things harder… at least that’s what my gut told me.
Steph’s eyes fluttered open and she looked over at me. “You mean that?” She asked, looking a little downcast. “Sorry, she’s asleep right now. It’s me, Flitter.”
I was taken aback by this, I shouldn’t have been after the dreams I had made it pretty clear I wasn’t alone in this body but it was still jarring to see someone who until now I’d idenfitied as my girlfriend claim to be someone else. “How?” I asked.
“Hey, it’s weird for me, too. Imagine seeing somepony you know acting like a total stranger.” Flitter answered. “What you did was really brave. Kinda… reckless… but brave.”
“The man leading them… he was having those who turned into ponies kidnapped so he could cleanse them.” I explained.
“Cleanse?” Flitter asked me.
“Or that’s what his sick mind called it. More like clipping a pegasus’ wings or cutting a unicorn’s horn.” I said, causing the lilac pegasus to cringe, her wings tucking themselves in a little tighter as she looked at me aghast.
“What kind of monster would do something so horrible to a pony?! What’d they ever do to deserve such a thing?” Flitter asked indignantly.
“Exist.” I said softly. “Him and his kind think we’re a disease and he’s punishing us for it… wants us to be too afraid to stand up to them and inspire others like him to get more forceful towards ponies.”
“That’s awful…” Flitter replied.
“Far from the only thing some people in this world will act that way towards.” I answered. “Plenty of times there’s hate and intolerance towards someone or something just for being different, or harder to understand. They decide they want it gotten rid of, or decide it’s bad because it’s not something on their terms, and they convince people who need something to blame their problems on to blame whatever it is they hate.”
Flitter sighed. “I saw a few of Stephanie’s memories… I get she’s had to deal with that first-hoof.” She looked over at me. “But she’s still able to keep on going! You humans are better then you give credit for. You’re brave, determined, adaptable, and when things get bad you work together to fix it as best you can.” The pegasus smiled at me. “And I can see how much Stephanie loves you.”
“Thanks.” I said. “It comes with being in a way harsher world then Equestria, I suppose.” I looked down at my right hoof and raised it up, staring at it. “So… how did this happen? You and… Amethyst able to just take over at random?” I couldn’t help but wonder if Amethyst had taken me for a drive whenever I slept.
“Just happens from time to time I guess. This is the first time for me, honest!” Flitter said, looking as if I were accusing her of something. “I just want to see Equestria again.”
“I don’t blame you. After what I just went through I’d want to be anywhere but here.” I said. “But I can’t stop now. Not while that man and people following him are still out there.”
“That’s really brave… Amethyst is the same with protecting her sister.” Flitter said. “I’ll bet if we make it back she won’t be so ready to part with the costume.” She giggled a little then winced. “Oh… I think Stephanie’s waking up now.” She shook her head a little and closed her eyes for a second, then when she opened them she looked down at herself, then at me. “Kyle?” She asked, confused.
“Good to see you back, Steph.” I said, putting my foreleg around her to give her a hug, then cringing a little from the wound on my chest.
“Careful. I took care of it when I got you home. It’s not too bad just needs a day to heal I think. Still, though… not having hands made it tougher for me.” She ran her hoof through her mane to brush it from her face. “What… was that, anyway?”
“I met Flitter.” I replied. “I guess since that’s her body, every now and then you fall asleep she ends up in control. I don’t think it was intentional, though.”
“Huh…” Steph replied, looking down at her lilac hooves. “The dreams are a weird enough experience already. Am I gonna… become more used to this? Like will it feel more natural to me to be a pony?” She wondered.
“Steph, I’ve been stuck this way longer then you, and I’m still kinda freaked out from it, so until I show any signs I think you’re safe.” I said with a smile as I hugged her a little tighter. She giggled and nuzzled my neck, then glanced at the window with a small smile.
“We really are very cute, though.” She said.
“You’re cuter.” I said, playfully bapping her muzzle with my hoof.
“Says the pretty pink mare.” Steph answered. “The pretty pink mare who saved two ponies and is now the first pony superhero on Earth.”
“Oh, stop.” I said with a sheepish laugh.
“Make me.” She answered in a soft tone, drawing closer as I felt her spread one of her wings and drape it over me.
“I doubt I could…” I said, feeling myself blush heavily as my forehead suddenly rested against hers, and slowly we tilted our heads upward till our muzzled touched one-another. Stephanie’s eyes slowly closed, as did mine, and our lips met.
There are times in our lives, when things get so messed up, things turn so completely upside-down that our emotion and need for something in our lives that still makes sense draws us all the more to those we hold the closest to our hearts. Stephanie was that to me; human or mare. I was the same to her. I drew my hoof up and brushed her soft cheek as I kissed her. Her wing remained draped over me, almost protectively like I was hers. I felt her soft lips press against mine as her own passion rose. The kiss was gentle at first, but as seconds ticked by it grew stronger, more loving. I felt her slowly turn sideways then onto her back, beckoning me. My earlier injury no longer stung at all, the adrenaline rush that was brewing up inside me had seen to that as I knew what she wanted next, what I wanted next.
~
Somewhere over a half hour or so later by my guess, I was laying on my back, staring at the ceiling as my breathing slowed back down.
“See, Kyle? Being female is not so bad, is it?” Steph asked with a giggle as she snuggled up to me.
“I’m not confirming or denying anything.” I answered, looking over at her and putting my foreleg around her, running my hoof through her mane, causing her to sigh in relief.
“I like that. I can see why you enjoyed it when I did it.” She said, turning her head a little and making it easier for me to stroke her mane, at least as best as I could with a hoof.
“See if something’s on TV…” I said, looking over at the remote on the coffee table and floating it into the air, using my magic to press power and do a little channel-surfing till I could find the news. I wasn’t sure how much time had gone by, but maybe it’d have covered what happened now. Possibly re-run it or have it in the papers tomorrow.
Okay, maybe I was being a bit eager for attention on my antics, but I needed to know if I’ve accomplished anything so far. I’d saved lives, but I needed to know if I was doing anything to put fewer in danger.
A few channels later, the usual shock-humor crap they put on Adult Swim, the comically-biased stuff on a news network that was not remotely balanced, and some old black and white movies that weren’t my forte outside the horror genre, I found our local news.
“—reports of two pegasi who claim to have been kidnapped by an extreme branch of PAPA. The pair have stated gratitude towards a mystery pony in a costume who had saved them. The search continues for the suspects responsible in the kidnapping, though none of which have been identified…”
“Hey, Steph, check it out.” I said, gesturing to the TV. The pegasus’ eyes fluttered open and she stared at the screen, watching as the pegasi were then interviewed, discussing what had happened.
“He was gonna clip my wings… just like he did to my husband.” The mare said, putting her hoof around the stallion, who looked downcast and now had bandages over the ends of his wings. I didn’t know pony biology and I couldn’t imagine if they’d grow back or they’d need to see a decent unicorn who specialized in healing magic. “But still, she saved us, and helped drive them off.” The mare continued. “She wore a blue and purple costume, anyone who watched the show probably knows. The Mysterious Mare Do Well is back, and she’s fighting these guys. About time somepony is giving them what they deserve.”
I couldn’t help but smirk, the last part satisfied me the most somehow. I hated bullies, I dealt with them growing up and these guys were among the worst now, and deserved every kind of horrible thing. How long were ponies going to be left having to cower and cave into them? That was gonna change… so very much. Just let them try again…
My thoughts were interrupted when suddenly the anchorwoman mentioned something else as she froze in place, looking at a black envelope. “This just in, an envelope of some kind. Message on it requests to play at once.” She looked to her co-anchor. “Can we do this?” She looked towards the screen. “Should we do this?” She seemed to receive an okay and passed it to someone out of frame, who opened it revealing a CD. “We have received a message, the PAPA logo is on it and has requested it be played at once. We will be on standby to cut if this material becomes unacceptable to air.”
I grew uneasy. The news station didn’t seem to know for sure what to make of it, but appeared to be prepared should things go wrong.
The screen became black and scratchy, and a voice I recognized suddenly spoke. One that sent chills down my back. Stephanie froze in place, cowering as soon as she heard it.
“Good evening, brothers and sisters of PAPA, this message goes out to you from your captain in Richmond, Virginia…” My breathing grew rapid as memories of the fight with the man who called himself the captain came back. The adrenaline had long-since worn off, and the horror of what I had gone up against began to seep in. “This past meeting, we’ve experienced a rather… alarming setback in our message we sought to give the people of this community, our message we sought to give to… educate these lowly creatures our friends, our family members even, have turned into by some baleful yet righteous curse…. but I assure you, my fellow humans, you need not blame yourselves for this show of impurity.” He explained, his tone now like that of a doting parent. “As God marked Cain for his sin, so to have the degenerate of this decaying country that has lowered its bar on a decent and proper society been marked with a form that reflects how far they’ve strayed from what mankind was meant to be! They have been marked, and it is up to us, my brothers and sisters, to punish them!” The video suddenly cut to the pegasus stallion from before, crying for help as several masked men held him down, the captain approaching with his knife drawn to do the damage I’d just seen earlier on the interview, thankfully it turned to black again before that could happen.
“And this message goes to you; the vigilante who resists my attempts to educate your kind of your sins and guide my fellow man to what must be done… do not think that this is over.” The black screen cut to the captain, sharpening his knife with a whetstone. “Understand that your… no doubt well-meaning, but extremely reckless actions are a declaration of war… I will hunt you down, I will see to it you are judged accordingly, and that is a solemn promise before man and God...” With that, the video cut off, and returned to the now admittedly astonished anchors.
“Please… Kyle… turn it off.” Steph said, whimpering. I switched the TV off and looked over at her, I’d not seen her look this terrified in some time and it prompted me to throw my forelegs around her and hold her close as she cried into my chest. It was unusual, seeing my normally bold and upbeat girlfriend like this, and this and the threatening message had left me afraid now, too.
Afraid of if I had done the right thing, or just made PAPA and this man who was leading a group of them here stoop to more extreme lengths then before… afraid that they would go to those lengths to get to me… afraid because Stephanie was now frightened… and afraid of if I’d be able to protect her…