Chapter 3: Fever Dreams
The cheese man said that when people don’t change their minds, their minds change them. I nodded in agreement as he went up and a ball of flame, turning into a dragon and eating me. I landed on a giant ice cream mountain in a sea of chocolate pudding. I saw Discord off in the distance, saying that gravity is a lie, and the act of skating up a slope is as normal as any other thing before I was pushed onto the rollercoaster. It went round and round until I landed in a giant jello filled with gummy sharks. I tried to swim away, but the candy corn spider wouldn’t let me. Suddenly, everything went dark as four eyes appeared, the shape of a pony and a human appeared.
“Don’t worry,” said Luna, “You’re waking up.”
“Only a few more minutes,” said John as they faded away. I was suddenly cornered by the candy corn spiders. I look around to see the cheese man laughting while skipping rope with entrails.
I sat bolt upright in the bed, screaming. I looked around, screaming “WHERE IS THE CHEESE MAN!” A boy with white hair appeared, a horn sticking from his head and wings from his back, with one eye slightly larger than the other.
“Calm down,” he said as I tried to push him away. I suddenly felt somthing soft and fluffy and purple drape itself over me. Luna looked at me with a worried look on her face.
“Be calm,” said Winter from behind her, “Luna and I will be with you, go back to sleep.”
I complied, drifiting off into a deep slumber, dreaming of tea parties with the Winter, Luna and the cheese man, who they constantly called Sheogorath.
I awoke to the bright sun in my eyes. It suddenly disappeared as Luna used her wing to shield me while Winter closed the curtains.
“Feeling better,” Celestia asked. I hadn’t noticed her standing beside Luna until she spoke.
“Yes,” I replied simply. I immediately felt someone embraceing me, and turned to see Ted hugging me despite being covered in bloodstained sheets. He had shortened since, wait, how long had I beem out?
“How long was I asleep,” I asked, turning to Luna, Winter and Celestia.
“A whole day,” said Winter, “We were worried you weren’t going to wake up until around midnight, when you did just that.”
“Your horn bled alot,” said Ted, “But Prince Winter said that was only because that Starlight’s blood magic would appear to love causing you trouble.”
I blinked at this, “Wait, Starlight? I thought John initiated the changes.” “First, call me Winter, not John,” Winter said, “And secondly, I was making sure that Starlight performed the spell correctly on you. She became a bit rushed as we closed in on her, and you were one of the last to be affected.”
“You mean that new pony fashion trend isn’t actually a fashion trend,” I asked.
“Indeed,” said Winter, “More of a misinterpretation of something very bad. A few of her more recent victims have died due to pains like you are experiencing, but only because of an error in the spell. They all died, but the spell Starlight performed on you seems to have been executed properly. Must be due to your high magical potential.”
I nodded, acknowledgeing the fact that he was probably right. “Doesn’t make it hurt any less, though,” I said.
“Oh, I’m sure a nice trip to the spa will help ease the tension,” said Celestia, “We can have lunch together afterwards.”
“Okay,” I said, “That sounds nice.”
I took a moment examine my new horn. The bone was showing, but still white. I reached to touch but was stopped by Winter. “Your horn is very sensitive right now,” he said, “It would be wise to leave it be for a few hours.” I nodded in agreement, placing my hand on the side of my head instead. It was then I noticed a violet hair in front of me. I tried to brush it away, but it returned. I then tugged on it, and yelped as a pain made itself known in my forehead.
“I would not recommend pulling your hair,” said Winter. So, purple hair, I thought, at least it’s not pink with purple polka-dots. I later learned there were strands of white in there, too.
Discord suddenly materialized in front of the bed. Truthfully, after seeing a real Celestia and Luna, I expected him to look worse than he did. “Your highnesses,” he said hurriedly, “Starlight has been captured.” The room went quiet for a good while after this.
“How many others did she get before we got her,” asked Winter.
“We don’t know, but Zecora has begun searching.”
“So, no spa and lunch then,” I said at length.
“No, that’s still on,” Winter said, “I’ll have my agents begin searching for the affected, and have them inform Andrew Ryan and Tsar Nicholas to look for the affected as well.”
“Wait, the Tsar Nicholas? As in the Grand Tsar of Russia Tsar Nicholas,” Ted asked.
“Yes,” said Winter, “Him and me go way back to the First Age. He’s an immortal, you know, and so can visit Equestria without the need to change into a pony.”
I pondered this for a moment, “Why do we need to become ponies when we come here?”
“Well,” said Winter, “Humans are still a rare site in Equestria, though ponies in Solstice very common. Ponies are already familliar with me, but not with the Tsar. He only is allowed here, in the palace, and can only leave if he is a pony. The ponies can tell if one is not native to Equestria, and those who do not change tend to be shunned. I’m one of the first natives of Equestria, so I’m good, and turning you into ponies makes you a native and gives you a place here in Equestria.”
“I see,” I said, “Change us because there’s no other way to normally fit in.”
“Exactly,” Winter replied, “Now, I do think a trip to the spa as Celestia recommends is now the best course of action. Me and Luna will see you two there, the last few months dealing with Starlight have been a real strain, and I do think a victory massage is in order.”