//------------------------------// // Equestrian Exploration // Story: Dream Come True // by SprocketProductions //------------------------------// I woke up early in the morning. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, but I wanted to go out and explore the world that was now my home. I stretched as I leaned over and rolled off my bed onto my hooves. I had begun to become accustomed to my new pony body. I moved it far more naturally and smoothly than the day I woke up in the field. And ponies took notice in my improvement. They all seemed less uncomfortable around me. I picked up a sticky note pad and a pencil with magic. For whatever reason, magic wasn't a problem for me to use. It's like I always knew how to use it, but I just didn't for whatever reason. I wrote a note about going to explore to put on the front desk at my shop, so my employees would know why I was out. I put on my usual armor, necklace, scarf, and boots. I then retrieved my saddlebags, which I had packed on the previous day. I walked outside with the sticky note and walked into my shop, sticking it on the desk at the front of the shop. I then set out on an adventure. I got to the train station, purchasing a ticket to Canterlot. Once the tickets were passed to me, I took a seat next to a window on the train. I set my saddlebags down next to me as I looked out the window at the magestic landscape of oversaturated complimentary colors. The mountain in the distance had a city perched on it that looked like something from ancient myhs, maybe somewhat like Mount Olympus. The city's name was Canterlot. That's where I was going first. Before long, the train began to move. It was a surprisingly smooth ride. I figured I would have to hold my saddlebags to keep them from shaking out of the seat, but they were just fine. I watched the landscape move to the right relatively. I had always found something so peaceful about landscapes moving past when I was in motion. I saw a few pegasi in the sky, dissolving clouds, making way for the sun. It was scheduled to be a clear day. After a few minutes, I realized the mane six themselves were on the train as well, in the car in front of my own. I stuck my head out the window to see Pinkie Pie being herself. I listened in on what they were talking about. There was going to be a wedding. I had never been to a royal wedding before. I only knew that I had connections with a royal guard, so I would be able to get in no problem. I returned to the inside of the train and closed the window. Soon, we approached the entrance to be enchanting city, which was protected by a magical shield, keeping out changelings. I remembered the episode, but before that moment, I had no idea this was THAT royal wedding. I dreaded being in Canterlot for the weekend, as it was going to be stressful. The magical barrier gave way to the train and everypony inside. We passed through safely, but changelings couldn't get through. My worry was interrupted by the majesty of the immense city. There were visuals in the show of this being a large city with beautiful architecture, but nothing could've prepared me for the beauty of this enormous city. The building towered over us with bold designs, every color coordinated with each other, and the landscape work was extremely meticulously manicured. What really struck me was how pristine the whole environment was. The buildings were spotless. Back in Ponyville, the structures nearly always had a little damage and the occasional graffiti tag. I had to paint over some profane artwork on my own shop once, but these pieces of architectural art didn't look like they even once had to be restored to their former glory. Every single structure looked brand new and pristine. When the train stopped, I carried my saddlebags out and looked around. I saw Flutters and Dash step out of the train and waved a hoof nonchalantly for them to silently greet me as well. I walked further into the massive city, looking for a hotel. I found that admission was open for staying in the castle. Having more bits than I knew what to do with, I payed for a room and was escorted to a luxurious room my a very attractive stallion. I flashed him a slightly suggestive blushing look as I walked in, brushing up against him flirtatiously. I had wanted to be of the opposite sex and did find attraction with both for a while as a human, but now my preference largely for females had changed to being attracted to both about equally, and this stallion really caught my eye. I watched him blush as his concentration on remaining stone faced was broken and he looked at me nervously. It was like he had never seen a mare before, come on, dude. It's not like I'm Nightmare Moon or something. I smiled, "You're cute when you blush." "I-umm... I shouldn't be talking on the job if unnecessary..." He replied nervously. Setting my saddlebags down, I approached him, "Well, are you off the job tonight?" "Y-yes ma'am... I am..." The stallion informed, still shaken up. I kissed his cheek a bit, "How about we meet in the courtyard tonight when you get off?" The stallion's wings moved upward and stiffened, "I would... I'd like that... yeah..." "Thought you might... my name's Sprocket. How about yours?" I asked. He said, "Sproc- oh, umm... not Sprocket..." he let out a nervous laugh, "I'm Metalwing... Sprocket is a nice name..." I thanked him as I complimented his and shut the door gently. I quietly celebrated my score. I knew I had just made the stallion's day. I remember being rejected so many times by girls as a human boy. I felt good that I didn't have to be one of those little jerks who lets a man confess his feelings before crushing them into a million pieces. I looked through my saddlebags, seeing I had no dresses. I wanted to look pretty for Metalwing, so maybe I would have a chance at him. I exited the room, taking not of the fact that my new crush had left the hall. I made my way outside the castle. I walked through the streets until I found a dress shop with beautiful fabric artworks in the wearable form in the window. I walked in, attracting the attention of all lf the employees, as I did not look like a pony who wears dresses. A mare walked up to me as the others resumed their work. "Hello there miss! You look lost, did you walk into the wrong store?" She asked me in a slightly narcissistic tone. I replied, "Nope, unless this isn't a dress shop. Don't be condescending to me. I'm smarter than you think." "Oh! Well we are running a dress shop, but these are a bit pricy for a pony of your... class... to put it bluntly..." She spoke to me in a false sympathetic tone. I looked at her like she was an idiot to put her in her place, "What's the most expensive dress you've got?" Several employees looked up, shocked at the proposition. She spoke as two ponies wheeled out a white dress with complex layering, delicate lace work, decorative looking flowers, and pearls in various places, "This is our mkst expensive and beautiful dress. It's 50000 bits. Would you like to try it on?" "Too complicated. There's just so much there that the eyes can't focus on any one thing without being distracted by another. I could easily pay for that, but I don't want it. I'm sure one of your simpler dresses will be no problem." I replied. The three employees' jaws dropped. They looked at each other and whispered. One of them nodded as the two who had rolled out the elaborate garment moved jt to its original position and went to grab another. They came out with a much simpler, far more visually appealing black dress with pleating around it. There was subtle lace work around the waist area and a silky material with ruffles to hold the dress. She smiled confidently at me, "This is one of our more simple black dresses that still has details to it. It's 2000 bits." "Hmm, for that price, thjs one is way more tempting to me. It's a beautiful dress, but I'd like something that lightens my complexion. Black would darken it." I said. The two employees nodded at each other before leaving with the beautiful clothing item and coming back with a breathtaking white one. It looked very similar to Fluttershy's dress from the episode where Rarity made a line for the mane six, only this was more stylized and made of a silky white material. The mare looked at me, "This is a slightly more complex design than the last. It's based off of a design by Rarity herself for Fluttershy. It's 6000 bits." "That's perfect... I want to try it on..." I replied. The dress fit me perfectly, and it made me look beautiful. I was so happy that I had gotten such a beautiful dress for my first. It was put in an odd looking bag for me to take back to my room with me. When I got there, I took a warm bath, cleaning the oil stains off of myself that had built up from working in my shop. I dried myself after cleaning, stepping out of the bathroom and slipping the dress on. I cleaned my golden boots until they glistened in the light. I had no idea they were so shiny before that moment. I slipped them on and looked in the mirror. I looked stunningly beautiful. If I were somepony else, I would've kissed me. Heck, even if I were the human me, I'd kiss the pony me when looking like this. I looked absolutely beautiful. I didn't remember ever seeing myself like this. I rubbed my front right leg against the front left one. The fur felt extremely soft. I had been thinking about that night all afternoon and ended up losing track of time. I looked out the window and it was dark out. I happily walked out of my room and made my way to the courtyard. There, I saw Metalwing waiting. His long, dark blue hair laying down, uncovered by his helmet. I walked up calmly from behind the bench he was sitting at, making my way around it and sitting next to him and giving him a good look at me in the process. "You are the most beautiful mare I've ever seen..." He said to me in a dreamy tone. I smiled at him sweetly, "Thank you. You're the most handsome stallion I've ever seen." "I... have a bit of a confession to make about that..." He timidly responded. I laughed a bit, "What? You use hair extensions? If that's the worst you've got-" He interrupted me, calmly speaking, "I created this image with my own imagination... this isn't really how I look... Now please don't freak out. I'm a changeling... but I'm not like the others. I'd rather starve than feed on other ponies' love and make them think I'm somepony else." "Oh... That's surprising, but hey. You still seem to have a really nice personality. I still like you." I replied. We kissed that night and he ended up sleeping with me in my room that night. I took him back to Ponyville with me when he resigned from the royal guard. I taught him a bit about machines and he taught me a bit of shapeshifting magic. I didn't realize normal ponies could do it. Changelings are just a whole lot better at it. It took me a lot of practice, but I eventually got it.