Rarity drummed her fingernails on the arm of the chair in annoyance. "Rainbow Dash, could you please turn off that repulsive garbage?"
"No way!" Rainbow replied. "Fajeeta's about to fight Sof Taku! I never get to see this episode!"
On Sunset's living room television, a Neighponese cartoon about overly muscular men in gaudy ponchos and sombreros was playing. The two men on the screen were glaring at each other while hunkering down and grunting as though straining to take a massive shit. Rainbow and Pinkie sat watching the screen with rapt attention.
"Let 'em watch their silly cartoon, Rarity," Sunset said. "I don't mind." Behind her, Fluttershy sat running a brush though the unicorn's mane.
Rarity sighed. "Now I wish I'd gone with Applejack to get the food," she said.
Fluttershy gasped suddenly. "Can...can you even eat human food?" she asked Sunset. "I mean...is it safe?"
Sunset shrugged. "Shouldn't be a problem. I mean, you eat pretty much the same stuff here that we eat in Equestria. Well, except you eat a lot more meat and preservatives than ponies do."
Rarity turned to look at her with interest. "You said more meat," she said. "Does that mean—"
"Just fish and poultry, and not all that often," Sunset said. "Well...and I think pork sometimes maybe? I've seen it served, I know earth ponies raise hogs and hogs aren't sapient back home, so..." She frowned. "Huh. Actually, I never really thought about the pigs before..." She shrugged. "Anyway, we don't eat a lot of it, and we don't eat the meat of anything sapient, like cows or sheep."
"I should hope not," Rarity said, shuddering.
"Wait wait," Rainbow said. "Cows talk where you come from?"
"Sure do," Sunset said. She laughed. "I bet it makes milking them pretty awkward."
"Oh my," Fluttershy said. "I wouldn't feel comfortable milking a cow that could talk."
"Do they like, get off on it?" Rainbow wondered. "Are they like, 'oooh yeah, pull my udder, baby—'"
"RAINBOW DASH!" Rarity snapped harshly.
Pinkie rolled around on the floor giggling helplessly. "Tha-that was so, so wrong!"
"Can we please not talk about this again ever?" Fluttershy asked, her cheeks burning.
"Seconded," Sunset said with a sick grimace. "I'm gonna have nightmares about perverted cows forever now."
Applejack returned, carrying three large bags of takeout food. "Did Ah miss anythin'?" she asked.
"Just pervy cows," Rainbow said.
Applejack blinked. "If'n you say so." She went to the kitchen and started unpacking bags; Rarity got up to help her. Working together, the two of them swiftly laid out dinner for six.
"So, any new ideas on what t' do about this?" Applejack asked as they tucked in.
Sunset sighed. "All we can do is wait for Princess Twilight." She frowned. "Oh my gosh...what if she tries to come here? What if—"
"What if she comes out of the portal and doesn't change?" Rarity asked. "Yes, that thought had occurred to me as well. I mean, we've all been aware for some time now that the two of you are...not exactly human, but until now I'd never given much thought to the whole thing." She tilted her head. "Do you think she'll change if she comes through? Or will she change and then have this happen to her too?"
Sunset shrugged. "I have no idea. I don't even know why this happened."
Halfway through dinner, the journal began to glow and vibrate. The girls all looked at one another apprehensively.
Sunset took a deep breath, opened it, and read:
Sunset Shimmer,
I sent Spike through the portal as a test to see what would happen. When he came back, he reported that he didn't turn into a dog this time. Luckily nobody saw him, but until I understand what's going on, I can't risk coming to your world.
While the portal was open, I did notice one strange thing. The thaumetric pressure between our two worlds had a much more even reading than it did the last time I was there. I'll need to consult with Princess Celestia and do some research in Starswirl the Bearded's library in Canterlot, but I have a theory, and if I'm right...this isn't the only thing that's about to happen to your world. You need to be careful and watch out for yourself. I know you can take care of yourself, but don't take any crazy chances.
It may take a while to research the change in thaumetric pressure and what it means. I'm closing the portal in the meantime, and I recommend you tell Principal Celestia what's going on. At the very least, it'll make it easier for her to understand the situation and cover for you at school.
I'm sorry, but you'll have to deal with this for now. Best of luck! I'll get back to you as soon as I possibly can.
Your friend,
Princess Twilight Sparkle
Sunset closed the journal and floated it over to her living room bookshelf.
"So...Twilight can't fix this?" Pinkie asked, worry in her eyes.
Sunset sighed. "I don't know if she can or not," she said. She sank low to the floor, her ears pinned back. "I don't...want to have to go back to Equestria and leave you girls," she said. "But if...if Twilight can't find a way to make me human again..."
"It doesn't matter," Rarity said. "Friendship conquers all, does it not? Whatever happens, we'll find a way to remain friends for life."
"You bet we will!" Rainbow agreed.
"Always," Fluttershy said with a smile.
Sunset sniffled. "Thanks..." She frowned. "Thaumetric pressure," she mused, rubbing her muzzle with a hoof. "Thaumetric pressure...leveling out..."
"What the heck is whatever that is?" Rainbow asked.
"Well, you know how the weather behaves according to atmospheric pressure?" Sunset asked. At Rainbow's confused headshake, she groaned. "The rest of you pay attention in science class, right?"
"When th' pressure's high, th' air is dry," Applejack said. "When th' pressure's low, she's gonna blow."
Sunset rolled her eyes. "Something like that." She stood up and began to pace. "Well, the flow of magic behaves a lot like the flow of air currents. In Equestria, all that means is that some places, like Canterlot, have a higher concentration of magic than other places, like the Buffalo tribe lands. Ponies shape the flow and pressure of magic in Equestria by using—or not using—their innate magic.
"But until I brought Twilight's crown through the portal, this world was a virtual magical dead zone. Magic couldn't exist here because the world itself suppressed it, and the only time magic of any kind ever really functioned was when the portal was open. The portal is an anomaly in this world's natural thaumetric pressure."
Sunset looked around at her friends. "But then you all became connected to the Elements of Harmony," she said. "You manifested Equestrian magic. Then the Sirens, whose magic had been suppressed by this world's thaumetric pressure, became more powerful when they entered a pocket of thaumic turbulence, namely CHS." She frowned. "Using the journal to force open the portal, then all the magic we unleashed at the Battle of the Bands..."
"Sounds t' me," Applejack said slowly, "like yer sayin' Equestria's a big pitcher full'a lemonade, an' our world's a big empty glass. An' all this pony magic stuff goin' on lately done poured us a big tall glass o' lemonade."
"That's...actually a pretty good analogy," Sunset said. "We've flooded this world with so much Equestrian magic that whatever force turns ponies into humans when they cross the portal...broke. Ponies and their magic can exist in their natural state in this world now." She frowned. "But if that's the case, then..."
"So is there any way we can, y'know, pour this magic lemonade back in the pitcher?" Rainbow asked.
Sunset shook her head. "I don't know, but...if there's a way to fix this, it has to happen on Princess Twilight's side." She gestured with a hoof. "I think, anyway. It's been a long time since I studied this kind of thing, but I'm pretty sure they'll have to find a way to suck all the Equestrian magic back through the portal."
"Oh! Like cleaning up an oil spill?" Fluttershy asked. "Or sucking the venom out of a snake bite?"
Everyone stared at her.
"...wow, Fluttershy," Sunset said after a moment. "For someone who likes the idea of talking magical ponies, you sure make us sound like a bad thing."
Fluttershy ducked her head. "Sorry," she said softly. "I just...I wanted to try making an analogy too..."
Sunset rolled her eyes. "Anyway...the biggest problem with that is that all the magic has to go. Which means..." She swallowed. "I'll have to be turned human again and drained of my natural magic, or...or go back to Equestria. And...the portal would have to be sealed. Forever."
The others gasped. "You mean...we'd never see you or Twilight ever again?" Pinkie said softly, her hair wilting.
"That's worst-case scenario!" Sunset said, making a placating gesture with her hooves and smiling reassuringly. "Don't worry, I-I'm sure Princess Twilight will come up with a better solution!"
In the tense, miserable silence that followed, Rarity cleared her throat. "Well then," she said. "Until we hear back from Twilight, we'll simply have to deal with this situation as best we can. You'll need to ask Principal Celestia to come over here so you can explain everything to her, of course. The rest of us will need to tend to your shopping and bringing you homework assignments and such." She paused. "And I'll need to take your measurements so I can create a wardrobe for you. Not to be indelicate, darling, but...you're quite naked at the moment."
Sunset frowned. "Well, yeah...I might have lived in Canterlot, but I was never one for dressing up like the elite snobs..."
Rarity's cheeks turned slightly pink. "Err...yes, well...my point is..."
"Yer twat's a-showin'," Applejack said.
Sunset planted her rump firmly on the ground, eyes wide and mouth flat. "Yeesh," she said. "Sorry, it's just...ponies don't really pay attention to that. Not like here." She ducked her head. "But...you're probably right. I guess I'll need something to wear until all this is settled." Her ears fell. "Even though I'm probably not leaving this apartment anytime soon..."
Fluttershy hugged Sunset tightly. "It'll be alright," she said soothingly. "We're all here with you, no matter what."
"Yeah!" Pinkie agreed, joining the hug. "Bestest friends forever!"
"Uh-huh!" Rainbow said, grinning confidently.
"You betcha!" Applejack chimed in.
"Absolutely, darling!" Rarity said.
"WONDERCOLTS FOREVER!" the six of them cheered, jumping into the air.
And then the five human girls spontaneously grew pony ears and tails, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy grew wings, and Rarity grew a horn out of her forehead.
They all paused and blinked at one another.
"Whuh-oh," Applejack said.
Brittany Spears song title parody?
Check
Sunset as a pony in cover art?
Check.
This is gonna be interesting.
Hmm, if the magic leaking into the EG universe is balancing out, it makes one wonder if the ponies of Equestria will soon be walking on two legs, and whether at some point instead of a human and a pony universe you'd end up with two Furry universes...
6247282 It's balancing, not mixing. It just means Equestrian magic is able to exist openly in the human world now and the failsafes the portal enacted are dead. It won't have any actual effect on Equestria, but it could have some unexpected consequences for the human world...
This is a great start to a story I have always wanted to see done. I hope the sirens will be making an appearance in the story, it would be hilarious since they don't have back legs and would literally have to drag themselves across the floor to get anywhere, or even better lay on little trolleys to get around.
I can never look at cows the same way ever again. Hooray for honest apple human.
My love of this concept is tempered only by the fact that I want to write this story. Well, not quite this story. I wasn't planning on making Sunset into a unicorn right away, but it is/was going to revolve around thaumic propagation in the human universe. Of course, I have no idea how to end mine...
But that's neither here nor there. The point is, I obviously have interest in the concept. I look forward to seeing where you go with this.
6247377 Thanks! And you'll figure it out someday.
Also, love the new avatar.
You mentioned there was.more stories like this. Where can I find them?
6247585 I honestly have no idea, I just know I've seen stories where this idea has been used (regrettably, after I'd had the idea myself but never got around to doing anything with it.)
Rainbow Dash asking the important questions.
6247613
If it makes you feel better I don't think even a single one of those ever really reached the point of completion. Good luck.
Well, this is an interesting concept, and so well explained...
Huh, never thought I'd see another story like this. And now I feel threatened (don't ask how my instincts work) and I feel like I need to continue my story. Eh, I needed to update it anyway. Thanks for the push and looking forward to reading more.
Oh Applejack... never change.
AJ, something just tells me that, given what;s about to blow up in your and the girls' lives, "Whuh-oh" is a bit of a major understatement here.
Anyway, can't wait til Chapter 3 pops up, as this is already getting more than a little interesting.
And I noticed something at the end.
As we all know, whenever the girls "pony up", as I think one of the EG books puts it, they all get the ears, but only Rainbow and Fluttershy (and Twilight) got the wings of their Equestrian counterparts. Rarity never got the horn of Pony Rarity.
So I wonder why the change.
(Yeah, I know. That'll be explained soon enough. Right, Mythril?)
As the old saying goes, though, "This gun be goooood!"
this is great i am so glad i found this story! it is amazing so far, cant wait for the next chapter.i am so glad you decided to write it,kudos to you!
Why do we always suffering all sorts of side effects from magic.
Or our world,at least.
6247721 *sigh* That's just our lot in life, I'm afraid.........
6247718 Yep! Rarity growing a horn is a plot point that'll be explained soon enough.
6247613
I know I read one story that had a similar concept to this, but I'm not sure it ever got past the first chapter...
6247739 She's just starting to build a real life for herself, with friends and a place she belongs. Back in Equestria, all she'd have are constant reminders of her failure as Celestia's student...
That's how I see it, anyway. Poor Sunset.
6247721
Cause is funny?
6247744 Hmm, never looked at it that way. Still closing off the portal forever? I sure hope that isn't going to happen. I've been playing with the idea (and it has been done already as a crossover story) sort of like the magic of friendship spreading like a "good disease", like the principals getting power over the sun and moon, the students starting to show traits of the three pony tribes and other equestrian creatures and slowly the effect goes from CHS into the whole town and from there it goes almost like plague inc. If friendship could be spread via water supply or something. Oh wait, they did a special game with the neurax worm...
6247377
Mine was Princess Twilight getting stuck in the wrong side of the portal with the Element of magic and then Discord transforming human dash into pegasus Dash to say that he wanted to talk with Twilight.
"Hi, lovely fans! Oh, and hi to those who hate me, how are you doing? Actually, scratch that, I don't really care!" Discord waved his lion paw in front of the camera. He was floating over a desert-like area with odd chaotic structures.
"For those here who haven't got the pleasure to meet me yet, my name is Discord. I am what you could call a Trickster figure. Now, I am sorry to disappoint a lot of you, but if you think that I am responsible for Princess Twilight Sparkle being stuck in the human world, think again." Discord then snapped his right claw and the human Rainbow Dash, clothed with just underwear and a nightgown, appeared floating in front of him.
"Uh? Who are you? Where am I?" Rainbow Dash said confused... was she dreaming? Who was this strange Chimera in front of her?
"My name is Discord, and I've got a message for Princess Twilight Sparkle." Discord snapped his claws again and changed the human Rainbow Dash into her pony counterpart. The only difference was that since the former human Rainbow Dash had never done the Sonic Rainboom, she didn't have a cutie mark.
"Uh? What the hell?" Dash looked herself over, a bit self conscious of being naked, and tried to cover herself the best she could. And then she finally noticed that she was blue... and that she had hooves instead of hands. "What did you do to me?"
"Oh no, we aren't doing the 'I just got turned into a pony' routine, bye bye." Discord snapped his claws a third time and Rainbow Dash was gone.
"Now, where was I? Ah yes, I did not make the so-called Princess Of Friendship get stuck in the wrong side of the mirror. However, that doesn't mean I can't have some fun with that, can I?" Discord then sat down in a floating throne, got some popcorn out of nowhere and started eating it.
"And that's all for today folks, don't worry, you will get more of me soon, even if you don't want to!" Discord snapped the tip of his tail like it was a hand and everything faded to black.
From the story The Wrong Twilight.
6247740
I kinda had a hunch that would be the case, actually.
Can't wait til you reveal it!
6247753 Exploding nuclear bomb in Equestria is funny if I'll keep thinking in the same way as you.
So magic transforming/killing humans - isn't.
Also detonating NB on Equs is like letting their magic in our world,yeah.
I would like to se what it could do and what side effects can appear after this.
And do not say "You're maniac, human!". Many authors had done this to the Earth,but in their own way
Does mean the sirens should be turning back into flying sea serpents?
Well that certainly complaints things. Thought, if you think about it the transformation was obvious. Since now that Sunset is a unicorn her own aura is more potent enough to active the transformation in each of the other CHS girls. I wonder how the Dazzlings are holding up. Only if they're still near CHS, so any consideration of having them show up to either get some magic back or to return to Equestria. If the Dazzlings have changed back to their Equestrian forms it will be kinda of funny to see them move around in fins and flippers.
6247810
Is just a silly story about taking ponies.
6247764 That sounds like a cross between The Conversion Bureau and The Strain.
6247816 Could be
6247810
You're sounding like one of those 'Humans are the best thing ever!' nutters. It's just a good story. Roll with it.
6247744 all she did in Equestira is steal a crown. On Earth she destoryed part of the school, mind controled the students. I think she would be more accepted back in Equestira.
6247820 This is mysanthropy propaganda which says "Humans cannot do anything against magic.We aree weak", but looks like only me and guys from the REN-TV can see that message.
That's whynI have concept of the " Harmonizer"
6247837 Oh man, why do all people think I'm planning a bureau story. I'm not even a fan of those.
6247743 where?
6247613 meh that. scavanger hunt!
6247838 I didn't say what story is bad.Story is good,twist is bad.
Am I sound like one of those?This is because I am one of those.
Transfotmation plague is a cliche which I don't like.
It shows humans unable to conquer a threat,they always need help of ponies.
More like TCB stories tell what humans are worser than ponies.My thought is what we are equal.
But they thing I hate more than idea is forced acception of the transformation.You forced to accept it because of the circumstances (TCB) or you don't have a chosse at all and turning into a pony because of someone's will or because of side effects appearing on humans.
I really like this. Don't forget Snips and Snails were also transformed by Equestrian magic.
Also, I wonder if some people will try to get close to try to get some of the cool magical abilities.
It's often been assumed that since someone who came from Equestria turned human, someone going the other way would turn into a pony. Is that still true? Was it ever true? Or can humans now exist in Equestria?
Liked and faved! This is a good story here.
6247317
6247282 (this is more to the downvoters than anyone else...)
On our end, we don't know exactly how humans/ponies work. For all we know, ponies are the final stage of a magically inclined human, and there are intermediate stages.
You're the writer, and your word is law, but based solely on info given in the story, quix's conclusion isn't that far out.
Assuming the EoH's transformation was special, because they skipped through all intermediate Stages.
6247744 Or it could also be an opportunity to start over. It isn't right to run away from your problems like that.
Also, why would Sunset be down about being a unicorn in the human world? That would be AWESOME. It makes her unique, and she can use magic all she wants now. She could help all kinds of people with her unicorn magic more than she ever could as a human. So even if she didn't feel like going back to Equestria, why would she want to be a human in the human world again?
6248315 She's seen enough scifi to know where that would go.
Autopsy!
Wow...just two chapters for the story and its got a place in my favorite's shelf already.
This just got interesting. Looks like there's so much magic in the human world, that the humane five got their pony traits.
6248361 What about superhero movies?
6248480 Those don't usually turn out very well for the aliens either. Did you see the Avengers? They nuked and killed all the aliens! It ended in xenoxide and then everybody partied over Shwarma! The only exception is when they don't look like aliens, for example Thor and Superman.
6248489 Rocket Raccoon and Krypto the Superdog would like a word with you.
6248542 Well Rocket doesn't really live on earth, he's off flying with a troop of other aliens and one human who grew up with aliens. He's also too badass for anybody to even try an autopsy.
And Krypto doesn't look alien, he looks like a normal earth dog.
Whuh-oh is right, AJ. Soon you and the others may fully turn into your pony counterparts.
Definitely tracking to see where this goes