Remarks
Love and Tolerance
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic © Hasbro & Lauren Faust
By: TOO S0BER
--***::: Chapter 15 :::***--
Remarks
Knock. Knock.
“Hey guys?” I asked to the closed door to my parents’ master bedroom. Mom and Ashley had just entered. “I’ll be there in a little bit, ‘kay?”
“Sure honey!” Mom called out from the other side of the door, her tone regaining some of her cheer from before. I also heard a happy squeal that must have come from Ashley.
My ears perked and my eyebrow rose up at the noise. And just what had her so happy? I wondered.
Oh well, I shrugged and turned away from the door. I’ll find out soon enough.
I trotted away towards the front door where Marcus had stormed off. I knew it would have been better to let him cool off on his own, but the worry growing in my chest wouldn’t let me leave it be. I wanted to make sure he was okay and not, I don’t know, punching a wall or something. I had done so before at work and broke my hand some half a year ago, because one of my bosses was being a complete moron. Broken bones were not fun!
“Hmmm,” I glanced at my right fore hoof as I walked. Did that injury carry over? I thought, then paused to sit back on my flanks and rub my wrist experimentally. After the bone had healed it left a small knot on my hand -- the doctor said that that was natural, and nothing to worry about.
I felt around what would be my best guess as to where the knot should be… and found nothing. I hummed as my brow creased, then prodded around secondary suspects on my hoof. Several prods later and I still could not find the little healed bump. Setting my left hoof back down, I gazed curiously at my right.
Could the ponification have reset my body in some aspects? I thought to myself. I didn’t dare say or think ‘that doesn’t make sense’ or the opposite, as I still partially feared for my sanity from this whole mess. But it was kinda weird though. Now that I thought about it, I brought my hoof up to my temple and took stock of my old glasses that had not been perched on my face ever since that first morning; that and the stark, twenty-twenty clarity of the world around me.
So, in addition to a species and gender swap, it seemed some flaws and old injuries had disappeared as well. I grinned like an idiot. Totally not complaining about this.
I chuckled quietly to myself as I got back up and made my way to the door and Marcus again. The front door was little challenge since the mechanism was that of a lever and not a knob -- thank God. It gave in to my hoof powers easily and I slid the door open.
Immediately I saw Marcus just a few yards down the path, his back to the house and myself. I smiled and started trotting towards him -- then stopped as my ears perked to his voice. Only now did I notice he was on his cell phone, talking -- no, nearly yelling -- at whoever was on the other line.
Marcus never yelled, I thought curiously with a tilt of my head. His body language completely kicked my thoughts out the window; his unoccupied hand was balled in a fist at his side, and he was pacing just a few steps at a time, always turning just short of trampling on the flower beds at either side of the concrete walkway.
Okay, he wasn’t actually yelling, but his tone suggested that he was barely holding back a livid anger that I had never seen from him before.
Thanks to the traffic of the four lane next to the house, I couldn’t quite make out what he was saying -- and my twitching ears were trying, too. I took a few cautious steps, slow and steady so my hoof clopping doesn’t give me away.
“-- not be what I think it is, Alex…” Marcus said, then paused as someone else said something in the phone, too quiet for me to pick up.
He sighed exasperatedly, “Good. I saw the news and… yeah… mhm… alright, I’ll be there…” Marcus hung up the phone and slipped it back into his pocket, the call obviously over. He sighed heavily once more and brought his fingers up to pinch the bridge of his nose.
“What were they thinking,” he muttered, crossing his arms as he did so. “I told them no, that it’s ridiculous…”
Curious. Who’s this ‘Alex’ and what were they talking about? He mentioned the news -- was he talking about those two murders? I stood there contemplating as Marcus did the same with his back to me still.
Well, no use thinking about it now, I guess, I thought as I watched him. Don’t make assumptions Sam. You don’t have the full picture.
I took a deep breath and pushed away the thoughts of the phone call I had eavesdropped on, and waited another few seconds so I could avoid suspicion -- it’d be a little too convenient to tap his shoulder right now.
Thirty seconds later, I decided it was time to check on him.
I took another breath, and then started flapping my wings until I managed a hover. That same weightless vertigo appeared in my hooves as I suppressed the urge to scrabble for purchase on the ground that was no longer under my hooves. A few seconds and feet later, and I was just about eye level with Marcus. I tilted forward ever so slightly until I was right behind him, then tapped his shoulder.
He turned around and my face was a mere inch from his. I grinned real big and shouted, “HEY BUDDY!”
“Gyah!” he yelled in surprise -- then he fell.
I watched him land on the concrete from my hover, my grin gone. “Oh jeeze! You okay?” I halted my flapping and landed with a light clop next to him.
Marcus groaned and rubbed his back as he looked at me. He rolled his eyes with a smirk, and for some reason I blushed while grinning sheepishly.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he said as he got back up. “Just don’t do that, okay? You’re way too cute when you do that…”
Well he seems to be oka-- wait, what!?
Did he just call me cute? My blush deepened for some reason and I stumbled over my words.
“Huh?” I nearly squeaked. Tell me he was joking. Tell me it was a semi-snide remark.
Marcus blinked blankly for a moment, then looked away.
I felt my eyes go wide. What…?
He coughed then looked at his watch. “Hey, I need to go take care of some stuff. You and Ashley going to be okay here for a while?”
I stared at him for long moments as I still tried to process what just happened.
“Uh-huh,” I said blankly.
Marcus smiled at me… then started walking back to the car. He waved as he got in, me watching him the entire way. I didn’t stop until his car pulled out and drove away.
He called me cute. I repeated in my brain; the blush hadn’t quite gone away as a small smile tugged at my --
GYAH! No! I shook my head rapidly. No, no, no! Bad mare body!
-----------------------------------------
I waited outside for just a few minutes more so that the blush could recede in its entirety, watching the traffic go by for entertainment. I also found some enjoyment in Mom’s flower garden that lined the concrete path, the multitude of colors and scents pleasing to my eyes and nose, and I couldn’t help but lean over and sniff a few.
I’m chalking it up to more pony abilities, but I swear these smell so much better now. The fragrance was so much… more enticing.
I frowned at that train of thought, and while I wasn’t hungry, food came to mind.
“Ponies eat flowers, don’t they…” I rhetorically asked myself, still gazing at the flowers with a quirked eyebrow.
I hummed, tilting my head at the plants and wondered just what they tasted like. Surely it couldn’t taste any different than bland grass or something… surely it’d taste horrible, right? Or would it be the same kind of deal as some regular foods, where they’re kind of an ‘acquired’ taste?
I sighed a bit at my lengthy pondering that was getting me nowhere. “Here goes nothing…” I then chuckled. “Hope Mom doesn’t find out…” And with that, I bent down and snagged the head off of a blue tulip with my teeth, and started to chew thoughtfully.
Well, I was only half right. It didn’t taste horrible, but it wasn’t like I just bit into a delicious treat either. It seemed to have a mild taste as I chewed the pedals, almost like a french fry that had no salt added to it after coming out of the frier. There was a small crunch and I paused; then there was an almost berry-like sweetness flowing into my mouth.
“Whoa~” I blinked, then chewed more after my pause. I don’t really know anything about plants, but if I had to guess I’d say I just crunched the nectar bulb or something -- the same thing that bees must harvest from to make their honey.
I swallowed and licked my lips, “Wow… who’d have thought….” I quirked an eyebrow and smiled at the plants -- and wondered if the other colors had a different flavor to each one.
Ever the curious, I bit off the bulbs of one flower after another; two other colored tulips, a daisy, and a red rose, though I nearly bit too far into the thorns. And I was right. Each flower had that initial dull taste until that hard bud was popped. The tulips had essentially the same berry-like sweetness while the daisy had an almost citrus kind -- which seemed odd to me. The rose though… that one sent me for a trip! I couldn’t pin the flavor, but it made my mouth tingle a bit.
I kinda wanted to try more, but I had to stop myself. If I kept eating, Mom would undoubtedly notice… and then I’d be a dead pegasus. I chuckled nervously at the thought and backed away with my ears down. “Er, yeah…” I quickly walked back to the door and entered the house again with a sigh.
I frowned a little as I felt my heart pounding a bit, holding a hoof to my chest. My back twitched and I looked to see my wings were up again. I rolled my eyes and groaned, “Oh come on…” I thrust my hoof to my forehead and then forced the damned things back down.
“Damn wingboners…” I muttered again and made my way to the bedroom door, then knocked a tad harder than I meant to. “You two still at it?”
“Yeah,” I heard Mother’s voice again. “Where have you been honey?”
Eating your garden. “Just talking to Marcus,” I partially lied. “I think he’ll be okay. Are you guys decent? Can I come in?” I smirked a little at the absurdity. Here I am, naked, asking to come in and I’m asking them if they are ‘decent’. Irony.
The door opened a moment later, and I couldn’t help but jump a bit before entering. I looked around at the familiar bedroom. “Alright, and just what have you… been… up to….”
My words dropped off as I caught sight of a familiar gray unicorn. My eyes danced over a familiar set of clothes that she usually wore whenever we went and did stuff -- except tailored to fit perfectly on the new pony body she had.
My eyes danced over my crush. Blue jeans -- the regular kind, not the skinny ones -- hugged her hind legs and flank with her long tail sticking out of an expertly placed hole near the waist. A long sleeved, white undershirt covered her torso and fore legs, with just a few inches of her hooves exposed by both that and the jeans. Lastly she had on a purple, collared jacket whose sleeves stopped just above her elbows. It was my favorite casual outfit that she wore, and just like how it accentuated her human form, it did a lot for the pony version too.
Pomf.
I winced at the audible noise and the all-too-familiar twitch on my back, which triggered that contemptible blush to reappear on my face.
God damnit…
Ashley had a beautiful, happy smile on her face, her mane actually pulled back in a ponytail with one of her purple scrunchies. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she had forgotten everything bad that had happened in the last few days as she looked at me.
“You like, hmm?” She chuckled, then twirled around just to tease me. And by God it worked so well!
“Y-yeah,” I squeaked, my unblinking eyes glued to her.
Mother was smirking off to the side, but I hardly paid her any mind.
Ashley looked down at her old ensemble, a contented and warm look on her face that voiced her pleasure. “Thank you so much… I can’t begin to tell you how much I hated not wearing clothes,” the unicorn said gratefully, then briefly shivered before adding, “And in public too.”
Mom chuckled, then said, “You’re absolutely welcome Ashley, dear. Please, by all means, bring your whole wardrobe…” She smiled happily, then looked at me. “You too. I don’t know how long it’ll take for stores to make and sell pony-clothes, but I don’t want you two spending a fortune just to replace the old ones.”
I nodded, and eventually my trance on Ashley faded to a faint throb in my chest. “Okay, s-sure.”
“Oh!” Mom clasped her hands together and leaned off the wall she was on. “I modified some of your clothing a bit more, Sam.” She walked into the master bedroom’s closet that was in the bedroom.
I turned to follow --
“Eeep!” I squeaked again as something yanked on my rear, preventing me from advancing. I looked at my tail and noted the faint yellow glow surrounding it.
Ashley giggled as I looked at her, the horn on her head awash in the same aura color. “No peeking~” she half sing-songed.
I stared as I was held in place by her… magic, and tried to yank myself free. “Since when do you have that much strength with your magic?” I asked, baffled by this apparent fact. Back at the mall she could barely lift a fork without passing out, and before she had levitated dishes and stuff, and tugged my tail hard enough for me to yelp back when -- stopping right there.
She chuckled again with a small, adorable roll of her eyes. “Well, I’ve been obsessing over this ‘magic’ thing, truth be told.” Ash gave a nod and then let my tail sag back down, the aura faded around her horn. After that she gave a deep breath and wiped away a couple beads of sweat off her brow. “I practiced at Marcus’ too, but it’s still so tiring. I kind of want to hurry this along, you know?”
I gave a nod with a warm smile. “Yeah, I can imagine…” I said as I gazed back at my wings, reminded that I have not yet given these puppies a real flight yet. Sure, I somewhat flew at the Mall, but that didn’t really count in my opinion; it wasn’t the same as soaring in the great blue skies. Maybe that’s why I’ve been feeling so restless lately…
Mother returned right then, a bundle of fabric carried in both of her arms. She hefted the pile onto the bed with a huff, then leaned back with a breathless tone, “Okay! I changed a few things and modified some of Shelby’s old clothing for you, Sam.”
I blinked as she stated that, “Some of Shelby’s…?” I questioned. Mom nodded in response as Ashley merely grinned. Oh boy…
“However, the first thing you need to get used to is the new underwear, dear,” Mom spoke as she picked up a pair of panties, and I blushed hard as I stared at them.
“Wh-what!?” I squeaked, and took a defensive step back. P-panties!? Was she serious?!
Mother rolled her eyes at me, “Yes, Sam… panties. It’s just underwear, stop being a baby…”
Ashley giggled, “Hey, just be glad you don’t have to fool around with a bra, Sam~”
I stuttered and gasped, still in shock at the revelation. My eye twitched as I looked at each of them and the mischievous smirks they wore. My eyes must have widened impossibly as it hit me, and I sucked in more air. “Y-you’re… you two… you’re enjoying this! Aren’t you!?” I looked between them again as though I were cornered by two predators that were after me.
Mother sighed a little, then held the pink undergarment for me to see. She pointed at a hole near the hem, sewn with stretching fabric. “I adjusted them with a hole for your tail.” She tugged on it with her finger and the opening stretched. “It will comfortably let your tail through without squeezing too tightly,” she explained, but I was still fighting hyperventilation at the fact that she wanted me to wear them.
Ash nodded. “Mhm. And so far they feel pretty good.”
So she’s wearing a pair too, huh? For some reason that calmed me down a little bit. I don’t know why, but it did. But this wasn’t even an adjustment for Ashley, though… I mean, my entire life I had worn just plain boxers and now I have to wear these? It felt wrong in every which way, even though physically it was right. It was a change that I wasn’t even sure I was ready fo--
I eeped as I felt an arm slide over my back, over my wings, and then a hand on my tummy. My hind hooves were lifted a few inches off the ground. “It’s not so bad, Sammy, once you get used to it you’ll see it’s not a big deal…” Mother’s warm voice said to me as I gazed back.
While I was distracted with my confliction, she had knelt next to me and started working the underwear around my hooves and up my hind legs. My face burned in perhaps the hottest blush I’ve had since turning into a pegasus mare, and I gazed back at Ashley as my ears folded. She was smiling, but not in that ‘smirk’ that said it was a derisive enjoyment -- basically not the mocking kind that I would have expected from Marcus.
I kept my eyes on Ashley, using her calm demeanor to anchor myself into sanity as Mother worked. The garments finally hugged against my flank and waist, and my mother fed my tail through the hole and… it did feel comfortable. When Mom got back up, I turned my side around to get a better look. The panties hugged against me, snug but not tight. And now that they were closer I realized they weren’t some frilly-frilly lacy kind of thing like I initially thought -- aside from being pink, they were ordinary. They even had the same waistband logo as my old male boxers.
“Okay,” I said uncertainly as I tried to let my heart rate subside. I stepped around a little bit, trying to get a feel. “Okay… they are kinda comfy…” I admitted quietly.
My mother squeed with a clap of her hands, and Ashley smiled at me. I grinned back bashfully, then started to take them off when Mom’s hand stopped me. I looked up at her, and instantly knew why. “I need to practice it too, I mean, so I can dress myself…” I smiled up reassuringly, trying to let her know that I wasn’t doing my usual thing of only pretending to like something.
Mom blinked, then oooh’d in realization. She didn’t remove her hand yet, though. “Well, dear, wouldn’t it be better to practice with full clothing than just one piece?” she suggested.
Huh, I blinked. Yeah that makes sense.
I gave a nod and reversed my work on taking the panties off. “Okay, yeah. Makes sense, Mom.” I smiled up at her, and actually managed to relax. It slowly dawned on me that this wasn’t as big a deal as I was thinking. My mother was only trying to help me, because she loved and cared about me deeply. Ashley was showing her silent support for me, and that small smile was far better than the moping unicorn I saw earlier. That alone sent my heart aflutter and I felt my eyes moisten a little.
Almost immediately I felt a hand on my shoulder, “Honey?” the owner asked with concern.
I shook my head and wiped my eyes with a hoof. “I’m okay…” I answered with a smile. I really was. “Let’s continue, please.”
Mom nodded and gave my shoulder a final squeeze before she got back up to the bed. She removed a few other articles. “Now, just something to consider, but skirts are quite comfortable too when you want them.”
I sighed a little as she held up said skirt in front of me -- a plaid navy blue that had small curls at the bottom. In my more relaxed state, I had little reaction unlike what I had with the panties. I gave her a nod and sat back on my flank. Mother worked the skirt over my hooves and I stood back up while she worked it up my hips, then finally my waist. The skirt was a little long, but was short enough that a few inches of my hooves and tail were exposed at the bottom. I glanced back, and felt the security that clothing provided at not having my privates for the world to see, and it made me feel so much better.
Mother came back with two more articles -- a long sleeved collared shirt that was also navy blue, and a red sleeveless vest with a v-neck. “I had to adjust the flexibility for the head, since they seem to be quite a bit bigger than compared with a human’s own… and I added these slits for your wings. They should be long enough that they glide through.”
Indeed they did. As Mom put that first shirt on, my wings had no trouble finding the added holes, nor was it uncomfortable getting them through. In practically record time both shirts were on, and for the first time in days I was again fully clothed. It was a feeling that, before now, I didn’t realize how much I missed.
Mom stroked her chin as she drew to her full height, looking at me quizzically. “This ensemble needs something…”
Ashley hummed where she sat. “I agree…” Her eyes widened and she gasped after a moment. “Oh! I know!” Her horn lit up and from a clothing pile behind her, a maroon scrunchie floated out in her yellow aura. She smiled as the thing came closer to me, and I felt my mane on the back of my head being drawn out. The scrunchie went on, and I guessed that now I had a ponytail just like hers. I flicked my head a bit, and that brought the long end of the tail over my left shoulder.
Mom giggled as I blushed. “Perfect!”
“Uh,” I said, rubbing my foreleg with the other. “Thanks, I suppose… h-how do I look…?”
Ashley was the first to answer, “You look cute, Sam…”
I blinked at the soft and friendly tone she used, and looked back in the same manner. She called me cute, I thought as my heart again fluttered away to a blissful wonderland. Ashley apparently liked the way I looked, and if that pleased her, then I didn’t care that I was wearing clothes meant for a female.
In my peripheral, Mom wheeled over her stand mirror and I looked myself over. I had to admit that I liked how I looked too.
I sighed and felt my eyes moisten again. “Thanks Mom… this means so much to me…” I gazed up at her and… I couldn’t contain it. I reared up and hugged her around the waist as far as I could reach. A moment later and she hugged me back as best she could; it was a little awkward thanks to our now radical difference in height, but that warmth was there in spades. Her fingers ran through my mane, and it was comforting in such a warm way.
I blinked my eyes opened and glanced at Ash as a wave of guilt washed over me. I parted the hug as gently but as quickly as I could. But surprisingly the unicorn didn’t get a sour expression, she didn’t even have a vague sense of sadness that I could see. I was still concerned and opened my muzzle to ask --
“Mmph!” I blinked in surprise as her aura again lit up, and my muzzle was held shut.
“Don’t say it Sam,” Ashley said in a warm, but semi-stern tone. “I’m okay, and you don’t need to censor the love between you and your mother around me. I’m…” She paused to search for the words as her head tilted. She frowned now, but not in a sad manner. “I guess I’ve come more to terms with it, I suppose. Besides, I… still have you…” Ash smiled again, then blinked as it disappeared. “And Marcus, too.”
I smiled as she spoke, then nodded. She released her magical grip on my mouth, and I spoke up. “Okay, Ash. Still, I’m sorry if it does sting and…” Now or never, Sam. “I’m sorry for what I said on the way over here…” I frowned as my ears folded simultaneously, and my eyes searched my love for her reaction.
Ashley smiled as her shoulders sagged a little, “Yeah, I am too… that wasn’t right, what I said earlier. We both had rights to how we felt, but…”
“That didn’t make it right to say them to each other,” I finished for her and grinned a little. She blinked in surprise and then returned that same warm grin. We stared at each other for a few moments in silence. The old, suppressed feelings I had towards her resurfaced and my heart swelled. That’s the Ashley I knew and loved.
I took a deep breath as I felt a wave of pent-up tension leave me. I was glad that was out of the way, and that things seemed to be okay now between Ashley and I; or at the very least, as a glimpse. Heartbreak and the end of a fond friendship was too horrible to comprehend, not when I wasn’t ready to give up. I never wanted to lose Ashley, ever.
Mother looked between the two of us curiously, and crossed her arms. “Should I ask?”
I winced as I briefly forgot that Ashley and I weren’t alone in the room, and she seemed to do the same. “I, uh…” I stammered, trying to come up with a believable white lie to get us off the hook.
Ashley sighed. “We had a bit of a fight on the way here. We’ve both been stressed over things, and we got a little vocal with each other.” She smiled a little, and lowered her forelegs so she was laying down in that pony style. “But everything is fine now. We’re okay, right Sam?”
I hesitated a moment, then nodded. I’m glad that Ash stepped up to the plate on that one. I did not really want to explain to Mom about what happened back at my apartment, with finding Ashley injuring herself and then… yeah, I don’t even like to think about it.
Mom frowned, apparently she didn’t like being kept out of the loop on things right now. If I were to guess, her ‘mother instincts’ were going berzerk. For a moment her gaze bore directly into mine, and I could not help but flinch as I gulped. Oh please don’t ask… please don’t ask me what happened…
What felt like an eternity of tension later -- for me, at least -- she sighed with her eyes closed. A moment later and that concerned smile reappeared. “I won’t ask,” Phew! “But if either of you want to talk about it, my ear is always available.”
Ash and I nodded simultaneously voiced our thanks.
Mom nodded afterwards and spoke back up with a topic change, “Okay then. I have some things that would be of more practical use for you as well.” Mom again retreated to the master bedroom’s closet, and swiftly returned with more items.
She knelt on the floor and held up what looked like a wrist brace. “I altered some old wrist braces to become cell-phone holders and hoof-wallets.” Mom held the device up for us to see, and we both moved closer. It was a compilation of two velcro straps that were meant to hold it to our forelegs, and attached to that was a padded case for cell phones with a magnetic lid. The second pouch, which she opened to reveal slots for cash cards and IDs, was the wallet she mentioned -- this one used a snap button to hold things.
“I made the wallet a little bigger so it could hold things like your keys without bulging and damaging the fabric,” she added.
I smiled as I took one of the offered wrist-wallets, and managed to get it strapped around my left foreleg after a few tries. Ashley got hers on far quicker than I could since she used her telekinesis to get it into position. Man that unicorn magic is awesome, I thought with a tinge of jealousy once more.
“Awesome,” I said, toying with the new thing. “Now I’ll be able to fly without worrying about dropping my stuff.” Before now I had simply used my wings as an impromptu, improvised pocket. The problem with that, I had to keep said wings folded down to keep the stuff from falling out.
Ashley nodded in agreement with a hum. “Yeah, this will make things much easier.”
“I’m glad you two like them,” Mother happily smiled. “I also have these…”
I looked over as Mom picked up a pair of objects I was vaguely familiar with. She held up a pair of double backpacks with buckling straps. I had seen those before; or rather, the style they represented. In that T.V. show, some episodes had the ponies wearing ‘saddlebags’. Things that were like backpacks, but instead of the pouches being directly on their backs, they hung from the sides.
“Saddlebags,” I said.
Mom looked at me as she was about to speak, and Ashley quirked an eyebrow at me.
“Uh…” I blinked, then looked back and forth between them. They saw the show, right? “They’re from that cartoon that Shelby likes. Twilight Sparkle and her friends wear them when they travel to a dragon’s lair to stop him from snoring and…”
I trailed off as their looks turned to smirks. It took long moments for me to figure out why they were looking at me like that. Oh hell….
“No!” I spoke up loudly, shaking my head. “No, I do not like that show!”
Ash giggled. “Are you sure? You remember quite a bit about it… and I don’t remember watching what you just described when we came down here the first time…” She gestured a hoof at me and quirked an eyebrow.
Oh double hell… Great! I just inadvertently gave away that I was watching the show afterwards! Good job, Sam!
“Okay, fine…” I grumbled, admitting it with a fold of my ears. “I was watching it. I wanted to learn more about pegasi flying and junk…” I rolled my eyes as I blushed. That was the more believable lie I could come up with -- the truth was that I was bored, and the show was very entertaining and cute…
Mom laughed a little and put a hand on my shoulder. “There’s no shame in it, Sam,” she said kindly.
I sighed a little. “I guess, I dunno…” I laughed with a grin at the irony. “Wow… everything going on right now and I’m getting more flustered about watching a cartoon instead of this…” I gestured at my dressed up equine mare body.
We all shared a small chuckle and --
The bedroom door suddenly opened and my brother walked in. “Hey Mom, I--” Dan trailed off as he noticed it wasn’t just Mom in the room. All three of us turned to silently stare at him, and he stared back -- or, more specifically, at me.
He blinked once, then twice, then scowled. “So you’re crossdressing now?” he asked with a half-baked form of suddenly conjured contempt. If I didn’t know he was mad about that kick to the groin before, I certainly did now. Dan looked like he wanted to knot me one. He grinned a little, but in that condescending, arrogant way. “Always knew you were gay…”
“Dan!” Mom scolded, but my younger brother had already turned and left.
“Well hello to you too…” I said sarcastically after him, through my own deadpanned expression.
Mom sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering something about what she was going to do with that kid. “I apologize sweetie…” she said after a moment.
I shook my head at her. “No, don’t apologize for him.” I smiled back at her.
“Your brother is quite rude…” Ashley said rhetorically as she trotted up next to me. “I mean really… that’s going to be the honest-to-God first thing he says to you when he gets home?” she said with a small mix of disbelief and a shake of her unicorn head.
I chuckled. “Well, I’m not one to actually defend his punk-butt, however…” I looked at myself in the nearby mirror, the same ensemble still hugging me. In particular I stared at the maroon addition to my mane. “To him I must look like a crossdresser, since all of Dan’s life he’s known me as his older brother… not his older sister.” I shrugged, then added, “And a pegasus pony to boot doesn’t exactly help.” Ash nodded in mild agreement.
“No,” Mom spoke up now, her voice irritated as she stared flatly in the direction that Dan left, her arms crossed. “But that is no excuse for bad manners. You are still family, and still his brother… all things considered…”
I hummed in half-hearted agreement. “Well, anyways, I need to go apologize for that kick a few days ago,” I said, but I didn’t really sound like I wanted to. “But first I need to change clothes.” I can’t go to him in a skirt and with a scrunchie in my hair. Or at the very least, not right now.
Mom nodded, then retrieved a pair of light gray shorts for me as Ashley took out the scrunchie from my mane. “You don’t have to apologize to him, you know…” the unicorn said.
I nodded as I sat back on my haunches and removed the skirt. “No, I know I don’t… but it’s just the thing to do,” I said reproachfully. “I was worried that I’d injured him earlier. I know he appears fine, but still. That was dangerous and I didn’t realize my own strength.”
Ashley scoffed in disbelief. “A few days in a hospital would do him some good, I think.” She rolled her eyes with a scowl, then winced. “Er… sorry.” She looked at my Mother.
Mom waved a hand at her. “Oh no, I completely agree.” Wait, what? That statement caught me off guard, the skirt halfway off as I stared at her. “I think a good ass-kicking is just what Dan needs, perhaps.” She then looked at me. “Not by you though, Sam… it needs to be someone else that does it, or I doubt it would have the desired effect.”
I thought for a few moments, then nodded. “I guess that makes sense.” I sat the skirt aside, lower half covered only by the pink panties, then took the offered shorts that had been modified for my pony form.
I waved Mom off as she attempted to help me with the tail, but told her I needed to do it myself, and simply said that I had to learn. She nodded, but clearly wanted to give me a hand still.
I hummed a moment, again admiring the solid work Mom had done with altering my old clothing. Truthfully everything felt the same, almost as though I hadn’t changed at all, even though I clearly did. Even more pleasantly, I realized, panties didn’t feel physically weird at all; mentally was still another can of worms entirely, but eh.
“I’ll be back in a bit, guys,” I said as I trotted out the door and was about to make my way to Dan’s ‘lair’.
“Hey.”
My ear twisted as Ashley spoke, and I turned my head around to look. “Yeah, Ashl--oh.”
I trailed off as she hugged me with her forelegs around my neck, a little shocked at the sudden hug she was giving me. “Thanks, and be careful okay?” She pulled off and smiled at me, a bang of her mane falling out to hang in her face.
I smiled back and nodded. “Sure.”
Ashley gazed back at me a moment later, then moved back to the pile of clothes. She started to fold them along with Mom, preparing them to be transported where they needed to go. I stood there and watched for a few moments, my heart warm and fuzzy from the close contact. I sighed ever so quietly in my throat, then continued on with my original task.
My warm smile dissipated slowly as I walked, and said trot slowed down significantly as I went.
Let’s get this over with...
Hi guys. Just wanna take a moment to apologize for the whole long waits between chapters for Love & Tolerance, but hey, they are coming, right? That's what matters right? 
Anyways, it's gonna be a while for Chapter 16... I've procrastinated enough on finishing Phyre in Ponyville and re-posting it. So, I'm putting other projects on hold while I do that (Besides, I need some down time to refresh my brain for what I need to happen next anyways).
And I'd like to thank everyone for being patient with me. 
Stats
Page generated in 0.043 seconds
Total duration
789 users online
1,262,781 hits today, 2,814,898 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Hell yes
New Chapter!!!!
I wonder if it's too late for just one more pony x-form to take place in that house? Heh.
So when is he- er, she going to go flying? Really fly and none of this hovering or jumping off railings to the food court below. I bet a skater could get some wicked tricks done with actual wings and enough ramp to really build up speed.
And what of the world itself? What other pony related news is there? Granted the double homicide is probably blanketing the various news channels but surely there must be more mundane local stuff to report. And on the subject of the x-form also doing a "reset" to the body; has there been any severely crippled people getting ponified only to become whole again? Like an amputee or paraplegic getting back lost limbs or trotting/flying now. And was there any age regression going on? That is, the human was old but is now a young middle-aged or young-adult pony. I ask this because I can't recall seeing any old ponies, nor fillies, the resulting ponies have all been roughly the same age in appearance. (It's been so long between chapters I might have to re-read them all)
The plot thickens
I also keep seeing Dan as my brother Dan
4018769
I'm still thinking Sam's Dad got ponified as well
Looks like she is becoming more use to being a mare xD, can't be fun for her mental health though. Then again, can't be good to be in denial about what you are. Loved the chapter <3
So she's wearing pants and he's wearing pink panties and a skirt? lol, nice work mom, really drive home that little missing part he still hasn't gotten over yet.
4018769 I have more planned for the world stage, but I don't want the focus to be on that. I want it to stay on Sam, Ashley, Marcus and their family/friends. The world will be a factor and such, as I have plans. Also, we're still essentially in Act 1, as I'm starting to call it, where I'm getting the mundane "first stuff" out of the way. When Act 2 begins, which I expect should happen in three chapters or so, things are gonna speed up. There are tidbits and hints already, they are there...
4018828 Lol, perhaps, perhaps not. We'll just have to wait and see if Sam's father got ponified or not.
4019432 Oh yes. Sam is still having a time and a half dealing with it, but constant exposure and reminders are "dulling" the shock value. But I assure you; the confusion is not behind him/her.
4019462 Yeah, I had an inkling that it would. In truth, though, that clothing scene was initially longer, and I did cut out a few more dress exchanges in favor of not making it any longer. I apologize if that got a bit tedious.
Thanks for the comments Samaru. 
4020673 Heheh... ikr?
Dan's just jealous 'cause he can't rock a skirt like Sam can.
heh i just found this fic i love it so far (i would have preferd the show didnt exist in it but still good)and STOP PLAYING WHIT MY SHIPPING SENSE AAARRRGGG!!
4024113 Nevaaaaar!
I think that if I were in Sam's position, I would be more inclined to wear typically "male" clothing anyway. I mean, I suppose skirts and all that would be alright, but I'd probably only wear them on extremely rare occasions. Also, definitely not panties - if they're anything like briefs, I would absolutely hate it.
Sam really has to get on the flying thing, though - Ashley is totally beating him, in terms of learning how to use their new abilities. And, maybe, find out what Marcus is up to? There's something mighty shifty going on.
4020673 might be her way of throwingSam into the deep end, so to speak.
4018769 colts andfillies, yes . BBut as far as I. can recall, no old timers.
4024601 a little something you might find interesting. In the show it's been hinted that the average life-span of ponies is at least 200 years.
4024601 nooooooooo
awesome chapter sober.
4024113
shipping sence scrambler activated!
I just finished reading this whole fic and my reaction at the end of chapter 15 can be summed up as
i.imgur.com/p0Az7T4.gif
4024734 Heh, yeah. There's more going on behind the scenes with Sam "accepting" it. I promise flying soon.
4025155 Kind of exactly it. Sam's Mother is kind of using the whole "Throw the kid in the deep end, and they'll learn quickly".
4025182 Oh?
I had no idea. Or, rather, maybe a hint. The episode where Granny Smith explains the origin of Ponyville comes to mind... 
4032402 Thanks
I appreciate the power-read 
4032702 indeed. The reasoning is, Twilight mentioned in "Winter wrap-up" that ponyville had been doing it the earth pony way for "hundreds of years", and Granny Smith, it is mentioned, was around at the founding of Ponyville.
You could say she's an abnormality, but she's also got several family members at the reunion as old or older than her.
Just something to think about for your characters.
4032726 Hmmm. Very true. I'm not sure how I can use it for L&T, but I'm sure I'll think of something. I'll squeeze it into the next chapter, but like I said in the Author's Notes for Chapter 15, I'm gonna finish my other story first. I've put it off for too long, and truthfully it's my first fic and I want to finish it.
4032743 You do have a few brownies in the 'mane' (snerk) cast. They might remember it later. And that's fine, just figured I'd give you something to mull over.
4032702 To be honest, it was read over a period of a few days. Work kind of got in the way
. But I didn't read any other fics while I had this one going, so there's that. Now cease thine social life and get to work on chapter 16 (and perhaps hit the feature box again)!
i.imgur.com/43cBZVS.gif
Also, would you like to use some ponies I've designed? Just the design, not so much the characters.
um, i've decided to be that one ass who points out a bit of inconsistency...
But don't you think that same has been taking turning into a girl a bit too nicely? Would like to think that when his mom came out with the panties he'd bolt out the door, barring that the skirt would've done it.
'Know i would have.
4033619 That's not so much as an inconsistency, but more of a difference in opinion. The way I figure it, Sam was more apprehensive about the underwear, rather than the skirt for reasons. It's more of a matter of opinion.
And nah, it's not really an "ass" thing so say.
As for Sam taking turning into a girl a bit too nicely... have you read the rest of the story...? There's tomes where he didn't take it well at all. And Sam is slowly getting used to it, because of what Marcus has been saying that there may or may not be a way to change back. Also, don't forget that Sam loves Ashley, and Ashley is of a non-typical sexual orientation. If anything, that is motivation enough to accept this change -- love.
4034551 *gasp* how dare you accuse me of not reading the entire story, that's tantamont to calling me racist!
It's a crime against writing to.... fuck all i'm not going to continue this :P
Meh most people are like 'ERMAHGERD HE DOESN'T LIKE STORY MUST DOWNVOTE' at like the first line, so i put forth first by insulting myself, makes them actually read my comment
4034581 Lol, it's fine. And while I'm, eh, 90% sure that was sarcasm or joking around, I'll just say it anyways. Sorry if I offended you
But it is good to ask questions like that. I want my story to make sense because it's no less than what my readers deserve -- a good read.
4034591 if you have no clue what i wrote then you're fine.
It's when i start making sense that you should be scared.
Thor: This is good.... anoth-
*smack*
Me: SHUT UP THOR THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL ARIVE WHEN IT DOES, now go sit in that corner and think on what you were about to say and how insensitive it would have been to Demand another chapter so soon, after all you can't rush an awesome read
4037389
I like the story so far my blood chilled at the almost suicide. keep up the good work
When will there be a new chapter?
4019462
It does seem a tad tedious in the latter half, like it drags on a bit. Honestly, I don't find the switch all that surprising. Mind over body doesn't work too well against the realities of an alternate biology.
I get the impression that his mother was always closer to his (well, her) little sister than him (her). So, awkwardness and bizarre-ness aside, it's the fulfillment of a pleasant sort of daydream being able to help somehow.
It's rather unfortunate that it would be entirely inappropriate and extremely awkward to get the point across to his brother that he (she) is female now in the most obvious way. It's not cross-dressing if you dress like the gender/sex? you are. Either that or his (her) brother just enjoys being a jerk.
5582677 Heheh~ Thanks.
It's on Hiatus while I'm working on a project, but I'm thinking of going back and forth on it.
5582759 this story has received a promotion to my favourites, it's earned it, though, as with the fav and you've definitely earned the follow. I shall now browse your other stories
5586558 Awe, well thank you~
I appreciate that a lot.
Do you like Fallout: Equestria, by chance? That's what my newest project is "Fallout: Equestria, Darkness Falls" and I'm aiming for posting it around June or July, once I have enough chapters done (as of this post I have 3 actual chapters -- all they need is a final edit by myself and my editor, an outline that is around 20 chapters ahead, and the majority of the story figured out in an outline).
Phyre in Ponyville is my first story, and I have an ending "episode" in mind that I'll inevitably get to. An Unexpected Journey is a Fallout: NV & MLP crossover; not a lot done with this one -- it started as a writing prompt in the Fallout group -- but I have no intention of abandoning it. I don't like to and don't plan to abandon any story if I can avoid it. And as I like to say and think: where there is a will, there is a way.
5586591 I love FoE, and shall be looking out for the story. Only real problem I've had with Fallout Equestria stories, is that they never really get finished and are abandoned or, they just have terrible plots and god-awful grammar, however, you sound like you are a man with a plan (I think?
) so the story sounds like it will live to have an end. Also, from your stories, the grammar certainly won't be an issue, and I highly doubt plot the to be bad, there thankfully is a lot of untapped potential in that story universe still. (Although please oh please don't just make it a Fallout Equestria bland "leaves vault things happen friends are made small quests happen and then the story dies cause the author didn't have anything to write" 
) anyway, a good luck to you on that! 
5586614 Hehe~ thanks. Though there are themes I really like in FO:E that I am repeating, I'm hoping that those same themes I have added what I hope is a good twist or good originality. I have a great portion of the story planned out, and I've had this idea on mind for years. For a while it was an RP I was "Gming" for on Skype, and that let me flesh a lot stuff out. I don't plan on not finishing.
5653313 Well, sorry about that, but I don't imagine everyone always freaking out in an over-the-top fashion when weird stuff happens. I was picturing a sort of reaction of "Ooooookay... I must be dreaming." kind of thing.
Thanks for giving it a chance anyways~
5655090 BUGGER IT AL!
IT NEEDS MORE!
5804991 Heh~ no worries. More will come.
I'm just working on a different project right now, though I will make more room for L&T. I'm not about to give up on it. 
5808327 What project is it?
5808782 It's a Fallout: Equestria side-fic, an idea I've had in my head for over two years and has during that time also fleshed out significantly in a roleplay I did with some friends.
Yes, i know there's a crap-ton of FO:E side-fics already, but I honestly hope it'll be something people will enjoy. My working title and probably going to be the permanent title is Fallout: Equestria, Darkness Falls. I've typed about it some in my previous blog posts, if you're interested in learning a bit more.
But if you're not into Fallout: Equestria, that's okay too. I appreciate the expression of interest.
5810982 PM ME! WE MUST HAVE A CONVERSATION FOR A FALLOUT: EQUESTRIA!
I decided to start reading this all over again for nostalgias sake
You've lost your cover art.
6111453 Fixed~ Thank you
6118675 I try to point it out whenever I notice it browsing.
6380978 and that, I respect. Personally I don't believe in murder or torture (outside of video games, at least) and would give even the bad types a chance to learn what they've done wrong. Ponification seems a rather tame punishment, I'm sure, but considering the abilities of ponies, even the wicked, if reformed, could be a benefit to society. Hat, it worked (kinda) with Discord!
As an extra incentive to them... surely you've heard the story of Actaeon?
IT'S OFF HIATUS!!!!!!
6743023 YEEEEESSS!!!