> Tales From Tinies: Tanya's Tour > by Pixel Berry > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today was the start of a normal day in an alternate version of Equestria, a world where humans left and right are being transported from planet Earth to the magical world of Equis, only they seemed to be shrunken down with a odd spell that not only makes them smaller, but gives them a trace of food flavor, being an easy target for any hungry ponies. Luckily, this wasn’t life-threatening, the spell keeping the humans unharmed no matter how long they stay in a pony’s stomach. Of course, some people gave into the idea of being eaten as an everyday thing, while others are strictly against it. But this isn’t about this weird magic(mostly), but instead is about the life of a lone human named Tanya, a worker in Celestia’s Castle that not only stole the heart of the once heartless prince Blueblood, but also gained the magical ability to change her voice, it even altering her surroundings as well. And today was going to be the start of her first big step in learning more about her magic, her talent, and more about herself. Tanya’s Tour A Fic by Pixel Berry and Jerec the Ascendant “Alright Tanya, let’s try this one more time. Remember to calm your heartbeat, focus on singing, and act as if you are doing this by yourself, okay?” The familiar female voice of Princess Twilight Sparkle spoke. It has been weeks since Tanya first found out about her ‘magic voice’, having to train to keep her magic in check, but also use it so she won’t be overwhelmed with it. For now, the small girl had a rather stylish choker(designed by the fashionista Rarity) that had a magic nullifier that would give her a bit of a handicap in controlling her magic. “O-okay, I-I’ll try my best.” Tanya stuttered, her hands already shaking in nervousness as she looked at the piano’s keys, feeling that playing music while singing would help her calm down, which it did most of the time. But before she started, she felt a soft hoof on her shoulder, looking back to see that it was the former snobby Prince Blueblood, a small smile on his muzzle, assuring her that it would be okay. Blueblood, who is sitting down on the piano bench next to her, looks into Tanya’s eyes. “Don’t worry about it, you’ll do great.” He whispers to her encouragingly. His horn lights up, ready to turn the pages for her as she plays. Tanya seemed to calm down a little after Blueblood’s words of encouragements, letting in a shaky breath before she started playing, the keys being slow and simple, a lighthearted pattern. It started in silence four times, before she started to sing, the gem in the center of her collar glowing as soon as she started. “Wise man says, Only fools rush in. But I can’t help Falling in love with you.” It wasn’t much of a hard guess to see who this song was for, a blush forming on Tanya’s and Blueblood’s cheeks as the tiny girl continued. “Shall I stay? Would it be a sin? If I can’t help Falling in love with you. Like a river flows, Surly to the sea. Darling, so it goes Some things are meant to be…” Blueblood leans his head on Tanya’s shoulder and nuzzles her, the blush on his face growing as she sings. “Take my hand, Take my whole life too. For I can’t help Falling in love with you. For I can’t help Falling in love With You...” Blueblood continues to lean against her, meanwhile Twilight looks at the tiny duo with awe. But the cute moment only lasted for a moment before Daisy, a yellow pegsi filly was clapping her hooves happily, being one of the audiences along with Cody, and Swiffer. The first two were also victims of the thing the named ‘The Vanished’, Daisy being a normal pony before she was transported with Cody to Equestria, it turning Daisy into a brightly colored pegasus, and giving Cody the ‘full spell’, which made him more irresistible, being in more danger than every other tiny since his ‘flavor’ changed depending on the pony that would eat him, which resulted in him and Daisy living under the same roof as the purple Alicorn for both study, and protection. But enough of the exposition, Tanya was currently supper flustered, her face almost as red as one of Applejack’s cutie mark apples, the girl quick to bury her face in Blueblood’s fluffy chest. Blueblood has to hold on to Tanya to keep from falling over, his small size making this rather awkward looking for both of them, as he’s only about as big as an average sized dog. “It’s okay Tanya, it’s just Daisy.” He says, trying to comfort her. Swiffer leans in closer to the piano. “Yeah, we’re all friends here. You really shouldn’t worry around us. We love your singing. I’m amazed you decided to work at the Castle at all. With a voice like that you could be the next Countess Coloratura.” The unicorn made an honest comment. Daisy continues clapping her hooves, and Cody his hands. “Your voice is really pretty Tanya.” The filly says, in a simple statement. Tanya calmed down a little before she spoke up. “Th-thanks for the c-compliments… but I don’t think I can f-face so m-many ponies… p-ponies that m-might eat me c-cause I messed up or s-something.” She said, only getting more nervous and scared as she could only imagine her inner fear coming to life. Twilight looks at Tanya somewhat sadly. “I hope you don’t expect us to do that. We’re your friends and we’d only ever encourage you to do better if you made a mistake.” She says. Swiffer just giggles. “Yeah, and we wouldn’t eat you for making a mistake. If anything, we’ll eat you because we like you so much.” She says jokingly. “But really, you shouldn’t be so nervous around us, you know that we all care about you.” Tanya only stayed quiet as what Swiffer said only made her more nervous, unsure if she could do something like that. Inside, she did want to pursue her dream to become a singer, but just when she got used to singing in front of people, The Vanish started and she had little to no reason to try since people were disappearing left and right. And now that she was here, she had to possibly get used to singing in front of ponies that were bigger than the statue of liberty. Daisy leans forward and nuzzles Tanya, and Blueblood because of her size compared to them. “We’re your friends Tanya, we wouldn’t do that to you.” She says somewhat paraphrasing Twilight. “Why are you scared we would?” She asks, sad that Tanya would think her friends would be that cruel. “I-It’s not cause I’m scared of y-you guys… just other p-ponies who don’t know me...” She admitted, looking down at her lap shamefully. “I honestly don’t know why I get flustered around you guys still… I’m just nothing but a coward.” She said, sounding a little upset as she felt she would never get over this fear by keeping things like this. Twilight thinks for a moment. “You’re not a coward. You’re just adjusting to Equestria, and as someone who is only a few inches tall. It’s going to take time.” She says, trying to cheer the tiny woman up. “Yeah, I’m still scared of being in the same room as other ponies, and I’ve been this way for a while longer than you’ve been here, I think.” Blueblood adds. “All you need to do is remember that they are your friends, and won’t hurt you just because you make a mistake.” “I… I know that already… but you can’t say the same thing about any other ponies outside if this castle.” Tanya mumbled, closing her eyes as she wish she could be more fearless about singing in public. She only sighed as she rested her head on the piano instead, her head not hitting the keys as she wasn’t really fond of face planting on cold keys. “Maybe, maybe not, it really depends on where you go.” Blueblood replies. “I’d guess ponies around here in Ponyville probably wouldn’t. Especially since they’ve already heard you sing once before, liked it, and even participated in it.” He continues, remembering the toy store incident. “W-well, yeah. But I’ve never heard of a famous person being famous by being in one city.” Tanya lightly rolled her eyes, feeling that if she didn’t try and face this head-on, she’ll be a hermit with her talent. “Well, I mean, you could go to a talent show or something, and maybe you’ll be noticed and get your big chance. Talent scouts often show up looking for new talented individuals.” Blueblood suggests. “Ponyville is having a talent show later today, but, I’d suggest that you stay here for now and learn to control your magic. After all, we don’t know how strong it is and what else it can do besides change the pitch and tone of your voice.” Twilight comments. “I… don’t think I could do a talent show.” Tanya admitted, it feeling just as bad as singing in public. “What about an audition? There’s only between one or three ponies watching you, and that doesn’t seem overwhelming.” Swiffer suggested, but not knowing of any auditions close by. “That’s true, and better yet, you have two ponies that could be there to make you even more comfortable. Twilight and I could be there to support you.” Blueblood adds. “My name still carries a little weight in Canterlot, after all, there’s only a few ponies that know of my current state. I even know a music manager and I’m pretty sure he’s got an opening now.” Tanya stayed quiet for some time, before she asked the big question. “Do… do you really want me to do this?” Blueblood thinks for a moment. “Well, if you want to become a famous singer in Equestria, I’ll help however I can. I think the real question is, do you want to do this?” He asks. “I… I don’t know. I mean, I really want to, but I’m very hesitant in trying...” She admitted, glancing away from everyone else. “Well, I can get it set up any time you feel ready.” Blueblood replies. “But, the sooner the better. You never know when they’ll have already discovered a new talent.” “I guess I need some time to think for now.” Tanya spoke, sitting up from her spot. “And I think you’ve trained enough for now.” Twilight mentioned, levitating the piano and the seat before she swapped it with another tiny chair, putting the music equipment away with the others either she or Tanya brought herself to practice playing music, it being a hobby she enjoyed. “Well, let me know when you want to write that letter. After all, you’ll probably want something in a larger print so that a normal sized pony can read it.” Swiffer says, giving Tanya and Blueblood a quick nuzzle before heading off. Daisy giggles and gallops off with Cody on her back. “Come on Cody, let’s go have some fun with the other Crusaders!” She exclaims cheerfully as she rushes off. Blueblood sits next to Tanya. “So, what should we do for now?” He asks, curious as to what she wants to do. She opened her mouth to answer, but her stomach answered for her, it growling in hunger and making her cheeks flush pink. “Well, let’s go get some lunch then.” Twilight says, as she levitates the two onto her back, and starts to canter over to the castle’s kitchen. “So, what would you two like?” She asks. “I-I don’t mind whatever y-you fix up.” Tanya said, not really being one to choose, mostly cause she was very indecisive. “How about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for you, and some daffodil and daisy sandwiches for Blueblood and I? Unless you two are fine joining the daffodils and daisies on my sandwich when you are done?” She asks, her last question more of a joke than anything serious. “Ha ha, thanks but Swiffer eats is more than enough times than Cody gets eaten in a week.” Tanya rolled her eyes, knowing that was true with how frequent her friend jokes, but sometimes is serious and it’s hard to tell. “I doubt that, while Starlight and I were studying him, he stayed in our stomachs most of the time. I’m not even sure how it is now that he’s going to school with Daisy, and going with her to the CMC treehouse.” Twilight replies with a giggle. “Possibly more vore than a single person can handle.” Tanya thought out loud, knowing how crazy those fillies were in also helping tinies find their place in the world besides living snacks. “Vore?” Blueblood asks, not certain what that word means. “What is vore?” Twilight asks curiously, uncertain herself, the word being unfamiliar to her. “Wait, this whole time you never heard of Vore?” Tanya asked, a little surprised since that’s kind of odd in a world like this. “No, what’s vore?” Twilight asks, completely uncertain. Blueblood also gives her a quizzical look, also curious. Tanya let in a small breath, before she decided to speak up. “It’s a kind of fetish that involves being eaten by another person or creature, whether alive and whole, or or with gore or killing.” She explained, hoping that they would get it. “It’s a sexual fantasy that some people have, so if someone is rather willing to be eaten alive, they are most likely a fan of vore.” “Oh my…” Twilight says, coming to a sudden stop, her eyes wide but her irises and pupils shrunk to pinpricks. Suddenly it made sense why some tinies were a little too thrilled to be eaten, and certainly also explained why many tinies go out of their way to escape ponies, and even seem to fear them. She takes a nervous gulp. “N-now it all makes sense. Um, well, now I’m definitely not putting you on my sandwich, and I don’t think I’ll be eating tinies ever again.” She says, before continuing to the kitchen, starting to feel a little violated, along with having violated others. ‘Hmm, perhaps this is the key to stop ponies from eating unwilling tinies.’ Tanya thought, but feeling that even if she told this to everypony, some ponies might be into that as well. Twilight gets out a loaf of bread and gets a couple slices for herself, and some crumbs for Tanya and Blueblood, using her magic to shape them into tiny slices of bread. She makes her own sandwich while setting out some tiny jars of peanut butter and jelly for Tanya, taking some tiny portions of the daffodils and daisies and setting them aside for Blueblood. Blueblood, who’s still curious about vore, but in the what the heck and why sort of way, looks at Tanya. “I get the feeling there’s more to it than what you’re telling us. Is there?” He asks. “Well, there are different kinds of vore, but that’s only if you want to really know. What I said was just the tip of the iceberg, humanity is smart, but it also has no boundaries to anything you can think of.” Tanya says, giving a warning before she gets herself ready to make her coltfriend and Princess Twilight to never think of anything nice about eating tinies ever again. “To be honest, I bet if we told ‘The Gulper’ about this, it might be the way to stop her once and for all. Of course, she could also be messed up in the head and just find it as a better reason to.” “Wait, there are different ways to be eaten alive?” Twilight asks, confused. She’s pretty sure there’s only one way. Blueblood similarly looks confused, trying to guess how one might consume someone differently. “I don’t really have to explain it, but just saying the title will be enough to understand what it is.” Tanya said, clearing her throat before she said two words. “Anal vore.” “A-a-anal?!” Twilight exclaims, her flanks squeezing together as if to protect herself. “I-I suppose that means that other, um, entrances aren’t safe either?” She asks, feeling more and more exposed and violated. “Yup, anything you can think of. Heck, if people assume that there’s a hole on the tip of your horn, you better believe that would soon be a thing. And no mare, or stallion is safe.” Tanya said, putting more force on the stallion part as a bit of a hint on another kind of vore. Blueblood shudders, already imagining mares and stallions he’d made enemies of using him in all sorts of disgusting manners. Twilight, blushing profusely vanishes and reappears wearing clothing covering her body, practically from head to hoof, only her head remains exposed. “At least I know there isn’t actually a way for them to get into my horn.” She says, now completely fearful of the now tiny body invaders, frantically looking around to make sure no one sneaks in. “Oh don’t worry, they may be messed up in the head, but I don’t think a lot of people would go through the chance of facing an alicorn. Maybe a pegasus or a earth pony, but if you have the magic ability to do whatever to them, it’s close to a death wish… which even more crazy people would like as well.” Tanya tried to assure the alicorn, knowing that no tiny would face a princess. “And vore is just the tip of the iceberg that people may want to do with a giant sentient creature.” Twilight laughs nervously. “Vore is just the tip of the iceberg, crazy people would like the effects of magic spells. Who’s worried?” She says before triple checking her sandwich and taking a bite. “I’m, just uh, going to set up a barrier around the castle to keep out anyone who I don’t invite in, and then stay here, forever.” Twilight adds, her eyes still wide pinpricks. Blueblood on the other hand, wipes his forehead with a hoof. “At least I’m safe, as long as nopony else finds out about this.” He says, putting a lot of emphasis on two words. “Well, you could do that, or let your friends fall victim to these types of people.” Tanya said, feeling that Twilight would want to warn her friends. “Unless you want them to learn the hard way.” “Actually I was already working on that.” Twilight says, her horn already lit up and quite few letters are being written. “These are addressed to several newspapers in every city across Equestria, my friends around Equestria, and finally the other Princesses of course. That should definitely get the message out, and allow me to stay safe in my castle.” She says, her appearance slowly looking more and more disturbed, and slightly manic. “I think I should’ve kept my mouth shut.” Tanya thought out loud, feeling a little guilty for making the princess act like this. “Look, Princess, it’s true that there are some people like this, but there are more who aren’t or even those who prefer to keep it in silence. It’s just a sexual fantasy, not the plague.” “A-a-are you sure? N-n-now that their fantasy is reality, what if they become more outspoken, or outgoing with it?!” She asks worriedly, imagining hundreds of tiny humans sneaking into her room and violating her. “Believe me, it’s already a marathon to get from one building to another, I don’t think they’ll scale up a giant castle just for that one moment. And who knows, maybe ponies have also loved the fantasy if eating tiny creatures without feeling guilty, and they’re just living the dream.” Tanya says, feeling that maybe ‘the gulper’ is one of those ponies as well. “B-b-but it’s their fantasy, now that it’s real, they might be desperate to experience it! Also, I’m pretty sure we haven’t had any of those fantasies. I-I mean, if they were so secretive about it, how do you know? Unless…” She backs up a bit. “Are you one?” She asks nervously. “What? No, you think I would reject the idea of being in your sandwich if I liked that kind of stuff?” Tanya asked with a raised brow. “Again, Twilight, it’s just a fantasy. And who knows, maybe they might’ve not liked vore anymore after literally experiencing it.” “Well, it never hurts to be safe.” Twilight says, gathering the letters and putting them in a saddle bag. “I’ll be back, I’m just going to go mail these really quick.” She says before flying off. Blueblood gulps nervously. “Oh great, now everypony is going to know. I sure hope that I’m not in danger of angry, um, acquaintances.” “Oh, don’t be worried. Again, some people keep these hidden, and only reveal their kinks to close friends and even lovers.” She waved her hand away dismissively. “I think the most this might do is ruin those restaurants that actually serve tinies. I think that just spells ‘willing vore prey’. And honestly, I hated those restaurants for obvious reasons.” “I don’t know, a lot of pony/human relationships were hurt when ponies started eating tinies, now think about how ponies will react, and as you’ve already noticed compared to humans we are quite innocent, to the possibility that some humans are taking advantage of the situation.” Blueblood replies. “Well, I wouldn’t say innocent, I think more ‘reserved’.” Tanya changed his wording. “The only innocent thing is a baby. And some ponies do take other ponies for granted… like ‘somepony’ who was like that awhile ago.” She added, looking right at the stallion as it was clear who she was talking about. “To be honest, anything that you could do would be seen as bad in some way.” “Well, as far as I know, ponies haven’t come up with things like, well, vore. As far as I know, ponies keep things private, between them and their spouse.” Blueblood replies. “As for me, I may have been a bad pony before the incident, but nothing I did was meant to be taken, in the same way as some humans might get being eaten.” “Well that’s what I meant when I said some people may be private about them liking vore. You think that a tiny who was into that would bluntly say that and think a pony would just shrug it off?” Tanya asked. “Again, ponies aren’t any better than people. I mean, even before Equestria had a name, ponies were super racist. Saying that unicorns were snobs, earth ponies are dumb, and pegasi are bullies.” “Well, humans tend to be a little more, sexual, than ponies. I wasn’t saying we don’t do anything wrong, we’ve done bad stuff before, just, not sexual things.” Blueblood replies. “At least, nothing that you’ve heard about.” Tanya hints, knowing that it could be true or not. Blueblood gives Tanya a deadpan look. “Alright, how many times have you heard or seen anything about pony sexuality since you’ve been here?” He asks before adding. “No, eating tinies doesn’t count, we had no idea humans could find it sexual and we don’t, just really tasty.” “You sure? Cause those hums from ponies seem more than just tasting something good.” She says with a smirk. “And the many times a pony has licked and sucked on them as if they were jawbreakers.” She adds with a bit of an eyebrow wiggle. Blueblood smirks back. “You said it yourself, jawbreakers, candy, food. We, er, they enjoy your taste.” He canters over and licks Tanya’s hand. “Mmm, not bad.” He adds, partially to make a point, and partially because of the flavor she has from the spell. Tanya’s cheeks flushed pink as she was quick to pull her hand away and wipe the leftover saliva that was on her hand. “Anyways, we both agree that no creature is pure and innocent unless they are a newborn.” She decided to start eating her sandwich now sitting down on the table since there was no chairs around for her size since Twilight took off. Blueblood sticks his tongue out at Tanya, making a “Mllna” sound before starting to eat his own sandwich. Twilight comes back, landing nearby. “Alright, they’ve been delivered. Ponykind has been warned of, well, some possible events.” She says, now noticeably less manic. “That’s good, now why don’t you take those clothes off cause I know you might be sweating like no tomorrow.” Tanya suggested before she took another bite of her crumb sandwich. “Um, first I’m just going to, uh, proof the castle of uninvited guests. Then I’ll be a little more comfortable.” Twilight says. “First, though, I’m going to finish my lunch.” She says, making herself another sandwich. Blueblood sits there, a little worried when Twilight comes in, considering what he just found out about. However, he doesn’t say anything and continues his lunch, keeping a wary eye on the princess. Once all three of them finished their meal, Tanya kept on thinking back at the idea of going to an audition, thinking on what would happen if she did do it and all of the pros. “Something on your mind?” Blueblood asks, noticing Tanya staring off into space. Twilight notices as well, looking between the two of them, she waits for Tanya’s answer. “O-oh, uhm, it’s nothing. Just… staring into space is all.” She tried to play it off, not really wanting them to know what she was thinking about. “You know, if you want me to go get Swiffer, or even write the letter myself, I can.” Twilight says, pretty sure she knows what Tanya is thinking about. “No. It’s okay.” She shook her head, not wanting to get ahead of herself and bail out. “Well, just let either of us know if you change your mind.” Twilight says. “So, now that we’ve had lunch. What should we do now?” She asks, curious about what the two tinies want to do, along with letting them decide since she’s a lot bigger than they are and might think of something they can’t do. Tanya didn’t answer, but instead looked at Blueblood for one. Blueblood thinks for a moment. “Well, Tanya and I could wander around that Friendship Map, feel like giants for a moment.” Blueblood says not sure what else there really was for them to do. “I guess that’s a good way to pass the time.” Tanya agrees, thinking that might be an interesting thing to do. Twilight giggles at the idea. “Sure, I suppose you two could use some time at least pretending to be, well, big again.” She picks the two up, setting them on her back, before heading to the map room and setting them on it. “Alright, I’m going to go proof the castle, you two be good and don’t mess anything up.” “Yes mom.” Tanya said with sarcasm. Twilight giggles and rolls her eyes before leaving. Blueblood on the other hand goes waltzing around the map, looking at the small projections of different places in Equestria. “Wow, this map has every bit of Equestria in it.” He says, a bit awestruck. Tanya soon found the small town with the crystal castle sticking out, laying down on the table to get closer to the projection and to take a look. Blueblood canters over. “Wow, that’s Ponyville. To think that the town we’re in, let alone this castle, are actually rather small in comparison with the rest of Equestria.” He comments as he too, gets a closer look. “You’d almost think you could actually see the ponies going about their day, but you can’t.” “You know, if it was possible that I could be this big, I wouldn’t want to harm anyone.” Tanya spoke her mind, resting her head on the table, feeling how cold it was. “Cause, I know how they would feel, and I wouldn’t want to scare anyone no matter how harsh they were.” Blueblood lays down as well. “Well, what if one of those people thought it would be safer inside you?” He asks, knowing she’s not a fan of such things, but also thinking about if she were normal sized at least. He wouldn’t mind at all if she decided to eat him, not fetish wise of course. “I don’t know. I mean, we would have to be close. Like maybe best friends. But even then, I may be against it.” She admitted, not really up for eating live creatures. “But maybe after some time, I might give in.” “Nah, I doubt that.” Blueblood replies, knowing how stubborn and squeamish Tania is. “I bet you’d become even more adamantly against it.” “Yeah, you’re right.” She sat up, stretching her back a little. “But who knows, maybe when I collect enough magic, this thought might become real.” She smiled a little, wishing she could touch the tiny castle, but her fingers just phased through it. “Tanya, Equestria’s first giant human, don’t worry though, she’s gentle and won’t break anything on purpose.” Blueblood announces, raising his hooves to the sky, sounding like a radio announcer. “Well, I wouldn’t want to be that big. Probably big enough for normal size ponies to feel more like cats instead.” Tanya admitted with a smile. “I bet it would be a thing if I could snuggle the princess of Equestria as if they were household cats.” Tanya couldn’t help but imagine that. “Their soft fluffy coats, there perfectly brushed manes and tails, and I bet those feathers feel like those of an angels.” “Well, that would be interesting.” Blueblood comments. “I wonder how my aunts would feel about that?” He asks himself rhetorically. “Well, the only way to find out is if it really does come to that, but it would take awhile for that much magic to be stored inside me.” Tanya said with a small blush. “And I bet at that size, you would be more like a cute little mouse in my hands.” She smiled, secretly loving pet rodents than any other kind of pet. “Actually, you probably wouldn’t even be able to see me, or just barely. I’m already mouse sized compared to normal ponies, and Lindsey.” Blueblood replies. “Well, in that case, I don’t think being super big is a good idea. I still want to be able to hug and kiss my special somepony.” She said, even leaning forward and kissing his forehead, right below his horn. Blueblood blushes. “Well, if you were Lindsey’s size, you’d be able to hold me like a cute little mouse.” He replies before nuzzling her back. “True, but kissing you would be like almost eating your whole head.” She joked, laughing a little as she knew he would be both flustered and scared out of his mind if that happened. “Depends on the kiss, but yeah, I guess so.” Blueblood replies. “But I don’t think you’d kiss a mouse that way.” He adds, figuring one wouldn’t do that to a pet, considering the possible health risks. “Ehehehehe...” She awkwardly laughed as she looked away, it being a sign that it was a possibility that happened. Seeing the look that Blueblood was giving her, she was quick to explain herself. “I-it’s not my fault! The previous owner trained them to do that, and I… kinda got used to it.” She said with a red blush, recalling how her previous pet rats used to explore the inside of her mouth, of course it didn’t last long, but they were moments she couldn’t forget. “Sounds like someone is fine with just a taste of vore.” Blueblood replies jokingly. “I-it’s not like that!” Her face was almost red in embarrassment. “And they always did that after I ate something, so they are the ones into vore, not me!” She even covered her mouth after saying that, imagining the moments and she usually did that to try and stop them. Blueblood chuckles seeing her embarrassed look. “Sounds like somebody most certainly was. Especially since the mice were probably looking for, um, leftovers.” Blueblood says, looking a little green suddenly, as he remembers having to “share” food with Celestia and with Lindsey during his “detention” in her stomach. The green fades as he shakes his head to get his mind off those thoughts. “Hm, so maybe if you were big you wouldn’t mind having me in your mouth.” He adds jokingly. Her face was still flustered red, the girl only shaking her head as she would never want Blueblood to go through the same thing her pet rats did to her. “Uhm, th-they were actually rats.” She corrected him. “Th-they were much bigger too, the previous owner wanted them to be chubby.” “Oh, okay. So they never went fully into your mouth?” Blueblood asks, as it sounded like her rats might have crawled all the way in at one point or another. “N-no, it was always their head or even their paws. But… they would never go that far.” She answered, not even looking at him as she was mentally scolding herself for bringing this up. “Yeah, makes sense.” Blueblood replies. “I mean it’s already dangerous enough for them, I doubt they’d make it even more by going all the way inside.” Blueblood thinks for a moment. “I hope your rats are okay, especially with you no longer being there.” “Well… we had to get rid of them when we were back on earth.” She said, the blush fading as she talked about something else. “We were gonna move down south, where it was summer weather all day… but then the spell targeted us, and I have no idea how they are back on earth, or if the person we gave them to is still there as well.” She sighed. “And now… cause humans are small now, it’s impossible for any of us to have a pet of our own. To have a pet rodent is like having a horse, and even a simple goldfish is like having a shark in a tank. I know that I still have my family with me, but I miss the times where I could take care of a creature smaller than me, rather than being taken care of by somepony else...” She sighed, now seeming a little down at the fact that she couldn’t have any pets of her own and take care of them like she used to. “Yeah, it does feel like we’re pets now, doesn’t it?” Blueblood asks with a sigh. He definitely felt as such when he was with his aunt. A wave of saddened silence went over the two, now the idea of exploring the table map fading out of their minds. “To be honest… I don’t think anypony is really helping us undo the spell. It seems as if everyone is just wasting their time...” She said, feeling a small lump in her throat. “And I figure that some people are just fine being small forever, but I want to be independent… like Lindsey.” She could feel her vision go blurry as she kept on going. “She gets to go wherever she wants, and not live in fear of being eaten ever again. But why did it have to be her!?” She shouted, almost angry. “She even said she had a fine life as a model. She didn’t care, right? Yet now she’s upset that every other human treats her differently, but I know that deep down everyone just wishes to be like her… and that’s all they can do: wish. Cause obviously no other creature cares! Instead of making it equal and fair for us, we’re just… j-just...” She stopped talking, seeming to forget that she was in an open room, where anyone could hear her whine and complain, not being any better than any other human… no, like any other tiny, cause she surely wasn’t human anymore. But more specifically, she forgot that Blueblood was with her, hearing her act like any other tiny in this situation. She remained silent as she covered her face, not wanting to be seen crying, even though it was clear by the silent sobs and the water droplets on the table. “Just what?” Lindsey’s voice sounds from above the table, her massive form leaning over them. She sounded hurt herself, and possibly a tad bit angry at having her character attacked. Her fingernails click loudly as they drum against a portion of the table. Blueblood had already rolled over when Tanya started to get angry, and now he’s looking up at his former captor, and even more former target to take his own anger out on. Tanya snapped her head up, looking up at the large girl with tears still in her eyes. Of course, she should feel scared and even fear for her life, but instead, she could see the hurt in her eyes. Recalling what she said without thinking, she could understand why. “L-Lindsey. I...” She only lowered her head, not able to talk to her right in her eyes. She wiped her eyes and nose, only the redness of her cheek showing that she was crying earlier. “I wasn’t thinking… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take it out on you… I’m just… upset. A-and it’s okay if you don’t accept my apology. I just wish I could go back to my normal life… it had nothing to do with you.” She apologized, already seeing her vision get blurry a second time, now trying desperately to wipe away the tears, soaking the sleeve of her shirt in the process. “I-I deserve any punishment you g-give me...” Lindsey leans over more, resting on her arms. “No Tanya, I’m not going to punish you. You only said what you did out of jealousy. I- I should be used to it by now, everyone wishing it had been them instead of me.” She says lowering her head, somewhat sadly. “B-but that’s still not an excuse!” Tanya shouted, looking back up at Lindsey. “I’m your friend, and friends should be open and honest with one another, but also to care about each other’s feelings.” She said, standing up before she went over to the large girl and placed both her hands on Lindey’s arm that was resting on the table. “S-so… I am envious of you, but I should also know that just being bigger doesn’t make anything better. And… if none of that happened, I would’ve never met you.” She lightly gripped onto Lindsey’s arm a little tighter. “Or Blueblood. I should learn to be patient, instead of whining like a spoiled brat. I didn’t mean everything I said, honest.” “It’s okay Tanya, as I said, I should be used to it by now. Being the only normal sized human, it’s easy to see why everyone is so jealous. They all must think things suddenly get better, or that life goes back to the way it was before ending up here…” Lindsey starts, a lump developing in her own throat. “The truth is, it’s just as bad, only now at a different perspective. Everyone you know and care about turning their backs on you. Treating you as something to be feared, or even worse, hated. The ponies sometimes only being a little bit better.” Lindsey says as tears start to flow out of her eyes. “Who knows, maybe some anti-pony group will develop and I’ll be targeted by them simply because of my size.” “Th-that’s not true.” Tanya spoke up. “Not everyone is turning their backs on you. What about Twilight, Starlight, Stacy, Tyler, Daisy and Cody. Are you saying that you don’t trust them?” She asked, not bothering in listing herself since she felt that she didn’t belong on that list after her outburst. “You even told me the Cody was really happy to see you. He wasn’t scared as well, was he?” Lindsey lets out a sigh. “Maybe I should’ve been a little more specific. When I said that, I meant it in the past tense. When this happened, and I became, normal, I tried to keep up with people I thought I’d become friends with in the village I lived in, but they all feared me, talked angrily behind my back, or even flat out told me to leave them alone.” Lindsey says regretfully. “But, that only means that they weren’t really your friends. Friends don’t treat each other differently if something changes. They should come to accept it, or at least be honest in saying it would take some time getting used to.” Tanya explained, looking away from Lindsey after saying that. “And… I’m not any better. I didn’t even meet you before this happened… and yet I talked behind your back.” She sighed as she let go of her arm and turned away. “I shouldn’t even be saying we’re friends… You probably don’t want me as one anyways.” “Would I still be here if I didn’t?” Lindsey asks, leaning a little closer to the table, resting her chin on her folded arms. “What do you think I would do if I didn’t think of you as a friend?” “I-I don’t know… probably eat me like you did to Blueblood when you first ‘met’.” She said, taking a wild guess since that’s what she did after Blueblood almost did the same to her. “Or even kick me out of the castle… something like that.” “Not even close. If I didn’t think of you as a friend I probably would’ve just rolled my eyes, felt a little twinge of anger and walked on like I usually do to people I don’t know. What I did to Blueblood was more about the role reversal and a bit of revenge, I did take a liking to the little guy after a while, isn’t that right?” She asks Blueblood with a bit of a smile, which he returns a little awkwardly. “So, since I’m still here, and not walking away, I guess that means I still want you as a friend, don’t you think?” She asks, smiling to Tanya a bit. Tanya didn’t show a smile of her own, only looking away. “I sure don’t feel like a friend...” She admitted, still guilty on what she said about the big girl. “You think any friendship is absolutely perfect? There’s always bumps along the way. You seem to want me to punish you, to do something as a retaliation. Alright, I will, if only to make you feel as if we are even now. So, tell me, how should I go about punishing you?” Lindsey asks, feeling that Tanya will always feel guilty until there was some retribution. “W-whatever you think is fair...” She mumbled, slightly regretting the punishment part, but she wasn’t one to go against her word. Lindsey giggles a bit. “I wouldn’t know what seems fair to you, and that doesn’t answer the question. So, what punishment would be fair, what can I do to make you feel that we are even again?” She asks once again. Tanya didn’t speak up this time, not wanting to make the decision herself if it wasn’t really enough. “Let’s see, what would you think of as a punishment. Hmm, you and Stacy aren’t always alike, but I’m pretty sure your views of punishment are about the same. Sorry, but I don’t view eating you as a punishment, after all, that just brings us closer together. I know how I can. You’re always so shy and fearful singing around ponies and other creatures big enough to eat you. How about you sing me an apology song.” Lindsey says, making sure to tone it not as a question, but more like a mother telling her child to do as she said. “S-s-s-sing..?” She stuttered, clearly not liking that idea, even if it was her friend. But she was more fearful that someone else might overhear and watch her sing, only having more eyes on her. “Mmhmm, right here, right now, and regardless of whether or not anypony comes in.” Lindsey replies, knowing that this was, indeed, a true punishment from Tanya’s reaction. “You’ve already got a stage and everything.” Lindsey says, getting up and pulling one of the throne-like chairs closer to the table. “Here, I’ll even get a rhythm going for you.” She adds, tapping on the table slowly getting a pattern going. She was about to say she didn’t remember any apology songs, but she felt that maybe one might be good enough, her magic starting on her own as her necklace started blinking to the same beat that Lindsey was making, it only getting stronger, but then stay in a loop as if it was also waiting for her to start singing. Arms huddled close to her chest, she started singing, lightly bobbing her head to the beat. “I was running on an empty heart Not a trace of gasoline Trying to dim every single spark That could hurt, that could burn all of me “Like a soldier on a battleground Lying wounded on the field I was fighting along with a broken sword Now I’m caught in a war with no shield” The music got less intense, only waiting for what could be for the bass to drop. “If you hold me now And leave me never Say you’ll stay with me forever Then I surrender, surrender” The music started rising once more. “If you hold me now And leave me never Say you’ll stay with me forever Then I surrender, surrender” That was when the bass dropped and the music got louder, the table actually reacting to her magic, seeming to also flash to the beat as well, the map long gone as only flashes of light came from it, possibly attracting unwanted attention. “I pushed and pulled all the ones that try Then I watched them fade away As I look around a vacant room I see nobody left here to blame “'Cause I made myself a prisoner Shackled up by all my fears But I feel you breaking away, out the walls Make them fall, make them all disappear” Once again, the music dimmed down for another bass drop. That unwanted attention came, remaining quiet, watching as she continued singing. Twilight, Starlight, the rest of the main six, and even the other Princesses listening to her song. All had been there because of the recent news, but were drawn in by the strange music, and even stranger magic. “If you hold me now And leave me never Say you’ll stay with me forever Then I surrender, surrender “If you hold me now And leave me never Say you’ll stay with me forever Then I surrender, surrender” The bass dropped once more, even herself feeling the impact of the loud bass in a constant beat while electronic music added some flair to it. But it soon dimmed down as she said the last word, the map turning back to a regular crystal table with no map showing up. “Oooooooh, surrender, surrender.” Of course, she didn’t see what exactly happened, only looking down at the table. “Where did the map go?” “Well, it kind of became a stage for you during your song.” Lindsey replies, though she isn’t looking at Tanya, rather past her at the crowd of ponies gathered behind her. “By the way, apology accepted, we’re even now.” Lindsey says refocusing on Tanya. “Oh, and the rest of the audience is just as impressed as I was.” All the ponies on the other side of the table did seem to be impressed, in fact, a certain cotton candy colored pony is currently being held in one of several magic auras to keep her from clapping. Tanya was caught off guard once again, quick to take a few steps back from the ‘audience’. “H-how long have you b-been standing there?” She just had to ask, keeping herself from fainting out of fear and embarrassment, her cheeks already changing to a red hue and spreading all over her face. “About two versus before the end. We were drawn by the noise and lights your magic caused.” Twilight replies. “It’s interesting how it had an effect on the map too. Oh, and your singing was great!” She adds merrily. The others join in, agreeing with Twilight, adding their own cheers. Pinkie, now released from the aura, leaps onto the table, her face getting mere inches from Tanya. “That was amazing! You should go on tour! Ponies across Equestria would love it! Oh oh, and you could do parties! Cutecenieras! All sorts of things!” Pinkie’s eyes start to twinkle with excitement. “But that was so cool! With the lights all going pe-chew pe-chew across the table and the instruments all sounding like they’re there, but not there! And it sounded like there was a speaker, going all thum thum, woooooaaaaaooowww, and other stuff going, na-nini-na-nini-na-na!” With Pinkie being much to close to her, the mare’s muzzle was pressing against her chest, making her blush more at the close contact. She was too flustered and embarrassed to make any sort of response, only looking down at the mare’s muzzle. “Alright Pinkie, that’s enough. You already know Tanya is quite shy around ponies, especially ones that are reputable for eating humans.” Rarity says, pulling Pinkie off the table with her magic. “Awe, but she could’ve performed in my tummy town! They would’ve loved it!” Pinkie exclaims disappointedly. She seemed to be able to collect herself once Pinkie was pulled back, letting out a relieved sigh. “Uhm… th-thanks f-for the compliment. I-I am f-fine singing in f-front of other p-people… i-it’s just p-ponies that s-scare me… p-ponies that I d-don’t know well.” She spoke, correcting herself at the end to not sound like she couldn’t sing in front of any ponies. “Well, even ponies you know well, only so long as they’re large.” Applejack points out, having heard from Applebloom, who heard from Daisy, how Tanya quickly becomes flustered whenever Daisy, or the others applaud after a song. Tanya only looked down shamefully, not really liking that she wasn’t used to singing in front of her bigger friends by now. The only one she was really used to singing in front of was Swiffer, but she was one pony. “I-I’m sorry…” She apologized, not sure if it was for her friends or even herself. “Nah, it’s alright sugarcube. Y’all just need to adjust to being around us.” Applejack replies, with the others agreeing, including Rainbow Dash, the gulper. “We understand why you’re so shy around us. E-even some ponies l-like me, d-don’t do well with other ponies.” Fluttershy adds, hiding behind her mane a bit. “But I feel like I should be used to it by now...” She mumbled, being here for so long, along with the magic practicing with Twilight, it always being her singing a small tune to harness the magic, but not overuse it… like she did just now with the crystal table. Dash starts to laughs a bit. “What, did you have giant friends back on your Earth?” She asks rhetorically. “Friends who could eat you if they felt like it?” She adds, knowing that this was just as new to them as Equestria. “Don’t worry about it, it’ll just take you longer to get used to being around ponies, even if they are your friends.” Celestia giggles herself. “You shouldn’t worry about it Tanya. Many humans have had a hard time adjusting to life in Equestria, and many more will avoid ponies at all costs, and I cannot blame them especially with the new way we tend to ‘greet’ them. If anything, we’re just glad that you’re at least willing to try.” The solar princess says, attempting to comfort the tiny girl. “Speaking of which, I’m Luna, princess of the night. It is a pleasure to meet you, young Tanya.” Luna greets the girl merrily, if tiredly, being up earlier than she usually is. “I am pleased to meet you too. I’m Cadance, princess of the Crystal Empire.” The pink alicorn introduces herself. “N-nice to meet you two, too.” She tried to be polite, keeping her small fear within for now. “Hey Tanya, you’re in the same room as the gulper, and she hasn’t even attempted to eat you.” Lindsey points out, causing Dash to hide herself a bit, her fairly negative nickname and the recent news causing her to feel embarrassed. Of course, that made her remember what she told Twilight earlier. “Uhm, d-did you all came here cause of what Princess Twilight… discovered?” She asked, not sure how else to call it, maybe revelation, but it wasn’t really a good thing. Celestia speaks up. “Yes in fact. That was quite a revelation, no doubt it’s going to shake up how ponies treat humans quite a bit. After all, up until now, we had no idea that what we were doing could be taken that way, let alone, that there are some humans that, well, prefer it. I’m sure you’ve noticed, our society is a little more, conservative about those things. Sure we have a holiday around coupling, but it never goes further than the two becoming close friends.” She says, feeling somewhat embarrassed herself, hiding that she feels terrible for doing that to a child. In fact, all the ponies in the room are very embarrassed, or aghast at the implications, Fluttershy especially who runs an orphanage in her cottage. “Thank you for revealing this to Twilight. With information like that, well, it’s not likely that ponies will continue eating humans.” “I guess, but Twilight acted as if people are now infection plagues, even casting a shield around the castle, and used clothes to cover any ‘entrance’ around her body.” Tanya said, feeling that all ponies might act like that as well. “Not plagues, just worried that some are going to take advantage of the situation.” Twilight interjects to defend herself. “I realize.” Celestia replies. “Yes, and many more ponies may join her in being worried that some humans might take matters into their own hands, especially with this news likely causing ponies to completely give it up. It will also implicate many ponies who have done so to children. After all, it isn’t acceptable to involve children in such things. I certainly hope Seth’s parents will understand, and Seth himself.” Tanya didn’t give a response, still looking down at the table as she could only imagine what kind of problems she created after telling Twilight what Vore was. She was glad that the alicorn didn’t ask the other kinds of things a person would want to do with a giant figure besides being eaten alive. “Seeing as this, vore, is essentially an, attraction, to being inside another living creature, and how you know much more about human, attractions, could you tell us anything else we ponies might do that could cause these emotions to avoid any future misunderstandings?” Celestia asks, figuring that if humans could see being eaten alive or finding some way inside another living being could draw out these feelings, then it’s pretty easy to see that humans may have other things that draw those feelings out as well. ‘Crap!’ She thought, dreading this question. She wanted to more than likely say she didn’t want to, to keep her mouth shut, but she had to remember that this was one of the co-rulers of Equestria. That’s like keeping a secret from the president. “I… I don’t want to say.” She mumbled, a red blush forming on her cheeks again. “So you know.” Celestia says. “Please, it’s important, we don’t want to be implicated in accidentally exposing children to these sorts of actions, and that so we don’t send signals we don’t want to send to adult humans. Fluttershy used to swallow the children she cares for at her cottage, but she’s no longer going to because of it. Of course you know that I’ve done similar things. Dash rescues tinies, usually swallowing them before letting them out later, but that’s likely to change too, instead she’ll start rescuing them a more normal way. Please tell us.” She pleads, not wanting to accidentally make what someone might consider as a sexual advance. Tanya’s blush only got worse when she actually started to plead for an answer. But she felt that she won’t be able to get out of this unless she relented. “Th-there are… a lot of things.” She mumbled, not even looking up at the group. “I… don’t know where to start.” “I suppose you would know as well.” Celestia says, looking to Lindsey, who nods in reply. “Please, if both of you could tell us, or even just write down what you know. That would help us avoid doing things that might cause some awkward moments between humans and ponies.” Lindsey sighs. “I-I suppose Tanya and I could get together and write out these fetishes.” She replies a bit nervously as well. “Um, right Tanya?” She asks the tiny girl next to her arms. She only nodded as she didn’t want to talk about this, but she felt that she should at least tell one. “O-one example is c-called, uhm… b-buttcrush.” She said, her cheeks still as red as a cherry. “I’m guessing it’s very self explanatory.” Celestia replies, looking rather awkward, shuffling a bit. “Oh dear, I’m certain that this is going to get very, interesting...” Tanya only nodded as she felt that the ponies here won’t be so innocent anymore. “I-I’m sorry… I should’ve kept my mouth shut.” “No, don’t be. It sounds like we would’ve found out sooner or later, in a far more awkward way.” Celestia replies. “It does sound like a lot of things we currently do, even without realizing it, are suddenly going to be, well, very awkward.” Lindsey lays a hand flat on the table so Tanya can walk onto it. “Alright, I suppose we should get to work then. You can come too Blueblood.” She says to the small stallion. Blueblood himself gets closer to Tanya. Tanya didn’t say anything as she went towards Lindsey’s hand and climbed on, looking back at Blueblood to see if he was going to follow. Blueblood climbs onto Lindsey’s hand after her, though it’s easy to tell that he isn’t happy to be back in her hands. Lindsey gets up and carefully walks away holding them carefully in her hand. “Alright, we’ll be back with the list.” She says to the group before heading down the hall. “Well, this is going to be awkward. Oh, um, Blueblood, now that you know. I’m sorry about, well, everything.” Blueblood stays quiet, feeling awkward around Lindsey, but nods to show that he forgives her. Tanya all the while was quiet, still regretting telling Twilight about this, but figured that it would be better than her learning about it the hard way. “Well, Tanya. I’m sorry to you too, if I remember right, when we first met, I kind of kept you, and the others between my breasts. I sometimes forget that it’s quite the, um, sexual place.” Lindsey replies. “I… tried not to think about it that way.” Tanya admitted. “I-I mean, you didn’t mean it that way, did you?” Her cheeks flushed pink when she asked that. “No. No I didn’t, but I never paused to think that others would take it that way. No wonder Stacy developed a crush on me.” Lindsey replies, before letting out a sigh. “I ate her a couple times too. I know she hates vore, but somehow that might’ve got her to fall in love with me too.” “I don’t think you know how fetishes work… people like doing that. And I don’t think it would be her fetish if she tried to avoid it.” Tanya said, feeling that Stacy wasn’t much of a vore-lover. “Maybe she fell in love with you cause you seemed like the right kind of person that could keep her safe. And could also stand her rude behavior when it starts. Maybe… like a family member that she could have again, recalling that she drove everyone else away.” “Well, I didn’t say she was into vore, but there is a certain intimacy to being inside someone, literally.” Lindsey replies. “I mean, how often can you say you’ve literally been right next to someone’s heart?” She asks. “True, but she probably doesn’t see it that way.” Tanya glanced away. “I guess. I just wish that she didn’t get that attached, I was fine being her friend, but, I mean wouldn’t a lesbian relationship between a giant woman and a tiny woman, well, require vore for any intimacy?” Lindsey asks. “I mean, you know, most couples want some form of sexual intimacy in the close relationship she wanted.” “Well, she could just mistaken a loving relationship for just a closer friendship. I mean, I know some girlfriend besties that could be mistaken for a couple. Like holding hands, snuggling close to each other, just everything but kissing or having sex.” Tanya said, it seeming more like that then what Stacy was thinking of. “Yes, but when I explained that I don’t share a sexual attraction to her, she seemed disappointed, or more accurately distraught. I even told her that I still wanted to be her friend, just not her lover.” Lindsey replies. “I know there are relationships like that, where the friends could be mistaken as lovers, I’ve been a part of a few of those, but somehow I think Stacy did want more than just that. I mean, after all, she practically refused to form a relationship with Tyler.” She adds, opening the door to her room. “Well, they had just met after all…” Tanya mumbled, seeing how it wouldn’t be an immediate attraction to one another. “Maybe you just need to try and explain to her again, without bringing in someone else to try and replace you… I think anyone would be a little upset if someone they want to be close to just brings someone else in to do the work.” “Well, I did, even before Tyler was around, every time I’ve ended up having to act like I did want to be her lesbian partner, otherwise she was too depressed to do anything, other than cry or attempt suicide.” Lindsey replies with a sigh. She sits down in a chair next to a desk and sets Tanya and Blueblood down on it gently. She gets out some sheets of parchment and a quill and ink. “Do you want to start, or should we keep talking about Stacy? Speaking of Stacy, I wonder where she is. She went wheeling her way around the castle with Tyler. “I guess we should change the subject, seeing that you don’t like talking about this.” She mumbled, sitting down on the table. She knew this would have to be resolved soon, but it wasn’t her decision to make. “Well then, I guess we’ll just have to start. Just wait till they find out that just being giant is enough to turn some people on.” Lindsey says jokingly. “Yay, I’m so glad that I turn people on by just existing.” Lindsey continues, sounding a little downcast. Of course, the sarcastic tone got Tanya to laugh a little. “Yup, becoming the literal Miss Universe, since you would probably be as big as one if we were actually normal size all along.” She said jokingly. “Well, I wouldn’t exactly say universe, more like mountain, or skyscraper.” Lindsey replies. “I could probably rent out space all through my digestive tract.” She jokes. “So, I wonder what other fetishes will shock the ponies.” She adds as she starts to go through any number of fetishes in her mind. Blueblood sits there, in a sort of shock that humans could have all sorts of things that arouse them, let alone things like same sex attraction. “Well, we should also mention that there are some people who like being around giant creatures, but not in a sexual way… kind of like me.” She admitted with a small blush. “I may miss having a pet of my own, but I would be lying if I didn’t say I would want those pampering days that my pets used to have almost every day. Having their fur brushed, laying on their bed and exploring the ever changing maze of plushies or quilts, and just needing to be cute and there for their owner, and they can live the free life that we could only dream of.” She ended that with a dreamy sigh, right before she realized she said all of that out loud, a red blush returning to her cheeks. Lindsey giggles. “Technically you could live that life here if you found a pony that was willing to take care of you like that. Quite a few of them are, especially since we’re, well, you’re so small, and of course tasty, though that part is probably going to be changing now. So I guess that’s even more of a bonus, no more having to worry about being eaten.” Lindsey says. “Yeah, I guess so...” She mumbled, before looking over at Blueblood who was silent this whole time. “But I only wish for those days sometimes, cause I know if that was every day, I would get tired of it. Besides… I already have a pony that’s willing to take care of me.” She said with a smile, placing a hand over one of his hooves, gently leaning against him, but not putting all of her weight on him since he was smaller than her. Blueblood leans against Tanya too, blushing a bit, but nuzzling her anyway. “Awe.” Lindsey coos. “You two are a cute little couple. I would say you could check out Blueblood’s old room, but, well, it’s just too awkward now. Though, I guess at some point I could take you to Blueblood’s old home.” Lindsey says as she writes down more fetishes. “I think going to Blueblood’s room would be more of a journey and exploration than anything else.” Tanya spoke up, knowing that they would do more than what Lindsey was implying. “Oh? So you wouldn’t mind seeing where he stayed after our sizes were switched?” Lindsey asks with a bit of a giggle. “Or are you talking about a different room, one currently waiting for us to give her this list?” “Oh, I thought you were referring to Blueblood’s old room… you know, back in the castle.” She said, thinking that they were talking about two different places. “He didn’t have one, he had a mansion, which is now mine since we’ve effectively switched places. I could take you there if you want, Blueblood might want to hide though, since I still employ his staff.” Lindsey replies. “I’m sure you know where I’m talking about now though.” She only blinked, showing a blank stare since she has never been to Blueblood’s home, thinking that he just lived in the castle the whole time. “Tanya? What’s up? You’re not really considering letting Celestia or I eat you, are you?” Lindsey asks, the last part more jokingly than serious. “I think we were thinking about two different things.” Tanya said. “I meant an actual bedroom.” “Well, I do have his old home, so I could show you his old bedroom.” Lindsey replies. “However, I’ll have to retrieve Daisy and Cody, since at this moment I’m the closest thing they have to a parent. Of course, we’ll have to come back here for your magic training, and so Cody and Daisy can go to school” “But didn’t Twilight and Starlight take care of them before you got here?” Tanya asked, wondering why they couldn’t be left in the castle with the others… except Rainbow Dash, there was a reason for that which she learned the hard way after ‘meeting’ her. “They did, but it’s better for them if they have a more permanent parental figure that they’ve known longer. Besides, it’ll be their home too, I’m sure they’ll want to see it.” Lindsey says. “If you two decide you want to, I’m fine letting you live there as well, after all, Blueblood should be allowed to live there in his old house.” ‘It would be weird since it was his house first… but then again, I don’t think he has much use for it in his… condition.’ Tanya thought, keeping that to herself. “O-okay, I was a little curious on if you were gonna live here or in Canterlot anyways.” She admitted. “Why not both?” Lindsey asks. “The staff like me and take good care of the mansion, while also being happy to use it for themselves. Cody, Daisy, and I could live here in Ponyville during the school years, then when school is out we could go up to Canterlot and live there.” She says. “I’d also be fine if you, Blueblood, Tyler, and Stacy lived with us too. I just suggest that Blueblood be careful around his old staff, particularly the maids, they’re holding a far larger grudge than his butler.” Lindsey suggests, Blueblood shivering at the thought of the maids being after him. Of course, Tanya noticed and was quick to wrap her arms around him in a protective manner. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect him.” She said, of course feeling that wasn’t gonna help since she was only a little bit bigger than him. “Awe.” Lindsey coos again. “You’re just so cute, and don’t worry, I’ll protect you both.” Lindsey promises merrily. “So, you think you got every fetish linked to giants there?” Tanya decided to change the subject, realizing she didn’t mention any she might know, but felt that Lindsey would have the same knowledge as she does. “Probably, I’ve got crushing, all types of vore, destruction, dominance, and a host of other fetishes related to that. Pretty sure that’s enough damage for one day. Don’t want the ponies to be exposed to the whole of humanity’s sexual corruption, they might just kick us out of Equestria.” Lindsey says with a giggle. “That’s what I first thought after Twilight’s reaction to vore.” Tanya said, still a little nervous on how the ponies would feel towards humans now, seeing how twisted their minds can be. “Oh, I doubt they’d actually do that, it’ll be real awkward though.” Lindsey replies. “Though I bet Stacy and others like her will finally be happy. No more vore, now and forever, not even for those who want it.” “I guess, but what if there are some ponies who don’t believe all this? What if they just think this is some trick to stop ponies from eating tinies?” Tanya asked, it being a good question since humans also tend to lie about certain things. “You think they’ll be that skeptical if it comes from the Princesses’ themselves? Somehow, I don’t think so.” Lindsey replies. “For someone who doesn’t like vore, you seem to want the ponies to continue eating humans.” She comments. “You okay?” She asks, worried, since both Stacy and Tanya are against vore, so hearing one of them trying to defend it is odd. “Well, I’m not against ponies eating tinies or anything, I’m just more concerned on how ponies will treat us. Will they act as if they didn’t learn about it, or just avoid every human no matter if they do or don’t have any weird fetishes.” Tanya admitted. “And remember the time Princess Twilight posted a book on her journey to princesshood, even with a princess publishing it, they questioned it, criticized certain things, and even made odd claims about what was in it, and then after that, all the ponies just acted as if the book never existed, and it hasn’t been brought up since.” “That happens with a lot of things really. However, I think this will have much more impact. After all, this affects all ponies. I assume some ponies might avoid humans in such a way, but most will probably interact with tinies.” Lindsey says. “Besides, this may just lighten the whole Wings of Freedom situation and such, considering these groups were formed because of ponies eating tinies.” “I guess that’s true.” She mumbled, feeling a little bit better since those might be more likely than all of Equestria rejecting humans like the plague or something. “Yeah, I doubt they’d actually kick us out. After all, most ponies just want to be friends and all that stuff. They’ll probably miss eating tinies for a moment, but at the same time they won’t because it can be taken sexually, which’ll put them off. I mean seriously, you just got two princesses of Equestria, one’s student, and the element of kindness to believe they’ve practically been sexually assaulting, if not raping kids, or at least the Equestrian version, after all, I don’t think they’ve even heard of those either.” Lindsey replies. ‘And that’s the thing I hated about telling them that.’ She thought, keeping it to herself since she had no reason to say that out loud. Blueblood on the other hand sits up straight, horrified by what Lindsey said. “B-but they didn’t know it could be taken that way!” He manages to exclaim. “Well, we shouldn’t worry them any more than what we’re gonna show them, or do you want to tell them that as well?” Tanya asked, unsure if they should bring that up too. “Obviously not. However, they already think they have.” Lindsey replies. “To be honest, I’d completely forgotten that vore was sexual myself. When I was tiny, I just liked how close I got to my pony friends. Or, before today, I at least tried to get the same kind of closeness with my friends.” “Seriously? That was the first thing I thought when I was eaten for the first time.” Tanya admitted, not sure why some people wouldn’t think that as well. “You thought it was done for sexual reasons?” Lindsey asks, not sure which of her statement Tanya was talking about. “Well, no. But the thought would pop up, in a non-sexual way. I mean, people can be into vore without getting a hard-on.” Tanya said, knowing there are some people who are interested in certain things, but they didn’t have to be sexual at all. “I understand.” Lindsey replies. “I guess I didn’t even see it that way just because the ponies are so innocent that it just didn’t occur to me, not even the few times I ate other humans.” “Yeah, I guess not.” She mumbled. “What? Is something wrong?” Lindsey asks, tilting her head like a curious dog. Blueblood looks between the two, staying silent the whole while. “N-no. Nothing’s wrong. I’m just feeling a little out of it is all.” Tanya answered, not wanting to worry the two about her own things. “Are you sure? You seemed a little out of sorts when I hadn’t even thought of vore while being eaten or eating someone.” Lindsey asks in reply. “Come on, if something is wrong you can tell me. I’m your friend.” “N-no, no. I’m fine, really. Let’s just get this paper to the others then we can take a look at your new home.” She said, insisting to not worry about her, it literally being nothing to worry about. “My new home? Do you mean Blueblood’s home?” Lindsey asks. “Or do you mean the home I’m trying to find here in Ponyville?” Lindsey adds. “Oh, and Tanya, I’d still like to know. You might think of it as insignificant or unimportant, but maybe I can help.” “Yeah, Blueblood’s home.” She said, ignoring the second thing she said as she really wanted her to not make it a big deal when it wasn’t. “Alright then. Let’s get them this paper and we can head up to Canterlot.” Lindsey replies, getting up, folding the parchment and laying her hand on the table so the two can get on. “Don’t think you can get out of it so easily Tanya, something is bugging you and I want to help if I can.” Blueblood hesitantly gets onto Lindsey’s hand first this time, sitting down in the center and waiting for Tanya to get on, all the while still being too nervous around Lindsey to speak for the most part. Tanya didn’t speak up either as she climbed on and sat right next to Blueblood, not wanting to get too far to the edge of Lindsey’s hand. Lindsey carefully lifts them up and makes her way to the Princesses and the Six, giving them the parchment of fetishes. “What?! Even just being here, compared to their size is enough to arouse such feelings!” Luna exclaims after the group reads the parchment a bit. “Why in the wide world of Equestria would anyone feel that way just seeing things smashed tah pieces by us? Or bein’ crushed under our hooves? That doesn’t make a lick o’ sense.” Applejack adds, with the rest of the group feeling fairly similar, and being weirded out by how humans seem to find everything arousing. “Well, some humans do find pleasure in pain, so that could be one reason. Also maybe seeing the strength in some ponies could be one reason why they like destruction… I’m just trying to explain it better.” Tanya said, trying to find a reason in Applejack’s questioning behavior. “Well, y’all even just like the fact that we’re giant compared to yah. Ah don’t know, it just seems so odd to me.” AJ replies, still confused, with a hint of mortification. “Yeah, same here, I just thought I was eating them and keeping them safe in my stomach. Now I find out that they might like it too much in my stomach. Or that they’d like me to put them in other places.” Dash chimes in, her last sentence said in a shudder. “Well, you have to admit that none of us thought some fantasies would become a reality. And the one saying it’s weird is a talking brightly colored pony that wears just a hat, but no other form of clothing… and has a picture on their flank to signify the one thing they are good at and like doing.” Tanya said, a little hint of sass on the last thing as she knew that this world was already weird on its own. “Um, what is weird about that? I mean, you might find us weird, but we certainly don’t find any of what you mentioned weird, except yourselves.” Twilight replies logically, after all, the ponies grew up in and are accustomed to the world Equestria is on. “Well, that’s more or less how it is on the other end. Just cause we do things that seem odd to you, doesn’t mean it’s not normal for us. Believe me, everyone has one weird thing that their into, and their obviously too shy or ashamed to share it just cause of other people’s opinions.” Tanya said, lightly crossing her arms. “Even I have some weird things that I like, and don’t worry, it doesn’t have to do with giant talking ponies.” “Well, we’re not worried about the ones that have nothing to do with us. Just the ones that seem to have, well, everything to do with us. If there’s one thing we’ve noticed during your time here, it’s that humans can be unpredictable, especially towards something they like or dislike. With these fantasies of some humans being fulfilled by us, it’s easy to see that some humans might become too into this, or just too desperate and get themselves or another pony hurt.” Celestia replies. “But Princess Celestia, you should also know that most humans wouldn’t do something like that with too many possibilities that it could backfire. I won’t say every human wouldn’t do that, but I feel that if something like that were to happen, it would’ve been heard about right now. I mean, all the times that a human has been eaten, it was either accidental, or intentional on the pony’s side. To be honest, if your subjects would learn how to restrain themselves sometimes, you wouldn’t be concerned about the outcome that a human would really like it.” Tanya said in return, knowing that was also true. Of course she could add that it wasn’t humanity’s fault that this spell was on them, but it would sound like she was putting more blame on the ponies. “That’s not the only thing we’re worried about.” Celestia replies. “Yes, it is of some concern but the larger concern is that my little ponies and I have violated human children, without even knowing that’s what we were doing.” Celestia says looking down in dismay, along with the others of the group. “We’ve exposed human children to something viewed as… intimate by humanity. So, when this news spreads, I’m certain that most, if not all of my little ponies will stop simply out of guilt.” “Well, that is a valid point...” Tanya mumbled, figuring to stop before she made things go from bad to worse. “A valid point? I wish that anyone would have come to us before this and told us humans took being eaten sexually, especially before I’d eaten a young child.” Twilight replies a little harshly. “I violated him and what’s worse, I thought I was just keeping him safe!” At this, Fluttershy bursts into tears and gallops away, having done the same thing to her entire orphanage. “Fluttershy wait!” Rainbow Dash calls out flying after the guilt ridden pegasus. Lindsey stands there, holding the girl, wincing as she hears Fluttershy get further away. “I-I just wish this wasn’t true.” She says, feeling a little guilty about bringing the ponies out of their innocence. ‘I wish they didn’t take this so seriously.’ Tanya thought, it not meaning a lot to other humans, but ponies being super sensitive about it. “I wish so too, unfortunately it isn’t.” Celestia replies to Lindsey. “Actually I-I just wish there was something we could do to apologize for this, but I don’t think there’s anything we could do that would be enough of an apology.” She says. “Thank you Tanya and Lindsey for bringing this information to us, the Princesses and I are going to try and right these wrongs.” She turns and the other princesses follow. “I can’t believe we were doing that to children, to foals.” The sentence is heard as they canter away, the rest of the six, besides Twilight, heading off to their homes. Lindsey watches them all leave before looking down to Tanya. “Well, uh, let’s go to the train and we can tour Blueblood’s old home/my current home.” She says, walking to the Castle entrance. “O-okay.” She mumbled, wanting to take her mind off of what she just shared and possibly scarred a pony for life. Blueblood wraps his forelegs around her in a hug, nuzzling her to cheer her up a bit. Lindsey continues walking, leaving the castle and heading to the Ponyville train station. They make their way through the town and get a ticket to Canterlot. She sits down, placing the two on her lap as the train begins its journey to Canterlot. ‘To think this is all going to change after the news gets out tomorrow morning, unless it’s so important it’ll come out in an hour.’ Tanya remained silent the whole ride, still feeling guilty, but more on both the ponies innocent mind, and how people will be treated, knowing that not a lot of people would be into this, or at least would know how to restrain themselves for the sake of others. Lindsey puts them both back into her hand and makes her way back to her, and Blueblood’s, mansion. She walks up to the main gate and pulls out a key to open the lock. She opens the gate and heads in, it closing and locking behind her. She makes her way to the front door, walking across the path through a well kept front yard, with beautiful fountains, flower bushes and other decorations. “So, what do you think so far? Too, well, rich?” “Seems like the owner is compensating for something.” Tanya said, staying quiet afterward to see if anyone got what she meant by that. “Hey, it’s still pretty much the way Blueblood left it. I’m planning on making alterations.” Lindsey replies in faux offense, more or less just joking about it. “There’s even more too, there’s a lot of yard surrounding the whole house, a private pool, there’s a crocket area, and other such things.” She says as she opens the front door and walks in, the massive front room greeting them. The room clearly meant to impress rich guests with the plush seats, a large chandelier casting light on a fountain underneath it. “Yeah, this overdoing it, and I thought the grumpy guy from Annie was overdoing it.” Tanya said, remembering how big the house was and how many workers lived in the same roof… she assumed. Lindsey giggles. “Yeah, the staff is pretty glad I increased their pay, and pretty much give them the run of the place while I’m gone.” She says walking towards the hall to the other rooms. “So, what would you like to see first? My room, Blueblood’s old room, the kitchen and dining rooms, the library, yada yada? Think of a room it’s probably in here.” Lindsey asks. “Why don’t you just show us around?” Tanya suggested, not knowing which one to even choose. “Well, you did want to see Blueblood’s room. So we’ll go there first. It managed to survive the staff getting their revenge on him, probably because none of them had the keys.” Lindsey says, as she walks to a large fancy set of double doors. “Apparently you spared no expense on your room Blueblood.” Lindsey giggles as she unlocks the door. Blueblood only blushes in embarrassment. Lindsey opens the door and walks in, revealing a large bedchamber with a huge bed in the center, plenty of books, along with portraits of the stallion it belongs too, lining the walls. “Looks like someone was pretty full of himself.” Lindsey comments as she sees, a grand total of twenty portraits of the one stallion staring at her. Of course there is other furniture all for the comfort of the room’s owner or for storing his personal possessions. “This room is… interesting.” Tanya didn’t know how else to put it. Blueblood doesn’t know how to feel. He’s glad to be back in his room, embarrassed after all he’s gone through since shrinking and having Tanya see how vain he was, and sad to see what he wasted so many bits on. Lindsey gets onto the bed and lays down, setting the two by her head. “I have to admit though, this bed is really comfortable.” She says, relaxing on the soft mattress. Tanya felt the bed as well, noticing how soft it was as she laid down and curled close to herself. “So soft.” She mumbled, pulling a piece of the quilt over herself and soon feeling warm and cozy. Blueblood manages to push under the quilt as well, slipping in next to Tanya and laying next to her. The quilt suddenly leaves them only for it to come back down on them as Lindsey gets under it too. “Let’s just have a nice nap right here, suddenly I just feel so tired, and this bed is like a magnet.” She says, resting her head on a cushy pillow. Tanya only nodded as she wrapped her arms behind Blueblood, holding him like a big plushy as she buried her head in his mane, getting really comfortable now. Lindsey positions herself so that she is facing them and places a hand nearby them as she drifts off to sleep. Tanya only smiled a little before she started drifting off, and soon her hold on Blueblood was more like one arm draped on him, while the other was pinned down by his body. > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tanya’s eyes slowly fluttered open as she looked around, seeing that she was in a white room, feeling the solid ground underneath her when she sat up from her spot. While she was examining the room with not a single sight of furniture, windows or doors, she didn’t notice that she wasn’t alone. “I see that you are quite curious, as any human should be.” A female voice spoke up, making Tanya jump in surprise and look around until her eyes met a humanoid figure. For some reason, she couldn’t get a clear look at her face, but… she almost felt safe and secure in front of the unknown being. “Who… who are you?” Tanya asked the obvious, knowing that even with these comforting feelings around her, she still had the right to be wary. “I don’t think that is important, but I will tell you later in the future, for now, I am here to help guide you to fulfil your dream.” She spoke, Tanya already knowing what she was talking about. “I… I don’t think I can face a literal giant crowd of ponies. I’m scared of failing that makes them want to eat me… but also doing well seems to be a better chance of that happening.” Tanya explained, already feeling scared by the thought of that. “That could happen. But what about what would happen afterwards? Do you think everypony would just let that tiny eating pony walk away with you? And what about your friends? I’m sure they would make sure nopony would be rude enough to do that.” She asked, making good points as the anonymous female came closer, soon having a arm wrapped around her, her sleeve being long and white, it feeling like the best fabric she’s ever felt. “Tanya, you may feel like more bad will happen if you follow your dream, but you never think of the good part of it.” As soon as she said that, the woman waved a hand outward, images showing about what could happen if she pursue her dream. Her name was in lights, crowds of ponies and tinies cheering, and Tanya on a giant stage, singing to her heart's content, a smile on her face, one being pure and real. There was even one image of her and Blueblood singing together, a dreamy look in both of their eyes. After a few more images of the pros if she made a career out of singing, the images faded. “Do you remember the song you sung before you met Blueblood? It was about dreams, wasn’t it? And just imagine, if you weren’t singing, you would have never met the stallion of your dreams.” She said, a smile on her lips as she moved her arm off of Tanya. “I cannot make you follow your dreams, but don’t think about it from here,” She lightly poked on Tanya’s forehead. “Listen to this, and hope that you won’t regret your decision.” She finished, her hand now on Tanya’s chest, it being over the section where her heart was. “I know you’ll make the right choice this way.” She smile once more, before the white room seemed to get brighter, almost blinding Tanya before she saw something unfurling behind the unknown woman. She could’ve sworn that they were… they were... ~-~-~ Tanya let out a small gasp when she got up, pulling Blueblood with her as when she sat up, her arms were wrapped around him, his top half in her arms while his tail and hind legs were still on the bed‘s sheet. Blueblood wakes up with a grunt. “Huh? What? Are you okay?” He asks, tiredly wiping his eyes with his hooves. Lindsey on the other hand, sucks in air when she gets spooked by the tiny gasp, accidentally sucking the two into her mouth. It’s all she can do to keep from swallowing them. “Shorry.” She says around them, laying her head back down on the pillow pushing them out of her mouth. Tanya’s cheeks flushed pink when she was sucked into the large girl’s mouth, only to tumble out of Lindsey’s mouth and onto the pillow, the human and pony sinking into the plush pillow. Blueblood stands up and shakes himself of the woman’s saliva. “Now that was one tartarus of a wake up call!” He exclaims with wide eyes, standing completely still, so scared he can’t fall over and make a goat noise. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to suck you in, I just got surprised is all.” Lindsey apologizes. “N-no, you shouldn’t apologize, I-I scared you. I’m sorry.” Tanya apologized. “I just… had a weird dream, and I don’t remember much of it.” “I don’t know, I still think I should. I mean, after all I am giant to you, and I could’ve swallowed you.” Lindsey replies, standing up and getting a drink of water before sitting down on the bed, letting out a say. “I wish I’d never eaten a tiny, it’s going to be so hard to stop now that the news is out, and now that I remember that it’s a fetish.” “Well, I mean… you are my friend, so you wouldn’t do anything that I wouldn’t like o-or that would hurt me.” She said, a blush on her cheeks as she wish she didn’t mention the fetish part. “But I could’ve swallowed you by accident. I was this close too.” Lindsey replies, holding her pointer finger and her thumb up in front of the two, with both digits being just barely separate. “I have a feeling that a lot of ponies are going to keep away from tinies for a while now, between this fetish and the anti-pony, pro-human hate groups out there. It’s going to be a huge strain on human, pony relations.” “I wish I didn’t say anything… it’s all my fault.” Tanya mumbled, feeling very ashamed as she wanted to take back her words. “What we need is something that can bring both sides together again. Something powerful. Hmm, and what do we know has power here in Equestria, especially when infused with magic?” Lindsey asks rhetorically, starting to look at Tanya, with a smirk growing on her face. “Something that one of us is really good at.” She adds, raising her eyebrows, focusing solely on the tiny girl sitting on her pillow. “Something that both sides have in common that they enjoy.” She only blinked at Lindsey, not getting the hint as she glanced away. “Why are you looking at me, the staring is making me blush.” She said, her cheeks turning pink. “You don’t get what I’m hinting at?” Lindsey asks rhetorically. “I’m talking about your singing. Song seems to be a very strong thing here in Equestria.” She says, getting closer to the tiny duo on her pillow. “You could be the thing that keeps tinies and ponies together.” “Wh-what!?” She almost shouted. “N-no! I mean… I-I don’t know if I c-can do that.” She said, already seeing the cons in her mind as she covered her face and turned away. But when she covered her eyes, she couldn’t help but remember the images she saw in her dreams. “Why not? You’re an amazing singer and we’ll be there for you if you need some pep talk, or if you don’t feel safe. We’ll be there for you, Tanya.” Lindsey says to the tiny girl. “I would reach over and put a hand on your shoulder, but, well you know.” Tanya didn’t say anything as she only looked back up at the woman with worried eyes, glancing away once more as she felt that the suggestion would never go away unless she tried. She recalled something a female voice said, placing a hand on her chest as she tried what she said and listened to what her heart was telling her. Blueblood canters up to Tanya, nuzzling her hip, as that’s all he can reach while she’s standing. “Yeah, we’re here for you Tanya. Not just Lindsey and I either. Twilight Sparkle, her friends, my aunts, tartarus, even the gulper is here for you too.” Hearing her heartbeat while he was saying that, she finally figured that maybe trying wouldn’t be so bad, sighing as she decided to give in. “Alright.” She mumbled, even too shy to say that she wanted to do it. “Well then. All aboard.” Lindsey says, lowering her hand so that the pair could climb on. “We’re in Canterlot, so how about we meet that manager and have an impromptu audition?” Lindsey suggests. Tanya only nodded, not believing that she was actually doing this. She didn’t even meet the pony yet and she was already nervous. Lindsey holds them carefully in her hand and heads off. “So, what’s the name of this manager friend of yours? What do they look like?” Lindsey asks. Blueblood puts a hoof to his chin, thinking. “Well, Svengallop just resigned as Countess Coloratura’s manager. He’s an Earth pony. I’ll tell you when I see him.” He replies. ‘Wonder why he resigned...’ Tanya thought, staying quiet for the time being. They travel around Canterlot until Blueblood points out a very pompous looking pony. Lindsey walks over to him. “Hello, I’m Lindsey, you might remember Blueblood here, and this is Tanya, she wants to audition.” She says introducing the group. Svengallop looks at the group and focuses on Blueblood. “Ah, I was wondering why you suddenly vanished from the high society scene.” He chuckles a bit at Blueblood’s misfortune. “I can see why you’ve stayed out of the limelight, all those mares. If it weren’t for the news this morning, I suspect you’d have ended up being passed from home to home out of spite. You know what they say about scorned mares.” Blueblood just mumbles a bit after Sven’s comments. Tanya stayed silent as she looked away, not used to new ponies. “Are you sure she’s the one going to audition? She seems, rather quiet.” Sven comments before looking up at Lindsey again. “In fact, I thought for sure the only giant, um human, would’ve wanted to audition.” Lindsey giggles. “No, I’m fine. See, I gained control of Blueblood’s estate after the incident. No, Tanya does want to audition, she’s just a little shy. Particularly around anyone large enough to eat her.” Sven chuckles. “Well, she shouldn’t be worried after the news this morning. I saw many a pony carefully spitting up tinies after finding out.” He comments. “Frankly I doubt any pony will be participating in, um vore, not even if they’re in love with a human. Well, maybe if both parties find it, um, intimate.” He says. “So, where should we hold this audition?” “How about my place?” Lindsey suggests. “Sounds great. I can’t remember the last time I was in the Blueblood, or should I say your manor.” Sven replies, agreeing to the terms. The group heads back to the mansion and gathers in the lounge, with Tanya and Blueblood on the table Sven and Lindsey are sitting at. “Alright, are you ready for the audition, or would you like some time to prepare first?” He asks. “I-I, uhm...” She couldn’t even speak, being nervous and scared about auditioning, it being a normal thing for any first-timer. “I see you need time to prepare.” Sven comments. “Well, while we wait, how about some tea?” “Ah yes.” Lindsey says, heading out into the hall, coming back a moment later. “One of the maids will bring some tea in, I made sure that she’d bring in a couple tiny sized cups too.” Tanya only nodded as she took a seat on the table instead, wondering if this was a good idea or not. Blueblood canters up to Tanya and places a hoof on her shoulder. “You can do this Tanya.” He whispers to her. “B-but what if I can’t? What if my magic starts acting up again..?” She asked, only feeling more nervous the more mistakes she could come up. “Tanya, every time your magic acts up, your songs become all the more impressive. That’s saying something, because they’re already really impressive to begin with.” Blueblood replies, nuzzling her. “You’ll do great.” She still felt scared and nervous, but was able to put on a smile as she hugged him in return. Blueblood hugs her back. “Now show him your stuff.” He says encouragingly, giving her a gentle nudge towards Sven. Her smile faded as soon as she was standing in front of the pony, currently just seeing him and him alone. She took a few steps back, feeling like she was too close to him. But looking back at her special somepony, he only waved his hoof forward, as to tell her to ‘go on’. She then looked down at the floor, her hands gripping onto her old dress before she started to sing. “Short steps, deep breath Everything is alright Chin up, I can’t Step into the spotlight “She said, “I’m sad,” Somehow without any words I just stood there Searching for an answer “When this world is no more The moon is all we’ll see I’ll ask you to fly away with me Until the stars all fall down They empty from the sky But I don’t mind If you’re with me, then everything’s alright” While she was singing, the sound of a piano playing was emanating from the gem of her necklace, using the magic within her to fill the paused silence for the song. “Why do my words Always lose their meaning? What I feel, what I say There’s such a rift between them “He said, “I can’t Really seem to read you.” I just stood there Never know what to do “When this world is no more The moon is all we’ll see I’ll ask you to fly away with me Until the stars all fall down They empty from the sky But I don’t mind If you’re with me, then everything’s alright If you’re with me, then everything’s alright” The sound of the piano played for a little while longer, before it finally played it’s final note, and the glow faded as soon as she opened her eyes, having them closed to not be reminded that she was being watched, it being better than her usual stuttering or the mix up in her lyrics. Svengallop sits there, absolutely surprised, his jaw dropped a bit. Lindsey and Blueblood applaud Tanya’s performance. After a moment Sven snaps out of it. “That was quite the audition. I do believe we have found a new star!” He says excitedly, though his excitement is more for the fact that he’s going to be back in the limelight again, riding Tanya’s upcoming fame to glory, just as he had Coloratura. “You, little lady, are going to be a star!” “R-really?” She said, eyes widened as she didn’t believe what she was hearing, a small smile on her lips. “Why yes, and with me as your manager, you’ll be able to go far and wide across Equestria. Don’t worry, I can arrange everything else, the background singers, the band, stages, lights, and costumes.” Sven says, getting up. “I’ll be back in a few days, there’s much to arrange.” Sven leaves, heading off around Canterlot. Hearing everything that the stallion had to do, she couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed once again, wondering if she would need all of that. “See, I told you that you’d do great.” Blueblood says, cantering up and nuzzling Tanya. “He’s going to have everything set up for your concerts and such, all you have to do is show up and perform. Isn’t it great?” He asks. ‘It seems too good to be true.’ She thought, only giving a hug in response to his sweet nuzzling. “But wait, doesn’t that mean I have to leave?” She asked, knowing that concerts can’t only be held in one city. Lindsey giggles. “Nothing says that Blueblood and others can’t come with you, or to the concert.” She then sighs a bit. “I can’t, after all, I’ve got a couple kids to watch and they have school. Speaking of, I should probably get back to Ponyville after all this.” “O-oh, well, okay.” She mumbled, glancing away as she wasn’t sure if they could be there all the time. “Don’t worry, my schedule is pretty, uh, non-existent.” Blueblood jokes. “I’ll be able to stick with you wherever we go. We could probably also get Swiffer to come with us too, especially now that she won’t look at me like I’m a midnight snack.” “But, doesn’t Swiffer work in the castle, and aren’t ponies still trying to… fix you?” She said, unsure on how to word what they were really doing with the prince now. “Swiffer also got released to go on vacation at the same time as you and for the same length, which is pretty much indefinite. In fact, I’d say that Swiffer’s position now is more a caretaker for you rather than castle maid.” Blueblood says, thinking about the situation. Tanya didn’t give much of a comeback since she thought that Swiffer still worked at the castle, rarely seeing the mare lately. “Though, I guess if she’s a caretaker, then she really hasn’t been doing too great a job, I suppose. Though, I get her reason, she’s spending time with her family, and getting to know her adopted nephew. Hmm, I just realized, he called his adoptive mother’s stomach his room, I wonder how the news has affected that relationship?” Blueblood asks rhetorically, raising a hoof to his chin. “I… don’t want to think about that.” She admitted, feeling that she just made the relationship ten times worse than it never was. “It’s okay Tanya, it would’ve come out one way or another, at least it’s out now so that the ponies can adapt to our, odd ways. Oh, and they didn’t learn about it from someone into vore, in the, uh, sense that they wouldn’t let the pony know until it was, um, too late..” Lindsey says, trying to alleviate the guilt a bit. “I’m certain that more tinies are glad about the news and the reaction than not, after all, most people aren’t into vore.” “Yeah, but I have a feeling that most ponies wouldn’t think that way after the news.” She said, still fearing that people will now avoid them like the plague. “Well, that may or may not occur, but this is where you come in. Your music can bring our societies back together again, without the vore this time, it’ll be like it was before the tasting.” Lindsey replies, remembering those days, more fondly now after remembering vore is in fact a fetish. “But… what if it doesn’t work? Or that no one even believes in the vore stuff?” She said, thinking that perhaps all of this would be for nothing. “We were just out there, you may not have seen it, but ponies were actually making sure not to eat tinies, to the point of avoiding them.” Lindsey replies. “If anything I’d say it worked too well.” ‘But those are just ponies we’ve seen.’ She thought, figuring that there was no point in complaining about this. “I’m just… so nervous.” “Don’t worry Tanya, you’ll have Blueblood with you and I’m sure Swiffer too.” Lindsey says, trying to comfort Tanya. “I guess so.” She mumbled, feeling that two ponies wouldn’t be enough, but it was better than no one at all. “Well them and of course security, after all, you’ll be a celebrity. Someone that ponies and people will want get close to all the time, obviously there’ll be plenty of bodyguards.” Lindsey adds. “I’ve seen plenty a celebrity pony that actually has better security than even the Princesses. Especially since the Royal Guard and the Wonderbolts seem to be purely for show. Their win/loss ratio is really bad actually. So don’t be scared Tanya, you’re in good, uh, hooves.” “I… don’t think I would need bodyguards. I mean, I’m not even a celebrity yet, so I don’t really deserve them.” Tanya said, feeling that bodyguards would make it seem like she didn’t want to get close to any of her future fans… if she would get any. “Well, I mean, yeah that’s true, you’ll get them after you become a super star.” Lindsey says. “Tanya, you really have to stop trying to talk yourself out of this. You want to do this, right?” Lindsey asks, making sure the girl really is serious about this. “I-I do, I’m just… second guessing the idea of being famous.” She said, glancing away as she really wanted to, but was now doubting her talents since now she’s using magic when she sings. “Well, fame comes with becoming a singer, unless you’d prefer to sing at small time bars your whole life.” Lindsey replies. “Is there another reason you don’t want to do this?” She asks. “...no.” She mumbled, feeling that she didn’t have a legit reason why she didn’t want to do this. “Are you sure? You seem pretty willing to talk yourself out of this. I mean, we could tell Sven you don’t want to do this if you really don’t want to.” Lindsey says. “So, to sing or not to sing, that is the question you’ve got to answer.” “I-I do want to sing! I just… don’t want to turn out like all those jerk celebrities.” She admitted, it being a little common since some singers were more harsh than what they let out. Blueblood nuzzles her again. “You won’t Tanya, you’re not like that. Sure, sometimes having money and power corrupts ponies, and people, but look at Lindsey, she has my wealth and she’s really nice. Quite a few of the pony nobility around here aren’t jerks either. I mean I was, but there are plenty who aren’t, like Filthy Rich, Fancy Pants, or Fleur Dis Lee.” She stayed quiet for awhile, knowing that she wouldn’t want to become like that. “Alright fine. B-but if that does happen, j-just snap me out of it.” Tanya mumbled, knowing that if that did happen, one of her friends would be there for her. “You mean, like this?” Lindsey asks with a giggle. She reaches down and snaps her finger right next to Tanya and Blueblood. Tanya couldn’t help but jump, the snapping of her fingers being a lot louder on her side since her eardrums were smaller. “Agh, yeah.” She rubbed one of her ears. Blueblood jumps too, yelping as suddenly his ears start ringing. Lindsey giggles some more. “Alright, I’m make sure to snap you back to yourself.” Tanya couldn’t hide the small smile, feeling a little bit better now that most of her fears have subsided for now. “So, I guess now we just wait for Sven to return. Maybe we should send a letter to Swiffer, get her up here too.” Lindsey suggests. “Y-yeah, she should at least know more than anyone else.” Tanya agreed, but didn’t know how they could send her a letter to her quickly. “Alright, I’ll write a letter and send it express to Ponyville.” Lindsey says, getting up and heading off. “You know, this kind of reminds me of a song that someone made for someone special. Kind of like a farewell gift, but to show that they will never forget them.” Tanya spoke up, glancing away with a blush. “Well, I’m not leaving, I’m staying by your side.” Blueblood says. “Lindsey’s leaving because of her, um, foals, but not yet, she’s just going to write a letter.” It takes a short while but Lindsey comes back. “Did I miss anything?” She asks. “I just sent the letter, Swiffer should be getting it soon.” “Not really, I just remembered a song that kind of relates to this situation a bit.” Tanya said, rubbing her cheek a little as she thought more on the small song. “Wanna sing it as a going away present for me?” Lindsey asks as she sits back down at the table. “I-I don’t know… is there a tiny guitar anywhere?” She asked, figuring that it would be better if she was playing an instrument as well. “Um, perhaps. I’ll go check with the villages in the manor.” Lindsey says, getting up. “I’ll be back soon.” She heads off through the mansion going from village room to village room, before coming back with a guitar small enough for Tanya to play. “Here you go Tanya. Ready to sing?” Lindsey asks. She was a little nervous, but took the guitar anyways before she started messing with the strings to make it sound perfect for the small tune she wanted to sing, it lasting, at most, five minutes. Taking in a small breath, she started playing the guitar in a bit of a somber tone, before she started singing. Meanwhile, Sven was trotting in circles as even though he was sure she would be the next star, he wouldn’t say she would be the next ‘big’ star. ‘Ponies would probably need telescopes just to see her.’ He thought, before he looked up at a advertisement for one of the tiny tasting restaurants. “Hmm...” He rubbed a hoof to his chin, an idea hatching in his mind as he went off to see if he could put his idea into action. The short tune ended as she plucked the last notes on the guitar before she finally stopped, the sweet song even bringing some tears in her eyes, it being a song that would make the toughest hearts crack. “Awe, thanks Tanya.” Lindsey says gratefully. “Though, I don’t think I’ll be the one in your arms. Unless that magic of yours has a big surprise in store for Equestria.” She giggles, swiping up Tanya and cradling her in her arms. Tanya let out a small yelp when she was picked up without warning, blushing pink as she was being cradled like a tiny baby, feeling that if Lindsey brought her any closer to her body, she would literally be pressing on one of her breasts. “Oh dear, it would be so weird to be full sized and have a tiny child. I mean, you’re small enough for me to cradle with one arm, let alone you could sleep on it like a giant bed.” Lindsey comments with a bit of a blush herself. “Y-yeah, just a little.” She agreed, not wanting to complain about Lindsey in holding her like this… mostly cause it felt a little comforting. “Well, you do seem to like this, so how about I get your boyfriend, or should I say colt friend and have him join you on the bed.” Lindsey says, snatching up Blueblood and gently placing him next to Tanya. Blueblood grabs onto Tanya in a fearful hug as Lindsey’s giant form practically surrounds the two. A blush only formed on the small girl’s cheeks as she was, quite literally, stuck between two people, one of them holding the two. And due to Lindsey’s body heat and Blueblood’s coat, she was starting to get warmer than normal. Lindsey presses her arm against the bottom of her ribcage so the two don’t fall when she stands up and starts walking, giving the two a roof, made up of her shirt and the underside of her breasts. “You’ve seen Blueblood’s old room, time to see mine.” She says walking into the hall and making her way to her bedroom. “Oh, and no, just because you’re under my boobs and I’m taking you to my room, it doesn’t mean things are going to get weird.” She says with a giggle. “I bet Stacy would love to be in your position again, considering how far she takes her friendships, or attachments.” “Y-yeah!” She was only able to say, trying her best to not look directly up at the other girl’s underboob as she only imagined that was a little too much for a ‘friendship’ kind of relationship. “Good thing there’s a shirt, a bra, and plenty of inches between you and my girl’s, right?” Lindsey asks, a little on the awkward side. She continues walking down the hall, heading for her room. She opens the door and enters her sanctum. “Welcome to my abode.” She says letting them out from underneath her chest so they could get a good look around. There is a large dresser and wardrobe placed near each other. Her bed, while large and comfortable, isn’t quite as plush and soft as Blueblood’s old bed. The room is rather messy, with her things scattered haphazardly around the room. “Looks like you’ve gotten… comfortable.” She mumbled, knowing that her room was a little messy as well when she slacked off on cleaning, “Heh, yeah, a lot like my room back home. That’s how I wanted it, so the maids and butlers don’t touch it.” Lindsey says, setting them down on her bed, before she leaps onto it, making them bounce onto her belly. Another yelp came from Tanya as she was launched into the air, only to land on the fabric of the shirt Lindsey was wearing, a blush on her cheeks as she involuntarily gripped onto the shirt. Blueblood joined in as he suddenly found himself sitting on top of the growling digestive tract that housed him for quite a while, a place he never wanted to be near again. He goes silent as it suddenly growls. “Whoops, sorry guys, at least the landing was comfy though, right?” Lindsey asks, apologizing as well. “I-it’s fine.” She stuttered, more fearful of the landing than what the growling stomach may result in. “Well, feel free to wander and look around my room.” Lindsey says, as she gets comfortable. “Nothing’s off limits, if you want to explore, feel free to explore. I’m just gonna take another nap right here, okay?” She asks as she closes her eyes, nice and comfortable on her bed. “Again, but didn’t we just wake up from a nap?” Tanya asked, sitting up from her spot on Lindsey’s stomach, only able to see her hair over her somewhat hills of a chest. Lindsey raises her head, looking down to the two. “Hey, I’m the one walking us around after all.” She says, giggling a bit. “I know you two only weigh, what, an ounce, but I’m the one who takes you guys everywhere. Just let me enjoy my own bed for a moment.” “But you were just walking, I don’t think that uses a lot of energy.” Tanya admitted, slipping down from Lindsey’s stomach and onto the bed with a small yelp. “I know, but my bed is just so comfortable. I mean, it’s definitely nothing like Blueblood’s old bed, I hope you don’t mind if I replace this bed with that one.” Lindsey replies with a giggle, rocking Blueblood who is still on her belly, and Tanya who just landed on her bed by her belly. “Maybe if I save up enough money, I could get a mattress like that too.” She said with a small smile. “I don’t think you’ll have a problem saving money after you become famous.” Lindsey comments with a giggle, once again, shaking the tiny duo. “That or I could get you one as a gift. I think I’ll get Stacy one too, she might enjoy that.” “I think at that point, Stacy may not want to get out of bed ever again.” She lightly joked, knowing that she would possibly be the same. Lindsey giggles again. “Probably, unless she miraculously got the use of her legs again. Though, with magic that just might be possible, at least in her case.” “Maybe, but that might be a little risky since ponies don’t really know how humans work, more so one that’s… tiny.” She said, turning to her stomach as she crossed her arms under her head for support. Lindsey feels Tanya press against her side and reaches down, picking Tanya up and placing her on her belly next to Blueblood. “Perhaps, then again, the magic itself could help her too. For example, you’ve received a strange voice magic. It’s possible that humanity is gaining magic to compensate for our newfound lack of size. Heck, magic made me, well, normal.” She says, continuing the conversation, and glad that Stacy isn’t around to be given a possibly false hope. “I guess.” She lightly shrugged, knowing that having magic is pretty cool, but she felt that some people would just want to be ‘normal’ for once. “Let’s just hope it doesn’t vary against people.” “Huh? What do you mean, ‘vary against people’?” Lindsey asks, not sure what Tanya means by that. “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Like, this magic ability is selective towards people.” She tried to clarify. “Ah, so only some people get magic and others don’t.” Lindsey says to clarify. “Well, it might just be the same as the ponies, some people get to use magic, others see only a few benefits.” “I can only imagine how Stacy would see that as ‘unfair’.” Tanya couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the thought, starting to think that Stacy wouldn’t like anything that was against her except Lindsey sometimes. “Only if she doesn’t get any and it’s just the normal ‘benefits’ from ending up here like most of us.” Lindsey replies with a chuckle, knowing that if Stacy did get magical abilities she wouldn’t be too worried about people who don’t. “Oh that reminds me, I wonder how she’s taking the news?” She asks, seeing as Tanya had a bit of a connection to Stacy, at least to the point of understanding her better. “Probably hiding her inner feelings by acting as if she doesn’t care.” Tanya guessed, feeling that was close to how she would take the news. “I’m really gonna miss you two. Also everyone else that was in the castle too.” She admitted, feeling that the total shift of possibly working with less people would be hard for her to get used to. “Nah, I bet she’s ecstatic that ponies are no longer eating people.” Lindsey replies with a giggle. “I’ll miss you two, too. However, I’ll try to visit you if I can.” She says as she lowers her hand and scoops the two up. She sits up on her bed and pulls them to her collar bone for a hug. ‘Oh, I thought she meant me pursuing my dream and leaving them...’ Tanya thought, feeling a little selfish for thinking that it was still about her. But a small blush was on her cheeks when Lindsey pulled her and Blueblood into a hug, complying and trying to return the hug even though she was much smaller than her. Blueblood blushes, however he doesn’t try to return the hug, pushing against her skin with his hooves. Lindsey then lets them out of the hug. She plucks Blueblood up and presses him against her lips, giving him a kiss before setting him down on her hand next to Tanya, the stallion just standing there completely paralyzed and beet red, but probably because of Lindsey’s lipstick all over him. “Hey! Get your own tiny stallion.” Tanya said playfully, wrapping her arms around the stiff pony as to try and shield him from Lindsey. “Oh yeah, and how are you going to stop me?” Lindsey asks with a giggle before planting her lips on the both of them, giving them both a massive kiss. She giggles again as she straightens back up and sees the both of them covered in her lipstick. Tanya lets go of Blueblood for a sec, trying to wipe the lipstick on her cheek, obviously not getting all of it. “Did I get it?” She asked. Blueblood snaps out of his paralysis and looks at her, seeing the front of her being covered in the red goop. He starts to chuckle a bit. “No, you got a little more on your… everywhere.” He says, laughing a bit, even though his own body is practically covered as well. Tanya seemed to notice for a moment, but she decided to act a little oblivious for a little while longer. This time, she got her other cheek and her mouth. “How about now?” She asked again with a small smile. Blueblood chuckles some more. “Yup, I think you’ve pretty much got it.” He says with a laugh, as he starts to wipe himself off a bit, only really succeeding in spreading the lipstick even more. “I think we need a good washing now.” Tanya said, figuring that just wiping it off wouldn’t work. Lindsey giggles. “I’ll say. Here, let’s go get you cleaned up.” She says taking them into the connected bathroom, filling the sink so they could stand and wash themselves off, and setting them in the water. She didn’t go against it as she took some of the water in her hands and tried to rub the lipstick off of her face and even some that was in her hair. Blueblood uses his magic to scrub himself off before helping Tanya get the lipstick off of her. The magic makes it feel like a set of hands is trying to rub the lipstick off, wherever the aura appears. When the aura went over her head, she couldn’t help but blush, never telling the stallion that someone messing with her hair was a weakness of her, the scrubbing almost lulling her to sleep as she was trying to keep her head up, it being noticed sometimes if she leaned to back or forward for Blueblood to keep the aura on her head. Blueblood notices her appreciation of him going through her hair and focuses his aura on the entirety of her hair, making it feel like hands going through all of her hair at once. The blush on her cheeks only spread as he scrubbed deeper into her scalp and it only got better. Blueblood continues, while also getting the lipstick off the rest of her. Lindsey giggles as she watches the two. Once most of the lipstick was off of her, she decided to get moving before she might accidentally fall asleep in the water, being the first out of the sink before she started taking her shirt off and squeezing the water out of the fabric. Blueblood follows, climbing out of the sink and shaking off the water. Lindsey kneels down so she’s eye level with the two. “Sorry about that.” She says with a blush. “It’s fine.” Tanya smile a little, putting the shirt back on since she didn’t want to be shirtless for long. “And we thought lipstick was hard to remove when we were all the same size.” Lindsey comments with a giggle. “Might need to really wash myself later on.” She commented, also thinking of changing her clothes when she had the time. “Well, if you want, I can take you to one of the villages in here, I’m sure they’ll let you use their showers and such. Besides, we need to take back that guitar. Unless you want to buy it from them.” Lindsey says, holding her hand up so the two could climb on. “Borrowing a guitar is one thing, but I think using some random person’s shower is another thing completely.” Tanya commented, figuring that she could just wait for now, climbing on the girl’s hand anyways. “How about if I wash you two off then? I’ve got soap and everything else you need, and Stacy isn’t here to get jealous of me, um, handling you.” Lindsey suggests. “N-no, it’s okay, really.” She said, not wanting Lindsey to go so far just for the two to be clean again. “Or how about I just give you two some soap, you can clean yourselves off in the sink, while I go clean your clothes in the other. Oh, and one at a time so you get your privacy.” Lindsey suggests. “That or maybe an unoccupied house in one of the villages. There are quite a few villages here, not all of them are full.” “Lindsey. Please, it’s fine. I can wait until I get home.” Tanya said, being a little firm on her decision to wait. “It’s just lipstick, not tar or anything.” “Well, you did end up in my mouth for a little while.” Lindsey replies sheepishly. “You know how dirty saliva is.” “You’re not gonna stop until we just take a bath, aren’t you?” She simply asked, feeling as if she was trying to negotiate with a brick wall now… a big one at that. “Fine, never mind. Hop on and let’s go wait for Sven.” Lindsey says rolling her eyes and keeping her hand flat for Blueblood, who timidly climbs onto her hand. Lindsey then walks off and heads back to the lounge for them to wait for Sven, having some tea brought in for them. Sven comes back eventually, having rounded up a band, backup singers, and a number of other things they’ll need to start Tanya’s singing career. “I’m back. I hope you’re ready to become… A Star!” He says excitedly. Tanya didn’t say verbally but only nodded as she was getting nervous all over again. Sven only smiled as he picked up the girl and placed her in his suit pocket. “Wonderful. Now we’ll first find out how your first performance shall go, then we’ll find an open set, no matter where in Equestria!” He said, about to leave the other two, but decided to be polite at least. “Tell Swiffer that I give my thanks in showing me this tiny shining gem of a singer. But we shouldn’t waste a second, I’ll let you two when her first performance is.” He said, before he started taking his leave. “Actually, take Blueblood with you. You’ll need him to help her remain confident to sing, just like how he got her to sing for you.” Lindsey says, quickly picking up the tiny stallion and holding him up for the managerial stallion. “O-oh, well, I’m sorry, your highness, but we wouldn’t want your appearance to overshadow what could happen. Besides, once she becomes a star, her fans will be enough to keep her confident. And if not, I think me and my workers can do that for you.” Sven said, at first sweating in nervousness, but soon keeping his cool as he felt that adding somepony else in the mix might ruin what could be his second chance. “Well, he doesn’t have to go on stage with her, he could just stay in her dressing room. Trust me, she’ll need him around to-” Lindsey starts. Blueblood interrupts however. “Lindsey, he said no. Tanya can do this, she’s an excellent singer. Sven knows what he’s doing. Good luck Tanya, we’ll see you at your first concert!” He says, waving to Tanya. Lindsey looks skeptical, but waves as well. “Don’t worry Tanya, I’ll take good care of your Colt friend.” She says with a bit of a giggle. Tanya returned a wave of her own at the two while Sven started walking out of the home. She was only able to see a glimpse of the two before the door closed behind Sven and she was now on her own, already starting to get nervous again. Little did she know, this was only the beggining of one of her worst nightmares. > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It isn’t long before Sven gets into a fancy carriage, and inside introduces her to her “bandmates” comprised of a few mares and stallions playing different instruments, and one mare who seemed to be in the lead singer role for an odd reason. “Alright Tanya, this is your band. This is the drummer.” A Blue-furred stallion strums and nods as an introduction instead of talking. “These two are the guitarist and the bassist.” Twin mares nod at her, one being a lighter shade than the other. “Here is the pianist.” A different stallion waves at her. “Finally, here is your co-star, Off Key.” A shy unicorn mare in the back hides behind her mane. “She’s got the most important job out of your entourage, she’s going to lip sync, while you sing,” Sven says, cantering over and giving Tanya to the shy mare. “W-wait, what?” Tanya couldn’t help but speak up at the last part. “B-but didn’t you say I was gonna be a star? If someone is lip syncing for me, then how will anyone know it’s actually me?” “Oh, well, we’ll figure that out when the time comes. And don’t worry, when we have to record your records, you’ll be out in the open. Wouldn’t want some stomach noises to be in the way of the recording.” He said before he took a sip at some bubbling cider. “For now, just relax and enjoy the ride to the studio.” Tanya wanted to say something against his idea, but she kept her mouth shut, worried about what might happen. She didn’t want to let down Lindsey or Blueblood by coming back not even a day after trying to reach stardom. “Alright Off Key, you and Tanya should practice your lip syncing while we have the time,” Sven says to the mare, handing her a headset while she levitates a smaller one to Tanya. “Don’t worry, when you’re on stage it’ll be too loud to hear Off Key’s stomach and such.” The unicorn mare only nodded as she turned on her headset, Tanya reluctantly doing the same thing. They first started regular speaking, which worked smoothly, before Tanya finally sung a small tune, Off Key moving her muzzle the same way as if she was the one singing and not Tanya. “Perfect. It seems that these headsets work just fine.” Sven said, looking out the window of the carriage. “And we’re here. For now, we’ll just do some audio recordings, so we can save the power for the headsets.” He said, one of the band members opening the door before they all came out, Off Key still holding Tanya as they took a look at the large studio before them. The group heads inside and finds that the studio is not only set up for use in recording songs but that they’ll essentially be living there. There are several rooms, however only Sven has his own, the others are paired up, one room for the two stallions, one for the twin mares, and one for Off Key and Tanya. “Alright, first things first, get settled in for a moment and then we’ll begin recording. We want to get a few songs for the airwaves to get started, I’ve got some times booked.” Tanya remained silent the whole time, still not on board with the idea, but feeling that she had no right to say anything about it, just getting into this career. The group separates into their rooms. Off Key places Tanya on her back and canters into their room. They find a room that has a set of counters for makeup and such, a large wardrobe for Off Key and a small one for Tanya, however, there only seems to be the giant bed for the mare. “Hey. Where’s my bed..?” She couldn’t help but ask. Key canters over to the bed and looks around, before setting Tanya on the bed. Her face is still hidden behind her mane, but she points to a tiny inflatable mattress on the bed that has a bed set on it. “Th-that c-could b-be it.” She says in a voice so tiny one could assume it wasn’t actually her but some girl in her mouth. “So I just get an air mattress?” She asked out loud. “So much for being a star.” She mumbled, already feeling that this is how things will go. Key canters off to explore the room and finds a note on her counter, after reading it she sets it on the bed, her face pale as she looks at it. “R-read the note.” She says, moving slowly away from Tanya. The note from Sven reads. The inflatable mattress is to get you two used to your roles. Before she goes to bed Off Key will swallow Tanya and the mattress. “Wh-what?” Was all she could say, but her mind was going everywhere. ‘This can’t be real. A tiny would never have to go through this.’ She was now feeling like she needed Blueblood now more than ever. But she remembered how confident he looked seeing her off. She couldn’t dream of seeing his disappointed face if she bailed out of this after all that encouragement. Off Key stops moving away and in her quiet voice says, “I-I don’t w-want t-to either. E-especially a-after r-reading the news this m-morning.” She’s clearly uncomfortable with the arrangements, and the pale grey fur on her face seems to be going white with it. Tanya let out a small sigh. “But I guess we don’t really have a choice here.” She mumbled. Off Key let’s out a squeak like a kitten, that being her only way of protesting the situation. “A-a-at l-l-least i-it’s n-not until we go to bed.” She says in her tiny voice, glad that there was still time until then. “S-s-sven s-said w-we h-have to record a song first.” “Well, I didn’t mean you had to do that now,” Tanya said, wanting to waste as much time as she could so she wouldn’t have to go into somepony’s stomach. “W-well, I-I don’t w-want t-to e-eat y-you a-at all.” Off Key replies, not liking the idea either. “I can see that, but would you rather up and quit before we even started anything?” She asked, not even thinking that there can be ‘her’ way. “N-no.” Off Key admits, looking down. “W-well, I-I guess w-we better go t-to the r-recording room.” She says cantering over and lowering herself next to the bed so Tanya can climb on her back. Tanya didn’t say anything as she climbed onto the mare’s back, getting herself comfortable for a moment. Off Key seemed to slightly recoil at Tanya’s touch and seems to be really tense now that Tanya is on her. It wasn’t noticeable before, but now it’s quite obvious. The mare then canters out their door and toward the sound booth. Tanya didn’t say anything around that, but couldn’t help but question her slight actions. ‘Was it something I said?’ She thought. Off Key reaches the room and lets Tanya off onto her specialized table, made for her to sing without sound interference from the rest of the band. Sven sits at a table with the sound staff getting ready. “Alright, Tanya, ready for your first song? Choose whatever you like, the rest of the band will join in when they’re ready. I’m certain they’ll be able to sync up with you and your magic.” He says. It took some time for her to work up the courage to start singing, but once again her collar took the lead by making a small tune to start it, the band members listening before they figured out what instrument would do, right before Tanya started to sing. “Ever since the day I was born There’s always been a rhythm inside of me To keep it hidden away from your ears I sneak a breath and my heart keeps its beat At 128 beats per minute The rhythm keeps on dancing inside of me As much as I want to tell you what I’m hiding Something I can’t explain is stopping me.” Tanya couldn’t help but smile at the upbeat song, the twin mare’s making a small tune to make it better. It could’ve been cause of the magic in her collar, but who’s to say. “Jumping up in happiness again and again That accelerating beat, that bpm Dancing away all my feelings to the heavens Letting my heart beat to that thumping bpm.” The musicians shined for just a small moment before Tanya resumed singing, it goes along with the song. “Ever since the day we were born There’s something there that’s tied us to each other But since it’s hidden away inside our hearts I’ll try to find it and track it to you I’ve lost track of the number of beats per minute These words I want to say won’t go together I’ve never fully been able just to say it So I will write the words, that ‘I love you’.” “Jumping up in happiness again and again That accelerating beat, that bpm Dancing away all my feelings to the heavens Letting my heart beat to that thumping bpm Until the day that I will have to press mute On repeat, I want to tell you I love you If we can be born again and find each other I’ll be waiting for you” Once again, the now also background sung a little while the music continued, Tanya swaying to the beat, seeming to be lost in her own music. “Bpm” “Jumping up in happiness again and again That accelerating beat, that bpm Dancing away all my feelings to the heavens Letting my heart beat to that thumping bpm Jumping up in happiness again and again That accelerating beat, that bpm Dancing away all my feelings to the heavens Letting my heart beat to that thumping bpm” “Could you love me til the end bpm Happy love as groovy sound bpm Could you love me til the end bpm Happy love as groovy sound Bpm” And as soon as it started, the song was finished at a sudden halt, it being obvious that it was supposed to happen. The sound crew stop recording and Sven sits in his with his mouth agape. Truly things are looking up for him, not only is she an extremely talented singer, but something about her spread to the rest of the band causing them to stay in tune and get the beat of the music instantly. He sits there for a moment thinking about rearranging it so that Off Key might be the backup singer for duets and choruses. After a moment he applauds and cheers. “Good job all of you, that’ll be enough for the day. We’ll get this broadcasting soon, and then it’s on to stardom for you guys!” Tanya was currently catching her breath, it being the first time she’s sung so many times in one day. She was a little glad that he decided to signal a break, the girl using the stand for the mic as more of a staff to keep her standing. ‘It’s okay. If you keep this up, your control and magic will only get stronger.’ She told herself, also telling herself that this is what she had to go through to reach stardom, hard work, and even going out of her comfort zone. Off Key approaches and lowers herself so that Tanya can get on her back. She still keeps her face hidden behind her mane, all Tanya can see is one of her eyes watching as she waits for the tiny girl to climb onto her back. Instead of going on without a word, she decided to speak up. “Off Key… is something wrong?” She asked, only able to look at the eye that was watching her. “It’s… nothing…” Off Key responds, waiting for Tanya to climb on her back. She waits, patiently but there’s something else evident in her staring eye, she seems to be afraid for some reason. “L-let’s j-just g-g-get b-back to o-our room.” Seeing the mare was too scared to say anything, she felt she might as well comply. Perhaps if they got closer in a friendship kind of way, she would tell her what’s going on. She didn’t say a word, but let out a small sigh as she climbed onto the mare’s back. Off Key tensed once again but when Tanya was safely on her back, she makes her way to their room. When she gets there she gets onto her bed, carefully laying down so that Tanya can easily get down. “Y-y-you c-can g-get down now.” She stutters to Tanya. Tanya slipped off her back before she fell on her rump, feeling that now was a good time since they were alone now. “Off Key, what’s wrong? You’ve been acting weird ever since I suggested we do as Sven told us since we don’t want to risk being kicked to the curb so soon.” “I...I… I don’t want to talk about it.” Off Key replies, hiding her face both with her mane and the pillow on her bed. She then starts to mumble softly to herself. “Why not? We’re working together, so you should at least comply to me after I was told I had to do something I’m not fond of.” She said, sounding a little impatient. “Do you not like me? Are you jealous or something? What is it?” “I-It’s n-not th-that, I-I j-just…” Off Key stutters in reply before mumbling into her pillow again, she also does her best to hide her cutie mark, shaped like a broken musical note. She raises her face and sighs, looking at her cutie mark. “You see my Cutie Mark? What do you think it means?” She asks. “Uhm...” Tanya didn’t want to guess, knowing the obvious by her name and the image on her flank. “As you might guess, that cutie mark means that whenever I attempt to play an instrument or try to sing, it’s always off key, just like my name.” She says, hiding her face in her pillow again. “Well… maybe you just didn’t practice enough… or the music genre isn’t suited for you.” She tried to think of a way to make her feel better. “I mean… there are some singers that don’t even sing well in my world, yet they are famous anyways.” “Well, that’s in your world. Here in Equestria, whenever ponies break out into song, it’s always in perfect key, perfect sync. I don’t, no matter how hard I try, and no matter how much I practice. The worst part is, I want to sing, to play music, but because of my cutie mark, I can’t do that. Not without being made fun of by everypony else. I-I thought that maybe tinies would be nicer, but they just threw rocks at me, I mean, it didn’t hurt, but at the same time…” Off Key says as tears well up, then she smashes her face into the pillow. “Oh ahea, ma fu oh me oo.” She adds, muffled by the pillow. “Oh, come on. I wouldn’t make fun of you. Besides, there are plenty of other things you can do with music besides singing and playing an instrument.” Tanya said, trying her best to comfort the mare by petting a small section of her coat. “And I still go by the same claim that you’re just singing the song types that aren’t accustomed to your vocal range.” Off Key just sighs into her pillow. “I’ve tried singing every type of song, playing every type of instrument, writing music, I even tried making wind chimes, but I can’t do it. Th-that’s why I signed up for this, b-b-but a-at the s-same time, well…” “Look, Off Key, I oddly know the feeling on what you’re going through. You think my singing is natural? Not in a million years. I had to learn about myself, try things and even push my limits. When I was younger, I was… just terrible. I remember the old videos my parents filmed, and I almost didn’t believe that it was me.” Tanya said before she cleared her throat again. “Even my voice now isn’t real. Some of the things that I sing is cause of magic or whatever, but I can’t really just shut it off.” She messed with her collar a little before she continued. “You know what, if you stay with me on this, then I’ll find a way to get you into the music business. And if I can’t, well you can leave whenever you want to. I think you know that music is your talent, but you just need to find a way. A cutie mark is a symbol of achievement, not your failure. And if you really think you aren’t cut out for this, then what are you even doing here?” “B-because this was my only chance. I-If I don’t have to sing, not really, then maybe I can be involved in music, if only as a means to keep you safe on stage.” Off Key replies. “Y-you may not know this, but a cutie mark’s effects aren’t always good. I told you what it did for me, but there’s more. Some ponies get cutie marks in certain types of rhyme, after that, that’s the only way they speak or write, they can’t stop. Or there was this pony named Trouble Shoes, sure I suppose he’s found the good in the bad, but it doesn’t make him any less of a cantering disaster area when he’s not being a rodeo clown.” “Look, do you want my help or not?” She bluntly said, not wanting to keep this simple argument going to the point where things will go too far. Off Key sighs. “Yes.” “Alright, good. So I think the first thing we need to figure out is your vocal range.” Tanya said, taking a seat by the pillow before she readied herself for a bit of a music lesson she was teaching. “Do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti, do.” She sang. “Now you try.” Off Key repeats, only every note goes as her name implies, off-key in a random pattern. The pony then coughs into her hoof. “Pretty bad huh?” She asks. “I’ve actually heard worse,” Tanya admitted, thinking on what she could do. “Well, judging by how quiet you sound, maybe the problem is that you just don’t use your voice as much.” She said, hearing her cough after she tried to sing some notes. “I think the first thing we need to do is work out your vocals.” “Actually, that cough was on purpose, I didn’t do it because I have a dry throat or anything, I did it because, well, that was pretty bad.” Key replies. “Are you sure you even want to try? Cause you sure aren’t acting like you want to sing.” Tanya asked once more. “Why don’t you actually think about it before you give me your real answer.” “Y-yeah, y-y-you’re r-right.” Off Key replies with a sad sigh. “I-it w-was j-just a dumb dream anyway. After all, my cutie mark means that no matter how hard I try, I’ll never be good at music.” Off Key gets up, and starts stuffing her belongings into her saddlebag. “Thanks, Tanya, for straightening me out.” She says as she continues packing to leave. Tanya couldn’t hide the small groan as she placed a hand on her face. “Look, just cause I said to think about actually doing this, did not mean for you to just up and quit.” She said, getting up from her spot on the bed. “Maybe doing this lip sync thing will give you a better viewpoint and can make you think more on if you want to do this with your own voice. Again, a cutie mark represents your accomplishments, not your failures.” “Really, are you sure that’s what cutie marks represent?” Off Key asks angrily, with tears in her eyes. “That’s not what I was taught in school. I was taught they represent our talents, our destiny.” “But would your cutie mark really only say to give up on music? You already knew about that stallion who thought his mark was just bad luck, so why can’t you find a loophole around your talent as he did?” Tanya asked, knowing that a mark wouldn’t show what they are bad at. “I mean, with a music note of any kind, it obviously means you play some part in it.” “It just might, considering how I got it.” Off Key replies, now crying more in sadness remembering what happened then in anger. “I was just a little filly wanting to sing in the school talent show, one moment I was singing fine, the next moment it was like I became an old out of tune violin. Not only that, but I found I couldn’t even play any instruments either.” She says looking down in shame. “For the longest time, my parents and I thought that some unicorn had cursed me for whatever reason, but no, it’s my cutie mark. The one I got, for my voice cracking once during a song, while on stage.” Tanya felt that Off Key just wouldn’t want to try hard enough to give music a second chance, a lump in her throat finally forming, she turned away from her and sat down. “Then just go… I might as well go with you since my one shot at being famous is sinking just like your want to even sing.” She said, already seeing her vision go blurry with the small tears forming. Off Key just sighs, and slowly starts unpacking her things. “Well, just because my dream flopped, doesn’t mean I should crush yours.” She says as she gets back on the bed and nuzzles Tanya a bit, with some hesitation. She didn’t give an immediate reaction, only a small blush on her cheek cause of the nuzzling. “You don’t have to stay.” She mumbled, still feeling down. “No, I don’t, but I’m going to.” Off Key replies, before nuzzling Tanya again. “Well, thanks for staying, I guess.” She said, knowing full well that she wasn’t staying so she could try and get into music again. “Hey, just because my music career ended, doesn’t mean I should end yours. For all we know, this could actually be the reason for my cutie mark.” Off Key suggests. “I mean, my name obviously doesn’t inspire many ponies that I’m any good at music.” “Yeah, your mom did really think hard on that name.” She said with sarcasm, now feeling that it was pretty much her parent’s fault for even naming her that. Off Key giggles. “Yeah, I’d always wondered why they named me Off Key, because I used to sing really well. Then I got my cutie mark and it all made sense.” “So… they only assumed a unicorn did that to you? Like some kind of curse?” She asked. “What if it wasn’t from a pony?” “Well, that would be pretty scary. If some creature could change a pony’s talent, a pony’s destiny. Wh-what if my name isn’t actually Off Key and the creature altered every ponies’ memories to make us all think it is?” Off Key asks, suddenly quite worried. “Maybe we have to look more into it, than some doctor pony that you probably met,” Tanya suggested, recalling one pony that Twilight mentioned seeing Cody once, it started with a Z. “Really. Do you know somepony I should see?” Off Key asks with interest. “Well, not me personally, but I do know Miss Twilight, and she might know other ponies who could help or even herself for that matter,” Tanya suggested, thinking about what it could be, but her mind coming up with blanks. “W-wait, y-you know the Princess of Friendship Twilight Sparkle?!” Off Key asks incredulously. “Uhm, yeah. Is that surprising?” She asked, thinking that everyone knew her. “Y-yes! N-not everypony knows the newest Princess in Equestria. What next, you know Celestia and Luna too?” Off Key asks, not really thinking it is possible for someone so tiny to get around that far. Tanya only stayed silent, it being enough to give a clear answer. “Y-y-you do…” Off Key gasps. “I-if you want to become famous, you might want to mention that. I mean, that’s a really, really big deal.” She says still quite surprised. “Well, I could. But I feel like I’m mistreating my friendship with them. I may be from Canterlot, but I’m not going to act like those snobby ponies.” Tanya said, knowing that any noble who had the kind of link like she had would use it for their own selfish wants. “I guess that’s true, but, I mean it sounds like they’re going to be showing up at some point. So it sounds like it’s going to be happening sooner or later, whether you want it to or not.” Off Key points out, knowing that Sven would likely make that part of an advertisement. “I mean, no manager would pass that publicity up.” “Well, all he really knows is that I’m friends with Lindsey, and I’m dating Blueblood.” She said, the last one making her blush. “B-blueblood! You’re dating him?” Off Key looks at her incredulously. “I-I mean I-I heard he’s tiny now, b-but, I didn’t know tinies would fall for a stuck up noblepony like him too.” She says, a little bitterly. “Well, he’s not like that anymore. He’s shyer and scared of everything, but I think time with me and Celestia showed him the errors of his ways. Though, from your reaction, I guess not everyone knows that yet...” She mumbled the last part, feeling that Blueblood will never escape from this. “Nope, that’s news to me. I never liked eating tinies, never have either, and then, of course, that news came out this morning, so, I mean I wouldn’t now, but before I probably would’ve just to get back at him.” Off Key replies. “We went to school together, and he was just as bad then as he was, well before he got shrunk I suppose.” “Well, then again, if you were related to the princesses, you would feel like you can get anything you want,” Tanya said, vouching for the pony. “But I know that isn’t an excuse for what he’s been doing all that time.” “No, it certainly isn’t. Oh how I’d love to get my hooves on him now, but I suppose that would make me the bad pony, wouldn’t it?” Off Key asks with a sigh. “A little.” She answered. “But to be honest, he would be more accepting of a punishment, seeing that this also wiped away any ego he had about himself.” “Great, that makes me feel even worse about thinking like that.” Off Key sighs and lays down. She wraps her hooves around the pillow and scrunches it up under her chin. “Well, you aren’t gonna do it now, so you aren’t bad. You just have some bad thoughts. Everyone has that once in a while.” Tanya said, trying to make the mare feel better. “Well, I’m staying and I guess it’s time for bed, so, we’ll just tell Sven I’ve been swallowing you and your bed.” Off Key says, not particularly wanting to swallow Tanya, especially after the morning’s paper. “Alright, but you know that you can’t really hide it when we have to perform,” Tanya said, getting up from her spot on Off Key’s bed once again. Off Key sighs. “Well, then I guess we better start getting used to it.” She says, sighing again. “Well, pick up your bed and climb on in then.” Off Key says laying her head on the bed and opening her mouth wide. ‘I mean, we don’t have to now. But might as well get used to it.’ She thought, mentally sighing as she grabbed her air mattress and tossed it onto her tongue, not caring that her pillow bounced off and onto her tongue as well. She soon climbed on and onto her bed, pulling the pillow back and covering most of her body under the quilt. “Ready when you are…” She mumbled. Off Key lays still until Tanya says she’s ready. When Tanya steps on her tongue, she does her best to keep from toying with the tasty tiny girl, and the thought of playing with her makes Key feel bad because of it. When Tanya says she’s ready, Key carefully tilts her head back, feeling the tiny mattress slowly slide down her tongue towards her throat. Then in a fluid motion, she swallows, sending the mattress down her throat. She feels it slide down her throat and land in her stomach. “Well. Th-that was interesting.” Off Key comments. “S-so, that’s why ponies, well, used to like eating tinies. I-is i-it o-odd that I think this feels nice? I-I wonder i-if this is kind of what it’s like to be pregnant?” She asks, placing a hoof on her chest and softly rubbing it lovingly. “Well, you aren’t the first, and I hope you will be the last,” Tanya admitted, a little surprised that the mattress stayed upright through that whole thing, but she was gladder that she wasn’t covered in saliva, it being the one thing she didn’t like about being eaten. “I just hope the news of vore doesn’t make everypony think all tinies are like that...” “What do you mean?” Off Key asks, not sure what Tanya means. “What do you think the news will cause ponies to think of tinies?” “Well, just like you were acting now, you were very hesitant in eating me. Like ponies avoiding tinies as if they were the plague.” Tanya explained. “You make it sound like you wanted me to play with you when I ate you.” Off Key comments. “I-I don’t think ponies will avoid tinies like you’re the plague, probably just not be eating you guys at all. I mean, the only reason I did is because Sven wants us too. I-I just don’t understand, you seem to not like this vore thing. Why are you acting as if this is bad news?” She asks. “I don’t think it’s bad news, I’m just concerned over the outcome and if it’ll be bad, seeing how Twilight reacted to the information the first time,” Tanya explained, feeling like she might be over exaggerating, but the fear just wouldn’t go away. “Well, how did she react?” Off Key asks. “I mean, from what I saw, ponies have well, just stopped eating tinies.” “Let’s just say she blocked every way a tiny could get inside her stomach using layers of clothing.” She answered. Off Key simply nods. “I can see that ponies aren’t as, well, sexual as humans. Do some humans really, you know, enjoy being eaten, um, way too much?” She asks. “Well, some people do, but they always keep it to themselves just cause of the negative reactions they might get,” Tanya explained. “Kind of like ours I suppose.” Off Key comments. “Well, from what it looks like, they’ll have to either find a mare or colt friend or, well, just have to get used to not being eaten. That’s just from what I’ve seen. I suppose that’s probably what it was like before you came here. That is what it was like, isn’t it?” She asks, not sure if there was a way for the strange tinies who are into vore to fulfill their fantasy back home. “Not at all. Of course, there can be artwork, literature, or even videos around that, but no one could ever experience it in real life.” She shook her head, figuring that this would also be a dream come true for them. “U-until they came here…” Off Key says, realizing some definitely might become desperate now that they’re in a world that they can finally experience their fantasy in. “Suddenly I can definitely see why ponies might be a little worried about some tinies doing whatever they can to get eaten. So, I mean yeah you seem worried that ponies will avoid tinies completely, but I’d think you’d be glad if ponies stop eating tinies entirely. You don’t seem to like this whole thing. So, why are you so concerned?” She asks. “Well, I don’t like vore at all, but just having that mindset that you have, it’s obvious that everypony would avoid people.” She mumbled, figuring that this gonna be on an endless loop. “Probably not, after all, plenty of ponies and tinies have relationships, I’ve even heard of some dating. So far, as I said before, I think it’s just that ponies aren’t going to eat tinies. I mean, yeah, we might worry that a tiny is going to try and sneak inside of us in a meal or while we sleep, so we’ll be extra cautious, maybe even paranoid, but I don’t think that we’re suddenly going to gather up every tiny village and move you all to a safe portion of Equestria away from everypony.” Off Key replies. “I’ve heard tinies complaining about how the princesses don’t seem to be working to get you guys back to your world. This might actually push them to look more into it.” “Yeah, to get rid of the creeps.” She mumbled, still thinking the news will go with bad results. “Don’t you want to go home though? Does it really matter what we think of you if you’re back home on your own world?” Off Key asks, not sure why any of the humans would care if they’re back on their own world with the ponies absurdly far away. “Well, I do want to go home, but judging by how many people are here now, I can only assume that the economy went down with people vanishing left and right, so our planet is probably in ruins now and is more like an apocalyptic nightmare.” She said, figuring that once she gets there, there would be nothing for her to be looking for. Off Key’s ears flatten against her head. “Oh, yeah, I could see how that might make one not too eager to get home.” She replies. “Well, if that’s the case I don’t see the Princesses sending you home, at least not if you don’t want to, and I doubt they’ll banish you from Equestria just because a few of you like being eaten too much. After all it’s not like you can hurt anypony more than emotionally. Not unless you get equipped just like those Wings of Freedom, anti-pony tinies.” “Well, I could see why people like that would be here, but probably the news of vore making ponies stop eating humans might make them hesitate for a moment.” She said, rubbing her arm as she felt that if she didn’t have the life that she had today with no family nor the close bond of some Equestrian friends, she might be out for payback as well… but not for killing, of course. “Well let’s hope so at least, it’s gotten so scary out there I flinch every time I see a tiny. I-I’m sure you noticed that… Sorry.” Off Key replies. “I think that might just be you,” Tanya said, but thought more on it and knowing a shy pegasus who would do the same with the information she and Lindsey shared. Off Key just makes a sad noise, like a puppy whining. She thought back on how her fear had grown in the past few days and the possibility that a few of the tinies she’d kept away from might have just wanted to befriend her or might even have needed help. “I guess I really am a bad pony… Or at least the biggest coward… Running away from tinies.” She says to herself sadly. “Oh come on, Key. You aren’t a bad pony. I bet there are worse ponies out there. And even so, like the princess of friendship told me a while back, there is good in everypony, you just need to find it, and help others in doing the same.” She said, a small smile on her face as she tried to assure her by petting one of the walls of the stomach, much to her inner disgust towards the action. Off Key lays there, feeling the odd sensation of a tiny hand rubbing the inner wall of her stomach. She sighs partially because she still feels bad, and partially because the sensation feels oddly good. “I suppose there might be some good in me. Oh, watch out, I’m going to roll onto my side.” She says, warning Tanya. “O-oh, okay,” Tanya mumbled, unsure if she would be flipped over or just be perfectly fine on the air mattress. Off Key slowly rolls onto her side, which causes the mattress and Tanya to slide along the stomach wall to the “new” floor of the stomach. “Are you okay in there? Still on the mattress and not covered in my stomach juice?” She asks. “Y-yeah, I’m fine.” She said, feeling a little awkward just having to answer that kind of question. “Well, um, g-goodnight I suppose. I hope my stomach isn’t too loud or anything and that you can get to sleep with all the, uh, noises my body is making.” Off Key replies in a somewhat embarrassed tone, finding it awkward to ask these questions. “It’s fine. Strange enough, when I was a kid, I used to rest my head on my father’s stomach, you could say that was one way I got used to sleeping through some stomach sounds since his stomach would make some sounds of their own.” Tanya admitted, a small blush on her cheeks. “But sadly he doesn’t have that soft stomach anymore, so even if I wanted to, I don’t think I can anymore.” “Well, I suppose this’ll be kinda like that, only you’re inside it.” Off Key replies. “How about tomorrow night you sleep on it instead?” She asks, liking that much better than their current predicament, seems less awkward to her anyway. “Sure, but just as long as you don’t move in your sleep. I don’t think I can wake you up if I end up between the bed and your body.” Tanya agreed with the idea, figuring that it might be better than this. “Nope, I’m pretty good at falling asleep and waking up in the same position.” Off Key replies, as she lays there, feeling the air mattress in her belly move as Tanya does. Tanya only nodded as she moved a little on her mattress, noticing that the small amount of stomach acid that was inside was gently rocking the bed, almost as if she was in a rocking crib again, it starts to lull her to sleep. “Well, good night Tanya.” Off Key says softly, not really feeling the girl or the mattress anymore and since Tanya didn’t respond she assumed she was getting tired. Off Key snuggles into her bed a little, using her magic to wrap the blanket over her, and moving her hooves protectively in front of her stomach. Tanya yawned one last time before she finally fell asleep, the warmth of the stomach also helping her fall asleep in an odd way. Off Key snuggles into her pillow a bit, stifling a coo at Tanya’s adorable yawn so as not to wake the sleeping girl, and slowly drifts off to sleep herself. > Chapter 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- When the next day arrived, Tanya was woken up by the sunlight hitting her face. It caught her off guard since she didn’t recall Off Key being as transparent as a crystal pony, but when she got her bearings, she realized that she was just not in the mare’s stomach anymore, and back on the counter. Off Key comes out of the attached bathroom. “Good morning Tanya.” She says blearily, smacking her lips as she’s still waking up herself. She sits on the pony stool in front of her dressing mirror and starts combing her mane. She only gave a small wave as she wasn’t one to even speak before she brushed her teeth, not liking the morning breath that everyone gets. “From what I heard there should be a tiny sized bathroom on your, uh, dressing counter. There’s also a closet, so I guess your counter is like a tiny version of this room, minus the bed.” Off Key informs Tanya, in case she needed to use the bathroom for anything. She only nodded as she took a look around before she saw the small door and moved off the bed and to it, able to open the door and see the bathroom was just like a regular bathroom, bathtub with a shower, sink, and a toilet. She stayed inside the bathroom for a while, also taking a shower since she also took a shower as soon as she was able to get out of a pony’s stomach. Of course, those were rare occasions, but even with magic she could still feel the filth. Off Key finishes combing her mane and carefully knocks on the wall to Tanya’s bathroom. “Let me know when you’re ready and we’ll go get some breakfast. There’s a room down the hall with all sorts of stuff. Kind of like at those hotels with the all you can eat breakfast bars.” She says, before cantering over to the couch in the room, which has a set of stairs leading to Tanya’s counter. She gets on it and curls up like a dog, starting to nap a bit. After some time, Tanya came out with her hair wet and a new change of clothes, she saw the stairs leading up to the couch where Off Key was laying on, going up the stairs before she slid down the couch and onto Off Key’s back. She made a small ‘oof’ sound when she landed on Off Key stomach first. Off Key flinches and awakens with a bit of a jolt. “Huh? What?” She asks blearily before noticing Tanya. “Oh, um, hey there.” She says, suppressing a giggle at the tiny girl laying face down on her back. “Comfy?” She asks with a little bit of a giggle. Instead of a simple ‘hello’, Tanya only responded with a small cough, the fall almost making her lose her breath as she tried to get her bearings, all the while trying to get out of the small trap between the couch and Off Key’s body. Off Key uses her magic to pick Tanya up and place the girl on her muzzle. “That better?” She asks the tiny girl, her eyes focused on the girl atop her muzzle. “Y-yeah, thanks.” She nodded, feeling a little bit better now that she was free from the trap she cause herself to be in. “Alright, ready for breakfast?” Off Key asks as she slowly gets up, making sure not to knock Tanya off balance. She only nodded again as she held on tight and prepared herself in case something happens. Key carefully heads off, out the door and down the hall to a dining area with a corner that holds all sorts of food, from pancakes and waffles to breakfast cereals even bacon and sausages. “Alright, let’s get some breakfast.” She says as she heads to the breakfast bar, picking up a plate and bowl. “Looks like I’ll have to give you crumbs and such, as they don’t seem to have one for you.” She comments a little sadly, surprised they wouldn’t have something for the star of the band. “Oh, it’s fine. I don’t really eat much anyways.” She said, trying to not worry the mare about being looked down upon, feeling that she had enough to worry about since she couldn’t truly be a part of the only thing she loves. The mare starts to load up her plate and the bowl, a couple pancakes, some bacon and sausage go on the plate, while she fills up the bowl with what must be a fruit salad made of different berries. “So, do you want me to grab anything else? Maybe a donut?” She asks, making sure that Tanya would get something she wants too, besides the crumbs of what she’d already picked up. “No, it’s fine. What you already picked out is good enough for me.” She said, not wanting the mare to go overboard just for her. “Oh, um, okay.” Off Key replies, heading to a table and sitting down, lowering her head to the table so that Tanya can get off her muzzle. “So, um, just let me know what you want a crumb of, and uh, well, you know, be careful not to end up on my fork or anything while I’m eating. If you need anything, please let me know rather than climbing up and getting it yourself. I’m pretty sure you don’t want to watch digestion first, um, hand.” She says, waiting for Tanya to get what she wants before she’ll begin eating. Tanya climbed off, afterwards taking the smallest strip of bacon that was on the table for herself, even if it looked more like a stiff brown towel compared to her. But she only nodded to say she understood what she was warning before she started eating her ‘breakfast’. “Is that all you want? Just a small strip of bacon?” Off Key asks, thinking that Tanya would’ve wanted more than just that. “Are you sure you don’t want a little bit of the waffles, maybe some fruit? Do you want some toast, or maybe some eggs?” She asks, offering to go make the last two if she wanted some. “N-no, no. It’s fine. I can’t really eat a lot, so giving all of that would be just a waste, Please, you don’t have to worry about me, I’m fine.” She said with a small smile, it being clear that she wanted to put Off Key’s own wants and needs before her own. “W-well, I grabbed all this extra food in the hopes you’d want at least some of the crumbs.” Off Key replies, she could probably finish it all, but she figured Tanya might’ve taken just enough that it wouldn’t be super filling. “I-I suppose I can finish it though, if you don’t want more than that.” She says before slowly starting to eat. She didn’t say anything as she started eating her own food, enjoying it for the time being until she was actually able to eat the whole thing, yet still be hungry. She was a little curious on the matter, but she couldn’t really ask anyone who could help since no one was around, not telling Off Key or the other’s about her magic changing over time. Instead, she only reached over to grab a piece of the waffle instead, either them or pancakes being the one thing she could never finish on her own when she was back home. Off key has stopped paying as close attention to her plate as she had been. She cuts a slice of a waffle off and unknowingly scoops Tanya and the waffle onto her fork, bringing it up to her muzzle and engulfing the fork full. After a moment of chewing, she swallows the both of them, unknowingly enjoying the extra taste that Tanya gave the piece of waffle. She continues on, slowly eating her breakfast, all while unknowingly having eaten her bandmate and new friend. “W-wait, sto-!” She didn’t have time to warn Off Key that she mistakenly ate her along with the piece of waffle. But she could’ve sworn that she was taking pieces from the other side of the waffle. Once she face planted into the bottom of the stomach, she felt that all of her showering was wasted, sighing as she didn’t try to get her attention, figuring that she would have to get used to being eaten, whether accidentally or on purpose. “S-so, Tanya, what made you want to become a singer?” Off Key asks, not knowing that Tanya is in her stomach. “Tanya?” She asks, looking to where the girl was. “Uh-oh…” She says, before looking down at her belly. “Um, Tanya, are you where I think you are?” She asks nervously. “Yes.” She simply answered, not wanting to talk about it as she felt that perhaps a plate of her own would be a better idea than just trying to steal from Off Key. “Um, hold on.” Off Key says, feeling quite embarrassed and sorry for Tanya. She levitates her plate and utensils and takes them to their room. She then levitates a thread, which would be a rope to Tanya, and ties a marble to the end of it. “Alright, I’m sending down a marble and a portion of thread to pull you out.” She says before swallowing the marble while holding the other end with her magic. She feels the marble land in her stomach. “Alright, just tell me when you’ve grabbed onto the thread.” She instructs, waiting for Tanya to grab onto the thread so she can pull her out. Tanya didn’t say anything as she climbed onto the marble like a rope knot at the end, and then lightly tugged it, signalling that she was ready. Off Key feels the tug and pulls up the thread, pulling Tanya up and out of her. “Sorry about that Tanya, I didn’t mean to swallow you, again.” She apologizes with a sigh. “Well, I’m gonna have to take a shower and change clothes again. But it’s fine.” She said, but her tone of voice said otherwise. “Tanya, I know it’s not fine, that you’re not fine with this. I’m sorry, I wouldn’t have if I’d known.” Off Key apologizes again. “Even worse is that each time this happens, I feel like, no, I know I’ve violated you.” Tears start to appear in her eyes. “But the worst part is that I have to. In order to stay here in this job, I have to violate you with this fetish thing.” The tears flow even more. “I’m a terrible pony!” She cries before rushing to her own bathroom and locking the door, not that it really matters seeing as Tanya could easily walk underneath it. Tanya mentally sighed as she didn’t mean to make Off Key feel bad. She made her way off the table and to the floor, going to the bathroom door and crawling under it before she spoke up. “Off Key, I think you are looking too much into this. Nobody made you do that. And I know you don’t want this… if you don’t want to continue this, then I won’t make you.” The end of Off Key’s tail, sticks out from around the corner of the counter the sink must be on, and her sobs sound from behind there as well. “B-but, I need this job and Sven will fire me if I don’t do it his way.” She says while she continues to cry, a thump sounds out as she leans against the wall. “I read the news, found out about that whole thing, and you said so yourself. Some humans consider it sexual to be eaten, and since you know about it, I have no doubt that it makes you feel awkward or violated because of that.” She says, still sniffling. “Listen, Key. I don’t care about that. Sure, some people may be like that, and even ponies might be like that in secret, but that isn’t either of us right now. I never thought about it that way, and neither should you.” Tanya went on, taking a seat next to the mare’s tail. “Honestly, if I thought of it that way and didn’t want anything to do with this, I would ask you to get me out of here than constantly telling you to stay here. And honestly, that’s starting to get more annoying than the eating me part.” “Well, I’m sorry I’m annoying too.” Off Key replies between sniffles, pressing more against the wall as she tries to make herself disappear, essentially, though the results are that it’s obviously not working. Tanya mentally sighed as she felt saying that last part wasn’t needed. “Off Key, please don’t blame yourself for anything. If I didn’t tell Twilight about vore, and let her spread that info, then you wouldn’t feel weird, or like your violating me. If you want someone to blame, then blame me.” “Well, are you the one behind vore being a thing?” Off Key asks in reply. “Are you the first human that had the fetish, because it doesn’t look like it and you don’t act like it either. You may have let it slip that being eaten is a human fetish thing, but I’m not going to blame you for it.” She adds, still slumped against the wall. “Guess I’m going to have to deal with it.” “Well, obviously I’m not into it, but I did share that information with the one mare that overreacts to anything negative.” Tanya said, figuring that was a bad call on her side, but she couldn’t really take it back now. “And you don’t have to deal with it. You could just ignore it. No one openly expresses this kind of interest, and if they do, it’s only towards those they trust the most, those who wouldn’t think any different of them and just accept it as part of them.” She said, imagining why this sudden revelation is like someone revealing their romantic sexuality if it was anything but straight. “It’s more or less as if someone is saying they like the same gender as their own instead of the normal girl likes guys and vice verses.” “Now that’s one I have heard about with humans, but I heard that because the governments of your world would give them power that they often abused it.” Off Key replies. “So, what if that happens here? What if because of human first movements like the Wings of Freedom and such, that tinies are given political power to force ponies to do what they want or else?” She asks. “Well, ponies kind of caused it since the law against eating tinies is rather small. Only safe zones and certain stores are safe, but everywhere else is like a walk into the Everfree Forest for us. Wherever we walk or turn, there’s a possibility that a pony would be wanting a tiny to snack on, and you are the unfortunate one to walk in their path.” She said, glancing away. “I’ve waited so long for Celestia to possibly add more power to the law of not eating tinies, but ponies could care less, and I bet tinies that did were probably eaten trying to get to the castle, or was even on the line waiting to talk to the alicorn.” She said, now feeling miserable as well. “I bet those wings of freedom people figured that actions speak louder than words, seeing how nothing has changed to make things better for ourselves.” “Until now.” Off Key says. “The news this morning pretty much stopped any of that. In fact, after that you seemed worried that ponies wouldn’t eat tinies, or even have absolutely nothing to do with them. In the meantime, even with the news we ponies have to be worried about groups of vigilante tinies doing what they want and if you get in their way they kill you.” She sighs and lays down, still sniffling a bit. “Well, maybe we should not think about what’s going on outside. It seems to be the main thing that’s troubling you in the first place.” Tanya suggested, having to do that with the Wings of Freedom news she got from her special somepony. “Alright then, what should we think about? The only thing I can think of, besides the stuff going on in the rest of Equestria, is the fact that the second I got distracted I ended up… Voring you.” Off Key replies before letting her head drop to the floor with a loud smack, and letting out a groan of embarrassment about the whole situation they just had. “Maybe we can try and see if we can fix your… singing problem.” She suggested, thinking that perhaps some simple instrument tunes might be easier to fix than her voice. “Come on, I bet if you can’t sing, perhaps you can re-learn how to play an instrument.” “Trust me, I’ve tried.” Off Key replies in a depressed tone. “But, if you want to take a shot at it, let’s go ahead. Maybe you need to witness my cutie mark at work to understand.” She says before getting up and using her magic to place Tanya on her back. Tanya didn’t say anything as she was thinking of an easy instrument to play, then it hit her. “I know, why don’t we try playing a ukulele. It’s the first instrument I learned, and it only has four strings to focus on.” She said, a smile on her lips as she seemed more interested in doing this than Key herself. “Alright.” Off Key says in her still depressed tone as she heads towards the supply room to look for one. “If you need an instrument too, I could see about getting you one, or even making one for you.” She adds as she heads into the supply room and starts looking around. “You’ll have to tune it though, for, uh, obvious reasons.” “Yeah, I understand.” She said, wishing she could’ve brought her own ukulele but figured she didn’t have enough time after being swept into the singing business. Off Key goes looking through the instruments and finds a ukulele, grasping it with her magic. “Alright, can you help me make sure it’s in tune?” She asks as she sets it down gently on a counter and sets Tanya on it. “Bet you never thought you’d be on a giant ukulele.” Off Key says with a small giggle. “Yeah, I guess not.” She shrugged with a pink blush on her cheeks, walking on the strings like a tightrope before she made it to the end and got herself ready to turn the tuning pegs. “Do you think you can pluck one of the strings to see how it sounds?” She asked. “Alright, just remember that everything I do music wise ends up sounding, well, as my name suggests.” Off Key says before using her magic to pluck one of the strings. As expected, the string just played off a single note, Tanya starting to tighten the string as she used most of her strength to turn the peg. “Maybe we should switch. It’d be easier for you to pluck the string and for me to turn the pegs.” Off Key suggests as she notices Tanya’s struggle to turn the peg. “Maybe with you telling me when to stop, we can get it tuned.” “You sure?” She asked, feeling that what they were doing now was right, but only shrugged it off as she got off of the tuning pegs and went back to where the strings usually get plucked around. “Mmhmm. I saw that strain when you were turning the peg. Besides, you’re so small you could probably use one as a chair.” Off Key says, as she starts to turn the peg with her magic. “Just tell me when to stop.” She didn’t say anything as she started plucking the string as Key moved the peg, the tune changing before Tanya asked her to stop, one string down and three more to go. Off Key waits until Tanya is in position to begin plucking the next string before starting to turn the corresponding peg, and like before she continues turning the peg until Tanya says otherwise. They repeat this process until the ukulele is completely tuned. “Alright, so uh, I guess you’ll want me to start playing something, huh?” The mare asks as she lifts the girl off the instrument and onto her muzzle. “Yeah, why don’t we try something simple for you to play, so simple that even a filly could learn.” She said, figuring that she should find a music sheet that might have that. “Um, alright then.” Off Key replies, not too sure that this will go any better than her own attempts. She uses her magic to lower some easy song sheets so that Tanya could look them over. “Here you go, go ahead and look them over.” She says as she sits down, ears flattening. ‘Just don’t look too surprised when the perfectly tuned ukulele suddenly sounds like it’s out of tune again.’ She thinks to herself. She looked at the music sheets, already envisioning the tunes that might come with the instructed notes, but none of them really grabbed her attention. ‘Perhaps I may need to use one of the earth’s tunes.’ She thought, looking back at Key. “I think we might need a ukulele of my own. I could use it to show you step by step.” “Um, you know. It’s not that I can’t play instruments, in fact as I said before my cutie mark appeared, I was considered a musical prodigy. It’s just that, with my cutie mark, for some reason, everything goes wrong. Watch.” Off Key says, picking up the Ukulele in her magic and playing through one of the songs easily, only every note sounded like it was from an untuned Ukulele, thus, off key. ‘Geeze, this is going to be harder than I thought.’ She thought, once again feeling that she couldn’t make a single impact on the mare since she more or less gave up on the idea of being talented on her own, and also whatever curse she has on her. Off Key sets the Ukulele down and sighs. “See, my stupid cutie mark makes this whole thing, well, yeah.” She makes sure not to drop her head so that Tanya doesn’t fall off her muzzle. “I could make you a small ukulele if you’d like though. I’ll just need to go get some material. I’m pretty good at making instruments, even for, well, before tinies arrived pony dolls. You just need to tune it, because well, as you heard.” “Oh, well… alright then.” She mumbled, still a little upset that she couldn’t really help her, starting to feel as hopeless as Off Key. “At least you’ll have an instrument. Who knows, maybe Sven will allow you to play it too.” Off Key replies as she starts to gather up what she needs to make the tiny ukulele. She then uses her magic to carefully put the tiny ukulele together, finishing it by using a portion of one of her tail hairs for the strings. “There, a ukulele made by your friend, Off Key. Let’s just hope that it being a portion of one of my tail strands, doesn’t mean that it’ll suffer from my, well, my curse.” Off Key says, somewhat happy that she at least made something that Tanya would like. Tanya looked over at the small ukulele, taking it into her own hand before she plucked one of the strings to see what would happen. The ukulele feels and sounds like a normal ukulele, it needs to be tuned properly but otherwise it’s a finely crafted instrument. “I left it, well blank, so that you could personalize it yourself.” Off Key says. “Thanks.” She said with a small smile, looking up at one of Key’s eyes before she looked back down at the instrument and was rather glad that it wouldn’t carry the curse that Off Key had, but she wasn’t trying to be rude or anything. “Perhaps you could make instruments instead.” She suggested, figuring that making things that are part of music isn’t technically being music-related by the curse she most likely had. “That’s true. I just wish I could tune and play them too. Not many ponies, or tinies want to buy an instrument that they have to tune themselves though.” Off Key replies a little sadly. “But I suppose it could still be worth a shot, well, if this job completely falls through for me. So, are you going to tune it and try it out?” Off Key asks, looking forward to seeing if the tiny instrument would truly be cursed cutie mark effect free. She didn’t give an answer as she started to tune it out, it being quick to make the strings play without one being too high or too low, before she started to play a small tune. Once she started, she began to sing with the tune. “Take a moment to think of just Flexibility, love, and trust. Take a moment to think of just Flexibility, love, and trust.” “Here comes a thought That might alarm you. What someone said And how it harmed you.” While Tanya was singing, a small white butterfly formed from her necklace, flying off and soon out of Off Key’s view, but when she turned back to watch Tanya continue to play and sing, it seemed as if when one came, another one followed, and the patterned kept on going until... “Something you did That failed to be charming. Things that you said are Suddenly swarming” And soon there was a wave of white butterflies, it being enough to show the moment when Tanya accidentally showed her jealous feelings in front of Lindsey, in her imagination going for the worse and the giant girl leaving her, as if their friendship ended. “And, oh. You’re losing sight. You’re losing touch. All these little things seem to matter so much That they confuse you. That I might lose you.” But after that, the butterflies scattered for a moment, only to come back and show the real outcome, the two being together once more in a sweet hug, of course, this didn’t happened for real, but the thought that she was forgiven for her attitude almost felt the same. “Take a moment. Remind yourself to Take a moment and find yourself. Take a moment to ask yourself if This is how we fall apart.” “But it’s not. But it’s not. But it’s not. But it’s not. But it’s not. It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay. You’ve got nothing. Got nothing. Got nothing to fear. I’m here. I’m here. I’m here.” “Wow Tanya. That was amazing!” Off Key exclaims cheerfully. “I remember when I used to be able to sing like that.” She says as if she’s going to be down on herself. “I’m just glad that I’ll be able to help you sing like that for everypony.” The mare says with a smile. “Hmm, maybe there’s a reason Sven is having me, well, you know, ‘hold you’ during the concerts. Can you think of any?” She asks the girl curious, perhaps thinking the reason she was to swallow the girl was for security. “I’m not sure, really. To be honest, I was thinking of asking him personally why.” She said, figuring that if there wasn’t a legit reason, then maybe she could change his mind in letting this plan happen, more so she could use some free time to really help Off Key and possibly visit Princess Twilight for some legit magical help. “Maybe it’s security, so no over excited fans abduct you.” Off Key suggests. “Or do you, um, perhaps get stage fright?” She asks, curious if that might be the reason. “I… I get stage fright cause of the possibility that the first thing you mentioned might happen.” She admitted, looking away from the mare. “So, I guess for both.” Off Key replies. “W-well, if it makes you feel any better, u-um, a-at least that means I’ll always be, well, by your side.” She says with a little bit of a giggle as she gathers up some more materials and starts heading back to their room. Tanya didn’t share the same enjoyment at the joke, but she didn’t call out for it either. “Um, sorry about the joke. I don’t like the situation any more than you do.” Off Key says, noticing Tanya’s dislike of the joke. She closes the door and sets Tanya on the counter that makes up Tanya’s area of the dressing room, with her closet, bathroom, and dressing room makeup mirror. “Here, let me make a case for your new ukulele.” She says, before assembling a case perfectly fitted for the Ukulele. “I left that as a blank slate as well so you could decorate it too.” She smiles down at the tiny girl. “It’s really easy to assemble tiny instruments and cases, maybe I should start that as a career like you suggested, or maybe just as an on the side job.” She says with a giggle. “Perhaps.” She said, thinking a little before she nodded in agreement. “I mean, you won’t be making music, but you’d be creating the tools used to making music.” She said, smiling as she liked the sound of that. “I suppose, I still wish my cutie mark wasn’t restricting me from using those tools though.” Off Key replies with a downbeat smile. She’s disappointed that she’ll never be able to play an instrument or sing a song, but at least she can help others she supposes. “Don’t worry. I may not help now, but I’ll find someone who can.” Tanya said, seeming to realize she couldn’t help on her own, but she should at least keep Off key hopeful to stay here with her. “Perhaps in the meantime, you can make instruments for me, and as a means of payback, I’ll play some tunes for you.” She smiled. “Yeah… that sounds nice.” Key smiled a little, feeling that even if she couldn’t play or sing for herself, she should be glad to help someone else pursue what she couldn’t. ~-~-~ Nightfall soon came, most of the session around recordings and editing the sound to make it better in certain ways. But now it was all over, and Tanya saw that as a good time to talk to Svengallop in private. “Uhm, mister Svengallop?” She spoke up, the stallion halting his step, turning his head to see if it was Tanya that called her. “Uhm, m-may I ask something?” “Is it important?” He only asked, lightly rubbing his forehead with a hoof. “Make it quick, I need to prepare for your first performance, and it’s hard finding a good opening.” “R-right, well. Why can’t I just go on the stage myself? Why does it have to be Off Key who looks like she’s performing?” She asked, feeling that if she could convince him otherwise, Off Key could probably change her job to help craft her instruments. Svengallop only took a deep breath, seeming to prepare himself for his answer. “I think you already know. Do you know what would happen if ponies knew it was a tiny with your talent? You would be a big target for snatchers, they could pay big money for you, moreso since you’re new, and nopony would really notice a rising star gone missing.” He explained, turning to face her. And without a warning, he slammed a hoof on Tanya, catching her off guard. “See, even a earth pony could easily pin you down. You have to face the facts, Tanya, if you go out there alone, you would get snatched, and how would your friends and family feel about that. Don’t worry, I’ll let them know what’s going on, and only those closest to you will know the truth.” He promised, moving his hoof to lift her chin up, a small frown on her face. “O-oh… okay.” She mumbled, glancing down once Svengallop moved his hoof away. “Now go get some rest, you need to save that voice for more recordings, and soon-to-be performances.” He smiled, seeming to end the conversation as he turned back around and headed to his office. Closing the door behind him, he took a seat at his desk. Taking out a parchment and quill, he dipped the feather end in the ink jar and started writing. To whoever this may concern, It brings me great sadness, that I bear bad news. Before our first performance was scheduled, it seems a team member of my staff was a snatcher in hiding. And seeing how talented the great Tanya was, she was snatched and we have found no trace of where the pony may have gone. I have called all guards and police ponies to find and track this persicuter down. You have my sincerest apologies. Signed, Svengallop