3 - An Audience with the Princess

Soon enough, we arrived at a desolate garage, surrounded by overgrown, spiky plants and  scarred by graffiti. Starlow guided me up to the dirty white door. You're enjoying this kicking stuff, right? Well, guess what? I felt my leg slip back firmly, then swing forward with a power that I never knew I had. There's more. I grinned, satisfied, as the stuck door swung open. A bright blue light beckoned me in, covering the doorway in a blinding block.

It's time.

I sprinted in, thinking that the blue light was from the night princess's mane, expecting the floor to exist. It didn't. I fell, flailing through what looked like light navy space, surrounded by tiny twinkling stars.

Stay composed.

"OK."

You're about to have an audience with the pr – Before Starlow could finish, I was once again blinded. Luna, Princess of the Night, towered over me, filling my entire view. I blinked twice, then began to take in every detail – her glimmering, pale blue horseshoes, her necklace encrusted with a symbol of a crescent moon, her deep navy face, her shining crown and her mane, glittering with stars.

"Simon," she bellowed with the trademark Royal Canterlot voice. I fell back a little, and tried to swim up. "As you know, your destiny is confirmed. All of Equestria is counting on you." I was blinded once again, but this time the white light's origin was from my feet. "Do not be afraid!" I could see the beginnings of a smile creeping onto her face – she had faith in me. "You are changing, not on the inside, but on the outside. Never change inside! Is that clear?"

My arms felt a little different, but I swung her a salute..."Hold on...what's happened to my fingers?" The light cleared. All that blocked my view now was a brown, spiked fringe. I raised my arms and looked down to them. In place of my hands and arms were two teal hooves. "Oh...my..." I tried to backflip in this gravity-lacking space, and caught a glimpse of my new rear hooves and a swish of my tail. Its colours reminded me of countless hours of Tetris on my Game Boy.

"Allow me to explain," spoke Luna. "You remember the member of our species you designed yourself, named Game Changer?"

"Yes."

"The beginnings of your cutie mark were responsible for that."

"Starlow, you've got great taste!"

Thanks, I guess.

"And now, you are Game Changer. Fulfil your destiny. Help us, and save us from this impending doom!" Following this brave speech, Luna retreated into her mane, looking down to her front left hoof shyly. Her horn glowed, lowering something grey down to me. I stared at it in awe. Its black controls looked like nothing I'd ever seen before...or something? I thought hard, reading the cyan label – POWER HOOF. Power...power?

Now you're playing with power, Game Changer. Take the Power Hoof. You are the Game Colt, here to save all of Equestria!

"Uh..." I scratched my new back unconfidently, then raised a hoof to my chest. "Yes!" I reached out, and the Power Hoof slid onto my left hoof. It was a tight fit, but I soon got into it.

"Follow me," murmured Luna, still deep inside her mane. She turned to run in the same direction as me. I tried to scrape my hooves through the air, and, following Luna's direction, I soon picked up the movement. Now my mind was off galloping into an unknown future, I began to think.

I want to help her. She's a lot like me...I just want to be able to talk to her! I haven't seen her since Luna Eclipsed, and I assume she's probably pretty established among ponies now. Of course she won't be outgoing...but that's where I come in! Perhaps I can shirk world-saving duties...occasionally...as much as I'd hate to...but...I felt myself grow warm inside, and I blushed. Maybe...

Blossoming romance, I see?

Don't get excited!

Go on, kid. You can do it!

I never said I –

I can see past those thoughts of yours. You know you want to!

I...uh...I sighed. Starlow had me cornered. Don't mess it up!

OK, I'll back out, unless you're doing an absolutely dire job.

Just leave it!

Oh, fine! Starlow huffed. Just don't forget your duties!

We continued into the blankness.