Man of War

Chapter 277 Young Secrets

Perspective: Luna

I sigh in content as Miles pulls me in more tightly. Being wrapped up in his arms cocooned from the chilly morning air; there's no better way to start the day. But I can tell it's almost time to raise the moon. I have to get up and start my night. Even though the past few days have been a stress, it's nice to know that there can be these passionate moments between us. If I'm being completely honest with myself, I know I want more of them. We married so quickly and Tempestive came up so fast! It feels as if every time I blink months pass by.

If I close my eyes and dwell on it, I can put myself back in the days when Miles and I were still a secret. The way we'd sneak around or hide from the world, I almost miss it. Not the secrecy part. But having someone all to myself. Having them set aside the world just to have a moment with me... the feeling of being wanted. Not that I'm not wanted now! But... it's different. I guess it's a bit selfish of me to want some seclusion while also wanting all of the other benefit that's come from all of these changes. I know I wanted to be a ruler on similar grounds as Celestia. But... being queen.

I would be lying if I said it's been everything I've ever wanted. But that was also the Nightmare part of me. She wanted all of that power and prestige. I just... wanted to be wanted. After being saved and returning to my duties... it was hard. It was almost exactly as it was before. Ponies slept at night, feared me, and worshiped Celestia. But then Miles came and... well, the rest was history.

I light my horn and lift his limbs off of me as I slip off the cot. It wasn't the most comfortable sleep, but I didn't want to go back up until we had to. Another bout of selfishness I guess. It was nice to see him enchanting though. He had to switch to his human form to do so. I really hope that he doesn't have to bash his head in for that every time. It seems switching heals him, but I still can't help but worry.

We made disguises for ourselves for our trips. While he's not very good as casting illusions, his enchantments are on another level! I knew this was his area of expertise. Heck! The Elements are technically an enchantment! But seeing him work on them and fine tune with such ease and precision... well... thoughts were had. I do love watching a master at work.

I pull a blanket over him before leaving the workshop. I flap my wings just enough to lift me up to land on the roof. I flare my horn and start the process, feeling the last rays of warmth vanish over the horizon. The dance of light and darkness will never cease to amaze me. Watching the world change, ever so slightly, it still brings a chill down my spine.

Satisfied, I hop back and open my wings to slow my descent. There's a lot to do tonight and not much time to do-

THWACK

FLASH

I see Shadow toss something out the window and catch me right in the eye. It was enough to send me falling back and crashing to the ground. I let out a long groan as I lay there, head spinning, eye throbbing. It is clear to me now that I've spent too much time with Miles, as his bad luck is rubbing off.

"Oh my god I'm so-! So... Uh..." Shadow yells as she comes rushing through the kitchen door. I push myself to sit up and rub my head.

"It is okay Shadow. Though, do try to refrain from throwing things out the window." I tell her as I shake my head. Luckily it wasn't that high of a fall, so all I have is a sore bottom. I look to Shadow and tilt my head in confusion as she stares at me, completely dumbfounded.

I follow her gaze and slowly look down to myself. I slowly go wide eyed as I stare at the pale human body occupying my space. I bring a hand up and look it over before slowly looking up to Shadow. She's frozen solid. I feel myself start to panic as I look around. I don't see Tempestive, and Miles is still asleep. I need to hurry and get somewhere they won't see me!

"Help me!" I beg as I start to try and stand. I can't seem to get my legs to work correctly and I keep falling over myself. "Shadow!"

"Right!" She yells as she rushes over. She looks me over before grabbing my hips and pushing me up. I flail my arms around as I try to stay upright.

With a quick look around we start to hobble our way inside. But each step is impossible for me to make. I can't help but fall over with every step. We both go quiet when we hear Tempestive come running down the stairs. Shadow and I share a look before she teleports me to her room. I flop onto the bed and quickly throw the blankets over myself.

A few minutes go by as I wait for something to happen. I think Shadow is trying to cover for me. To be fair, Miles is already asleep so I don't think we need to cover for him. And Tempestive should be in bed by nine. So we only need to cover for the next hour or so. Okay, so all I need to do is switch back before Shadow comes back and convince her that she was seeing things! It can't be that hard to do!? Right?

"Mama Luna?" Well... shoot. I slowly pull the blanket down to peer out at Shadow. She's shut the door, so I pull the blanket further down to reveal my face to her. "Is... Is that really you?"

"Heh... y-yeah. It's... me." I tell her as I push myself up to sit. I feel myself wiggle a little from the new posture but manage to keep upright. Shadow stares at me for a moment before slowly walking towards me. I can see the nervousness in her eyes as she looks me over.

"You're... you're... you're human!" She exclaims, making me panic.

"SHH! Not so loud!" I chastise, nearly falling over in the process. How does Miles make this look so easy!?

"How did this happen!? When did this happen!? Why do you still have blue hair? *GASP* Did humans also have multi colored hair!?" I can only stare at her as she rambles on. I know this must seem exciting for her. But it's taking everything in my power to not freak out right now.

"Shadow." I try, but she's starting to spiral. I don't even know what she's talking about anymore. "Shadow!"

"Yeah!?" She asks, having to shake her head to refocus. I push myself up with my arms to sit upright, the blankets falling onto my lap.

"I need you to do something for me." I tell her, steeling myself for what's about to happen.

"What do you need?" She asks, eager to help.

"Punch me as hard as you can. Right on the temple of my head." I tell her, turning my head to show her where to hit.

"... what?" She asks, unsure of what I've just asked her. I groan a little and try to scoot closer, finding the movement difficult to do.

"It seems the only way to switch back is to take some form of blunt force trauma to the head. I need you to force me back into my alicorn form before anypony else sees me." I try to lean forward for her to get a clear shot on my head, but instead fall off the bed doubled over.

"You... want to change back?" Shadow asks as I groan into the ground. I'm remembering all of the times I teased Miles for having a hard time functioning as a newly formed alicorn. Is this karma coming back to get me?

"I need to change back." I mumble as I roll over and try to use the bed to sit up. With it behind me it's a bit easier.

"Why?" I huff as I look to her.

"Shadow..." I try to find the words to tell her, but I'm too annoyed to think straight. "Just-"

"Hear me out!" Shadow cuts me off. I startle a little from her sudden outburst. Whatever she has to say, it's really important to her. "Okay... So, Dad was the only human. And now you can turn into one! That's... that's going to blow him away! It'll be something that'll really mean a lot to him! He's not the only one. We can't hide that from him! I know you want to hide it from Tempestive. And I guess I can see some merit from that. But... why hide it from Dad?"

I try to say something to her... But I can't. She's right. It's wrong to hide it from him. He deserves to know that he's not alone anymore. He's not the only human on earth. But... I can't bring myself to say it. Not yet at least. I know I'll have to tell him eventually. But there's just... something keeping me from just going down there and showing him!

"I'm scared." I admit, getting a shocked look from Shadow. I try to push myself up as I try to find the words. They don't come right away. But I feel if I can just talk I'll work through them. "I know he deserves to know. And I want him to know. But... there are a lot of things about this that terrify me."

"Like what?" Shadow asks quietly, taking a seat beside me. I take a deep breath and start to dwell on the idea. It's not easy, but Shadow puts a hoof on my knee and offers a supportive smile.

"Well... for starters, I can't even walk. I don't know... how to be human. And then there's the prospects of any future children we have. Would he want them to be human too? What does that mean for Tempestive? And... if Miles is to be believed, human births are much more difficult. One was hard enough, I cant' imagine it being harder than that."

I take a deep breath as I think on the next part. Shadow nuzzles my cheek lightly and I lean into her. The feeling is completely different though. Nothing about it is bad. It's just... different.

"I... also... worry that I'm... not... pretty as a human..." Shadow laughs at that and I can't help but blush.

"I mean, I know I don't actually know, but I really doubt that." Shadow reassures me.

"I know it's silly to think that. But I can't help it! I don't know what makes a human female pretty! And it's not that I think he won't think that I'm ugly or anything like that! But... well, he fell in love with me as a pony. What will he think of me as a human?"

Shadow thinks to herself for a moment before hopping up to her hooves. She rushes over to her dresser and starts to look for something. I take the moment to look myself over.

I've seen a picture or two of human females. Plus there were the memories from Miles. Looking at myself, I don't feel particularly special in appearance. Besides my blue hair that is. I don't have a strong build like Fidus did. My hair doesn't have that same flow or length that Tenera had. My chest isn't large like Auxiliums was. But it's much larger than before...

Okay, this isn't the time to think on things like that! Besides, I don't even know what constitutes a desirable form for human women.

Shadow comes back and drops a saddlebag on my lap. She's filled it with a few supplies like a first aid kit and some Terradisian tools. Before I could ask what she was planning she teleported out of the room.

"Well... thanks for letting in on the plan." I look around and decide to try and stand again. I can stand on two legs as a pony, why can't I get it as a human!?

I use the bed to get onto my knees. Then I move one leg to get a foot planted firmly. I take a few breathes before forcing my legs to stand. But I keep both of my hands on the bed for better support. If I were a pony this wouldn't be too hard. But... something about this feels wrong as a human.

I look over and see myself in the vanity. My eyes go straight to my chest as it hangs down a bit. How do any of these poor human women deal with these impractical things!? My eyes move down my slender form to my flanks. I don't have a cutie mark anymore. It's almost disturbing to see it blank. I know that's how it's supposed to be. But my brain is telling me that it's wrong.

With one last deep breath I push off the bed and stand fully upright. I stumble in place for a moment before I feel my balance start to center itself. I hold my arms out to help it along until I feel confident enough to lower them. I look to the vanity again and look myself over again.

I don't think I look bad as a human. But what do I really know? The only humans I actually knew of were much prettier than me. Honestly, I feel as if I'm... bland. Would Miles think that too? Does that mean that I'm bland as an alicorn too? The only other alicorns I have to compare to are Twilight, Cadence, and Celestia. Twilight doesn't count because she's still basically a pony. Cadence and Celestia though... they're both so effortlessly gorgeous! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous of them. I feel like I have to put in so much work to be on par with them.

Cadence has that special charm that everyone loves. Where I have to work hard to not come off as cold or overtly sarcastic, she's a joy to be around. There isn't a soul out there that doesn't instantly love being around her. She also has pleasant curves and beautiful hair. She's still young, but that just adds to her general glow! I'm particularly jealous of her smile. I have to remind myself to smile and put a little bit of work into it. It seems so effortless for her.

Celestia is practically a goddess. Even though she constantly worries about her weight, she really doesn't need to. She's so much curvier than me. Enough for Miles to joke about her having a bubble butt. And her long legs are simply stunning! I've seen plenty of guards lose their composure when she enters a room. They only get scared when I enter. I wish I was a bit more curvier. Maybe not to Tia's level, but at least not enough to be as thin as I currently am. But my metabolism just won't cut me any slack.

As I stare at my bare human form I can't help but feel as if I'm the lesser of the three of us. I know I've struggled with these thoughts in the past, but now... I don't know. When Miles notices me in this head space he usually compliments me to the point of embarrassment. There was that one time he made an entire presentation to try and convince me that I was wrong on every level. It really helped my confidence.

But now I can't help but feel all of it fly out the window! I don't know how I look as a human! And that terrifies me. If I show this to Miles and he even makes the slightest negative comment... I'd be devastated. But I feel as if I'm getting too worked up in my head. What if this is all just my nerves getting the better of me? Maybe I should just show him. I can't hide it from him forever. And if he really doesn't like me in this form... then it would be better to get it over with now.

"Luna?" Shadow calls from the other side of the door. "I've brought some ponies here. It's not Dad. Are you okay with that?"

"Who is it?" I ask as I try to turn around. It's awkward, but I manage to turn face the door.

"They're going to help you with your confidence. You're all mixed up in your head, so you need a hype team to boost your confidence! They've helped me out with the same thing a lot. So... we're coming in now. You okay with that?" I look to the mirror one more time before steeling myself. It'll be good to start small. See what others think before going to Miles. See how they react... how I react.

"Okay. Come in." I say as I try to figure out what to do with my arms. Normally I'd just be standing. But now... this is going to be a long journey.

I didn't know who to expect. But for some reason I wasn't expecting Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle to be the ones Shadow brought here. I guess it makes sense. Since they're her friends after all. But why not Applebloom? The two of the look at me through the doorway as their jaws drop. I feel a tad self conscious as they stare at me. I can't tell if they're impressed or grossed out.

"Guys," Shadow says as she walks in and sits beside me. "Luna needs so-"

"Are you sure this is Luna?" Scootaloo asks as she steps towards me. "She sounded like her. But..."

"I assure you that it is I." I tell her, feeling a little more dejected. The both pause again when they hear me speak. It seems that seeing my voice come from my mouth is enough to convince them of my identity.

Sweetie Belle walks past Scootaloo and motions for me to kneel down. I look to Shadow before doing my best to kneel down. I've seen Miles do this before. But why does it feel so difficult to do? I manage to lower myself and settle on my knees. I sit back on my new heels and lean in for Sweetie. She takes my face and starts to examine me all over. The takes extra care to look my deep in the eyes.

"Yup! This is Luna all right!" She announces as she lets go of me. "I can tell by her eyes and smooth complexion."

"Smooth?" I ask as I rub my face. My human skin is very soft and smooth. But I didn't think that would translate from my alicorn form.

"Whoa! No way!" Scootaloo cheers as she steps up beside Sweetie, practically knocking her over. She looks me up and down before frowning. "Do all human females get such rockin' tits!? That's not fair!"

"Scootaloo!" Sweetie chastises as she pushes her aside. I feel my cheeks burn as I look down at myself. "Don't be so crass!"

"What? It's a compliment! Besides, we're here to boost her confidence anyway! Don't act like you weren't thinking it!"

I look to Shadow as the two of them start to bicker. But... I don't know what I'm asking for. I've never really spent that much time with these two before. So I'm not too familiar with their mannerisms. But judging by the look on Shadows face, this seems to be the norm for these two. Shadow goes to get their attention but stops and looks back up to me. I tilt my head as she cracks a smile at me. Looking to the vanity, I see my face getting red and flushed. While I've blushed plenty of times before, my coat usually hid it well enough. Now... now I look like a ripening tomato.

"Okay girls, honest opinions. Do you think she looks good for a human?" Shadow asks them, getting them to stop fighting. They each look me over for a moment, trying their best to formulate their opinions.

"Well..." Sweetie starts, rubbing her chin in thought. "I'd say yes. Even though I don't know what a human female is supposed to look like, there's a lot to infer from Miles."

"Yeah. But even before that, she looks good as a pony. I imagine that would all translate to humans as well. Miles looks good as a pony, so it probably converts the other way too." Scootaloo adds, getting a thoughtful nod from Sweetie Belle.

"Yeah. That's a good point." Sweetie says, lost in thought. "Is there a reason you're not just asking Miles?"

"Well-" I start, but Shadow interrupts me.

"She's never done this before. So she doesn't want to go to my Dad and find out she's... different, from other humans." I nod along to that. It's true enough. But... there's also the fact that I don't know how to be attractive as a human.

"Why not go to Topaz Falls then?" Scootaloo asks. "Couldn't you go down there, check some old photos or something and compare from there? Seems pretty easy to me."

"Well..." I start out, thinking a little on the prospects. "That's actually not a bad idea. But I'd need help getting there though. I... don't know how to walk."

"So... can we escort you then?" Shadow asks, motioning with her head to the saddle bag. The other two go wide eyed and lean in to plead as well.

It is a good idea. But there's a little problem. I don't want Miles to know that we're traveling down there. But the tram that connects us will have a log of our travel. But... I think I can manage to obfuscate that. As long as we come back with something that I'll use on our trips then it won't look to suspicious.

But should I really go with the three of them? That seems a little irresponsible. Even though they are the only three that are aware of my new form, I don't know if I'm comfortable with them escorting me through the Everfree. Not there's much for me to argue against there. I can't defend us if anything happens across us.

"Although I do appreciate your willingness to help, I do not think it wise to have the four of us traversing the Everfree. I can't help defend us. And Shadow is supposed to be on light magic duty." I tell them, getting the trio to deflate a little.

"If you really want to keep this a secret though it would be better for us to take you." Shadow tells me.

"Besides, I can do the teleporting for us!" Sweetie Belle adds.

"And I can do any fighting we need! My mom has been training me since I was seven!" Scootaloo announces with a flex of her wings.

"Besides, the path to Topaz is probably the safest in all of the Everfree!" Shadow tells me as she takes my hand to hold it. "You're always helping me! Let me finally help you!"

That almost breaks my heart to hear. I know she means well. But I don't want her feeling as if she's indebted to me! She's my daughter! I help her because I love her! But... I get what she means. She wants to help me in my time of need. Just as I did for her. She's playing at my heart strings for sure. She's just lucky that she's pulling all of the right ones.

"Well," I state as I look between the three of them. "Let's go to Topaz Falls then."

The next few minutes go by in a blur. The three of them run around the house to get everything ready. I wanted to help, but it took my half the time just to stand up. Shadow had me wait until Tempestive was asleep before I left the room. It's a bit early for his bed time. I'm amazed that he didn't even argue with her. When I'm back to normal I'll have to make sure to check on him. I hope he's okay.

The girls loaded up three saddle bags before helping me down the stairs. I feel like a new born right now. Each step I nearly fall over and my legs feel like jelly. I almost fell over the railings at one point. Luckily Scootaloo was airborne and caught me in time.

When we make it to the ground they contemplate on how to travel faster. Either dragging me on a blanket or just levitating me all over. But we all went silent when the back door opened and closed. Without saying a word Sweetie Belle grabbed a throw blanket off the couch and threw it over me. We all start to squabble and fuss as I try to cover myself as best as possible. Sweetie is trying to teleport us, but she's too frazzled to do it correctly.

"Shadow is that you and the girls?" He calls from the kitchen, making us all freeze in place. He seems to be going through the fridge for something.

"Y-Yeah! Sweetie and Scoots are here!" Shadow calls back. She shrugs to me as we all stay as still as possible.

"Okay. Tempestive turn in early?" He asks as he goes through some jars. I think he's making himself a sandwich.

"Yeah... hey Dad?" She asks, slowly stepping towards the kitchen.

"Yes corculum?" She looks to me before turning to enter the kitchen. I share a confused look with the others before they run after her. I try to beg them to stay, but they're gone too fast to notice.

"The girls and I were having a... really random debate. Could you tell us what made human females attractive?" WHAT ARE YOU DOING SHADOW!? WHY ARE YOU ASKING HIM THAT!?

"Why would you want to know that?" He asks with a slight chuckle. I look around to try and figure out what to do. But short of bashing my head against the wall there isn't much available.

"Well... we were wondering if pony looks translated over to human looks." I'm going to die. Why is she asking this? Why is she doing this to me? He chuckles a little as he closes the fridge.

"You guys were debating how you'd all look as humans?" He asks. YES MILES! They already said that!

"Yeah. Would we be pretty as humans?" Shadow asks, having found some new confidence.

"Of course. You're all good people, whatever your form looks is only a reflection of that inner beauty of yours." While that is a very sweet answer, it's not what we're looking for. But it's good to hear that's how he thinks.

"Right... but-"

"What Shadow more specifically means is what makes a human female conventionally attractive?" Sweetie elaborates. "Like... a mare with wide hips is seen as sexy. Or long legs are seen as seductive! How did humans feel about that? Or what was it humans sought in women?"

He chuckles again as he takes a seat at the table. I look around and try to think of something to say. But I don't want to risk him coming over and seeing me like this! This is actual torture. They're going to have an entire conversation about me without Miles knowing I'm here and I can't add anything!

"You'll be shocked to learn that most of those preferences are the same for humans as well." He jokes before eating.

"Come on Dad!" Shadow drones. "There has to be something you can-"

"How important are tits?" Scootaloo blurts out. I feel the room become exceedingly awkward as everything goes silent. Of course she would blurt that out! Of course!

"Tits?" Miles ask with a slight cough. "I don't know how I feel talking about this with my daughter-"

"Please Dad!?" Shadow barks out. "I know it's uncomfortable but... uh... um..."

"Shadow... what's going on? Why do you need to know what humans thought were attractive and how could it possibly have anything to do with... that? Is this something Rumble said to you?" I can see how he can get to that conclusion. But they really need to just drop this and let it go.

"U-uh... something like that. It's just... let's just say that I was turned into a human and thrust into Terradisia. Back when there were still humans. How would I... fare? Compared to others? Like, how would I know if I was attractive?"

"Well... for starters, you're beautiful now. So why wouldn't that translate? And then there's the aspect of your personality-"

"I know attraction isn't just skin deep. But that's the part I'm curious about!"

"Do you want the answer?" He asks, a little annoyed. There's a moment of silence before he continues. "Attraction is never just skin deep. There's no scale that you can move around to make the most attractive person possible. If they have everything you like physically but treat you like trash, then that's a problem. It's impossible to answer the question fully because half of the equation is subjective!"

"Well... okay. Then what do you find attractive in a human?" Shadow asks.

"... fucking what?" Miles asks. I think about it for a moment before I realize what she just asked her own father. I rub my face and try to erase the second hand embarrassment. I'm going to owe her for going through all of this.

"Okay, not you. But... okay, how about your friends? What did they like? Was there an average?" There's a moment of silence as I assume Miles stares her down. "Answer this last question and I'll do the foal sitting for your next trip. No questions asked. No bribery needed."

"... kay. Well... let's see. Dolum said his favorite thing about Auxy was her jovial personality. But... she did gripe about his constant grabbing. Mostly of her... ahem, chest. But, eh, yeah. So then there was Inficiunt. He was probably the most active out of the group. I remember him saying a bunch of rules that he lived by. Can't remember what most of them were. But there was one that always stood out to me."

"What was that?"

"It.. was... about... well..."

"Dad."

"What!? This isn't something that I would normally talk about! Let alone with my daughter and her friends!" There's another moment of silence he sighs in defeat and continues. "Apparently you wanted a chest that was only slightly bigger than your hand! Okay? Are we good? Can I eat my sandwich in peace now?"

"Thanks Dad! We're going to continue this discussion in the living room so don't wait up! Love you, bye!" The three of them come running back to me. I glare at them as they hide around the corner and quietly bicker to one another.

"Okay... I think I'll go back to the shed. There are... a few more enchantments I need to work on... bye." The four of us keep quiet as we wait for him to leave the building. Once we hear the door shut, I immediately scowl at Shadow.

"What was that!?" I demand from her, getting her to shrink.

"I don't know! I was just trying to get the answers from him!" She defends, backing away from me.

"So you ask your father if he likes tits!?" I ask, glaring to Scootaloo. She tries to smile in apology, but there's no saving from this.

"Well... we got the hand rule. That's something." Scootaloo tries to offer, but gets scowled by everyone else. "Sorry."

I groan in irritation as I lean back and slide down against the wall until I'm seated. At least he wasn't too curious on what they were talking about. There's that much. I pull the throw blanket over myself as I try to hide myself. That could have gone terribly wrong. But at least he's gone now. So we can just move on.

"So... should we still go to Topaz Falls?" Shadow asks. I let my head fall back against the wall as I try to think. There's merit to going, even now. If anything, just to be away from everyone until I can figure out how to switch back.

"Help me up." I tell them as I reach a hand out. "If we go let's get one thing clear. Do as I say! There are a lot of things down there that can still be dangerous. Do we have an understanding?"

The three of them nod in agreement before they start to usher me out of the house. As we leave I take one look back and wonder if this is the right decision. I don't know what we're going to do down there. Maybe we'll just find a medical bot and see what they know about this. Maybe there's something they know that can help.

But then... anything they know they probably learned from Miles. I wish I had the courage to just walk up to him and reveal to him that he's not alone. I know I will at some point. I want to at some point! But... something about today is causing me too much anxiety about it. If I can at least learn to walk on my own then I think it'll be easier to approach him about it.

The trip to the tram station was... uneventful. Even though it is the Everfree, there are times I feel there are small parts that have been tamed. I mean, literally yesterday there was a basilisk limb-jacker only a few hundred feet from the house! But our two hour walk into the Everfree, at night, with nothing happening? I guess I have to be lucky at some point.

The girls were much better at this than I was expecting. They had an entire plan of action and even coordinated with scary precision. Scootaloo was on recon. She would jet ahead and fly back to secure the sides. Sweetie Belle lead the two of us while Shadow helped me hobble along. With her help I'm able to walk now. But just barely. Without her I can make it two, maybe three steps at a time. Just long enough to make me feel as if I'm getting the hang of it.

The Tram station is a small building that houses a single locomotive. The cart itself is large and bright red with windows going all around it. The building is just a large stone roof with some seating around the tracks. There aren't a lot of people coming this way, so it's fairly basic.

"Do you know how to operate the tram?" Shadow asks as we open the sliding door and climb inside.

"It's automatic." I tell her as I take a seat at the side bench and sigh in relief. Walking as a human is so draining! "Once we're ready, pull the cord and we'll be off."

Without missing a beat Scootaloo yanks the cord hanging up by the window and the doors slide to close.

BING BONG

With a sudden lurch forward the machine starts to gain speed and heads to the massive tunnel into the ground. Sweetie and Scootaloo are excited. I don't know if they have ever been to Topaz before. So that should be fun for them. I know Shadow has before. It's probably why she doesn't seem too bothered by everything.

"Everything okay?" I ask her as we start the descent down. She thinks about it and waits for Scootaloo and Sweetie to run to the front of the tram.

"So, is this the first time you've changed?" She asks quietly. I feel a ping of guilt as I think on it for a moment.

"No." I decide to not dodge the subject. Not with her at least. "I've done it once before when I was pregnant with Timely. But I could never recreate it."

She seems to consider my answer for a moment. Clearly she has some thoughts on the matter. I lean over and nudge her with an elbow, getting her attention. She looks up to me before smiling and leaning against me. I wrap an arm around her and hold her close.

"I know you're worried about... well, a lot of things. But I think you should reconsider telling Dad. I... don't want you two keeping secrets from one another." I nod to her. She's not wrong. It's bad for this to go any longer than it needs to. But... there's just something about it that's nagging at me.

"I know you're right. And I want to tell him. But... I'm just not ready for it. And I'm sorry to drag you and your friends into this." I tell her as I start to stoke her main. The feeling of her hair running through my fingers catches my attention. They're much more sensitive than a pony hooves. I can feel every strand, every loch, and the warmth from her with such clarity.

"Don't worry about us. We'll keep your secret. For now at least." She reassures me as she nuzzles into my side. "Is there a time frame that you'd like to tell him?"

"If I'm being completely honest, not really. I haven't had to think about this for so long I practically forgot about it." I tell her as I sit back and continue to stroke her mane. "I know I'd like to be able to walk at least. Your father was running the same day he changed, I can't let him lord this over me."

"Oh, of course not! If anything we need to get you to be able to change willingly! If only to rub it in his faced." We both share a laugh. We pause when we hear Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle bickering with one another. They're both trying to get the center view of the tram as it travels down the tunnel.

"Are they okay?" I ask, a tad worried. They're usually such good friends. I don't like seeing them bickering. Shadow waves a hoof at them.

"Don't worry about them. This is pretty normal for the two of them." She tells me with almost a laugh.

"Is that so?" I ask as they start to face off with one another.

"Yeah. Ever since they dated they've been acting like that." I stare at them for a moment before I go wide eyed and look to Shadow.

"They dated?" I ask getting a nod in return. "I never knew that."

"Oh. Well, that makes sense. It was awhile ago. Plus they only went on one or two dates. They quickly found out they'd prefer to stay friends. But... well... let's just say that even when they fight like that, it's not really an issue. It's when they stop talking that you should worry."

I look back to them and hum in response. It's interesting to think of those two as an item. Well, I guess if it didn't work out then I guess there's nothing to it then. I just thought since they each had coltfriends that they wouldn't have wanted to date a mare. I wonder if that's how they actually feel or if they're hiding something. It would certainly explain one of their dreams.

"So... are you cold?" Shadow asks.

"Freezing!" I respond and I pull the throw blanket tighter. "If I had a coat I'd be fine. But all this skin does nothing to keep me warm!"

"I'm trying to remember what Dad called it, but your skin is getting bumpy." I look to my side and note the small little bumps forming. I run a hand over them and flinch a little from the warmth of my own hand. "We definitely need to get you some clothes. Otherwise you're going to freeze over."

"Yes, well, at least for the time being I agree. If I can just switch back then that would solve both our problems." I tell her as I look over myself again.

Now that the panic has started to subside I can appreciate my own form a little more. I still don't know what a female human is supposed to look like. But... I don't think I look terrible. I look over to Shadow and note that she's laughing at me. I cover myself back up and try to hide the blush growing on my face.

"We've made it!" Sweetie announces as she shoves Scootaloo off the seat.

The tram finally levels out and we enter Topaz Falls. The girls are in awe of the rows of stone buildings and bright lights. The central government building shines the brightest and garners the most admiration from the two of them. Shadow and I share a look before giggling to one another. Having been here before, it's lost some of that impressive muster. But seeing them see it for the first time... it's a tad funny.

The tram has taken over the old highway system. We can take it all around the outer perimeter, a central ring, and to the P.C.H. There are drop off points at each of those tracks to switch over, but I don't know if we really should. If anything we should just go to the P.C.H. and wait there. We don't have a plan so there's no reason to walk around aimlessly.

"So this is where Miles is from?" Sweetie asks, watching the rows buildings pass by. "No wonder he's amazed by dandelions."

"So what's the plan? Is there a photography store we need to go to? Or maybe a library to look at some magazines?" Scootaloo asks.

"Well, that's going to be difficult. Terradisians didn't really have paper. So where are we going to find pictures?" Shadow asks. I think about it for a moment before I get an idea.

"Ladies, I know where to go." I tell them, peaking their interest.

We take the central tram to the backside of the city. The entire time the girls are enamored by the sights. According to Miles the city is back to the way it was before the war. Minus the people of course. Though there are plenty of bots running around. Most are maintaining the city. But there are a few that just standing at various corners. Seemingly waiting for their task to become relevant. There are several that watch us go by. Almost happy to see something new occur.

When we make to our stop we take off down main street. With the city so empty, it's a bit unnerving to hear our hooves echoing through the alleyways. Well, their hooves. Stumbling on my new feet is a bit uncomfortable. I can see now why Miles was so demanding for shoes. Maybe I should try a store and get some clothes. I mean, I think it's a bit silly to walk around in clothes without some event occurring. But, when in Terradisia I guess.

We had to ask the bot for help to find our destination. It was overjoyed to do so. Even offered to escort us, which we accepted. As we walked I made sure to watch its every step. I'm trying to see how it does it so I can mimic it. It looks something to a slight kick forward and then just switching. I give it a few tries but I can't seem to find the right rhythm. Maybe I can get one of them to coach me later?

"This is your destination. May I have your autograph?" The machine asks. We laugh a little from the question before entering the store.

"What is this place?" Shadow asks as she helps me through the door.

"It's a store. Well, it's multiple stores. But there's a communication store here that has what we're looking for. Everything that was recorded by humans was put into their technology. So if we can get ourselves some of their devices then we can access old photos." I tell them as we walk through the lobby towards the mico platforms at the back. There are a few holographic adverts here for the various stores inside. Looking at the people in them I try and compare myself to them... but I'm not sure how I fare.

"So why did we need a phone from here if you already have one?" Shadow asks.

"How is a phone going to have pictures?" Scootaloo asks.

"Well, truthfully I didn't think of this until we were already heading here. But! There is one type of phone that I've been waiting to try. One your father isn't a fan of." I tell them as we look over the etchings on the wall. Each one is the logo of a store here. So I figure the one with the radio tower is our best bet.

"Why wouldn't he like it?" Sweetie asks. I point out the platform and we each take turns teleporting to the store.

Teleporting like this as a human is a lot less jarring for humans. I guess it's made for them. I take a look around the room before smiling to myself. We hit the jackpot! Rows of cases showcasing the devices I wanted fill the room. They look like small triangles of metal that seem to clip to you. The various wall mounted screens advertising them show that you wear them as ear clips, though they cover your entire ear. Well, they cover a humans ear at least.

As we walk around a bot emerges from the back of the room. He's painted in various adverts for the store and other products. The girls get a tad nervous as he approaches, but I step forward to address him.

"Hello! We'd like four of these Smartlink++!" I tell him happily.

"Of course. Would you also like to add a personal paint job? All cost will be paid over the term of your contract so there's no up front cost!" The machine tells me as it ushers us to the back of the store. I though the ones here were the same as the others. I guess not.

"Girls, would you like your painted?" I ask them. They all look to each other before shrugging.

"Do we really need one?" Scootaloo asks as Sweetie nods aggressively.

"Try one out. Though I will say that they are most useful here, there are plenty of uses for them back home too." I tell them as the bot offers me a tablet. I grab it and start to poke at he screen. Doing this with fingers is even stranger. I'm so used to my hooves that I feel almost too dainty to do this properly. And all I'm doing is spinning a color wheel!

We spend the next hour going over the Smartlink++. It's a mix of magic and technology that puts an overlay in your vision. Unlike the phone that Miles uses you use this one with your mind! Miles can't use them because they're a bit too techy for him. They tend to explode or short out on him. But for us they work perfectly!

Once we put them on the whole city comes to life! Hundreds of neon adverts fill the air and various street names and roadway signs blink into existence. Sweetie and Scootaloo have a new found sense of wonder as they stare out the window. Shadow doesn't seem too bothered by any of this. Though I guess she's got more experience with all of this.

We each decide to get one that matches our coats with highlights of our manes. For the three of them they blend in decently enough. If I didn't know better I'd just say that they're just large ear clips. But mine stands out just a tad.

Next we spend about an hour having the machine teach us to use them. For Sweetie and Scootaloo, this proves to be a bit problematic. They don't have the context that Shadow and I have to efficiently utilize them. But by the end they're able to navigate some of the more basic features. I manage well enough. But Shadow is using these as if she's done this a thousand times! She's even helping the rest of us navigate some of the more difficult features.

"So how do we use this to look at human women?" Scootaloo asks as the four of us exit the building. We're all staring off into space as we try to navigate this new field of view.

"I'll send a link." Shadow says. "Just click it when it appears... uh... Stare at it and think about opening it like a letter."

Sure enough we all get a notification from Shadow. Looking at it to click it, we're brought to a new screen page. It overlays in to the side of my field of view. So I can walk forward and still see what's in front of me. The link brought us to something called Amica Inventor. I guess a sight mean to help you find friends is a good place to start.

"Before we get too distracted, are you girls hungry?" I ask them. They all nod along as Shadow starts to walk off. "Shadow?"

"I found a place. Follow me." She tells us as she leads the way.

It doesn't take long for us to find a corner café. Stepping in there's a bot working the counter. It almost seems startled to see us enter the store. It escorts us to a booth. In our vision a menu is prompted. Clicking it I take a look at everything that's available. There's plenty of food and what looks like flavored waters? I wonder how they have food down here if there's no one here to farm the food? I know there are machine that can process the food. But I didn't know they're still active.

Shadow and I have to help the others order their food, since they don't read Terradisian. But after that we spend a while just exploring the internet. Everything that humanity ever recorded is now right in front of us! The only thing limiting us is our inability to ask the right questions.

We go to the friend web page and start to poke around it. It's a little sad to see so many happy humans living their lives and writing about their families and friends. The way everything is written makes it seem as if they're still alive. Waiting to see their family or excited to go to various events. I wonder how many of them made it out? Of the people I've seen so far, how many eventually became ponies?

Then I found what Miles feared I'd see. A single post from an apartment showing the street battle happening below. There are fires and gunfire everywhere as the massive horde of Kroth charge at the rows of bots and humans. The caption at the bottom simply reads: They're here.

I was about to close it out when I noticed something. In the back row there's a human in a massive metal suit of armor. I think it's some form of powered armor. But clinging to its back is... Miles. I zoom in to take a better look, and sure enough, that's him.

He's been here for what's been so long that I almost forgot that he was there. He was in the midst of that battle. But with how many are charging at their lines... how could they possibly hope to make a stand. But that's what they're doing. I can see it on his face, as fuzzy as it is. That same determined face that tells me he's ready for a fight. He's there to kill them by the thousands. The tragedy is that there seems to be tens of thousands of them.

That's when I get another idea. I look up Miles. I know he didn't have much of an online presence. He spent all of his time studying or training. But maybe his friends made one for him? Looking him up there are plenty of fan pages for him. Something that I also forgot about. Though, seeing the link to his infamous shower video is certainly bringing back memories.

As I scroll through the posts and links, I find the page for the Spartans. On the header is three Spartans, standing to look as impressive as ever. On the left is Miles. Sleeves rolled up. Arms crossed. A look on his face that tells me he's ready to run through a brick wall. I go through the photos and I find Miles all over the place. Competing in various competitions. Winning awards. It's a great glimpse into his past.

But then there's the one that stands the most out to me. His officers coronation. Captain Susurrans Bellum is pinning the metal bars to his uniform. He looks so much like him! And he's so proud! It even looks like he's fighting back tears! Miles looks as proud as ever. As if all his hard work had finally paid off. None of the comments mention the potential of them being related. It's astonishing! Though there are... a bit too many comments from women. Mentioning that he's single... Commenting on his looks... other grotesque things that I won't deign to reread.

I look over the post and find a way to save it. As I do the food arrives and we start to eat. But it's obvious that the four of us are completely distracted. I can see why Miles doesn't like these. He prefers the direct and non augmented interactions. But this does let me see pictures of Miles from before, so it can't all be bad.

"What is this?" Sweetie asks as she uses a spoon to lift up the green liquid on her tray.

"Dunno. But it looks like it might be better than this." Scootaloo says as she pokes and the orangish red brick on her plate. I look to the small stack of what I thought were pancakes. But I'm pretty sure pancakes aren't supposed to be yellow.

Shadow doesn't comment on her food. She uses a spoon to dig into her... well, it looks like blue feed honestly. I wouldn't know what else to call it. But seeing her eat without issue encourages the rest of us to try our own meals. Mine... isn't bad! It has the texture of a pancake for sure. But the flavor is... earthy? Like a good portabella. The others also seem to enjoy their foods as well, if still unsure of the textures.

"Everything okay Shadow?" I ask, getting her attention. "You've seemed... distant, since we arrived here. What's on your mind?"

Everyone looks to her as she starts to shrink from the attention. I watch her debate saying something for a moment. I can tell she wants to say it, but there's something stopping her. Maybe the phrasing? Or maybe she doesn't know what's bothering her?

"Well... I've... been thinking." She starts, poking at her food.

"Yeah?" Scootaloo asks from the other side of the table, leaning in to make eye contact. Shadow tries to hide from her but she's trapped on the inner seat of the booth.

"So... the reason I threw that box out the window was... because... it... was from Rumble..." Sweetie and Scootaloo share a look before practically jumping onto the table to lean in towards Shadow. She shrinks away from them as they stare her down, chins resting on their hooves.

"Go on!" Scootaloo teases, batting her eyes at Shadow.

"What was it!? What did he say? Did you keep it? Details girl, DETAILS!" Sweetie demands as she inches closer and closer towards Shadow. I use my magic to sit the two of them back down.

"Ladies, calm down." I chastise as I sit upright. I'm trying to remain calm to give Shadow some space to breath. "Whatever it was doesn't mean we need to pry any further than needed. If Shadow doesn't want to-"

"It was an engagement ring."

"-tells us then *inhales food* COUGH COUGH COUGH!" I nearly choke to death when she says that. AN ENGAGEMENT RING!? WHAT DOES THAT LITTLE CRETIN THINK HE'S DOING!?

I have to start punching my own chest as I try to regain my composure. Sweetie and Scootaloo are equally baffled by this. I chug some water to clear my throat and have to take a moment to get my breathing under control. He proposed!? Now!? After everything that happened!?He thinks that's going to make things better? He cheats on my daughter and thinks proposing will fix this!?

...

I might geld this idiot.

"He came by and offered me the box. Told me to wait to open it when I was less mad at him." Shadow explains as she pokes at her food. "Of course I opened it the moment he left. There was the ring. Wrapped in a note."

She goes quiet for a moment. I share a nervous look with the others before resting a hand on her shoulder. She looks up to me before fixing her gaze back on the food.

"He said that he was going to wait for me. He doesn't want anyone else and he'll do whatever it takes to make things right. Even if I never speak to him again, he's going to wait. That was the gist at least. It was... a lot wordier than that."

"So... what're you going to tell him?" Sweetie asks. I glare at her immediately and pull Shadow in tightly.

"She's going to tell him nothing!" I bark back. "He cheats and thinks the appropriate response is to propose!? I think not!"

"Mom!" Shadow mumble from my side.

"Who does that!? Does he really think that... that... RRRAH! OOO this is making me so mad!"

"Ma..." Shadow mumbles.

"Uh... Luna?" Scootaloo tries to mention, but I'm too angry to process what they're saying.

"He's lucky I didn't run into him! Oh-hoho he's so lucky! Actually, he might not be! We can learn where he lives! Or maybe a little visit in his sleep is in order? We can go and see what he's actually planning in that puny little mind of his!"

"Luna!" I shake my head and look to Sweetie Belle. She points to me side and l look down. I have Shadow in a headlock and she's trying to pry herself from my side. In a panic I let her go. She gasps for air as she doubles over with each heave. I try to apologies, but she just puts a hoof up for me to wait. I look to the others, but they just shrug in response.

"Can you guys give us a minute?" Shadow rasps out to the others. They each nod and leave. I warn them not to go far. I might need them to rush over for assistance.

There's a long moment as Shadow tries to compose herself. I try to help her, but there's nothing to really do. I pat her back a few times, but there's not much to actually offer. When she gets her breathing under control she takes a long drink of water before slamming the glass down. Luckily it doesn't break. But I can tell whatever is about to happen is going to be really hard for her to get out.

"Mom." She starts, only to catch herself for a moment. "Mother... Mama Luna. Ma..."

"Yes my dear?" I ask, trying to coax whatever it is out of her. She takes one deep breath before blurting out the next sentence."

"I am going to try dating him again."

"..."

I know I heard her. I know what she said. But, for some reason, I can't seem to understand what she's saying. He cheats on her and she's going to give him another chance? I'm sure there are those that would say that there are second chances and redemption is a virtue... but no. That is a terrible idea. Besides, didn't she throw the ring out the window?

"Oh." I couldn't say anything else. Nothing else that wasn't an obscenity at least. She grabs my hand quickly, scaring me slightly.

"I know what you're thinking! He cheated! Taking him back would be... stupid!" She tells me as she holds me hand tightly.

"Not exactly the words I'd use, but yes." I tell her as I try to get out of the daze in my own head. If this is what Shadow is like... I sincerely hope Timely just finds a nice girl and settles without any of the drama. I don't know how I'm going to handle all of this again.

"But... I really, truly, honestly believe that he's going to make a change. I believe that he's being honest and wants to do better! And... I still want him. So... that's it. That's the decision that I've been thinking about since we've gotten here. When I saw you as a human... I wasn't worried or scared or anything like that. My first thought was 'wow, this will help distract me from Rumble.' And I feel really bad about that."

"Shadow," I tell her as I rub the tear rolling down her cheek. She tries to rub away her watery eyes. I chuckle a little at her. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Heh, not tell Dad so I can break the news to him?" I laugh at that. She really is a chip off the block.

"You don't have to worry about that. If he asks, we came down here to get supplies for our vacation." I tell her, giving her a playful wink. She takes a deep breath and smiles up to me, relieved to hear my support.

"Thanks Mom." I feel my own heart skip a beat when she says that. Although I am overjoyed to see her making these tough decisions and striving forward, I can't help but also worry over her. I don't want to see her get hurt all over again. And this boy... he better treat her better this time. For his sake.

The others return and we finish dinner. But this time the mood is much better! The girls are all over Shadow, trying to understand how she came to this decision. But she just gives them the same answer. It's her decision. And with that, she has all of our support. Though, that is not to say that Rumble is off the hook. We're all going to have words with him. I just wonder how Miles is going to handle all of this?

Even though we finished the food, we did spend an hour here using the Smartlinks. They started teasing me though when they learned that I was spending my time looking up photos of Miles. It even got to the point where it started suggesting fan pages of Miles. I never knew he had such a following. I was aware of it, I even remember that one apartment. I guess I just didn't know the extent of it.

Once I moved on from that I started my actual search. But it wasn't as straightforward as I would have liked it. Just as any other peoples, looking at a mass of photos tells us nothing of my comparison. There are things about me that could be seen as more desirable. I certainly have an appearance of being fit and curvy. But if I compare myself to Miles's old squad, there are aspects where I'm lacking.

I'm not as strong as Fidus Kor. And her hair is so long and beautiful! Though she is thinner and much more... rigid. There is a certain level of confidence she has about herself that I'm immeasurably jealous of. In each and every photo of her she has a certain dominating presence to herself. As if she's telling the room that she's the one in charge.

Then there's her sister Tenera. Though she is fit and strong, she's still so curvy and voluptuous! Her chest is clearly larger than mine. Her hips seem wider too. There was a photo of her running track and her flank was perfect! Looking at her made me feel much more self conscious. Mostly because I recall her wanting to ask Miles out in the past. If it had come between the two of us, side by side, would he have chosen me?

Lastly there's Auxilium. I recall seeing her a few times from memories or pictures. Either way, she's still so beautiful! I particularly think she has a wonderful smile. But her chest looks like it would cause her to fall forward! It's completely impractical. The rest of her seems to fall in line with the way I appear.

But looking at her, I also find Dolum Ostendere. Miles's best friend. But seeing a human with that complexion still shocks me a bit. Though, I don't know why Miles calls him black. He's clearly brown. I'm black when I'm in my greater form. Seeing him holding onto Auxy the way he does, it's clear to me how much they love each other.

"Okay, I have a verdict!" Sweetie announces. We all break away from our searches and give her our attention. She sounds so confident, this must be good! "I found a thing that'll tell us how hot you are! You just take a picture of yourself and it'll calculate the results!"

"Sweetie, I don't think that is what you think it is." Shadow tells her. I think on it for a moment before forcing myself out of the booth.

"All information is good at this point." I tell her as I set the blanket down and do my best to stand there confidently. "Whenever you're ready!"

It takes Sweetie a moment to figure out how to use the camera. Even longer to use the 'app'. But when she finally gets it done we all wait on her with baited breath. Apparently you want a high score. The lower the points, the worse you did. That's how Sweetie explained it at least.

"Okay... you got... ninety two points!" Sweetie announces. Scootaloo cheers and I feel myself sigh in relief. Okay, at least according to this thing I'm an attractive human! Maybe I was over thinking this after all! Maybe I should just show myself to Miles! "Huh, now they want you to... model on some couch? Apparently they'll connect you with some agencies for... oh... ooooh."

"What?" They want me to model!? That's great! I mean, I know there isn't anyone there. But the fact that I qualify is great to know!

"Sweetie, can you link that to me real quick?" Shadow asks. After a few moments of them fiddling around she takes a look at the thing. "Sweetie... this is a porn site."

"Oh... okay! That's good! You're hot enough for porn! That's something!" Sweetie defends. The rest of us just deflate from the news. I guess it was too good to be that easy.

"Well... this seems to be going nowhere fast." I say as I sit back down and wrap myself up in the blanket.

There's a moment of silence as we all sit here contemplating what to do next. I don't think this photo plan is getting the results we wanted. Though it was not entirely a loss. Getting those old photos of Miles and his friends was worth the effort. So at least we're not leaving empty handed. I think for the time being we should just head to the P.C.H. and speak the medical bots there.

Although... Even though I do have this blanket, I am still fairly cold. Maybe next we should go to a clothing store and get some clothes for me. Well, I guess if there are any the girls want there's no harm taking those as well. I'm just tired of being cold and barefoot.

I try to find a place on my own, but it doesn't do what I want it too. So I have to get Shadow to help me. She's such a natural with this technology! I assume it's from all of her time in Mooseden. Either way we find several options and Sweetie is ecstatic about this! Shadow and Scootaloo aren't opposed, but they're not as enthralled as Sweetie. It's cute how much she takes after Rarity. Even with totally different Cutie Marks they're still so much like one another.

But there is a catch to the stores. They're not open until light hours. So we're going to have to find a place to sleep for the night. There technically are limitless options for us. We can just go to any apartment and sleep there. So we decide to try and find a place near the stores we want to look at. It made the most sense.

Walking on all of this cement is starting to make my feet hurt a little. But I keep it to myself as we walk. I don't want them to worry about me. If I come off as weak or too helpless they might start to think that they'll need to get Miles. So I grin and bare it.

Luckily for me the girls are too distracted with the city to notice me. With the technology giving us sight into the techno world, everything is much more colorful and alive! There are holographic adverts that looks like normal people standing in front of stores. Some are showing off clothes or makeup. Others are criers for restaurants. Then there are adverts as large as hot air balloons that are floating throughout the city. One seems to be selling vehicles while another is showing off something called a VRDen.

It's fascinating to see all of these human contraptions on display. It makes me want to see this place back when there were people mulling about. What I would give to have been a fly on the wall then! There are so many things I wish I could see or hear. How common was the Latin language? Miles can switch between the two easily. Was that because of where he lived or was that the norm? How did people treat these adverts? Just how full did these streets get?

When we get to the building we were looking for I get a little nervous. There's nothing about the building that's upsetting about it. I just didn't think we'd need to spend so much time down here. The girls walk me in and we take a look at the directory. There are levels with stores, apartments, and one that just says technology.

"So how high do you guys want to go?" Sweetie asks as we all move to the mico platforms.

"All the way to the top!" Scootaloo cheers.

"Actually, I think this is where we part ways girls." I tell them. They each spin around and gawk at me.

"What!? No way! You can barely walk! And you want us to leave you alone down here?" Scootaloo demands. Shadow was going to say something too, but I held up a hand to stop them.

"I do appreciate all of your help girls. Really, I do. But this is clearly going to take much longer than we all thought. While it has been fun, if this is really going to take time then I need you three up top to cover for me. I need a day at most to get around and see what the medical bots say. But if the three of us are gone for that long then people might start asking questions. And since we've bought stuff Miles will be able to figure out that we're down here. So I need you three to run back there and help cover for me."

They look to each other as they consider my words. I know they'd prefer to stay. But that's just not in the cards right now. Not if we're going to keep this secret from Miles for the time being. Shadow is the first to look back to me. She reaches up and takes my hand with both hooves.

"Are you sure about this?" She asks, squeezing my hand tightly. "If something happens to you, no one will be able to help you."

"I know." I tell her as I kneel to face her more directly. "But... I'm going to have to learn to walk on my own. Besides, I have a plan for tomorrow is there is no progress-"

"Don't tell me you're going to bash your head in." Scootaloo drones.

"Well..." In all honesty, it's probably the fastest way to switch right now. It's nowhere near the healthiest, but I don't have time for that right now.

"Can these Smartlinks connect to the surface?" Sweetie asks. I shake my head. I have no clue if they do, but I assume that they don't.

"Mom..." Shadow starts but stops when a thought occurs. "If we go, you need to promise me one thing."

"Of course-"

"And this is a Dad and Pinkie Pie level promise! No going back on your word!" She demands from me. I nod to her, understanding the severity of her demand. "If you try to force the change and it doesn't happen; you need to promise me that you'll go straight to Dad."

I wanted to say that I immediately accepted her request. But I couldn't. Not without some serious consideration. I know she doesn't want me keeping secrets from him. She doesn't want this to become something severe or hurtful. And I don't want that either! But that just seems too... scary. And I don't know why! He's my husband for crying out loud! This should be the easiest thing to tell him! But every time I imagine walking up to him like this... there's just a loud part of my brain that's telling me that it's not going to go well.

But I don't even know why I think that! I don't think he'd call me ugly or anything like that. At least, I don't think he would. Sure he'd tease me for... something! Probably my inability to walk right. But he's a teaser. That's what he does anyway! Why is all of this making me second guess myself!?

I look into Shadows eyes and see the conviction within them. If I don't agree to this, she's going to tell him anyway. I can't say I blame her for that. But I'm not ready for it, so I guess I don't have a choice in the matter.

"If after one day I cannot make any progress, then I will head straight back home. I promise." I tell her, but she leans in. As if she's waiting for me to finish my statement. "And I will go straight to your father for help."

"Thank you." She says before hugging me. "We'll cover for you until then."

"You can count on us!" Scootaloo reassures me, pulling Sweetie in for a one armed hug. "You're secret is safe with us!"

"Can we hit up a few stores on the way out? Please?" Sweetie asks. We all share a small laugh before I wave them off.

I give Shadow one last deep hug before they go. I never thought I'd be in a position where I would be entrusting her with a secret like this. Any secret for that matter! Humans really do have a way of making matters much more complicated than they need to be.

Once they're gone I make my way towards the closest teleporter. It's slow going, and I'm constantly almost falling over, but I manage to make it on my own. When I appear in the hall of apartments I use the wall for support and try my best to walk properly. It's not the best, but I make it to the first door and try it. But it's locked. I guess that makes sense. Most of these are going to be locked...

It's going to be a long day.

Perspective: Shadow

We spent a few hours in Topaz Falls. We tried a few stores but the only one the bots would let us in was some tech repair facility. It was a little disheartening to have to leave empty hooved, but there wasn't anything we could do about that.

"-saying, I think she was pretty hot for a human." Sweetie says, bringing me back to the conversation. We're on the tram heading back up.

"I don't know. Big tits just seem impractical. Plus, no Cute Mark." Scootaloo counters.

"Guys, am I being dumb?" I ask them, catching them a little off guard.

"Yea-OW!" Sweetie starts but stops when Scootaloo punches her arm.

"If that's what you want, then that's what you want. Sometimes people want dumb things! As long as you're not putting yourself in dangerous situations and you're happy, who are we to say otherwise."

Sweetie and I share a look before staring back at Scootaloo. It's not that we think that she's incapable of making such a valid and mature argument... actually, yes it is. That's completely out of character for her.

"Okay... thanks Scoots." I say slowly as Sweetie nurses her arm. "So... can I ask the two of you... a... really personal question?"

"Of course you can." Sweetie says, getting a nod from Scootaloo. I take a deep breath and try to put my mind in the right place for this onslaught.

"So... you two have... plenty of experience that I'm curious about. I know how it works, physically. But... I have questions... about... sex." The two of them beam at this and I feel as if I've opened the gates to hell. What did I just get myself into?