The Perilous Quest to Save Vinyl From Certain Demise

"I must change you into one."

As soon as you hear those words leave the prince's lip, your blood freezes in terror.

He was going to... make you into a unicorn? This went far beyond just racism, which was still known in modern society, though it was greatly discouraged by any pony who had any bit of decency. To alter the species of a pony from one to another... it was a great taboo, a sin beyond forgiving, unspoken values condemning even the thought of such a twisted experiment.

Even before the founding of Equestria, and the joining of the three races to form a single society, ponies had never desired the assets of others. Pegasi would rather die than give up their wings, and their ability to fly. Unicorns prided themselves with their magical skills, grated by their horns. Earth ponies had their independant pride, knowing they did not need the gifts of other species to be strong.

You cannot deny that you have envied unicorns for their magical horns, especially at moments where you were the lone earth pony in a musical ensemble, but never would you actually consider changing who you are, taking the easy way into your craft. Your hooves were your strength, the movement of your emotions, and the tools of your trade. If anything could bring a beautiful melody from a bow and strings, straight from the heart, it would never be an external force like magic, so disconnected from the core of your being.

Now, despite your choices, and despite the acceptance you had felt since your birth, this selfish, unlikable prince wanted to alter your body to fit his purpose.

Disgusted by the notion, you spit at Blueblood's hooves, set dead against his plan.

The unicorn before you only scoffs at your action, his confident smirk still boring into your vision as he lets you protest, as if it were all just fro his amusement.

"You would decline such a wonderful gift?" he asks, raising his eyebrow to mock you. "You could become truly great, a pivotal figure in the world of music, and be remembered for centuries to come, if you only accepted your calling, and let me grant you the magic you need, you would be unmatched in all of Equestria, or even in the entire world besides."

"Are you really so sure you wouldn't make a fine unicorn?"

You maintain your glare, pouring all your negative emotions into one, powerful word in response.

"Never."

Meeting your gaze, Blueblood does nothing but laugh at your response.

"How ironic, that the first pony I offer this gift to would be so resistant!" He chuckles, before making his way to leave.

"I have preparations to make before we are ready for your ascension, but mark my words, Octavia Melody..." He says, trailing off as he steps out of your cell, closing the barred doorway behind him and locking it.

"You will accept my gift, whether you wish it or not."

Letting your head fall low, you sigh in relief, knowing that the prince was gone now. You aren't sure how long you could have remained sane in his presence.

His final promise, however, still lingers in your head, leaving you with no doubt in your mind that he truly wished to carry out this strange, twisted plan. Now, as the guard pony from earlier steps back to the entrance of your cell, you are left in silence, left to think about your future, and fear what could possibly await you in the near future.

For hours, you are left alone, unable to move, unable to remove your bindings, and uncertain what in the world could be happening outside this secluded place below the mansion. What time of day was it? The only light here is from a single, dim candle that casts long shadows from between the bars of the cell. It could be either day or night, and any kind of weather, but you know nothing about what lay beyond these walls of stone.

After a long time of waiting, the guard briefly glances to you, before lighting up his horn, sending a small piece of bread through the bars. Lifted with magic so it was within reach of your mouth, you reluctantly let him feed you, feeling helpless as a young foal in these bindings. It is humiliating, to be fed by another, and the bread tastes horrible, but it fills your stomach at least a small bit, enough to sustain you for a bit longer.

After feeding you, The guard brings to your lips a small cup, and makes you drink it's contents. While the water you taste from it is hardly the finest quality, you cannot taste anything besides the clear liquid that might intoxicate you, so you drink, the cool water still welcome as it wets your dry throat, parching a thirst you didn't realize you had.

Then, after the meager sustenance, you are left alone once more, to wait for your fate to arrive, and think of what you might have possibly done to avoid this situation.

After what feels like an eternity, you finally hear hoofsteps making their way down the hall once more.

Blueblood returns to the entrance of your cell, with another, unfamiliar pony at his side. His grin is wide, and fills you with dread.

"It is time..."

Unlocking the cell door again, Blueblood's companion enters, and immediately moves you, looking your body up and down. His fur, a dark blue color, is covered with a white lab coat, which tells you most of what you need to know about him. This transformation that Blueblood had planned for you was clearly still in an experimental phase, and as the unicorn looked over your body, checking your pulse, breathing, and other movements, you couldn't help bet feel scared of what events were yet to come. While you hardly wished for the operation to succeed, it's failure couldn't be a good thing either.

"She appears to be ready, Blueblood." The stallion mutters, his face showing just as much insane excitement as the prince. "She's such a lovely specimen... I can't wait to get the experiment underway!"

The prince nods, acknowledging his companion's opinion. Turning back to the guard at the entrance of your cell, he yells out an order.

"Bring in the second subject."

As you watch the guard leave view once again, off to fetch another pony, likely, your mind wanders. Second subject? Was there another who would be sharing your fate tonight?

As you hear Blueblood and his scientist discuss complicated magical terms you would never understand, you silently glance about the cell in fear. You didn't want to become a unicorn! Why in the world would somepony want to do this? Why you? You can only imagine what Vinyl would think if she knew you were about to undergo this forbidden, awful procedure.

When the guard returns, he pushes along with him another pony, whose hooves were chained to each other, and weighted down so he could barely walk. The second prisoner's dirty green fur had obviously not been cleaned in some time, showing that he was likely a prisoner for much longer than you had been. Somehow you pitied this newcomer, who was here to become a part of this strange event just like you. You knew nothing about how he came to be here, but given his captors were also yours, you could sympathise with his plight.

"Let go of me!" The prisoner shouted. "I don't know what you're doing, but I do not approve! As soon as I get out of here, the press will hear of this!"

As he struggled, shouting at the guard pushing him into your cell, you suddenly realize something.

The newcomer was a prisoner like you, but unlike you, he was a unicorn.

Strange... you think, Why would he need to be a part of this? He already has a horn, so he shouldn't be a part of this... unless...

"Bold Headline..." Said Blueblood, addressing the other prisoner by name. "You have trespassed on the grounds of the prince, interfered in business that is not for you, and been a thorn in my side for years, never once writing my name in favorable view."

"I find you unfit for your status, and with this procedure, I shall remove it from you."

The stallion shakes his head in confusion.

"You have taken everything from me! You have taken my freedom, my family, and all that I own for your own purposes! What more do you think you can take from me, you monster!"

You let your head fall lower as you hear his protest, realizing exactly why this stallion was here, and what he would contribute to your transformation.

"It is simple," Blueblood states calmly. "I shall take your pride as a unicorn, the very source of your magic, and every right it gives you in my household, as you no longer deserve it."

"I am going to relieve you of your horn."

The stallion begins to panic, struggling madly enough that the guard has to hold him down as he screams incomprehensible insults at the prince, stumbling over words in his emotional dismay.

The prince however, only looks on calmly, and turns to the unicorn scientist at his side.

"You may begin."

A smile filled with madness spreads across the scientist's face.

"With pleasure, my prince."

Lighting up his horn, you can feel his arcane power begin it's work, as the guard forces the other prisoner towards you, so that the two of you are face to face, both terrified of what is about to happen.

"I'm sorry..." you whisper to him, as he looks up in panic, his eyes meeting yours and pleading for help.

Meanwhile, the scientist unicorn's horn begins to glow brighter and brighter, his magical aura forming strands of energy that reach out to both you and the stallion in front of you. As they reach you, the magic drills it's way into your forehead, causing a massive tremor in your brain that leaves you dazed and in pain.

As the same happens to the stallion in front of you, the magic gathering around his prized horn, the tendrils of energy change color, shifting to a much darker hue. While you may not be an expert on the subject, you can tell this is no longer the kind of magic unicorns might use everyday, but something more base, vile, and evil.

As the pain coursing through your brain grow larger and larger, you feel yourself cry out in pain, though your body is no longer under your control. The stallion writhes before you, in just as much pain, as your vision grows fuzzy, the world around you fading into the distance as the only focus is on the agonizing feeling in your head, the mental turmoil leaving your thoughts empty and meaningless.

Then, like a crack of lightning, the entire room grows bright with a sudden flash, magical forces filling the room with light...

You head feels like it has split in two, your skull shattered by an unknown force...

Just as you feel you can take now more of this, the pain begins to fade, along with the light filling the room. Your exhausted body is limp in your bindings as you breath heavily, looking back into the curious faces of the prince, and his magical companion, as they study your features, wondering if their work might have succeeded...

And then, you see both of them beam with pride. Both laughing in satisfaction.

And as the pain from your forehead begins to subside, you feel a new part of yourself there, a strange protrusion from your skull now extending from between locks of your hair.

You look down, seeing the stallion who had once had a horn, his forehead now flattened as he falls to the ground, unable to keep himself conscious.

"It is done." you hear the scientist say. "We have created a new unicorn."

"Excellent," Blueblood responds. "Your magic is most impressive."

"I am only glad to serve, my prince."

As you close your eyes, tears now streaming from your eyes, you cannot help but feel your new horn, the hardened surface tingling as your nerves become used to the new feeling.

They had just stolen a stallion's horn, and given it to you. You don't know why they did it, but you feel horrible for having been a part of it. Not only did you never desire magic of your own, nor did you need it, but they had taken it by force from another, driving him to the deepest part of depression, just to give you this "gift."

As the guard begins to drag the stallion's limp body away, you glance on in sympathy. You don't know if you'll ever see him again, but you will never forget his face, and his horrified expression as he was forced to pay the ultimate price, all for this stupid horn that now adorned your forehead.

As all your emotions convulse, and you break into involuntary sobs, you can feel the magical energy there, building up in your new appendage. While you might have envied the feeling in the past, while learning your craft, it feels alien and strange to you now. What is more, you cannot control the energy as it builds, drawing strength from your body to build up a pool of magic.

A hoof presses against the bottom of your chin, lifting your head back upwards. You open your eyes partway to see the prince looking at you, studying your new horn with a wide grin.

"You feel it now, don't you..." he says. "You can feel the magical power of your new, unicorn body, flowing through that horn, granting you untold arcane strength... You understand just how far you have risen, becoming a more perfect being..."

You listen in disgust, as he tells you of the new sensations you feel as if they were truly glorious. To you, however, it feels more like a curse.

"However," he continues, "This is not the end. You've broken into my mansion, and attacked my guards. Though I have given you this gift so I might allow you to bask in my presence, you must still face the punishment for your actions. You must give me what I desire from you, and repent for your mistakes."

"Now, you have a body fit for a prince, and I shall claim it's pleasures for myself!"

"Using magic, I shall make you into my servant, my maid, my slave, and you shall play your beautiful music for my ears alone."

Attempt to escape using unrefined primal magic, even though you have no idea what you're doing!