A Bad Joke

It was late in the afternoon. Ryder was on his way to find a certain party pony to throw his little sister a great birthday party. It was just before sunset on a summers day. Still warm but starting to cool down. The warm ground against his hooves felt good. Same with the cool breeze wafting through his mane. It felt good considering he had been sweating from sitting in his warm home all day trying to figure out what his sister's party should include. As he turned the corner he gave a sigh. "...Mom and dad would've loved to see this..." He said looking to the sky. "...Scootaloo didn't have you guys last year... Neither did I... This year it's only what I give her... Hope from where you're at you can see the smile I put on her face..." He looked back to the road and found himself staring at Sugarcube Corner. He couldn't help but pick up the pace and start running towards the sugary shop. He slowed his pace and came in like he wasn't being chased by a psychotic maniac.

Once inside he saw Pinkie Pie behind the counter making sure the ovens were clean for the next batch of what looked like cookies with little peanut butter chips sprinkled on some frosting. She looked up and saw Ryder as he wiped the sweat from his brow. She set a spray bottle and a dirty paper towel aside before closing up the oven and leaning on the counter. "Heeey! Welcome to Sugarcube Corner Ryder!" She said with a cheerful smile. "You here to talk about your sisters birthday bash?" Ryder gave a nod going to a table nearby. Pinkie vaulted the counter and trotted over. "Well YOU came to the right place! Tell me what theme she'd want and lets do this thing!"

Ryder sighed and hung his head. "...Thanks Pinkie... Think I can get a soda? Our AC is busted and I'm paying Big Mac to pick up a new one for me. I ordered it and had it sent there..." He said. "...Better there than my place.... If AJ signs for it and Big Mac isn't there she can do what ever and not have to worry about it..." He lied his head on the table.

Pinkie grabbed Ryder's hoof. "...You okay there Ryder?" She asked. Ryder sniffled and hesitantly shook his head. "You wanna tell auntie Pinkie what's wrong?"

Ryder started to tear up. He sat up and shuttered a bit. "...I-I... I'm worried Scootaloo wouldn't like the party without our parents there..." He said. "...They've been gone for about... Two... Three years now... They always gave us gifts and made us smile up until... That night..."

The pink mare released his hoof and got up from her seat with a warm smile. "... The only thing I remember from that day was making you both smile with a few gifts and a cake that you and Scootaloo shared..." She said going back behind the counter. "I learned to forget the negative things... Always gotta think of positive things to counteract the negativity. Death is a bad thing I know but... You just gotta remember good memories like from your birthdays or maybe even that you always had them close when you needed them." She went into the fridge and grabbed a bottle of root beer and opened it before pouring it into a mug. "And... I could swear you were over them a while ago with that storm..."

Ryder whimpered wiping his eyes blushing. "...Th-that was Scoot..." He said. "...I just... I was strong while I was with her... But.... She's at Rarity's... And... And.... I... I have no one..." He broke down crying hiding his face in his hooves.

Pinkie set the glass of Root Beer on the counter before vaulting over again. She went to his side before yanking his hooves away and slapping him a few times. "No more!" She snapped getting in his face. She panted heavily staring deeply into the stallion's teary eyes. "You good now?" Ryder nodded. Pinkie backed away letting him wipe his eyes. "Look I'm sorry about slapping you but I catch you crying a lot and sometimes my jokes just don't do it." She hopped back over the counter and went back into the fridge pulling out a bucket of vanilla ice cream. She pulled out a drawer and grabbed an ice cream scoop. "Normally I would charge but this one's on me Ry. One root beer float just for you and your predicament!" She grabbed the mug and walked back around the counter. The tiled floor and the empty room almost gave an echo.

Ryder took the mug and took a few big gulps before Pinkie could sit down. "....Thanks Pinkie..." He said. "...Um... So... Scootaloo's party..." He sipped the soda again and took a few deep breaths. "...I know it's a few weeks away but... I wanna be prepared.... Make sure everything is just right for my sister..."

Pinkie thought for a moment licking her lips a bit. "Maybe I could get a super duper double layer double chocolate cake with a visit from the wonderbolts!" She said.

The white stallion set the mug down. "P-Pinkie that's my favorite..." He said blushing a bit. "Scoot is more of a hoofball fan. Her favorite team is the Ponyville Pounders. Maybe you can try and work with that?" Pinkie shrugged. "....She also likes the feeling of being on a cloud when she flies with me... That's.... That's another thing mom and Dad would've loved to see her dance around on a cloud with her big brother..." He sniffled and brought the mug up where he drank what was left of the root beer and then the ice cream scoops just sat at the lip of the cup. He ate it fast like he wanted to freeze away the thoughts.

Pinkie sighed. "You know what when we're done here we're going to find Dash for you!" She said. "If I cant stop you from crying maybe a family friendly hug will."

After a bit of time Ryder and Pinkie were walking through Ponyville. Ryder had his head hung a bit. Pinkie walked- or hopped in this case- right next to Ryder. "...Why now...? Why do I have to give a shit about my dead parents NOW?" Ryder asked. "...I stopped thinking about the bad stuff and... That day... I... I was coming to visit my sister... To see the guard outside the house and Scootaloo shaking scared in a blanket being consoled by a Foal Services agent... I as what happened... All Scootaloo tells me is... '...m-mommy and daddy... They....' And... That's it... The FS agent says clear as day... 'Her parents were murdered... We... We need to take her to the foster home....' Scoot immediately comes to my side and screams 'Don't let them take me....' It... It just killed me.... I put Scoot behind me and told the guy straight up that he was not taking my sister... What I'm glad for is Dash giving me and Scoot a home until the owner found us and just... He just gave us the house... I had to sleep with Scoot in her bed and..."

Pinkie shushed him. "...C'mon no more sob stories." She said warmly. "I know what happened. You don't need to say anything, cry anymore or-" Suddenly yells filled the air. A few colts jumped from the bushes wearing masks over their faces. Ryder and Pinkie jumped a bit as they started hurling water balloon after water balloon at them. Ryder took most of the water balloons. He started to run feeling a bit scared. "RYDER WAIT!" Pinkie called out as she chased after him.

Ryder turned the corner and more colts threw water balloons at him. He braved threw them until he met a firing squad blocking the road. Three unicorn stallions, one griffon and two pegasai. The pegasai had water balloons sitting in their wings ready to be vaulted. The three unicorn and one griffon had squirt guns. Before they could fire off the first shot Ryder jumped up and started to fly off over them. Tears and water balloon fragments blocked his vision as he flew. He had no idea where he was going except away from where the ambush started. He flew into Everfree and weaved in between trees. He closed his eyes and wiped the tears away. As Ryder opened them again he slammed into a tree knocking himself out could. He woke up in a patch of strange blue flowers. Still woozy he dragged himself as far as he could before passing out again. Yet again he woke up on the back of what looked to be a unicorn guard just stepping out of Everfree and back into Ponyville. He looked back and saw Ryder's eyes open. "Oh good you're awake!" He said. "You might want to stay still... You've sustained a bloody nose but other than that you seem alright ma'am."

Ryder tilted his head a bit. "....M-ma'am...?" He said. His heart dropped. His voice sounded feminine. "...But... But I'm not a mare..."

The guard looked forward again. "Shit... Amnesia...." He said to himself. He looked back at Ryder. "Ma'am. You are a mare. Right now I'm taking you to a hospital to get checked out. If you try and run I will be forced to restrain you until we get to the hospital." Ryder nodded a bit whimpering. He was feeling scared. He looked to passing shops. The faint reflections of himself and the guard made time slow. Each passing window made him fear what had happened. Did a rouge unicorn steal his genitalia? Was he out so long he managed to reduce the pain and an animal ripped his balls off? Both wrong. They passed one shop that made Ryder fall off the guard's back. He stood up and hobbled to a shop that had mirrors in the window. The guard looked to him. "Ma'am! Don't you even dare start running! I know you're in shock but I'm trying to help you!"

Ryder kept walking as much as he could. He got a close look in the mirror. His snout was smaller. Mane was longer. Same with his tail that swished side to side. He was even shorter than the guard. Hesitantly he lifted his hind leg and looked under. No sheathe nor dangling sack. He turned flank to the mirror and saw a short glimpse of a mares pussy. He.... Was now a SHE. She screamed just as the guard picked her up with his magic. He set her on his back and black straps appeared holding her down. "WHAT THE FUCK?! H-HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE I-I'M SUPPOSED TO BE A STALLION!" She screamed.

"MISS CALM DOWN!" The guard yelled tightening the straps around him and the mare. "I didn't want to do this but you've forced my hoof!"

As the guard took off Ryder tried struggling. "LET ME GO YOU BRUTE!" She screamed. "I DEMAND TO SPEAK WITH SHINING ARMOR RIGHT NOW! I AM A ROYAL GUARD!"

The guard shook his head sighing. "Ma'am please stop!" He said. "I don't need to bring you to the precinct and put you in a holding cell do I? I will if you keep struggling!" Ryder stopped struggling but still breathed heavily. "There... Now stay calm."

Ryder started to tear up. "H-how can I stay calm when I look like THIS?!" She asked. "Don't take me to the fucking hospital! Take me to Sugarcube Corner!"

The armored stallion rolled his eyes. "Ma'am it's closed at the moment and I still have to take you to the hospital." He said. "If you'd like I can help find somepony to bring you back home!"

Ryder's heart dropped lower than it had. "H-home?!" She said. "GOD SCOOTALOO! SHE'S AT HOME ALONE!!" She started struggling again. "LET ME GO DAMMIT! SHINING WILL BE ON YOUR ASS LIKE FLIES ON DOG SHIT!"

The guard grunted. "Last chance to stop struggling!" He snapped. "If I let you go you're going to run! Will you listen to me if I let you go?" Ryder stopped struggling for a moment and nodded panting tired. "If you try and run I will restrain you again. Got it?" Ryder nodded again. The guard stopped having his horn glow. The straps disappeared and Ryder got off of the guard's back.

Ryder looked to the guard. "You do not know how lucky you are!" She said. "My sister could be at my home right now and she could be worried that I'm not at home! I have to get home now or else I could be walking in on a filly in a messy home, shaking scared and crying because I couldn't be there to protect her from intruders!"

The guard gave a sigh. "Okay I'll play along here." He said. "Lead me back to your home. If you can show me where it is I'll be happy to let you go. If not you are definitely going to a hospital and you're going to be restrained until somepony comes and gets you."

The stallion-turned-mare got in the guard's face. "Oh and you'll be fired from being a guard!" She snapped. "You might be lucky enough to just be demoted to mall security! Now follow up!" Ryder turned around and started walking keeping her tail covering her marehood. She knew how perverted guards are. Always using their power to get things they want.

They soon came up on Ryder's home. The street lights had just lit up giving everything a nice glow. Fireflies flew about the air almost as if someone started a fire nearby and the embers fluttered about in the air. The guard looked closely at the house. "....This is where you live?" He asked a bit confused. "General Ryder lives here.... Did he set you up here or something?"

Ryder looked to the guard reaching under the mat grabbing a key. "Yeah SOMETHING like that..." She said as she unlocked the door. "Wanna come in? You might like what you see." The guard blushed and followed the mare inside. He closed the door just as Ryder walked upstairs. "Sit down and let me slip into something more comfortable."

The guard nodded and sat on the couch. He waited for a few minutes. There was a knock on the door. "Ryder? Are you home?" Somepony said. Sounded like a filly. "C'mon you better not be asleep again! Let me in!"

The guard got up and hesitantly went for the door. He opened it and there was Scootaloo. He looked down at her and tilted his head. "...Wait... You... You're that little orphaned filly living here with your brother..." He said.

Scootaloo nodded hesitantly. "Um... Yeah..." She said. "....I-is everything okay? Where's Ryder? He said he would be here all day trying to fix our AC... D-did he get taken to the hospital...?"

The guard shrugged a bit. "I'm not sure sweetie." He said bringing her inside. "I would've been called here if something like that happened. But your brothers room mate is here. She's upstairs freshening up but right now just sit down and wait."

Scoot tilted her head confused. "...Room mate? But... We don't have a room mate..." She said. The little filly started to shake scared. She hugged the guard whimpering.

Just a moment later Ryder came back down stairs in her armor that looked big on her. "ALRIGHT YOU! GET READY FOR A REAAAAL SURPRISE!" She said feeling smug. She turned to the door and gasped seeing Scootaloo with the guard. "S-Scootaloo!"

The guard put Scootaloo on the couch where she cowered a bit scared. "Ma'am I'm gonna have to ask you to remove General Ryder's armor!" He said. "I'm placing you under arrest!"

Ryder slowly removed the armor and looked to Scootaloo tearing up. "...Scoot... Look at me..." She said. Scootaloo hesitantly looked up. "....Scoot it's me... Ryder.... I.... I'm just... Stuck in this body...." Scootaloo looked closely at the mare before her. Ryder's cutie mark but... Mare everything else. Suddenly the guard jumped on Ryder pinning her. "SCOOTALOO PLEASE! TELL HIM! TELL HIM PLEASE!"

Scootaloo hopped up and screamed piercing both the guards ears and Ryder's. "SSTTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!!!" She screamed. The guard looked over to her while Ryder covered her ears. "Get off her! Don't you see that IS Ryder?!"

The guard looked back down at Ryder. Her cutie mark. The attitude. The relentless struggling and the know about Shining Armor. "...Oh... Shit..." He said backing up off her. "R-ryder s-sir.... Ma'am.... Ryder I'm sorry! I.... I just didn't see it! I... I was just sent into Everfree after Pinkie Pie reported you flying in there! I-I found you and just-"

Ryder got up sniffling. She wiped a bit of blood off of her nostril. "I want you to contact Shining Armor, get him down here AND I WANT YOU OUT OF MY HOUSE!" She said. The guard cowered a bit and flashed away. Ryder broke down crying sitting down just as Scootaloo went and hugged her surprise sister. "....Scoot...Th-thank you... I don't know what happened... One minute... I'm sobbing about mom and dad talking with Pinkie... Next thing you know we're ambushed and I'm flying off into Everfree..."

Scootaloo shushed her. "....Don't cry.... It'll be okay..." She said shuttering a bit. "....C-can we.... Can we go to Dash's to sleep...? ...I-it's still so hot here..."

Ryder sniffled and nodded. She broke the embrace and set her down. "...G-go grab my saddlebags... Get our tooth b-brushes... And... Our PJ's..." She said. "....I... I need to calm down...." Scootaloo nodded and hurried upstairs.

Not too long later they were out walking in Ponyville. Scootaloo sat on Ryder's back. "...You were really talking about mom and dad with Pinkie...?" She asked. Ryder nodded. "...I thought you were over them..."

The white Pegasus mare sniffled. "...I... I just feel so bad about mom and dad not being there for your birthday...." She said. "....Sure it... It's been a few years but... It just seems unfair... You got to have one last birthday before it happened...They only sent gifts for the last one I had... and... All we had for the past few were each other, Dash, and her friends... " Scootaloo wiped her sisters eyes. "...Thanks... That's just a reason to make me smile... I'm still glad I have you... God knows what I would've done..."

Scootaloo nuzzled her. "I'm glad you came by when you did...." She said. "I could've been hiding under a bed at the orphanage just crying to see you again... I probably would break out to find Dash too... She'd take me in if you weren't there..." She started to tear up a bit. "....Thank you for coming to get me.... I... I love you...."

Ryder forced a smile. "....I love you too sis..." She said. "...Hopefully this spell or... What ever this is... Wears off soon... I don't know how you fillies keep stallions from looking there... Ugh it makes me uncomfortable..." She blushed a bit tucking her long tail between her legs. She looked up and saw their cousins home floating above them. "...A-anyways... Lets just get inside... Dash has some sodas and I need one..." Scootaloo held on to her back as they lifted off the ground.

As Ryder landed on the steps Scootaloo hopped off her back and knocked on the door. "Daaash!" She called out. "Ryder and I need somewhere to stay our AC is still broken!"

A groan was heard from inside. "Hold on Squirt let me clean up in here!" Someone said. Rainbow Dash.

Ryder took a few deep breaths. 'Just... Just play it cool Ryder... Dash will let you in... Just... Try and explain what happened.' She thought to herself.

Moments later the door opened and there was Rainbow Dash. She saw Scootaloo and looked to Ryder. "Uh... Squirt I thought you said you were here with Ryder..." She said. "Did you try flying and smack your head on the ground or something?"

Scootaloo shook her head. "This IS Ryder Dash he just... Uh... Has a bit of a problem..." She said.

Dash looked back at Ryder. "...If you're Ryder then tell me something that only HE knows about me!" She said.

Ryder thought for a moment and blushed. "You flew by our place one day and saw me and Scootaloo napping together all diapered." She said.

"That's happened multiple times! Try again bitch or you might as well be getting your mane ripped out!" Dash snapped.

The black maned Pegasus thought for another moment. "....You uh... You asked me to shine Tank's shell four times a day while you were out of town but I forgot to clean his shell one day and you got pissed off and tied me down so Big Mac could punish me?" She said. She blushed a bit and smiled nervously.

Dash's jaw dropped a bit as she gave a confused look. "...Okay... It is you but... How the fuck did this happen...?" She asked. Ryder whimpered and shrugged before hugging her. "...Jeez... Your shaking... Come inside sit down." Dash took her cousins into her home and took their things. Ryder went for the fridge as Scootaloo sat on the couch. As Dash sat down her cousin came back from the fridge with two sodas and a beer. Just as Ryder set the drinks down Dash knocked the beer away from the table. "Oh no you don't missy! You put that back in the fridge and grab either a sports drink or another soda!"

Ryder looked to the sodas. They were just plain cola's that were diet. "....Daaaassh you know I cant have diet sodas!" She whined. "They give me head aches!" She went and picked the beer back up and went back to the fridge. "Why do you even have beer in here anyways? I thought you only drank when you were with AJ!"

Dash sighed and rolled her eyes. "Gilda was over and.... L-look look just get something to drink and sit your ass down!" She snapped. Ryder whimpered and nodded before grabbing a blue sports drink and hurrying back to the couch. "Look I didn't wanna snap at you but I just don't want you drinking like that in front of Scootaloo! Now why don't you tell me what happened before you turned into a mare!"

Ryder opened her sisters soda and her own blue raspberry sports drink. She sipped it holding it with both hooves. "...W-well... I gave up on fixing the air conditioner in our place...." She said. "...I went and talked with Pinkie just to get out of the heat building up in the house... I was trying to get Pinkie to plan a party for Scootaloo's birthday without thinking about it on the day of it... We took a walk and we ended up getting ambushed... I got separated from Pinkie after I started to think about... M-m... Our parents... I flew into Everfree and must've knocked myself unconscious..."

Dash scratched her head a bit. "...Everfree huh...?" She said. "...Maybe you ended up falling in some Poison Joke." Ryder tilted her head sniffling still. The rainbow maned mare groaned. "Poison Joke is a plant out in Everfree. If something is in it for too long the plant releases spores or something that just fucks with you. I ended up walking into it along with Pinkie, AJ and the others. It made AJ small, it made Twi's horn flaccid, it made Pinkie's tongue numb, It made Fluttershy's voice deeper than Big Mac's, and to save you some time because I don't remember Rarity's it messed with my wings!"

"Okay but how the fuck did you fix it?!" Ryder snapped grabbing Dash by the shoulders. Dash shrugged her off and pointed to Scootaloo. "Oh uh... Excuse my language sis..."

Scootaloo sighed and averted her gaze. "It's alright I wont repeat it just like you told me time and time before..." She said.

Ryder gave a nod looking to Dash. "Okay so in the morning we need to go take a walk into Everfree." She said. "Yes we might need to drop Scoot off at Sweet Apple Acres but we gotta fix you. Okay Ry?" Ryder nodded. "You guys wanna go to bed soon? This heat is killing me and me turning my AC on will skyrocket my bill."

Scootaloo gave a sad aw. "But its hoooooooot!" The little filly said looking a bit disappointed. "...Cant you please turn the AC on Dash...? I don't think I can sleep without waking up in a soggy bed that is drenched in sweat and pee!" She looked over to Ryder who blushed a bit.

Dash got up and went to the door. To the right is where she put her cousins saddlebags. She opened one and saw a few diapers. Filly and adult. She looked back to Ryder. "...What..?" Ryder asked nervously. "...I did say I was thinking about our parents today..."

Dash sighed. "Alright squirt AC will be just for you." She said closing the saddle bags again. "Now calm down, relax maybe watch some TV and try and stay away from the pay-per-view. I don't want to wake up to Scootaloo watching porn." She grinned looking at her cousins.

Both Ryder and Scootaloo blushed. "...I told you I wasn't even the one watching it!" The little Pegasus filly said. "Ryder slept on the remote!"

Ryder looked to her sister. "But who caught you sitting on the remote while I was asleep?!" She asked. "You were CLEARLY watching that porn! Sure I was asleep on the remote but you watched who knows how much of it before you sat on the remote and blasted that porn! I had neighbors look at me funny when I went to pick up a package from the post office!"

Dash shook her head as the siblings continued to argue. She went over to the AC unit which was in the wall behind the dining table. She turned it on and almost immediately she was hit with a cool breeze as the machine hummed. She looked back at Ryder and Scootaloo. "Would you two just shut up about that?!" Dash snapped coming back over. "Ever since those storms you've been feuding about that stupid who-was-watching-what thing! Now drop it and be brother and sister not Rarity and AJ on who's hogging the blanket!"

Ryder sighed and looked away crossing her arms. "...Fine..." She said.

"Now give your sister a hug Ry!" Dash said. Ryder didn't budge. Scootaloo whimpered a bit holding her arms open for a hug. "Ryder! Hug Scootaloo NOW! Don't make me make you sleep on the roof!" Ryder sighed and turned back around hugging her sister. Scootaloo smiled and nuzzled while Ryder just looked pissed. "Good now stay like that until you give your sister a smile Ryder!"

Ryder groaned a bit. "Dash cant we just watch TV or something...?" She asked. "Besides I gotta go to the bathroom! Scootaloo cant go in there with me!"

Dash smiled a bit. "Yes she can!" She said giving a giggle. "Do you really think you can weasel out of it that easily with one of these?" She turned around lifting her tail.

Ryder blushed forcing Scootaloo to go face first into her chest. "Dash!" She snapped.

Dash laughed lowering her tail. "Relax Ryder we all have one!" She said. She thought for a moment. "...Wait... Did you tell Pinkie what happened to you?" Ryder shook her head. "Okay first a bathroom break and then we are going to see Pinkie. She's probably freaking out." Ryder nodded and got up putting Scootaloo on her back before hurrying upstairs.

A little while later Dash and Ryder were standing at the door. Scootaloo and Ryder broke the embrace they had been forced to hold by their own cousin. "Alright Scoot we'll be right back." Ryder said. "Remember Dash has her keys, you let no one in and you know if I find you drinking something you shouldn't be I'll have you spend a night in a jail cell okay?"

Dash smacked the back of her cousins head. "Ryder we want her to keep her from being scared while we're out!" She snapped. She looked to Scootaloo. "But seriously squirt no beer or you are going to get a paddling and a big grounding! Got it?"

Scootaloo nodded. "Come back quick okay?" She said. "We still haven't eaten dinner and... It'd be nice to eat something other than pizza for the second day in a row." She blushed a bit.

Dash smiled. "Sure Scoot. How's about me and Ryder grab some hayburgers and bring you a foal feast?" She asked. Scootaloo smiled and nodded. "Alright see ya scoot!" Ryder kissed her sisters fore head making her blush just as Dash opened the door for both of them to go out.

Just as Dash closed the door Ryder flew up. "C'mon Dash faster we go grab those hay burgers the faster we can be back here for Scootaloo!" She said. "I gotta get my usual double thick habanero hell hayburger!"

Dash sighed joining her cousin in the air. "First we go see Pinkie." She said. "Hayburgers can wait and you aren't getting that double thick one. You barely could finish that as a stallion! You eat that thing as a mare you're asking to either puke or even gain a couple pounds."

Ryder blew her mane out of her eyes crossing her arms. "...You know I hate not getting my way right...?" She asked. Dash nodded before taking her cousins hoof and flying off. As they flew Ryder crossed her legs. "...Why did that plant do this to me....? I hate to say this but... I miss the feeling of the jewel bag flopping around in the wind...."

Dash looked over at her cousin. "Why does poison joke do any of that to us?" She asked. "Look I had to stay on the ground for a few days until Zecora came through with the cure." She looked back to where she was flying. "She always keeps everything stocked up just incase someone in Ponyville gets in it. Scootaloo could fall in it and she could probably grow four times in size or maybe get as flat as a piece of paper! And about your cream-carriers I'm pretty sure you'd change your mind if we weren't flying."

Ryder sighed. "Well..." She said. "...I guess you do have a point there... getting bucked by a mare or turning away just as Applejack threw an apple at me would really keep me with my hooves between the haunches..." She looked down at the town below. Some buildings and homes were still lit. Then she looked up at the night sky. Moon shining bright. Stars glimmering here and there. "Dash...?" Dash looked over for a moment. "...Do you think mom and dad could be up there looking down at me and Scoot...? Same with uncle red...?"

Dash sighed looking up as well. "...Maybe Ry... But who knows what's up there..." She replied. "...Your guys' parents could be seeing what you've done in their absence... I mean... My mom told me after my dad died that he would be sitting up there keeping an eye on me... If I was feeling down he would drop something somewhere for me to find to make me smile. Sometimes the wind would blow that thing somewhere where I cant find it... I found a few bits once... It was a hot day I remember it. I wanted an ice cream but you knew my check came late... So after I found those bits I went and got what me and my dad would always get.... Rocky Road with some rainbow sprinkles..." Tears came to Dash's eyes. "....I remember when I was little he told me.... It was just like me... Colorful and Sweet..."

Ryder started flying down towards the ground with Dash. They landed and nuzzled a bit. "...Don't cry... You know what Pinkie does if you cry." She said.

Dash sniffled and wiped her eyes. "..A-alright..." She said. She looked up and saw they were just outside the dimly lit Sugarcube Corner. Someone could be seen inside sitting at a table but it was too dark to see them. "....Did you know we were here already?" She asked looking over at Ryder. Ryder shrugged looking at the shop before him. Dash walked up to the big closed door before them. Light from a nearby lamp shown onto it. She knocked. "Hello? Is anypony still awake in there?" Ryder watched as the pony inside got up from the table and walked over to the door. Head hung low. Just a second after the shadow disappeared locks on the door shifted and clicked. The door opened and there was Pinkie. Her mane was straightened out and droopy, she looked like she had been crying all day.

Pinkie sighed looking at the ground. "...Oh... It's you..." She said. "...You probably heard Ryder went missing too huh...?"

Ryder hesitantly stepped towards the mares. "...I wouldn't say I'm missing Pinkie..." She said alerting her friends.

Pinkie looked to Ryder. She sniffled and pushed Dash off going back inside. "...Y-you're not Ryder!" She said having Dash and Ryder follow her. "Ryder's a stallion! not a mare!"

Dash grabbed her friend and sat her in a chair. She quickly flew over and flipped on the lights illuminating the shop. Ryder stood in font of Pinkie feeling a bit nervous. "Pinkie this IS Ryder!" She snapped. "Ryder has a black mane, she has a black mane, Ryder has a white coat and so does she! and I don't think two ponies would have the same cutie mark!" She forced Ryder to the side showing Pinkie the cutie mark of a wrench, a tire and a fire. Pinkie looked closely at the mare before her. "And... You might want to take into account of Poison Joke."

Pinkie gasped having her mane poof up. She suddenly tackled Ryder squeezing her. "Ryder!" She said. "You're okay! I was so worried! Where were you? How did you get back? How did you survive? Are you hurt? Why didn't you come any sooner?!"

Dash pried Pinkie's hooves off her cousin giving her a chance to breathe. "Pinkie! Calm down!" She said helping both her and Ryder up. Ryder looked a bit winded. "You nearly crushed her! I'm supposed to take her to grab some hayburgers and I cant exactly get her back up to my place to stay with Scootaloo! We just came by so you can see that she's okay!"

Ryder wheezed. "...Y-yeah... I wanna get burgers and back to scoot..." She said.

Pinkie sniffled a bit. "...C-can I come back with you?" She asked. "...I don't think Mr. and Mrs cake would want me waking Pound and Pumpkin..."

Dash looked to Ryder. Then back to Pinkie. "Fine but you ask Twilight to help you with getting up to my door." She said. "Just.... Make sure the Cakes know where you are! I don't want them to fire you, kick you out and make the worlds best party pony find a less fun place to live!" Pinkie nodded and hugged both her friends before running to the stairs.

About an hour later Ryder, Dash and Scootaloo were sitting on the couch each eating a hayburger one different than the other. Ryder had jalapenos and pepperjack cheese on it. Scootaloos was plain, but it came with a drink, a toy and some wheat fries. Dash just had a salad with zesty ranch dressing on it. Ryder sighed setting her burger down. Scootaloo set hers down and sipped from her soda a bit. "You okay Ryder? Getting full?" She asked.

Ryder shook her head as she got up and went to the fridge. Dash got up wiping her mouth a bit. "Excuse me a sec you two." The rainbow maned mare said. Pinkie and Scootaloo nodded going back to their food. Dash went into the kitchen with her cousin. Ryder opened the fridge and pulled a soda. She cracked it open and chugged it as she went to the counter leaning on it. Dash came up and leaned on it with her. "You gonna be okay Ry?" Ryder shrugged. "...You worried if you aren't able to change back?"

Ryder nodded a bit. "...Why do bad things always happen to me...? Why....?" She asked. "... First I lose my own place... Then we lose mom and dad... Now this..." Tears came to her eyes as she started whimpering. "I mean... Life has been shit since then... Nothing ever went my way... I've been protecting Scootaloo from everything and everyone..."

Dash sighed. "...You only protect Scoot like that because she's basically the only one close to you and her getting hurt is like a spear through the heart..." She said. "Sure this wasn't like that but.... It's a close second but in reverse... Scoot is worried she wont have her big brother back but she would have a big sister.... Or at least a big sister and a big sister role model.... for the rest of her life. You and I both know we can change you back but she still doesn't... Maybe.... Maybe you and I can take her into my room, sit her down and tell her what's going on here. And... Really I don't want you this way either. I'm kinda scared just you being near me is gonna cause my wings to go wonky again... I don't know if you have any petals stuck in your mane and tail!"

Ryder blushed a bit and looked to her tail a bit scared. "...Maybe I should take a shower just in case..." She said. "...I don't want to brush Scoot off or something and have her get.... I don't know what that Poison Joke is capable of..."

Dash smiled a bit. "You just finish up dinner and shower up before we talk with Scoot okay?" She said. Ryder nodded hesitantly and went back to eating. She looked at Scootaloo who was smiling eating her food. Her older sister sighed and took another bite of her hayburger. About a half hour later Dash walked with Pinkie down the hall towards the guest room. Dash stopped at the door. "Go ahead and get yourself set up in there. I gotta check on Ryder." She said. Pinkie nodded giggling a bit continuing down the hall. Dash knocked on the door. "Ry? You doing okay in there?" She put her ear to the door. Her ear flickered hearing whimpering. "I'm comin' in! Hope you're decent!" She mumbled "Like I need to ask." under her breath as she opened the door.

Ryder, who was wrapped up in a towel pulled her inside and closed the door behind her. "....Again! It happened AGAIN!" She snapped.

Dash tilted her head confused. "What happened?" She asked.

Her cousin looked to the bath tub whimpering a bit. "....I-I was trying to relax in a bath and... And I'm starting to molt..." She said. She pulled the towel off and extended her wings. They looked tattered. Not too tattered but she definitely had feathers coming out. "...I cant fly anywhere with Scoot having my wings like this! I mean.... I could fall and slam hard and if she's on my back she could get really hurt! You uh... You think you could carry me down tomorrow morning?"

Dash rolled her eyes. "Fine I will." She said. "Now hurry up, get the feathers out of the tub, get dried off and hurry to my room. Scoot wanted to sleep between us tonight." She nodded and Dash walked out of the bathroom. As she closed the door she was met by Scootaloo who was wearing a diaper looking desperate to use the toilet. The rainbow mare opened the door back up and Scoot went right in stripping her diaper off and hopping on the toilet. Dash closed the door leaving the siblings together before going down the hall where she saw Pinkie sitting on the bed her tail wagging a bit. "You're lucky that spell Twilight cast on you lasts a few days or else you'd probably fall right through my house while you were sleeping!"

Pinkie giggled a bit. "Wouldn't be the first time something like that happened!" She said. "Remember when we went to Cloudsdale with you and Rarity fell showing off the wings Twilight made?" Dash nodded. "Well I met a stallion there and he wanted to have a little two pony party at his place and well... Sugar crash and I took a nap in his bed but I was just lucky he was there to save me from being a pink pancake pony." She lied on the bed sprawling out a bit. "So is Ryder okay? Scootaloo came in here and we had a little chat about what happened with Ryder and why he... She.... We talked about why Ryder is a mare now."

Dash sighed. "Even I hate it that she's like that." She said.

Pinkie scratched her head. "Why are you calling Ryder a she when I don't even know what to call him... Her... Oh well... You know!" She said.

The rainbow mare sat on the bed. "Well say I got a sex change." She said. "You met me saying 'she' or 'her' when ever you referred to me but after that sex change I'd wanna be reffered to as 'he' or 'him' when you were talking about me. Ryder basically had a sex change against her will but... It's the right thing to call her a she out in public otherwise we might seem like Applejack when we drop her apple buckets."

Pinkie sighed. "...That poison joke's 'joke's' are not jokes!" She said. "A party pony makes jokes. This is just mean! I wish we could destroy that poison joke! Although... They do make tasty cupcakes..."

Dash looked back at Pinkie. "...Are you EATING poison joke?" She asked. Pinkie nodded a bit. "How many times before have you eaten it?! Did you sell any cupcakes with that in it?!"

Pinkie sat up and looked at Dash laughing. "No silly I haven't even thought of giving it to anypony!" She said. "I wouldn't want the cakes getting sued at all! And... I have three cupcakes hidden under my bed in a locked box! Always got the key braided in my tail so Pound and Pumpkin don't get into them!"

About an hour later Ryder was lying awake in bed all padded up. She lied next to Scootaloo who was cuddled close to her also padded up. Dash lied on the other side of Scootaloo. Ryder pulled away from Scootaloo and got up hearing a few noises. As she came into the hall she looked towards the guest room and saw the light on and the sound of chips being crunched. She peeked in and saw Pinkie eating EXACTLY what was thought to be. Chips. "...Pinkie?" Ryder said pushing the door open. Pinkie gave a muffled 'eep' still with a mouth full of 'salt and vinegar chips'.

Pinkie turned and saw Ryder. She swallowed. "Ryder? Uh... What are you doing up?" She asked. "You aren't gonna tell Dash I took her chips are you?"

Ryder shook her head closing the door behind her. "Why would I do that? I always steal a bag of chips when I'm here but I do pay her for a new bag." She replied. "I just came in here to talk... I cant sleep... I don't feel too good and I cant even bring myself to 'relax'..." She started to tear up as she sat on the bed. "...I wanna change back soon... Just sitting here is bugging the shit out of me... Its... Its very sensitive..." She blushed hard and lied on the bed.

Pinkie brought a bottle of cola up from the side of the bed and sipped from it. She gave a sigh as she set the bottle back down. "What you mean your oven?" She asked.

Ryder sighed. "...Can we be grown up about this please?" She asked sitting up half way. "...It's a vagina not an oven..."

Pinkie blushed and averted her gaze. "Well... That is what I call.... That..." She said. "I'm foal friendly not just for adults."

Ryder rolled over and grabbed the bag of chips. "...Sorry... I'm just stressed..." She said. "Hope you don't mind I take some of these... I eat when I'm stressed..."

Pinkie smiled. "Go ahead! I wasn't gonna finish them all anyways! Just a midnight snack!" She said. "Anyways... I don't know how many times I've said this but you will be changed back! We know somepony living in Everfree where you crashed! Her name is Zecora and she can help you. Look I know you should be in there with Dash and Scoot but... You think you can sleep here with me? Your crinkle butt makes me think I have pound or pumpkin in my bed with me." Ryder munched on a few chips and nodded.

The next morning Ryder, Dash and Pinkie were walking through the streets of Ponyville towards Everfree's edge. Dash stretched out a bit grunting a bit as her back cracked. "...Damn Ry you should not have gotten that hayburger last night..." She said. "Try a fucking salad once in a while!"

Ryder blushed. "Dash unless you want to be paraded around in public with a diaper, a bib and a bonnet I'd suggest you shut up." She snapped. "We better hope Zecora is there.... Otherwise somepony's carrying me home..."

Dash huffed. "...Lets just get this over with..." She said.

A little while later they were walking in the depths of Everfree. Ryder and Dash had held each others hoof because Ryder was shaking scared. Dash was scared too but she didn't show it. Pinkie hopped along in front of them not even showing a drop of fear. Just smiles and laughter. "C'mon you two hurry up!" She said. "Zecora's hut isn't that far away!"

Ryder looked around shaking. She looked back only to stop in her tracks seeing a big spider hanging in her face. She screamed and backed up before diving in a bush. Dash flapped her wings sending the spider flying away before going to where she saw Ryder's tail poking out of. "Ryder! Ryder come out!" She said. "The spider's gone! I blew it away!"

Ryder poked her head up from the bushes blushing hard. "...C-can you wait a second...?" She asked scared. "....I-I'm not finished pissing myself..." Dash backed away and averted her gaze.

Dash walked back over to Pinkie who was looking at a patch of wild flowers. "Pinkie can you help Ryder keep her from shitting herself?" She asked. "I can handle it when she's wet but the smell of my bathroom after she eats something with chili's or spicy peppers... It's almost enough to make me go in the grass..."

Pinkie looked over to Dash. "Sure!" She said. "I change Pumpkin and Pound's dirty diapees ALL the time!" The pink mare giggled a bit as she jumped around in a circle.

Ryder jumped out of the bush, her feathers ruffled. She flicked her back right leg a few times before taking Dash's wing again. "...C-come on.... I wanna go home..." She said whimpering.

Dash shushed her as Pinkie started hopping down the path again. "Cant go home just yet but we're almost there!" She said. "Hold out just a little longer. Think you can do that?"

Ryder gave a hesitant nod and followed Dash sniffling. Not long later they came to a hut looking as if it were carved into a tree. Windows were carved out intricately. Pinkie knocked on the door. "Zecooooooraaaaa!" She called out. "You at home Zecora?"

Dash looked to the windows. "...Maybe she's asleep." She said thinking for her cousins feelings. Ryder flew over to one of the windows. "Ryder! Get back down here! She could be washing herself!"

Ryder huffed and flew down landing next to Dash. "Fine fine... coming from the mare who had me share a bathroom with my little sister having to hug her while I peed!" She snapped. "I couldn't even see anything anyways I think something blocked the window." She turned around and heard the rip of paper. Both Ryder and Dash looked down and saw a dusty piece of paper torn almost in half with both of their hooves on it.

Dash stepped off and picked it up. "It's a note..." She said seeing words under a few hoof prints. She blew the dirt and dust off of it. She hummed reading it. "...Uh... Ryder.... You may wanna get on Pinkie's back now..."

Ryder looked at Dash confused. "Why...?" She asked.

Dash gave the note to Ryder having her read it. 'Sorry I wont be home for a week. My friend's life is looking bleak!' It was dated about five days ago. "...You're gonna be stuck like this for a few days..." Dash replied.

Ryder threw the note down and climbed onto Pinkie's back whimpering before starting to cry. Pinkie nuzzled her before walking away from the hut. "Don't worry there... You can bunk with me until we get this fixed." She said.

Dash nudged Pinkie. "Just drop her off at her place, I'll grab Big Mac to put the AC in and we're good to go. Okay?" She said. Pinkie gave a nod and walked with Dash at her side. Dash set her wing on Ryder's back and sighed looking at her feeling sorry.

Hours later Ryder was passed out sniffling all diapered up. Pinkie sat at the end of the bed just staring at her. She gave a sigh and got up from the bed before leaving the room. She came out into the hall and went towards the banister. At the banister she looked down and saw Big Mac plugging an air conditioning unit into the wall. Dash sat on the couch fanning herself with her wing. "Aaaand there she is!" The red stallion said. He looked to Dash. "That all Ryder needs while he's laid up? I could stick around make him some soup or probably give him a bit of company if you two got something to do! I mean... Y'already got Scoot at our place and he's gonna be hella lonely here without her here!"

Dash shook her head. "Nah he's fiiiine." She said almost correcting herself to 'she'. "We've got it. I can make him soup and Pinkie can keep him entertained while he's in bed!" Big Mac chuckled.

"Well if you need help getting something moved just come and get me. I'll tell AJ and maybe she'll stop by."

"No no we wouldn't want her catching anything he might have! Just go on home we can handle things here promise!"

Big Mac gave a nod and went out the door. Dash got up from the couch as the door closed and turned the AC on. Almost instantly cool air was blown out into the mares face making her sigh. Pinkie came downstairs and sighed. "About time he got that thing in... I was afraid he was gonna see Ryder and rape her or something." She said. Dash looked back at Pinkie giving her a confused look. "What? Doesn't Big Mac look like the type of stallion that would do that?"

Dash shook her head. "I don't know what you think about AJ and please do not share what you do think but if Big Mac raped anypony we probably wouldn't see him around Sweet Apple Acres." Pinkie sat on the couch. Dash joined her. Nuzzled her and even kissed her. Pinkie blushed and kissed back. They broke the kiss and looked into each others eyes. "....Glad there's somewhere you and I can fool around without anypony knowing... Even if it is my cousin's place..." Pinkie sighed.

"....Yeah... I missed our date nights..." She said averting her gaze. "...Mr and Mrs. cake don't like it when I'm having a private party with anyone other than a colt... There's a reason why I don't have sleep overs at the Cakes. That's one reason. The other is they're afraid you, AJ, or somepony I have would steal from them." Dash sighed.

"They're from a different time bubblegum-butt. My parents still don't know I'm lesbian. Cakes know you're bi?" Pinkie nodded. "Well... It's good they're keeping you in the house. My parents would just die if they knew. They'd even forbid me to come back." Dash hummed and looked up at the banister. "You knew Ryder was bi too right?" She looked back at Pinkie. The pink mare shook her head. "Ah yeah. He's a bi-baby just like you. He's only told me and Scoot. And... Twilight but she accepts anypony as a friend. No pony else but us knows.... Wait there's Gilda and she's bi too and she just let him go to town on her! But I think that was just to cheer him up about something that happened." Pinkie hummed looking up at the banister.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Dash shook her head. "Well... Maybe we could do something to cheer Ryder up maybe related to what we do? I mean there isn't any way possible that she'd stop us from doing it right?" Dash shrugged getting up.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to try..." She said starting for the stairs. Pinkie got up from the couch and followed. They walked near silently up the stairs and stopped at Ryder's door peeking in at her. They saw her on her back with her haunches wide open. The diaper was all puffed out, as well as her wings. Pinkie looked back at Dash. "Does anypony know Ryder sleeps in a cute and vulnerable way?"

Dash pushed her into the room. "Don't even think about it, she's a guard first and a friend second if things are surprising or violent." She said. She sat on the bed and nudged her cousin. "Ryder? C'mon wake up, nap times over!"

Ryder swatted at Dash's hooves. "...Scoot no... lemmuh sleep...." She mumbled rolling to her side. Her wings fluttered a bit.

Dash nudged her again. "Ryder! C'mon we ordered a pizza and neither of us have bits!" She said. "We ordered your favorite! Jalapenos and wing sauce!"

Suddenly Ryder shot up. "...Somepony say food?" She said as her mane covered her face. She looked at Dash and Pinkie who looked a bit nervous. "...No pizza?" Both mares shook their heads. "...Is the AC up and running?"

Dash nodded. "Yeah... I watched Big Mac install it." She replied. "Listen Ry... We uh... We wanna try something with you but we don't wanna force you into it... It's to cheer you up after seeing that note at Zecora's."

Ryder fixed her mane as Pinkie undiapered her. "Come on spit it out, sitting here isn't doing anything for my mood!" She snapped.

Dash took a deep breath and sighed. "RYDER HAVE SEX WITH US!" Pinkie yelled. Ryder blushed hard. Dash did too. The pink mare smiled nervously. "...Too sudden?"

Ryder gave a nod hiding her face. Dash huffed. "Yes.... What Pinkie said...." She said. "We, two worried mares, want to have sex with you to help you get your mind off that dumb note! We don't even know how long ago that note was written, I mean we found that note on the ground, an animal could've passed by, knocked it down, wind could've came through and blew it down, who knows Zecora could be back by tonight! She could've been right behind us while we walked out!"

Ryder sat up as Pinkie started to mess around under the bed. "...Look Dash... It's nice of you to say that but... why cant you see that I'm stuck like this?" She asked. Just then Pinkie thumped her head on the bed frame. Ryder crawled over to the edge of the bed and looked over. "Uh... You okay down there Pinkie?"

Pinkie came back up rubbing her head. "Yeah! My mom told me I have a rock hard skull!" She said tapping on her head. "Buuuut I did find this!" She brought her other hoof up showing a wired vibrator and a roll of tape. Ryder blushed.

"....Th-that's not mine! Where'd you get that? Did you hide that in your tail?!" Pinkie giggled handing it over to Dash.

"No silly! I found that under your bed! Why would I keep something like that in my tail? If anything I'd be hiding cookies in it!"

Dash looked to Ryder. "Ry do you tease yourself with this thing?" She asked. Ryder averted her gaze hiding her face with her mane. "You are teasing yourself with this!" Dash started to laugh as she lied down hugging her cousin. "Duuuuude c'mon you cant be hiding that! We're all friends here you can tell us anything and we'll keep it a secret! Well... Pinkie can and I just told her... But you cant just keep everything secret like that! You'd be able to tell Fluttershy, AJ, Big Mac and everyone else and no one would judge you! If your little sister can accept you why don't you think anyone else will?"

Ryder sniffled and mumbled something under her breath. "What was that?" Pinkie asked. Again she mumbled something under her breath. "Come again? You're being quieter than Fluttershy and I can hear her clearly!"

The sniveling mare sat up quickly and clenched her eyes shut as tears ran down her cheeks. "BECAUSE MOM AND DAD WOULD NEVER ACCEPT ME FOR THIS!" She yelled. She broke down crying and fell back curling up.

Dash sighed and gave the vibrator to Pinkie. "So that's why you only told me, Scoot and Twi." She said. "Look Ry your parents loved you. They grew up hippies like my mother told me. She was the serious one raised on beliefs that I'm not valid as her daughter. Your mom and dad accepted the life that everyone is good in their own way. If you accept it, your sister accepts it and I accept it along with all your friends why should you be worried? Times have changed and so has everyones mind. Just accept it and.... And... We'll do what ever!" Ryder turned over and hugged her cousin. Dash hugged back and looked at Pinkie. "Do it!"

Dash quickly tightened her grip on her cousin and Pinkie pulled a piece of tape from the roll before sticking the vibrator to Ryder's clit and turning it on full blast. Ryder gasped and moaned a bit. Pinkie giggled as Dash repositioned herself on the bed putting her marehood in her cousins face. "I LOVE surprises!" The pink pony said getting on the bed. She put her flank in Dash's face. "You think you can eat me out or do you want me to go and use one of the dildos I found under the bed because both would feel REALLY good!"

Dash looked back down at Ryder who blushed hard either from embarrassment or from bliss. "You wanna tell us what those or about or are you gonna dig in?" She asked. Ryder whimpered a bit and turned to her cousins pussy. Warm, drippy and twitching. "Just know it's either go big or we go home and leave you here!" The pinned mare hesitantly started to lick at Dash's pussy. Dash blushed as she in turn started to lick Pinkie's marehood.

Pinkie Pie shuttered and moaned as she stuffed her hoof into her mouth. Ryder grabbed Dash's flank and hugged it licking at her clit. Dash's wings extended with a POMF as she buried her snout deeper into her pink friends pussy. Pinkie's hooves almost went deeper into her mouth as she moaned louder. She brought her hooves from her mouth and stretched her ass a bit. "...Yes Dash.... Eat this pie..." She said starting to drool. "...Ryyyyyy you are SO lucky to have a cousin like this... All licky and stuff....." She giggled a bit.

Ryder wiped her eyes. "....Ssuht uh hinkee..." She said not even taking her tongue away from her cousins flank. She continued to please her cousin as the vibrator continued to stimulate her twitching and sopping wet pussy. 'Ah... Feels... So good... Still gonna kick the crap outta ya Dash...' She thought. Not even moments after said thought she came screaming and spraying the other mares with her marecum. Before she could continue she ended up passing out forcing Dash to start playing with herself which she looked like she didn't mind. Dash came soon after. She dodged out of the way just in time for Pinkie to cum squirting on to Ryder, knocking the vibrator away and off the drippy clit.

Pinkie panted as she climbed up on the bed. "....Now that... was a party..." She said crawling to Ryder's side.

Dash smiled as she cuddled up to her now comfortable and content female cousin. "...I'll say..." She said. "...Feels good knowing I can fuck my own cousin without worrying about a fucking kid...." As they closed their eyes Dash whispered something. "...Zecora was supposed to be back yesterday wasn't she...?"

Pinkie sighed. "Tonight..." She replied. "...To be honest I like Ryder like this... Bring it on a few more days?"

Dash reached over and sluggishly slapped Pinkie. "...One day... I don't wanna have her crying a whole bunch..." She replied.

That one day was too long of a wait for Ryder. She snuck out in the middle of the night and visited Zecora having her turn her back into her old self.