I yawned and stretched my legs. I wiggled around in my bed. My alarm clock went off. I slammed the "Snooze" button and tried to go back to sleep, but the pains in my sides prevented me from relaxing. I groaned and sat up. I looked out my window. The sun shone brightly. How had Princess Celestia raised the sun all the way in my little town?
Wait. Who in the hoof was Celestia?
As soon as I sat up on the side of my bed, I wobbled and fell to the floor.
"Ouch!" I yelped. I stood up. I walked into the bathroom to relieve myself. After doing so, I looked in the mirror and screamed. The "person" who was looking back at me was really freaky. My reflection had changed dramatically. My clean, tan complexion was now purple and furry. My long, brown hair was no longer pretty. It was now royal purple and hot pink. To top it all off, I had wings and a unicorn horn. I stood on four hooved legs.
"What am I?" I whispered.
Something inside me told me that I was Princess Twilight Sparkle, the pony princess of friendship.
I sat down and cried. How could I get a job as a special effects technician if I looked like this? Then it hit me: I had a horn. Therefor, I had magic. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to cast a spell. I heard the toilet flush itself and the faucet turn itself on. I opened my eyes and looked at my horn. It was glowing with hot pink magic. So was the toilet handle and the water faucet. I grinned. I was magical. I WAS magic.
The phone rang. I jumped and lost concentration. The toilet and sink both turned off.
I ran to answer the phone. I picked it up with my magic. "Hello?" I was startled. My voice sounded different.
"Miss Unger? My name is John. I'm calling from the Dog and Horse Theater. Your interview date has changed. Please come in tomorrow for your interview."
"What?" I cried. If I was still like this tomorrow...
"It's either tomorrow or never, Miss Unger."
"Oh. I..." I sighed. "I'll be there. Thank you." I hung up.
What have I done? I thought.
"So, Bill..." I said over the phone. I was on the phone with Bill Hing, my boyfriend. He thought of himself as a "brony," a fan of the My Little Pony TV show. If anypony could help me, it was him. Wait. Why did I just say "anypony?"
"What's up, Olivia?" Bill asked cheerfully. "What can I do you for?"
"Um..." Could I trust Bill? "I... have a problem."
"Oh, no!" Bill exclaimed worriedly. "What's wrong?"
"I'm not comfortable telling you over the phone," I admitted. "Could you come over?"
"Sure. I'll be there in ten." Bill hung up.
"Hurry, Bill," I whispered. "Hurry."
For the ten minutes, I paced around my living room, biting my lip and reorganizing my bookshelf. Finally, I heard the doorbell ring. I didn't feel comfortable answering it.
"It's me, Oli! You in there?" Bill yelled.
"Yeah," I sighed. "Are you alone?"
"'Course I am! Are you gonna let me in?"
"Um... It's open!" I cried, racing to my room.
I heard Bill open the door. "Where are you, Oli?"
I took a deep breath. "In my room." I stood up, spread my wings, and stared at the door. When Bill entered my room, he stopped walking.
"Hey, Olivia! Nice costume! Where'd you get it? Hot Topic?"
"It... It's not a costume, Bill."
"Nice one, O." Bill walked forward, smiling. "You finally a fan of MLP?"
"SOMETHING like that..." I closed my eyes and cast a spell that levitated Bill.
He yelled. "Whoa! How're you doin' that? Wires?"
"No."
"Pulleys?"
"No."
"A platform?"
"No, Bill. It's real. I'm a pony." I lowered Bill.
He sat down on my bed. "Am I hallucinating, or are you Princess Twilight?"
"You're not hallucinating, sweetie. I'm Princess Twilight."
"So, how... how?" Bill gasped. He was pale.
"I don't know! I woke up like this! And I just got a call that my interview for the theater is tomorrow! TO. MORR. OW!"
"Um... Did you eat anything strange last night?" Bill asked.
"No..."
"Did you put anything new in your mane... I mean, hair last night?"
"No. I didn't. And now I'm a pony, I can cast spells, and I'm thinking random things like 'Who in the hoof,' 'What the hay,' and 'Princess Celestia!' What's wrong with me?"
"I don't know what to say, Olivia."
I looked frantically around my room. "Oh, no!" I cried. "Where's Spike? Where's Owlicious? Where are the girls? What am I saying?"
Bill grinned. "Well, if you really ARE Twilight, then Spike is your assistant, a baby dragon, Owlicious is your pet owl, and 'the girls' are your five best friends!" Bill shook his head. "I can't believe this is happening!"
Despite my confusion, I smiled. I looked at my rear... my FLANK. I saw a strange marking on it: A big, pink, six-pointed star surrounded by five, smaller, white stars. My head felt light.
"What is this?" I asked Bill, pointing to the marking.
Bill leaned forward to see the mark. "Oh man! It's your cutie mark!"
"My WHAT?"
"Your cutie mark. It represents your special talent: magic. Every pony in Equestria has one. They get them as fillies, when they discover their special talent."
"Oh." I was still staring at my "cutie mark." My head felt really light. The pink star seemed to glow and break apart, like I was looking at it through a kaleidoscope. My head felt hot. My vision clouded. I walked over to my bed and laid down on it. I passed out. I had a strange vision...
"Where's Twilight?" cried a light pink pony. She had hot pink mane and three balloons as her cutie mark. Somehow, I knew that this was Pinkie Pie. She was an earth pony.
"Ah don't know, Pinkie," replied an orange pony with three red apples as her cutie mark. She spoke with a heavy country accent. It was Applejack, and she was an earth pony, too.
"Oh, dear, oh dear," whispered the pale yellow pegasus named Fluttershy. She hid behind her light pink mane. Her cutie mark was three pink butterflies.
"We've gotta find her!" Rainbow Dash yelled. She flew up in the air with a few beats from her pale blue pegasus wings. She had a cutie mark of a multi-colored lightning bolt topped with a white cloud.
"I agree," said Rarity, the white, purple-mane unicorn with the three blue diamond cutie mark.
A baby dragon ran in. "I've searched the entire castle," he gasped. "Twi's not here!" It was Spike.
The room grew noticeably brighter. A white winged unicorn flew into the room.
"Princess Celestia!" cried my six friends. They all ran toward her.
"What is it, my little ponies? And dragon?" Celestia asked. She had a golden sun as her cutie mark. Her beautiful, multi-colored mane and tail flowed freely.
"Twilight's missing!" Spike blurted out. "Have you seen her?"
Celestia looked shocked. "No, I have not. Why is she not here?"
"Well, Twi was practicing a new spell last night in her bedroom," Spike said. "She let nopony in, not even me. I heard this big explosion, and I raced in. By that time, Twilight was gone. There was a scorch mark on the ground!"
There were tears in Spike's and the five ponies' eyes.
"I see," Celestia said calmly. "I will send my soldiers all across the kingdom in search for her."
"WHAT!" Pinkie yelled. "You're sending your GUARDS? Twilight is your favorite student! You say so yourself! If anypony's gonna go after Twi, it should be YOU!" Pinkie pointed a hoof at the princess.
Spike, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Applejack all gasped.
"PINKIE PIE!" Rarity scolded. "Don't you DARE boss the princess around!"
"Please forgive Pinkie, princess," Applejack said, bowing and removing her cowgirl in respect. The three other ponies and Spike all bowed, too. Pinkie was the only one standing.
"It's quite all right, Applejack," Celestia sighed. She placed a gentle hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "Your friend is right. I will search for Princess Twilight alongside my soldiers." Tears were in her eyes.
"Do you think that Twilight is okay?" Fluttershy asked timidly.
Celestia smiled. "We can only hope."
With that, she took off.
I woke up. Bill was gone. I saw a note on my bedside table. I levitated it and read it aloud.
"'You fell asleep. I felt awkward staying around, so I went home. I'm going to do some research. I won't tell anybody. Call me if you need anything. Seems like I'm your go-to guy for info right now! Love, Billy.'"
I curled up on my bed. So, I had cast a spell somehow and took the body of myself? I shook my head. That was too confusing. Hopefully Bill would find an answer soon.
I stood up. "I'm bored," I sighed. It hit me: I should reorganize my books... in alphabetical and color order! And then I could do it again by author! I giggled with the thought of such a fun day filled with organization. I was so excited that I forgot all about the interview I had in less than twenty-four hours.
I sighed as I stood up. Sleeping had been hard with my wings. I gasped. My interview was today! I ran out of my room and levitated the phone. I dialed Bill's number.
"Hey, princess!" Bill said.
"Hey, Billy," I sighed. "My interview is today. What do I do?"
"Aww, Oli! You are going to interview for being a Special Effects tech, right?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, your magic would be seen as special effects, right? I mean, your levitation and spells could give the boss something to think about..."
"Are you saying that I just show up in my... er... pony body?" I cried.
"Yes. Go for it, girl. YOLO."
"I guess so... Yeah, I'll do it!"
"You go for it, Twi!"
I jerked my head back like I had just been punched in the muzzle. I was Twilight Sparkle, wasn't I? I smiled.
"Well, Billy, I'll call you to let you know how it goes," I smiled.
"Okie dokie loki!" Billy replied.
I giggled. "You sound like Pinkie Pie!"
"Well, that was kinda the idea!" Billy said.
I hung up.
One hour later, I stood behind a curtain. I was on stage at the Dog and Horse Theater. It was five minutes until my interview. Technically speaking, it was a "talent show." I was going to demonstrate my... abilities, and the theater curator would decide whether or not I was fit for the job.
"Miss Unger!" called the curator. "Whenever you're ready..."
I took a deep breath. "I... I prefer the name Twilight!" I raised the curtain with my magic. I saw the curator gawking.
"How... What are you wearing, Miss Unger?" he asked.
"Um, it's, uh, my... style. I like looking like a magical creature. It puts me in the mood for special effects. Effects. Like. You've. Never. Seen. Before!" With every word, I blasted another image of one of of my pony friends into the air. First, I displayed a blue outline of Rainbow Dash. Then an orange display of Applejack, and then a pink one of Pinkie Pie. Then, I did a white one of Rarity, and then a yellow one of Fluttershy. Then, as a grand finale, I blasted a colorful one of me, wings outspread. I made the images swirl until they were moving so fast, that they were just a blur of rainbows. I hit the rainbow with a power bolt that desintigrated the rainbow. Colored flecks of light floated to the ground like confetti. I made the flecks of light join back together to make a giant, glowing outline of Princess Celestia. I was pretty impressed with myself.
The curator said nothing. He was passed out on his desk. His aide walked up to him. The curator whispered something in the aide's ear. The aide looked at me, astonished.
"He says you're hired," the aide said, smiling. "But only if you'll do that display at his daughter's birthday party next week."
"Sure!" I cried. I flew up into the air. Then I realized something: I was supposed to be wearing a costume. The men here didn't know that I was a real alicorn. I lowered myself to the ground. I blushed. "Pulleys," I lied.
"I got the job!" I yelled into the phone. "I just have to do the same routine I did at my interview at the boss's daughter's birthday party next week."
"Great, Oli, but what if you somehow lose your pony body before then?" Billy pointed out.
"Oh, well..." I hadn't thought about that. "I guess I'll figure that out when I get there."
"Okay. Good luck with that."
Bill hung up. I heard the doorbell ring. I trotted over to the door and looked through the eye-hole. Upon seeing... who was on the step, I opened the door. I felt like I knew this... person? Was that how I should describe this character?
"Well, Twilight? I have finally found you," exclaimed Princess Celestia. Two pegasi guards stood by her sides.
"Um, hi?" I said. "Come in?" I stepped aside to let the strange ponies in.
"Do you know how you got here?" Celestia asked.
"No..."
"Well, I studied your notes that I found in your library. Turns out, you were trying to finish a dimension spell that Star Swirl the Bearded had never mastered. You succeeded in reaching the human world, but you accidentally took the body of another human in the process. I am here to take you away from this world and give the poor human her body back."
"Um... Celestia?" I asked. "I am supposed to give a magical show next week. If you take me back to Equestria, I... I mean, the human part of me, will lose my job! Can I stay here until after then?"
Celestia smiled sadly. "I am sorry, Princess Twilight, but your friends are quite frantic for your return. I cannot allow you to stay here any
longer, but I can do one thing for you." The Sun Princess closed her eyes and touched my chest. I felt a strange tug in my gut. I closed my eyes. When I opened them, I was back in my human form, but there was also the pony form of me standing next to me. The pony Twilight was looking at her... my hooves, probably wondering what we was doing in the human world.
"Princess!" Pony-Me cried. She raced forward to hug Celestia.
"I am sorry, Olivia, but I must take Twilight back home now," Celestia sighed, "but you will always have a part of her inside of you."
I looked at my right index finger. The fingernail was painted lavender, the exact same color as Pony-Me's coat.
"You are aware of the saying, 'I have more power in my one finger than you have in your whole body?'" Celestia asked Human-Me.
I shook my head. "No."
"Well, even so, that is true for you. If you point your index finger, you will be able to summon Twilight's magic."
"Awesome!" Human-Me cried. I tried it. I was able to levitate a book.
"I hope that 'awesome' is a good thing?" Celestia said.
"Yes!" I replied. "It's a very good thing!"
"Now, I am sorry to say that even thought I will be taking Twilight back to Ponyville, her memories will still be in your mind. Whatever happens to her in Equestria, you will remember it, too," Celestia said.
"Oh, that's totally fine!" I replied happily. "I've kinda grown onto Twi's friends."
"Oh." Celestia looked shocked. "Well then, goodbye, Olivia Unger." She and Pony Twilight turned to leave. The guards followed suit.
"Wait!" Pony Twilight said. "Can I say goodbye?"
Celestia stopped walking and nodded.
Twilight turned around and hugged me. I had to bend down to hug her back.
"Thanks for letting me use your body, even though it was kind of wierd," Twilight giggled. She looked at me. Tears were in her eyes. "I know we were 'one' for only two days, but I feel like I know all about you already. Take care of that Billy. He's a keeper!"
"I feel the same way, Princess Twilight," I smiled. "I mean, about knowing you. I think that we will always remember each other."
Twilight cringed playfully. "Come on! If you know me so well, then you know how much I hate my title!"
I grinned. "Oops! Sorry!"
"Come along, Princess Twilight," Celestia called.
I looked at the Pony Twilight. We both laughed.
"Bye," we said in unison.
As the two princesses left my house, I closed the door. I couldn't wait to see my friends' faces when I returned! I laughed. Bill would be so disappointed when he saw me in my human form! It was kind of weird: I shared the same feelings and heart as a pony princess. I felt like I had a non-identical-identical twin...
Just then, the phone rang. It was Bill.
"Hey, Twilight!" Bill cried through the phone. "I think I just saw you and Princess Celestia flying over my house! I'm trying to get your attention, but you don't seem to see me... Wait a minute... If you're answering your phone at your house, then how are you flying over my house right now?"
I laughed. "Well..."
