Ch. 2 Something changed

I was trotting into town, the area had an eerie dark tint to it. the air was cold and bit at my skin under my blue coat. The street was deserted and no sounds could be heard, other than the wind. It was very unnerving.

I looked behind me and had a suspicion that somepony was following me, but there was nopony to be found.

“Hello?” I called out, “Anypony there?”

I got no response and continued through the center of town. The market stands were all set up and empty; It was as if something catastrophic had happened, causing everypony to just drop what they were doing and run. The question was, what did happen and why did I not know about it? I was really spooked at the fact that everypony was just gone.

I trotted all the way to my studio to see if anything or anypony was there. When I got to the window, I looked inside to see that it was totally empty. The desks and cabinets with all the hard work we did was gone. I was heartbroken at the sight. All the years my friends and I had worked towards was all gone.

“What happened here?” I asked to the emptiness.

After a few minutes of just staring, I made my way to the park which was near the center of town. I stopped and looked around. The questions of what might have happened rolled around in my head as I continued forward into the park. I was about to sit at one of the benches, when a loud crack made me yelp in fear. I ran behind a tree and peered from behind it.

Something was in the park; I spotted it walking slowly towards the middle and then stopping and peering at the sky. The creature was wearing a cloak which concealed its identity from me.

I watched the figure for a moment, and then decided to make a plan to escape if things went south. Whatever it was, I did not want to take a chance. It might be the reason that everypony was gone, I thought.

I looked behind me and noticed a few buildings nearby, that I thought would make a good place to run or fly.

“Okay. Just one more glance and then I’ll make a run for it.” I told myself to calm down. I have a habit of talking to myself in stressful situations.

I glanced back and to my horror, the figure was right in front of me, staring into my soul. I yelled out in panic and ended up falling onto my back. The creature was still hard to make out with the cloak, but I could clearly see the red eyes it had in the hood concealing its face.

“Oh, look what I found,” it said in a scratchy distorted low tone, “A lost pony.”

I was shivering in fear, not knowing what would happen next. It just stood there as if lost in thought, occasionally looking at me, then at the sky. I glanced at the sky, noticing it was a more red tint now.

“Tell me, pony, what do you fear the most?” It asked, causing me to jump.

I was silent; too scared to say or do anything. It waited and then just smiled revealing large sharp teeth.

“Not going to tell me? Well, that’s ok, then. I have my ways.” The being then closed it’s eyes, and a red light began emitting from the top of its head. It was a Unicorn— or a demented version of one.

I wanted to move, but I could not get my body to cooperate. I struggled to make my legs
move but they did not budge. I then noticed that a red aura was around me, keeping me in place.

I started to panic, and my heart was racing. The magic that enveloped me was also preventing me from calling out for help.

The being began to laugh, “Oh, what fears you do have. Hate being contained and unable to move?”

The being was right; I did have a fear of not being able to move. It’s a fear most Pegasi have with the urge to fly. I was starting to freak out.

“Oh, and what's this?” The being said as the area became pitch black, “Afraid of the dark, too? Well, you are the most cute stallion.”

I was hyperventilating at this point— I hated the dark. I needed to see things, otherwise I freak out, which I was at this very moment.

“Well, this is most fun.” The being said, “I did notice one last thing that you fear. Something that is very important to you”

It began to laugh, and I was beyond terrified as to what it was about to do. I closed my eyes and waited, but after a few moments, the area lit up and I was freed. I was gasping and shivering. I then noticed a large blue being flying across the sky; I immediately noticed it was Luna, her moon cutie mark and long flowing blue mane made that so.

I watched as Luna flew down to me, landing gracefully and folding her wings. “Are you okay, young one?”

I took a breath, calming myself, and nodded.

I noticed Luna sigh with relief, “We are happy you are well. We noticed you were in quite a destress in your slumber, so we thought we could lend a hoof.”

“T..Thank you princess” I got up, and bowed shakily.

The princess smiled, “There is no need for that, child. We hope that with this nightmare banished, you can now sleep.”

A nightmare? That made sense with how crazy it was.

I stood back up and looked around “So, this is a dream?”

The princess smiled, “Yes, you are asleep right now,” The princess then turned and then sighed, “But, it would seem it is time for you to wake up, miss.”

I noticed the area starting to get bright and dissolve, but one thing hung in the air that made me confused.

“Wait, did you just call me miss?” I asked.

Luna looked at me as if my question was unexpected. She was about to reply when I watched her vanish and the bright light take over.

I shot up from bed, breathing hard. My body was still shaking from the encounter. I glanced at a clock that hung on the wall— It read 11AM. I sighed and plopped back down on my bed.
Why was that dream so real? Usually when I have a freaky dream, I’d just wake up. It’s as if something was holding me there.

A bit of my mane fell on my face. I blew it off to the side. It was a bit longer than I remembered; My mane was usually not down past my eyes, and being as long as it was right then and there, something seemed off. I got up and felt my mane was definitely longer— It came down on my face, and around my neck.

I was a little freaked out by this, but then a thought came to my head. Brittneigh and Mizuki liked to play jokes on me, so they must have slipped some mane growth potion or something in my drink the other day; Well If they think they can pull something like this off, they better be ready for some payback. Maybe I could get Night Flare in on this, and we could find something to turn their mane green or even better, make their magic make weird noises when used.

I giggled at the thought, but paused quickly after it sounded off. Way off. It was as if my voice— or laugh, in this case, was higher.

Wanting to test it further, I took in a breath, “Hello...” I paused, and put my hooves over my mouth. That was not my voice. It was very...feminine.

I threw off the covers and quickly stood up. My mane, once again, in my face. I brushed it to the side and quickly ran into the bathroom.

I did not look at the mirror immediately, fearing what I thought I would see. The words of Luna popped into my head.

“but it would seem it is time for you to wake up, miss.”

I did not want to even think that could have happened. It can’t be. Most unicorns are not even capable of doing that, so what did I have to worry about?

I then turned to the mirror.

What I saw made me freeze in place. What stared back at me through the reflection was a not me, but a mare. I mean, it can’t be me. I don’t have a rounded muzzle and long eyelashes. I am a stallion!

Not believing the reflection to be true, I closed one eye to test it. The reflection copied. Still not believing it, I raised a hoof up, and it copied again. I was beginning to panic.

“I am not a mare!” I yelled out in a high pitched squeal.

The sound of my new voice dawned on me, making the whole ordeal hit me like a train.

“This can’t be true...” I said quietly.

I turned and looked at my body. it was much more slender and curvy than what it was normally. I still had my normal cutiemark and my coat’s and wing’s colors were not changed.

It then hit me. Other things must have changed, too. I took a look down below, and then quickly looked away.

“Nononononononono!” I repeated, looking back at the mirror. I was breathing hard and getting close to a complete panic attack.

I quickly ran back into my room, not wanting to look in the mirror any longer. I flew onto my bed and covered my head with a pillow.

After a few minutes of breathing rapidly, I calmed down enough to start processing what had happened.

I sat up and brushed my mane out of my face again.

“This has got to be a joke” I say shakily. The feminine voice still made me cringe, “An illusion potion or something...yeah, that's gotta be it!”

I get out of my bed once again, and then proceed down to my kitchen. As I am about to round the corner, I notice I am a bit shorter— in fact, an entire head shorter than what I was before. How I did not notice that before, must have been because of the sheer shock of it all. Then again, it has to be a joke; I repeated the thought in my head. It made me calm down.

“They will pay for this prank.” I say in a more calm and determined tone. The voice now seemed a little funny to me. Might as well enjoy it until the potion wears off, I thought.

I notice it raining outside and then sighed, knowing I had to make a trek into town to check on my studio, like I do every day. I then thought that this would be the perfect time to put my payback plan into action. I’ll just head by the studio to see if Brittneigh is there, and then go get Night Flare to help me get payback.

I giggled, reaching for my raincoat that was colored orange. It was much bigger on me and hung a little loose, but I got my wings through the slits and ignored it. I headed for the door, and noticed my hat on the hat rack by the door. I quickly grabbed it and put it on. I then took a breath and proceeded out the door.

The rain was coming down hard, so I decided to make the journey to the studio by hoof. It took me about ten minutes to reach the center of town; I passed by a few ponies who gave me nods and one stallion gave me a wink.

I was a little put off by that— I don’t have a problem with stallions hitting on on other stallions, but i don’t swing that way.

I kept trotting and finally came to the entrance of my studio. I peaked in the window and noticed that Brittneigh was already there; It looked like she was drawing or writing something down.

I opened the door and walked in, taking the hood off my head.

I noticed Brittneigh look over at me, “Hello miss, can I help you?”

“You can drop the act, Brittneigh. I know you and Mizuki pranked me.” I said in a matter of fact tone.

“Um, I don’t know what you are talking about...” She replied, “I’ve never seen you before, also how do you know me or Mizuki?”

I facehoofed, “You know who I am. Seriously, you can drop the act now.”

Brittneigh had an annoyed look on her face, “Excuse me, miss, but I’m not playing around. I don’t know you, and if you are going to throw wild accusations at me, I am going to have to ask you to leave.” she said, sternly.

I was taken back by how she was offended. It did not make any sense, or did it?

“Okay, good act. I’ll tell you who I am. It’s me, Direct Shot” I say, waving my hooves in the air.

Brittneigh looked really annoyed, “Miss, I am going to have to ask you to leave. We have a busy schedule to attend to and if you are not here for anything other than disrupting me, then get out!”

I felt myself getting levitated and floated to the door.

“Wait! Brittneigh, it is me! How can you not see that!?” I yelled.

“All I see is an annoying mare!” She said as she opened the door with her magic.

I was about to reply when I was tossed out into the rain, and the door slammed shut.

I sat there with my hood still down, and my long mane getting wet. I was shocked as to what happened; Was she really playing this act out this far, or was she just trying to get back at me for something I did? Or was it because I actually did look different, like a....mare. The thought made me shiver. I repeated no in my head and that it was still a joke.

I sat there with my head now soaked, just shocked. I was then interrupted by a tap on my shoulder.

“Miss?” I heard a Mare’s voice say.

I turn and see a black colored mare with a red and blue mane and teal eyes. I immediately recognize her as Night Flare.

“Are you okay?” She asked concerned.

“Night Flare, you know who I am, right?” I asked, fearing her answer.

“Uh.. No, but you look like a friend of mine.” She answered.

“Direct Shot?” I asked.

“Yeah, that’s the one. Do you know him?”

I looked down and began to breathe fast again, “Do I look like a mare?”

Night Flare looked confused then giggled “Of course you do! Why, are you afraid you look like a stallion?”

Those words cut deep into me. Can it really be true? I glanced at the wet parts of my mane hanging down in my view. I brought a hoof to my mane and gave it a hard tug. the resulting pain made me yelp.

“Whoa! What are you doing?!” Night Flare asked in surprise.

I looked back at her and then frowned, “You probably won’t believe me, but I am Direct Shot.”

Night Flare stood there a moment with a puzzled look on her face, “Prove it.”

I was shocked by the response. Was she giving me a chance, or just playing along? I thought for a moment, and then knew an answer that hopefully would work.

“Um, years ago when I was still in my studies, I went to a film convention in Manehatten,” I replied, “I accidently bumped into you, causing you to knock over a vendors table with a really expensive camera on it.”

Night Flare’s eyes went wide, “You had to pay for that. It was...”

I cut her off, “..4,000 bits,” noticing I cut her off, I look to the side, “Sorry.”

“WHAT THE HAY HAPPENED TO YOU?!” I hear Night Flare yell.

I turn back and recap the things that had happened, leading up to where we were at.
“Well, shit...um, let’s get you inside. I’ll talk to Britt.” Night Flare stated, while entering the Studio. “Just, um.. wait here.”

I nod and sit under the small roof the outside part of the studio provided. After a few minutes, the door opens. Brittneigh and Night Flare walk out and look over at me.

“You’re kidding.” I hear Brittneigh say.

“Yeah...” I say and look the other way.

“Well, come on in and warm up. Sorry about throwing you out!” she laughs nervously.

I stand up and follow them in.

We all sit down in what we call the lounge area that had comfy couches. The three of us sit and don’t say anything. The awkward silence making it hard not to think about what happened to me.

“Well this is awkward..” Night Flare stated.

“You’re telling me...” I reply.

“Should we, I don’t know.. figure out how to get her...I mean, him, cured?”

“I’d like that...” I say quietly.

“Well, maybe the Elements of Harmony know something that can help!” Says Brittneigh.

“Last I heard, Twilight was out of town, and she’s like the nerdiest of the nerds on magic.” Night Flare chuckles.

“Well, I’d like something done soon.” I say, still not fully taking it well.

“Okay, how about this, when the weather clears up, we can go to the library. Maybe we can find something on a gender spell!” Says Night Flare.

“But who will perform it if we do find something?” I ask.

“Well, I could give it a go— but I think Twilight should do it to be safe.” Says Brittneigh.

I sigh and nod, “How long until she gets back?”

“About a week.” Night Flare replies.
“A WEEK!?” I yell in shock, “I have to be a mare for a week!?” I start to breathe heavily.

“Whoa, calm down there!” Says Brittneigh. “Are you saying being a mare is bad? I mean, now you can know our secrets!” She laughs a little, trying to calm the mood.

It did not help. I only continued to get more worked up until I felt dizzy, and fell over off the couch with a thud.

“Great...now I have to drag her flank off the floor,” was the last thing I heard before blacking out.

Author's Note

Here is chapter two. A little longer than the first. I had a lot of fun writing this one. Again constructive criticism is always welcome.

Thank you Rainbrit Dash for editing this chapter.
https://www.fimfiction.net/user/Rainbrit+Dash