A Novel Match

Chapters

A Bespelled Book
The Mare inside the Story (Mostly unedited)
The Grande Finale
Epilogue Squared

A Bespelled Book

“Darling is that really necessary?” Rarity asked as she watched Twilight shut her copy of ‘Blossoming Dream’ into a glass case, which she quickly locked.

“Yes it’s necessary, in fact I can’t believe you talked me into this!” Twilight exclaimed as she tested to make sure no magic could leak out of the container. “You didn’t tell me you wanted the spell put on this book. I knew I should have checked the title before casting the spell!”

“Oh what about it deary?” Rarity asked walking up besides Twilight as she gazed at the book longingly. “We know for a fact the spell works, we all got sucked into that comic remember? Besides, this is just a harmless tale of romance, not a comic filled with a mare having a bad hair day.”

“This is hardly just some tale of romance Rarity! Besides, that was a comic. I’m not sure if this will work the same with a book, plus as I stated earlier, the particular story you chose has me worried, very worried.” Satisfied the case was properly sealed, Twilight set it down on Rarity’s desk. The light from a nearby window illuminating it rather nicely. Making the white unicorns desire to crack it open and read it all the more pressing.

“What do you mean?.” Rarity asked a bit indignantly. “It’s a lovely story! A beautiful mare longing for love, meets a timid stallion that she helps out of his shell and falls in love with! I know it’s a bit old fashioned, but otherwise it’s a harmless and fun little romantic romp!”

“Oh there’s nothing wrong with that part.” Twilight said with a sigh. It’s what the story includes. You have read the book haven’t you?”

“Of course I’ve read the book! They fall in love and… oh fine, so it’s a bit more adult then most. It’s nothing I can’t handle!”

“Rarity it’s not just a bit adult. There is a good section describing-”

“Enough!” Rarity cried, her blush finally breaking through. “Honestly Twilight if you can’t handle such material then just disenchant it right now if It’ll make you happy!”

“Gah! That’s not why I’m upset!” Twilight fumed, a blush creeping up on her face as well. Rarity for her part still looked confused.

“Darling I really don’t know what you’re getting at-”

“The epilogue!” Twilight shouted.

“Epilogue?” Rarity repeated. “What about-” Her eyes suddenly widened as she put a hoof to her chest.

“O-Oh my. You don’t suppose…”

“I don’t know, and I’m not letting you try it before I find out. I can’t just disenchant it either! I barely figured out how to cast the spell at all! If I had known you would pick such a story to start with I would have studied more! So until I can safely test that it’s okay for you to proceed, you are not to open this book understood?”

“Y-Yes, well in light of that little revelation, I’m more then willing to wait until after your research.”

“Glad to hear it!” Twilight beamed at her friend. She knew she could count on her to be responsible!

“But deary, don’t you have to read the trigger phrase to be sucked in? Why go through all the trouble of sealing it like this?”

“Because it doesn’t work by a trigger phrase. I ended up constructing it to work upon opening instead, and since you rushed me. I’m not sure what will happen once you’re in!”

“Duly noted.” Rarity sighed, “I suppose I did get a bit too eager.”

She gave the case one last look, gently running her hoof down it’s case.

“You uh… won’t take too long to get everything in order right darling?” She asked, giving Twilight a pleading look. “After all, we were too busy in the Crystal Empire for me to really enjoy Hearts and Hooves day...”

Twilight sighed, “Let’s go take care of it now.” Rarity gave a little squeal before trotting out of the room, her lavender friend right behind her while shaking her head at it all.

The book temporarily forgotten, it sat there undisturbed next to the window. Normally it would have remained there until it’s owner came back to it, but in their departure, Twilight had forgotten to close the door. Leaving it open for a certain white fuzzball to explore.

Looking bored, Opal pranced up to the desk, deciding she wanted to perch herself in the warm sun. Some tacky little book in a glass case would just have to make room for her. Without any concern for an item that isn’t hers, she batted the thing aside, sending it falling out the unlatched window.

Opal gave the slightest of concerned looks when she heard it shatter upon the ground a good story below. If Rarity found her in here by the window with the book outside like that, she’d figure out what happened. Knocking it off the table was one thing, but breaking it was sure to lead to unpleasantness.

Of course Rarity wasn’t home and she’d easily be able to tell when she returned. That would give Opal plenty of time to make herself scarce, leaving the means of the book falling mostly a mystery, or at the very least not immediately connected to her. Smiling at the fact she was safe, she laid down for her afternoon nap.

* * *

“So didn't do anything for Hearts and Hooves day either?” Caramel asked his much larger red companion. Said pony, the stallion Big Mac, shook his head.

“Eeenope. You?”

The yellow stallion shook his head right back. “No, I haven’t been with a mare since I broke up with Sassaflash.” He tried to hold back the sigh. It wasn’t something he liked to talk about, being it hadn’t been that long since it happened. While they got along okay, they just couldn’t connect on a deeper level. Eventually they just went their separate ways.

“No...crushes?” Big Mac asked as he walked with his work buddy toward Sugar Cube Corner. In truth he felt bad for his friend, knowing that the loss of his girlfriend had hit him harder then he was letting on. He couldn’t do much to fend off the loneliness, but a few milkshakes and some funny stories should help. At the very least he figured it better than nothing. As a bonus, it’d help him forget his own problems as well.

“N-No not really.” Caramel answered back slowly. A lie, one he feared Big Mac could easily see through. In truth he had always had a crush on Big Mac’s sister Applejack, but not only could he not say that to him, but he had to face facts. He and AJ got along well enough, but she didn’t seem to have much interest in him past ‘friends.’ Much to his disappointment.

“How about you?”

Big Mac shook his head. “Eeenope.”

“Wait really?” Caramel asked with a rather shocked tone, “but you’re-”

“STOP!” Big Mac yelled pulling him back with a hoof. Startled, Caramel wondered if he had cross some line he shouldn’t. Why would that be taboo? Big Mac was probably the most popular stallion in town. How could he not have had a date for Hearts and Hooves day?

“I-I’m sorry I-” He began, but Big Mac cut him off with a wave of his hoof.

“Mighty dangerous if ya ask me.”

For a moment Caramel was even more confused till he glanced in the direction Big Mac had been waving at. Strewn all about the ground was glass. Various bits of trash littered amongst it. He could have sliced his hooves open on that!

“Holy, what happened here?” The shards covered most of the small gap that could almost be considered an alley way, though in their small town ‘alley way’ was a loose definition by default, and they most certainly weren’t usually littered with trash like this. Maybe a mail pegasus accidently dropped something made of glass?

“Dunno…” Big Mac said reaching his neck into the midst of it. Being extremely careful, he picked something up by its edge and gently shook it to remove any glass pieces clinging to it. Upon closer inspection, what Caramel had thought to be random garbage was actually a fully intact book! What was it doing here?

“Here.” Mac said through his teeth as he held the book out to him. Caramel took it so he could place it on a nearby crate to get a better look at it. Could it have been in the glass somehow? What was the book called? The moment his eyes washed over the title he groaned. Why’d it have to be this book?

“Hmm?” Came Big Mac’s inquiry.

“Blossoming Dream,” Caramel replied with a sigh, “it’s a um “trashy” romance book. My sister had a copy and I uh, heard her reading it a few times. It’s not the worst thing ever written, but certainly not something we can leave lying about out here.” One of Mac’s eyebrows raised.

“Why’s that??”

“It’s um… descriptive in parts.”

“You’ve read it?”

No no!” Caramel violently shook his head, his face paling. “I-I’ve just heard her reading it enough times!”

“Huh… “ Big Mac said casually. “Wonder who it belongs to?” If Big Mac suspected anything about his attitude he wasn’t letting on. Hopefully he could keep it that way.

“Good question. Maybe they wrote their name inside the cover?” Caramel flipped the book open and scanned the inside of the flap. Before he could get any sense of something written there he was surprised by the sudden glow that began to emit from the pages.

“What the-” He began before the world suddenly lurched from beneath his hooves. Was he floating? How? Why? Wait! Didn’t his friend Spike mention something like this with a comic? But you had to read an incantation in the book for that didn’t you?

“B-big Mac RUN!” He screamed as he felt himself being drawn toward the bright light in the book. He had a sudden sensation of falling as the light engulfed him. Then everything went dark, his consciousness lost.

* * *

“Ugh…” Caramel sat up holding his head. What was that? Was that how it felt to be sucked into the comic? He really wished he had spoken to Spike at greater lengths about that now. Wait, spoken at greater lengths? Since when did he phrase his thoughts like that? Where was he anyway?

To his right were a row of doors, to his left a row of windows. What’s more the ground beneath his hooves was rumbling ever so slightly, indicating this place was in motion. Confirming his suspicions by glancing to his left, he was greeted with moving snow covered hills and mountains. Obviously he was on a train, and if he had to gander it was likely the same train the characters rode at the beginning of the book.

“I-I’m in the book…” An obvious statement, but he couldn’t help himself. What else do you say in such a situation? Also how was he being so calm and collected about all this? Another inquiry: Why was he thinking in such terms? He liked to think he wasn’t a stupid pony though admittedly he could be forgetful, if his incidents with grass seeds were any indication, he knew he wasn’t the most educated stallion either. So why was he thinking in a manner he’d imagine the Princess Twilight Sparkle would?

Hmm, thinking about it now, didn’t Spike mention that he and his friends were changed by the comic when they entered? Most had gotten the super powers that had belonged to the team of heroes in that story. Did that mean he had been changed in a similar way? Well from what he recalled the protagonist of this book was fresh out of some acadamy. Perhaps that was the answer? It seemed the most likely solution. He was just glad it didn’t seem to affect how he felt or acted.

Well no harm done then. He’d simply think with more words that’s all. Would he talk that way too? Heh, imagine of Big Mac had ended up like this. Wait, speaking of which,what happened to Big Mac? A quick survey of the hall showed that he was alone. Perhaps his warning had been enough to save him from the same fate? Or perhaps Big Mac had simply been deposited into one of these adjacent rooms?

Trying the handle he found it was locked. So was the next one down the line and the door to the next cart on the train. Knocking and calling Big Mac’s name didn’t bear any fruit either. Nopony was answering at all. Were they empty, or simply blocked off because the story didn’t involve them? Shivering he tightened his scarf, only now realizing he even had one on. That’s right, the main character was wearing just a scarf in this cold weather at the start. He could barely remember it, having been years since-

Wincing he shook his head. No, that wasn’t important. He had to find a way to get warm, and that meant…

A healthy blush crept upon his cheeks as his eyes traveled down to stare at the very last door of the cart. Was it just his imagination or did it seem brighter than the rest? Possibly as it was the one room that actually meant anything to the story. The poor stallion Bashful Stride, having purchased the cheapest ticket he could afford, wasn’t allotted a room but it was so cold he began to randomly try the doors anyway, ever hopeful one was left unlocked. He’d deal with any angry conductors later.

Then he met… her. Radiant Dawn, a beautiful unicorn mare whose coat was as white as the snow zipping past the windows. He had thought she was gorgeous just from the book's description. Getting to see her in the flesh would be another thing entirely.

“Well… the story won’t progress anyway till I do right?” Slowly he began to walk down the hall toward the one door he knew would open. Could he really do this? Well the alternative was to be trapped forever in this book if his knowledge of this was correct. Putting it that way he had no choice. He also didn’t want to test if he could actually freeze or starve out in this hallway.

Now he just had to keep his cool. Easier thought than done. Mares weren’t his strong point. He wasn’t Big Mac who had over half the female population stealing glances at him as they went by. He bet Mac wouldn’t have had a problem with any of this. He’d probably already be out of the book by now.

Standing outside the door he took a deep breath. It was now or never and he didn’t have time to waste with this. Big Mac could be going nuts wondering where he was. Could he get trapped in the book as well if he opened it? What if that happened to every pony that tried to read it? If not for his own sake of getting out, he had to hurry this up to prevent further victims! Pulling open the door, he stepped inside.

“I beg your pardon ma’am but I…” He had been trying to sprout some line that he felt would fit the narrative when the eyes of the room’s occupant met his own. As he suspected it was a single mare, lying upon a fold out bed while covering most of her body in the blue and purple quilt she had brought with her from home, as stated by the story.

While she was just as beautiful as he always imagined something wasn’t right. Her coat was a bright red instead of white, and her mane wasn’t a brilliant pink, but instead a faded yet inviting yellow, draped in front of her with a rather alluring flair. Her face was covered in white freckles that only made her look that much cuter in his mind. However we knew for a fact she wasn’t suppose to have those. The story described her face as “clear and perfect”.

“C-Caramel?” She whispered inching slightly closer to him, causing him to snap out of his stupor. Her expression was that of somepony very frightened and confused. Had she somehow been sucked into the book as well? Is that why she looked nothing like how Radiant Dawn was suppose to look?

“W-what? You know me!?” He blurted out taking a step back. Her eyes lit up the moment he said that.

“It is you! Oh thank Celestia!” She cried rushing forward to give him a big hug. His body tensed up to almost stone statue proportions the moment she touched him. S-she was beautiful and she was hugging him! He hadn’t been this close to a mare since the break up. Who even was this? There was no way he’d forget meeting a mare with her looks! How in Equestria did she know who he was?

“S-sorry! Sorry!” The mystery mare said backing off, though she kept a big smile on her face. “It’s just so nice to see you! When you opened the book there was a big flash, and the world began to spin! I heard you yell but, next thing I knew I was… well l-like you see a-and the door wouldn’t open, and it was just so strange to look l-like this and I didn’t know what to do-”

“Whoa! Whoa!” Caramel said, placing a hoof on her shoulder. “You saw me open the book? So you’re from the real world?” The mare nodded vigorously.

“Yes! Yes! I got sucked in too! I was right behind you after all!”

Caramel blinked at that. Right behind him? That was impossible! They were in the equivalent of an alleyway and the only pony behind him was…

No… no that couldn’t be right. Despite the impossibility of it, his eyes wandered down to the mare’s flank, specifically her cutie mark which was no longer hidden under the covers. A large green apple cut in half met his eyes. A very familiar mark indeed.

“B-big Mac!?” He screamed at the mare in dumbstruck awe. The mare blushed in response.

“E-eeyup.”

The Mare inside the Story (Mostly unedited)

Author's Note

I'll switch this to the bottom of the page later.

EDIT as of 3/13/20 (Still haven't really edited this chapter. If you see anything off please let me know. I'm focused on updating other stories at the moment.)

So I thought I'd have another hour before work. Nope getting called in early. Which means I wasn't able to sit down and properly edit this chapter like I wanted. However at the same time I REALLY don't want to publish this today, and leave it as only the first chapter. There just isn't enough story there.

Sadly as I will not get home till late tonight, there is no way I can publish this any other time. So here we go.

At the very least, hopefully it's interesting enough for those of you reading it. ^^;

Sorry I couldn't do better. :/

The Mare inside the Story (Mostly unedited)

Big Mac had just enough time to hear Caramel scream for him to run, when the ground drifted away from him. Before he could get a grasp of what was happening, he felt himself being pulled toward the book, looking up just in time to see it swallow Caramel. Ironically he tried to run his legs flailing uselessly in the air before there was a bright flash and everything went dark.

The steady vibrations of ground below slowly shook him awake. What was going on? How was the ground moving? Oh he was in a train cart. That was odd, how did he end up there? Last thing he remembered, he was talking with Caramel when-

The book! Jolting his head up, he immediately realized something was off, well besides surroundings changing. Looking around there was nothing wrong with the room he was in itself. It appeared to be your standard private room, except...

His head turned toward the window where he got a nice view of some rolling hills covered in snow. Okay now that certainly shouldn’t be right. It was the middle of summer! Unless all the pegasus ponies had decided to prank this part of Equestria, he’d say he was in the same situation his sister once told him about. He vaguely remembered her tale about getting stuck in a comic book thanks to Spike. However, that wasn’t really what was he found off. Instead it was the fact he was getting a clear view of what was outside, the top of the window being a good foot or so above him.

Big Mac was a large pony. Some would say that he grew into his name nicely. In time he had gotten use to towering over most others,(The Princesses were always an exception) and having to duck to get into buildings. One of the things that was consistent with that size was that while on any train, his head was usually level with the top of the window, causing him to dip down a bit to see outside.

Here he was standing straight up and his height didn’t come anywhere close to doing that. What’s more, he just realized his prized yolk, which he had gotten use to wearing wherever he went, was most certainly not on his neck at the moment. In fact the only thing he seemed to have with him was a purple and blue quilt, neatly folded and resting upon his back.

Wait… was that his flank? His eyes traveled from the quilt to his rear, alarm bells beginning to ring in his head. His tail was the right color, but it looked… softer? There seemed to be less hair and more shine to it somehow. He waved it back and forth a bit shivering at the odd sensation it gave him. Something was very different, but he couldn’t put a hoof on it just yet.

The color of his coat was still the same, same cutie mark too. Except it seemed smaller? How was that even possible? Looking down, even his hooves were different. Slimmer somehow. What was it his sister had told him about being stuck in that comic book? That she had been changed slightly by the story to have the superpowers of one of the characters? So what, did that mean he had been changed by the book to fit a role? What role? That of a teenager? It’d certainly explain his new size. Had this happened to Caramel?

Wait Caramel! He got sucked in before he did! That meant he should be around here somewhere! Running toward the door, he pulled down on the handle, only to find he couldn’t move it. Again he tried to pull it down, but it wouldn't even budge. It wasn’t even like it was jiggling as a normal handle would, but more like it had been carved out of stone into the wall!

“What the hay?” He exclaimed before shutting his mouth. That… that wasn’t his voice. That didn’t sound anywhere near to what his voice should sound like. Being trapped in this room momentarily forgotten he placed a hoof upon his throat, giving it a little rub. It felt smoother than it was suppose to. Something was missing. Some many things seemed to be missing or off.

“W-what’s going on here?” He asked walking back toward the window. What had the story done to him? He stared out at the hills as they began to be littered with jagged rocks, inching closer to the train as it transitioned from small grassy lumps to a mighty mountain range. As this progressed they passed by a rather large one which caused the light from outside to dim, allowing him a nice view of his reflection.

A very pretty and smaller mare stared back at him.

“EEP!” She squeaked, taking a step backward. The size difference, the feeling of something off, something missing. How much slimmer she looked? How had she not realized this sooner!

“W-why am I a mare? What’s going on!? Caramel! CARAMEL!” She screamed trying the door again. It still wouldn’t budge for her. Had she lost strength due to becoming female? She flexed her muscles, no that didn’t seem to be it. Besides, his sister was just as strong as he was, if not stronger. Being a female shouldn’t affect that at all. Especially not for an apple, which she clearly still was due to her cutie mark remaining the same.

Her whole body began to shiver. What was she suppose to do? She was trapped in this room in a body she wasn’t use to. Could she get out? Maybe breaking the window? That seemed rather risky and jumping from such a fast moving train couldn’t be a good idea. She’d keep it in mind, but hopefully it wouldn’t come to that. Shaking her head she tried to calm herself down. She had to stop shivering, it wasn’t helping. Wait, that wasn’t just her nerves. It was freezing in here!

Well she didn’t know why she had it, but thank Celestia for this quilt. Wrapping it around her, she held it close trying to warm up, a vague memory of Applejack complaining about the cold on some mornings when they went to work bucking apple trees. Of course, mares had a thinner coat than stallions, so the cold got to them more. Guess she inherited that with her new body. Lucky her.

“Okay Big Mac, what do I do now?” She asked herself out loud. Trying hard to ignore the feel of the fabric against her now more sensitive flank, she took another look at the room. There wasn’t much to it. Just a seat in the wall and a compartment for items on the other side of it. A quick search of that showed it was empty. Great, well no help there. Guess she could just lay on the seat for now. Hang on, was that a handle? Pulling it with her mouth, the seat began to shift in form. It had a bed in it! Perfect! That’d be much more comfortable than the pitiful padding of the bench.

As she pulled it all the way out, it clicked in place, being perfectly made up with pillows and a blanket all in place. Curious she trotted over and lifted a pillow. Nope it wasn’t glued down or anything, how had they managed to get it to stay in place when folded up into the wall?

“Well it is a book you’re in Big Macintosh,” she sighed to herself, “I reckon not everything will be all real life a like.” It wasn’t that important anyway, what was important was if the bed provided better warmth then the floor. Crawling into it’s center, she let herself sink into the fluffy mattress. Wow! Was this what it felt like to sleep on a cloud like Rainbow was always doing? No wonder that mare liked to sleep.

“Mmmm, that’s nice.” She cooed to herself before a stray thought struck her. She was talking to herself wasn’t she? Why was she doing that? She never really spoke out loud anymore.

“Hmm, could this be one of those things that changed with me?” It certainly seemed possible. After all the last time she had spoken without restraint like this was when she was pretending to be… Orchard Blossom. She shook her head at the memory. It brought back… bad feelings.

“D-damn it what’s wrong with me?” She muttered while trying to bundle the quilt around her still shivering body. Why did she have to be here like this? Why was she trapped in this room? Why was she feeling so vulnerable? She’d lived around mares all her life, they weren’t like this! Why couldn’t Caramel be here with her for support!?

“I beg your pardon ma’am but I…” She heard somepony say as the immovable door slid open without a hitch. Shocked, she looked up to see the very stallion she was just thinking about walking into the room, a yellow scarf wrapped around his neck. She sat there regarding him for a few seconds, not believing her eyes when finally:

“C-Caramel!?” She nearly whispered as her body inched toward him. Could it really be? Oh please tell me it’s not some trick of the book!

“W-what? You know me?” He replied, a look of concern and confusion passing over his face. That was certainly how Caramel would act if in such a situation! It must be him!

“It is you! Oh thank Celestia!” She shouted with joy, lunging forward to give him a big hug. She wasn’t alone in here! Her best friend had gotten stuck here as well! Hopefully he knew what they should do to get out, but even so, it was just nice to have someone she knew with her.

A few moments later she realized what she was doing and quickly backed off giving an apology. She vaguely noticed him blushing as she began to prattle off about how she had ended up here, speaking far more than she had in the last month. Why was he blushing though? Had he seen something embarrassing in the hall? No, it had to be something else… She knew she should know this. So lost was she with this thought that she nearly missed Caramel asking her about being from the real world.

“Yes! Yes! I got sucked in too! I was right behind you after all!” She could almost see the gears turning in his head.

“B-Big Mac?” He screamed at her while taking a step back.

“Eeyup.” She replied, feeling a blush on her cheeks. It was embarrassing enough to be in front of her friend in such a form, but something about his change in expression at her, kinda bugged her. It wasn’t a bad expression of course, but it was different than the one he had held just a few seconds ago. It made her feel almost… disappointed? What was going on with her today?

“And why can’t I stop thinking of myself as a she?” She asked out loud with annoyance. She wasn’t suppose to be a mare! Nothing about this situation was right!

“W-what did you say?” Caramel asked with concern again as he stepped closer to her. So much that he walked into the room, letting the door slide closed behind him.

“No wait!” She cried rushing up to the door and pulling with all her might at the handle. Once more it felt like trying to rip a part of a mountain off its stony surface. It wasn’t budging. They were both trapped in here now.

“No no no!” She cried pounding at the door. “Let me out! You stupid story! Why am I stuck in here!? Why am I supposed to do!? Why am I a mare!?” She continued to scream at the door before feeling Caramel’s hoof on her back.

“B-Big Mac? T-that’s really you?” His voice was shaking, and not just from the cold. He was concerned for her. Frightened about her well being. For some reason that realization filled her with a strange warmth.

“Y-Yeah it’s me.” She replied slumping to the ground. “I-Caramel what’s going on? Why is any of this happening? I don’t understand! I-I mean I know we’re in the book but...”

“Y-Yeah, the book…” Caramel echoed feeling another shiver run up his spine. He still couldn't believe this gorgeous mare before him was suppose to be his friend Big Macintosh. Especially with the height difference. She was still big for a mare, but only slightly larger than Applejack. The fact she was so talkative was throwing him off as well, yet given how the spell likely worked, he didn’t doubt her story. There was no reason it’d make her up. No it seemed that for whatever reason, the book had decided on Big Mac playing the role of Radiant Dream, his… Okay definitely not thinking about that! Big Mac was freaked out enough. However, that presented a… problem.

“Your um, sister talked about when she got sucked into that comic book right?”

Slowly Big Mac looked at him and nodded. Geez, she looked cute. Damn it! He couldn’t think about that!

“She said her and her friends had to defeat the bad guy before they could leave the comic. Um, that mean we have to beat up some villain to leave?”

“P-Probably not…” Caramel said trying to ignore how cold it was getting. “You see, I think the idea is that you have to follow the story to it’s um, conclusion before it lets you out.”

“But, we’re in a romance novel…”

“Y-Yeah…”

“O-Oh…” Big Mac said softly. “So um… what we have to k-kiss or something?”

“M-Maybe? That’s not exactly how the story goes.”

“That’s right you said your sister read this right? That mean you know how it goes?” She began to shiver a lot more noticeably. “O-Or why it’s so cold? Doesn’t this train have heat!?”

“Y-Yeah, um well you see…” Oh how was he suppose to say this? “The story starts with them meeting on a cold train ride to Canterlot and um… to stay warm she actually well… that is…”

“... they cuddled under the blanket didn’t they?”

Caramel nodded. “Eeyup.”

“...fine.”

Caramel almost fell over. “W-what?”

“I said fine.” Big Mac replied with a huff, getting back on the bed. She tried to focus on the mattress itself as she laid there. “L-Look, we’d have probably done this anyway in the real world. S-so let’s just do it. I’m freezing!”

He didn't’ want to admit it but part of Caramel really liked the idea of being pressed up against this cute mare, despite knowing she was his friend Big Mac not one hour ago. She just looked and acted so differently then that large quiet stallion he’d come to know. He could almost imagine her standing there next to Applejack and Applebloom. Not looking one bit out of place.

“C-Caramel just get up here already!” She cried, shivering like crazy. Was she really that cold? It was certainly a lot chillier in here then it should, but it wasn’t that bad was it? Did… did she really just want him next to her?

“Big Mac are you okay?”

“No I’m not okay! I’m far from okay!” Her gaze could have melted a hole through stone. “I’m stuck in a book as a mare, who’s freezing and the stallion who is suppose to be helping me stay warm, is too afraid of mares to even bother!”

“Hey! I’m not afraid of mares!”

“Oh? Then why can’t you muster up the courage to ask my sister out already?”

Caramel blinked the small bit of anger he had felt rising wash away. “Y-You knew I liked her?”

Big Mac rolled her eyes. “Of course I knew! You’re one of my best friends! You know I would have supported it right? You don’t really think I distrust you of all ponies?”

“B-but I’m always messing up. I lose the grass seeds almost every winter wrap up and-”

“Stop it!” She shouted, her voice like iron. Caramel was so stunned by this that whatever he had to say simply vanished.

“You need to stop putting yourself down Caramel. Yes you’ve lost the grass seeds a few times, yes you tripped and broke the gate to the pig stye that one time. So what? I bucked a tree so hard once, that I knocked it and the one next to it out of the ground! Do you have any idea how mad Granny was at me?”

“Er… pretty mad?”

“You’re darn right she was mad! But you know what? She forgave me, I tried again and I got it right…. Just like you always do…”

“M-Me?” Caramel was still pretty stunned that this mare who was suppose to be Big Mac was speaking to him like this. It wasn’t like he hadn’t heard Big Mac Speak at length before, but never usually for this long and often. “What am I doing again?”

“You keep trying Caramel. You helped fix the gate, y-you keep coming back to help out on the farm when I ask, even though you tell me you’re afraid to mess up again. Y-You were looking for a new marefriend even after Sassaflash. I envy you.”

“Wait, you envy me!?” Caramel exclaimed dumbfounded. “The most sought after stallion in all of Ponyville envies me?”

“Yes!” Big Mac replied back indignantly. “So what?”

“So what? So what!?” Caramel repeated in awe. “So you can literally walk up to any single mare in town and get a date just by asking. I’m pretty sure even Rarity would say yes, and she’s got stallions from Canterlot and beyond vying for her attention! You’ve been with more mares then I could ever possibly hope to have! I’m the one who’s envious!”

“Trust me if I could give em to you I would of. Now will you please get in bed with me!? Or do you not want to spend some time with a pretty mare?”

“You’re only a mare because of the book!” Caramel countered, though despite the protest, he jumped up on the bed, laying about a foot from her.

“Darn it all Caramel, that’s too far!” She huffed, shuffling up against him. The moment their bodies pressed together, she felt a strange tingle run through her. That wasn’t what she thought it was right?

Caramel wasn’t fairing much better, while her body had been almost like ice when she first pressed against him, it was quickly heating up. ‘She wasn’t kidding about being cold. Poor thing really must have been freezing.’

“T-that’s better.” She mumbled, throwing the quilt around them. Caramel was still resisting being close to her, but she supposed that was understandable. Still, why did this make her so upset? That hadn’t even really been an argument or anything, so why did she feel so irritated?

“B-Big Mac?”

“Yeah?”

“What do you mean you’d give them to me if you could?” He turned to face her, trying his best to see her as his friend and not the beautiful mare she currently was. “Don’t you like being popular with the ladies?”

“Honestly Sugercube? Not at all.”

“Really? But you can have your pick of any mare at all!”

Big Mac sighed. “It ain’t as fun as you think it is Mel. Yeah I can probably score a date with any mare I meet, but that’s sort of the problem.”

“I don’t understand.”

Again she sighed. “Look Caramel, when mares want you like that, a lot of them just see me as this big strong stallion. The fact that I’m quiet, well usually, doesn’t help matters. They think I’m this perfect gentlecolt who will take them on the greatest night out ever and then, well I’m certain the rumor about my package gives them a few ideas about how the night will end.”

“I-I don’t really see how that’s so bad.” Caramel said slowly, trying to piece it together. “I mean I get the part about high expectations. You’ve probably had more than a few mares realize that you can’t read their mind and give them the perfect date, but I’d feel with the mares around our town, you’d get more who’d be understanding. I mean you went out with Cheerilee didn’t you? I’m sure she treated you with the proper respect.”

“Oh she did. To her credit it was one of the more fun dates I’ve been on.”

“I feel there should be a ‘but’ in there.”

She nodded. “Yeah there is.”

They sat there for a few minutes in silence before he couldn’t take it anymore.

“And that is?”

“I...I don’t know if I can say…”

“I...see.” That only made him want to know more. However seeing her like this. Even if she hadn’t been a mare, and instead was in her real body he couldn’t force it. This was something big. Something he’d have to let her share only if she wanted it. Kinda funny that even with Big Mac as a mare, he was still able to tell what she was thinking most of the time.

“Very well then.” He said, catching her off guard. “If you don’t feel like talking about it that’s fine. Instead we can focus on getting out of here.”

“I… thank you Mel for understanding.” Without thinking about it she leaned over to nuzzle his neck. It felt so nice, and he was so warm and cute.

Her head shot up straight a mere millisecond later. W-what had she just thought? Had that been the book messing with her mind or had… did she really…

“B-Big Mac?” Caramel asked, looking just as flustered. “Are you sure you’re okay? I mean besides the obvious.”

“Y-Yeah um… so about getting out of here. Did you um… hear how it went from you sister?”

Caramel froze. Damn it, there was no way he was going to be able to keep this up. He was going to have to come clean.

“Well uh, actually I never heard my sister read this outloud. She did buy the book but I uh, ended up with it.”

Big Mac cocked her head. “What do you mean?”

“I… I read it okay. I was curious and I read the book and um… I really liked it.”

“Is that all?” She said with a slight giggle. “What’s wrong with that? As Twilight would say, a book is a book. If you enjoy it, then it’s serving it’s purpose. Who cares what age or gender it was intended for?”

“T-that’s just the thing… if it was a normal romance novel I might not be so… embarrassed.”

Those warning bells began to sound in her head again. “What do you mean it’s not a ‘normal’ romance book?”

“What I mean,” Caramel began wishing to Celestia that he wasn’t stuck here in this book, cuddled for warmth against a sexy mare who just happened to be his best male friend in real life. “Is that the book isn’t technically classified in the romance genre.”

Unable to meet her eyes he looked away, staring blankly at the passing scenery.

“It’s Erotica.”

Big Mac really wished she didn’t feel her body heat up at the sound of those words.

“O-oh…”

The Grande Finale

“L-look I’m sure there’s a code phrase or something to let us out without having to complete the story.” Caramel said quickly, trying desperately not to think about that act given his current situation and company.

“Don’t think so.” Big Mac replied quietly. “Otherwise AJ wouldn’t have had to beat that bad gal in the comic…”

“W-well maybe they’ll discover us missing? Somepony else is sure to find the book.”

“Y-Yeah maybe…” Big Mac nodded, her mind and heart buzzing. She knew Caramel believed that about as much as she did. According to his sister, the time they spent in the comic book could have been hours, when mere minutes passed in the real world. Chances are, even if somepony did find the book and didn’t get sucked in like they did, it could take the equivalent of weeks in story book time. They would die of dehydration or starvation before that happened, or was that even possible? Did they even need to eat while in here? Surely the creators of the spell would think of things like that right? They weren’t in any real danger. Were they?

“Caramel?”

“Y-Yeah?”

“What exactly happens in this story? Maybe… maybe we can find a way out if we know how it ends? Maybe just skip to that part?”

“R-right! Good idea!” Caramel said perking up. With luck they could find a way around that. “It’s not a long book actually, being uh, what it is. They meet on this train, cuddle for warmth and start talking. You get a few flashbacks about their past and at some point they just start…. Yeah.”

“I-I see.” Why did that make her feel so warm? “So… we’re already cuddled together. What else?”

Despite the obvious, there was one other thing that came to her mind. Something that for some reason, caused her heart to flutter even more than just them having sex.

“Well, they fell in love. Maybe if we pretend to have become a couple the book will consider the story over?” Caramel could barely believe what he was saying. Confess his love to his best friend turned mare? The situation they were in was beyond crazy.

“Well it’s worth a shot.” Big Mac agreed, still trying to calm her rapid heartbeats. She looked into his eyes, trying to force her lips to move. Why was this making her feel so hot? It was just playing a role. A way to escape the book. To go back to what she really was. That was the important thing to do. She did want that right?

“C-Caramel I… I… want you to go first!” Inwardly she winced. Smooth Big Mac, real smooth.

“M-Me?” Caramel yelped, drawing back a bit. Lying there next to her, staring into her eyes, he just felt so nervous. What was wrong with him? They had to play these roles to get the book to release them. They couldn't just stay like this! Besides, it’s not like the words had any truth to them.

...Right?

“C-come on Mel.” Big Mac squeaked, the blushing showing up even on her red coat. “Y-You know I wasn’t good with talking. I-I’ll repeat it back I promise.”

“Fine!” Caramel closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. It was easy. Just a few words, then they might be going home. They had to take this chance. Steeling himself, he tried to speak, his words gruff and awkward.

“B-Big Mac I… I…lo-”

“Stop! Just stop!” Big Mac said with a shudder, earning a confused stare from Caramel. “It’s just… ugh hearing you call my name when I’m like this is just all sorts of weird isn’t it?”

“W-well actually yeah.” Caramel admitted. “It’s just… well you look nothing like him, er you… uh…”

“And it feels weird to admit your love to your best guy friend right?” Big Mac finished with a roll of her eyes. In truth if the positions were reversed, Mac really doubted he’d be able to confess his love to ‘Caramel’ even if he was a mare at the time.

“Maybe you should go first after all?” Caramel suggested. Big Mac still wasn’t a fan of that option, but was there another choice?

Well… if she really thought about it.

“Red Gala” She said, staring him in the eye.

“Huh?”

“M-My name. Call me Red Gala. It’s um, what my parents were going to call me if I was a filly. At least according to Granny Smith anyway.”

“R-really?” Caramel answered with a shiver. Red Gala. It actually suited her. “Okay, um nice to meet you... Gala.” Nope, still kinda awkward.

Red Gala on the other hoof, felt a strange tingle flow through her body the moment he said that.

“Okay that was odd…” Gala thought to herself. “It was like something out of place just sunk into position? What a weird thought. Applebloom would say you’re a silly big sister if you spoke that out loud.”

Wait, why did that sound strange? Something about Applebloom calling her a big sister. Well she was right now wasn’t she? She was a mare at the moment. A cute little one named Red Gala.

Wait did she just…

“Hey um Mel? Who am I? I mean really.” As she suspected, he gave her another confused look.

“Um, you’re my friend Red Gala.” He said quite matter of factly before blinking, “wait why does that sound off?”

“M-Maybe because you just called me Red Gala…”

“But that’s your name right? No wait, it’s really Big Mac. Why does it feel so weird to call you that now?”

“Because it’s not a ‘mare’ name, and that’s what I am at the moment…” Gala said slowly. She wasn’t sure how to feel about the book pushing them to call her by her mare name, but she supposed it did make things more convenient and maybe a bit less confusing. She certainly wasn’t ‘big’ at the moment.

“I-I don’t like this Gala, uh Mac” Caramel said, wincing a bit at the new name. Try as he might it just felt more natural to call her Red Gala. “This situation is getting really dangerous.”

“Well… I agree but what can we do? At least this way it won’t be so weird if we confess to each other? I have a cute mare name now.” Wait… did she really think her name was cute? Hmm, well she certainly didn’t hate it, her mother did pick it out after all if Granny was right.

“B-but what if that messes things up more?” Despite his words, he was still pressing against this mare besides him. Thinking of her as ‘Red Gala’ really changed how he saw her. She was just so adorable. A friend of his that was a wonderful pony and with the right pose could look downright… sexy. With a twinge of fear, he felt his dick poke out of his sheath.

“I-I think we should try breaking out! Maybe we can break down the door?” He said suddenly scooting away. He could tell it confused Gala, but no way was he about to tell her she was making him hard!

“Mel I couldn’t even budge the door knob before, I doubt we could break the door down, and I don’t feel much like trying to jump from this window either if we got it open.”

“But… we have to do something!”

“Well I mean, weren’t we?”

Caramel sighed. “You know what I mean.” With that he got up, leaving the quilt around her. Hopefully she had warmed up enough that his absence wouldn’t affect her too quickly.

“You’re really gonna try?”

“I gotta do something…” With that Caramel braced himself before the door. Pushing with all his might he bucked back HARD slamming his hooves into the metal, which shook with his blow. Taking a moment he turned to inspect the damage. Not even a dent. He couldn’t say he was surprised. Honestly the real surprise was that the door shook at all. He doubted that he’d really be able to kick it open, but maybe he’d get lucky and the book would send somepony to find out what all the racket was about. Regardless, he turned back around to prepare another blow.

Gala watched helplessly as her friend tried in vain to break down the door. The cold caused another shiver to run down her spine. Catching a flurry of movement, she turned to the window to see almost pure white. Snow, and heavily coming down. If only she had a nice fire to go with it. Her and Caramel could cuddle under the covers drinking warm cider as he kept her safe. Gala stopped to shake her head. What was she thinking? This situation was horrible! It’d be much better if she was still in her actual body!

“How long are you going to lie to yerself like this?”

Red Gala balked, looking left and right. She knew that voice. Old, wise, and often annoyed at how stupid her grandponies were being.

“...Granny?” Gala whispered trying not to alert Caramel. Last thing she needed was him thinking she was losing her mind.

“Yer darn tooting it’s me!” Granny Smith said in the same nagging way she always did when essentially putting them in their place. “That poor colt is gonna sprain both his limbs at this rate! Why don’t ya tell him ta join ya under the blanket again already?”

“Y-You can’t be here. You’re at the farm! You’d never have found the book! This is a trick the story is trying to play on me!”

“Oh? Is it now?”

Before Gala could blink, there Granny was, standing before her with a stern yet gentle look in her eyes. Gala didn’t know when, but at some point the train car had melted away into a dark void consisting of nothing but her and Granny.

“I-It has to be!” Gala shouted now, no longer concerned about bothering a stallion that she couldn’t see. “Just look at this place! Of course it's what the story’s doing!”

“So what if it is? You and I both know my words are just as true either way.”

Gala drew her head back. “I-I’m not-”

“Don’t go making yer sister AJ mad at you by lying now.” Granny took a step forward, her presence strong and commanding despite her age. “You’ve been doing it fer too long now. Isn’t it time to let go?”

Gala shook her head. “But… I can’t! You need me as Big Mac! You need my size! My strength!”

“Poppycock! We’ve done fine with you injured and out of commission before!”

“But AJ had to-”

“Don’t you go bringing up her follies here and now. We both know she’s grown from the stubborn mare she was back then. Now it’s time for you to stop being a stubborn MARE yerself!”

Those words felt like a slap to her face. This couldn’t be happening. The void seemed to suffocate her as she continued to stare at this image of Granny Smith. What she was asking, no, what she was saying. She couldn’t… after all this time, it… it wasn’t…

“Big Mac, no Red Gala.” Granny said softly, causing Gala’s breath to catch. “I know. Or at least you can bet the real me knows. As for AJ and Applebloom. If they don’t know already, we both know they’ll accept you no matter what, and if yer worried about being rejected by lover boy over there, you know better then that too.”

Gala couldn’t breath. Since arriving in this story. Being put in this body. She knew. She knew deep in her soul, but was too afraid. Too afraid to admit it.

“Remember, this is just a story. It’ll end when it ends. It’s up to you what you take away from it.”

Gala couldn’t help but shiver at those words. Was… could it really be that simple?

“Let go Gala. Let go and just enjoy the story. After all, what better chance are you going to get then this?”

Granny faded into nothingness, the void filling her vision with nothingness for but a moment before Gala found herself blinking away tears. Once more she found herself laying on the bed in a train car traveling through a snow flurry. Caramel still attacking the door, apparently having seen or heard none of what she had just experienced. Finally catching her breath, she breathed deeply as her eyes wandered over to the yellow stallion.

She knew what she wanted. What she desperately hoped to achieve this night, but could she really ask him? Could she finally let down the wall that had dictated her life for so long?

“W-Would kissing me be so bad?”

The words seemed to echo in the small room. That had been her voice! Her words! She barely remembered letting them loose! M-Maybe he didn’t hear! Maybe she could still-

“W-What did you say?!” Came Caramel’s rather startled reply. So much for backing down. There was no point in denying it now. She’d have to just come clean. Granny, or whatever that was was right. This was her chance! Her one chance! Doing her best to calm her jittery nerves she looked Caramel directly in the eyes and nearly lost her will to go through with this all over again.

Has he always been this handsome? Damn it AJ, why did you never go out with this guy? Then again, did she really want that to happen? If he had, she wouldn’t be with him here now. She could lose herself in those pools of kindness. Her head swam. What was she doing? She didn’t know. She wasn’t sure of anything anymore.

“I asked if kissing me would be so bad. Do you hate me that much?” It was a cheap tactic, but she wanted to hear him defend her.

“W-What!? Of course not! You’re the most beautiful mare I’ve ever laid eyes on!” His hoof shot up to his mouth as the words left him. Crap! So much for not making this weird!

Meanwhile Gala had felt her heart skip a beat. Was this the story or her own feelings? What was she thinking? How could this be her own feelings? She was fighting against being a mare when she first arrived!

That’s because you were scared at finally having the opportunity. You lied to yourself that this was bad. You lied because you’ve always had to be the strong one. The one all the mares looked to snag, if only for a moment. The words echoed in her head. She couldn’t tell if the voice was hers or Granny’s. She shook her head. She couldn’t fall into the trap she had been in again. Granny give her strength. She had to see this through.

“D-Do you really?” She asked, her voice shaking ever so slightly. It was too fast wasn’t it? All too fast and yet… it seemed to drag on forever.

“I-I…” Caramel shook his head. This was all the books doing. They had to focus on getting out. “L-Look Big Mac, we need to-”

“I’m not Big Mac I’m Red Gala!” The mare before him screamed, cutting him off. Shocked he could only stare blankly at her as he noticed actual tears were dripping down her cheeks. He couldn’t believe it. Big Mac was crying? For as long as he’d known him, he’d rarely seen him cry.

“B- Gala, what’s wrong? Don’t you want to get out?”

“Of course I do!” She choked out between sobs. “I don’t want to live the rest of my life in a stupid book, but… but…”

“But...what?” With as long as he’d known Mac, he knew that despite the stallion's stern expression, there were subtle hints as to how he was feeling, and whatever this was. It was something deep. Perhaps deeper then anypony had ever seen before. What’s more he was fairly certain this wasn’t just the book speaking on her behalf. This was her, only her.

“I...I don’t I…” Why was this so painful? Why couldn’t she just say it? Say everything that had been welling up inside of her? She knew it was there. It had always been there. Granny was right, how long was she going to lie to herself? Her entire body was trembling. She no longer knew if it was from the cold or her own fear.

“Gala…” A hoof landed softly on her neck, gently stroking it. Shocked, she looked up to see the soft caring eyes of her friend staring back at her. “Look… I don’t know what’s wrong, but please tell me. I just want to help.”

Those eyes. Those stupid lovable eyes of his. It’s really too bad you couldn’t see what a catch he was AJ. Too late for you now. Or was it? She’d change back when the book ended wouldn’t she? Taking one last look into his eyes she finally felt the last of her resistance slip away. It didn’t matter. She was given this moment and she couldn’t waste it.

“I… It’s just…” Silently she sent a prayer to the book, willing it to help her play the role of an honest talkative mare. Just like Applejack was. How long had he envied her for that? Well now she could be the hardworking lovable mare that always spoke her mind.

“W-would it be so bad… if I was Red Gala?”

Caramel was a bit taken aback by this comment. “I-I’m sorry?”

“Would it be so bad!?” She pleaded looking up at him with puppy dog like eyes. “Would it? What if this was who I was instead? A mare named Red Gala. Just a regular apple clan mare that did her fair share of the work, and not the ever silent and looked up to stallion named Big Mac? What if I was just another pony. A mare who was invited to slumber parties and giggled as she got ice cream on her nose from drinking a milkshake, or or…”

“Whoa whoa whoa!” Caramel said, getting back on the bed next to her. “What are you going on about? Are you worried you aren’t still you? I know you’re still my friend in there so you don’t-”

“That’s not it at all!” She whined kicking her hooves in frustration. “L-Look do you remember that time when Applebloom needed a big sister for the Sisterhooves social and I put on that silly dress and wig and called myself Orchard Blossom?”

“Yeah? Um where are you going with this?”

“Didn’t you ever wonder why I had a dress like that? Or a wig?”

Caramel blinked. Now that he thought about it, no, but with a mare like Pinkie Pie in town, you didn’t really question why ponies had things. Still if she was bringing it up, there had to be a good reason.

“Okay uh, so why did you have it?”

“B-because I’ve always wanted to know how this is like.”

“How what-” His eyes grew wide as it finally clicked. “Wait do you mean… you’ve always wanted to know what being a-”

“-mare is like…” She finished, shutting her eyes. There, she had said it. After all these years she’d finally said it, finally told somepony. Now she just had to deal with the consequences.

Dear Celestia this terrified her.

“I-I don’t understand. You’ve never… I always thought…”

“You asked me why it didn’t work out with Cheerilee and me. It’s because she was so close to the type of pony I wish I could be. She’s smart, beautiful, good with foals. She was stern and knew who she was, what she wanted. It’s just… even she looked at me like I’d protect her. N-Not that I wouldn’t have!” She added quickly. Damn it, even with the book’s help words were not her forte. “Of course I would, but… I’d always be the one looked to protect, to be the immovable titan that’d rush to their aide. J-Just once I wanted to be the one some other pony protected. Be the meek little pony… no the meek little mare that nopony batted an eyelid at being shy…”

She looked back up at his face then. His wonderful dreamy face. “But as I was? Like I said mares always hyped me up. Make me out to be some big macho guy.” The tears were back. “You know being Applebloom’s sister that one time? It made me so happy, I didn’t care what others thought. For once in my life I felt like I could just let everything out. Even… even if in the end it was only an act.” She laughed a small sad laugh. “It’ stupid isn’t it? I speak as if mares are weaker, in need of a big strong stallion to watch over them, but I know that’s not true. Sis and her friends have accomplished feats I’d never imagine, even in my real body. Still… being like this… it’s liberating in a way. No pony is going to look at me and assume I can fight off all that threaten them. E-even if I likely still could I-”

“Gala.” Caramel said, placing a hoof on her head. She had been rambling, and it felt like the right time to interrupt her. With a smile, he began to rub her head. It was funny. He always wanted to do this to AJ. He did of course find AJ attractive, but in truth the real reason he had never pursued her was because of just how intimidating he found her. How funny that here, Big Mac as a mare was likely just as strong, yet the looming presence others had found in him even as a stallion just never seemed to be there for him. To Caramel, Big Mac had never been a titan. He’d simply and only been his friend.

Gala only stared at him in confusion. Was he teasing her? No, his eyes were as honest and caring as always. So what was he- before she could finish her though he pulled her into a hug. Caught by surprise she just laid there, her head pressed against his back. It was so warm. She felt so nice in his hooves. It felt… safe. Was this it? Was this how all the mares in his life had wanted?

“I-I don’t understand what you’re going through Gala.” Caramel said slowly his hooves still around her. “I can’t possibly understand how you feel, or how long you’ve felt this way. But… but if you really want to be Gala for this story. I think… I think I can do that for you.”

Gala felt the tears soak into Mel’s back. She couldn’t remember a time that she felt so happy before. Thanks to this book she could have one night. One night as the mare she always dreamed of being. It was more than most ponies ever got after all. In the end... In the end she hoped it helped her see if this is really what she wanted.

“Thank you Mel. You have no idea what this means to me.” She said pulling her head away enough to smile at him. “So… think we can stay this way for just a little bit?”

“Well we seem warm enough pressed against each other, so if that’s all you need.” Caramel said, turning to gaze out the window. “I’m sorry we’re stuck in this train car. I-I don’t know really what you wanted to try as a mare, but we’re kinda limited given our circumstances…”

Gala giggled, actually giggled. It was amazing how freeing that alone felt now that she had laid herself bare so to speak. “It’ll be enough.” She said quietly, working up a bit more courage to ask what she wanted next. “I-If you could… hold me close? S-say you’ll protect me from the cold? J-Just treat me as you would any mare you’d find yourself with in this situation…”

It was Caramel’s time to laugh, though his was more a chuckle then a giggle. “As if I’d ever find myself in a situation like this! A beautiful mare in a private train car? This stuff only happens in books like this. However.” With that he draped a hoof over Gala’s back and drew her as close to him as he could. They had only been lightly touching before, but now she was truly smooshed against him. Her body seemed to shoot up several degrees from that alone.

Though… though there seemed to be something else along with it.

“I know I’m not the most reliable guy, despite your protests,” Caramel said with a wink, “but if it pleases the lady, I’ll gladly protect her from the outside cold.” He was actually kinda proud of himself. Despite the strangeness of the situation, he felt rather relaxed. Perhaps a bit too relaxed, because before he realized what he was doing, he lowered his head to nuzzle her neck, giving it a few licks in the process. It wasn’t until he heard her squeak in surprise that he registered what he was doing.

“Ah!” He exclaimed his head shooting back up. He thought to move away, but his body wouldn’t budge. “S-sorry I guess I got carried awa-MMFF!” Eyes wide, his body froze up as Gala flat out kissed him on the lips!

If he wasn’t so shocked he’d have laughed. Her lips tasted like apples, because of course. They carried with them a pleasant sweetness that he’d give almost anything to sample more of. Wait, that wasn’t important! The fact was, she kissed him! Red Gala had kissed him!

Gala could already feel the heavy blush on her cheeks as she pulled away, shyly looking up at him as she tilted her head down. “D-did you like that?” A twinge shot through her body again, focused on a particular part just under her tail. Even if she had never had a female body before, she was smart enough to know what that other feeling had been welling up inside her. She confirmed it when she felt him lick her neck.

Aroused. She was aroused. She didn’t care if it was her own tastes or the book at this point, but being this close to Caramel and the thought of what they were supposed to do turned her on. She wanted it, and she wanted him, all she had to do was make it happen!

“That… that was amazing…” Caramel replied, feeling his own arousal begin to build. Was this really alright? It was still Big Mac inside that body after all! Even if she did say she wanted to be treated like a mare for the night, he couldn’t really… well do that with her could he?

Gala didn’t think she could get any redder at the sound of his reply. Could blush even been seen on her red coat?

“I, I uh really liked that, k-kissing you that is…” She admitted in a voice barely above a whisper. Would he go for it? Could he look past what she had been, and see only what she was at this moment?

“I uh liked it too…” Damn it what was he suppose to say? What was he suppose to do?

Gala could sense his hesitation. Guess he really couldn’t see past what she had been. Horseapples, was there nothing she could do to break that image? At this rate they’d be stuck at a stalemate, and her neithers were already starting to ache for something long and warm. She shivered at the very thought. When she gave in to being a mare it had been like a damn breaking. Every pent up thought and desire rushing forward in her mind. The book had to be helping keep herself together. How else was she not freaking out yet?! For Celestia’s sake she had gone from this stallions best male friend, to a needy little mare, dreaming of his thick juicy cock!

How was that so appealing now!? Even stranger she could picture it with such clarity. Being friends they had gone swimming a few times in the past. Once AJ and Rainbow Dash had joined them. Of course being those two, they had somehow gotten into a swimming competition that had also somehow turned into a wrestling match. It had done little for him being AJ was his sister, but Caramel had gotten quite the boner. The fact that he noticed was something he had kept to himself. He had only caught a glimpse of it on accident after all, yet now that moment in time burned like a photograph in her memory. It wasn’t anywhere near what he sported as Big Mac of course, he doubted many ponies could match that, but for his size it was rather impressive. Or so she thought now.

If only she could see it again. Touch it and taste it!

Wait… why couldn’t she?

“G-Gala!? W-What are you doing!?” Caramel yelped as he felt a hoof begin to probe around his nether regions. Before he could think of possibly pulling away, he felt it come in contact with his sheath, slowly beginning to rub at it, and causing little Caramel to poke its head out to see what all the fuss was about.

“What does it feel like I’m doing handsome? I want to see what’s going to be inside me in the next few minutes.” Her voice was low and sultry. It brimmed with so much sexual tension she was surprised she had even managed to keep it steady. No doubt the book aiding her along again in her speech. At last she felt she had a grip on what the book could or wouldn’t do. Before she had been fighting it, denying it any leeway, and in truth it hadn’t pushed, hadn’t given any attempt to make her follow the story. The worst it did seemed to be that image of Granny that only talked to her. She had to let go, had to will it to help her for it to have any power over her actions. It was the same even now. If she wanted to stop, she’d stop. The book wasn’t going to make her do something she didn’t want to do, even if that was the way to end the story proper.

It’s possible… it’s possible they could have willed themselves out if they had really wanted it. It hardly mattered to her now. She simply couldn’t have the story end before she had her fun as a mare. She bet deep down Caramel wanted the sexy night with a beautiful mare as well. She only hoped she didn’t disappoint.

“G-Gala! Y-You’re not seri- ah!” It was no use! He wasn’t only poking out, but becoming hard as a rock in a matter of seconds! He couldn’t believe that despite her hidden muscle, her hoof felt so soft and gentle. Was this really still Big Mac?

“There we go.” Gala purred, feeling the dick she was stroking come to full mast. “Wow it is pretty big. Your last marefriend must have enjoyed it.”

“I-uh well.” Caramel coughed, this could not be happening. “A-Are you okay Big Mac? Did the book take over or som-MMF!”

He was silenced by another kiss, this one feeling a lot more forceful than the last one, as if she was hungry for the taste of him.

“Uh uh, uh, I’m not that other pony right now, I’m Red Gala remember? And I can assure you I’m not under some spell of the book. Well maybe it’s helping me act a bit, but I promise you I’m letting it. I want this Mel. I-I really do. I told you I want to be a mare tonight. Your mare.”

“M-my mare!?” He repeated dumbstruck. Seeing her like this. There was a clear hunger in her eyes. The same hunger he saw in his last girlfriend when they had first decided to sleep together. Gala really wasn’t kidding. She wanted him. Him! No other stallion! Just him, right here, right now.

“Yes silly your mare. Your marefriend, your lover. Anything to just get you to fuck me!” W-wait did she really just say that? Even with the book helping her, shed couldn’t believe those words came out of her!

“F-Fuck?” His dick twitched at the mere thought of claiming this mare before him. Damn it, what was going on? This was unlike anything he’d ever heard from his friend before! What had gotten into her? Wait, did the bed feel wet? What did it spring a leak? He grabbed the blanket with his teeth and yanked it off. What greeted him was certainly not coming from the bed!

“Holy, Gala you’re leaking!”

“I’m what?” She asked confused, her gaze following Caramel’s own line of sight. It landed directly upon her rump where she found that not only was her tail stuck straight up in the air, but there was indeed some sort of liquid pooling upon the sheets. Now that she was actively thinking about it, she could feel it trickle.. Seems she wanted this a lot more then she realized.

“O-Oh wow, it’s like I’m in heat!” She exclaimed, wiggling her rear. “Geez this is such a weird sensation having a cunt. It’s just begging for me to stick that big ol meat stick of yours into it!”

“G-Gala!” Caramel responded with a healthy blush. He never thought he’d hear his friend talk in such a dirty, sexual way before. Even worse, he couldn’t believe it was making him this excited, this eager to take a mare!

“H-How’s it look?” She asked, causing his brain to halt. She did not just ask what he thought she did, did she?

“Mel? I want to know how it looks.” She said shifting her body away so she could move her rear in front of his face, giving him a clear nice view of her new marehood. He didn’t think he could get any more erect! There it was, practically pulsing with her desire, begging to be tasted.
At that moment, the image of what Gala had been finally shattered in his mind. This was a mare. A mare that was sticking her beautiful cunt right in his face. Begging for him to taste it.

Well, was there any real reason not to oblige?

“Mel? Mel can you hear me? I asked- YEEP!” She yelped as she felt something rough and very wet brush against her lower lips. She barely was able to register the sensation that gave her before she felt it brush against them again. Over and over it licked, probing deeper and deeper inside of her with each stroke.

“A-ah! Ooo Guh!” Her attempts at speech were nothing more than a chaotic mix of moans, squeaks, and gibberish. The feeling! The pleasure! This is what mares felt? This is what she had been missing!? Oh Celestia if she really went back to being a stallion after this, she’d have to remember to eat out more of the mares she dated!

Caramel too was lost in a deep hunger to pleasure his mare. If he thought her kiss tasted like apples, her snatch amazingly enough was like drinking from a tap of apple cider. It was so sweet, and her little coos and squeaks only drove him to probe further inside her. He needed to feel her squirm, hear her moan.

Even with his best efforts however, she was only mewing with pleasure. It wasn’t enough. Not yet. He had to go farther. Some small part of his mind recalled there being much more foreplay in the book, but in truth he wasn’t sure he could hold himself back much longer, and by the feel of it, he didn’t think she’d mind getting to the point either. Still, he didn’t want to jump too far again too quickly. So trying to ignore the increasing need in his dick, he began to rub little circles upon her cutie marks, moving his tongue play up her back, slowing it down, making sure the feeling lingered upon her just long enough to keep her wanting more. Slowly, he inched his way up toward her neck, his body sliding atop hers.

Gala’s mind was a whir of new sensations and emotions. She never felt so helpless before! Every touch, every movement Mel made upon her body left her a shivering wreck. Was this what it was like for the mares he dated? Was this what it was like to feel dominated by your partner? She knew she was still stronger then Mel, could throw him off in an instant if she tried, but she couldn’t. Her body wouldn’t respond to her commands. He had her, he had her and could do whatever he wished to her body and…

It felt wonderful!

This was Caramel after all. She knew he’d never do anything to hurt her. He’d do nothing but try everything in his power to make her happy. To protect her. This was it! This was the feeling she had longed for for so long! She could be his, he just had to claim her! She wanted him to claim her!

That’s when she felt it. The tip of his dick pressing against her folds. When had he gotten on top of her? She could feel his weight now. Pressing into her back, forcing her deeper into the bed beneath them. How could feeling so trapped bring such intense joy?

“M-mel…” She breathed, her voice wispy and light. “I need you… please… take me. I want to be yours. Only yours…”

The fire raged even stronger inside Caramel’s body. To hear that. That was all he needed. He wouldn’t resist, wouldn’t worry about what may come later from the fallout of it all. He wanted her, she was begging to be his, and so she’d be.

Giving her neck a few more licks, he quickly progressed to nibbles. Nibbles which increased in succession as he pushed himself inside her, his dick forcing itself all the way to the hilt in one go.

The moan that escaped Gala’s lips riverbeated through the enclosed area like an explosion. “I-It’s inside me!” She gasped when she was able to speak again, another moan forcing its way out. “Oh Caramel I can feel you inside me! Your dick inside me! I-I can’t believe this is how it feels! I can’t believe this is what it’s like for a mare!” She shifted her body, feeling her velvety walls brush against the very veins that lined his member.

He’d had a few mares growing up. She knew what it was like as a stallion, but this? There was no describing this!.

“Oh Celestia you feel amazing Gala! So warm! So snug!” He cried as he began to lightly rock his body, causing his dick to pull in and out of her lovely inviting snatch.

Short jerks at first, but he was quickly moving to practically pulling out entirely before ramming back in again. It was almost too much! He’d had sex before, but her! It was like her love tunnel had been molded perfectly for his dick!

“I want you Gala.” He whispered, grunting in the simple pleasure he got from being inside her, by feeling his stomach rub against her back as he tried to find a rhythm for his thrusts. “I want you to be mine. My mare. My love. My everything!”

With each declaration she felt herself grow more hot, more needy!

“I-I want to be your mare! Your love! Your wife!” She cried out, desperately trying to push her hips into his thrusts to increase her own pleasure. Every day before this one had been wasted! No wonder she hadn’t been happy as a stallion. This is what she had wanted! This is what she had longed for!

“G-Gala…” Caramel grunted between thrusts. His body moving on automatic, every thrust a spike of bliss that rocked his body.

But it was nothing compared to what Gala was experiencing. The colors had begun to swirl together before her eyes, explosions of joy rocking her body. Minor at first, but growing in size, in frequency. When she had been a stallion sex had felt like her very being had wanted to condense itself into his dick and force it’s way into the mare underneath him. Now that she was that mare, it was like her body desperately wanted to take that essence and spread it to every little inch of herself. Every hoof, every nerve, every hair. It was maddening and heavenly all at once!

All cares forgotten, Caramel pushed on, licking and nibbling at any inch of her he could get to. Her neck, her ears. He had to please her, had to cherish every moment. Again and again he thrust, the seconds turning into minutes. He couldn’t remember the last time he had gone so long! All her moans, her cries and squirms. Each one was a treasure he’d never forget. He wanted more! So much more!

Gala’s limbs had long gone numb, her breathing ragged, her tongue drooping out. His prize. She was his prize. It felt amazing. It felt right! S-Something was happening. A balloween swelling inside her. What was happening now?

Nothing lasts forever. Not even a perfect moment in a story book. It wasn’t long now, Caramel’s limit was fast approaching. He had a vague memory of something he should do before that happened. What was it? His movements grew erratic, he rammed into her again and again. Driven for one desire, one goal. Whatever it was didn’t matter anymore. With one last thrust, he felt himself give way. Bestowing Gala with his gift.

It was enough to send her over the edge and then some. She barely registered her body convulsing as she felt something warm and hot pump into her. Oh Celestia the sensation! This was so much better than pumping it out! She felt it rush inside her, filling every inner inch with its volume! The deep sexual moans she caught were unlike anything she’d heard her former lovers make. So much it shocked her to realize they were coming from her!

Her mind blanked after that. She vaguely remembered feeling more and more spurts of his seed filling her as every inch of her body went limp. Aided by the book or not, there was no way she could ever go back to being the stallion she had been before.

If only… if only this dream didn’t have to end.

Still the story had reached its conclusion and thus the world began to go white. The last thing she felt was her body slipping into a peaceful sleep as exhaustion took hold. She wasn’t sure if it was in her mind or not but the last action she was able to take was the reciting of four simple words. Words she never thought she’d utter in her life, but at the moment were the absolute truth beyond anything else.

“Caramel… I love you.”

Author's Note

If you see any mistakes, please point them out.

Epilogue Squared

When the feeling came back to his body, he found the cold of the train car was gone. Instead there was a pleasant warmth from the sun shining through a bay window upon him. Big Mac cherished the feeling for a moment before it dawned on him that not only had he been in a book with Caramel last he checked, his house didn’t have such a window.

Blinking he looked around to find he was indeed in an unfamiliar, yet cozy room. It was a study from what he could tell. Bookshelves lined both walls, and a small table with a teapot and an empty plate that had probably held some sort of snack upon it sat not far from whatever little cot he was laying upon. Beyond that he could see a hallway with several doors leading to various rooms. If he had to guess he was in a mansion of some sort.

Did he know anypony with a mansion? Only ones to come to mind were Filthy Rich and his wife. Why would he be there? Also why put him in this cramped room? Sure it was cozy, but for a stallion his size. There was no way he was walking past that table without knocking it over. Huh, that’s weird. For as small as he knew these types of tables to be, it sure seemed rather big. In fact the entire cot he was lying upon should be…

Wait a minute.

With a quick check of her hooves Red Gala found herself very much still the dainty little mare she had been mere moments ago with Mel. With one rather noticeable exception. She was wearing a necklace. A necklace that had a gold ring hanging from it!

“M-Mel?” She squeaked out, coughing to straighten out the still very feminine voice she had gained from her new form. A healthy blush returned to her cheeks as she recalled the last time she heard said voice, it was moaning due to her and Mel’s activities. The feelings of such would please, or possibly haunt her thoughts for the rest of her life.

She had to admit, a large part of her was glad she still held this body, but if she did that must mean they were still in the book right? Why hadn’t it let them out? Was there more to the story? Her hoof gently pressed against the ring hanging from her neck. She knew what this was. It had to be a wedding ring. That meant in this book she was now Caramel’s wife! Despite herself she giggled with excitement, or was it nervousness? She couldn’t tell.

To think, her a wife! She could just imagine the faces of her family if they found out. She’d have to make sure to skip this part if questioned about what happened. On second thought perhaps it was best they kept this whole trapped in an erotic novel their little secret.

Well if she was in this house, and married to Caramel, that probably meant she was indeed still in the story. If she had to guess this was an epilogue of some sorts. A little bit of fluff to show the ‘happily ever after’ as it were. Hmm, did that mean there was a bonus sex scene? She felt her body twitch at the thought. If it meant feeling like that for one more time she’d take it in a heartbeat. Damn it was going to be awkward as all tartarus between them when they got out of this book. Maybe… Maybe she’d ask to keep it just in case she could convince him to do this again with her.

First she had to find said stallion. “Caramel!” She called down the hall. He had to be around here somewhere. Best go searching for hi- GAH!

All she had tried to do was simply get up, and it felt like trying to lift two full barrels of apples! The feat wouldn’t be so hard with her hooves, but her stomach? What, did her character pack on the pounds after they got married or something? Thinking about it she did feel rather famished. Geez, what kind of screwy love story ends with the mare eating her weight in apples? Did the author have a weight fe-

A sudden jolt caused her body to lock up. W-was it her imagination or did the contents of her stomach just… KICK her? A few more of said kicks quickly followed, causing her to slowly lower her gaze to her midsection. That wasn’t her stomach. That very telling swell was NOT from overeating!

“Gala!?” Came Caramel’s frantic cries from just outside the room as he rushed in, panic etched across his face. “I mean Big Mac are you in-” His eyes widened as he found the very much still a mare Big Mac lounging upon the cozy little cot in this study. He had been afraid of this. Afraid of the contents of the epilogue the moment he had found himself in this particular story.

For there lying on her side, was a very jittery and very pregnant Red Gala.

“M-Mel was there a part of this story you neglected to tell me about?”

“Y-You could say that.” Caramel replied nervously. He hated the fact he couldn't help but drink in her visage like this. She had been beautiful before, but seeing her laying here, pregnant with their foals… it’d be breathtaking if he wasn’t so afraid of how she was handling this.

“Well now might be a good time to bring me up to speed!” She cried as the panic rose in her voice. With a wince, Caramel forced himself from his daydreams.

“R-right um, so yeah they fall in love while having sex on the train and then um, yeah there is sorta an epilouge that talks about how they got married and she’s now pregnant.”

“Y-Yeah I kinda got those points.” Gala said looking down at her swollen tummy with a stunned expression.

“Pregnant with twins.” Caramel added with another wince. Gala’s eyes seemed to bug out all over again.

“W-what!?” She cried. As she did so she felt a flutter of said kicks come from inside her. Yep, there was certainly more than one little pony in there. Oh Celestia give her strength!

“H-Hey it’s just a story!” Caramel said quickly moving to her side. Unable to think of anything else to do, he nuzzled her to calm and comfort her. “The story ended shortly after this, so we’ll be out of this book before you know it, and you’ll be back to your old self. No uh, ‘baggage’ along.

“H-Hey they aren’t baggage! They’re products of our love!” Gala blurted out before she could help herself. What was she saying? Spending a night as a mare was one thing but this? She wasn’t ready for this!

“I-I didn’t mean..” Caramel began, but Gala stopped him.

“I-I know I just… oh Mel I thought being a mare was an adventure, but this!” She shivered as she shifted her weight, feeling the absolute drag of her midsection pulling her down. “I don’t even know how to process this!”

“I-I bet.” He said with a sigh, sitting down on the ground next to her. “I uh, kinda hoped it’d skip this part of the story back on the train. At any rate I had no idea how I was suppose to tell you it ended like this!”

“I-” She stopped, thinking it over in her head. “Okay yeah, honestly Mel I can’t blame you. How do you tell your best stallion friend turned mare that they’re in a story that ends with them knocked up?” She shivered. She had life inside her. Actual life. Well book simulated life, but it certainly felt real.

“Y-Yeah, crazy huh?” He gulped trying not to look at her beautiful swollen belly. How long had he dreamt of having a family? This would be perfect if it wasn’t forcing Gala into the role. Why didn’t he remember to pull out? If only… if only he could share this with a real mare.

“You can touch it um, if you want…” Gala’s voice said, a hint of meekness in her tone. Caramel’s eyes shot up to meet her own.

“W-what? I-”

“Mel it’s very obvious you want to touch my pregnant belly, so just do it already.”

“I-I can’t do that! You-”

“Oh for Celestia’s sake Mel, we’re married!” She said, grabbing his hoof with her own and placing it upon her tummy. The moment it came into contact with her skin, she gasped, just barely holding onto Mel’s own hoof so he wouldn’t pull away.

“Gala? Gala are you okay?”

“I-I’m fine it’s just… oh Mel you have no idea how this feels!”

Caramel felt his heart sink. “B-bad?”

Gala quickly shook her head. “No! I mean it’s still weird and all, but my skin! It’s so sensitive! J-Just... Please have at it!”

Though hesitant, he couldn’t deny just how much he longed to do this. Being as gentle as he possibly could he let his hoof sink ever so slightly into her flesh, earning him a coo from her..

“Mmm oh Mel…” Without thinking she found herself leaning over to kiss and lick his muzzle. Maybe… maybe this wasn’t so bad. If she had Caramel with her. Being a mom was a bit less scary. Still terrifying, okay very terrifying, but… manageable?

Caramel meanwhile was in heaven. She was so soft and squishy and with each little circle he rubbed earned him another coo or soft moan. By Luna’s Moon he hated how much he wished this could last longer.

“H-Hey Gala? Did you um… mean it?”

“Hmm?” Gala murmured, having lost herself to the pleasures of her temporary husband’s exploration of the outside of her womb. To make it all the more interesting, it seemed the little ones inside her knew that daddy was near, because they kept trying to kick at his hoof, causing smiles from both ponies.

“Mean what?” Had she said something?

“You uh.. You said you loved me back on the train.”

Gala froze. She had said that! She thought it was an orgasim induced dream, but evidently not. Stunned, she looked up into his eyes. They were still so kind, so worried about her. Once again she felt her heart flutter while being gazed upon by those eyes. There was no helping it. No helping it at all.

“Caramel… I-I know when this story ends things are going to become awkward between us. Very awkward. So I need to know. Do you really want an answer to that? Can you handle what I’m going to say, and can you promise me it won’t stop us from being friends?”

He didn’t respond at first. All he could do was take in her image. Take in this moment. Something would change. Regardless of what she said, when they got out of this something would change. They couldn’t go through all this and pretend it didn’t happen. Still… as strange as it was going to be to see Big Mac again. As messed up as all of this likely was…

“I-I do, I promise. I-I know things won’t be the same, but I’ll still be your friend. N-Not sure how our friendship will stand after all this, but I’ll make the effort. I promise you that.”

This seemed to be enough for her. With a smile she nodded her head. “That’s fair enough. I know things won’t be the same ever again between us. Not after experiencing a night like that and well… with me like this.” She gave a soft smile as she looked at her pregnant belly. “But as long as we can make the effort…”

She shut her eyes for a moment before once more gazing into his eyes, her expression as serious as he’d ever seen it.

“I did Mel. I meant every word. As I am now. As this mare Red Gala. I’d be honored to be your marefriend. I’ve known you for years now Mel, and I’d like to think we’d have become husband and wife on our own eventually. I-It may only be when in this book, this story, but… I love you Caramel. Red Gala loves you in a very romantic way.”

“I love you too Red Gala.” He said, nuzzling her once more. “As you are now I love you with all my heart, and I’m ashamed to admit that a large part of me doesn’t want you to go back to being Big Mac.”

Gala giggled. “Don’t be ashamed silly. There’s nothing to be ashamed about. I wouldn’t want the mother of my foals to be a stallion either!” More giggles escaped from her lips, while Caramel couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

“You’re lucky you’re so cute.” He said, pulling her into another kiss. They both sat there for a moment drinking in each other’s essence before finally breaking for air.

“I love you Mel.” Gala repeated feeling her heart beat ever so faster. “I-I don’t know what this means when I’m Big Mac again, but I promise to do my best not to make this even weirder than it already is.”

“I suppose that’s all either of us can do.” Caramel said with a nod of his own. “I promise too. T-Thank you for...everything.”

Gala Smiled. “Likewise.” They kissed again, this time feeling the world fade away, till there was nothing left but the warmth they felt for each other.

***

The first thing Caramel noticed was how hard and dirty the ground was. Blinking the dust from his eyes, he slowly lifted his head to find himself back in the alley where they had found the book. Said book was seated perfectly on the ground before him. Laid down with the opening facing left as if it had just been read.

Well in a way it had. He thought to himself with a groan as he slowly got to his hooves. He barely remembered there having been glass strewn about the ground before checking himself for any cuts. Thankfully the book seemed to have dumped them beyond the reach of the shards still strewn about. Which meant… Big Mac was behind him.

“H-Hey um Big Mac? You back there?” Despite his words, he couldn’t bring himself to look in his direction. Not yet. It was silly but as long as he didn’t look he could still imagine Red Gala back there.

A low groan answered his question. He was back there alright. They had been freed from the story now that it had reached its natural end.

“S-So um, if it’s alright with you I’m just gonna go… home for a bit. I, I think I need some time to myself. I’ll uh, catch you later okay? We’ll get together for lunch or something tomorrow.”

He could hear him shifting around back there, but no response. No surprise there, he likely had his own thoughts to sort.

“I’ll uh, take the book and find who owns it okay. As for knowing it’s magical I’ll just leave out the part that you came with me. I-I think it’s better if we don’t spread that around.” Still no words from Mac. What was he doing back there?

“A-Anyway I’m sure you need some time to adjust to being in your real body again, so I’ll just be going.”

“Y-Yeah about that…” Came a rather nervous voice from behind him. The sound of it caused his heart to leap to his throat. That was not the voice of Big Mac. That was not even the voice of a stallion. Not wanting to believe it, Caramel slowly turned around.

What met his gaze was a beautiful little red mare with cute white freckles upon her snout. Her mane and tail a pleasant shade of yellow, and below her, a very pregnant belly.

“I uh… think we’re gonna have some explaining to do. Um starting with my family most likely.” Red Gala said, an awkward smile curling her lips.

Author's Note

Red Gala will return in Cake Mix 2

And there we have it. The end of a story that took far too long to complete.

So first off I feel I should mention that this was written well before the Big Mac x Sugar Belle thing in the show, and obviously this is an alternate timeline,

I'd love to see more stories with Big Mac becoming a mare like this. I've actually seen quite a bit of artwork where Caramel becomes "Toffee" for Mac, but not much of it being the other way around. So I wrote this.

There's probably a ton of questions still to be asked about all this, like how does the book work or maybe why Gala is still Gala. Feel free to ask them in the comments.

Right now it's very late, and I'm going to bed. Maybe I'll edit these notes later.