“Oh my gosh” I whispered out as I stepped in to the train carriage and looked to my left. The rest of the train was empty aside from the passenger sitting where I was looking.
It had been a week since I had arrived in Equestria. Well I say 'arrived' but the mechanics of how I actually appeared standing in an apple orchard completely nude in a different body evaded me for the time being. Regardless though I had been welcomed with open arms and sequestered away with Twilight and Bry in their expansive home. For the past week I had become accustomed to the sight of 'ponies' due to the regular visits of Twilight and Bry's friends.
But up until today I had not really left the confines of their home. The week was more of a crash course in Equestria and its inhabitants combined with constant assurances that I would be cared for and not abandoned to fend for myself. I had become aware of the different species in other lands. I had been taught of the Princesses and their rule.
I had not, until now, seen a child... 'foal' I corrected myself mentally.
I'd always been the maternal type, I came from a large family, I myself was the oldest of five siblings. When I was fifteen my mother and father had had their fifth, my brother John. At the time I doted on him. He was ten years the junior of the our next oldest brother, and I took upon myself the duty of being a live in nanny.
And I loved every moment of it.
Cleaning his nappies, comforting him when he cried. My mother was, I knew, thankful for the help. But, the thing is, it was never a chore.
I think some people are just hardwired like that.
Looking to my left I saw a new mother breast-feeding her foal with a tired smile on her face. I had stopped in the doorway and was gawking with, I'm sure, a look of doe-eyed wonder plastered across my features. The rhythmic clack-clack clack-clack of the train wheels on the tracks was increasing in pace and my guides probably wished to move me aside and sit.
A gentle prod to my side from Fluttershy startled me, she was looking back at me with a smile, she gestured with a hand to the seats at the back of the train.
Bry giggled, “You can say 'hi' if you want Ann” she whispered in my ear.
I nodded and made my way to the seat beside the woman... mare. My three new friends gave me a smile and walked to the back of the train leaving me with the new parent. I looked over at the three of them and received encouraging nods in return as they sat.
I stopped at the seat before getting the attention of the mother with a little 'ahem'. “Is it OK if I sit here?” I said gesturing to a spot beside her.
The mare looked up from her foal and her eyes widened a little. I self consciously tucked a lock of my ginger hair... mane... behind my ear and rustled the feathers of my new wings. I wasn't sure if there was the same sort of stigma for being a 'ginger nut' as there was back on earth but the look I got made me feel as if it were so. Her mouth opened as if to speak but she instead gave me a couple of jerky nods. She began to shuffle to make room.
“Oh,” I said raising a hand “that's ok, you stay just as you are”
Instead of sitting opposite her I moved to the small space beside her and perched myself on the edge of the seat.
“She's beautiful” I whispered out to her “what's her name?” I said over her shoulder. Probably getting a little too close for comfort for the poor mare. New mothers can be very protective around strangers.
Of course the foal wasn't a 'she', Ponies you see are neither male nor female, they are instead both. It seemed to be a common theme that ponies referred to themselves as 'she' or 'her'. Considering that adult ponies, aside from their genitals of course, had primarily feminine features it was not jarring in the slightest to refer to them as women... mares.
“B-Bastion!” she almost yelped.
She was nervous, probably due to a lack of sleep and a total stranger accosting her, so I gave her a reassuring smile. “That's a beautiful name, mine's Ann, what's yours?”
She seemed to relax a little but held a little coiled tension in her shoulders. “It's Punnet” she said, “Strawberry Punnet” she concluded, shuffling a little to show me the basket of strawberries emblazoned on the side of her thigh.
“It's nice to meet you both” I said with an even bigger smile.
I looked back to the feeding foal. She seemed to have had her fill and was simply laying with her eyes closed, tiny lips still on her mothers teat.
It was probably a little forward of me to be staring, but I had noticed since my arrival, that ponies don't really have the same sort of fear of nudity that Humans do. After all, they have a coat of fur, they never really wear clothes. If they did it would probably become uncomfortably hot.
Not that I was walking around nude, a week in Equestria was nowhere near long enough to get me to walk around naked, I wore a nice borrowed blue dress from Bry's wardrobe. Perhaps some day though.
Punnet seemed to notice that her foal had stopped suckling so I gave a little excited squeal. “May I?” I gestured down to Bastion with open hands.
“O-Oh!” she blushed “of course!” she gasped out and gently passed her to me, holding her neck and back carefully.
“Thanks” I said as I took her and brought her to my chest. Bastion stirred a little and opened her little eyes. Pools of rose looked up at me from behind pale grey fur, short tufts of red mane sprouted from the top of her head.
It appeared that this universe had intentionally created foals to be the cutest things in existence. She had short fluffy fur, slightly thicker than an adults. The touch was like stroking a bunny, I gasped at the feel of it as I stroked her chubby little cheek with the tip of a finger.
Punnet passed me a small cloth so I wiped a drop of breast milk from Bastion's chin as Punnet herself dried her breast with another then covered herself with a supportive looking wrap of fabric.
I cooed at the sight of the foal looking around herself, her little hands rose and grasped at air.
I placed the cloth over my shoulder and then lifted up the foal and gently patted and stroked at her back. I puzzled for a moment about how this would be possible with a winged pony variant, but dismissed it as unimportant.
I brought my nose to the top of the foals head and had a little smell.
“There is just something” I said to Punnet as I continued to pat and give gentle strokes to Bastions back “about the smell of a.. foal” I turned my head to the mother and gave her a great big smile “it's just, so... new, fresh” I concluded.
Punnet smiled back finally rid of her nerves and nodded in agreement.
“You look like you know how to care for a foal, do you have your own?” she replied.
I blushed and shook my head, I had only recently turned twenty one, as much as I loved children I still felt I was too young for that sort of commitment.
“No, just the oldest of five” I replied.
I lifted myself from the seat slowly to not jostle the infant then moved so I could sit opposite Punnet, facing the new mother.
I lifted my eyes to hers. She was pretty, no doubt. Her vivid strawberry coloured fur contrasted nicely with her straw coloured mane. She had glowing blue eyes and a healthy looking sheen to her fur. I looked her over, trying to not make it too obvious.
She had the soft middle and sweeping hips of a new mother. The layer of not weighty, but healthy fat that accentuated her curves. She was beautiful in a way that only a new parent can be.
“Being a mother suits you” I said to her as my eyes lifted back to hers with a smile.
With a sigh I sat down beside Twilight at the rear of the carriage. I had left the tired mother and child as the train was beginning final stretch to our destination.
“Have fun?” Bry said as she looked up at me. Like all the other ponies I had met she was a pretty one. She had a pale, off white fur, almost like the flesh of an apple, which contrasted nicely with her dark brown mane. Her pretty green eyes were expressive and regarded me with a look of humour. Her wings fluttered playfully.
Fluttershy was pressed in to her side with her hooves on the seat with her eyes closed but a smile on her face. She was thin and graceful, her butter yellow fur softened her angular features and her pink mane curled around her face and jaw in a sweeping arc. Her delicate looking wings held gently to her back.
“You seemed to be rather enamoured with your new friends” Twilight finished.
Twilight herself was a little taller than the other two, only a mite taller than myself. Her mane was cut in to an almost severe fringe and the rest was angular and swept straight to her left shoulder, but it contrasted nicely with her soft looking eyes. She had a purple fur and darker purple mane with a stripe of pink and slightly lighter purple in it. Her wings were broad and well kept and she had a gentle smile on her face. A graceful horn coiled from beneath her fringe.
“Well, did you see her?” I said as if that was all the explanation that was necessary. I smiled broadly back at the three without a hint of shame. “I have never, in all my life, seen anything so cute! you'd have to have a heart of stone to not fall instantly in love!”
Bry and Twilight giggled at my enthusiasm, Fluttershy's smile simply broadened a little.
“Besides, I have been cooped up in that home of yours, it's nice to meet new people... ponies”
Twilight cringed a little if chastised.
“Oh, no,” I said as I lay a hand quickly on one of hers “it's ok, I know why, you don't have to feel guilty. You made me feel so welcome and meeting your friends was really nice” I gave her a firm nod of assurance. “I'm really grateful you took me in to your home, honest.”
She gave an unsure nod in reply with a frown.
“Honest, Twilight” I said again “thank you for looking after me, I was a little freaked out to begin with but you have all been so nice” I said gesturing to Bry and Fluttershy as well, alluding to her other friends too. “hopefully the Princesses can help me?” as I mentioned the Princesses, Twilight eyes darted down to the open book on her lap.
She looked back up to me; “You are always welcome in our home Ann, nothing will ever change that, ok?”
I didn't reply but instead gave another nod of assurance.
My eyes were drawn to the window of the carriage as we rounded a curve in the sheer face in the cliff and my eyes caught a glimpse of our destination. 'Canterlot', I had to correct myself a couple of times already from calling it Camelot. It was nestled on a shelf on the side of the mountain. If I were an engineer I may have balked at the mechanics of it all.
It looked as though it would fall in the slightest wind. Tall buildings stood in defiance of gravity in the shadow of the marble spires of the castle. I gasped in wonder at the sight of it.
“Nothing quite compares” Bry said as she took in the sight herself.
“Yeah” I said back absentmindedly as my eyes darted from building to building and back to the castle. “how” I said simply.
“Oh don't get her started” Bry said looking at Twilight with a giggle and showing off her cute dimples, “otherwise she won't stop. Lets just say 'magic' and be done with it”
“Well, yes Bry” Twilight said in a matter-of-fact tone “magic is a large part of it. The arcano-crystal geodes under the surface of the mountain are used to...”
“Yeah yeah Twi” Bry cut in again “magic” she said with a sweep of her arms.
I giggled at their back and forth then looked back out to the sight before me. I had not learned to use my wings yet but I imagined that I would be able to jump off the edge and soar like a bird. It was early afternoon and the sun was high in the sky. The marble structures gleamed and seemed like a mirage. I didn't think I would ever forget the sight.
As we drew towards the station the detailing on the buildings began to resolve in to my vision. Even the smallest cafe had artistic bas sculptures on its fascia. The white buildings themselves stood out boldly against the grey backdrop of the mountain wall. There was many buildings, far more than I had expected, but all the streets and avenues were spacious so it did not seem claustrophobic in the slightest.
Ponies of all colour and size walked through the streets, nearby the station a large market place was set and all manner of ware and foodstuff was being sold. It was a bustling city built with an artistic beauty not seen on Earth since ancient Athens.
I was gawking openly, and probably a bit embarrassingly.
The train finally stopped at the station. I allowed my trio of guides to lead me out to the platform then dashed to Punnet and Bastion to say goodbye. I gave the foal a little kiss on the forehead to sneak a little smell of that new baby aroma before waving them off to be lost in the crowds.
The destination was the castle of course. I think being a trans-dimensional being warranted an audience with the Princesses. I can only imagine what sort of reception a pony would have received from Earth.
I was gradually becoming more and more nervous as we followed the street toward the castle. I was going to meet the rulers of the land and I felt like everyone was looking at me. I hid some more of my ginger hair behind an ear.
Thankfully it was not a long walk. The castle itself towered over the surrounding buildings, in a way that if it were any other building would seem imposing. Instead the tall towers and crenelations surrounding them seemed like a kindly mother watching its children. Polished white marble and even more intricate bas carvings wound and dressed the castle and banners and flags rolled and fluttered against the wind.
It was utterly mesmerizing.
We walked the steps to the main entrance.
Guards stood to attention and bowed. I felt a flush of embarrassment, but I knew Twilight, Bry and Fluttershy to be important ponies so I did my best to hide it. I still felt watching eyes and I glanced behind to see ponies surreptitiously watching us. I turned quickly back to my guides and followed them through the entrance.
“Quite a sight isn't it?” Bry commented with a wink.
It was a vast entrance hall. Banners with alternating sun and moon motifs were lit by a multitude of grand windows. Marble stairs with plush red carpet coiled around a metal sculpture of a tree.
I was given barely a moment to catch flies in my gaping mouth before our small group headed to a hallway beyond the stairs.
Soft red carpet swept the length of the hallway and felt luxurious under hoof.
It was a building that was beautiful beyond compare and my nerves coiled firmly in my gut. The Princesses were clearly very important, and judging from the cleanliness and the care taken to keep the castle pristine they were either;
Tyrants who ruled with an iron fist, who would accept nothing less than perfection.
Or, what I knew to be the actual truth;
Benevolent forces of good whose people cared for them in equal measure.
At this point I did not know which would scare me more, terrifying ruthless dictators, or disappointing the benevolent and wise leaders of a beautiful nation.
Twilight led us through the hallways like someone who was intimately familiar with the layout. I was utterly lost and I felt that I would never be able to retrace my steps to the entrance. Finally she came to a stop by a doorway and turned to me.
“You don't have to worry Ann” she said with a nod “the Princesses really are quite nice, they have been looking forward to meeting you”.
I nodded jerkily in response and took a deep breath.
“No time like the present Twi'" Bry said as she stepped forward and opened the door.
It was a casual looking sitting room. Two large four piece sofa's were facing each-other and separated by a coffee table that was set for tea. Oak bookcases stuffed full with books lined the walls and large red curtains were tied back from a large balcony window.
The room had a cozy feel to it and the smell of what seemed to be a lemon scented tea was steeping in a pot on the table surrounded by delicious looking cakes.
Sitting on one of the sofas were the Princesses of the Sun and Moon.
I gasped aloud.
Princess Celestia was a white pure as the driven snow. Simply sitting she exuded an aura of calm. Her mane was a pastel melange of rainbow colours curling and waving like an aurora. Her lavender eyes had a depth to them in which you could fall and lose moments of your life. Her face was delicate with a soft jaw and angular cheek bones. She had a smile which lit the room. Her wings were broad and glossy and her horn looked delicate and fine.
She was a mesmerizing beauty beyond compare.
Until you compared her to her co-ruler.
Princess Luna sat in a dignified pose, almost stuffy in comparison to her sister. Her mane was dark and glittered with stars. Her dark blue fur contrasted with the pale blue of her eyes to give her a look of innocence that clashed with her posture. Her wings were equally broad and glossy and her horn poked through her mane like a tower through clouds.
She was a beauty equal of her sister in every way. But absolutely different at the same time.
My hand moved again back to my ginger hair self consciously as I looked to the floor.
“Ah” Princess Celestia's voice sounded. It was warm and promised friendship. “Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends finally arrive!” she said in a jovial tone.
Princess Twilight Sparkle?!
I shot a scandalized look at my friend and received a cringing flush in response.
“Friends” Princess Luna said gesturing to the sofa opposite the beautiful goddesses “please sit with us”
I stood stock still as Twilight, Princess Twilight and Bry moved to the sofa, my eyes darting around the room. Fluttershy moved to my side and took my hand.
“It's okay Ann” she whispered to me “you are among friends here”
She led me to the sofa and I sat directly across from the Princess of the Moon.
Sitting now I could tell that both Princesses were taller than average by several inches. They seemed to look down at us, but with smiles and kind eyes instead of judgement. Fluttershy sat beside me and pushed me towards Bry's side as she pushed herself in to me.
It was a small gesture but being pressed between two ponies who I had become to trust allowed me to still my beating heart enough to calm and stop my hands from shaking.
The three Princesses waited calmly as I batted away a potential nervous breakdown.
Princess Celestia leaned over and proceeded to fill a teacup for me. She looked in to my eyes with those bottomless pools of lavender. “We have much to discuss Ann” she said with a kindly smile, before it dropped a little “we must discuss your place in our world.”
I gave her a couple of jerky nods.
Princess Luna piped up. “Please do not fear us Ann” I'm not sure that she realised but it was certainly not fear I was feeling, it was utter awe.
I have had some comments in the past you see from friends calling me greedy. Why greedy you ask? Well. And please don't mistake my friends of being cruel here, it was all in jest and I knew it, sometimes I joked about it myself.
I am bisexual.
I have had male and female partners. To me it isn't about what is between someones legs, but what is in their head and heart. Sure there has to be a physical attraction, but the sex of that person was, for me, never a factor.
For me if I am attracted to someone and their personality meshes well with mine then they are fair game!
And I was greeted here with two astounding beauties, known for their kindness and grace and benevolence.
They were welcoming me to their palace, which was ostensibly their home.
In my mind I was hoping they would show me their bedrooms and I would be the filling to a Princess sandwich.
I looked up to the Princess of the Moon and my eyes trailed her delicate neck and I imagined nibbling on her fur.
I felt a furious blush from my chest to my cheeks and I wondered if they had noticed my trailing eyes.
Princess Luna winked.
My eyes darted to the table and I picked up a cake and stuffed it right in my mouth.
“We are here to discuss your home” Celestia said in a warm tone. “for, you see, you are not the first human to come to us”
My eyes widened and I gasped “you can send me back!”
Celestia looked down to her own tea cup, and without looking up she said “to explain that, we must first explain how you happened to arrive here, Ann.”
I nodded waiting.
Bry took a hand of mine in her own. “Arrite, Ann. Names Brian Smith, canny ta meet ya”
My eyes shot to hers as I heard the geordie tone in her voice
“Aye, that's right pet” she.. he said.
“But” I whispered “how long?”
“Well, that's a bit of a story” he said masking the geordie lilt exceptionally well. “theoretically there is a way back, but Ann, you must understand what we are going to explain to you will get a little esoteric. These ponies may all look primitive but they know the universe in a way that would make Einstein look like a toddler. I'm here to help explain it in a way that a human would understand”
“Quite, Lady Brian” Luna said formally “we shall endeavour to be as straightforward as possible, Brian herself has been useful to us in the past week via correspondence. We believe we have distilled the information down to the basics so you may understand us fully and the consequences of the information we give.”
I nodded again.
“Best if we start, eh princess?” Brian said “so, Ann, if I were to say to you 'string theory' what would you say?”
I puzzled that for a moment before responding. I had heard it before but I didn't really know what it was. “It's something to do with atoms?” I questioned.
“Right, kind of.”
“Ann,” Celestia went on “and what have you learned of magic?”
“Not much, honestly” I said.
“Ok” Brian cut in again “Ann, first off, the multiverse is an actual thing, have you ever heard the theory that every time a decision is made or something is done with two possible outcomes then two universes will diverge and both possibilities will happen?”
I had seen enough TV and watched enough films to have heard of that so I gave a nod.
Brian nodded back and looked to Celestia.
“Good,” she said “this will make this a little easier. Now, dear Ann, the universe as we know it is held together by.. a filament of sorts.” she nodded toward Brian “your scientists theorize something resembling strings, quite descriptive and a nice analogy. These filaments bind everything together, and hold them. You yourself are held together by these strings, all your atoms, all your molecules tied together inextricably, and those strings tie you to the world, and the universe in turn. These strings hold everything we know and can perceive. Even light itself.”
She paused for a moment. I gave her a nod to continue.
“We believe that your stings in your universe were cut somehow and you became detached from your reality and...”
“Just a sec Princess” Brian cut in again and reached over to a vase in the middle of the table. He plucked a petal from a rose then laid it on the table. “imagine that is the reality we are in” he said “absolutely everything, from you to me to the stars, the planet, absolutely everything, and you are wound in to it like a tapestry, its like a membrane that you are a part of.” he plucked another petal and placed it on top “and this is another reality, another universe and everything in it, except there is a single difference” he looked up at me “this is the simplest way to explain it, the universes stack like this over and over, each time they change a tiny amount. Not big things like one day you had coffee instead of tea, but tiny things like a single atom spins anticlockwise instead of clockwise.” he plucked another petal “and this universe has two differences to the first, two atoms spin in a different direction” he plucked more and more petals placing them on top of each-other “and another, and another, finally the differences add up and something visible changes”
“Quite” Princess Luna interjected. “magic you see is a way to manipulate these strings Ann. Teleportation was little understood in the beginning but an event led to this discovery. Before it was found to be false, ponies thought teleportation was moving through our own universe in an instant. I myself discovered this to not be the case.” she took a deep breath and closed her eyes “A long time past I was forced to teleport farther than I ever had before. It was a time of strife in our kingdom and there was a skirmish which I was to partake, after my teleportation my generals swore on their oaths that my armour was different, to me it looked as it always had. On return to our keep I visited the armourer who studied the metals of my armour and found it to be an alloy different to that which he had made it. Interestingly he was also adamant that he had considered using this alloy and had thought on the matter for several weeks before coming to his decision to make it different.”
“Luna had crossed in to what we now refer to as an 'outlier'” Celestia explained. “A universe far enough removed from our own to have a visible difference. Her armour in this case, a single decision from a blacksmith.”
“Yes,” Luna continued “the discovery led to certain troubles in our kingdom” she said as she looked up to Celestia taking her hand before looking back at me “up until that point no pony had traveled as far as I via teleport, we discovered that teleportation is not the act of moving through our universe instantly, but separating ourselves from our universe and falling to the next, the farther you travel, the more magic you channel, the longer you are cast adrift in the ether”.
“But..” the implications of what they were saying was terrifying “..so you aren't this universes original Luna?”
“And I am not this universes original Celestia” Princess Celestia said “any pony who teleports transports themselves to a different but almost indistinguishable universe to their own. A one which another of themselves teleports from, the closeness of our realities and the almost non existent differences mean that both ponies make the same decision at the same time and continue their lives as if nothing happened.”
“But the armour?”
“Yes Ann, the armour. Magic you see is our ability to manipulate the strings on our flower petal, but we believe it to have a sentience of sorts. Teleportation relies upon three things, cutting oneself from their membrane and falling to the next and the pony being moved to the place they request. This is the reason that we visualize where we wish to go, so the sentience of the membrane we wish to travel to can interpret, then move itself to place us. The final thing is the power we channel, the further you wish to travel the harder it is to.... persuade the sentience to move itself so that it may catch us correctly where we wish. This means falling through more realities than originally intended. Teleportation perhaps an inch to the left and you would never know the difference, teleport to the border of your country and then you may notice something. Perhaps your armour made of a different alloy, or your hair being dressed in a different manner. To the caster it appears to be an instant, but we have found the farther you 'fall' through realities the longer it takes to appear in the new reality, it appears like an instant to the caster, but a fraction of a fraction of a second may pass before you appear to observers”
“Ann” Brian said with a frown “there is an infinite amount of universes” he said stacking petal upon petal on the table “an uncountable number before you even see tiny differences between them” roses all freshly plucked he picked up a tulip and pulled off a petal. “we don't know how far we fell to get here, consider the differences between their world and ours. It is not just ponies replacing humans, the continents are different, the solar system has different planets and orbits. The sun orbits the planet”
My eyes widened as I took in the meaning behind their words.
Brian looked down and dropped the petal. “we could have been falling for millennia and never known” he looked at me with tears in his eyes “and it could take a millennia to get back, if it were even possible”.
I gasped out a sob as my throat constricted, breath was suddenly hard to come by and I looked desperately to the ponies around me. Brian's hand tightened on mine and I looked in to his eyes. I could see the loss and his pain hidden beneath the surface. He released my hand and pulled my head to his shoulder and gave me a crushing hug as he himself croaked out a sob. “It's ok” he whispered “it's ok. We're here pet”
My body was wracked with sobbing convulsions as I wept in to his collar bone. Fluttershy pressed in to my back and cooed, stroking my mane back and wings.
The only noises in the room were my own as I shamelessly buried myself in their embrace, grasping for traction against the despair of loss.
I would never again see my friends or family. My mother and father, brothers and sisters. I wept as I mourned.
I don't know how long my tears lasted but after a while my despairing wail became softer and I came back to my senses. I lifted my head and whispered out an apology, Bry's dress was probably ruined.
“Sorry” I said again as I wiped at my face with my hands and sniffled.
Celestia passed me a tissue as I attempted to clean myself up a little. “Ann” she said gesturing to a large mirror set in the corner of the room “we do not know for certain how long you passed through universes to land in ours. This mirror was an experiment of an old friend. Every day for twenty years she charged a crystal array with the entirety of her magic and once done cast a spell to bind another world to our own.” she looked at me meaningfully “it was a staggering amount of magical potential stored and cast, it was the work of a lifetime. It connects our own universe to another far different from our own, but close enough to still be recognizable”
“One pony's life work Ann” Bry said “and it is still recognizable to an extent, the universe there has sentience” I gave him a confused look.
Princess Twilight chose this moment to speak up “it changes you Ann, it changes you to fit in to the membrane there, the sentience of the universe you are in now is the reason you are a pony, it saw you falling and it caught you, we think that it saw you and Brian lost and falling and took it upon itself to save you from falling forever, to do so though it had to bring you to itself in a form it could understand and bind to itself.”
“Our universe had no sentience Ann” Brian said “all the signs it does just don't exist there, most of all a sentient universe would never cast a part of itself away like it did us. Our universe is so different to theirs that something that they thought to be impossible, an inert universe, happened” he said "we're not going home, pet."
I nodded tears still falling from my eyes.
“And that leads us to now” Celestia rose from her seat and moved around the table “now I don't want you to worry” she said as she brought herself to a crouch before me and took both my hands “as I know this will sound frightening” I looked down at my lap, one of her hands moved from mine to my chin and raised my eyes to hers, her hand left my chin and her eyes captured mine in place.
Her hand raised further up my head.
And tapped my horn.
“you see Ann, you are the newest Princess of Equestria”
Author's Note
So i'm not really sure where I am going to go with this, I was having trouble with some stuff in another story so decided to just do this. I'll probably do periodic updates as ideas pop in to my head.
“And this is our living room” Celestia said to me as she led me through to doorway to a large sitting room. Luna and Celestia both held my hands, Celestia on my right and Luna on my left. Both ponies had barely been able to release my hands for a moment since the revelation that I was some how supposed to be a co-ruler of a kingdom that I barely understood. I had not said a word, and my face was utterly blank, but my thoughts were a dizzying haze. My hands held theirs hard, worrying that if I let go I might fall in to a pit and never see light again.
I was to be taking up residence with the two Princesses, I had been taken from the greeting room in the lower levels of the castle and shown to the residential part of the castle, which was kept quite separate from the administrative part.
It was self contained. It was cozy.
It was far too much for me.
I looked around the room. Trinkets lined shelves weighted down with books and four large cushions lay on the floor, each large enough to sleep upon. A log burning stove was situated to my right with a well used copper kettle hanging on a hook beside it. In front of me was two large glass doors which opened to a balcony which overlooked a large courtyard surrounded by a curtain wall with towers dotting it at intervals. Beyond that was the view of Canterlot proper, and beyond even that the rolling hills and valleys of Equestria itself.
I felt like an impostor.
'You're a princess' I kept repeating to myself in my head. The childhood dream of all little girls everywhere. Princess of a magical kingdom of magical ponies and the apparent peer of beautiful and wise princess rulers.
I had never felt so lost.
I looked to Luna, she looked tired. It was late afternoon and I was keeping her from her slumber. I knew it to be true that she kept a more nocturnal schedule. The thought of keeping her from her sleep gave me an additional stab of guilt to the gut.
“Umm” I mumbled out “you don't have to stay up on my account Princess.” I said a little louder.
She smiled back at me giving my hand a soft squeeze “'Tis no trouble, dear Ann. Although I feel I must retire soon. Perhaps once we have shown you your room I may rest”
“Oh, okay” I said and looked down to the plush red carpet on the floor, scuffing it with my hoof.
It had been barely an hour since the revelation that I would neither see my home again nor be able to live in relative peace and be forgotten.
Apparently the horn on my head, combined with the wings on my back was a pretty big deal. I had originally dismissed these parts of my new self as unimportant, considering that of the few people I had met one of them had the same parts, I thought that it was normal, banal. I was gravely mistaken.
Now I had met more ponies I realized that the only ones with both wings and horns were the ones labelled 'princess' and by association, I was now a princess.
I needed some time to myself. “Can I see my room?” I said whilst giving a pleading look to Celestia.
“Of course, Ann. But first, a gift from your friends.” Celestia said before her horn lit up and a small parcel appeared in her spare hand. Both Princesses released my hands and instead crossed their arms over my shoulders.
“Open it” Luna said gently in my ear.
I unwrapped the unassuming little package and revealed the gift. It was a simple wooden picture frame, basic and well made. Framed was a picture of myself with Bry sitting on the sofa by me in the library of her home. Twilight flanked me at my other side. Behind the sofa stood Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rainbow and Applejack, all completely nude and with beaming smiles on their faces.
“The first of many, I believe” Celestia said to me reverently taking the picture from my shaking hands and moving to the mantle to my right before placing it among a collection of pictures of the Princesses themselves with a multitude of ponies I had not met.
“We should give you some time to situate yourself, Ann” Celestia said “we shall show you your room and give you some moments, then perhaps later on we could spend some time together?” she gave me a questioning glance and I gave a jerky nod in return “In the evening we should meet Princess Twilight, Brian and Fluttershy in the dining area.”
She turned and led me back down a short hall to an unassuming door. “And this, Ann, shall be your room during your stay with us”
Luna stepped forward to open the door and led me to a large room which had little in the way of personality. My room at home was cluttered with pictures and trinkets. Little mementoes of holidays and reminders of friends. Clothes and makeup. It wasn't tidy, but it was mine.
This room was bare aside from the furniture which it held. There was a bed far larger than I would ever have need of, which rose to the mid of my thigh and was covered in a soft looking red satin quilt. Many large pillows lay at the head of the bed so that sitting up you could look through the large balcony windows at the opposite side of the room. Thick red curtains were tied back revealing the sunny day beyond.
A dressing table with a single drawer devoid of any clutter was to the left of the door with a carved wooden mirror upon it. At the opposite side of the bed was a large wardrobe and a full length mirror.
'You're a princess' I repeated to myself again silently.
“Umm, thanks” I said to the Princesses, “can I just have a little time alone?”
“Of course, Ann. But should you need anything please let us know.” Luna stepped forward and kissed me on the cheek. “We are by you Ann, you need only call” she said looking in to my eyes before she stepped back to Celestia, turned to face her and gave her a warm kiss right on the lips. My eyes boggled at the sight. 'Aren't they sisters' I thought to myself before schooling my expressions again. “Good afternoon to you Celestia” she said then stepped out of the doorway, presumably to go to sleep.
Celestia stepped towards me and captured both my hands in hers while her eyes captured both of mine in their bottomless depths.
“As Luna has said, Ann, we are but a call away. Should you need anything do not hesitate to let us know.” she leaned forward and kissed me on the opposite cheek to Luna. “I shall be in the sitting room, please come and sit with me when you feel ready?”
I nodded to her in response. “T-Thanks Princess”
Celestia interjected “Please Ann, call me Celestia”
“Oh, um, thanks Celestia, I will”
Without further ado she gave me a firm nod, turned and closed the door behind herself on her way out to leave me alone.
'You're a princess'
I stood for a moment simply staring at the shut door and took several deep breaths. Since I had arrived in Equestria I had not admitted to myself the possibility that I may be stranded here, but deep down I knew that the possibility was there.
I walked around the bed to the large full length mirror and took a moment to really look at the body I now owned.
A copper coloured mane was tucked behind my ears revealing my face. I leaned forwards to allow the light from the balcony windows illuminate my features. Large green eyes flecked with silver looked back at me. Unfamiliar but similar to what I was used to. High cheek bones and straight nose covered with pale, almost white fur. A delicate jawline that tapered to a soft point. I turned my head to the side and looked at my pointed ear. A hand raised and traced the length of it. I turned and looked at the other and did the same. They lacked lobes and reached to an angular point at the tip.
My hands distracted me as I traced the outsides of my ears. Familiar but lacking of a finger. I moved both hands before me and spread my fingers. It did not feel alien to me.
I moved both hands to behind my neck and untied the bow of the blue dress I had been wearing. Bow released I allowed the dress to fall to my hooves and I stepped out of it.
I had a figure now that I would have given my right arm for back on earth. My tummy, previously with a little paunch was flat and toned, my hips were feminine and curved. I brushed my hands down my abdomen and felt the subtle bulges of muscles under the pale fur.
My breasts were larger than I was used to. A generous C or D cup, not excessive, they fit my new figure perfectly. Both were symmetrical with pink nipples bare of fur. I raised my hands and cupped them. They felt unfamiliar in my hands, larger and perkier than what I was used to.
I spread my wings, careful not to knock them against the wardrobe and wall. They spread to around six feet either side of my torso. Without magic they would be incapable of flight, a bird my size back on earth would require wings much, much larger.
They were unkempt. The feathers were looking ragged and dry, since my arrival I had been offered a preening by both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. I had refused assuming that I would not have to suffer them long. After all I was going home soon was I not?.
I fluttered them a little and cringed at the itchy feel.
My arms were slender and long, but not long enough to look awkward or gangly. I turned to my side to view my profile.
Flat tummy, large wings, full breasts and a full mane that cascaded to the small of my back with a glossy metallic copper look.
“You're a Princess” I whispered again, aloud, “this is you now, Annabelle”
I hiccoughed a soft sob, but I was not done yet.
I flicked my tail, the feeling was alien like a tickling in the base of my spine. My copper tail swished in response then settled around what was the equivalent of a pony ankle. I turned back to the mirror and looked to the most unfamiliar part of my new body.
My penis hung over my testicles. Not being a virgin I knew it to be large and thick, larger and thicker than I had ever seen in person. I took it in a hand and held it to look at it closer. It was not like a humans. It was flat tipped with a ring at around roughly a third of its length from the base. It was a pink fleshy colour. My hand dropped and moved to my testicles, they were larger than should be expected and had a soft downy fur on them.
My hand moved down further still and I felt the cleft of my womanhood. It felt familiar. I was thankful for that.
Finally I looked down at my hooves. The structure of my legs was foreign and sometimes difficult to maneuver. I felt like I was constantly battling to remain upright. I had a feeling my school yard nickname of 'Clatter-belle' would see a resurgence. I had never been the most graceful of girls, quite the contrary, I was fairly clumsy.
I moved back and sat on the bed, drew my legs up to my chest.
'Princess Annabelle Wright'
I looked at myself in the mirror and wept.
“Ah, Ann” Celestia said as I walked back in to the sitting room some time later. She took in the look on my face and smiled softly at me. She was laying on one of the large seat cushions, propped on an elbow and reading from some papers.
“Umm, I'm not interrupting your work am I” I said rustling my wings.
“Not at all” she said as she gave my wings a glance. “How are you feeling?”
“Ok I suppose, it's a lot to get used to, i'm feeling a little overwhelmed I think”
"Unsurprising, you have had to deal with a lot this last week, Ann" she said as she rolled on to her back and lay her head on some smaller cushions. “It would do you good to be taken care of, Ann. Come, let me take care of you” she beckoned me towards herself with both hands held upwards.
My eyes shot wide at the phrasing whilst looking at her heavenly body, I knew ponies to be more open about their sexuality.
Celestia giggled; “I mean to preen your wings, Ann. Will you let me?” she gestured with her hands again for me to move to her, I assumed to help her stand from the floor.
“Oh!” I fought down a furious blush “of course!” I stumbled towards her and took her hands. “I thought... well... um”
Before I had a chance to set myself to help her up she surprised me by instead pulling me towards her on the cushion.
I fell to my knees, straddling her waist and my dress rode up to my mid thigh. “Oh, I'm so sorry!” I blurted out.
Celestia said nothing but took my head and drew me in to her chest.
With my dress riding perilously high on my thighs and my face enveloped my two soft furry mounds of flesh I hissed out an embarrassed squeak.
Celestia said nothing as she stroked my mane and turned my head to the side. Her other hand snaked down to the base of my spine and pressed me gently in to her.
“Relax, Ann. Lay yourself down and allow me to take care of your beautiful wings.”
I complied with stuttering motions. My legs straightened out and lay beside hers. My face was on fire as I attempted to restore propriety by shuffling my dress back down to a less revealing height on my legs.
“Sorry” I said again as I moved my hands back to either side of her torso, trying hard not to touch her.
“That's quite all right Ann. Just relax” she said as one of her hands continued to stroke the length of my mane and the other brushed up and down my back. “your wings, rightly so, look like they have never been preened” she said.
I nodded my head, still pressed in to her chest.
“This will not take long” she whispered to me.
After a moment I heard a clicking in her throat and her hands left me splayed out upon her. Her arms raised and I could hear further clicking and the sound of her tongue moving on her fingers. A further moment or two later and her hands moved to my left wing and teased it up and open slightly. No further words were said as she moved through the feathers of my wing. I allowed my heart to slow to a more sedate pace as she preened and shuffled feathers in to alignment. I could feel the warmth of her body heating my front from head to groin to inner thighs.
For the first time since I had come to Equestria I truly allowed myself to relax and be pampered, for that is what it felt like.
Celestias hands moved with precision and care. Her breaths pushed up and down my body upon her. Her steady heartbeat lulled me to rest and I closed my eyes.
I awoke slowly. The first thing that occurred to me was the warmth I was feeling. I felt as if I was wrapped in a cotton wool cocoon and put beside a fireplace. I stirred a little bathing in the sensation. The second thing that occurred to me was the softness of my bed.
I rolled my hand and grasped a pillow gently, pulling it to my face and nuzzling.
I slowly became more aware and heard soft humming. A song like a lullaby with no words.
Then I felt my mane being stroked, long copper locks being separated by fingers at my scalp then travelling down my neck.
I became aware of a heartbeat, not my own, coming from under my head and hand.
My eyes shot open and I froze.
Held in my hand was Celestia's left breast.
Princess Celestia's pert 'double d'.
I was nuzzling Princess Celestia of Equestria's right breast.
And I couldn't let go, I was frozen solid, and truth be told a little turned on.
I lay on Princess Celestia of Equestria, the Dawnbringer, with my new penis betraying me mightily by slowly waking up itself.
I was beyond embarrassment, beyond mortified. Her wings were wrapped around me and her other hand was tickling up and down my back. My dress, in my impromptu slumber, had ridden back up to the tops of my thighs, likely exposing myself to anyone who would enter the room.
I could clearly feel a breeze on my testicles.
I squeaked and shot up, but still straddled Celestia's hips and tried to tug my dress back down. “Sorry!”
“Welcome back, Ann.” she said with a soft smile, as if a pony falling asleep on her and groping her tit was nothing. Her mane drifted like an aurora around her head as she lay. I tried to look anywhere else but my eyes flicked to the breast and pink nipple I had been groping like a horny teen.
“Umm, sorry!” I said again, looking shiftily side to side. “S-SHOWER!” I blurted as I shot to my hooves “yes, shower!” I turned my back to her as quick as I could to hide my shame from her before it got any worse.
“Of course Ann, your wings have been preened so you should rinse them, I must admit though that I rather indulged myself with stroking out your mane, I hope you don't mind?”
“NO!” I almost shouted, “I mean no, that's ok!”
I dashed to the door and stumbled out to the hall. As I walked the short distance to the bathroom I was grateful for the privacy the enclosed nature of the residential quarters afforded. My penis was stiffening and I could feel a strange sensation in my testicles. I hadn't given myself the pleasure of masturbating in the week since I possessed my new genitalia. I felt embarrassed about them and I would certainly have not masturbated in someone else's home.
I burst in to the bathroom and locked it behind myself, the image of Celestia laid out under me with her perfect face and figure was burned in to my irises.
I darted to the shower and turned it on cold then started to take off my dress. I stood for a moment panting and tried to rid myself of my anxiety.
My penis was fully erect, pointing to the heavens. It was larger than I expected, it was something I felt a porn star would be envious of.
I gave myself a moment to think and a naughty thought entered my head.
I looked back to the arctic waters cascading from the shower then back to my penis.
My hand moved to the temperature dial and changed it to a nice warm temperature instead.
'Well Ann, this is your home now isn't it?'
I gave the shower a few moments to heat up. I could feel my penis bobbing in time with my heartbeat. It felt strange, alien, but hot. I could feel hot dampness on the lips of my vagina. I needed this release.
I stepped in to the shower, it was warm, but not too warm. I moved myself to position my head under the jets of water and wet my mane. Water trailed down my chest and back, larger drips fell from my chin to my penis. I stood fully under the water and pressed my hands in to the wall and looked down at the flattened tip of my 'stallionhood'.
A nervous flutter tickled down my torso as my right hand moved in halting motions to the stiff rod. I looked away as my hand encircled it and gripped softly as water continued to drip to the tip of it.
It was a different feeling holding a penis that was attached to myself. I thought of my previous partners and what they enjoyed as I released my hold and trailed feather-light touches up to the ridge at the tip.
I felt a hot tingling, pulsing warmth as my finger circled the head of my shaft. It was unlike anything I had experienced, like I was pleasuring a part of me outside of myself, something disconnected. There was a strange dissonance, I attempted to compare the feeling of stimulation to what I was more familiar with.
But it was good. It was a feeling I could enjoy.
My fingers moved away and I brought my hand back to the base of my penis, below the strange ridge of flesh near the base.
I grasped once more and hummed out a noise of agreement.
“Oh” I gasped as I slowly drew my hand from the base to the tip, before stifling the noise with my other hand and thinking instead 'I could certainly get used to this'. I started with slow motions up and down. My legs twitched each time my hand pressed over the fleshy ridge. My slow motions gradually increased in pace as I increased the strength of my grip.
My other hand moved to a breast and grasped firmly. I had always loved my breasts to be held and massaged during sex, the touch shot warmth and an electric tingle down my front to my mons. I tweaked a nipple firmly then moved to the other as my hand kept at the motions with my penis, up and down the full length.
The feeling of it in my hand was extraordinary. It was strange in a way, but the wings on my back felt more natural, the horn on my head inert. The missing finger on each hand felt ordinary and my hooves and new structure of my legs routine.
My penis in contrast felt like a true anomaly. The feelings sent to my brain strange, mysterious, but not in an unpleasant way.
I looked back down to remind myself that I was indeed stroking my penis.
A generous helping of pre was cresting the ridge on the underside of the tip, so I released my breast and scooped it up with a finger, jolting a little as my finger tickled the ridge. It looked so normal, cloudy, viscous, the strange feeling of detachment and arousal was keen in my thoughts.
I took my finger to my mouth and tasted, I felt no revulsion at all. I had swallowed much more in the past after all.
It tasted as expected, a little salty. It coated my teeth and stuck like I was used to.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on feeling the touch on my penis. My vision was suddenly overcome with the image Princess Celestia laid out on the cushion.
I gasped again but sped up. My other hand descended my torso and cupped my testicles. The warmth from my hand and the running water felt unusual but so sexy. I looked over to the bathroom mirror that was getting foggy with steam and looked at the beautiful mare hunched over and bashing away at her groin.
My eyes closed and I groaned again as I felt a buildup of pressure. The hand cupping my testicles dropped to the cleft of my mons and my index finger pressed in to the valley of it, the palm of my hand softly grinding in to my clitoris.
I gasped even louder at the juxtaposed sensations of the unexpected and familiar.
The pressure built more and the pace of my hand on my penis increased, my other hand pressed more firmly in to my womanhood. I curled my finger around and gently eased it in to my channel. My eyes closed again and instead of viewing the naked Celestia laid out, I was the voyeur to a heated kiss between the two rulers.
The pressure built in to a crescendo and suddenly, unexpectedly, released. It was an utterly different kind of orgasm. The usual sense of fulfillment was replaced by a need to release. To void.
I dropped to my knees as shot after shot of semen raced out of me. My hand released the now sensitive phallus but my other pressed further inside so I could feel the throbbing of my channel in time to the pulsing release of my penis.
I panted and my hands dropped to the wet floor of the shower as my orgasm tapered off to nothing, the water now pattering down on to my wings instead of my head.
“Holy fuck” I said as I looked down to my now softening penis. A long string of semen still attached to the tip and dangling lewdly to the floor of the shower.
I looked up and examined the aftermath of my orgasm and cringed.
I scooped up a particularly big rope from the wall and flicked it down the drain.
Someone would need to clean that.
After drying as thoroughly as I could and tying my mane up I had returned to Celestia in the sitting room, feeling rather flushed. Thankfully, but embarrassingly my stomach had chosen the moment I had opened the door to release a feral growl of hunger. After all, I had nothing to eat, bar a bite sized cake, since leaving Bry and Princess Twilight's home.
Celestia had giggled but led me back down the stairs to a communal dining room, explaining it was time for our evening meal anyway.
Waiting seated at the table was Princess Twilight, Bry and Fluttershy. All three had chosen one side of the table which was set for five, two seats facing them were for Celestia and I it appeared.
“Hi” Princess Twilight called as we entered the room, I was still feeling a little flushed in the aftermath of my masturbation session so I quickly trotted to the table and unceremoniously plopped my rear on the seat.
“Hello Princess, Bry, Fluttershy” I said giving each a nod.
Princess Twilight cringed from her position between the other two. “Please Ann, I'm just Twilight, or Twi” she said earnestly.
“Sorry” I said before my nose caught the scent of cooked fish. My stomach let out another loud grumble as Celestia sat beside me. “I smell fish!” I said with enthusiasm as I inspected the many sets of cutlery on the table wondering what it was all for.
“Oh, sorry about that” Bry said before turning to Twilight and prodding her in the ribs. She jumped, huffed silently and raised an eyebrow back.
“Shut your legs will you pet, we're eating soon” A scandalized look crossed her features. The look of a long suffering girlfriend. It was so familiar. So Human.
She picked up a bread-stick and batted him.. her? On the forehead quite firmly.
Twilight looked ready to respond before looking in my direction, then smiling back at Bry and giving a nod.
I was giggling like a lunatic. I have always been inclined to laugh at inappropriate things. Toilet humour. But it was more than just the joke, there was a catharsis to it. I laughed for far longer than was likely to be appropriate or warranted before, with an aching face and tummy, and tears in my eyes, I looked up at Bry.
“Thanks” I said.
“Nee worries pet”
“Bry” I said after I had finally stopped my manic laughter. “do you get used to it?” I said in a more somber tone. The other ponies had previously glanced over at me and seemed quite delighted that Bry had managed to extract a laugh and seemed to be giving the two of us a little time to chat. “I mean, you know. You were a man?”
“Oh yeah, much more of a man now though," he winked at me "just much more of a mare too”
“But you're kinda a girl?”
“Yup” ...she said.
“Did you have problems? I know you and the girls are kind of in a relationship...” I paused for a moment. “are...you're one of the girls?”
“Oh, I see what you are getting at pet. Well, its not really like that you see, 'she', 'her' its kind of their way of referring to people, sex has nothing to do with it. Don't worry about referring to me as feminine, I've been here long enough to get used to it” she said. “same for you pet, your still a lass eh, just got a big cock and bollocks to go with it.”
I gasped at her rough language, flicking my eyes to the Princesses.
“Ah, don't worry about it Ann” she said waving a hand dismissively “these lot" and another flick of the wrist "are always talking about cocks and fannies and getting railed, it's something you get used to. Am I right ladies?” Bry called out to the rest of the diners.
“Sorry Bry, what was that?” Twi said. My mouth and eyes were still wide at her saying such things in front of the rulers of Ponykind.
“Cocks and bollocks pet. Shagging and all that, I think Ann was wondering about what it is considered polite conversation”
“Bry!” Twilight said “you can't just tell her that it's okay to talk about sex and, what was that word you use? Wanking?” Bry nodded in response “that in public. Foals might hear!” she concluded.
Bry gave me a 'told you so' look. “Yeah, yeah Twi, the adults are talking now” and he grinned at her mischievously before turning back to me. “you see Ann, there is some things you are probably going to be a little surprised about. These ponies sitting here being all naked and sexy isn't anything new, its commonplace for them.” she said giving me a pointed look “doesn't mean we cant appreciate it of course, but sex, wanking, talking about dicks and fadges, it's all fair game. It's a bit jarring at first, but honestly, you get used to it quick.” she had a look of consideration for a couple of moments before concluding; “it's also super liberating. You don't really get how suppressed human society is until you live with oversexed horses for a little while.”
I nodded as my eyes darted to the other ponies around the table. They were all absolutely naked, aside from myself and Bry not a thread of clothing was on display.
I tried my hardest to remember another pony wearing clothes, and aside from myself and Bry I could not place a single one. Rarity of course was adamant that she was fully clothed at all times, but to a human that was impossible to argue. given her attire.
In the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of Celestia's breasts and her large white penis in her lap. My eyes darted to the table and I startled as I felt her place a hand on the back of mine whilst still looking at and talking to Twilight and Fluttershy.
Bry leaned over the table and whispered in my ear. “Princess Celestia's hot as fuck isn't she”
I blushed a furious crimson and batted her on the shoulder. Boys!.
I leaned over myself and covertly asked her whilst the others were distracted. “Luna and Celestia... are they, sisters?”
“nah pet” she whispered back at me.
“Are they... you know?”
She sat back down and gave me a look that only a naughty boy can seem to replicate. Even on her feminine face it was the expression that drove many girls to distraction. Commonly referred to as the 'shit eating grin'.
