John Sampson's Story

“Hey, John, while we’re on the subject of lunch, it’s here.” Celestia hinted.

“Yeh. And I bet it’s veggies for me and cakes for you.”

“John, you’re not an Alicorn that burns energy like a hummingbird.”

“It will be less messy if I get Bud to help with this. See you in a bit.”

Hey Bud. What do you think of the story so far? Yes we did, Bud. Can you handle lunch and toilet while I take a break?

“How are we feeling, Bud?”

“Much better, Your Majesty. I can’t believe we did all these fantastic things!”

“Bud, this is just the beginning.”

Lunch was the predicted veggies or cake. I compromised and had carrot cake.

hey john. we had carrot cake for lunch. fooled you. she tried. all yours

I spent the whole lunch eating mechanically and trying to figure out what this was going to mean. It would certainly change things with Swift. But maybe for the better. It also explained some things about Fred. Time for answers. “Twilight, we need to have some serious conversation. You will want Spike to record this.”

“John, you don’t have to worry. This is a good thing.”

“I know that. There are other things that you don’t know about and I need to tap your knowledge of magical theory.

“Swift, you need to pay attention to this. It bears directly on whether or not you get what you want.

“You ready, Spike?”

Spike nodded, Swift got comfortable, and Twilight looked really worried.

“First, all living beings on Equestria have some magic. Not all can manipulate magic outside of their body. Correct?”

“Simple but accurate,” Agreed Twilight.

“Those that can manipulate the magic need an organ to do it with. The more specific the organ the more specific the magic. For example, Pegusi aren’t even close to being able to fly by physical means. They use magic manipulated through their wings.”

“That’s a classic example though I wonder where you heard it.”

“Hold on to that thought. Individuals have specific talents. Their personal magic is strongest within these talents.”

The part about talents is also accurate. That’s what cutie marks are for.”

“Fred has always had speed, strength, and non-verbal communication as his talents. After we arrived here he became several times stronger and faster. And he developed an ability to communicate directly into my mind. I believe that being an equine, he tapped into Equestria and magic almost immediately when we got here.”

“That’s a big jump in logic there. What organ could he be using to focus this magic?”

“What organ does an Earth pony use?”

“An Earth pony’s magic is focused in her hooves and muscles.”

“You mean kinda like a horse that can gallop as fast as a Pegasus flies?”

“I read that report but it seemed obvious that the Pegasus was having an off day or some other random factor had skewed the results.”

Swift spoke up, “Twilight, I was there. That pasture is close to two thousand yards long. He was covering that length in well under a minute. But that’s not the amazing part. He was making square turns at that speed. That’s what messed Windy up. There’s no doubt. That horse has some strong magic.”

“Then we’ll just have to go out there and examine him.”

“Twilight, we have to go out there. We need to bring the rest of my possessions here for safe storage. But there’s no need to wait to perform your examination. It’s happening to me too.”

“John, are you sure?”

“Ask Swift about this morning’s PT.”

“You know what a deadpony ball is, Twilight?”

“I've got a horn, don’t I?”

“He was tossing them around like apples.”

“Are you sure?”

“Colonel Steel Will offered to get him a set Minotaur weights.”

“. . . . “

“Spike, I think I broke her again.”

A slightly red Twilight said, “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

“Nope.”

“John, I want to do a magical examination of you. I will be very careful because you are such an unknown but it should be completely safe. Do I have your permission?”

“Didn’t I come in here to ask you to do it? Yes.”

“Take all of your clothes off and lay down on the floor flat on your back. Try to relax as much as you can. It’s even better if you sleep.”

“Flat on my back, buck naked, at the mercy of two beautiful mares, and she wants me to sleep?”

What I did was practice a little ‘po boy’ Yoga. Looking up when that horn was lightly tracing my face was hard on my nerves but looking up when the horn was on the other end of me was hell on my heart rate. The worst part was that it tickled like static electricity.

“You can sit up now, John. And I wish you would put your clothes back on.”

“You want me to wear clothes?”

“You are distracting me, John, and I don’t want Swift mad at me.”

“Why would Swift be mad at you?”

“Because she has claimed you and any mare that desires you does so at her own risk.”

“She has ‘claimed’ me?”

“Her scent is all over you so deep soap can’t take it off. I’ll bet your scent is on her too, warning other stallions to stay clear.”

“Spike, you can skip recording this part.

“Twilight, In view of what is happening to me, how safe is it for her to share my bed? Especially if I get excited?”

“I think sleeping should perfectly safe. It takes a conscious act to activate the magic. For the rest I would like to run some tests and see if your levels are changing or staying the same. It may be a good idea to hold off on a lot of things until we are sure you are in full control. Foals learning magic are famous for the damage they do and you are much stronger.”

“Okay. Plan. Let’s go get my gear and get it safe. Then I have an appointment with the Guard Surgeon for much medical testing. Why don’t you come along for that and see what turns up?”

“How much does your gear weigh, John?”

“A little more than I do.”

“Then a chariot will do nicely. We can be there and back before dinner. Spike, get them ready.”

“Yes, Ma’am!” And he was gone in green streak.

About an hour later we were lining up for a landing on the road that runs to the barn on the Apple Farm. Fred was running around the pasture kicking up his heels. Several of the squad had come out to see what the noise was.

We are in a rather ornate, extra large chariot pulled by a pair Pegusi Stallions. The Royal Chariot, that is. By the time we roll to a stop near the barn door the entire squad is there, all bowed and silent. Suddenly a loud squeal broke the silence.

“Major John!” It was Colt.

“Hi Colt. See what happens if you keep your focus and keep working.”

Twilight just grinned at me, “Speaking of things to live down . . . .”

“It won’t work, Twilight. I’m not even a little ashamed of helping a colt in distress.”

Swift is receiving salutes and hoof bumps from the entire squad one at a time.

“Come on, Twilight. You need to meet Fred.”

As we rounded the barn Fred cleared the pasture fence by at least a yard and bounced up in front of us looking for all the world like a half ton Pinkie in Bay and White makeup.

“Hello Fred. Calmly now. You’re scaring a Princess.” Twilight was hiding behind me.

<HAPPY!>

“Yes, Fred, I have a marefriend now.”

<HAPPY!!>

Twilight is peeking out from behind me, “John, I can almost hear him. I can tell it’s coming from him.”

“Good. Now stop trying to listen. It isn’t verbal so trying to hear words won’t work. Just look around and find ideas that are coming from somewhere else. Right now his predominate message is HAPPY!! Oh, and he’s glad I found a marefriend.”

Big Mac came around the barn, “Howdy, Fred.”

“Uh, John,” Big Mac drawled, “Fred wants ta stay here for a while. He told ma about ya turning into a pony.”

“Uh, John, I’ll pay ‘im double pony wages.”

“Big Mac, I’d pay you to let him stay here if it makes him happy.”

<HAPPY!! HAPPY!! HAPPY!!>

“Big Guy, you know you can call me any time. I’ll visit as often as I can anyway.”

“We have a few details to work out first.

“I’m going to load up my gear. I’ll leave your saddle and bags here.”

Twilight couldn’t stand it any more. “Big Mac, just when did he tell you that John had turned into a pony?”

“Yesterday.”

“Big Mac, don’t ever let him play with Pinkie. The feedback could be earth shattering.” I warned.

I did find out that Big Mac had a plan. He had an old three bottom plow in a storage barn. He never used it because it took a team of four. We agreed that Fred would have little trouble with it.

“Twilight, lets go get loaded.”

We had to borrow a couple of duffle bags from the squad to replace Fred’s bags. I threw Fred’s saddle and bags on so he could take them up to the main house. As Fred and Big Mac walked up the road Twilight broke into a giggle fit. Big Mac suddenly wasn’t the biggest stallion any more.

I spent most of the trip back speculating whether Twilight or Celestia would think to ask about my other talents first.