Lord of the Land

It felt as if he had been thinking about it for hours, but when Evan opened his eyes he saw it had been mere seconds. That feeling probably had to do with the dread coming from a particular question he had wanted to ask Cadence.

“Cadence?” He began as he looked out the window, a grimace on his face. “How likely am I to get screwed by the guard your aunt assigns me?”

He didn’t see it, of course, but Cadence was grimacing. “You are bucked.”

Somehow it made Evan laugh. He hadn’t thought about ponies cursing in real life, and the sound, alongside Cadence’s face when he turned, a mix of seriousness, concerned, and beyond cute, was just priceless.

“That bad, eh?”

Cadence offered a very lighthearted shrug. It came mostly from the sureness that, yes, this was how it was and worrying about it wasn’t going to do him much good. Evan could hardly blame the mare.

“Any particular reason?” He asked, more curious than anything. “I mean, I know she is suspicious and all…”

“Auntie assigns young but skilled guards to the more troublesome guests.” Cadence explained calmly, as if this was something she had done before. In fact, considering her position, she probably had. “That usually means unicorns for those that would likely be deterred by magic, pegasi for the more combative and agile species, earth ponies for the brutal ones (like certain yak envoys), and thestrals for those she just cannot trust and thinks may become violent or turn into a danger, sometimes for fun, like dragons.”

That sounded about right for a competent, and careful, leader of a nation. It also sounded like a pain in the ass. “So I should be expecting… what?”

“Thestral, most likely.” Cadence guessed, and Evan considered it a good guess overall. “Local thestrals are very stuck up, martial, and devoted to the princesses, to a very obnoxious degree I might add.” And from her expression she had first hand experience. “If auntie tells one of them to have an eye on you, and that you may be a danger, expect a very conflictive, intimidating, or outright hostile guard. Some species even WANT them as guards, mostly because they are more ‘fun’ than the more demure pony tribes.” She offered a lopsided smile. “How about you?”

“I would very much prefer to not have my ass chewed by a pony.” Evan grumbled as he let himself fall on the bed.

Cadence chuckled, jumped on the bed and lied at his side. “But it would be kinky!”

Amused, Evan turned enough to face her. “Are you always this liverated?”

Cadence’s mood took an instant swing. “Nope.” Her face was more… neutral. It looked very much like Celestia’s more ‘political’ face, as she sometimes showed herself in the cartoon. “In fact, today I am far more ‘free’ than usual. I guess it has to do with whatever you did to me.”

Caught off guard, unsure of what to say, and with a cold sweat running down his spine as Cadence looked at him intently, expectantly, Evan was unable to say anything.

Luckily for him, Cadence didn’t seem to mind.

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind, much.” She turned enough to get on her back, wings lazilly laid on the bed, mane resting on the sheets. Cadence looked tired, bored, and maybe exasperated. “I like it here and all, I love how auntie made this place a better world, but she just… wants it so safe, so… subdued.” The mare let out a weary sigh as she looked at the ceiling, lost in contemplation. “When you began to touch me like you did? It was SO good. Freeing, even. And… I am pretty sure you did more than that, but I am unsure.”

‘M.O.C.’ Evan tried to gulp, throat dry , feeling cold. His thoughts went a mile a second while Cadence talked. ‘Are Alicorns resistant to any of my abilities? And I don’t mean POWER consuming wise, but more like, in general.’

-Affirmative.-

‘Why the fuck didn’t you tell me!?’ Evan screamed within his mind, his face betraying none of the mess of feelings he was trying with all his might to conceal.

-Warning: Redundant.- The machine voice explained succinctly. -No time to act. No option besides. Cadence was only source for fresh POWER. Warning would have been meaningless.-

“But I don’t really mind. Trying to keep it locked down, what I am meant to represent? It feels horrid.” Cadence went on, a frown on her face. “I heard that auntie herself decided to do the same. She is the Princess of the Sun, but also of Revelry and fertility! I mean, I am not so much her ‘niece’ as I am her great… a few times over, granddaughter.” The young princess chuckled lightly for a moment. “But one day she decided that it had to change. And like that, POOF, everypony agreed.”

Well, wasn’t that a juicy bit of information? “Just like that?” Evan just had to know more.

“Well, no, not like that.” Cadence shook her head. “It was soon after Tartarus was discovered, and with it, Elysium.”

Okay, that was new. “Elysium? Tartarus? Sounds like myths from my world.”

Cadence turned fully to face Evan. “They are?”

“Yeah, Greek mythos. Elysium was the resting place for heroes granted immortality by the gods, some sort of ‘heaven’ for truly good people. Tartarus was more or less the opposite; a deep abyss, a place of torture and imprisonment for the wicked, and the monstrous Titans that ruled and tormented the world in ages past.” And, if you are wondering, Evan liked a very specific game: Titan Quest. He became a bit of a fantasy nut thanks to that.

“Huh… A bit darker than ours… Okay, far darker I suppose.” Cadence rubbed her hooves together nervously. “But apt, I think. I mean, Elysium is just a magic world besides our own, much like Tartarus itself. Both infinite. Those that start feeling their age go to Elysium and remain forever young until their time comes, then Elysium claims them and they get to live forever in that world, but cannot come back to Equus. It is a peaceful world of plenty where barely anything bad ever happens, and bad ponies, or other creatures, cannot enter thanks to its magic. Modern medicine is trying to use some of Elysium’s natural magic to ensure ponies can live a lot longer in Equus too, then go to Elysium when their time comes.” At that Cadence made a face. “Since ponies found it first way back when, at first it was called ‘Ponyland’. I think every single creature got angry at us ponies because of that, and a lot of conflict came from ponies feeling superior because ‘we were special’ or something.”

‘Huh… So that is the connection THIS Equestria has with the old gens, eh?’ Evan thought to himself for a moment. “And Tartarus?”

“A dark world with a grey sun that baths it permanently in some kind of twilight.” Cadence explained with a dour face. “Demons like the succuponies live there, even if many are nice people. But dangerous monsters and other creatures make of the cave systems, the places where everything lives in Tartarus, their home. Horrible criminals are banished there, and if they learn their lesson, there is a connection with Elysium that allows them to cross, otherwise they are trapped there forever.” In a much happier note she added. “Succuponies usually cross, along with their mates, so at least in Elysium they are quite welcome, though there is some ribbing here and there.”

It was interesting to see how different this Equestria was from the one in the show. But some questions still plagued Evan’s mind. That, and it was a good way to distract Cadence. “But if you pass on away from either place…?”

“You still end in one or the other.” Cadence cleared, not at all looking perturbed. “It is weird, but we are in no hurry to know more beyond M.D.I: Magic Did It.”

Evan nodded, at least satisfied. “Well, that is something interesting to know. I…” He was going to make more comparisons when he saw Cadence giving him a glare. “What?”

“I said I didn’t mind that you did something to me, not that you didn’t have to explain.” She poked at him with a shoe clad hoof. “Now: Explain.”

“Do I have to…?” Evan grimace, both before and after Cadence made both a surprised and an angry face. “I CAN explain. I just don’t think it possible that you’ll believe me… Or forgive me.”

Cadence gave the human avery determined glare. “Try me.”

Evan bit his cheek as he tried to decide what to do. Or better say: How to do it. ‘M.O.C?’ He tried his best to not let apprehension show. ‘What do I do?’

-Suggestion: Tell the truth.- The machine plainly stated. -Cadence: Interested. Curious. Hopeful. She wishes for excitement, for adventure, f or something more than boring, safe and chaste princess life.- It made a pause. -Follower: Entity that knows the truth and follows the [PLAYER], willing to help their endeavors. [EVAN] has no followers. Gaining Cadence as one is recommended. Lying will cause problems in the future. [EVAN] is still too weak to effectively affect alicorns.-

The young man could just grimace. At least Cadence had been waiting patiently. “Well?” She asked, a hoof poking at him. “Are you going to talk?”

“So long as you open the door when the clothes come? Also, please, don’t tell your aunt about this.” Cadence was more than happy to nod and get up, waiting for him to explain. Either she was truly eager and open, or waiting for Evan to condemn himself. Whatever the case, and Evan truly hoped for the best, M.O.C wasn’t telling him to leg it, so positive he would remain. “Look, it may seem incredible, but I know about Equestria, a different Equestria, and…”

“This is both so gross and so cool I cannot describe it.”

Cadence was no Twilight, but she was married (Or, well, will be married) to a total nerd. From what she had told Evan, Shining Armor was still a huge nerd in his spare time, much like it was shown in what few comics he had read back in the day. That meant, along with Twilight being vanilla Twilight in most aspects, that some things do rub off on people.

That is why she was floating what looked to be his soul, or the soul section of Evan’s arm, inches away from his, for now, inert appendage.

It tickled.

Evan was a bit grossed out to be perfectly honest, not that he voiced his complains. It was, however, pretty obvious that he was far too white for his own good, and I do mean white. His skin had lost all color on the arm section, while ‘bones’ of pure magic, mostly blue and ethereal in appearance, were moved around by Cadence’s magic the same way an asshole friend could pick up your arm while it was asleep and move it around to try and be funny, usually slapping you with it in the process because humans are retarded.

Don't ask, Evan would very much prefer to selectively forget that day and the drunken retardation that came along with it.

“Twilight would have a field day with this, hah!” Cadence snickered as he flipped herself the bird with Evan’s ethereal fingers. “But it is also scary as buck. This is why resurrection, the ‘normal’ kind, is not allowed.”

Evan felt it as Cadence let go of her magic so the ethereal arm came back into his body. It felt like thousands of ants were crawling on his skin AND into his flesh. It wasn’t painful, just brutally unpleasant. However, given a few seconds, Evan’s color returned and he regained control of his arm once more.

“Let’s hope you don’t want to do that with a vital part, hmm?” Evan gritted his teeth as he tried to awaken his arm fully. It was beyond asleep. “I don’t want to see what happens if you try that with, say, my chest where my heart is, or my head.”

“Yeah, no.” Cadence made a face that spoke volumes of how distasteful the action seemed to her. “But some would have no qualms about it. Those like you? They are considered golems, less than golems in some cases. You are a ‘copy’ soul, not the original. This kind of magic was banned before aunt Celestia came to be for VERY good reasons.” She bit her lip for a second. “On the other hoof, there is no ‘original’ YOU in here, so, technically speaking, you’d be a very special case that, supposedly, would be the exception of the rule… Juuust… Let’s not tell that to auntie, okay? At least until you get to her. It may not be the SAME magic, but it is close enough for you to be in danger. Not to mention the reason you are here and the shenanigans involved.”

The conversation had been… uncomfortable? It was strange, that was a given. Surprising? Not so much. Apparently this Equestria also had portals to other realms made by Starswirl, but in a more limited manner, or so Celestia had told Cadence. For one reason or another the Princess of Love was far from being privy to such knowledge, but she had been told the basics. It did make things easier, if nothing else.

Cadence was surprised, as expected, to hear about a world where hers was nothing but entertainment, or at least ONE version of hers. Evan did his best to skirt around the FIMFICTION debacle, porn, and the like, but Cadence was relentless trying to know more. One thing led to another and she ended up learning a lot more in every way possible. It also led to her being told the real way he was sent here, and the reason.

If you were to ask Evan he’d tell you tha Cadence appeared far too giddy when she knew that this world had to be saved through the ancient art of fucking. Then again, at least this version of her was a pervert as big, or bigger, than Evan himself.

Problem was… That also led to Cadence asking about how Evan got into certain kinks, his tastes on things and all that. It culminated with the figures in front of the bed that the maid almost saw when she came with a pair of pants for Evan, as well as a quite uncomfortable conversation being derailed once Evan quickly deflected that bullet telling Cadence the last bit he had: That he was, technically, a magic construct, but still alive and ‘himself’. It had been an important point of the story that he had forgotten to mention, and when he managed to use it as ammunition he felt far more relieved than scared at what Cadence could do with that knowledge.

“So let’s get on this other topic.” Cadence made Evan groan as she turned to face the semi transparent, and partially blurry, life sized images in front of the bed. “You say that your own family made you this… interested in certain kinks?” Her voice was far too giddy for Evan’s taste.

“In a sense…” The young man groaned, pointing at the first figure. “See, that is my father. Fernando Lancaster, son of a Spanish immigrant to the United States of America.”

Fernando was a vivid representation of his son, only taller, wider, and stronger, and his skin was far more pasty than Evan’s own. He had a gruff mug, callous hands and looked like the kind of man that had done every hard work under the sun to become a mountain of muscle and various old scars from his many mistakes, accidents and other such processes that made him the man he was today. Short very light hair and brown eyes, small nose and a few tattoos made the muscular man’s more prominent features, that, and a massive coat of thick hairs covering a good portion of his arms, back and chest.

The man was a freaking animal, but if you were to ask Evan, he was far too nice with people. Piss him off and you may end up comparing him to Chewbacca, though .

“He married my mother, Evelyn Brown, a woman from the U.S, though I bet you’ll see the difference between mother and son quickly enough.”

Indeed. Evelyn was side to side with her husband, but she was far smaller, had a massive pair of tits that you’d guess had to screw with her back, a messy mop of black hair on top of her head… and she was black. As in black as night. How a pasty white man and a black woman had a son that looked as an average Caucasian male was a surprise. Still, Evelyn had a beautiful face, kind green eyes and, despite her various sizes, as her ass was also quite nice if you were to look at it, she was largely a timid and well mannered woman that had a good head on her shoulders and worked as a doctor, at least until things got though and she was one of the many that had to be let go for a time.

She was a doting mother, a nice person, and sometimes far too oblivious of the things she did for her own good.

But she wasn’t the problem.

“Then we have my mom’s sister, aunt Selene.”

THAT woman was the problem. Apparently Selene and Evelyn’s mother had been equal to a pornstar when it came to body, and both her daughters ended up the same way. Selene, however, was largely an airhead of an amazonian black woman, with huge tits, a bubble butt, extremely long hair and features so beautiful even a gay man would turn straight and the most staunch straight woman would go lesbian. Even the image had scant clothing, mostly because Selene hardly wore anything that covered herself whole, if at all.

Sadly, Selene was not a smart woman, but she was ‘smart’ in other ways. She knew how to get what she wanted, used her sex appeal, libido, and very ‘free’ morality to do as she pleased. That, and much like Evelyn, she was stupidly strong. She had to be to carry around a pair of tits that could kill if she turned around and hit you with them.

Evan let out a grunt. “She flirted with me when I was a kid, I mean, teenager… She even…” Evan blushed. “She even visited us once, drunk out of her ass, and I was the only one around at the time. She… uh… ended giving me a blowjob.” The young man’s blush got deeper. “She also made fun of me, but I couldn’t really care much, you know?”

Cadence was surprised, but not shocked. “Your own aunt did that with you? I am surprised humans have relaxed rules when it comes to incest, like us ponies. Not all species are like that.”

“Yeah… You see; it is largely illegal everywhere.” That DID make Cadence’s eyes go wide. “That, and she is married, but still a slut that cucks my uncle whenever she can, which, of course, is also a legal offense.”

At this point Cadence was biting her lip. “I can see why you’d end up with that as a fetish… But where is your uncle? I just see three more of your females here.”

Evan let out a chortle. “Only one is a girl, my sister in fact. The other two? Males.”

“What!? Seriously?”

And there it came.

The fourth figure was Abigail, Evan’s sister, and a vivid representation of their mother. She was relatively the same height o f Evan, one year younger and, surprising no one, she represented a mix between a black woman and a white man far better than Evan could ever do, though she was more leaning towards her mother’s figure. Be it her largely dark skin, hair, her eyes, or likely the tits she sported and even the face, almost a copy of her mother’s own, she was surely a daughter of Evelyn.

Only she had her aunt’s personality, but not her brains. That had to do with Abigail being much closer friends with their cousin, Clover, than Evan ever had.

And yes, Clover was male, but you couldn’t even tell, not from his voice, from his figure, or, well, anything. The young ‘man’ had a woman’s figure, a beautiful and delicate face and a complexion that, in general, screamed of a flat chested woman with a massive ass that was a replica of his mother’s own. Considering that the young black man also had a libido as stupid as you can get, having been diagnosed with nymphomania at six (And yes, that can happen, both to men, and, sadly, to children. Evan hadn’t believed it at first when told, but such is life) only made him an even bigger slut than his mother ever was.

Not that there was much to inherit from Ashley, Clover’s father. He was largely the same, after all. Well, not THAT feminine, but he was not the average representation of a black man, not even close. He was short, petite, cute and extremely frail. Whereas Clover w as ‘womanly’, he was just plain effeminate, and while he was a very smart man, something his son certainly didn’t inherit, or didn’t care to use, he was far too weak willed to do much with it. Evan had only known Ashley as a man controlled by his very much slut of a wife and willing to go any lengths for her, even doing things Evan found… questionable.

Evan did get on a far deeper and lengthier description, but it all boiled down to this: He had kept silent the very, very rare few times that he had some ‘family fun’. Usually started by Clover, or even Abigail in one occasion, and largely encouraged by his own aunt.

It was not a surprise that he was slightly fucked up, at least in asense. On the other hand, he was here because he had a very… ‘special’, family. So either consider it good or consider it bad, but to him it was just what it was and it is how it would stay.

“And you say all that is a criminal offense back where you come from?” The problems that would arise from that did give Cadence pause, though. But on the other hoof she couldn’t see anything wrong with having some fun with your family.

“I am pretty sure the area we were in would have had our asses, if nothing else.” Evan grumbled, fitting his pants as best as he could while looking at the still figures. “I am going to miss my family, but I have to say, with the temptation away I won’t have that many problems.” He let out a chuckle, but it didn’t sound all that happy. “Still, whether I like it or not, I have far more pressing problems than wondering how things will end on the other side and for the other ‘me’.”

Cadence wasn’t so sure about that, but she wasn’t here to psychoanalyze him. She was curious, mostly, but now she was also unsure of a few things. Still… She just decided to vanish the figures she had summoned from his memories and be done with it. At least that Evan had far more pressing matters was, indeed, true.

Thus, the question. “So… what are you going to do?”

Evan took a few seconds from trying to get comfortable in pants that had no underwear. Whether this meant ponies didn’t use them while wearing clothes, or that Celestia was trying to have a laugh at his expense, he did not care to find out.

He looked at Cadence and let out a defeated grunt. “I don’t really know. This seems to be a mess. A fun mess, but a mess nonetheless.”

Cadence trotted to his side while tittering. “I know, silly, but I didn’t mean the whole situation. Like it or not, I doubt we can do much about that.” She plopped her very royal behind right in front of the flabbergasted human. “I mean your choice. You know; go and see if you can gain some points with auntie by getting your guard earlier, check on the envoys before they go back, or maybe come with me?” Cadence offered a salacious smile at that one. “Unless you up and go with auntie she’ll get the guard notified and back to the diplomats, so you don’t have much time to choose, really, but I will go with you no matter what. You do need a friend after all! Well… other than that voice in your head you mentioned.”

Evan grimaced. “Please, don’t call it a ‘voice in your head’, I already doubt if I am still sane or not.” Cadence chuckled for a moment before Evan managed out a friendly shush. “As to what I’d like to do? Well… I was debating meeting my guard to be honest.” At that Cadence offered a quick nod and a smile. “But I think going with you is better.”

There was a very short moment of silence, then an equally short and to the point. “Why?”

Cadence had loved the idea of teasing him, and his… influence, had made her far more daring than she had been in years. Indeed, shortly after Shining had finally proposed, as he was meant to do, she had stopped doing ‘all’ of her duties. Lust and desire, that part of love, had been put down in favor of a more mellow and gentle Cadence that had little time for her own personal affairs and what the world’s magic asked of her as part of her princess duties.

She could only wonder if that spark of pure need would ever hit her aunt if Evan managed to play with her a bit and reawaken the side that Celestia had decided to bury. In part that was what she thought would push Evan to do something else and just have her at his side for today. She had overdone it, quite literally, on purpose, not only because her body all but demanded it.

The mare was surprised, elated… and stupidly nervous. Anyone would be, more so after she had such a revelation dumped on her. There was fear to being manipulated, of being changed in ways she didn’t want, of ending up as someone else instead of who she was.

But it also was exciting enough to make her giddy with anticipation.

“Mostly because I feel like I owe you one.” Evan admitted with no small amount of blushing. “I mean, I was about to croak and I all but used you. You may say you don’t mind, but…”

Cadence gave him a smile and waved a hoof ‘no’. “Don’t worry. I doubt most ponies would have done differently if they were in your hooves. Besides, I REALLY needed to feel wild again, you know? To let myself go and do as I am supposed to.” Her smile fell a little. “I love Shining with all my heart, and I don’t ever want to be separated from him, but doing as auntie wants me to do and just be… ‘civil’, ‘proper’... I don’t know how she endures hiding part of herself.”

“Well, let’s put it this way.” Cadence looked at Evan intently as he figured how to put things into words. “M.O.C keeps telling me that you are technically a ‘follower’. But do you feel compelled to do what I say?”

Cadence scrunched her muzzle. “Not… really? I mean, if you were to do something I didn’t like, I may discuss it with you, or go directly to Celestia and confess if you plan something messed up.”

“That is what I gathered.” He nodded. “As much as this… whatever happened to me, is trying to put it into game terms, I doubt everything is 100% accurate, at least when it comes to others. When it comes to me, it probably is as precise as it can.” Evan then pointed at her. “So let’s do it the old fashioned way: Bargain. I offer you something you want, you help me with my… uh… ‘job’. You get more excitement and to do your princessly duties fully and I do my best to make this world a better place.” The funny look Cadence sent him told Evan all he needed to know. “Okay, less bullshit: I do what I can to ensure your species doesn’t go extinct. That better?”

She thought and hummed for a second, finally giving a weak nod. “I’ll do my best to check with Twilight and see if all you say is true. Considering everything you told me, and that I looked at myself, I am inclined to agree outright. But you know… better safe than sorry.”

Evan was perfectly happy with that. “I prefer it that way. I think this kind of power, or whatever you want to call what I have, would be a poor fit for a world similar to the one in the cartoons . A more ‘serious’ or mature version of that, where I am not going to just be trusted from the get go? I think that is perfect for me.”

“Wait!” Cadence aimed a hoof at his chest. “That does remind me. Will you EVER hurt anypony on purpose? I know this is a silly thing to ask. If you were going to do it, I doubt you’d tell me, but…”

“Yes, yes I will.” Evan’s candid response made Cadence recoil and blink. “If anyone is going to hurt me I will defend myself, maybe use my abilities and such. I don’t want to die, Cadence, and having someone actively screwing with me is going to do just that, even if whoever does it doesn’t want to really hurt me.”

The mare frowned. “I don’t know how to feel about that, you know?”

“Better be sincere than having one of those stupid plot points where the others find you lying means you get banished, kicked out from the group or some other shit. Seriously, movies are sometimes so repetitive.” Seeing as Cadence had most likely lost the plot a bit, Evan cleared his throat. “Point is: I will do my best to NOT hurt anyone. I will, however, ‘mold them’ to make my life easier IF, and only if, they actively try to hurt me, thus everyone else, in any capacity. Sounds good?”

Huffing, Cadence nodded. “I suppose it is for the best of Equestria, and all that is Equine at that.” Then she offered him a very cold glare. “But if you ever do something I am fully against, I will do as you said and ‘check’ what would happen if I make that test, only with your whole body instead of just your head.”

Hey! This Cadence had BALLS. Instead of being terrified, and seeing Cadence’s expresion fall more on the ‘adorable’ side of ‘horrific’, Evan could do little more than laugh.

“Sold.” He snickered. “But first things first. I offered you to do whatever you wanted, didn’t I? So… What would you like to get out of this partnership?”

Cadence could only give him a smile that Evan qualified simply as: The Grinch.

“I really thought it was far earlier in the day.”

Indeed, the sun was going down already, quite fast at that. Evan needed to check how time worked in this world. It maybe went 1:1 with Earth, but you never knew.

“There is more than enough time in the day to have some fun.”

Cadence had a pep in her step as she pranced in front of Evan. The castle staff mostly kept to themselves, mostly, but curiosity about the new creature amidst them, and the strangely overt happiness professed by Cadence being considered abnormal was certainly noticed by Evan. It was likely that the latter would make Celestia more suspicious, or plain distrustful, but Evan hadn’t heard M.O.C complaining, so he tried to ignore it.

Tried to.

Cadence made it far too hard to ignore when even the stoic, and apparently efficient, guards arched an eyebrow, or both, when she crossed them. Evan could only hope this wouldn’t bit him in the ass. On the other hand… He was excited.

Yes, that kind of excited. Apparently Celestia had done as promised and it didn’t show in his pants. It was, however, very, very, VERY tight down there. He could only hope it wouldn’t break down on him. Either the pants or the enchantment. Though by now he was missing both some shoes and maybe a shirt.

“Maybe, but I am pretty sure we have been walking around the castle for what feels like hours.” Evan grumbled as he truly felt sorry for his feet. Horny or not, it was hard to stay in the mood with cold and uncomfortable feet.

“Mere twenty minutes, I assure you.” Cadence corrected him in a chipper manner. “The castle IS big, and the training ground s is located at the ground floor. We were pretty high up before.”

Cadence didn’t make mention of why, but Evan was quite sure that he was in the section where Celestia dumps the most dangerous dignitaries. It was a clever way of implementing the historically accurate dungeons (AKA: Tower cells), but with a very nice flair. Though it did beg the question as to what kind of minotaur could be considered plainly dangerous and not just boisterous.

Another set of stairs down and Evan could do little but ignore the previous train of thought, instead complaining about marble being pretty, but not practical. At least he was pretty sure that they had reached the ground floor by now. By the way: This castle was fucking HUGE. It was surely far bigger than in the cartoon, but Evan couldn’t rightly say.

“So, are we going to meet Shining?” Evan asked idly as he followed the trotting mare.

“More or less.” Cadence assured him. “We are going to catch him when drills go from Earth Pony tactics, meaning hoof on hoof close combat on land, to Unicorn Channeling practice, which means relatively simple, fast casting concussion spells. Flying around castle grounds is prohibited while that training is going on, so we’ll have a nice place for ourselves in the meantime.”

Evan had to make sure no other pony was around. Luckily for him, it appeared that dignitaries and envoys occupied most of the castle staff’s time, so no maid, or even guard, was present around the corridors that led to the militarized section of the castle that, as Evan noticed, had turned from marble to a more austere and durable grey rock.

“Oh? Is there a room from where to watch the training stallions?” Evan asked, curious about where they were going to be.

“Yes, something like that.” Cadence snickered as she turned once more. “You’ll see.”

Even barely nodded, just following Cadence as she went. It was interesting to see just how a beautiful castle made out for show in, well, the show, turn into a gritty and harsh looking (but still cartoony and decorated) place. It made him fear, if ever so slightly, that ponies would wise up to his actions. Mostly because a quick question to M.O.C had pointed out that, yes, ‘Followers’ were hard to get, mostly because the more you had to manipulate them, the harsher the backlash would be if you all but told them what you had been doing to them.

You know, ‘cos some people dislike being toyed with, even if you are doing it to help them.

So it was largely up to luck for him to find more ponies that could, and I do mean ‘could’, because M.O.C pointed out some instances where a ‘player’ had no one to open up to until the very end, join him. It was a bit of a bummer, but Evan felt happy enough with at least one pony fully (more or less) on his side.

Good or bad however, Evan didn’t have much time to mull over it. Soon enough the pair made it to a set of steel doors. They were open, with a stream of ponies in gold armor milling about as they discussed this or that, but most were moving away. They were likely going for some rest, food, and then changing shifts with whoever it was. One pony, however, was quite obvious amidst the many ‘nameless’ guards that Evan and Cadence saw.

“Caddy!” While it wasn’t a true shout, and in fact it was quite controlled from what Evan had expected of Shining Armor, the stallion did sound quite effusive after seeing his soon to be wife. “So nice to see you! And it seems you brought the new resident of the castle too…” Shining offerer the human as he approached.

“Evan, Evan Lancaster, resident alien you could say.” Evan offered, hoping for, and indeed getting, a positive reaction from Shining Armor.

“You must be kidding!” The stallion chuckled, taking his helmet off for a second. It prompted Evan to notice a few things that were amiss here. “Alien you say? You have to tell me more!”

It was hard to see at first, mostly with the gaggle of ponies around, butu it soon became obvious that Shining Armor was geared in a far more complete, and heavy, suit of purple painted armor than most other guards. Full helmet, greaves, armor and all. The belly, back of the legs and a few other sections were largely open, but it was surprising to see a mostly fully decked out guard. Some other guards also had similar, but far less ornamental, suits, probably veterans, and Evan guessed fliers, or mages, had modifications for experienced guards too.

That also hinted at the stallion’s constitution. Shining was RIPPED, man! Strong legs, muscular neck, powerful body. This was a far cry from the series, and most other stallions, and a few mares, were the same too. Young or still not so adept recruits looked far more like the cartoon counterparts, but the difference, if looked from afar, wasn’t that big. It was when you came close that you saw the details.

Like, for example, Shining’s horn was sharp. Cadence’s own too, now that Evan looked at it. The one difference? The greener recruits, had theirs rounded, and a few of the maids, well, most of them, also had rounded horns. Did that have to do with how much mana they could use?

A little *ding* clued him into M.O.C butting in. -Affirmative: Experienced or powerful ponies gain a more obvious clue into their capabilities. Larger wingspans, sharper horns, more toned bodies or, in some cases, ethereal/vibrant manes or other effects. Recommendation: Pay far closer attention to Celestia’s mane during your next encounter.-

“... so I was hoping you could open it up for us?” Cadence’s last words made Evan notice that the conversation had been going on whilst he was busy ogling the ponies and being tutored by M.O.C. “You can ask him a few questions while we climb the stairs.”

Shining, for his part, just nodded. “Of course, of course. There won’t be any curious ponies around, or fliers that will try to bother you. So if he is curious about magic in general we’ll give him a good show.” The stallion smirked before turning around. “Okay everypony! Magic practice as soon as I get back from the balcony area! Our princess is going to be watching, alongside our guest, so I want order and discipline, or I will see you cleaning toilets for a whole month! And you ALL know what you put our maids through, so I expect the BEST you can offer!”

The effect was far more organized than Evan had expected, and way more serious. Without so much as a whine the whole lot of earth pony guards moved away, with the unicorns filling into the courtyard beyond the steel gates. In a matter of seconds the three of them were practically alone while Shining guided them towards a door on the side.

“It has been some time since anyone really interesting came to see us train.” The stallion began as he touched the door; a glittery, almost shining, wooden door. It was largely normal, other than the strange visual effect that, as Shining sparked some magic into it, disappeared and the door opened. Probably an enchantment of some kind. “Is magic all that interesting to you?”

“Well.” Evan cleared his throat, getting back into the conversation. “My world has no real magic…”

That gave Shining Armor pause. “No magic!? How do you guys do things then?”

“Ingenuity, invention, a whole lot of perseverance and brute force.” Evan admitted. “Mostly bashing the world into shape. With no other species being sapient, or intelligent enough to deal with, we either had to tame or get rid of what tried to stop us.” Cadence looked a bit more shocked at this far more blunt version of things, while Shining appeared far more understanding.

“I get you.” The stallion said, turning to face the stairs that lead upwards to the previously mentioned balcony. “Ponies like to think it is all rainbows, sunshine and smiles, but sometimes you have the actual monster out there, not just dangerous animals, like hydras.”

Evan chuckled at that. “Well, the largest things on Earth, my world, were aquatic, so we didn’t have things like dragons or other creatures we consider mythical.”

“Huh, interesting… What about…?”

A short but quite interesting and fun conversation went on rather quickly, far quicker than Evan would have prefered in fact. Shame he was in a bit of a time constraint, but it was what it was. A minute or two, a few quickfire questions, and they were in an ample area, well furnished and with a perfect view of the training section of the castle.

“Well, this is it!” Shining smiled as he moved towards one of the many seats near the middle of the balcony. “From here you should see everything!”

Evan was about to move forth, but Cadence quickly stopped him with her wing. “Touch him.” She said in a hushed voice.

“What?” Evan looked at Shining Armor, waiting as he checked something going on bellow, then at Cadence. “Why? What do you have in mind? You just said…”

“I said I wanted to have fun, and we are going to have fun.” The mare smirked, then nodded towards Shining Armor. “But I want you to hypnotize him with your touch.”

Evan arched an eyebrow, then looked at Shining again. “I am pretty sure my power is going to drain like no tomorrow if I try it with your hubby.”

“I’ll help.” Cadence pleaded with a little whinny. “Please? I want to make Shining’s fantasies a reality. I’ll guide you.”

Evan wasn’t so sure, but he went ahead with it. A few steps and he was at the front row seats, Shining at his side. It looked like whatever had happened was also done, and the ponies bellow were all ready for the training to begin while a few of them were moving what looked like targets and pony like dummies.

Shining didn’t have time to turn around before Evan called fort his ability and placed a hand on his nape. As he had expected, his power began to go down DRAMATICALLY. In fact it was going down a hundred points every two seconds. It was stupid!

Then he felt something on him, like he was enveloped by a warm mantle, and the draining stopped. In fact he was recovering even!

“Wow, you weren’t kidding.” Cadence chuckled as she moved to Shining’s free side. “Did I look that vacant back then?”

As Evan looked he had to admit that, no, she didn’t. “Probably because we were talking about something already. He just looks… well, gone.”

Cadence hummed, mulling it over for a second, but recognized they had little time. “Well, so long as he is alright… Are you ready? We are going to change my Shiny into a really FUN mare!”

“Mare?” Evan looked at the stallion he could literally call a stallion in this version of Equestria. “You sure?”

“Yup, yup!” Cadence was giddy as she sat down, horn sparkling with power. “You help me, I help you, right? Well, I want Shining to open up a bit more, and that means giving him what he wants as well. Hypnotic stuff is not my forte, but I knew the basics.” She pointed a hoof at her soon to be husband. “And I know what Shining has always wanted. He is far too prim and proper to do it, and afraid of what could happen if anypony didn’t like it. He worries way too much about others to ever try and be truly happy.”

Evan nodded, thinking back at what Cadence asked him before they came down. “That is why you wanted to know what I meant with my powers making things as if they had always been like that if I ever changed something?”

“Yeah! I give you magic, you guide Shining through it, we all have fun. Sounds right?” Cadence had such a big smirk on her face. “Then you fuck me right here, while they practice!”

Evan almost did a spit take with that, worse, he almost took the hand away from Shining. “Cadence!?”

“Oh, don’t act so surprised.” Cadence poked her tongue at him. “You also said you are supposed to knock ponies up! Well, as an alicorn we are nearly infertile, so I want to try… probably a few times. Maybe get a bun in Shining’s soon to be made oven! But that is for latter.” Suddenly she looked far too serious for Evan’s liking. “Now, ask Shining if he has any secrets. He is far too friendly and mellow to offer much resistance.”

“Well…” Evan was far from sure, but if Cadence wanted this… Better get her on board fully, right? “Hey Shining, since we were sharing a few bits about me… Do you have anything interesting to share? A secret or the like maybe? We are all friends here, so I promise this stay between us.”

Shining Armor let out a long, tired humm. “Well…” He began in a drawn out pattern of speech. “I have… a few.”

“Good! It seems to work.” Cadence clicked her hooves together. “Ask him about his sister now.”

“I see.” Evan nodded, both at Shining and Cadence. “How about something simple? Do you have a sister, or a brother?”

“Little sister.” Shining said with a smile. “She was so cute while she was a filly… and so hot too!”

“WOW!” Evan gasped, trying to be somewhat quiet. “Didn’t expect that… Uh… I mean… So you liked your sister?”

“And my mom, and my dad.” Shining said, almost naturally. “But I cannot do that. I have to offer a good image of our family. Cannot like them that way. A shame.”

Cadence snickered against her hoof. “He is a pervert like you, but he tries to hide up! Incest may be okay here, but the nobles see it as an ‘old fad’. It is frowned up as a ‘common pony’ thing to pursue.” She scooted closer. “Ask him about him liking stallions now.”

“Well, nothing wrong with loving your family, Shining.” Evan tried to keep the ‘conversation’ somewhat natural. “But I am surprised you like other guys too.”

Shining just offered a shrug. “Why? Most ponies swing both ways. Mares more than stallions, but still.” He became a bit gloom. “But I am supposed to make foals for the family. Such a shame. Caddy and I will probably never have any… But I love her with all my heart.”

“Aww… And I love you too, big lug.” Cadence gave Shining a big kiss on the cheek. “But still… to make you happy, we have to break a few barriers.” She looked intently at Evan. “Ask him if he’d feel better about it if HE could have a foal. If he could be… a mare.”

Evan gave a slow nod and thought something up quickly. The ponies bellow were already looking a bit restless as the last preparations were brought to place.

“It is different for us in my world, you know? Most of us just swing for the opposite sex. Nothing wrong with doing otherwise mind you.” Evan let out a humm. “But how would you feel if, well, YOU could have a foal? If you were more like a mare? I bet Cadence would still want you, and she told me she is a very open mare. Would you like that?”

Shining’s largely vacant expression turned into one of longing as his glassed eyes cleared slightly. “I would like that… very much… I wanted to be a cheerleader, you know? While in college. I… always thought I would look nice like that, if I was born a mare. But… Things are what they are. I am… happy? I am… content… as it is.”

“See? Crossdressing and incest fetishes, and I am pretty sure he has a pregnant fetish too. He isn’t the wildest stallion out there, but he is a very fun catch!” Cadence gave her coltfriend another little kiss. However, she had very much lost the smile she had before. “But he is not as happy as he pretends to be. So we are going to make sure that becomes a reality.” Looking at Evan, she all but ordered. “Change him like you told me you can. Make him have teats, give him a chance at getting pregnant, make him all filly like! I can’t wait to see Shining as he would’ve been if he was born a mare! But DO leave him as big as he is. I do want a foal from him if we can make it.”

“Anything else?” Evan asked jokingly, only for Cadence to pull his cock out without warning. “Hey!”

“Yes! You are going to also plant the idea in his mind about him coming over to your room tonight, dressed in my old cheerleader costume, fantasizing about a creature like you plowing his fields, okay?” The mare’s salacious smirk was maddening at this point. It wasn’t one of happiness, at least not yet, but one of need. She was perversion incarnate, or she did a very good impression of it. “Now, start! I want to play too and I need to see if this works.”

Believe me when I say that, in any other circumstance, Evan would’ve been far more reticent to do what he was about to do. Given his position, that Cadence wanted it nearly as much as Shining appeared to try and repress his own little desires, he couldn’t complain. Hell, he was very much interested in the result.

He was, however, quite afraid of spending enough POWER to botch it.

Afraid or not, Evan kicked his ability into gear. By now his hypnotic touch had been raised to 7, one level higher than his very first skill, so the consumption had been all but simply halted with Cadence’s help. As soon as he used his other ability though? Cadence let out a very quiet yelp as the POWER began to tank.

As in: Cadence suddenly didn’t matter. Evan’s blue bar, now on the side of his screen, was, quite literally, melting away.

Evan had absolutely zero clue as to why. He wasn’t doing a single thing, not yet anyway, yet he was being drained. He almost took his hand off Shining, that is, until he saw his form, and even his armor, was changing slightly, bit by bit.

His neck was thick and strong before, but not it was slimming down as his muzzle became slowly rounder, softer, and more feminine. His height shortened a little bit, almost imperceptibly, every few seconds, but it noticeably ate away an inch, maybe two, while his mane grew larger and more lustrous. All this while his armor changed alongside him, fitting perfectly as his form changed at a painfully slow pace as far as Evan’s POWER pool was concerned.

The young man was going on autopilot. He was far from aware of how this skill of his worked. He just thought of one of the many pictures of Shining Armor he had seen with him Rule 63ed and, apparently, that was enough to change the stallion physically, at least partly. In fact his lower body seemed to hardly change at all, so Evan, fearing that his POWER would deplete to the point of failure, took a hand to Shining’s still very much muscular rear, and started thinking of something else before he opened his mouth to speak. Evan had burned past 300 POWER units byu now, so it wasn’t going to make this worse by any means, in fact helping it along could, maybe, make this easier for him.

“Shining?” Evan asked, mouth slightly dry as he saw his POWER slowly go down. He didn’t know how much his skill had advanced, but it probably had skipped ahead some.

Why do some players just jump straight to the hardest difficulty?

Oh… yeah… Because hardship in games is fun for many. This? Not fun. Evan was walking a fine line indeed.

“Ye-yeah?” Shining’s voice had changed. It sounded far more feminine now, but still not quite mare like.

“You do know you look very girly, right?” Shining gulped, looking around, yet at nothing, as Evan massaged his rear that was quickly looking toned, yes, but far more shapely, bigger even, as his lower body changed to fit the upper. “You know what? You just told me that you did something pretty slick…”

Shining blinked slowly, looking at Evan, and at his cock, still in the air, and being massaged by Cadence now. It was hard, both to concentrate and his member, but Evan did his best to stay focused.

“I did?” Shining asked, curious. “What… did I do?”

“You followed Cadence’s advice.” The princess looked at Evan curiously as he held back a grunt. “You told her of your secrets… She told you to go get potions, spells, whatever helped you, but do it slowly. And you know what? They worked! They slowly changed you until you looked like a mare, just like you wanted.”

Shining frowned, his head barely moving, but enough to check his slowly changing body. “I did? W… why? My parents…”

“Shining.” Evan used his hand on Shining’s neck to make the stallion look him in the eye. “You must do what makes you happy. You did exactly that. You got a few potions, a couple spells, and changed your body. You got teats down there; big and plentiful.” Evan’s hand moved down from Shining’s plot to his nethers. It wasn’t surprising when he felt a cup of, admittedly, quite massive balls, far bigger than Evan’s own. What surprised him was the large, in fact far bigger than expected, teats close to them. “You also got your body changed to, hopefully, have foals! Cadence was delighted, and you were nervous, scared even… But your parents understood, okay? You are sure they did, and they still do. They want you happy, don’t they?”

It took Shining a moment or two, but he finally nodded. Evan, meanwhile, looked at his ass. The entrance was changing, becoming… slicker? Wet? It even ‘winked’ in a way. Evan wasn’t sure how much he was affecting the stallion, but he wanted to test something.

“You have been using toys in secret, and you have only told Cadence.” This made the mare squeal as Evan noticed Shining’s hole becoming puffier. It looked like he could, at least partly, change things far more than he thought he could. “You have been sucking them, using them in your rear, and preparing for a stallion. Maybe your dad, maybe a stranger, but haven’t had the courage to do it. Cadence encourages you, but you are still afraid.”

“My parents… They wouldn’t like it… I would be… I would be so ashamed to fail them.” Shining’s voice was far, far more feminine now. It sounded really like a woman’s own now. “But… I want to be happy.”

“Yes, yes you do.” Evan saw that his POWER number was hitting the low 800s now before jumping to the higher 700s. He had very limited time to keep changing him, but this much seemed enough, so he stopped using that particular skill while keeping the hypnotic touch. He hoped he had done enough. “But then Cadence and I came, and while I took my seat, Cadence took you to the side and told you about what had happened with me: She said her magic made me quite big, she even showed you what I looked like before AND after. She also told you that I didn’t seem to mind ponies at all… So you came with a plan to finally have a stallion of your own when Cadence teased you about my equipment.”

Shining Armor was licking his lips as he looked at Evan’s turgid member, throbbing inches away from his face. With his new body Evan had to admit it was hard for him to resist doing more than just teasing the poor stallion. Masculine males? Evan disliked the figure. Feminine ones? He was far more than willing to screw them.

Once again, messed up family, but here and now it made Evan’s work far easier and his fantasies a reality.

“Since we hit it off and I look friendly enough, you decided that, before you go, you’ll ask me if it would be okay to visit me tonight. You won’t admit that you’ll prepare your marefriend’s old cheerleader outfit and hide it in my room if I accept. A few quick teleports after training, while you are resting up, should do the trick. When you are done, and before I go back to my room, you will teleport again, dress up, wait for me and get ready to ‘cheer me up’. You are determined to finally feel like a mare and, if this works and I go along with it, maybe you’ll get the courage to ask your father, or your sister, heck, maybe even your mother! For some fun.” Evan looked down at the training field, growing uneasy as some of the ponies were starting to look around. They had finished preparations a while ago, and now they were wondering where their captain was. “But all of this has taken some time, and mustering the courage is still very hard. So now you are at my side, you know you are already running late on the drills, and have decided to finally ask me. You can only hope that I will be receptive when I find you in my room, dressed as a cheerleader. But you know I will accept… and you’ll be my mare tonight. Just like you and Cadence want.” Ready to take his hand away, Evan remembered that old trick that he also used on Cadence. “When I take my hand away you’ll wake up in three seconds, believing everything I have said to be true, beginning… now.”

Cadence was surprisingly agile and quick, much to Evan’s painful displeasure. She moved like the wind, hiding his hardened rod within his pants, and chuckling at his situation and the face he made, while Shining’s eyes cleared fully and he came back to his senses.

It was such an incredible transformation in the end. He had such a long mane and tail, far more cared for than before. His coat was gleaming, as if he had paid far closer attention to his image now that he was a ‘mare’ than when he was a stallion. His ass, as Evan could still see it, was firm, toned and big, Shining was ‘thicc’ with a very puffy star that seemed to invite attention. That, his balls, apparently a cock still bigger than Evan’s own (HOW!?), and a pair of teats that surpassed Cadence’s own ‘breasts’, made the look an enticing one.

And, apparently, he came back long enough to notice him staring.

Clearing his throat, Shining decided to initiate his ‘plan’. “Evan.” His voice was sweet, soft and gentle, much like his new appearance, though Evan was beyond sure that his muscles had hardly decreased in size and power, if at all. “I was wondering if… you’d mind me paying a visit to your chambers at night?” The blush he had sported as soon as he had ‘noticed’ Evan staring at his body was now far more pronounced. “I mean! We have had little time to talk, and I am already running late, so how about we get to know each other a bit more when my shift ends? I am sure Caddy can show you around and help you meet the kitchen staff for some food to pass the last hours of the day while I finish down here.”

Evan did his best not to chuckle while making it look like he was thinking instead of groaning inwardly in pain at his cloth based cage. “I don’t see why not.” He finally announced, offering Shining a smile while the now girly pony made a ‘squee’. “I don’t know how long I have been without food, and I am sure I can satisfy my curiosity by pestering Cadence for a while longer, if she doesn’t mind that is.”

Shining had quite the content smile on his face, one that Evan couldn’t place in anything but a mare anymore. Even the, no pun intended, shining on his eyes was far more friendly and gentle than most, to not say all, stallions had ever shown in the cartoon.

“I’ll make sure to keep him busy, honey.” Cadence promised from her seat besides Evan, offering her husband to be a reassuring smile. “You just whip the guards into shape, as always, okay? I am sure Evan will be more than happy to have you tonight.”

Cadence was very much aware of the effect those words would have on her coltfriend, and Evan could see them on the corner of his eye as Shining’s cock throbbed while his hole all but begged for attention. Then, as soon as he saw, Shining light his horn and both his private bits down and behind ‘disappeared’.

He cleared his throat with that new cute voice of his. “Concealment.” He offered Evan. “I have been… lax, for a bit now. Won’t happen again.” Flustered as he was, he offered a wink to Cadence and a nod. “And I’ll get to the soldiers. See you two later. Enjoy the show.”

Both Evan and Cadence saw Shining Armor turn around. Instead of the largely demure and stoic walk from earlier, now Shining had some kind of trot to his step, with a very outward teasing as he moved his ass and wiggled it in front of Evan before departing.

Our ‘poor’ human was truly flabbergasted and unsure of what to think. However, as soon as Shining departed, he made his doubts clear.

He turned to Cadence with a worried expression. “I think I fucked up.”

Cadence just raised an eyebrow slightly. “How so? I think you did alright.”

“How could I!? I didn’t know what I was doing. I still don’t! I winged it so hard I thought I would become an angel!” Evan was truly about to lose it. He didn’t want to, but he was no super powerful entity or extra suave and charismatic player. He was just, well, him: A pervert that got thrown in a huge mess. “Do you still remember Shining as he was? Because, supposedly, this should make everyone think Shining has been like that either since forever, or something close to it.”

“Yes, I do rem…” Cadence blinked. “Wait… you think the guards down there will notice?”

Evan nodded quickly as he took a thumb to his lips and bit on the nail. He was nervous, worried. This could indeed unmake itself in a second. “If they notice, I am fucked.”

Games were easy to use, mostly, back home. Hit a button, make an action. Keybind, make things simpler. When you could use skills, change others, and decide outcomes in real life in a way similar to games, it was far more complicated than most realized. Comics, books, cartoons and even games had tried that trope before. Most of them were different one way or another.

This. Was. A. Mess.

But it had also been a mess, at least on Evan’s mind, when he had first affected Cadence. Maybe, just maybe…

Evan heard the voice of Shining Armor, his new voice, calling to attention. Close as they were to the edge, both Cadence and Evan were presented with a perfect view of Shining’s new chassis barging into the training field, barking orders.

Guards left and right got ready. No one seemed to give their captain a second look. The slightly smaller and much more petite looking white unicorn seemed to still instill a great deal of respect. No one blinked, or batted an eye at their captain’s body, his ample rear, or the lighter looking armor he carried, although the design and protection were largely the same. It also offered a view at the ornaments and decorations that had been changed alongside Shining’s body, likely an add, much like the mare like stallion’s much more vibrant mane and coat.

What was important was this: It had worked.

Evan was, once again, scott free.

But this couldn’t happen again.

“I need to learn more about this.” Evan let out, both in relief and frustration. “I know it is my first day, but I have felt close to being discovered, or dying, three times now.” He took his face onto his hands, rubbed his eyes clear, and leaned against the chair. “I am seriously going to make a mess if I don’t calm down.”

Cadence simply nodded. “At least I want to know why I remember Shiny if you say others should find this normal.” She looked down at her coltfriend while biting her lower lip, wings spreading. “Not that I mind his new look…”

-Clarification: Any [PLAYER] based modifications will be noticed by any and all Followers. They will receive a subconscious message detailing what has transpired whenever an ability of this kind is used.- M.O.C chimed in, oh so helpfully, from within Evan’s mind. -In case of failed execution of a touch based ability, or any other skill that can alert those around, a notification will be sent to everyone involved. Only the [PLAYER] will receive them as messages however. Other subjects will notice them in their own particular way.- Evan lelt out a relieved sigh while telling Cadence about this. M.O.C, however, pointed something else. -Recommendation: Have Follower Cadence allow for her own modification later. Undoing them returns POWER used. Practice in willing subjects yields no mastery. Current form, or certain modifications, can be set as ‘preset’ in my databanks. Safety first. Practice makes perfect.-

Evan really wanted to tell M.O.C to go fuck itself, but he did one better and just relayed what it said to Cadence. The mare seemed perfectly happy with being toyed with, but later. Right now she was paying far more attention to Shining Armor.

“He looks far more into it than usual.” She mentioned idly, though she was still horny, as her wings being on attention, and a few little twitches here and there, indicated. “He is doing his all. It has been years since I saw him so full of energy.”

Evan wasn’t so sure, but he would defer to Cadence on this one. “So you think this already had a positive effect on him?”

Cadence nodded effusively. “Yes. He looks more comfortable, and while my powers aren’t made specifically for other emotions, I CAN feel them. Shining had been repressing a lot for a very long time. Now he feels more… liberated.” She hummed and scrunched her muzzle. “So long as he acts like a proper stallion and goes along with ‘his’ plan that is. I would hate for his insecurities to act up again.”

“Mind you.” Evan interrupted. “I am NOT an hypnotists. I know jack shit, beyond what I have seen in movies, comics, or what I have read, and most things are exaggerations. All I have is that stupid skill that I think is overpowered.”

-Correction: Skill at level 9 and 83% ready to level up.-

“Shut up, M.O.C” Evan grumbled out loud, making Cadence chuckle. “Other than the machine poking at me with exposition; no I am not that good at it. I hope I don’t hurt anyone, unless it is on purpose.”

The mare turned to him with a frown. “Well, get ready to do a lot more damage control than just ‘hoping for the best’ tomorrow.” She said with a very demanding and serious tone. “Whoever your guard is, I will turn you in if you leave them a broken mess, do you understand?”

Evan lifted his hands, breaking no argument. “I don’t mean outright harming anyone, Cadence. But I doubt this ‘adventure’ will go anywhere if I do get an asshole of a guard.”

“Me neither.” Cadence admitted, but her tone remained the same. “Still, I expect you will do your best to not hurt whoever it is. Or if you do, I will ensure you don’t mess them up too much. I know those that my aunt considers her ‘closest’ guards are… not good ponies per se, but they aren’t evil either.” She sighed and turned to face the field again. “Just… I don’t want to help create a monster.”

“And I don’t want to die.” Evan conceded, frowning at the thought. “I’ll do what I can, okay? Help me with it and we’ll get through the whole ordeal far more smoothly that I could alone. Deal?”

That made Cadence smile a bit. “Deal.” And the smile soon turned into a perverse smirk. “And speaking of deals… You said you would do whatever I wanted, right?” Evan gulped, nodding. “Then I bet you also remember I told you what I wanted. Right now. Right here.”

As Evan felt his pants going down, guided by the smooth magic of the princes of love, he could do little more than shiver. Whether fear, anticipation, or pure hope in that he hadn’t screwed himself over trusting Cadence, he couldn’t say.

But he would be lying if he told you that he didn’t want to feel just how good Cadence’s fields felt.