"This computer is too slow," I lamented in a dream. "Probably needs more ram." I pulled out a sheep from nowhere and rubbed its back up and down along the top of the laptop. "Much better!" I tossed the sheep aside and got to typing.

I was talking to Cindy. The transition was abrupt, but also smooth in that dreamlogic sort of way. "Hey, Girl!"

"Hey, Cindy! I just did a little ram upgrade." I pointed at the screen where she was. "Can you feel it?"

"I was wondering why it felt better," she agreed, not that that many any sense, not that I argued it. Dream logic. "Feeling down for some fun today?"

"I was just about to do some work." I wriggled fingers at the camera. "But as soon as I'm done with that..."

"Lemme know." Her face dramatically shrank to a point, taking my perception with it.

I woke up.

A new day, a new chance to chronicle what was happening to me. Fingers, stuck, just plain stuck. The two that were rammed into one another on each hand entirely refused to come apart, as if I was just born that way. I slipped out of bed and a new surprise was there for me. I was walking on my toes for reasons beyond me. Aside that, my left toes were all nicely stuck together, and my right toes were actually worse than the day before. It was like they had made three separate groups to become entirely stuck together with, my pinkie off on its own separate of the other two groups

What did any of it mean? I had no idea. But I loyally typed it down after a visit to the bathroom. Oh, I still had that freaky eye, peering at me.

On went the socks. I hadn't worn my shoes to bed again. The socks fit just fine despite my new stance. Shoes, on the other hand, were a bit odd. Not unwearable, mind. Not like you couldn't stand on tip-toes in shoes. I wore them anyway. Work! I pulled my laptop over and got busy. Sure, I should have had breakfast, but right at that moment, working felt good.

Work was reliable. Work was something other people needed. Work was something I was good at, and hadn't changed. Work wasn't turning into an animal. Work wasn't turning me into an animal. Work hadn't done anything wrong. I could do work, and I did, typing busily away. I was getting a little better at four-finger typing. A step up from the day before, but still below where I had started.

I figured it'd taken a while to get that first speed. Expecting to master a new typing style in two days was a bit much, but I felt... less frustrated about it. I was getting work done.

I was also out of work. It was done. All the database structures needing to be massaged were in place. All the data itself was entered. I had done my job. All standing notes left in my company inbox were resolved.

I had to face the world around me. Pushing the laptop off onto the bed, I slid up to my feet, even if I was tip-toeing around. It was time to step outside and exist a little. Sure, nothing was actually forcing me out, but I was hungry...

"Maybe I'll meet somepony new," I muttered as I reached for the door and pulled it open. It was wide open and airy. There was the cafeteria and I went straight for it, but I heard voices.

Several voices, talking.

Creeping up along the wall in a sudden fit of self-consciousness, I peered around the corner with my unchanged eye to see what I had to assume were two other patients, and Jake.

Jake's face had deformed, as he promised it would, jutting out strangely and not quite... right? Halfway between human and horse, he was still obviously speaking without a problem. "--think she's still in shock, so be nice."

"We will be," assured a little horse, tail swaying. They had light purple fur, but also hair. A mane? It was done more like human hair. That hair was darker purple with a cyan streak. "We've all been through it," she insisted. "Right?"

The other pony, they were ponies, right? Little horses were ponies so far as I knew. "Yeah." Obviously male. They had a more natural brown and unpatterned fur color, though their mane was a rich blue. "I was freaking out something awful."

Extra parts! Did I mention the boy-pony, stallion? Stallion. The stallion had folded up wings on his back. The mare had a horn. These were not regular horses, even if you forgave them for having a conversation.

"Sometimes you need a helping hoof," suddenly sang the female.

"Sometimes it's hiding under the same roof," continued the male.

Jake sang the next bit, "To reach out is sometimes hard."

And, just like that, I felt the urge to step out of hiding. "When did I become a bard?" I sang that question, coming into clear view.

My sudden entrance was apparently enough to end things as all three looked to me.

The mare began trotting towards me. "Hello there! You must be so confused, but it's alright. My pony name is Starlight." She raised a hoof to her chest, then threw it wide to the stallion that clip-clopped up beside her. "This is Flash Sentry. We've both been through this, so don't hesitate to pepper us with all the questions you have."

"For sure," agreed Flash. "And she's Starlight Glimmer, but first name's fine between friends." He offered a hoof. "We can be that, right?"

I was talking to two little ponies. Who I would one day join. "No!" I swatted that hand away and recoiled, toppling over. It was too much and I couldn't hold it back anymore. The tears came and sense left. I lost all track of everything in a moment of self-pity and mental breakdown. Not my brightest moment.

"There there." Starlight was seated on her haunches next to me, rubbing my face gently with a hoof. I didn't even know horses could be gentle with a hoof, but she was managing. "Baby steps. What do you want, something small and simple? Let's make this day a step better."

Flash was at a table, sitting in a chair and eating something. He felt safe to forget was there, so I promptly did, focusing instead on Starlight.

That's when I noticed something odd about her. She had breasts.

They weren't where I'd expect them to be, on a human, but she wasn't a human, was she? They were on her lower torso, but clearly there, shaped the way you'd expect them to be, but covered in soft fur everywhere but the clearly visible nipples in view, or were those teats? There was only one per bump... nipple?

Why was I staring at horse boobs?! My cheeks lit up and I sat up slowly. I fell back on science trivia. "Don't horses only have obvious breasts when they're nursing? Are you...?"

Starlight's cheeks lit up, which was odd, really odd. See, she had fur all over them. Fur is not supposed to change color, and covers flesh, which is what would change colors. Despite my cry for logic, her fur went a bright red on her cheeks. "Oh! Well, I guess, normally? Whatever normal is these days." She waved a hoof idly. "These things were full size when I changed and never got any smaller." She lowered the same hoof to rest on one of her breasts. "I didn't want to mention you looking at them. You weren't exactly being subtle about it."

"Are... mine going to do that?" I tried to envision belly-boobs and shivered softly. It was wrong. So were my stuck fingers, and my tip-toe stance, and... "This is all wrong."

"It's the new normal," gently assured Starlight. "I was serious. Let's get you something you want. What do you want?"

"To go home and not turn into an animal?" I ventured with a hopeful little smile.

"I can't do that, something smaller." She held up both hooves close together.

Ugh. Well... "A change of clothes?"

"That I can do!" She hopped up to all fours and turned. "This way. Flash, gonna get her some clothes."

"I'll be here, or the pool," he replied before resuming his eating, apparently as relaxed as I was not.

Speaking of that... "So... You two are... friends?" I got up to my feet and tried to stand normally, but I sprang right back up to tip toes the instant I stopped actively thinking about it.

"Oh yeah." She started to trot once I was up, leading the way. "The facility here? We're basically one strange family. Everycreature knows everycreature else. and we're here for each other."

I reached for her, resting a hand on her back. I was touching a real pony of such strange colors. My fingers trailed down her spine, feeling them. I was soon outright petting her, scratching through the fur.

That's when I realized she had stopped and was watching me. I yanked my hand away as if I had been touching something hot. "Sorry!"

"I didn't say you had to stop." She smirked faintly. "A good little scratch between friends is nice. I know you're a bit.... everything right now, but we're here for you, promise. Odd thing, but most of the people who got the shot were guys." She resumed her journey. "At least those that came here. I'm not used to a human woman."

Wait. "You're a woman, er, mare?" A quick glance revealed she had all the parts, a teardrop shaped equine genital. I already confirmed she had breasts. She was a mare, for sure. She also had a picture on her butt, a star with wisps coming off of it? That didn't change her gender, but it was odd and I took note of it.

"I am now," she said with almost a little laugh. "You're not the first, not by far, but, I dunno. Maybe more guys volunteered?" She shrugged softly.

She had been a he? That must have been... "Wait, does that mean I might get..." Mental images of me with facial hair and a wobbly thing between my legs assaulted me and I stopped the little train by flopping against the wall. "That's too much."

"It's not a for-sure thing," Starlight assured, turning to me with a patient look. "You may stick with being a lady, or not. More people become mares than stallions, so your odds are actually pretty good."

I took a shaking breath. "Less than 1%"

"What?" She quirked an ear at me. "You want to just... stop a moment?"

"No..." I pushed off the wall, rejoining her at her side. "Where are those clothes?"

"Right here." She turned off the hallway into what looked much like a drycleaners. "Anypony home?!"

"Oui," came a french-sounding voice. A mare's voice poked free between a line of cyan-shaded hospital overalls. "Oh, a new patient!" Her eyes were on me. "Welcome welcome," she bade, her voice thick with a French accent. "Step over here and we'll get you something fresh."

Then she stood up. She seemed to be able to balance on two legs just fine, even if she had no hands. She brushed clothes along a great line. "You appear to be, mmm, yes." She grabbed one plastic-wrapped set in her teeth and turned to me, draping it over one of her crooked arms. "Try this on."

Starlight sat down, tail swaying. "This is... hey, I never got your name."

"Cind--I mean Lauren," I replied a little numbly. "So, you got the shot too?"

"Oui," affirmed the pony that was dressed like a maid. "I was a normal burger flipper, and now, here I am." She curtsied, which is not a motion I expected a horse to ever do. "I like this job better." She stepped closer. "Go on, once you change, we can clean your other clothes."

I had been wearing the same set of clothes for several days. The chance to swap out was damned enticing. "You have a changing room?" Turns out, they did. When she pointed the way, I took the plastic-wrapped offerings and then got to see she also had boobs. They were also down on her lower belly.

I managed to not stare that time, moving past her towards the fitting room.

As I got into my hospital gown and out of my stinky old clothing, I could hear them talking.

"She seems nice," spoke the maid pony.

"And completely freaked out," added Starlight. "Be nice. We've been there, right?"

"Oui!" I heard a clop of hooves. "Perhaps she is in need of a special friend?"

"I'm going to suggest against that until we know for sure which way she's ending up." Which way? What did she mean? "Did you notice her hands?"

"Oui, they could still move. Is she that new?"

"A few days I'm told. They should be basically frozen. Hooves aren't good at that." Another sound of a hoof striking something. "Maybe a griffon?"

"Or perhaps, the drag-ohn?" she replied in that accent. "I hope whatever she becomes, it is being very nice. Good neighbors are so delightful."

"No argument there." clip-clops approached the changing room. "Everything alright in there, Lauren?"

I had my clothes all bundled up, my phone and other little things transferred over. "I'm alright. I think I should visit the laundry next." My clothes obviously needed it. "And I am terrified to ask, but why does this gown have a hole in the back?"

"For a tail," she bluntly replied, brushing the curtain aside with a hoof and revealing me in my new light-blue attire. "You look great!"

"Oui, a perfect fit." The maid looked satisfied with her work. "Do you want your clothes cleaned?" She held out a hoof towards me.

"I can do a little laundry on my own..." It was something I could do, I wanted to do it. I felt so out of control... "Thank you, uh..."

"Soft Touch," introduced the maid, giving a name. "Oh, have you been told?"

"There's more to this?" I dreaded whatever she had to say.

"We all had names, human names. Eventually, a new one will come to you. It will feel right. Tell us when that happens and we will switch to it. For now, you are Lauren, and it is tres nice to meet you."

Starlight nodded as she turned for the exit. "Very nice. Now, don't be shy. Like I said, one big family around here. Soft here keeps our clothes nice and fresh, even if a lot of us don't wear them much anymore. We still love her for it."

"Aw, it is too much." Soft waved Starlight away with a little giggle. "I am doing my job."

"Thank you, Soft." I wiggled my fingers at them. A griffon? A dragon? Did that mean I would be keeping my fingers? I was... alright with that idea. I needed those... "Starlight, I'm going to the laundry."

"Want some company?" She was already following me. "This is all... a lot, I'm sure. You must feel so... everything, but I'm here, promise."

"And you're nice for that." I resisted giving her a pet. "So... Since you're here, you were a guy, right?"

"100%," she assured. "Why?"

"You don't sound like one, or act like one really." I felt awkward asking it, but prodding into her life was less terrible than facing my own at that moment.

"This is the Year of Our Lord 2021," she chastised. "When somepony transitions, you don't poke them for 'not acting' like their old gender. I am a mare. What I was doesn't matter." She glanced away and back. "No hard feelings, promise. If you don't mind my admitting, I am very curious which way you'll go."

"Male, or female," I sighed out. "And I don't get any say in it?"

"Not a one," admitted Starlight with a soft shrug.

Now, this next part, I wasn't there for, just to be clear. But there was Doctor Miller. He had read my report, and he was watching through cameras. He could see me interacting with the others. "Subject progressing in a standard fashion." He tapped his pen against a pad before the scribbling resumed. "Finger and toe patterns are not congruent with known patterns. Fingers imply a Type G or D, but combined with toe progression..." He pushed away from the terminal to get to another with his chair rolling beneath him. "We will need to keep her under close supervision."

"In other good news, she appears to be socializing well with the others. They've accepted her into their social structure. This could become tested as mental changes progress. Subject has not mentioned any dreams in her reports. She either isn't experiencing them, or just isn't writing about them. Consider how to get her to write them down without being too obvious."

"For now, an X-Ray would be helpful." He pressed a large red button. "Get the new patient some basic imaging. Focus on the hands and feet."

"Right away, Doctor."

My clothes were washing with the soft rumble of the machine. I was perched on the same machine. Starlight was seated on the next machine over. "By the way," she said suddenly. "A little thing." She raised her hooves close together. "Once you're covered in fur, at least for us all-the-ways, you stop worrying much about what people see. Nudity taboos, who needs 'em?"

Oh... "And you don't wear clothes, but Soft Touch was wearing clothes?"

Starlight shrugged. "It's a personal choice. She likes clothes. She likes frills. She feels naked unless she's in that maid getup of hers. Good for her, she's cute in it." Starlight smirked a bit. "Her choice. Flash wears nothing, I wear nothing. I mean, usually. Sometimes I wear something. Jake'll probably keep wearing all the usuals, because he's not an all-the-way."

"He's... furry."

Starlight squinted at me before it seemed to dawn and she laughed. "Yeah! Exactly. He's still human-shaped and will wear pants. Not for our sake, but his own. All I'm getting at is you wear as much as you want to, or not. Nopony else is going to--"

"Why do you say that?"

"Because we try to be nice?"

I waved a hand. "Not that part, 'Nopony'?"

Starlight blinked softly. "Oh! Well, you'll get that too if you haven't already. It just comes naturally. Nopony, anypony, somecreature... It's a bit odd when you think about it." She lifted her shoulders. "But the same thing lets me be a mare without screaming to the heavens for my missing anatomy, so there is that."

"So... if this is infectious, is... everyone going to become a pony?" That would not go over well in the world, I could only imagine. "Is that why they have us bottled up so tight?"

"It's not that bad," assured Starlight. "Once you finish and about a month goes by, you stop being infectious. Heck, I'm not infectious anymore." She reached out and put a hoof on my side. "No horse cooties." She rubbed lightly as if that somehow proved it. "They're keeping us here so it doesn't become a huge thing outside. No worldwise horse pandemic, thank Celestia."

"Celestia?"

Starlight's eyes widened. "Oops! Another ponyism, and I really don't even know where that one comes from. What is a Celestia?" She shrugged gently. "Whatever. We're ground zero and so long as we play nice, there will be no pony plague across the lands. So they treat us nice and give us what we need and we just wait mostly. We'll be fine. The world already has one pandemic and I'm not rushing to make it two."

The washing machine beneath me came to a gentle stop, the spin cycle ending. I hopped down, landing on my tip toes somehow without falling over. "That is still strange." I turned about and flipped up the lid, reaching in to grab my soggy clothes. "To the dryer with you." And off I went to toss them in there. The machines didn't ask for quarters. I just had to press the button and it got going faithfully. "Say, Starlight? What were you called?"

Starlight shrank at that. "You ever hear of the term 'dead name'?"

"Sorry." I hadn't meant to dig where I wasn't wanted. I leaned back against the dryer as it worked. "I was just curious. You'll know... my 'dead name' when I get a new one."

"True." Starlight leaned forward, tail lashing with a little smile on her face. "Then we'll make it a trade. When you get your new name and share it with me, I'll congratulate you, then tell you my dead name, so we can both never use it. It'll be our secret, between friends."

I reached for Starlight and couldn't. My hand was glowing a purplish hue, and so was Starlight's horn. "Wha--"

Someone rapped on the frame of the door leading to the laundry. There was someone in a full hazmat suit. "Sorry to bother. Lauren, we were hoping to take a few X-rays. It shouldn't take very long at all."

On some level, I felt relieved. They were going to do some actual medicine on me. "My clothes are drying." I pointed at the machine, only realizing after the fact that it was the hand that had been held still.

Starlight hopped to the ground. "I'll keep an eye on it and put it right outside your door when it's nice and dry." She raised a hoof to her chest. "What are friends for?"

"Thanks." I made a little mental note to ask about what had just happened, but for that moment... "Lead the way." I followed the well-protected man, trailing in my hospital gown. I felt so underdressed in comparison, but he was the one who didn't want to catch what I had. "So... things normal, you know, outside?"

"As normal as it can be. People are sick, dying, and complaining. We're doing what we can." He glanced, big covered head turning towards me. "Of course, I'm here working with the Ponid strain instead of the Covid one, but that's how it works out."

Oh. "You wanted to be working on Covid then?" I tried going beside him, but he knew which way he'd turn and I didn't so I soon fell behind him again.

"You all seem nice enough, but you're not dying, and Covid is doing that. Given the choice, yeah. No offense." He opened a door to a small clean room. "We're just going to get a peek at what's going on in your hands and feet, if you don't mind."

He had a little point there. Whatever was happening to me, I wasn't dying. My odds of death were 'beneath 1%', which was a fair sight ahead of where people were if they had the other option for plague of the day. I was just suffering an existential sort of death... "Look... I'll keep breathing, probably, but is whatever I become me?" I challenged as I sat on the examination table. "I feel like I'm dying."

"Sorry, I shouldn't have said that." He took one of my hands and held it out. "Say cheese." Something made an odd noise, like a flash bulb, but there was no flash. "And the other." He switched hands, then went for feet. "That was uncalled for. You're right. Comparing your case to others isn't fair, to you. For you, right now, this is a big deal. Can you wait a moment?" After a nod from me, he scooted from the room, to get the results I figured.

The room looked like any doctor's visit office really, minus specific plaques that said who it belonged to and what achievements they had achieved. I felt... almost normal. I was a little sick, so I went to a doctor.

Perfectly normal.

Author's Note

Phew, longform! But I got it done nice and smoothly. Enjoying the ride with me? This a disease you'd avoid or welcome with open hands/hooves/talons?

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