A New Padded Perception

It was the end of another busy day in Ponyville.

Many ponies were at home and getting ready for bed.

Princess Luna’s beautiful night offered a bit of light as the moon shone down from the sky.

A few ponies days were not quite over yet though.

On the mostly empty streets of Ponyville walked Thunderlane, saddle bag strapped to his back.

It had been another busy day at Wonderbolt HQ, and the stallion was eager to get home to sleep.

He had the house to himself for the week, his brother Rumble was away in Cloudsdale for the week visiting their parents.

His body ached slightly from his daily workout and the weight of his workout cloths and personal hygiene items in his bag were beginning to become an annoyance to the tired stallion.

He was just glad he only had a few blocks until he got home to his comfy bed.

As he made his way past a dark alleyway he heard a voice call out to him.

“A tired stallion I do see, a cure for your aches I guarantee.”

Thunderlane turned, slightly startled by the voice, to see who was there.

Out from the darkness a female zebra by the name of Zecora emerged, gold jewelry worn on different parts of her body.

She gave Thunderlane a warm smile.

“A special brew to ease one so sore, making you feel better than before.”

Thunderlane wasn’t sure what to think. He had seen the zebra around town in passing before, but didn’t really know her.

She could try and pull a fast one on him and steel his saddle bag.

Still though, her demeanor seemed kind enough, and he could probably catch her if she did try something.

“Uh, sure. I’ll take some. How much?” He asked.

Zecora shook her head. “My services are free to all first time, bits you will give me when I next rhyme.”

She reached into her own saddle bag and pulled out a vial of greenish liquid, placing it in Thunderlane’s hoof.

“Well thank you. That’s very kind.” He said, uncorking the bottle and drinking the contents.

It had an earthy, bitter taste to it, but immediately Thunderlane could feel his body getting much more relaxed, his aches and pains melting away.

He now felt like he was in a nice warm bath, his body tingling with the relief the potion brought him.

He was about to say goodbye to the zebra and continue home, but found his legs would not move.

In fact, he couldn’t move any part of his body! It was like he was frozen in place!

Zecora smiled at him again.

“It seems you cannot move, for my purposes you now can improve.”

Thunderlane began freaking out inside. He didn’t know what the zebra would do to him but he was sure it wouldn’t be good.

She reached into her bag and pulled out a pink crystal attached to a string that seemed to glow faintly.

She dangled the crystal in front of Thunderlane, swinging it in front of his eyes.

With each swing, Thunderlane found himself focusing more on the crystal, its glow intensifying the more he stared at it.

Thunderlane’s mind began falling under a cloudy daze. His mind started to grow blank as the trance distracted him from coherent thought.

Zecora grinned, happy to see the hypnosis was working.

“A grown stallion works hard all day, while little fillies have time to play. Like a grown stallion you will act no more, better to be a filly of four. Shy and bashful you will be, your newfound personality. Following rules will fill you with glee, from anypony like your Mommy. If you understand what I have said, then simply nod your head.”

Thunderlane nodded, the suggestions taking route in his mind.

“When I stomp my hoof on the ground, you’ll once again be homeward bound. Tomorrow night you’ll come back here, to tell me of your day of cheer.”

Zecora stomped her hoof on the ground and Thunderlane came to, unaware of what Zecora had done to him. The last thing he remembered was drinking the potion she had given him.

“I feel much better now. Thank you!” Said Thunderlane, heading for home.

Zecora waved and smiled at him as he left. The freezing of a pony’s body was a simple side effect of the potion she’d given him. She knew it wore off after a minute, but a minute was all she had needed to begin step one of her plan.

She couldn’t wait for step two to begin tomorrow.