Author's Note

I apologize for the long delay between chapters^^
I have many other projects I'm working on.
Also, I slightly changed this transformation from the original.

13 - Composing a New Duet

Now that she was actually about to speak to Celestia, Sunset found herself getting nervous...

Okay...There's bigger things going on than just YOU, Sunset...You need to do this. Not just for yourself, but for your friends too! Just walk up those stairs, wait outside the door, and - "Sunset...?"

Sunset spun around and found herself face to face with Princess Celestia! All of Sunset's fears and anxieties doubled, then tripled, and it was everything she could do to not just run away...!

Celestia of course had a memory of Sunset's betrayal, but she quickly realized this was almost certainly just another poor victim of the magic..."Forgive me. Do you have any memory from...before?"

Sunset tilted her head in confusion. "...Before? Before what? Oh! You mean before I was...me? Um...no, nothing. In fact, I only really have Pinkie's story to go on. It's...a little hard to believe..."

Celestia smiled sadly at Sunset. "That makes two of us. I also have absolutely no memory of who I was before I became infected. All I know is what Luna told me...*Yaawn*...I'm terribly sorry Sunset, but I'm quite tired..."

Sunset quickly spoke up. "Wait! I uh...I need to talk to you about something. We can't just sit here and hide forever. We need food, water, not to mention entertainment!"

Celestia held back another yawn..."You are...right of course, but with only Luna and myself able to cast magic, I'm not sure what alternative we have..."

Sunset's eyes lit up at Celestia's words! "Magic!? I can do magic! I'm just as good at it as ever! Princess, I can help!"

Celestia actually felt herself perk up! "Really!? *Ahem*...Could you power the crystal we're using to hide ourselves? Um, please?"

Sunset bit her lip in thought. "Uhh...I mean...maybe? You probably shouldn't just leave me all on my own at first, but...once I learn how to cast the spell consistently, I might be able to...But that's not what I meant! I have this idea. What if...we made little versions of that crystal that absorbed our contagious magic?"

Celestia's eyes opened wide! "...Mistress is no doubt searching for Equestrian magic specifically! If the crystal could hide the magic by absorbing it..."

"She wouldn't be able to find us, exactly!" Sunset finished for her. "Princess, I can make special crystal necklaces that should last for at least an hour! Not long enough to do anything crazy, but assuming there's a city decently close by, one of us should be able to drive into town and get supplies!"

Celestia forced her mind to think about what Sunset was proposing...On the one hand, they would need supplies sooner or later, and this idea would be perfect for getting them. But on the other, there was a chance of infecting people in the city! If that happened...

Celestia nodded her head. "It's very risky...but I must prioritize the well being of my subjects. Alright Sunset, make as many of them as you can. You-*Yawn*-You will need to test them thoroughly before you send anyone out. Wait, what if Mistress finds them while they're away?"

Sunset smirked. "I already thought of that! All they have to do is touch the crystal while thinking about returning to the cabin, and it'll use the stored up magic to cast a teleportation spell! O-Of course, any non-Equestrian standing too close would definitely be exposed to the magic. But the teleport spell is a failsafe." Sunset finished, much less enthusiastically.

Celestia let out a long sigh..."I still want you to do this...Even knowing the risks. Without supplies, we'll starve or end up captured. Now...*Yaawwn*...Please excuse me."

The next day, Sunset had successfully tested two of the crystal necklaces! All that was left now was to decide who should go...

Sunset frowned in thought. "I really think I should be the one to go. I know my magic is stronger, but I know how these crystals work."

Rainbow butted in. "C'mon Sunset! I really gotta get outta here for a while! I'll be careful, I promise!"

Fluttershy chimed in. "I-It shouldn't be me or Pinkie, I think...I-I'd be too nervous, and Pinkie is just so sad..."

AJ gently wrapped an arm around Fluttershy's shoulder. "Don't you fret none. No one's gonna make you or Pinkie Pie go if'n ya don't wanna. How 'bout this, Sunset? Ah'll go with RD and make sure she stays outta trouble. Ah ain't got no magic, so there'd be plenty of time before them crystals get full, right?"

Rainbow grinned hopefully as Sunset looked at the ground in thought. "Technically we all have magic, but mine IS much stronger...*Sigh*...Okay, you two can go."

Rainbow jumped for joy! "YEAH! I-I mean, thank you. We'll be super responsible and careful not to touch anybody."

A short while later, AJ and Rainbow were driving away in the car that belonged to Kenny...

AJ looked 'normal' enough to not get any stares, but with Rainbow's sky blue skin and wild looking hair, several people were curious and wanted to talk to her. There were several close calls, especially waiting in the checkout line, but they had managed to buy about a week's worth of food, along with a TV and several games. Now all they had to do was get back to the car...

AJ let out a sigh of relief. "*Whew*...Ah hope we have a better way 'a doin' this next time. If there is a next time..."

Rainbow frowned as she saw AJ's dour mood...Then she smirked. "Hey, I know what'll put the Apple back in your Jack~...Race ya back to the car!" With that, Rainbow took off...without her cart.

AJ groaned. "Rainbow, git back here! We got TWO carts! Aw nuts..." AJ frowned as she realized Rainbow had completely ignored her.

Chasing after her, AJ rounded the corner just in time to hear Rainbow scream - "LOOK OUT!" - before vanishing in a bright flash of light! "Awww HAYSEED! Ah better git back quick! Gotta get this stuff in the car and use the crystal...Ah just hope it works right..."

As quickly as she could, AJ loaded both carts into the car, having to use the back seats to fit it all. Then, she touched the car and the crystal necklace around her neck at the same time, and thought of the cabin - FLASH!

AJ and the car reappeared near the cabin, thankfully a short distance away from where Rainbow arrived. "Rainbow, you - !" AJ stopped as she realized what had happened...

The magic stirred within two young women as they lay on the ground. One had her hair dyed an unnatural blue, and had dark skin. The other, significantly shorter, also had unnatural hair, but it was short and green instead of long and blue. She also had her eyes closed, despite clearly being awake...

Rainbow stood between the girls laying on the ground, her eyes wide. "Ohmygosh Ohmygosh Ohmygosh! I am SO sorry! Please be okay please be okay!"

The shorter woman, having heard a stranger's voice, responded. "Ugh...It's okay...It's probably my fault. I'm blind...Hey, why am I suddenly on grass...?"

As the petite woman spoke, a wave of magic swept across her skin, turning her already somewhat pale skin completely white...At the same time, the taller woman's skin gradually turned a pale grey...

Seeing what was happening to them, Rainbow shrieked! "Whatdowedo!? AJwhatdowedo!?"

AJ frowned. "Ain't nothin' we can do, Rainbow. It's too late..."

The short blind woman felt very strange...like something was happening to her body. The magic slowly built up inside her chest, before slowly pushing her small breasts out, growing them into solid D-cups! Her eyes shot open in surprise, and then a miracle happened...!

"AAAAAHHHH! I can SEE!" AJ and Rainbow jumped back as the woman shot to her feet, tears forming in her red eyes! She turned to see a beautiful person, the first person she had ever seen! She ran up to her and hugged her as hard as she could! "Th-Thank you! Thank you soo-o-o-o much! Please tell me your name!"

AJ struggled to breathe as she responded. "Hhhnnn...Ah'm Apple...jack...and that's Rainbow...Dash...!

The formerly blind woman looked up into the face of Applejack, trying to memorize every last detail. She failed to realize that her hair had grown slightly longer and spiky, the roots already starting to turn neon blue...But then she suddenly heard her friend!

"Ugh...good gracious, what hit me..." The now grey skinned woman stumbled to her feet, having taken a solid hit to the head...

"Nat! Nat! I can see! I can see-hee-hee~!" The formerly blind woman ran over to the now named Nat, eager to share the fantastic news!

Nat let out a gasp as she saw her friend! "*Gasp*! S-Serenity! Your skin! I-It's white!"

Serenity looked at her arm, still overjoyed at the fact that she could do that! "I know! I know! I can see it~!"

It didn't even occur to Serenity that she shouldn't even know what white is, nor that it was odd for her to have pure white skin...Meanwhile, Nat was too distracted by Serenity to notice her hair was steadily growing, her blue dye slowly fading away to reveal her natural black hair color...

Nat stumbled, unaware it was because she had just grown a few inches. "No Serenity! I-It's the wrong color! *Gasp*! S-So is mine! I'm...grey!?"

Serenity grabbed Nat by the shoulders, looking her square in the eyes and making her blush. "Nat, listen to me! I. Can. See!" As Serenity finally got Nat's attention, Serenity also grew in size, now matching Nat's already enhanced height...

For her part, Nat only barely registered her girlfriend's change in height, only now realizing that Serene was actually looking at her! Nat's mouth dropped open in shock, before a wide grin appeared on her face! "Serene...come here, my love~..."

Serene blinked in surprise as Nat passionately kissed her! Serene soon melted into Nat's loving embrace and returned the kiss, the mutual act rapidly accelerating both of their changes...A swirl of neon blue here, a fancier outfit there...

Rainbow and AJ could only look on in horror as two innocent victims blissfully transformed, completely unaware of what was happening to them...

By the time they opened their eyes, both had completely forgotten that anything was wrong about their bodies, only remembering that they had been teleported by Rainbow Dash of all people...

"Heh, I love you too, Tavi. Now, could we figure out where the hell we are?" Vinyl Scratch said as she mussed Octavia's hair, making her blush all over again...

Octavia straightened her hair, before looking past Vinyl to an oddly depressed looking Rainbow Dash. "*Ahem*, yes, quite. Rainbow Dash, why in all of Equestria did you teleport us into the middle of the forest? For that matter, HOW did you teleport us into the middle of the forest?"

Rainbow stuttered for a moment, before running back to the cabin with tears forming in her eyes...AJ sighed as she watched her go, before turning back to the two lovers. "Ah reckon she'll be broken up about this fer days. Can't say Ah blame her. Uh...Vinyl and Octavia, right?" The two nodded, with worried frowns on their faces. "Ya'll best come with me, alright? The princess'll wanna see ya."

Seeing as Celestia was currently busy maintaining the crystal in the attic, Luna had to be woken up. She was saddened to hear that even more innocent people had been transformed, but was silently thankful that it had only been two...

AJ explained what had happened, having to frequently pause to calm Octavia and Vinyl down as they heard the story too. "...And that's what happened, your Highness. Ah swear, Ah did my best..."

Luna let out a yawn. "*Yaawwn*...We are sorry, We are quite tired. Do not blame thyself, fair Applejack. T'was Rainbow's fault. We shall...speak with her, later. Though, from thy story, We doubt she will need much scolding..." Luna knew all too well how terrible Rainbow must be feeling, since Luna had been similarly responsible for Kenny's unfortunate fate...

AJ took Luna's silence as permission to continue speaking. "Um...We're gonna need more space, Princess. It's startin' to get crowded in here. Ah know it's risky, but we can't just-" Luna interrupted Applejack. "Yes, We quite agree. Tomorrow, you and you ALONE shall return to the city to acquire the tools needed to chop down nearby trees and construct a home for them. Sadly, we suspect there will be more victims soon enough..."

Vinyl decided to try and lighten the mood. "Sweet! New digs! Heh, could we get a rockin' sound system too-" Octavia promptly smacked Vinyl upside the head.

"Really Vinyl! Poor Applejack will likely have to build it all by herself! This is no time for your...uniqueness." Octavia then dragged a protesting Vinyl out of the room to scold her further.