Anon tugged at the collar of his shirt. Everything suddenly seemed warmer for some reason. Well, that’d be a lie. He knew full well why he’d gotten all hot and bothered. Rarity stared up at the second landing, where Twilight had presumably teleported herself. She made as if to go up herself, but thought better of it.

“Twilight seems to be,” she said, still blushing. “Indisposed at the moment.”

It took a moment for the implication to sink in. “R-right.” He coughed. “Right.” It was almost as if a veil had been lifted and he’d regained full control of his capabilities. “I should... probably go. Let her deal with her, um... yeah.” He moved to the door when a shout from upstairs cut him off.

“Stop. Wait! Rarity, don’t let him leave!”

The two of them looked up at the second landing. Neither could see Twilight from their vantage point, but they certainly heard her. Anon heard the shuffling and tossing of fabric and a slight wooden creak. Something crashed onto the floor of the landing, followed by a small exclamation of distress. Rarity had already started to make her way up the stairs when the telltale flash and crack of teleportation drew her and Anon’s attention.

Twilight apparated herself before the exit of the library, blocking his way. Anon had to look down at her. She appeared to be kneeling, with what looked like a bedsheet wrapped all around herself; only her head poked out. There was a red imprint on the left side of her face, as though she’d been struck by something.

“There might be,” she said. “Complications. With you, with us. It may be excessive, and nothing... bad might come of it, but you should stay here for now.”

Anon was struck by her appearance. Now that Twilight was well and truly covered and Anon had no other... distractions drawing his gaze elsewhere, he took a proper look at the transformed princess. Her skin maintained her original coat color, albeit in a slightly lighter hue. She was... cute. Pretty, in a librarian-next-door sort of way. Soft, rounded features with almond-shaped eyes. He idly mused a pair of glasses would complement her. Once he got past the skin tone, the horn and the multicolored hair, she could reliably pass for a normal human girl.

He averted his gaze. He couldn’t trust himself to not keep on staring.

“For observation, you mean?”

She nodded eagerly. “It’s just a precaution.”

“In case of what? I turn into a puddle of goop?”

“Wha... no. Nothing like that. I know it’s sudden, but it really would be best. O-or did you have plans for today?”

He shrugged. “Nothing I can’t push back.”

“Good,” she said, relieved. “And, sorry. About all this. And for, ah,” she blushed anew.

“It’s fine, really,” he said quickly. “Sorry for... staring.”

She smiled tentatively and looked away. “Well, make yourself comfortable.” She promptly started an awkward sort of gait, using one hand to keep the covers tightly wrapped around her, using her knees and remaining free hand to shuffle toward the bookshelves. “I need to do some light research. See if I can find any possible answers as to what just happened. Maybe even... oof!” She tumbled forward, smacking her face against the floor.

Rarity cleared her throat. “Twilight, darling? I don’t claim to be an expert on matters of biology and such, but wouldn’t it make more sense to... walk as a human does? That form does not look suitable for a pony’s trot.”

“It really isn’t,” Anon agreed. “Crawling like that is meant to be a placeholder for babies until they learn to walk.”

Twilight spat the hair out of her mouth. “You may be right.” Now recovered, she knelt again. She looked about herself, her brow creased to a slight, pondering frown. She made odd movements, like half-hearted lunges upward. “Hmm.” She looked up at Anon and said, “How do humans get up?”

He tried explaining. That didn’t work. He then tried to demonstrate, with limited success. Truth be told, he’d have been surprised had Twilight gotten the hang of it so quick. She’d been living her whole life as a pony. Of course she wouldn’t be used to a human body—the way it moved and all the quirks that came with it. She’d need to learn an entirely new way to balance herself.

In the end he grabbed her by the elbow and tried to help hoist her up. She was... delicate. A bit lighter than normal for a girl her size. She maintained the sheets in place with her free hand. Slowly, Anon lifted her. Twilight helped by using her legs to maintain her balance and push herself along. They shook considerably, her muscles unaccustomed to their new shape and length.

“Wow,” she said, looking about the library. “Everything’s... smaller.”

Rarity smiled. “It’s you who’s gotten tall, darling.”

Twilight chuckled. She stood maybe a head shorter than Anon, though even then her posture was slightly hunched over, her legs spread apart more than normal to help balance herself. She clutched his arm tight with her free hand.

He himself had a different internal battle to fight, and now regretted helping Twilight, at least in a manner that put them in such a compromising positon. His mind knew she was still the same dorky, slightly awkward alicorn princess under her current facade. His body though... it only knew to be in close contact with an attractive girl who under those sheets, was naked as a bluejay. And having seen firsthand how... pleasingly proportioned she looked under those very same sheets, well, it put him in a bit of an awkward situation.

“Alright, then,” she said more confidently. “I suppose walking comes next. Is there a trick to it?”

“Not... really? It’s more or less a manner of controlled falling. Put one foot in front of the other and just... catch yourself. And take care not to fall along the process. That’s really the best way I can put it.”

Twilight nodded. “Not too different from trotting on all fours, then.” She took a small, tentative step. Then another. “It’s not so bad,” she said, smiling.

Anon cleared his throat. “Think you can go it alone from here?” He hoped she’d say yes. He also desperately wanted her to say no. She nodded.

“Let’s try it.”

He eased his grip on her and slightly backed off. Surprisingly, Twilight remained standing, her face crinkled in concentration as she maintained her balance. She took a tiny step forward and wobbled slightly.

“I don’t know how you... bipeds do it,” she mumbled. “Aren’t you always in danger of falling?”

Anon shrugged. “Pretty much. It’s a constant battle with gravity, but we make do.”

“No offense, but I think I prefer hooves. Four legs.”

Anon laughed. “None taken.”

Twilight turned her head to offer a small smile. It vanished instantly and her eyes widened in panic. The mere action destabilized her tenuous balance and her whole body tilted sideways, ready to crash onto the hard floor. Anon acted on reflex and lunged forward. He grabbed her around the waist and yanked her from her trajectory. Twilight flailed her arms. They latched around Anon’s neck and gripped him like a vise.

Human and not-quite-pony froze, staring wide-eyed. Their bodies were in full contact with each other. Twilight looked down. Her flailing served to help her grab on to Anon and stop her fall. It also sent the bedsheets flying, leaving her stark naked and pressed against him.

The familiar red hue returned in full force. Her arms went limp and her legs gave out. She fell to her knees and doubled over, pressing her face between her palms. A piteous whine resonated in the otherwise quiet library.

Approaching hoofbeats marked Rarity’s presence. She used her magic to retrieve the sheets and wrapped them around the prostrated Twilight.

“Not to worry, darling,” Rarity said soothingly. “Just leave it to me. Anon, dear?” She turned to him. “Would you mind waiting in the kitchen? Twilight here’s going to need an appropriate... garment for her new state. There’s not much here to design a proper article, but I can whip up something for the short term.”

He needed no futher prompting and made himself scarce. He made a beeline for the sink and splashed cold water all over his face. “Jesus,” he muttered, willing his thoughts not to stray where they shouldn’t. He’d just made up with the little alicorn, hoping the two of them could, for the third time now, move on from the past and start things over, hopefully with a new understanding of each other.

Well, he thought wryly, maybe they actually would, just not with the way he planned. He splashed more cold water on his face and shivered, offsetting the otherwise burning heat that had flared within him.

It was going to be a long day.

Author's Note

Poor, poor Twilight. I'd feel bad for bullying her if it wasn't so dang fun to do it.