Chapters 5 - Welcome Welcome Welcome!
Just as they were passing where they had arrived in Equestia, they ran into a new pony, looking at them with a curious smile. "You made it, didn't you?"
Brad blinked at that, drawing Bella to a gentle stop. "Made what, um, and who are you, miss?"
"Rainbow Charm!" She pointed a hoof up. "And every time there's that sudden rainbow, I get the shivers, and my cutie mark glows all shiny, and—" She cantered in place, unable to continue a moment. "It has to be you. You made the rainbow, didn't you?"
Bella tossed her head, sniffing at the new pony with obvious curiosity. "It is nice to meet you."
She paused, tilting her head. "Wait, what?" Bella had not said a word, but Rainbow had heard her meaning quite clearly. "Wow! I never met a pony that talked that way before." She touched her nose to Bella's large one. "Hi there! So, about the rainbow?"
Brad slid to the ground, patting Bella gently. "You caught us, not that we were keeping it a secret. I'm Brad, this is Bella. Nice to meet you, Rainbow Charm."
"You can go with RC if you prefer." She circled around Bella and brad with a giddy little noise. "So what's the deal with that rainbow? Why are you making them?"
"Well, it's a little complicated." Brad grinned. "We aren't sure why, exactly, Bella and I can cross from my world to yours through it. And we aren't sure how we get it either."
Rainbow halted to look at him, eyes narrowing. "Is it like, a random thing?"
"No, it's a rainbow road, that she's found a way to use twice now to bring us to Ponyville." Brad stroked along Bella's powerful neck.
Bella shook her head with a snort.
RC inclined her head. "Oh, you just run and jump?" Bella whuffled, and RC seemed to understand it. "Anywhere? Show me!"
Brad guided Bella forward. "We were about to head into Ponyville for the first time. Come with us?"
RC huffed gently herself. "If that's where you're going, I'm going too." She slid in next to Brad, tail swaying with energy. "Lead the way!"
The three headed through the little town, Bella tossing her head back with excitement and pleasure, looking at all the sights before her. Ponies, so many ponies, with such interesting appearances, and all with their own special flair. Bella leaned aside and nipped at one pony's mane.
Lyra laughed, swatting the horse back. "Thanks, I brushed it extra today."
Brad shook his head at the silent, to him, communication that flowed between his horse and the ponies. Still, both sides seemed to enjoy it, so he let it be. "RC? Do you know about this place?"
"Ponyville?" She hopped forward and twirled to face Brad. "It's a nice place. I live here." She lifted into the air with powerful flaps of her wings. "I help bring the rainbows when they're needed. Speaking of that, you, rainbows! I have so many questions." She grabbed Brad by the shoulder and began dragging him with her flight. "Come on!" She guided him to a park in town, which was deserted, save for a few birds and squirrels going about their business. "Make with the rainbow."
Bella trotted to join them and nudged at Brad.
Feeling trapped between a small horse and a large one, Brad raised his hands. "Alright, alright. Just once. We really do want to look around, don't we?"
Bella nodded, one gesture she knew of the human lexicon.
"Right." He hopped up and mounted Bella firmly, patting her from above. "Let's show her a rainbow."
Bella bolted for the far end of the park, running in a zigzag as she neared the tree there. She leapt for a moment, then hit the ground, racing in a circle back towards RC. She hopped into a grand leap, leaving a rainbow right over Rainbow Charm's head, landing just past it, on a rainbow that extended from the ground, through her hooves and leading up into the sky.
She softly whinnied, as if calling RC to look at what she'd done.
RC's cutie mark was shimmering as she shivered. "Yes! I knew it!" She pumped a hoof in the air as she danced. "This is what I was talking about." Without thinking about it, she darted up the rainbow to join them, standing on it easily, despite Twilight's earlier failures to do the same. "This is amazing!" She spun on the rainbow bridge, letting it slide beneath her hooves. "It's better than amazing!"
Brad laughed at that. "I'm glad you like it. It's...just something Bella and I can do. It's good that it makes someone happy." He stroked Bella's neck gently as the big girl shook out her mane, turning to face the newly arrived pegasus.
"It's incredible, it's, it's..." RC's mouth worked as she tried to find words, then she flung herself at Bella and hugged the older horse. "You are a special pony!" She slid down. "Are you a pony? You talk pony."
Bella whickered gently.
"Not a pony, but close enough. You're a pony in my book." RC giggled as she slid along the rainbow to reach the ground in a smooth motion. "Still, amazing, both of you. Speaking of that." Her eyes settled on Brad. "What are you again? A friend, obviously, but not a pony?"
"I'm a human." Brad dismounted, swinging off with a grin. "In fact, we're so rare that I bet you haven't even seen one before." He considered that with a hum. "The only one around here, I think?"
Bella nudged him and they both walked off the rainbow, it fading the moment they were all free of it. "I'm just visiting, with Bella. This is a very nice town, and, uh, world? I don't want to make a mess of it." He gave Bella a fond pat on the nose.
"Ooh." RC's eyes lit up. "Have you met the princess yet?" She pointed up towards a distant city on the mountainside,. "We have two close by to pick from."
"Two? How do you mean?" Brad couldn't see much of the city from the ground, though it looked impressive. "One for each world?"
"Well, the main one is princess is Princess Celestia." RC pointed up towards the sun. "Ruler of the sun and watcher of us ponies. But then you have her sister, Princess Luna, watcher of the night, guardian of dreams. They work together to keep Equestria safe and running." She stuck her tongue out with a wink. "Or, that's what they want us to think."
"Is it?" Brad chuckled. "Seems like a good plan. I'd like to meet them, someday."
"I haven't. Seen Celestia at some functions, about it." She shrugged, eyes turning to the town. "But this is Ponyville, full of happy ponies that want to meet you."
"Did somepony say happy pony that wants to meet you?!" Pinkie slid in from nowhere. "That's me!" She giggled with a bounce. "Hi! Hi hi! Hello, I'm Pinkie Pie and you're Brad and Bella! Rainbow Dash told me all about you!"
Bella and Pinkie's eyes locked, the pony gasping in surprise. "Nice to meet you too." She popped a party hat atop Bella's head. "And one for you." She held up a hat towards Brad. "May I?"
"Sure, why not?" He let the little pony put the hat on him, but it barely fit on his head.
"But where are my manners? Oh, yes, right here." She stuffed something away, her manners perhaps. "I'm Pinkie Pie, and it's so very nice to meet you both. I don't have my greeting wagon ready, shoot, just pretend. Lots of loud and cheerful music." She danced in tune to the song that wasn't playing. "Anyway, welcome to Ponyville! If there's anything I can do to make your stay more pleasant, just let me know! I love welcoming ponies to new towns." She made a hoof gesture to remind herself to move it along. "Your party will be in two days."
Bard and Bella both started at that. Bella apparently asked first, as Pinkie responded, "Yep, two days. Is that a bad time?"
Brad considered it. "I don't have a show that day. Put it closer to the evening and I'll be there. Where?"
Pinkie spread her hooves wide. "Right here! I'll have it ready for a party, don't you even worry. Just get yourselves here and there'll be loads of ponies to say hi to!" She pointed at Bella with a giggle. "Especially you."
Bella's ears perked, a sign of interest and curiosity.
"Yep, I have to go now. Need to check on my balloons." She waved it away. "And deliveries, so many of those. You two have fun." She smooched both Belle and Brad on the cheek before saluting at Rainbow Charm. "Keep an eye on them!" She rolled her way along the road, pink tail bouncing behind her.
Rainbow Charm stood in place, utterly speechless. "I..."
Brad rubbed his cheek. "Well, she's enthusiastic."
RC shook her head. "Still gets me, every time. She did that to me when I first showed up. That was something." She rubbed at the side of her head a moment. "I'll be there, at your party. We're buddies now, it'd be rude to miss it."
Brad had a feeling it wouldn't have mattered if he turned down the invitation, but he wasn't one to turn down a chance to meet friendly ponies. "We're looking forward to it. It's a relief, actually, knowing we're far from the first ones to get that treatment."
Bella stomped a hoof with a snort, her ears going to a more relaxed position.
"Something to share, girl?" Brad leaned in to speak with his favorite horse. "Anything to help us figure things out."
Bella merely snorted again, flicking her tail.
RC clopped her hooves. "She wants to trot instead of walking everywhere."
Brad gave her a squeeze on the cheek. "Not in the main parts of town, not until we can work out what it is we're doing. Once we have that, you can do whatever you like." He ruffled the top of her head. "Don't want to scare little ponies with us riding around, now do we."
Bella made a soft noise of disappointment, but walked alongside them through the town. Her eyes began to wander, taking in the people and places with obvious curiosity. Ponies were all different, most of them small compared to her. It would be so easy to trample them, she would have to watch out, to avoid them.
A filly poked her head out of one of the little shops along the road. "Wow, they weren't fibbing," came the entitled voice of a filly as she walked out into view, her tiara glittering on her head. "Stop right there, ancient pony!"
Bella and Brad both paused, and Bella stared at her with a tilt of her head. The filly had a pink coat, but her hair was purple and white.
RC shook her head. "Diamond, you're in the way of our guests. What do you want?"
Diamond Tiara looked up at RC. "I've never seen a pony like that. Or the tall creature."
Brad glanced back at himself. "Tall? Well, I guess you're right, I am." He laughed at the absurdity of his situation. "Name's Brad, local human." He offered a hand towards the small filly. "And you are Diamond?"
"Diamond Tiara." She swiped at the offered hand, but stopped as Bella stared at her. "What?"
Bella lifted her lips as she snarled, putting herself between Brad and the young pony.
"Relax, I'm just setting up an order of dom—" Diamond Tiara didn't get to finish her thought.
Bella had snagged the little filly by the scruff and picked her up, casually dropping her several wide horse steps away. With a soft snort, she made her point clear.
Diamond threw up her hooves. "Sheesh! Fine, you're in charge of him, I get it. No need to get physical about it."
Brad just grinned at that. "I think she thinks that she needs to protect me. Thanks for the thought, Bella." He reached up and stroked her muzzle, cooing gently at her. "What's the matter?" Bella turned and leaned in to bump against him gently, offering affection to reassure herself of his safety.
There was a moment with the two bonding with gentle scritches and the press of Bella's large form. They had their own silent communication, and it was quite clear to either that the other cared for them quite a bit.
RC perked an ear. "Say."
Brad looked down. "Yeah?"
RC pointed up at an ear. "If Bella doesn't mind, I'd like to try that?"
But try what? Brad could only think of one thing, with that pointing. He reached to gently rub and scritch around RC's ear and she let out a happy sigh.
"It's as nice as Bella said it was, keep that right up. Thanks, Bella. I'll give him back, promise." RC closed her eyes, thoroughly melting under the careful ear massaging.
Author's Note
Is RC enjoying that too much?
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Nora stopped on the way in to wait for Roswell and Bella to leave. Once the horses were well away, she continued inside, followed by Twilight and RC. The two found themselves inside a clean office. Nora grabbed two clipboards and turned them to face Twilight and RC. "These are the normal applications." She tossed them in the bin they started in. "You won't be using them. Let's be straight about this. As undocumented's, you're off the radar, so to speak. Now, we try to run a pleasant ship around here."
She folded her hands together in front of herself. "We won't be abusing people, if you're scared of that. you put in honest work, you get honest pay. Won't be the pay of someone who had all the paperwork, but it won't be nothing either."
Twilight tilted her head in confusion. "I'm sorry, I don't understand. We need to get these documents you speak of? What are they?"
Nora clicked her tongue and gave Twilight a once over. "Are you that new? If you weren't born here, the odds of you getting those documents are vanishing. That you're here without them in the first place makes that even less likely." She waved the whole thought off. "I'd abandon that. Now, are either of you scared of horses or other large farm animals?"
Twilight shook her head slowly, a creeping sense of dread building up in her stomach. "No? Why would we be?"
Nora snorted at that. "Spent time around them much?"
RC raised a hand swiftly. "Horses are basically cousins t'me! We get along great." She elbowed Twilight. "We're very used to horses."
Nora crossed her arms and tapped a foot. "Really? Well, I'll believe it when I see it." She waved a hand towards the door. "The schedule's a bit light, so we have an opening. Come with me."
She led the two out of the office and around the barn. "The horses need to be brushed and their stalls cleaned. The cowboys are busy out on the fields, so it falls on you to get that done, ideally before they get back. We've got about 20 minutes before they arrive."
Twilight arched an eyebrow. "We'll do our best. Oh! And there are three horses out in the field we saw."
"Roswell, Bella, and Rascal." Nora nodded at that. "You'll want to feed them all as well." She waved across the stalls and the horses within. "Any questions, or are you waiting for me to get out of the way?"
Twilight steeled herself. "There is a lot I don't know about this ranch, but we can figure it out. First thing, what tools do we use?"
Nora pulled open a storage shed and reached in, fetching a large brush and tossing it to RC. She got out another to offer to Twilight. "For the brushing. The brooms are right there." She pointed to where they leaned against the wall. "Mops are right next to 'em. Shouldn't need too much else that isn't in view. Have at it. I'll be in the office if you have any questions." She turned away and left.
Twilight rubbed her chin with the handle of the brush. "Okay, let's do this! She closed with the closest pony and they looked at one another quietly a moment. Twilight nodded as if an accord had been reached and joined the horse in the stall. "Let's get you brushed."
The mare agreed wholeheartedly, enjoying the nice strokes of the brush along her sides. RC slid in alongside another horse to do the same. "This is easy!" She turned her attention back to her brush. "I know what I'd like, if I had fur." Not having it was a new experience, but she forged on regardless.
Twilight giggled. "We have hair on our heads." She ran a hand through her purple locks. "If you need more practice, you can always do mine." Twilight smiled at the horse before her. "Sorry. I'm just rambling."
"No worries." The mare leaned into the brushing. "Nice having someone talk to me." She let out a soft chuff, pleased for the company it seemed.
Working diligently, the two made their way through the stalls and back again to clean up. That part was far less glamorous, but they were on the case. Their companions did their best to help. They picked up some straw with their mouths to aid in cleaning. As well as a few other small touches that made their help invaluable.
As they emerged from the last stall, Nora was waiting for them. "Already?" She walked past them to inspect the stalls and the horses in them. "Hm. Hm! Hm." One for each horse, but she didn't find anything immediately out of place. "Now I see why Brad and Miggy put in the good word for you two. Good work."
She reached into her pockets and produced two pouches. "First payday, if you'll take it. If you'll be sticking around, we'll do it proper like."
Twilight and RC accepted the cash with smiles.
Twilight glanced aside at RC the moment Nora had wandered off. "I think, hm." She opened her bag and peeked inside to see some bills and coins. "Local currency? I don't think we need this." She held up a bill. "They don't have that back home. Paper currency. I've only heard about it." She tucked it away, and then the pouch into a pocket. "Still, better to have some, in case. If we don't use it, we can give it to Brad later. I don't imagine he'll be upset."
RC plucked at the bag she'd been given. "You think they're just giving this to us for being new?"
Twilight shook her head slowly. "Probably because we did the work right. Hm, if you listened to her, we would have gotten more if we had those documents." She shrugged. "But we're not here to earn money. Want to go find Brad?"
RC agreed cheerfully, eager to find Brad again. She missed him dearly. The two headed out towards the fields.
Twilight shot RC a sidelong glance. "Hey, Rainbow?"
"Hm?" RC turned to look at Twilight as they walked.
"Isn't it nice?" Twilight swept a hand slowly. "Being able to go around and not be hidden. Nobody knows we're different from them."
RC smiled slowly, nodding. "Yeah. Not having to skulk around anymore is great." She kicked at the dirt with one foot. "It feels good. But I also like being a pony."
Twilight hummed in thought at that. "I feel the same. Still, this is exciting! Being part of a world without magic." She waved her hands up into the air. "Let's enjoy it for what it is, a novel change of pace." Just before she could escape the stalls, a great set of teeth chomped on her shoulder, catching her clothes and stopping her progress.
Startled, Twilight twirled to face the horse that had gotten hold of her. She laughed as the horse huffed a few times and shook its head back and forth. "You're the one who wants attention?" She turned her shoulder, working her arm loose. "Hold still, please."
Once she was giving the horse a new round of brushes, the words came, "I need to talk to you."
Twilight kept brushing, responding in the equine way of posture and little noises, "What did you need?"
"You are the key to our age-long work." The horse shifted, as much to get brushed where it wanted as anything else. "Please help us. Strange horse. You are horse?"
"We are all ponies," Twilight replied firmly. "Well, I suppose you're a horse." She didn't deny the large creature its identity as she labored.
The horse nodded. "Yes. We want to calm the humans, to make them happy. What can we do? There is no magic here, no harmony."
Twilight hummed to herself. "And that's why you're asking me, because I do have those things."
The horse gently thumped its head against Twilight, almost knocking her over. "Yes. Will you help? Or will you doom us?"
"I'm going to help." Twilight rubbed the cheek of the horse. "Just, give me time to talk with Brad about it. And Miguel, he's pretty smart too."
The horse whickered. "Do not tell humans our secret. Horse, dog, cat. We tame humans, try to make calm. Try to make happy. But no harmony. We must tame."
Twilight turned away from the horse and saw RC just outside, staring at her in confusion. She had clearly been watching the whole thing, and it had deeply disturbed her. "I need to consider this." She patted the horse gently. "But your secret is safe with me." She climbed out of the stall to rejoin RC. "Let's go."
"What was that ?!" RC pointed back at the stall they were leaving behind. "That horse was talking like they have a big ancient plan? I thought earth horses were critters! They don't talk much, right? That one was talking! You heard them!"
Twilight rubbed her hands together anxiously. "Calm down. Let's find Brad."
"What does Brad have to do with this?" RC snorted and followed along. "Wait. It isn't his fault, is it?"
Twilight shook her head, increasing her pace. "No. At least, I don't think so. I need to think."
The two marched in uneasy quiet until they spotted Brad leading some other humans out on a little trot. There was a line of people, each mounted on a horse, going around the ranch. Each held reins loosely, but it was clear the horses were in control. They were an extended family of sorts, all tied together as they worked together.
Twilight heard the words, "These horses will let you know if you're not working together properly." Brad was leading them along gently. "But don't worry. They're all nice, and they know you're new to this."
As he looked back, he spotted Twilight and RC watching. He tipped his hat. "Why, it's a sight to see you both here. Enjoying yourselves?"
The riders waved amiably enough, not that they knew Twilight or RC personally.
"You should wait by the barracks. Lunch may have already been served, so if you want to grab a snack, you go right ahead. No need to be shy." He smiled at them, flashing his teeth with his handsome features. "But if you have any questions about the ranch, I'll answer them the best I can after I'm done."
"Okay," Twilight responded weakly, turned and fled back to the barracks.
RC squeaked, dashing after Twilight. "I thought we were going to talk to him!"
"He's working." Twilight rubbed at one arm. "We came to lend a hoof, not get in the way. When he's done, he'll find us, then we can talk and figure this out. For now, let's have lunch."
They entered the building to find an idle lunch area, and one woman putting away food supplies. She offered them both a wave. "Need something?"
Twilight grabbed at her stomach. "We were told to come ask about lunch?"
The woman paused. "Oh, new? Well, then let me get you sorted out." She stopped putting things away and turned instead to producing two big plates of food, each wafting with delicious aromas. "Eat up, and thanks for helping out. We're a small operation, so we really do appreciate the help."
Twilight sighed happily as she got the plate in her hands. "Smells good."
"Cooked it myself." The lady tipped a hat she wasn't wearing. "Where do they have you two working? Together?"
RC nodded quickly. "Yep! Cleaning stalls, feeding horses, stuff like that."
The lady smirked at that. "Really now? Gonna be honest with you, most new folks can't get that done without making a huge mess. Glad to see you two are getting along. Normally we'd pair someone with one of the experienced ranch hands, but they're all out on the fields today. She clapped her hands together. "Well, enough idle chit-chat. You can't eat and talk at the same time." She got back to cleaning up without pause.
Twilight and RC held their plates as they stepped away. "This is delicious." Twilight sank her teeth into the meal without delay.
RC quickly joined her, chewing as they made their way to a table and took a seat. "Some of this is new." She poked at it with a fork before taking another big bite. "New flavors, I mean. Is it because new freaky human tongues, or are we trying something completely new?"
"Definitely a combination of the two," Twilight responded in between bites. "I'm amazed we're so similar to humans, but there are obvious differences to what we can enjoy. We'll have to experiment more." She snorted lightly, "Once we're back home and our tongues return to normal."
RC plucked at one finger. "For a shape shifting spell, this one's weird." She burst into giggles. "Not that I have a lot to compare it to." She polished her plate clean with a happy sigh. "But that was good! We get to eat that every day? That's worth more than those silly bits of cloth. Seriously, money that's cloth? Why? Metal's way better."
Twilight nudged RC with an elbow. "Easy. Humans don't have bits." She poked at her plate, trying to keep herself from eating too much too fast. "I've learned so much already. This world is fascinating, and different from the last human world I visited, which strikes me as a strange thing. Are they related or not?"
Author's Note
A hard day's work gets you a day of pay! Welcome to humanity!
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23 - When the Moon Hits Your Eye
New ponies began to appear around town. Holding invitations to the wedding, none of them made it unclear why they had traveled there. They were all dressed in finery that matched their element or purpose in life. Some were even wearing armor. As Twilight was being wed, some of her royal guards had been invited. Twilight had insisted that they come to the wedding as their whole selves, not just a faceless set of barding.
Friends from her school were also ready. Many of them were already used to visiting Ponyville, so they faded into the populace without much stir. Others weren't. "Um, hello." Moondancer looked from Twilight to each of her new spouses. "I heard you are being wed."
Twilight nodded. "Yes. You're on the guest list. I'm glad you could make it. Are you planning on coming to the event with somepony?"
"No, I'm not." She laughed quietly at that. "I'm pleased for you, but my studies consume me." She closed and the two met in a hug, either squeezing the other before she fled away.
Bella sat next to Twilight. "She seemed agitated."
"Agitated?" Twilight turned her head to Bella. "About being in a wedding, maybe?"
"Not nervous. Upset." Bella lifted an ear. "There's a difference in movement and even smell. I can tell."
Twilight blinked softly. "Remarkable. I suppose, having had to speak early ponish for most of your life, you've become quite good at reading the words we don't say out loud. Still, I struggle to imagine what she would be upset about."
Brad came in and nuzzled Twilight. "Hey." He spoke up, getting Bella to look at him as well. "I just finished doing some shopping with Rainbow Charm, but she got distracted by something."
"Did not!" She landed beside him. "I just saw a sale and couldn't say no. That's part of shopping."
Twilight smiled at the two. "Glad to see you back. Ponyville is swelling with the ponies eager to be there for the big day." Her eyes went from one to the next as she asked the next question. "How are we going to handle the wedding night? We have to decide soon."
Bella blushed softly, looking away from Twilight.
RC flared her wings and flittered into the air. "We could always take turns. It's how we've handled it to now. Sheesh, Twi, it isn't a race. Get your head out of that gutter."
Brad laughed at that. "You're calling her the perv now? She's not wrong tho, even if it's wedding night, we just handle it like any other night." He put a wing around Twilight. "We already know we can work together."
Twilight nodded slowly. "That is true. It's not like we'd have a proper honeymoon anyway." She blushed softly as she turned back to where Moon had fled. "One of my friends was just by. Bella said they looked upset about something, but I have no idea what they would be by. If you see Moondancer, keep an eye on her."
Brad snorted quietly. "I'm not sure if we need to worry about one of your old friends being upset about something. They probably have a reason." His eyes lifted towards the sound of pegasi moving around in the sky.
Rainbow Dash landed a moment later. "'Sup! Twi, seriously, beating me to getting married? The hay. You couldn't just wait a month or two? Let me try and find myself a nice colt to settle down with? Nah, you just had to rush in, you, Bells, and Rainbow C. She waved a hoof at Twilight. "First of us to get married and you go big! I can respect that." Laughing, she went in for a hug.
Twilight returned the embrace before stepping back. "You're the best, Rainbow. We've been through a lot together." She looked back at her spouses. "Speaking of which. Where are Applejack and the rest?"
Rainbow snickered at that. "You may be the first, but Applejack is aiming for second place. Shoot, me, losing a race? How will I forgive myself." She put a hoof to her forehead, pretending a faint. "I'll get over it."
Brad nudged Twilight's side. "See, it wasn't that weird. We have another one who's getting married." He grinned, then looked at Rainbow. "So when is it?"
"AJ? No idea, but she's getting real romantic with that Mig pony." Dash shrugged, wings unfolding. "Just wanted to stop by, say hi. See you at the actual wedding, okay? And tell me when your little ponies are ready to start flying." She gave them all a grin, then took off.
Bella laughed softly. "That was nice. I think we're all in the right place."
Twilight gave a firm nod. "My friends are on my side, and it means so much." She looked to RC. "You have some of your own that may attend?"
RC looked around. "Yeah. I think I met half of them in flight school, so it's a good bet you'll see them around." She pointed at Bella. "Gonna bet her friends are still back on Earth, being horses and all."
Bella shook her head. "I'm happy here. I will tell them stories when I get back."
Brad put a wing around Bella. "We're all doing well. Let's be ready for this wedding."
The group of them put hooves together just to break apart and get back to getting things ready.
***
"Twilight." Moon had appeared just after a corner, cutting Twilight off. They rubbed over their face. "I hate to do this right now, but you're always busy with other ponies when not alone."
Twilight smiled at Moon lightly. "It's alright, what's on your mind?"
Moon cleared her throat. "Twilight. You are not being fair."
"I'm not?" Twilight took a step back, confused.
"To me! Not that you intended it." They rubbed at their own face again. "You left me behind, Twilight. Do you remember what you did, that day of my party?"
Twilight thought back. "Of course, how could I forget? I thought we worked through that though? I'm terribly sorry I hurt your feelings."
"It's more than that." Moon pressed closer, noses almost touching, but there was precious little affection there. "Twilight, what I felt for you wasn't just a fading friendship. It was love. It was always love. When I looked at you, I wanted to spend the rest of my days making you happy, but you never even saw me that way."
Twilight let out a slow sigh. "I'm so sorry." She rubbed one leg with her other forehoof. "But you're right, we never, um, had that kind of relationship. I didn't even know you were looking at me that way."
"That's because I never brought it up!" Moondancer let out a soft sigh, closing her eyes. "Not once did I manage to bring myself to say what I was truly feeling." She shook herself free. "Until now." She took a slow breath. "Twilight, I love you. I do not want to lose you to a bunch of other ponies who do not even appreciate the magic and reading that are the cornerstone of your life."
Twilight shook her head. "Moony, you've known me, sure." She reached out with a hoof to rub Moondancer's shoulder. "I'm sorry I didn't see how you felt."
"It's not too late." Moondancer grabbed Twilight close. "We're here for a wedding, but you can change your mind." Her lips pressed against Twilight's.
Twilight was caught off guard by the kiss. She knew that Moon had feelings, and she respected those feelings, but she couldn't go through with this. Twilight felt a certain level of attraction towards Moondancer, but they didn't erase the powerful feelings she had developed with the others. "Moon, please."
Moon shrank back, legs wobbling as her eyes misted with tears developing. "If you insist... on having a herd, like the old days, than take me." She put a hoof at her chest. "I will be the lowest pony, the omega to your alpha. Just please." Moondancer was on the verge of crying, her voice cracking. "Please! Don't do this! Don't leave me!"
Twilight stepped forward to comfort her, only for Moon to pull away. "I don't need pity." Moon took a shuddering breath. "I need an answer."
A quiet moment stretched between them. Twilight coughed into a hoof. "We are already together. I can't make any decision without consulting them, or I'm already being a terrible part of what we've made."
"I see." Moondancer started to walk away. "I'm going to my hotel room."
Twilight let Moondancer go. The poor pony needed space to process these emotions. Twilight would just have to do what she'd just promised and bring it up with the others.
Cadance shook her head. "Unacceptable."
"W-what?" Twilight sank to her haunches. "I just said I was going to talk to the others."
"Yes, but the invitations were already sent out." Cadance made a shoving motion. "If they arrive and a new pony is standing there, that will be a scandal. Twilight, sister, I'm already working as hard as I can to make this as smooth as possible. You can not even consider changing it this late in the game."
Twilight put a hoof on Cadance's shoulder. "You know me. If I've said I'm not going to do it, then I'm not." She frowned softly. "Though I will admit, I'm somewhat tempted."
"Twilight!" Cadance shook Twilight. "You got one taste of romance and you can't get enough, clearly. Put that thought aside. You are getting married to enough ponies as it is."
"Yeah." Twilight nodded at that. "But I have to admit, there's something about that raw passion that is attractive. I'll admit, I feel something in turn, but it's nothing like what I feel for my herd."
Cadance put a hoof to her face. "They cannot become another wife. They just can't. Whatever else you do, please remember that you are a princess, and we have appearances to keep up for the sake of the ponies around us."
"Appearances." Twilight repeated that word, trying to imagine what she was missing, then gave a nod. "If the common ponies saw me changing my mind so close to the wedding, they'd think less of me."
"Exactly." Cadance relaxed with that understanding. "And you, Twilight, deserve to be seen as the wonderful pony you are, not whispered about behind your back. That's not good for them, or you."
Twilight nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. "I'm going to have to reject them, then?" Twilight shivered at the thought.
"That is going to hurt, isn't it?" Cadance leaned against Twilight. "I'm sorry, but they cannot become another wife. The wedding is planned, the cake has so many ponies on it. This is already done, we're just formalizing it."
"I'm." Twilight took a deep breath. "I'll go tell them, personally, that I can't take them into our herd."
"Good luck." Cadance kissed Twilight's forehead in passing.
RC landed beside Twilight as she marched. "Where are you going, looking like that?"
Twilight gestured for RC to walk with her. "I am on my way to tell Moondancer, no, they cannot become a part of our herd. I already have enough on my plate."
RC blinked rapidly. "Who? Um, they a friend of yours? Sheesh, most of us don't even know them!" She fell into step with Twilight. "I'm so sorry, Twi, but that's just not right."
Twilight shook her head a little. "Cadance said it was bad for the ponies around me if I changed my mind so close to the wedding."
RC's wings flared out. "It's not good for us either. A pony that is part of our family has to be alright by everypony in the family."
Twilight nodded slowly at those words. "It wouldn't work. It wouldn't work at all." She shook her head, letting it hang down. "But she's going to be devastated."
RC threw a wing over Twilight. "Do you want me to go with you, or is this a private kinda chat? I'm ready either way."
"I'll do this myself." Twilight stepped up to the hotel room Moondancer was staying in. A light push opened the door. "Moon?"
Moon turned to her, then looked down at a piece of paper on the table before them. "You're a little early." She smiled thinly. "But I am happy to see you. Did you speak to the others?"
Twilight took a deep breath. "Yes, yes I did."
"Well?" Moon waited expectantly. "What is your answer?"
"No. They said no." Twilight rubbed over her own side slowly. "We can't have a new pony this late. Everypony's already prepared for four, which is an odd number to have, but they were told four. If they arrive to find five, I will look bad, and they'll be confused."
"Who is this 'they' you speak of?" Moon looked down at her. "The ponies attending?"
Twilight shook her head. "Everypony." She waved a hoof out towards Ponyville, and onwards to Equestria beyond it. "I am a princess of Equestria, so what I do reflects on all of us. For me to suddenly decide to take in another pony, when the invitations have been sent out and the cakes are being baked, it'd ruin what was to come."
Moondancer closed her eyes and turned from Twilight. "I see."
Author's Note
Moon, you're a bit late. This seems to be a habit.
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1 - Galloping to Adventure
Brad stroked along her neck and patted her strong shoulder with little paffs of his flesh striking her muscled hide. "Good girl. Best girl? Yes." He nodded with complete satisfaction even as the horse whickered in soft satisfaction. "And you know it." He ruffled her across the snout. "C'mon!"
He led her back towards the stables, where other horses watched curiously.
Another person, a female, waved as Brad approached. "Hey, can you feed little Daisy tomorrow? I'll be out of town."
Brad sighed softly. "I'll be here."
"You're the best." She strode right past him on to other business.
"It's different when that isn't aimed at a horse." Brad turned back to his cherished mount to give her a pat, mostly for himself. "Let's see how Daisy's doing."
The horse perked, as if, of the few words she knew, Daisy was one of them.
He led her to a specific stable to peek in at a mare that perked at their arrival. The two horses touched noses in a gentle greeting. "Aw, you two get along." He rubbed at each of their big cheeks. "I'll be back to make sure you get your feed tomorrow, promise."
The mare Daisy nickered softly as Brad rubbed her cheek. Her big brown eyes were trusting as she gazed at him.
"She knows she can count on you," said a voice behind Brad. He turned to see Sarah, another stable hand, leaning against the stall door. Her red hair was pulled back under a baseball cap and her freckled face broke into a grin.
"Hey," Brad replied, giving Daisy one last pat before stepping out and latching her stall door. "Just checking in on this girl. Danielle asked me to feed her while she's away."
Sarah nodded. "Going to miss having her around for a few days. She's the best with the younger horses." She paused, then added casually, "Maybe you and I could do something fun tomorrow after the evening feedings? Finally have a night off for once."
Brad felt a flutter in his stomach at the invitation. His mind raced, wondering if she meant it as more than just friends. "Uh, sure," he managed. "Did you have anything in particular in mind?"
"Just be here." She mosied off, looking busy. "Tomorrow, after you take care of both of them."
Bella, Brad's horse, bumped against him with a whicker. "What?" He turned back towards Bella with a smile. "Are you getting jealous? She couldn't be my mare." Even if visions of how that'd look played in his head. A human would be a pretty lousy horse. "That's you and only you." They met, him hugging her around the neck gently and she curling her neck around his in a mutual embrace.
"Let's get you a drink." He led her to where she could slake her thirst, and she did, but she was dancing a little. "You look like you want a ride."
She turned away from him, tail flicking and pacing eagerly.
"Alright, alright, let's go for a ride." Brad moved to her side and climbed up onto her back. It felt like he was on top of the world whenever he was up there, so high, with Bella ready to carry him. "Let's go."
Bella tossed her head eagerly and set off at a brisk walk as soon as Brad was settled on her back. He could feel the power and energy thrumming through the horse beneath him as her hooves clicked a steady rhythm on the concrete floor of the barn.
Outside, the late afternoon sun shone down on the rolling green hills surrounding the ranch. Bella moved into an easy lope as they headed for the trails, smooth and graceful. Brad leaned forward, his body moving in sync with the horse. He always felt so free and alive when they rode together like this, connected as one being.
As they left the manicured lawns behind for the woods and meadows beyond, Bella snorted eagerly, asking for more rein. Brad smiled and obliged. "Wanna run, girl?" he murmured. In response Bella surged into a gallop, the wind whipping Brad's hair as they flew across the landscape. He whooped joyously, all other thoughts vanishing from his mind except this perfect moment of equine partnership.
She picked up speed, then a little more speed, ever hastening, but he always felt under control. She seemed equally in control of herself, each hoof hitting the ground where she wanted it, completely steady despite her rapidly increasing speed. "Girl, you really have a lot of--" He braced himself as they pushed past any speed they had before, wind whistling past him. "Easy there, easy."
But she did not go easy, instead hopping up with a step onto a bump along the path and jumping off the other end to keep her speed. She took flight, life itself slowing around them. He looked down and could have sworn he saw a rainbow streak stretching beneath them in that amazing moment before she hit the ground, but they weren't on the ground.
Belle was standing on that rainbow, looking confused and concerned. With a whicker, she backed up slowly off the arc of the rainbow, which fell to nothing the moment she was completely off of it.
Brad stared in disbelief as the vibrant rainbow bridge vanished. One moment they had been galloping at an impossible speed, the next floating in midair. Now Bella was backing up nervously, her hooves once more on solid ground.
"Easy, girl," Brad murmured, though his voice shook slightly. He slid off the mare's back and ran his hands along her legs, checking for any signs of injury. But she seemed fine. More than fine, actually - her coat appeared to glitter faintly, although the shine faded even as Brad watched.
"What just happened?" he muttered. Bella bobbed her head up and down, then shoved it insistently against Brad's chest, nearly knocking him over.
"Whoa!" He regained his balance and wrapped his arms around the horse's strong neck. Her dark eyes met his, calm and deep. Brad had the strangest feeling she was trying to tell him something important.
"I must be going crazy," Brad said with an uncertain laugh. But when he swung back up into the saddle, hints of rainbows seemed to shimmer at the edge of his vision. Bella's steady hoofbeats as they turned towards home now sounded almost musical.
Brad shook his head, confused but exhilarated. He had no idea what had just occurred, but he knew his partnership with Bella had somehow been strengthened. "Let's keep this just between us," he whispered.
The moment he was securely in place, she began moving, then picked up speed little by little. "You saw what happened last time," He warned, but he didn't stop her. Neither of them had gotten hurt by it. It was strange, but harmless?
But Bella, she seemed to want it again. Why else would she take off the moment she found another large enough bump in the road to do that with. She hit the rainbow road that appeared beneath them in the jump and, that time, she just kept going. They were galloping across the rainbow, higher and higher.
Brad held firmly to her as they began to ascend into the air. "The bloody hell? Seriously, Bella, down. Down!" He tried pulling on her reign, but she wasn't slowing. She had somewhere she wanted to be, and she was going there.
Things became cloudy, though Brad was certain they hadn't gone high enough to reach the clouds, nor did it feel nearly cold enough to announce that. Despite that, the clouds rushed around them evenly, before they began to recede upwards. The rainbow road was going down. Following it, so were they, heading towards some new land that didn't look like where they had departed at all.
As the rainbow bridge descended through the clouds, a vibrant landscape emerged below them. Rolling green hills were dotted with colorful trees heavy with fruit, surrounding a charming village. Brad spotted a large red barn and endless acres of apple orchards stretching as far as he could see.
Bella's hooves touched down right at the edge of the main orchard, her shoes striking the dirt path with a definitive thud. Brad leaned over and wrapped his arms around the mare's strong neck.
"Where are we, girl?" he murmured, peering around in utter bewilderment. The village distant from them, beyond the orchard, looked like something out of a children's cartoon or fantasy novel. Cheerful cottages with thatched roofs and smiling inhabitants bustled about. Brad rubbed his eyes but the vibrant scene remained.
Just then, a voice with a distinctly Southern twang called out. "Well howdy there!" A tan pony wearing a Stetson hat trotted up the path, hitched to a cart loaded with bushels of apples. "Can't say I've seen y'all around these parts before. Just get in?"
Brad's mouth dropped open. The pony was talking. To him. Her green eyes twinkled merrily as she awaited his reply.
"I, uh... Bella?" Brad cast a desperate glance at his horse, but she just whickered softly as if encouraging him to answer.
She let out an excited whicker and stomped the ground once before pawing at it.
Applejack nodded softly. "Pleased as rain to meetcha, Bella. Now, don't take this the wrong way, but what's that attached to yer backside there?"
Bella only half turned her head, though her wide-set eyes meant that was enough to look at me squarely. She nickered softly and shook her head.
"Yer friend? Well, shoot. Any friend of a friend is a friend ah mine." She offered a hoof to Bella and two met, hoof to hoof, as if they understood each other without an issue. "Now, do ya talk up there?"
"Um." Applejack waved for him to continue. "Brad. My name's Brad."
Applejack's broad grin grew even wider. "Well howdy-do, Brad! Name's Applejack. Mighty fine ta make yer acquaintance." She turned and bucked the cart of apples closer. "Any friend of Bella's got friends aplenty here in Ponyville. Though y'all sure look different from us ponies!"
She looked him up and down curiously. "Got a mighty strange way of gettin' around too. But Bella here seems right at home with ya ridin' on her back like that. Y'all must be great partners!"
Bella nickered proudly at this praise. Brad managed an uncertain smile. "Yeah, we definitely have a special bond. To be honest though, I have no idea how we got here." He glanced around, taking in the bright cottages and colorful ponies mingling and chatting everywhere he looked. It was like something from a dream...or a kids' show.
Applejack followed his gaze. "I know Ponyville takes some gettin' used to, but the folks here are real friendly-like. Why don't y'all come meet my family? Bet Granny Smith will wanna getcha some apple cake an' cider. Put some meat on them bones!" She laughed heartily.
Brad hesitated. He had no idea what was happening. But so far, this apple-loving, hat-wearing pony seemed sincere in her hospitality. Bella butted his foot encouragingly.
With a shrug and a trusting pat to his mare's shoulder, Brad said, "You know what, Applejack? Cake and cider sound just about right after the day we've had. Lead the way!"
"Galloped on a rainbow? Mighty curious." Somehow, it seemed Applejack was getting more information from Bella than Brad could ever dream. "Sounds like magic to me. Now, bein' an earth pony, all mah magic's in here." She thumped her chest as she led the way through the apple trees. "Strong, tough, good family. Brad, what kinda magic does whatever you are have? Somethin' flashy, or not? Don't be shy. Earth ponies got a subtle magic, but it's powerful all the same."
Brad chuckled tensely at that. "Would you beleive magic isn't much a thing where I come from? Um, but pleased to be here, with such friendly people."
"Ponies."
"Ponies," Brad echoed with a little smile. "Let's meet them."
Author's Note
Brad comes to a new world with Bella, or should that be the other way around? Once a month is the pace set at the moment, but that could change. Let's walk alongside our intrepid adventurers.
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"Right this way, then!" Applejack led them through the orchard and into a charming cottage surrounded by apple trees. A small, gray-haired pony with a red apron bustled out of the house, followed by a small yellow pony with a red mane and tail. Both ponies stopped short when they saw Brad. The yellow one squealed in delight. "Oh my gosh! Is that a human?" She bounced up and down in excitement.
Applejack laughed nervously. "Ah didn't ask, truth told. Felt rude to. They're just guests lookin' to enjoy some Apple vittles." She gestured to the large equine under the human. "This is Bella. She only speaks proto-Pony. It's amazin'."
Bella snorted with a spirited shake of her head, and somehow the meaning was understood by all the ponies without any actual words stated. The oldest nodded. "Bella's got the right idea. We should get to eatin'. You!" She pointed firmly at Brad. "Get off her and use yer own feet. She'll have to go around, ain't no way we'll fit her in the front way, but no way we're leavin' her out."
Brad felt like he was in a dream as he slid off Bella's back and followed the ponies into the cozy kitchen. A large wooden table was already set with plates of food and pitchers of cider. The yellow pony chattered excitedly as they sat down. "My name's Apple Bloom! What's yours? How did you get here? Do you live in a big city? I've always wanted to visit a big city!"
Applejack settled next to Apple Bloom. "Calm down. He can only answer so many questions, an' it ain't polite to go so fast."
"Sorry." Apple Bloom folded an ear and looked properly contrite. "Jus' excited, is all."
Brad took a spot, wondering a moment where Bella was. That was answered an instant later as Bella's big head poked in through the window and leaned in over the table easily. "Oh! Hello there." He looked to the ponies, but they didn't seem to be remotely bothered by having a horse join them for dinner.
"I'm Brad. I, uh, came with Bella. She's my best friend. I have no idea how we got here, but it's been a really weird day." He chuckled ruefully. "Weird, but nice. I've never met such a friendly bunch of people before." He took a bite of the apple cake and moaned softly. "And this is delicious."
The elder pony nodded, satisfied. "Good manners. You can stay. Now, what's your story?"
Brad opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated. What was he supposed to say? That he was a horse boy who'd been magically transported to a land of talking ponies? They'd think he was crazy. Or worse, they'd think he was lying. He took a deep breath and began speaking. "Well, it all started when I went for a ride on Bella..."
Bella let out a soft whinny before taking a chomp of the food, sinking her teeth into a casserole. Eating implements were right out for her, so stuffing her face was the only option she knew, and wielded with the usual grace of a grazing horse.
Still, the noise had meant something to the others. Apple Bloom gasped with amazement. "Ya stood on a rainbow?! How?" She looked to Brad. "Tell us! Um, please?"
Brad smiled, off balance but continuing, "As Bella said--" Not that he could understand her. "--When she was going about as fast as she could go, a good jump made us land on a rainbow. Racing across that rainbow led us here, to this place. Does this place have a name?"
"Ponyville," the elder replied, nodding. "A right pretty name for a right pretty town." She patted Bella's cheek fondly. "And you're a right pretty horse. Ain't never seen one like you before, but you seem right at home here." She recoiled suddenly, ears perking. "Oh, bein' rude. Ah'm Granny Smith. Can't believe ah forgot to mention."
Applejack let out a little whisper of a nicker, speaking to Bella perhaps? "I imagine you were quite surprised."
Brad nodded with amazement in his eyes. "I sure was." He took a moment to look around, soaking in the rustic pieces of a dining room lived in for generations. It smelled of delightful meals blended together over untold years and had so many little things tucked along its shelves from foodstuffs to old momentos.
"It's a lovely place." He looked back to the ponies. "And I'm glad to be here, even if I don't know how long I'll be staying. I have a job back home, and a life there." He stroked Bella's neck, feeling the familiar warmth of her coat beneath his fingers. "But I'm sure Bella will take me back when we're ready."
"You mean you ain't stayin'?" Apple Bloom pouted dramatically, sounding disappointed. "But we just met!"
"Now, Apple Bloom, he's got a life outside Ponyville," Applejack said gently. "Can't expect him to drop everything jus' cause we're friendly."
Brad smiled at the whole family. "And you are. Fine food and new fine friends. I can't say today was a waste."
"Drink to that." Granny raised a cider mug up, and soon they all had a drink, minus Bella, and clinked them together. Bella touched her nose to the collected mugs as if trying to take part in the best way she could.
"So, what do you do in your world?" Apple Bloom asked curiously. "I mean, what's a human's job?"
"I work at a ranch." Brad nodded to the ponies. "Lets me take care of and hang out with a lot of horses, just like Bella. But she's special." Bella softly snorted in agreement. "That's right." That one Brad felt confident he understood. "We're a team. The other ones I just keep an eye on and help take care of."
Granny Smith got a sly look on her face. "So if I'm feeling down, ah could ask you to take care of me?"
"Well, I--" Brad felt his face go red. "I mean, if you wanted me to." He cleared his throat. "I'd be happy to give you a massage or rub your hooves. I'll swap out your oats and water and make sure you get a walk." He glanced to the food. "But I doubt you want to eat just oats."
Granny blinked at that. "Oats are hardly no good 'til you bake 'em! Unless yer goin' fer oatmeal, ah suppose." She laughed at that. "W ain't horses. We're ponies. There's a difference! We know how to cook, so we like eatin' cooked food, ya see?"
"You do?" Brad looked to the family, who nodded. "I had no idea." He shrugged with a little noise of thought. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed."
"Don't worry none about it," Applejack said easily. "Yer an ancient human, an' you came on an ancient horse. Ya got some ancient ideas. It's all kinda--" She tapped at her chin. "Ancient?"
Apple Bloom clapped as she hopped to the floor. "Ya gotta tell us about that before ya go. Yer a myth! Ya know that, right?"
"A myth?" Brad shook his head. "No, I'm just a guy."
"Not where we come from." Applejack pointed to a bookcase and a thick, leather-bound tome. "There's a whole chapter on humans in there. But it's all stories. Like, really old ones. No one believed they were real."
Brad went to the book, pulling it down to look at the title. "Generations," it read. It went over the ages of ponykind, through each rise and fall of the ponies. He didn't have the time or patience to read in detail, flipping quickly through with soft hums. He almost dropped the book when he found what he was looking for, a picture of a human.
There was one, a little girl with a bright smile. Megan was her name, and she was a great friend of ponies, who looked a lot more like horses. Those first ponies evidently also used a rainbow road to fetch her back and forth from Earth. "Amazing. I'm not a little kid."
Applejack tipped her hat. "We kinda picked up on that." She was smirking at those words. "A full grown human. Are ya a human mare or a human stallion?"
"A stallion." Brad smiled at that. "I'm a guy."
"Well, that's mighty interestin'." Applejack's cheeks darkened. "I'm a mare, and I'm a pony."
"Filly!" Apple Bloom waved excitedly.
Granny rolled her eyes. "Mare." She reached up to pat Bella gently. "Mare. Glad we got that all sorted out."
Brad laughed at that. "I guess we did. And I'm glad to meet you all. I hope I can come back to visit again."
"Ah'd be mighty pleased if ya did." Applejack nodded. "If ya find yer way back, that is. Don't want ya gettin' lost."
"I won't." Brad turned to Bella. "Right?"
She nodded once, then lifted her head and pointed it towards the door.
"But ya just got here!" Apple Bloom rushed to his leg and rubbed once against it. "Wow, ya got long legs compared to the rest of ya."
Brad couldn't resist, reaching down to gently ruffle over Apple Bloom's head and stroke an ear. "Just the way humans are built, especially adult ones."
Apple Bloom's eyes snapped shut as she gave off an almost purr of a sound. "Applejack, ya gotta try this."
Applejack angled an ear at Apple Bloom as she came in closer. "Try what?"
Not seeing a reason to not do so, he reached his other hand for Applejack, stroking and petting over her head gently. Applejack let out a happy noise, a whicker of sorts. "Woah nilley." She leaned against the touches as the human fingers dancer over her. "That's right nice."
Brad chuckled softly. "I'm glad you think so." He looked to Granny Smith. "Do you want some too?"
Granny Smith gave a shrug. "Ah'm old. Ah don't need to be spoiled."
"C'mon, Granny!" Apple Bloom grinned. "It's amazin'!"
Granny Smith sighed, then walked over to Brad. "Fine, fine, but only cause ya insist."
Brad abandoned Apple Bloom and Applejack to drop to a knee in front of Granny Smith. He started with a gentle scalp massage that worked over her neck and back. It was a rub down, minus the curry brush he'd normally use. "How's that?"
"That--" She turned a little, directing the attention as Brad worked. "--is somethin' you should keep right on doin'."
Applejack snickered softly. "We told ya it was somethin'."
Granny snorted with a scowl. "Don't rub it in. That's Brad's job. Keep rubbin'." She sighed with increasing satisfaction, eyes closed. "Ya didn't mention those fingers were magic thin's."
"They're just hands." Brad chuckled. "I'm glad you're enjoying it."
"I am." She opened an eye. "Are ya done?"
"I can keep going." Brad paused. "But I should probably be getting back. It's been a long day, and I'm not sure how to get back."
Bella snorted and drew her head back through the window. They could hear her clopping around the house until her soft pawing hit the front door. "Better get that," laughed Brad, moving for it. He opened it so Bella could shove her face against him with a happy nicker. "I understand that part easily enough. Let's get back. Thank you all again for being such great hosts."
"Anytime," Applejack smiled, removing her hat for a proper tip before popping it back in place. "We're always happy to welcome a friend."
"I'll be back." Brad stepped outside next to Bella. "I just have to figure out how to get back."
Bella stomped and fidgeted, and Brad knew those movements. She was ready to go. "You know?" He slid up onto her and she broke away, working up to a trot, then a gallop a moment later, away from the house.
They rode, two working together in the fine machine of a rider and their steed. As she raced at full speed, she veered for a proper bump on the dirt road and bounced off of it. They came down on a glittering rainbow road, racing along towards home.
Author's Note
The end of one visit, but will it be the last?
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Brad guided Bella back to the stables at an easy trot. "You had a full day." He stroked along her neck, ruffling her fur. "You deserve a rest." He jumped off and unhitched her saddle to start rubbing her down. "I wish I had the words to tell you how amazing this was." He patted her muzzle as she nudged at him. "I can't wait to see what's going to happen next, but I should finish my job here."
He nodded to her and started leading her into her stall to rest, but she snorted, keeping in step with him.
He laughed as they continued on. "That's right. I still need to get Daisy taken care of." He detoured to Daisy's stall and greeted the horse. Bella stepped forward, the two gently exchanging breath with a little nosetouch of fondness. "Let's get you all sorted." He grabbed a feed bag and put in the proper mix. "Ready for a snack?" He opened it and slid it over Daisy's head. "Enjoy." He set down her water as she munched happily.
Grabbing a curry brush, he slipped into the stall to give her a grooming pass. Bella he left outside, trusting her even more than usual to not bolt away.
Daisy watched with curiosity as Brad groomed her, giving an occasional flick of an ear but otherwise standing still. He smoothed back her coat with the curry brush, then finished up with a dandy brush and hoof pick. "Looking your best, ain'tcha?" He pat at her neck gently. "Feeling so much better now?" He didn't expect much of an answer from Daisy, but talking felt good anyway. He understood horses. He didn't understand the magic that had brought him to a magical world.
Bella nickered, her nose coming through the bars of the stall door. She prodded Brad firmly, looking down over Daisy's back and into his eyes. "Ain't happening, not tonight." He slipped back out of the gate, closing and locking it behind him. "I'm just as tired."
Bella whickered curiously, giving him a gentle push against him as he secured Daisy's stall. "Yeah, I mean it. I know this is interesting, but I do actually need sleep." He grabbed Bella by both her rounded cheeks, ruffling and drawing her closer. "I love you, I do, but we both need a rest. Won't do either of us good to run off now." He released her and stretched with a yawn. "Tomorrow. Right now, I just want a shower and bed."
He pulled the hoodie to hide his face, glancing around cautiously to make sure he wouldn't run into any other humans. With business handled, he led Bella to her stall, which she entered without a command to do so. "See you tomorrow." He closed the gate with a thump of the heavy door behind her and gave her a loving pat. "Behave."
His place was a five minute walk from the ranch, still technically on the ranch. It was a small house for employees, but big enough for him and his room mate. He did have one of those. "Hey Miguel," he called, seeing the lights were on as he came in.
"Hey Brad." Miguel came out from his bedroom with a grin. "¿Todo bien? Something exciting happened on the news. I recorded it for you."
"Really?" Brad was curious. "Thanks, I'll check it out."
"Then you'll tell me all about your date? What was she like?" Miguel's dark eyes sparkled with excitement as he followed Brad into the kitchen.
"What date?" Brad huffed as he pulled out a can of beer to nurse from. "Unless you count watching a horse for a lady a date, I didn't have any dates."
"All you ever do is work." Miguel shook his head ruefully. "If you could see your face when you're around them, you'd know why every girl around wants you." He wagged a finger at Brad.
Brad colored at that. "W-what? Look, you're seeing things. The horses need me more anyway." He waved away the idea, thinking instead of ponies and that magical world. "Do you know what the schedule is tomorrow? I know we're working double on our off days."
"¡Dios mio!" Miguel laughed, looking Brad over with some suspicion. "Why are you suddenly worried about the schedule?"
"We're training a new hand and someone has to be on shift at the same time." Brad hiked a thumb at himself. "And who better than the lead hand? I just want to be ready. I need a shower and some shuteye. Catch you later."
Miguel shrugged and headed back into his room, leaving Brad in peace. Brad hurried to his bathroom, shedding his clothes in a trail along the way. The soft hiss of hot water soothed the aches of the day, and he washed off in his plain soap. "One day I'll get something for my skin. Maybe a horse-scented one." He laughed at that, but enjoyed the fresh smell and the comfort of a simple routine.
Cleansed and tired, Brad headed for sleep with a soft towel wrapped around his waist. "Hopefully I can get to Ponyville again tomorrow. See how Bella gets there." Another rainbow felt most likely, though exactly how that happened was still a bit of a mystery. Musing on that sent Brad to the dreamland for the next day.
When he woke up, he was still in that same world, looking out the window of his home with the sun shining down on him.
"Time for work." He couldn't rush off to other worlds before handling that. He had a stable of horses to look after, and responsibilities. It wasn't just him anymore, though, not when he had that other world. That world that could bring him and Bella joy. But that wasn't his home. He didn't want to be like most other humans he knew, unreliable to a fault. He checked his phone to confirm the shifts for the day. "I guess it's mostly the new hand for today, so I can get over to Ponyville for a bit?"
He rubbed his temples, but he couldn't deny there was excitement for that.
Brad did his best with the new guy. Another human, barely seemed aware of why he was there, and which way of a horse was forward. Bella nudged him. "What?" Bella nudged him again from the front. "I swear, one little rainbow and you're getting ideas."
He looked back to the other hand, who seemed confused by it.
"Probably doesn't understand horse," Brad said under his breath, then louder, "Going to go on a ride. Let me check Daisy first." Daisy was where he'd left her, all well fed and cared for. "Hey there."
Bella nickered, a playful, sing-song sound. She shook her mane back and forth, then turned away. Brad clapped his hands, dusting them clean. "Favor, finished." Satisfied he'd done his professional and personal tasks, he turned to Bella, ready for the wild ride.
But Bella only pawed at the ground with one hoof and looked up at him.
Brad frowned, tilting his head. "You're in no hurry?"
Bella nuzzled gently, then turned away with a little whicker, showing him her saddle and bags. She looked at them, then back at Brad, then repeated it.
"What's in the bags?" Brad wondered out loud, heading towards the saddlebags to open them. A variety of tack sat inside, with a few additions that were strange and new. "Is this magic stuff?"
Bella nickered a single note, softer than normal, as if questioning something.
"Only the ponies are going to tell either of us." Brad swung up, mounting Bella properly. "Why don't we ask them and find out?" Bella perked at the idea, turning for the barn doors and the path out.
"Hey, where you going?" asked the hand that was on duty, leaning against a fence post and smoking a cigarette. "Need some help?"
"Nah." Brad stroked Bella's side as she trotted along with sure steps. "We got this. I'll be back later. You mind the other horses?"
"Sure, yeah. You enjoy yourself."
Bella let out a neigh and galloped at full speed towards the spot they'd appeared last time. It felt good to have the wind in their faces, the green grass flashing by below, and the endless blue sky above. Brad whooped in delight, then yelled, "Yah!" to urge her faster.
The moment she hit a bump, she leapt and the rainbow road appeared below her hooves. They landed smoothly and she raced up along it, following that glittering path from one world to the next. She paused near the top of it, Ponyville ahead down the other end. "Why'd you stop?"
Bella sank to her haunches, almost tossing Brad in the motion. He grabbed her with a yelp, holding tight as she began to slide, moving down the rainbow quickly in a way a horse normally wouldn't dare. She jumped off the very end, landing in front of Sweet Apple Acres. She nickered gently, touching her nose to the rainbow bridge before it vanished into nothing, then turned to look up at Brad.
Brad gasped for air, grabbing his chest and blinking hard. He had made it, even with Bella sliding down the back end instead of galloping. "That was just crazy, girl. Why'd you do that?" But they had made it, he couldn't argue that. "Silly thing." He ruffled her mane and got himself firmly settled atop her. "Should we visit the Apples?"
Bella swung around to look at Brad and nickered at him. "Alright, we're going to meet the Apples. Hope they're happy to see us."
She kicked at the ground with one hoof before shaking her head with a whinny of confirmation.
"Excuse me." A female voice, immediately identifiable as studious. "Excuse me. Ma'am? I would like to ask you a few questions."
Bella perked an ear towards the voice, slowing her motion to turn. There, before them, was a unicorn, purple, smiling nervously. "Good, hello. I'm Twilight Sparkle." She bowed low, spreading wings that were extra odd for a unicorn to have. "A pleasure to meet you. Where'd you come from? Where are you going?" She tapped her quill to paper, as if to take notes.
Bella whickered with concern, leaning away from her a little, but Brad nodded in greeting. "The name's Brad. This is Bella." He scratched gently at one of Bella's favorite spots behind an ear. "We were going to visit the Apples, since you asked."
"I was asking her." Twilight nodded to Bella. "But, thank you all the same. Hello, Brad. May I ask why you're riding her? I let Spike ride me sometimes, but he's still a little child. Are you an immature sample of your species?" She peered at him as if taking scientific notes.
Brad frowned. "Spike?" That was definitely a pony's name. He knew plenty of ponies to recognize that much. "Are you talking about a baby pony?"
"Baby dragon, actually," corrected Twilight with a smile. "I suppose, at this point, adolescent would be a better term. In either event, what was that rainbow? This is the second time I saw it." She glanced between Bella and the spot in the road she had jumped down from. "Was that your doing, ma'am? Bella?"
"We hit a bump." Brad gave Bella's neck a fond stroke. "Bella, uh, found the rainbow, and then we went to where it led, and we met some nice ponies."
Bella nickered, bobbing her head in agreement with that assessment of the events. She approached Twilight with a flick of her tail and soft equine noises.
"I see." And, somehow, Twilight appeared to understand what Bella was communicating. "She says she doesn't mind giving you rides. She likes it, to be clear. She seems to have a great fondness for you, Brad. I suppose it isn't that different from Spike and I, just not a familial connection." She hummed thoughtfully. "About that rainbow, where did it come from? Where did you come from?"
Bella stomped her hoof to the ground with an eager snort. "I think she wants to show you," guessed Brad. "I'm fine with it." He leaned over and patted her back. "Go on."
The sizable horse turned in place to get a straight line down the road. They raced, horse and man working together. She bounced off a ridge, the rainbow bridge appearing under them, but she just turned there to face Twilight, hovering on that new road.
Twilight trotted up with wide eyes. "Fascinating! How does it appear? Is it a projection from somewhere else or an entirely separate plane?" She glanced at Bella. "May I ride along?"
Bella nickered softly in reply. Twilight inclined her head. "I'll try." She reached up and pawed at the rainbow, but it was like the road was just, well, light. She couldn't stand on it. "Curiouser by the moment." She made furious notes with the scratching of her quill. "But it's clearly supporting you, Bella and Brad. What's different about you that makes this possible?"
"Well, I'm human." Brad shrugged. "Bella is a horse."
"Indeed." Twilight's brow furrowed in concentration. "There must be something else at play." She tapped at her cheek. "Something about one of you, or both of you? Bella, if you're up for it, can you make the bridge by yourself?"
Author's Note
Twilight needs to know all about this. This shouldn't be that surprising. They do seem to be getting along at least.
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Brad slid down from Bella's back and pet along her cheek. "Can you show us?"
She nodded, a little reluctant to have him off her back, but happy to perform for them. Her ears pricked as she eyed the area, bouncing once as if to stretch, and she charged forward, hitting that little dip, and rising high above, but there was nothing there.
She came down for a smooth, if mildly surprised, landing and wheeled about to return to Twilight and Brad with a little whicker.
"Fascinating." Twilight scribbled with her floating quill. "To be thorough, Brad, can you attempt to make the bridge on your own?"
Brad laughed at the very idea. "I never tried before, but I doubt it?" He waved at the bump Bella had been using. "We know that works." He jogged in place to get things moving, than sprinted down the dirt road. He hopped up onto the bump and right back off of it with a disappointed noise.
"Interesting. And expected, given how I can't touch it. You are the source, then?" Twilight scrawled more notes. "Or, rather, your mare, Bella, is the source?"
Bella nickered, shaking her head. Brad was in agreement without any words between them. "We are the source, together. Either one of us alone, no rainbow."
Twilight charged without warning, launching herself up and off the bump with no rainbows appearing. "Hm. The rainbow has all the trademarks of being Harmony related." She curled a hoof to her chin. "I really should be able to manifest it."
She stared at the spot where the rainbow bridge had been and tried, eyes unfocused and horn glowing. A rainbow slowly faded into view. It was muted, like it was fading or in reverse. The instant she stopped staring, the rainbow blinked away, eager to escape Twilight's attempt at forcing the issue. "Hm." She made a few fresh notes. "Thank you, both of you. You've given me a lot to think about. Would you mind if we conducted further study together? It's been ages since I had so many questions all at once!"
Bella let out a contented sigh at the idea and touched noses with Twilight in an offer of friendship. Twilight smiled at the larger equine. "You're right, I'm being inconsiderate. I live there." She pointed to the jutting crystal tower in the distance. "You can find me there at any time. Stop by when you have the time, kindly." She turned, preparing to race off. "I have so much I want to talk to you about. Well, goodbye."
"Bye, Twilight. Bella, what did she say to you?" He stroked along Bella's closer side. "How you seem to just 'talk' to ponies is a little odd, but less odd than if you started talking to me."
Bella nosed Brad on the cheek and the two curled on one another, the human hugging and the horse curling her powerful neck around Brad. There were no words, but the two seemed to understand well enough the gentle affection between them. Brad gave her broad torso a firm pat on the side. "Alright, well, we're here. Let's enjoy it. Want to visit the Apples again?" He hiked a thumb at the orchard ahead. "Or the town?" He turned his hand for the little town they could see in the other direction. "Wherever you want."
Bella took the reins, heading for the orchard and the homestead beyond it. Brad chuckled at that and followed easily. "Just the Apple family today." He noticed a flash of color in the orchard. "Let's see if we can't say hi."
As the two came to the orchard, a blur of rainbow colors whipped by. It curled around and came right at them, stopping abruptly. "Woah," spoke the new pony, with wings, hovering there. She had a rainbow for her mane and tail, and was looking over Bella and Brad curiously. "Ha, you're just as odd looking as AJ said you were! Welcome back, you two!"
Bella stamped one hoof, shifting a little to put Brad firmly at her side. "Don't worry, she's friendly." Brad gave Bella a reassuring pat on the cheek. "I think? Hey there."
The pony landed in front of them, curling her wings up behind her. "Hey yourself." Her eyes went to Bella. "I'm not a monster, sheesh. They call me Rainbow Dash, fastest pony this side of Equestria! And you are, hmm, what did AJ say?" She pointed up at Bella. "Bella, right?" She looked to Brad. "And you're Brad. Gotta remember the names, if there's a good story here."
"Yeah, we are." Brad reached down and offered his hand. "Nice to meet you, Rainbow Dash."
Rainbow perked her ears. "Huh. If you don't mind my asking, what are you exactly?" She reared up onto her hind legs and put a forehoof against Brad's offered hand. "Bella's an ancient pony, which is already kinda odd." She dropped down to all fours, eyes flicking to Bella. "And you look like a human or something? Are you an ancient human? Or a pet? Because, uh, I didn't think there were any humans in Equestria. Not even in legends!"
She smirked suddenly. "Unless you count the legends of Twilight Sparkle, which I do not."
Brad directed a thumb at herself. "You got it right. Human. Horse." He gestured to Bella with that second part. "Pony." He pointed at Rainbow with that last part. "With wings?"
Rainbow huffed at that. "Pony with wings, otherwise known as a pegasus. There are a lot of us." She pointed up to the sky, where other pegasi were pushing clouds around. "We're in charge of keeping the weather on track."
She flicked one wing as she studied him. "So, what brings you back here? Applejack told us how you first met, but she was all over the place. You gotta fill in the blanks, human."
"Well." Brad shrugged, thinking back on it. "We came the first time in the evening. She and her family invited us over for dinner. It was really nice. We were going to say hello to her, when you came along."
"Sounds like Applejack, alright." She nodded proudly. "We all do what we can. Anyhow, thanks for chatting with me, but I got stuff to do, places to be." Rainbow lifted into the air easily. "Tell AJ I saw you." With a snap, she took off, leaving that trail of rainbows behind her.
Brad reached out to feel the rainbow, but it was fading before he could really inspect it. It wasn't the same as the rainbow road they had come in on. "Hm. Well, Bella, let's go say hello to some nice ponies."
With an excited snort, Bella resumed the journey, the two reaching the Apple home shortly. Granny Apple was on the porch, rocking on a chair made for a pony. She brightened seeing them. "Well, lookie who's back!"
"Who?" A massive pony peeked out from around the corner of the building. He was proof that ponies could approach horse in size, though he didn't quite reach Bella's level. "Ayup." He nodded at Brad and Bella. "We meetin' guests at the door now, Granny?" He hustled over to help guide the duo in. "Welcome to Apple Acres, fella, mare."
Bella went around the home without prompting, nickering along the way.
The new pony perked an ear at her. "Oh, see you on the other side then." He focused on Brad. "Name's Big Macintosh, but Big Mac's more'n enough." He offered a large hoof towards Brad. "Pleased to meetcha."
Brad laughed as he shook it. "Pleased to meet you, Big Mac. I'm Brad. She's Bella." He nodded towards the mare as she circled around to the back of the house. "What's back there?"
Big Mac gave a shrug. "Barn an' stables, for the animals. Bella seems t' know it just fine." He motioned Brad forward with a nudge of his nose. "Yer a curious thin'."
"Toldja that much." Granny was watching the interaction with a wry smile. "Pleasant enough though. Welcome back. Couldn't say no to some Apple vittles, couldja?" She winked at him. "Makin' us look good."
Brad laughed, tugging his hoodie down. "Not any better than last time."
Granny clucked her tongue. "Apples growin' apples is in our blood. No surprise we can make somethin' nice for a guest. Mac, go ahead and see him in fer a spell."
"Ayup." He led the way inside, just to start in surprise. "Oh, there ya are." Bella was poking her head in the kitchen window, looking around curiously. "You okay there?" Bella replied in her equine way, and Big Mac seemed satisfied. He inclined an ear at Brad. "Ah'd be scared, comin' to someplace wit' all sorts ah strange creatures, and none ah my own. Ya don't seem worried none."
"Bella's smart. She'll be fine." Brad nodded to the table. "Think she's waiting for me?"
"Could be. One way t' find out." Big Mac paused as Bella whickered gently at him. "Oh. Um." He paced in place, looking suddenly bashful.
Brad looked between Bella and Big Mac. "What did she say?"
Big Mac chuckled awkwardly, rolling a hoof at the table. "Your lady friend ain't shy 'bout askin' fer thin's she wants, is all."
That just made Brad even more curious. "And what is it, exactly, she wants?"
"That'd be rude." Big Mac crossed his arms with a huff. "Ain't gonna go tellin' on her like that. That ain't what a good pony does. Ah'll fetch you a seat. Don't sit on no one!" He scampered off, making it look elegant on such large hooves. He returned with a plushy padded stool with a low back, setting it next to Bella.
He didn't succeed at getting away untouched, Bella nipping him on the tail as he tried to walk away. He squeaked in surprise, scampering away from the large mare's reach. "Nope!"
Brad slipped onto the seat and stroked a hand over Bella's neck. "You know what they say about getting attention from someone smaller than you. At least wait until the meal is ready." He didn't understand Bella's huff, but he did see Apple Bloom's eyes widen.
The filly hopped to the floor from where she had just parked herself. "See ya later!" She scurried out the front door in a scramble.
Brad shook his head as he watched her go. "I probably shouldn't have said anything." He turned his attention back to his companion. "And what has you so interested?" He grabbed an apple from the counter, holding it up near Bella. "Looking for a snack?"
She grabbed the fruit with her big teeth, practically biting it in half. She kept an eye on Big Mac the whole time as she chewed placidly.
"Seriously." Brad put his hands flat on the dining room table he sat at. "It's like there's a big conversation going on next to me in another language."
"Ayup." Big Mac rubbed at his cheek awkwardly a moment. "Look, um." He glanced at Bella and Brad. "She jus' wants to get to know me better, is all."
"Oh, okay." Brad put it down as easily as that. "It is nice to meet more of the Apple family. You are an Apple too, right?"
"Ayup!" Big Mac sat up proudly at that, the nervousness gone with that turn of the conversation. "Applejack and Apple Bloom's brother. Granny's grandson." He pulled up a similar stool and seated himself on the other side of the table. "What about you? Got a family?"
"A little one." Brad smiled fondly, thinking of Miguel and how often he could be a younger sibling, needing to be looked after, when they weren't just two fellas taking care of things on the ranch. "I have a roommate, Miguel. We live on a horse ranch. That's how I met Bella here." He nodded towards his mount. "And, well, we've been together for years."
"Huh." Big Mac looked between Brad and Bella. "Interestin'. Um, we don't have no fancy meals in the middle of the day, but we got some snacks if yer wantin'?"
"Please." Brad nodded, and Big Mac passed a platter over to him with slices of apple and small cubes of cheese. "I do need to get a taste of more ponies." He popped an apple slice in. "But I may be being rude, sorry for that. You don't owe me anything, but you're working to be a good neighbor. I appreciate that, really."
Bella whinnied from outside, making Big Mac jump. "Um, well, if yer jus' enjoyin' lookin' 'round, why don'tcha check out Ponyville? Plenty ah friendly ponies, ready t'say howdy." He shooed Brad off gently. "'Sides, we gotta get to work and all."
Brad nodded, collecting the items left on his plate. "I'm sure I'll find them. We were just considering that way before we got here, actually. Again, thanks for being great." They shared a parting shake of hand against hoof. "Take care of yourself."
Author's Note
It's time to visit Ponyville proper! What was Bella saying? Brad isn't sure, and the translator we're using isn't helping.
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When they decided it was time to head back for the day, they had company. Bella did her leap with Brad, summoning the rainbow bridge, and trotted along it up and away from Equestria, but they could hear rapid hoofsteps right behind them.
RC was following along as if it were nothing. "I wanna see where this goes! You don't mind, do you?"
Brad considered that, and also the practical part of what he could do to stop her, other than asking nicely. That was an option. "It's headed to my world, where horses, and things that look like horses, are expected to not talk."
RC inclined her head, following along without looking at all dissuaded. "Do I look like a horse? Ponies are very different than horses. Maybe they'll be alright with a pony talking." She winked at him. "And I won't be, unless they ask. You mind me seeing the other side? I'll be good!"
Bella neighed in agreement, nickering lightly as she came to a halt, right at the end of the rainbow bridge, staring back at its bright colors that led towards Equestria.
"I don't talk horse like you two, but I think Bella's giving a last chance to turn around and head home before you get into any trouble." He waved along the trail they had arrived at. "My world's not as friendly as yours."
"I don't have any plans," she answered, and let out a contented sigh, settling herself down to lean her weight on her haunches. "I'll be good. If you trust her, I trust her."
"That isn't." He chuckled softly. "Alright, guess I'm not convincing you. Try to keep your mouth shut unless you're absolutely sure I'm the only one that'll hear you."
Bella and RC stepped off the rainbow together, and it vanished away rapidly. RC went around to touch her nose to Bella's larger one. "Thanks for the ride. That rainbow is something else, huh?" She lifted into the air for a moment to see where they had wound up, hovering off the ground to examine the new location.
Brad nodded but made a lowering motion with his hand. "No flying." How he'd explain a little pony with wings was another problem he considered. They made their way towards the stable. A couple of the staff appeared, happy to see Brad and Bella, though just as confused by his new companion.
"I already fed her for the night," he assured them, gesturing to Bella. "But I was wondering if you had something that might fit my new friend here? She's had a long journey."
Miguel hiked a thumb behind him. "Si, there are plenty of stables, technically you could put her in any of them, but, you know some are larger than others. Is she comfortable in larger ones or smaller ones? Some horses are pickier than others."
Brad had met such fussy horses before. He would have just asked RC, but making her talk wasn't the idea. They hadn't raised a fuss about her so he went with it. "Let's put her here." He guided RC towards a larger stall and parked her inside. "She's not ranch property, to be clear."
Bella huffed, her jaw clacking.
"That one is?" Miguel grinned as he watched Bella settle in next to her new friend. "What are you doing with her, bringing friends over or something?"
"Yeah!" Brad got that out a bit too fast, coloring faintly. "Just a friend. If it's a bother, let me know." He pulled the stable gate shut with a click of its latch. "She's well-behaved. You'd almost swear she understands you from the way she acts, so shouldn't be hard to get along with." He paused as he glanced back at her. "Maybe don't pet her, though. She's a bit sensitive about that."
"She looks a little tired. No offense meant, little one." Miguel approached and gave her a light pat on the side.
Bella grumbled lowly, glaring at him.
"Well, maybe she's a little protective." Brad gently nudged Bella away with a push to a cheek, turning her away. "Let's get you retired for the day too."
Bella grumbled more at that, but turned with a huff and let herself be led out of the stables. She tossed her head and dragged him towards the barn he slept in. He laughed as he let her do that much. "Hopefully our guest won't make any trouble." He could imagine RC in that stall, and there were so many ways things could go awry.
He turned his attention back to his best animal companion, as she guided him back to the barn he stayed in. "What's up, girl? It's been a good trip." She stomped a hoof, the door rattling, and gave him a meaningful look.
"I have a busy day tomorrow." He gently pat her on the end of the nose. "I can't go back to Equestria right away." He got a snort in reply, Bella leaning in to rest against him. "Give me some time. I still want to visit and meet more ponies." The two rested their foreheads together. In those moments, they understood one another just fine.
Brad left her behind, going instead to check on the ranch and inspect all the various little things that needed attention. A loose board here, a missing hinge there. Nothing major, but enough to notice. By the time he was satisfied, and his belly rumbled for dinner, he headed back to the main house for some food.
Enticing smells reached him before he saw the kitchen. "Smells great, Anna." She always had wonderful recipes prepared, though it took him a little while to get used to them. Even Miguel struggled now and then, though they'd been eating her cooking for years. "Anything I can do to help?"
"Ah, you just focus on getting your dinner and sitting down." She flapped a hand at him, motioning him away. "You know it's a madhouse in here!"
She wasn't joking, with many other workers of the ranch piling in and taking a seat to get their share of the grub. He grabbed a plate for himself, just to be grabbed by the shoulder before he could finish turning back for the table.
"Whoa!" He spun to find Miguel smiling at him, all smug and amused. "Hey, partner."
Brad just gave his roommate a deadpan look. "Something up?"
"Maybe." Miguel gestured to the nearest empty chair at a table. "We've got a few minutes, come sit down, we should chat."
"Chat." Brad took the offered seat without complaint, but gave Miguel a side eye as he sat next to him. "Okay, what's going on?"
Miguel pulled a folded slip of paper from his pocket. "I've been watching you, amigo. You've been vanishing off the last few days. And I mean that literally. I went looking for you today and you were just gone, not there, no warning."
Brad flushed at that, but couldn't deny it. He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand as he did so. "Yeah, just went for a ride, you know?"
"I don't think so, amigo." Miguel rolled a hand. "Go ahead and eat, but I want answers, si? I'm getting a little concerned." He didn't dig into his meal, focusing on Brad.
Brad scooped up a bite of the rice, enjoying the tastes as he chewed. "It's, well..." He considered how to speak about that. "Could we at least wait until the crowd's cleared?" He gestured vaguely at the noisy room.
Miguel inclined his head, continuing to eat as he waited for his chance to talk. As the last stragglers were finishing up, he looked around. "Better? Out with it."
Brad finished swallowing his latest mouthful and wiped his chin clean with a napkin. "Alright, yeah, we should do this. Um." He felt very small. "So, I've been able to, ah, make a road for myself."
"A road? Que? I need a little more than that." He rubbed at the bridge of his nose with one hand. "You are making this weird, and I want to be supportive, but I don't follow."
Brad let out a slow deep sigh, looking once more for other listening ears. "This will sound mad, crazy even. But let me get to the end of it, and try to assume I'm giving it straight. Can you promise that? It's important."
Miguel shrugged, making a vague rolling gesture. "I promise, fine. What is it you're telling me?"
"I have been going to another world, a place where magic is real." Brad squirmed at how impossible it sounded even as he said it. "Bella and I, when we do a good jump, can make a bridge that we can then walk across and get there and back. That pony I brought with me today? She's from there too."
Miguel stared at him. "You've been sneaking off to some sort of mystical magical land where you've been picking up animals? You realize how nuts this sounds, si?" He swatted at Brad's shoulder. "Muy Loco." But he was nodding, and didn't give off truly angry vibes.
Brad patted his hand in return. "It's why I was trying to talk somewhere private."
Miguel chuckled and sat back in his chair. "No one was believing this. So, a bridge." He made a spanning gesture with a sweep of his hand. "A rainbow one?"
Brad nodded, glad he'd said so much. "It's been amazing to see what's there. Real living talking ponies. Mystical creatures and magic and the like." He sat up. "They're nice, so damn nice. The first time we showed up, they sat us down for dinner, didn't even know who we were, and we were eating with a whole family of friendly ponies. It's..."
Miguel squeezed him on the shoulder. "If you're so excited, why didn't you invite me along, hm?"
Brad blinked at that. "You want to go?"
"And see magical ponies? Yes, of course! Do they all look like that one?" He pointed in the direction of the stables.
"Her name's RC. Some have horns or wings, and some don't have either. They're all nice as hell so far I've seen. Very generous."
"Oh." Miguel winced, and seemed to come to a realization. "Wait, we need to bring something." He grinned. "I have a treat in mind."
"It's fine, they really don't expect it." But curiosity burned. "What did you have in mind?"
Miguel stood, gathering up his plate and the remains of his dinner. "You'll see." With a grin, he headed off to take care of his leftovers.
Brad was left to finish his meal. The delicious hints of chicken and green pepper lingered on his tongue. It wasn't the kind of meal that you could just gulp down, after all. He made a slow meal of it, savoring the spices as he took his time.
Only when it was all finished and he had a cleaned plate did he rise and clean up after himself. He thanked Anna for her cooking, then made his way to his room to get some sleep.
He didn't get a full night, interrupted by a gentle rap on his window. He stirred awake, and realized the knocking continued. "Hm?" He rubbed at his eyes, trying to get a sense of what was going on as he slid to his feet and shuffled towards the window. On the other side, RC was looking up at him with obvious delight. She pointed at the barn.
He rubbed at his eyes, trying to work out what time it was. "RC?" He pulled up the bottom of the window, opening it. "What are you doing here? You should be sleeping in the barn."
She smirked. "I can get out without being noticed. That's what I'm doing." She lowered her voice. "I just wanted to talk a little bit."
"Ah. Right." He shrugged softly. "I told you my world's a bit less friendly to ponies than yours."
She shrugged with a chuckle "It's exciting to me, but I could totally see how it's more scary for you." She settled to the ground outside his bedroom. "Can I come in?"
"The window's barely—" He didn't get to finish as she squeezed in with almost a pop, landing with a soft clop on his bedroom floor and shaking out. She looked around curiously, poking through his personal effects without any concern. "Ahem!"
"Oh!" She turned back to him with an innocent expression. "Right! We were going to chat? Nice room you have here. I haven't been in a human room, it's cool." She patted at a painting hanging on one wall. "What is this?"
He snatched it up before she could do much damage. "Careful with that." But her attention had already slid.
She hopped up onto his bed and sat on it. "Why do you get a nice soft bed and they didn't give me anything but some hay? Hay is for eating, ideally fried first."
"That's where I sleep." He rolled his eyes as he walked over. "And if you're going to hang around in here, I don't want you dirtying things up. Please don't pee."
She squinted at him. "What do you think I am, some animal? I won't poo either, if you're worried about that." RC rolled her eyes at the thought. "Does Bella do that? I'm a pony, not a horse."
"Sorry." Brad rubbed the bridge of his nose as he sat down. "So, what was it you wanted to talk about?"
She wrapped her arms around Brad, leaning in close. "I was lonely! All I had for company were horses that were either sleepy or complaining about not being able to go out for a walk." She buried her snout into his neck, nuzzling fondly. "This is way more fun."
Brad rolled his eyes at the attention but didn't discourage it. "I figured you would be fine." He stroked along her back and she perked as she arched against him.
"Oh, that feels good." She leaned back against the hand. "Kindly, do continue."
The strange part was petting her felt almost as good on his side, he was just far less vocal about it, and it felt kinda odd to gush about that kind of thing, even if he did feel good, and relaxed, petting and scratching along her form.
"I can tell you want to talk," she chided him, and tugged at him with a hoof to the waistband of his pants. "But what do you say we play first?"
He colored, shoving her away. "Woah there! I'm not ready for that kinda playing." He shimmied out of reach, further along the bed.
She followed with a hop, sitting next to him. "Aww, no?" Her eyes roved over him hungrily. "You smell pretty ready for it." She curled up next to him and reached out a hoof to brush along his side. "But you humans are funny." She teased at his stomach and he squirmed away, grabbing her hoof.
He gently warded her hoof away, but rubbed along her leg, generating those pleasant feelings for both of them. "I can do this. Are you happy with that?"
She hummed gently, still and boneless. "You can keep doing that, sure." Her words came out in a lazy drawl, her legs curling as she found herself incapable of movement. "For a good, long, time." She settled on her back, letting out a happy moan.
So it was that he found himself eventually flopped beside her, petting along her side and belly. They both faded from thinking like that, in that pleasant haze. At least, until there was knocking at the door.
"Brad?" Miguel was at the door. "You need to come out of there now, if you can. We have work to do."
Brad groaned, lifting his head. He grabbed for his phone to see that it was morning. "Coming!"
RC had woken up as well. "Work?" She stretched out happily. "Sounds like a plan!" She hopped off the bed, landing on her hooves. "Race ya!" She scrambled over to the window and popped out without hesitation.
"Wait!" He bumped against the window, not nearly as agile as the energetic pony. "No talking around people!"
"What?" Miguel could hear him through the door, clearly confused.
"Nothing, just..." He slipped on a fresh set of clothes, still rubbing his face. "Getting ready!"
"Don't forget breakfast!" Miguel chuckled as he headed off.
Brad finished pulling on his clothes, checking himself out in the mirror. He was ready for another day. He'd need to shave soon, but he opted not to that day. Striding with purpose, and hoping RC didn't get into trouble, he went in search of breakfast and Miguel.
Both were easy enough to find. "I said I'm coming."
Miguel was in the middle of eating his own meal with a grin. "I heard you getting up, finally." He gestured at the food ready for taking. "A classic."
"Somehow, I feel like you made it happen." Brad was referring to the meal on offer. A standard breakfast burrito. "It's tasty." He bit into the wrapped bundle of sausage and egg, speaking with his mouth full. "What's on the schedule for today?"
"Say it, don't spray it, amigo. You're not that far behind in the schedule." He laughed as he put his mostly empty plate aside. "We have one horse going out, three coming in. We have to break one of them, remember? They spent some time as a stray."
"Right." Brad finished up his meal, putting the plate in the sink to wash it later. "Did you decide who would be breaking them?"
Miguel gestured vaguely. "You know what? Let's go for it. We're a team, aren't we? This one's got spirit, but it could use a little help finding a home." He put the dish he'd been using into the sink. "We'll show them this is a safe place, but we humans are the boss."
Brad nodded firmly. "Fair enough." The pair headed out together towards the stables. Bella met them halfway, seeming more than a little excited to see them. She trotted eagerly beside them. Brad gently pet her side, not getting the same rush he'd gotten when petting a pony, but it was still pleasant in its own subtle ways. "Who let you out? Not complaining, but."
Miguel waved it off. "You know Bella's one of the most trained horses we have. She wouldn't go anywhere we didn't tell her to go. She didn't even move away from the stables until you got here to be next to. You two are like a team."
"That's my girl." He fondly stroked her side. "Are you feeling alright, Bella? Ready to help?"
She turned to face him, pressing her nose to his with a happy whinny.
"That's a yes." He smooched the top of her snout and waved onwards. "Let's get to work. Is the outgoing ready?"
Miguel nodded. "Got his saddle on, just needed your go."
"Thanks." He stepped into the stall to start on that. "I'll take care of this one."
Bella and Miguel both agreed to it in human and equine ways.
Author's Note
Oh wow, just got into it, and we end up at a huge 3.2k chapter! Well, hope you enjoyed that. Feed me with lovely comments, for they fuel me, and I read every one of them.
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Brad walked with purpose out to the working pen they had their new horse in. "What a beauty." He didn't reach for the strange horse, not yet. Instead he examined the horse that was examining him in return.
The horse's coat was a pale sand color, not too light, but definitely not brown either. Its mane was white and it seemed to have a gentle nature. It didn't shy away from him, didn't hide, didn't move away. "You're happy to see me, or waiting for me to do something you don't like." Brad approached, always keeping in the horse's view. "I'm your friend." He held up his hand towards the new horse.
The new horse came over to sniff at it. After a moment, the animal let out a huff of air and made a happy sound.
Brad patted the horse on the head. "I'm sorry whoever was caring for you before let you go off like that."
Miguel looked over at him. "Not supposed to get too attached before we break them."
"He needs to feel safe, Miguel. It's clear he hasn't felt that way in a long time." Brad circled, the fence still between them. "Comfortable horses are happy horses, you know that."
"We're not setting him free, not for a long time." Miguel gestured with a hand. "But if you want to try it your way, I'm game. You've never steered us wrong before."
Brad chuckled at that. "I guess I've been doing this long enough to figure out what works." He slapped at Miguel's shoulder. "Not that you haven't. Each horse, especially strays, is a little puzzle. How were they mistreated, and what did they have to survive to get to us? It shapes them."
Miguel inclined his head gently in a shrug. "At least it's something we can do about it. Fix what's broken."
"Sometimes we can't." Brad let out a slow sigh as he settled a hand on the new horse's side. "But I don't think this is one of those. " Feeling confident, he pulled up onto the fence and down the other side. The horse turned to keep face him, becoming a little more tense, ready to fight or flee. "Easy, there. I'm your friend." He opened his arms, hoping to entice the horse to come closer.
After a long moment of hesitation, the horse stepped closer. Brad began to stroke and pet along the animal's sides and flank. "We're all friends at this ranch. We treat our horses right." He rubbed around the neck and ears, where most horses liked it. This one did as well, shifting in place, making soft sounds of enjoyment.
"That's a good horse." He dug his fingers in, massaging the equine's head and shoulders.
"A little down and to the right." But that hadn't been Miguel at all. Brand tensed, looking over sharply to see RC perched on the fence, swaying her hooves idly on the work side of it. "That's where they want it." She smiled in that way ponies did, but not too broadly, not too open.
Brad swallowed, forcing himself to stay calm. "Hello, RC." His eyes darted to Miguel. "Miguel, this is Rainbow Charm."
Miguel was gaping at the small talking equine. "Si. Rainbow Charm? Um. Should I be worried, or have I just gone entirely loco?" He rubbed at his eyes.
Brad reached over and pinched him on the arm. "Not a dream, amigo."
"You didn't say she could talk!" He hissed it in Brad's direction. "Can Bella talk too?! Can all the horses talk? Have they been talking about me?!"
Brad took a firm hold of Miguel's closer shoulder. "Calm down. Just RC here, not Bella or any other horse." He took a moment to breath in, breathing out slowly. "I wasn't sure she'd come with me today."
RC stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm adventurous!" She winked at Miguel. "Nice to meet me. She—" RC pointed at the stray they were working with. "—thinks you're nice." She nodded at Brad. "But she's seen nice humans before. She's waiting for things to stop being nice."
Miguel just stared, running his fingers through his hair. "What. The. Hell?"
Brad held up his hands in a calming gesture. "Alright, you're freaking out, and I get that." He let out a slow sigh. "I wish I could have done this easier, but I guess not."
RC shrugged from her perch. "I was a little surprised when I saw my first human. I guess it goes the other way too. I'm a nice pony, promise."
"Nice, right." Miguel dared to take a step closer to RC, examining her closely. "She does look friendly. Friendly for a horse anyway."
Brad managed a faint laugh at that. "RC, please try not to talk around other humans, especially strangers."
"You are no fun!" She flicked her tail at him. "We'll play by your rules, for now. But you need to know, we ponies love helping others and being of service." She inclined her head down at Miguel. "Also, we're not strangers anymore." She hopped down to the ground and trotted up to them all, the new horse included. The new horse didn't seem to mind RC, as if they'd already been introduced.
"See? You can pet me if you like." She leaned in close to Miguel, nudging at his hand. "Like this."
Miguel had turned to stare at Brad, eyes wide with astonishment. "I didn't wake up today thinking a horse would be asking me to pet it." Still, his hand did wander over her head, fingers teasing into her mane. "This is too weird." He said it, but didn't stop what he was doing.
"You'll get used to it," Brad replied. "But first we have work to do." Moving his rubbing to where RC had suggested seemed to be paying off, the horse relaxing against his touch with approval. "RC, since you're here, and you can talk with horses, maybe you could help us skip a few steps here."
RC shrugged lightly. "Oh sure, no problem. That's why I'm here!" She puffed up her chest as she went to lean against the new horse's side. "Say, girl, you've been really scared of humans lately." She began to whicker and nicker gently, communicating with the horse in the language of horses.
Brad lifted an eyebrow at that, but didn't say anything. Instead he stroked and massaged at the ears and cheeks, showing a great deal of love and affection. "We want you to feel welcome here."
The horse's tension seemed to ebb away, relaxing as they turned to present their side to Brad. Miguel just stared, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"She says you smell nice, but you need to prove it," RC explained. "But I told her you're a good human and that you treat horses like people."
Brad put an arm over her. "Let me show it. We'll go for a nice little walk, no pressure." He slid up onto her, murmuring his thanks and encouragement as he went. "Once around the field. I'm sure you want to get some movement going." He stroked at her head and ears.
The horse obliged, taking off into a trot, moving in a circle as directed.
Miguel followed after, but kept back. "This is so crazy. You have a little horse that can talk a stray down? That's amazing! I've never seen anything like it!"
RC preened, the attention clearly appreciated. "I know how to use my special talent!" She pranced along behind Brad and the new horse, waving her tail about happily. "Well, okay, not my special talent, that involves rainbows. But, well, you get the idea." She fell silent for a few moments, trotting alongside the other two. "If it's not too rude to ask, why did she run away?"
Miguel slid out of the pen once they had completed the loop. "She was having a difficult time finding a home. Some people try to keep them, but don't have the time to invest in a healthy relationship with their horses." He huffed as he leaned against the fence. "People fall in love with the idea of a horse. Once the reality of what it takes to keep one healthy and happy sets in, some of them give up."
RC stood tall, trotting around Brad. "Well, that's dumb! If you have a friend, you stick by them." She made her way to Miguel, pushing her face against his chest, almost demanding affection.
He indulged the pony, petting along her sides. "You're a little small for me to ride, just so we're clear."
RC snorted softly at that. "Be that way. I wasn't offering."
Brad emerged from the work pen. "We made great progress with her. She'll be part of the family in no time, at this rate. Now, look, I really should get RC back where she belongs. I'm not trying to be rude, but I can't keep her here."
Miguel patted him on the shoulder. "It's alright, amigo. Just... be careful, okay?" He shrugged. "I don't know what your plan is, but if she's around, you have to protect her too." He paused then. "Speaking of that, where is she from?"
Brad flushed faintly, rubbing at his face. "Uh, you see, she's a talking pony, so, like, they've got this place in Equestria and—" He squirmed under the attention. "I sound like a raving loon, but the proof is right there." He waved at RC.
RC flapped her wings. "Why don't you come with us? It's a nice place. We'd love to have you over if you want."
Miguel shook his head. "You heard her, amigo. Sounds like an offer you can't refuse. Let's finish up for today, and we'll see if she really meant it."
"Ah, alright." Brad made his way to Bella's side. "You ready for some good work?" He slid onto Bella's back without any issue. "RC, head back to your pen and stay there. We'll get you home after work, and we'll have a Miguel with us, apparently."
RC bounced in place. "Yay! I'm gonna have to go get my saddle." She clopped her hooves on the ground. "I should get to do what I want sometimes." She sped away with fading giggles.
That left the two humans, and Bella, to get to the work the ranch needed. The day sped by with plenty on the list in need of their attention. Miguel followed along with Brad, doing his part, but clearly distracted as he thought about ponies, Equestria, and everything else. By the time the pair had finished up their work for the day, Miguel's eyes seemed a little wild, wide and staring, almost manic.
"I need to see this magical land." He'd settled himself down next to Bella's stall as the sun began to dip behind the mountains. "We've been working so hard, and I feel like I've gotten nothing done. But now, there's a magical land? Amigo, what is your life?"
Brad reached out and took a shoulder. "My life? It's strange, crazy, amazing, and terrifying. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Equestria had been entirely his little secret from a hostile world. But Miguel was one of the few people he didn't really feel that bad about sharing it with. He'd been a friend. Almost as reliable as a horse. Almost. "RC? He pulled open the stall door to her pen. "Come on out."
She peeked out of the barn, stepping up next to Bella's side. "Hi!"
He waved for them to follow him. "There's a very small patch of land we have to walk through. The problem, that I see, is usually I ride Belle across the rainbow bridge."
Miguel squinted. "You literally ride across a rainbow? Like one of those pixie dust things?"
"Pretty much. She takes me to Equestria on it. This will be different." He leaned in to gently stroke and pet along Bella's sides, making a low sound of encouragement. Without delay, he swung up onto her. "I have no idea if we can even get you across it, so I don't suggest bringing anything else with you."
"Shame." Miguel followed them all the same. "I'd love to bring Roswell. Think he could make rainbow bridges too?"
"I doubt that." They had reached the right part of the road they'd been using. "Okay, wait here a moment." He nudged Bella. "Let's make a bridge." Bella sped up into a proper gallop, leaping off the bump along the path. She came down on the rainbow bridge, brilliant and stretching up into the sky.
"Holy shit." Miguel stood with his mouth agape as he stared up at it. "Is this like, magic? Is it really?"
RC flapped her wings happily. "Yup! And check this out." She took flight, just to land on the bridge. "Ta da! I can walk on the rainbow bridge." She did a little dance atop it, just to make that quite clear.
Miguel jogged up to the bridge and reached out, feeling it. It seemed solid to his touches, so he climbed up onto it. "Looks like I can walk on it too, somehow."
Brad gestured for them both to follow. "I don't know how long it will be there if we all stop touching it, but we should probably get moving." He urged Bella forward and she took off in a full run. They left RC and Miguel behind as they raced across the bridge.
RC wrinkled her snout. "Pretty sure this thing goes away if Bella gets off, so hop on, right now."
Miguel sank down onto RC, an awkward fit at best on such a little pony. The moment he was on her, she took off, galloping with all her strength after Bella and Brad. "Slow down!"
Brad looked back and couldn't help but laugh at the sight of RC desperately chasing after them, struggling to catch up. It wasn't too long before she reached them, somehow, even while hauling Miguel. They all reached Equestria at about the same time, the rainbow bridge fading away as they arrived.
RC was heaving for breath. "Bella! Naughty! No running away like that."
Bella huffed, blowing hard through her nose.
"No bickering." Brad held up his hands in a gesture of peace. "We're here now, aren't we?" He turned his attention to Miguel, who had dismounted. "Welcome to Equestria."
Author's Note
Can't keep magic horse land from his fellow cowboy.
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Pinkie Pie rushed towards them with a big grin. "Hi!" She waved vigorously at them. "It's great to see you!"
Brad rubbed the back of his neck. "I forgot to mention her. She's—"
"Pinkie!" Pinkie landed with a skid on her knees, forehooves spread wide. "And I thought I was doing a party for just two but here's a third, wow! Let me get extra supplies. Don't you worry, I can totally handle this."
Miguel grinned as he gently patted Pinkie on the head. "Good to meet you, Miss... uh..."
"Pinkie!" She couldn't look much happier, though the petting seemed to be having positive effects on her. "Pie."
"Right." Miguel dared to touch one of her fuzzy ears, teasing along it with a fingertip. "Wow, you really are a horse."
Pinkie preened under the attention. "Of course I am! Just, like, a talking one." She burst into giggles. "And smaller." She nodded to Bella, looming as she was over the magical ponies gathering around. "And throwing you all one hay of a par-tay! Now, wait one moment! I've got to get all the supplies." She spun in place and dashed off.
"This world is so amazing." Miguel shook his head as he looked around. "So... Should we go?"
Brad shook his head. "She said wait, and she sounded serious. Why don't we say hello to everyone first?" He dropped to a knee, becoming far more even with the pony in front of him. "Hello there. Are you a new pony?"
A tiny foal, with a pretty yellow coat, bounced up to him, pushing her face into his hands with obvious enjoyment. "Hi! Are you Brad?"
"I sure am." He gently pet in long strokes over the little pony. "Aren't you a tiny one. What's your name?"
"Oh! I'm Apple Bloom." She pointed back at the rest of her family. "We live around here and run the apple orchard." She took his hand in both hooves, tugging him after her.
"Oh! I met them before." And yet, he was drawn along towards where the Apple Family was clustered together. "Nice to see you all again. You were so nice when I first showed up."
Big Mac snorted in reply. "Eeyup."
Brad felt like Big Mac understood everything that had happened, just from that short phrase. It was the most impossible feeling. He nodded back.
Bella followed obediently, just for that faithfulness to waver when she noticed Big Mac nearby. She made a happy noise as she trotted up to his side.
"I guess we have a new couple to set up." Brad chuckled as he stood. "Miguel, let's say hello to the Apple family, and then I guess we can find Pinkie."
Applejack gently pushed Bella away despite her size. "Easy there! Big Mac ain't interested, sorry ta say."
Miguel wrapped an arm around Brad's shoulders, leaning on him. "It's too funny. A real-life episode of My Little Pony." He kept chuckling even as ponies approached from all around.
Brad paused. "My whatnow?"
"Mi pequeño pony!" Miguel laughed at the whole thing, patting Applejack just at her withers. "The show? Oh, you never saw it?"
Brad shook his head in amazement. "Never heard of it. Not arguing with you, they're all great. Hey, Granny." He offered a balled hand and bumped it against the returned hoof. "But let's not get lost with just the Apples. There are so many ponies here."
As he said it, a good half dozen of them came over, each greeting him and Miguel as old friends. Miguel seemed happy to meet each and every one of them, petting them and making himself very familiar.
It was like being in a petting zoo, but the 'animals' were all too happy to talk while they got pet, and didn't insist on being fed. Some of them even brought over snacks and drinks balanced on their backs as they took their turn for petting by their human guests.
Brad wandered with his friend through the mass of ponies, not really seeing them as a mob. They parted around him with ease and he kept going. Miguel moved beside him, an ever-present smile on his face.
"Where are you going?" Pinkie sprang in front of them. "I have the cakes ready! I have your favorite fizzy drinks! This party's just getting started, trust me. I'm hosting it, and nothing gets past me." She winked at them both.
"Right, so we can't just keep walking away from the party?" Brad checked with a sly smile.
"Nope!" Pinkie reared up and poked Brad in the belly. "You're having way too much fun for me to let you get away. Besides, so is everypony else? I mean, wow, I never saw a new pony get so much attention."
Brad was about to fight that when Mayor Mare nudged his hand up with her head. "Well, what can I say?" He looked around at all the gathered ponies, all happy to have their space, all talking and laughing with one another. "It's amazing here. The ponies are just so nice and kind."
"Aw!" Pinkie clapped with a big smile. "We're nice to creatures that are nice back, and you two give such nice massages. Really, I bet Aloe and Lotus are jealous." She gently tugged him towards where she had set up the cakes and fizzy drinks. "Come on! We've got dancing and everything."
Miguel mussed at his hair. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I am not dressed for a party."
Aloe, as if summoned by her mention, slid up to Miguel's left. "Oh no, that is being no problem at all. You are just fine as you are. And no, there is nothing wrong with your jeans." She ran a hoof down his thigh and gave it a reassuring rub.
Miguel patted her back. "That feels nice." He accepted the bottle of fizzy drink from Pinkie, clinking it against Brad's own in a silent toast.
It was a fine evening for both men to enjoy the presence of small horses. Bella could offer no pets, but she attracted attention of her own. Though stallions avoided getting too close, the mares seemed fine conversing with her. With Brad and Miguel occupied, they spoke with Belle in the near-silent conversation of horse, with each flick of an ear or tail meaning plenty, to speak nothing of little chuffs and nickers.
Brad would be the first to admit he had no idea what was going on. They looked happy, but even as they got some looks from the others, they just smiled and kept speaking.
"Isn't she a nice girl?" He pet Rarity as she walked past, away from Belle.
"Mm?" Rarity stopped, leaning against the petting. "Mmm, more of that, kindly dear. Do you mean Bella? Kind enough dear. A curious thing, talking with a pony so old-fashioned. I'm not used to talking that way. It's the strangest feeling, dear."
Brad decided not to say much of anything about that, opting to continue his attention on her. "Just another strange part of this place."
Rarity sighed softly, relaxing against him as he stroked along her shoulders and sides. "I can't entirely argue that, darling. Ponyville is a magnet for interesting things, mm, like you. By the by." She turned to face him slowly. "You look like you could do with a fashion touch-up."
Brad was about to argue that, but then considered how long it had been since he'd had any real variety to his clothes. He had picked out some 'fun' shirts at the time, but nothing much else had changed. "I'll be honest. Me and fashion? I don't get it really. I just get what fits."
"What fits?! That's hardly the start, dear." She reared up, putting her forehooves on his belly. "Give me a moment and I'll get you sized up and we'll work out your palette. Mmm, yes. We'll make you shine! You deserve it. And when you come back to visit next time, I will have the perfect outfit for you."
Brad did a double take. "You can just make me clothes?"
Rarity's smile was utterly smug. "That is my specialty, darling. All I need are your measurements. You're not the first biped I've worked for. Little Spike's adorable in his suits. You're taller, obviously, but the principal is unchanged."
Brad considered the logic of that. "I guess that's true. Alright. It sounds like fun, if you're that excited about it."
"Oh!" Rarity stood tall with a little spring to her hooves. "But I am. Now, dear, let me see if the other human is just as agreeable." She paused, about to retreat. "Oh, did I mention, Dear? My name's Rarity. How silly of me." She chuckled and trotted off towards Miguel.
He didn't hear what was said between them, but within minutes they were both laughing, and he was soon being led off by Rarity. That left him on his own for a few moments. Brad shook his head and considered his options, which were many. Mayor Mare seemed to want his attention. "What's up?"
"A few ponies have noticed you coming and going." Mayor Mare nodded gently. "We were wondering if we might convince you to stay. You would be quite welcome here. As you can see, you'd fit right in."
Brad could almost see the plusses of such an arrangement. He glanced around the town square, at all the gathered ponies. Miguel was being made a fuss over, clearly having fun. "Tempting, but I have a job, Miss Mare. I don't want to just abandon them." Humans were flaky at times. Brad didn't want to be one of those. "You understand, I hope?"
Mayor Mare inclined her head. "As you say. The offer remains open, should you wish to return to us. I understand our little pony town is something of a pleasant holiday destination." She smiled. "We're glad to have you, as a guest, or a resident." She leaned in a little without saying anything.
Brad picked up on her silent wish and gently scritched over her head, making her hind hoof kick against the ground. "Yes, mmm, we would find a place for you quite quickly, if you wanted."
Rainbow Charm suddenly slid in. "Dibs! If he stays, he's coming to my place. I have all kinds of room!" She giggled and bounced in place. "He's nice and strong, so I could teach him how to be a cowpony. We'd have so much fun."
Brad gently swatted RC's side. "I'm already a cowboy."
"Yeah." RC turned to him. "I saw you. You don't understand them, and you've never seen an Equestrian cow anyway! Nope, you'll need a hoof, and I got one ready to lend."
Mayor Mare rolled her eyes as she pulled away from Brad's hands. "Rainbow Charm, be a dear and settle down." She gave RC a Look. "I haven't finished with this." She cleared her throat. "As I was saying, I want to officially welcome any other humans that may wish to visit, if you know others. You brought that 'Miguel' character, did you not? Charming."
"But I get him first!" RC flapped her wings. "Wait! Was that mean?" She settled down again. "I promise to share him if he visits."
Mayor Mare nodded slowly. "Glad to hear it. We're a community, RC. We share what we have, even if they have two legs and magical hands." She shook herself vigorously, as if to lose that thought. "I mean, enjoy your party."
"That's the plan." Brad laughed as he kept petting, not having to reach down quite so far for Mayor Mare standing on her hinds. "This is nice. I really am glad to see you."
"You are quite welcome to see me as often as you'd like." Mayor Mare was melting under the attention, making little happy noises. "But I shouldn't monopolize you. Bad image." She slid back to all fours. "Just think about my offer, okay?"
Brad nodded. "Sure, Mayor." He didn't get much chance to talk after that, as ponies were suddenly all around him, either eager to talk with him or curious about his human friend. The pair had more fun than they had in a long time.
Author's Note
With a welcome like this, would you go home? Brad doesn't want to be the bad kind of human though.
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"There you are." The crowd was just starting to disperse, allowing Twilight Sparkle to approach easily. "I've been searching for you for some time." She smiled at Brad, her horn glowing with magic as she lifted a scroll from behind her back. "I took the liberty of writing up some questions about your stay here in Ponyville and everything you've seen so far."
Bella casually captured her scroll in her great teeth and walked off with it, leaving Twilight stunned a moment. "But. Stella!" She fumed at the great horse, but didn't challenge them. "Fine." She turned back to Brad. "I heard that another pony was standing on the rainbow bridge! Tell me everything. I've been wondering about how that would work, given my failure to do the same."
Brad found himself sucked into a lengthy conversation with the very curious unicorn. It felt like it might go on forever, at least until Twilight paused mid-statement to burst into bright lights of all hues. Brad backed away with confusion, which let him see that RC was caught in approach, also glowing. "What the—" And the rainbows came for him as well, and all he could see and think was the power of those rainbows. He didn't see Bella overcome by this same strange force.
It lasted a moment that felt like it went forever, filling them with a sense of euphoric perfection before it shattered, bits of rainbows falling around them. "Woah." Spike fell off Twilight. "That was intense."
Twilight looked down at herself. "No time to think about that! You know what this means!" She almost seemed to vibrate with excitement. "Oh, we have so much to do. We should go to my library right now." She danced in place and broke into a full gallop, leaving the rest behind.
Brad offered a hand towards the abandoned Spike. "You okay?"
"M'fine." Spike stood and adjusted his back. "Thanks." He trotted after Twilight, doing his best to keep up.
Brad let him go, following more slowly. RC fell in at his side. "You have any idea what that just was?"
RC shook her head. "Not a clue, but it left a mark on Bella?"
"Wha?" He turned to Bella, following on his other side. Back on her rump, she had a cutiemark. It was a brightly colored rainbow. This was nothing compared to the glittering stripe that ran through her mane and tail. It was a stripe of rainbow colors that did not belong on any horse of Earth origin. "Bella, you okay?"
She was fine. She just huffed, but he felt like he knew that. She was fine, and she wanted a little petting. So he did that, rubbing her with an unsure smile. "If you're sure?" He could feel something off about her now, though he couldn't say what. Something had changed. It felt as if they were more connected than before.
He almost stopped dead in his tracks at that thought, and not just because it came from outside himself. "Spike?" But he had already gone ahead. "We have to catch up with Twilight and Spike. They might have a clue what's going on." He looked to RC and felt he understood a bit more about her as well, for good or bad. "Stop thinking about me like that."
She made a rude noise at him. "Stop listening in on my thoughts then!"
"It's hard not to!" He touched the cutiemark on Bella's side. "What did this?"
RC shrugged. "My only clue is the rainbow show we just all had. Let's catch up with Twilight." She flapped her wings as she hurried into a trot after Twilight. "Come on, Bella!"
Bella happily kept pace, following RC through the streets.
The walk to Twilight's library was a brief one, and they found her waiting at the door. "We need to get you measured." She took a tape measure in her magic and quickly looped it around him, beginning to take measurements of his height and any other part she seemed to be thinking of on the fly with thoughtful hums.
Bella chuffed. "I know." Twilight waved them inside, understanding Bella in that pony speak they seemed to have with the horse. "I just want to be aware of any changes."
Bella whinnied more forcefully.
Twilight turned and looked at her properly for the first time that evening. "Oh." She was clearly confused. "How long has she had a cutiemark?"
"Just since the rainbow thing." He gestured vaguely. "Whatever that was. Is it... bad?"
"No!" Twilight closed with Bella and circled her curiously. "Fascinating. Have you experienced any other changes I may not have seen?"
RC pointed at Brad. "I think he can read my mind?"
"Can he?" Twilight looked at Brad pointedly, thinking complex magical facts that Brad had no hope of understanding, but he knew she was thinking them.
He swallowed and hesitated a moment. "Something like that. Um, you're thinking about something complicated?"
She nodded slowly. "Interesting." She raised her head. "This may not be relevant, but it does help with an ongoing hypothesis." Twilight nodded with obvious thought. "Ah! RC, is it one way?"
RC shook her head. "I can also feel you thinking about really complicated stuff. Brad's just being confused. Bella's wondering why we're upset, like she knows what's going on, but she isn't sharing."
Bella snorted. Brad knew she was amused.
Twilight tapped at her chin. "This is only more fascinating by the moment. There is just one more test I want to perform, with your permission? Brad, Bella? Could you make the rainbow bridge for me?"
"Sure." Brad guided Bella outside, speaking gently to her as they went. "Up for a little hop?" She whickered in what seemed like a yes and he hopped up onto her. "Alright, one bridge, coming up. Rainbow bridge, please."
The pair set off, running hard and fast. Soon, the bridge had appeared in front of them. Bella slowed to a halt and looked back.
Twilight had been following behind them at a decent clip, but there was no way she could have kept up. Still, she came trotting up beside them. "Incredible! This is all incredible!" She trotted right past, up onto the bridge. She bounced from hoof to hoof there. "It's holding me up this time!"
RC climbed up onto the bridge after her, peering down. "Yep, still holds me."
As if called, Bella stepped up, carrying Brad along with her. All four of them were on the bridge, and it wasn't collapsing, nor dropping any of them. Brad relaxed. "I guess the rules changed a little?"
Twilight nodded in agreement. "They did indeed." She grinned up at Brad. "I think I may be getting a handle on this." She put a hoof on her own chest. "I feel like we've been connected, somehow. I could already understand Bella when she spoke, but that understanding is stretching beyond her words."
RC inclined her head. "I got that too, yeah." She rolled her eyes. "Also, she is one filthy mare. The vibes she puts off when a stallion goes past? She should be ashamed."
Bella did not look at all bothered.
Brad looked bothered on her behalf. "This isn't normal, and how am I going to pass Bella off as a normal horse when she's all glittery." He noticed something new. "Even her hooves are sparkling!"
"It's fine." Twilight couldn't look more pleased. "We will simply tell everyone that Bella got caught in a magical explosion."
Brad slid off Bella with a groan. "There are no magical explosions back where I'm from, Twilight."
"There aren't?" Twilight looked properly befuddled at the very idea. "Curious."
RC laughed as she thumped against Twilight on the way back down the bridge, sliding the last few inches. "His world is way less colorful than this one. No magic, no ponies. Just a lot of Brads worried about their jobs."
Twilight looked towards the ground. "Sounds... dreadful."
"Oh, it's not that bad." He couldn't argue much more than that. "I guess it's kinda dull by comparison." He offered his hands, catching Twilight and setting her down. His little ruffle of her mane made her tense, and he knew she liked it. It was a good feeling, and she wanted more, but she didn't want to ask for it.
Still, he knew she wanted it, so he kept gently stroking through her mane and scritching behind her ears. She became a melted puddle of pony happiness. "Thanks," she murmured with a tired smile.
RC flopped onto the ground in front of them. "Twilight?" She snickered gently. "I swear. Brad! Stop seducing ponies with those amazing fingers of yours."
"I'm not trying!" He gave her a light swat to her rump. "Besides, you're the one that keeps looking up at me all doe-eyed. I just want to pet you."
RC stuck out her tongue at that. "You don't understand how nice being pet is. I think you could just ask a pony for marriage and if you included those innocent pets, they'd probably say yes." She fluttered her lashes. "Including me."
Brad rubbed under her chin. "But what about Bella? You know, she's only just gained a cutiemark and now you're throwing yourself at me?" He paused as he looked back at Bella.
Bella huffed, and he somehow knew she had no interest in Brad that way. She wanted a strong and strapping stallion to keep her company in that way, though a good brushing was nice once in a while.
He shrugged lightly. "Well, at least that's clear."
"What's clear?" Twilight perked up, making happy noises as he continued his ministrations. "Don't stop! Mmm, what is clear?"
Brad played with her twitching ear. "You're distracted, but Bella says my petting doesn't affect her the same way, even if she likes the attention. She has no interest in me besides the normal interest between a faithful horse and their rider, and I'm okay with that."
RC snorted softly. "That's pretty obvious from how she watches Big Mac whenever he's around. I'm not surprised. It's clear he can see it too." She looked up at him with a big smile. With all of them off the bridge, it vanished in a fading rainbow sparkle. "Now, Missus Knows Everything, got any more big ideas about this?"
Twilight huffed at that. "My ideas are rarely 'big'. Most of the time they are just a tiny bit of light, to shine in the dark places." She chuckled at her own words, just to dissolve into a little purr at Brad's attentions. "As I was saying, no. We barely understand what's happening. Still! It seems to clearly involve all of us."
"Right, so I should probably go home and get back to work?" He gently pulled his hands away from Twilight. "If I'm going to be distracted, I should at least have a paycheck for it."
RC pouted at that. "That's not the right answer! You're connected to all these mares." She pointed to Twilight, Bella, then herself. "And you're going to run away? Boo! No, hang around. Besides, your buddy's not rushing home."
Brad couldn't argue with that logic, which meant he didn't. He just scratched RC behind the ears. "I can't help but think this will end badly. I've never had a good long-distance relationship."
RC leaned against the soft touches. "So make it not long distance? You want to hang around? You heard them. We'll get you a house. You're welcome here, Brad."
Twilight sat up, recovering from all the attention. "Since you brought it up, where is Miguel?"
"Uh..." He hadn't actually kept an eye on his friend since the party. He didn't know where he'd gotten off to.
As if on cue, Miguel appeared. He came walking around the corner of a building, Applejack at his side. He was speaking Spanish with her in friendly tones, and laughing about something. He didn't notice the gathered ponies, or even Bella until they were upon him. "Hola!"
Brad greeted him with a grin. "Welcome back, Miguel." He nodded at Applejack. "Nice to see you again, AJ. Getting along with Miggy?"
AJ tipped her hat. "Sure am. A right polite gent. Talks a little funny at times, but, shoot, ponies say the same 'bout me, can't hardly fault that."
Miguel shook his head and spat at the ground in utter contempt. "Brad! Amigo! I'm giving you one last chance." He held up a hand, ticking off the points on his fingers. "If you don't let me keep Roswell, then I won't let you keep these horses. There, I said it."
Brad looked baffled a moment. "Your horse? You want to, what, bring them here? I imagine most don't want to go charging over a rainbow, and can they? Roswell's good, but only Bella does the rainbow dance, so far as I know."
AJ snorted softly. "Now, don't be in such a hurry to say no." She looked to Twilight. "Any ideas?"
"Actually." She put a hoof to her chest. "It seems the rainbow is strengthened by our proximity." She pointed to Brad, RC, Bella, then herself. "So, if we're all there, maybe we could transport this earth horse."
Miguel put a hand on Applejack's side, resting it there comfortably. "That's what I'm asking. So, let me do my part. You did your end. You shared this amazing world with me. Let me bring Roswell here. Besides, she deserves to see this too. Maybe she can do the rainbow thing like Bella. You didn't know until you tried, si?"
Author's Note
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They decided to head back to Earth come the morning. In the meantime, sleep called for them. Twilight pointed to her library of a home. "I can put up the humans for the night."
Applejack huffed and nudged against Miguel. "Ya don't need both of 'em. Come on, Miguel." She led him off towards the orchard without further argument.
Brad watched them go with amusement. "Now I'm not sure I want to know where he's sleeping tonight."
"Maybe you will know in the morning." Twilight chuckled softly. "Either way, I have an entire floor of bookshelves just for sleeping."
Spike held up two fingers close together. "It's not as large as she's making it sound, but it's alright." With a shrug, he headed inside. "C'mon! Uh, Bella should probably stay downstairs though or it'll get cramped really quickly."
Twilight gave Bella a hug. "You be good and find somewhere nice to sleep, okay?" She flicked her ears, and Bella grunted an affirmative. "Great! So, let's get the two of you settled in for the night."
Even if Bella was comfortable finding a spot outside, Brad wasn't, drawing Bella into the library. "Ain't havin' my horse roaming around while I sleep. That sounds like a recipe for trouble." He stroked along Bella's neck and side as they went inside.
RC didn't hesitate to climb up onto the first free bookshelf she saw. "Goodnight, guys. I'm tired and need my beauty sleep."
Twilight hiked a brow up at RC. "I didn't invite her." She huffed softly, but that was about all the fight she had in her. "Brad, follow me, kindly." She trotted into the depths of her home, taking them both up to a place where the library turned into a tower. There was a single bed on a raised platform. "You'll be able to sleep here comfortably."
Brad thought for a moment he'd have the bed to himself, until Twilight went over and flopped onto it. "Oh, uh." He hesitated. "Together?"
"Mm?" She pointed to the smaller little bed that Spike was already curling up on. "You can't be thinking of sharing that one."
He looked at Spike, who chuckled softly. "Sorry Brad. It's too small for you, and not in a fun way." He made a little circular gesture with his claw. "Like, no fun at all."
"Right." Well, when in Rome, as they said. He went to join Twilight, sliding in next to her as he kicked off his shoes to not dirty the bed with. "If you're okay with it, I won't keep fighting it." He stretched out a bit, getting comfortable, or at least trying to.
Twilight just moved a little closer to him, sharing her heat with him. "Just sleep." She was there to help keep him warm in the cold of the night.
He was beside a fuzzy pony, so temptation grew rapidly, and he didn't fight it very hard. He gently scratched along her, hugging and petting her gently. She wriggled at first, but it soon turned into pleased sighs. Her eyes were closed, but she was clearly enjoying each motion of his hands. He could sense it.
Brad paused when Spike laughed at them, and when he looked, he saw RC's head poking up from the hole in the floor that led downstairs. She had a huge grin on her face. "So much for sleep." He gestured for them to leave, and they did, but not before RC gave him an exaggerated wink.
He got settled again, wrapping his arms around Twilight. He stroked and patted at her neck much as he would have for Bella, and she gave pleased little whickers in response.
She pressed against him in turn, sharing her heat, and helping to warm him. "Are you enjoying this?" She purred with a smile, cuddling closer. "If you just ask, I'd gladly do this every night."
Brad felt his cheeks warm, and it wasn't Twilight's shared heat he was feeling. "Just one night," he assured. He stroked down her spine, feeling her twitch gently under his fingers as he worked down towards her tail.
Twilight seemed happy enough to melt against him, purring in pure contentment as she rested her head on his chest. "I understand the appeal of those pets now. Mmm, what are you doing tomorrow?"
"Trying to bring Miguel's horse, remember? You'll be there."
"Ah yes." She yawned widely, curling her forehooves up under her. "Tomorrow. But that's not tonight. We have all night for this, and I want to make the most of it." She rolled over on top of him. She was surprisingly light, especially for an equine, normally very dense creatures. "Pleeeease?"
Brad thought about arguing, but then a hoof lightly nudged against him. "Well, since you're asking so nicely." He reached back around, scratching under her chin as he leaned in and kissed her nose.
She giggled softly, shuffling about atop him as she tried to get comfortable, nuzzling up to him in return. Sleep was minimal that night, but both seemed to enjoy the experience.
The same couldn't be said for Spike, who glared at both come the morning. "Beds are for sleeping, guys." He stormed off towards the kitchen. "And so's the night!"
Brad and Twilight shared a brief look of shame before giggling softly. He shifted out from under her, careful not to disturb her much. "That's about enough of that, Twilight."
Twilight yawned as she stretched out. "Well, I understand the appeal now." She hopped to the floor and shook herself out. "I hope we didn't bother Spike too much. I didn't think we were that loud."
Brad held up his hands in defense. "Not my fault." He found his shoes and slipped them on before he headed downstairs to find his friends. "Any luck with finding a spot to sleep?"
Bella came trotting up to him and thumped her nose into his side in way of greeting. He knew she was saying hello, though he felt he'd have known that even without strange Equestria magic involved. "Sleep well?" She nipped carefully at him. He felt sure she had. "Good to hear. Now where's RC hiding?"
RC popped up from behind Bella with a grin. "I slept great. Don't worry about me." She tilted her head a little. "No pony is allowed to sleep as badly as Spike did."
"It isn't a competition," groaned out Spike, though the scents of preparing food were wafting out. "I'll have something for you all in a little bit."
Twilight went to RC with a smile. "I now understand why you, and everypony else, enjoys his attention. Human fingers are a thing of magic, though that discounts their palms, which seems to be integral to the holistic experience."
"Yeah, I can tell you like it." RC nuzzled her with a smirk. "But I'm gonna kick you out if you want him again tonight."
Twilight flustered a moment. "You can't kick me out of my own house." She huffed and rolled her eyes as she trotted past towards the kitchen. "What are you working up, Spike?"
"Pancakes! I made enough for all of us, and then some." He passed Twilight a pancake with his tail. "Help me take them out."
Twilight huffed as she levitated the pancake from his tail. In a short time, they had the table filled with the delicious treats along with a variety of toppings to choose from. "Breakfast is served."
Brad set to digging in, piling up the pancakes with maple syrup. It tasted a little different from what he was used to, but it was still really good. Bella helped herself to her own meal on the ground nearby, snuffling and munching through her hay and grain.
That confused Brad a bit. "Where'd she get that? Not complaining, good food for a horse."
Twilight looked at him oddly. "Brad. We are also equines." She pointed to herself, then RC. "Hay is a perfectly acceptable staple of our diets. Admittedly, normally we prepare them a little more intensively. The modern pony is quite spoiled with the assumption that our hay will be cooked before we eat it, but having hay around to cook can be useful."
"Not as useful as it is to keep them from kicking off about not having their meal when they want it." Spike dunked a pancake into his bowl of mixed berries and cream. "She seems content enough, but if she hadn't gotten a proper meal, I doubt she'd be waiting patiently for us, so I offered her some raw hay and she got really happy."
Bella gave a whicker of agreement that she was enjoying her breakfast.
Brad felt a fuzzy face nudging his hand. RC had nuzzled up against it. He stroked over the top of her head and over her ears. "Mornin'."
"Mornin'." She looked far too pleased with herself as she munched at a pancake. "We all need to go soon, if we're going to get Miguel's horse."
Brad nodded and finished off his meal, checking in on Bella and offering her some pats while guiding her up to her hooves and towards the door. "Let's get moving then, as nice as wasting the day with good company is, we have things to do."
Bella gave him an eye roll that was unmistakable. She didn't see what the hurry was. If they wanted to waste time eating and petting, she was fine with it. She saw no reason to rush to anywhere in particular.
Fortunately, she was, largely, a good mare and she followed along as Brad led her outside. Soon they were all outside, minus Spike. Spike waved at them from the door. "Have fun." He closed the door to the library.
Brad led them over to where he knew Miguel had slept, and found him curled up in the blankets, sound asleep, and with Applejack sleeping beside him, her body covering his. Her tail flicked gently. Why they were sleeping outside, Brad wasn't sure, but they looked comfortable there in the apple trees. He went up and shook Miguel lightly.
It was at that moment he remembered why a horse might have a red ribbon on their tail. Applejack kicked him, sending him to the ground with a pained wheeze. He didn't have much time to recover before she was atop him, keeping him pinned. "Bella!"
Bella was over in an instant, giving AJ a headbutt right in the chest that sent her back off of Brad, allowing him to scramble back from her.
Applejack shook her head quickly, starting to actually wake up. "What? Oh. Sorry, pardner." She hopped to her hooves. "Ya surprised me!"
Brad stumbled back to his feet, backing away a few steps from her. "I forgot why we put ribbons on horses' tails." He cleared his throat and shook his head a moment. "I didn't know if you two had gotten married, so I came to get Miguel, but then she kicked me."
Miguel laughed as he sat up, still in the pile of blankets. "Amigo, we aren't married. You're going too fast." He started to rouse properly himself with some stretches. "What time is it?"
"Past time for us to go. We should find that rainbow bridge." Brad looked to Bella. "She's ready, and RC's eager."
Miguel turned to AJ with a smile. "And you are fine?" He hugged her close, patting at her back. "I'll see you again soon, si?"
"Si, er, yup!" Applejack laughed, swatting at Miguel with her hat. "Yer funny words. Go on, quicker you go, quicker ya get back!" She bucked the air in encouragement. "Shoo!"
Miguel kissed her cheek. "Don't worry, I will come back to you as soon as possible."
AJ gave a wave to that.
Brad led Miguel away with Bella, RC, and Twilight trailing behind. "Buddy, no judgement." Well, okay, there was some judgement there. "But are you falling for her?"
Miguel paused in place. "Falling for her? We have good talks. She's funny and kind. It's different than the women I meet in town. We get along well. She's strong and I like that." He shrugged a little. "She understands what I say, which is nice. She can speak too, but we mostly talk like this."
That confused Brad anew. "She speaks Spanish?"
"Crazy, right?" Miguel shrugged thinking of it. "She doesn't seem to know why either. Then again, why do they all speak English, hombre? They're ponies, not humans. Not much reason they should be speaking any of our tongues, but there they are."
Brad couldn't argue that point. "I just figured this was something they all knew somehow." He continued leading them to the center of town.
Miguel smirked softly. "So, you slept well last night?"
Brad was ready to argue he hadn't been making a girlfriend, but he remembered the snuggling that had lasted most of the night. "It was good. Alright, I need to get up on Bella." Which he did, easily swinging up on the mare and gently patting her. "And we have to do a jump to get that bridge. With all of us here, we should be able to walk over it." He wagged a finger at Bella. "No running this time, at least once the bridge is there."
She chuffed back that she would, as long as they were moving quickly.
Miguel nodded firmly. "Now's as good a time as any." He walked over to Bella's side, not bothering with anything more than a small hop to get up on her. It was a little cramped, but Bella could hold the two of them. "RC's nice, but a little small for me."
Bella whinnied her readiness and charged in a wide circle, building speed a moment before she jumped, coming down on a freshly created rainbow. She slowed and turned to look at Twilight and RC.
Twilight shook herself. "That remains remarkable." She trotted up onto the rainbow beside them, slipping and sliding a little on the way. "Mmm, smooth, but still difficult to walk on."
RC laughed as she trotted alongside Twilight. "When we get to the top, you can slide the rest, if you'd rather." She flapped her wings with a chuckle. "I love this thing! Alright, Earth, here we come!"
They climbed that rainbow road in a relative silence. They were close enough together that no pony felt they had to fill the air with pointless chatter. All of them could feel the comfort that came with being near each other. The closer they got to the top, the more relaxed and comfortable they all were.
At the top, it seemed Bella had heard them, as she slid down the other side instead of walking or trotting. Her poor human riders had to cling to her as she accelerated down the other side with a shrill equine cry of excitement.
Miguel yelled in Spanish the whole way down, digging his fingers into Bella's mane, trying to stay atop her. Brad hung on tighter than ever before, knowing the last time they'd done this he'd rolled off the back of Bella, but now he was clenching onto her with all he had. He let out a relieved huff when they reached the ground on the other side and nobody seemed harmed.
Twilight and RC thumped next to them, both on their haunches, having joined the sliding almost freefall.
Brad felt he should chide Bella for the risk she'd taken, but he just petted her neck. "Now we're back home." He laughed softly as he looked at her properly. "That's interesting." The colorful parts Bella had gained in Equestria were gone, minus her cutiemark. "At least I can explain that." He'd get some odd looks for putting a stencil on his horse, but that wasn't reality defying.
Miguel dismounted from Bella with a wheeze. "Let's never do that again. I prefer real roads." He groaned as he walked stiffly. "One way to get over a rainbow."
Twilight was looking around curiously. "So, this is Earth?" She sniffed at the air. "That seems normal. More humans, less ponies, right? I've been to one such world before." She raised each hoof one by one. "Last time, going there left me with a more human shape though. I suppose the rainbow works differently than portal mirrors."
RC poked at Twilight with a hoof. "Don't tell me you want to explore this world next."
Twilight grinned, showing her teeth in that adorable way only a pony could manage. "A good scholar wants to see all things they can!"
Brad felt a warmth coming from Twilight that made him smile. It wasn't a literal heat, but a pure innocent enthusiasm. "Alright, ground rules, no talking unless you're sure there are no humans around besides Miguel and me, okay? You're just oddly-colored horses. Just act like Bella."
Bella let out a huff. She knew she was one of a kind. Still, no human words issued from her.
Twilight gave him a nod. "Got it. Lead the way."
"I'll show you Roswell!" Miguel pointed them off to his home. "That way! No talking, unless I do first." He grinned as he started off towards his home. "This is great!" He eagerly led them to what wasn't exactly his home, seeing as it was shared. "This is where I sleep, but just a bit past it—" He walked right past at a brisk pace, leading them all to the stable.
"Brad!" Sarah was storming towards them with a frown. "Where have you been hiding?!" She glared at Miguel. "Have you been helping?!" She forgot him almost immediately. "You said we would go out." She thumped a finger against Brad's chest. "Seriously, I thought you were nicer than that."
He coughed a little and shifted in place. "Well, um, how about tonight? We could do something?"
Miguel was waylaid by a beautiful horse as she approached him. Roswell gave him a soft nicker, rubbing her nose against him. "Hey, there you are." He ruffled Roswell's cheeks, eagerly greeting his loyal horse.
Sarah's eyes narrowed on Miguel and his horse. "He didn't bring that here, did he? How did they get in the yard?!"
Brad waved it off with a sigh. "No, it's okay." He imagined Bella and her ability to get where she wanted. "About us, I'm really sorry. I wasn't trying to lose you."
"Is she your mate?"
Sarah gaped down at Twilight, who didn't even have the tact to look embarrassed, just watching Sarah as one would a fascinating animal. "You can talk!"
"Um, of course?" She cleared her throat and looked up at Brad. "Sorry, but the cat's out of the bag. Hi there! My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I come from the magical land of Equestria."
Sarah took an unsteady step backwards from the strange little talking horse. "Is... this why you missed our date?"
Brad rubbed awkwardly behind his head. "Yeah, actually... yeah." He put his hands up to try and stop her as she turned to go. "Wait! Don't just leave!"
Sarah spun back to him with fire in her eyes. "How could you?! You find magical talking horses and you don't come running to me?"
Twilight pinned an ear back. "My apologies if I've upset you."
"You have not." She reached out and when Twilight didn't nip at the hand, she gently pet Twilight. "You are an innocent little magical horse. It's Brad that decided the first thing he should do is keep you all to himself."
Twilight grinned up at her. "It's a pleasure to meet you. What was your name again?"
"Sarah. I work here on the farm." She petted Twilight more firmly. "So, what can you do? Can you teleport or anything?"
Twilight gave a startled laugh at that. "Actually, yes. How did you guess that?"
RC flapped her wings. "I can fly, but, unlike certain unicorns, I know how to keep a secret!" She smiled and shook her head at Brad. "Told you this would happen."
Sarah laughed at that. "Wow! Flying and teleportation! Wait until I tell people about you two." She glanced around.
Brad held up his hands. "Please, let's not do that. We don't want our new friends to get taken away to some lab somewhere."
"Ah, they would be locked away forever, never again to see the light of day. All the joyous things that make life worthwhile, removed from their grasp for the sake of human greed." Sarah put a balled hand against one of her hips. "No, that sounds awful." She dropped into a crouch, nearly eye to eye with Twilight. "I won't let any mean men drag you away, you sweet little thing."
Twilight rubbed up against Sarah in what seemed like a return nuzzle. "You're really nice." She gave a happy sigh. "Brad, you haven't answered if you two are mates or not."
Brad flustered. "Mates?" He shook his head a moment. "Twilight, please stop asking me questions."
Sarah chuckled. "You two are adorable together." She laughed more openly. She rose to full height, dusting herself off. "But, to answer your question, we are not mates. We are friends. If he wants more than that, he has to get his act together and stop standing me up when I ask him on a date."
"This was a one time thing!" Brad rubbed his temples. "And it wasn't my fault. I don't have an excuse." He leaned over towards Twilight. "I'll explain later, alright?"
Sarah hiked a brow at that. "Explain what? It seems pretty clear now. You ran into some magical horses and got distracted. Points off for not thinking I'd want to see the magic horses too!"
RC snickered softly. "I like her, she has a good attitude."
Author's Note
What happened during the night? You can find out here:
[Adult story embed hidden]
Part of me is worried, so many characters in this story. :D
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11 - One Horse In, Two Out
Miguel was high atop his horse, Roswell. "The work's done for the day, amigo. Time to go, vamanos!"
Brad waved goodbye to Sarah, but paused in mid-turn as Miguel wheeled his horse around. "Wait! Miggy!"
Miguel snapped his fingers with a sigh. "Si, si. You have to call up el arco iris. I can't do that. Go ahead."
Brad chuckled as he climbed onto Bella, heading over to the edge of the ranch and off into the wilds. Twilight and RC came with him, as did Miguel on Roswell. Brad rubbed along Bella's neck with a chuckle. "Alright girl, ready for a nice trot?"
Bella perked up, nodding her head with a whicker of agreement. She liked trots!
He could feel her happiness as she broke into a gentle run, side by side with Roswell. She hastened, and so did Roswell, the two mares matching one another without direct ordering. The two were used to working as one herd. Though Roswell got confused when Bella launched herself in a great leap.
That confusion only grew when she came down on a rainbow that hadn't been there. She whinnied in startled equine amazement.
Miguel patted at her neck. "It's okay, Roswell! We've done this before. Well, a few times. Relax and it will be okay." He clapped his hands together with a cheer. "Alright, now we can go over?"
Twilight approached and walked up onto the bridge without an issue. "In theory. There is only one way to test. Miguel, it may be better for you to guide Roswell from the side. This is likely to be a strange and frightening experience the first time. We don't want them to get hurt."
Roswell let out a shrill cry of worry as Brad and Bella went several more paces onto the bridge. "Oh, calm down. It's not bad. Look at us!" Bella nodded her head, braying in support.
Miguel did have to get down, gently leading Roswell along. RC came up on his other wise, whickering gently at Roswell in the language the ponies seemed to share with the horses.
Roswell's worry diminished, though she still seemed quite spooked. As the rainbow bridge proved to be able to hold her up, she took slow steps onwards with Miguel and RC's support. Soon she was walking up along the strange path.
As if understanding of her slow pace, Bella proceeded just as slowly, just in front of her herd mate.
Eventually, they reached the top, and Brad looked back at them. "Well, come on." He led Bella off the bridge, waiting patiently for Roswell.
Roswell stopped at the edge of the rainbow bridge, taking it all in. She blinked several times, having expected to see ground, not a town full of talking ponies. She looked to Miguel, and he was just guiding her onwards, so she stepped off the bridge. At least the ground in that new land was firm and held her up.
Twilight and RC gave one another a high-hoof. RC breathed deep. "Ah, back in Equestria. No offense to my humans, but it's so much nicer."
Brad gave her a nod of understanding. "I'm a fan of home, I think."
Twilight nodded her agreement with that sentiment. "Let's get these horses someplace comfortable for the night."
Bella whickered at that. She understood Ponyville, and could take care of herself. She didn't say that, but Twilight, RC, and Brad understood her meaning quite clearly.
Roswell did not understand Bella's words, but she did follow along when Miguel led her off in a direction. "This way, Roswell."
"Woah!" Scootaloo skidded to a stop atop her namesake scooter. "Another one!" She gaped with a smile at Roswell. "Big like a Saddle Arabian, or Big Mac."
Roswell inclined an ear at the small pony, snuffing at her curiously.
Miguel patted Roswell's neck. "This is Roswell. Be nice, she's a bit shy."
Scootaloo gave her a hoof shake. "I'm Scootaloo, one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"
Roswell didn't understand all those fine points and advanced language, but the two were horses, and the unspoken bits traveled clearly. The little pony was friendly and wanted to welcome Roswell. Roswell accepted the welcome with a gentle huff of appreciation.
Scootaloo started pushing her scooter in the direction Miguel had been going. "So, you're really taking your horse on a trip to Equestria?" She flicked her ears in excitement. "How many more horses are going to show up?"
"Just Roswell." Miguel shook his head lightly. "We're here for just a visit."
Miguel rode Roswell out of town, heading to visit the Apples with only a wave to part with. Bella remained free to wander as she pleased, which she took immediate advantage of. She felt safe in Ponyville, and seemed to have no issue leaving Brad behind to explore it.
Twilight sat before Brad. "That leaves us. We need to talk. RC, you too. I had a dream, and you should both hear about it."
Brad rubbed at his chin. "You think they might come true?"
Twilight gave a small nod. "They're important."
Brad stroked over her back with a soft sigh. "That doesn't seem good."
"It's not bad , I don't think. But it felt important." She led Brad and RC into the library with a flick of her tail. "I felt as if I was visited by something. Something powerful, but benevolent."
RC flopped down in front of the library door. "Something stronger than Celestia? Does such a thing exist?"
Twilight blew out a soft breath. "I don't know. It's... It was not talking with words." She pointed where Bella had wandered. "Like her, I just knew what it meant. They want Brad's world to be improved, and its people, the humans, to be improved and happier."
"Okay, well, sounds nice enough. How would we do that?" Brad leaned back against a shelf of books, looking unsure on the idea.
Twilight smirked as she started pacing around Brad. "It seems to think you are the key. Brad, you are a special human. You're the first to follow what it called a 'weaker one'. Some seed of a power like the one I spoke to, that hasn't had a chance to finish sprouting."
Brad let out a deep sigh. "That sounds ominous. So, what does this being want me to do?"
"I don't know exactly." Twilight put her forehooves up on his shoulders, staring into his eyes. "It seemed happy that we had come together, and that we get along as well as we do." She slid back to the ground with a smile. "They also seemed to imply Bella would help with the next step. All we had to do was keep her happy, which you already do without anycreature asking you to."
Brad gently stroked through Twilight's mane. "It just wants us to be friends? Why is that so important?"
Twilight nuzzled into his hand. "I don't know. It said you're not ready yet, but I should talk to you, and that RC should hear." She spread her arms. "Which I just did. It feels like us, as a unit, is important." She huffed into a full snort. "Not the first time I've gotten involved with an important grouping. Am I cursed? Blessed? My girlfriends and I form an important group called the Element Wielders. I had thought that quite sufficient as important destinies go."
Brad didn't have a reply to that. He gave Twilight's nose a soft boop. "So, they wanted you to tell us about it. So we all know."
"We do." She looked to RC. "Are you alright with this? You've been quiet."
RC smirked deviously. "You're not getting it. Some mysterious force wants us together with some alien male, that they want to improve?" She waggled her brows. "Seems really obvious to me what they're hinting at."
Brad coughed awkwardly. "They're suggesting what?!"
Twilight furrowed her brow as she considered that point. "Oh! No, I don't think that was the purpose of it. It seemed like an extension of our natural relationship, or natural as far as such things go."
RC rolled her hooves. "If they just wanted us to be platonic buddies, they wouldn't make his fingers feel that way, or us all share everything . No, pretty sure whatever it is, they want us to come together, all the way."
Brad stared at RC. "Um, are you saying we should... That..." He looked between the two ponies, both so interested in him. "Why me? You're both beautiful." He winced, unsure if that was an insult or not.
Twilight smiled with a faint blush. "Thank you for saying so." The way she said it, it sounded like it wasn't a compliment she received very often. "And I'm glad, hm, you think so. RC may have a point."
RC shrugged with a grin. "Hey, the two of you could get along without me just fine. I'm mostly just in the way."
Brad immediately snapped his head over to her. "No!"
RC pointed at him with a laugh. "Knew it. We're a team, all of us. One big happy herd of ponies, human included. Congratulations, Brad."
He gave a weak smile to that. "It's not even certain." He leaned back against the bookcase again. "I don't even know what it means."
Twilight lowered herself into a bow, flicking her tail to one side. "I will do what I can to teach you, if you wish to learn more. We ponies have specific things we consider pinnacles. Perhaps it's time you learned of the elements, and what they stand for."
Brad couldn't argue that he was curious. He was interested in knowing what made Twilight tick. If it would help them better understand each other, that was something he'd enjoy. "You're offering to give me lessons?" He sank down to his bottom on the floor. "Hit me. I'm listening."
RC propped her head on her hooves. "Yeah, professor. Teach us."
Twilight rolled her eyes at RC's teasing tones. "Stop that. In any event, there are six elements. Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty, and Magic. These represent traits that most ponies have in some form or another, but the six of us, the Bearers of these elements, we have them more strongly than others." She put a hoof to her chest. "I'm Magic. As it turned out, Friendship is magic, as I discovered."
RC snickered gently. "And 'friendship' is magic." She waggled her brows with meaning. "So she's casting a spell on you, Brad."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "It's not that simple. Love isn't just one element. It has all six in it." She slid up onto Brad's lap, and he gently patted her back. She let out a pleased sigh, relaxing under the attention. "Love is complicated. To have a proper loving relationship, all six elements should be present. A partnership without honesty? Doomed to miserable failure."
RC held up a hoof. "Sounds like what happened with those two dragons."
"Indeed." Twilight nuzzled up against Brad. "This doesn't have to go that way. You are a good, honest man." She peeked back at Brad. "But the others are just as important. Imagine a family without laughter, finding no fun or pleasure in things, only ge—" She stalled there. "Actually, I suppose Pinkie's parents manage without laughter. Ironic, considering. Perhaps that's why Pinkie was so powerfully drawn to the element, for its lack in her upbringing.
"So, our friendship is fine, but there is more. RC mentioned kindness. There are times you have shown that towards myself and Bella, such as when we shared a night together."
RC laughed, waggling her brows. "We're calling that kindness now? No, Brad shows kindness when he cares about all his critters. And he cares about us and what makes us healthy and happy." She rolled to her side. "He's a love muffin that way."
Brad groaned at the idea of being called a love muffin, though he was rubbing along Twilight's back and sides without prompting. "That sounds nice. I don't know what else I can do, though."
"We could also talk about generosity." RC sat up, considering that. "Are you generous? Not sure how much of that you have going for you."
Brad furrowed his brow as he tried to think about it. "Well, I give food to Bella."
"She earns it by being a good girl, though. You can't help giving her that food, because she works for it. That's a kindness if anything. Besides, I've been listening. It's not even your food. It belongs to the place you work." RC huffed and looked to Twilight. "You see him be especially generous yet?"
Twilight flicked her ears with a frown. "No, I haven't. You're right. You could also be more generous with your time and attention. I have no doubt you would be far happier if you gave more of yourself to us, instead of holding yourself back." She brightly colored, realizing what she had said just after saying it. "I mean! You're fine, Brad. Something to bare in mind, perhaps, but I'm not trying to demand things."
"He might if you ask really nicely." RC smirked at that, tossing her mane. "And I'm sorry Twilight, but we aren't talking about laughter. There's plenty of laughter between the three of us. We're all happy and smiling, especially you." She narrowed her eyes with a grin, watching Twilight melt under all the petting and strokes.
Brad couldn't help himself as he rubbed at her stomach and sides, carefully scratching at her coat. He enjoyed the sounds of pure bliss she made.
RC flapped her wings a little, letting the air lift her mane as she tilted her head to the side. "I am pleased to report that our family, as a whole, has all the elements thriving. We may not all have all six all the time, but, all together, I think we're managing." She leaned forward. "Speaking of that, I really want it to be official. We're a family."
Twilight sat up sharply. "RC, wait! We need to finish talking about the other elements."
RC smirked softly. "Like loyalty? We're there. I know where you're going with this. But none of us will betray the other. You're my mare, Twi! And his eyes aren't wandering. I've seen other mares around him, and he barely glances at them. They're just cute ponies, not his family."
"I have been thinking of it like that," agreed Twilight, ducking her head a little in embarrassment. "The only element left is magic. Hm, and we literally met because of a rainbow bridge we cross regularly as we explore this unknown phenomenon. I think there's a spark of magic there." She laughed tensely. "Alright, alright. I'll stop arguing." She hopped suddenly free of Brad and coiled to face him. "But we haven't asked. Brad, do you want to be a family with us? RC clearly approves of the idea."
RC hopped over to nuzzle up against Brad. "We're not human, so, you don't have to worry about us judging you. You don't have to stick around. We aren't your people. We're... well, we're your ponies. You're our human, and I think that's pretty great."
Author's Note
A chapter just before this one:
https://www.fimfiction.net/chapter/1758195
About time they had this important conversation. Would you decline or accept the two mares?
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It hardly felt like much of a question. Brad wrapped an arm around a mare each, drawing them close. With two gently pressed snouts against his face, he laughed. "How can I say no to that? We're just going a bit fast, I think."
Twilight's ear flicked against his face. "Then we'll slow down. There's no hurry here. There's so much you want to learn, and so much we want to learn too. About this, us, and so much else." She took a slow breath. "But, thank you. I was worried you might get scared away."
Rainbow Charm laughed at that. "Hardly." She prodded him gently near his ribs. "He may be an alien creature, but he's still a stallion, and we're two lovely mares offering what stallions want. He doesn't strike me as the wandering off sort, so why would he say no?"
Twilight huffed at RC. "Don't be crude. Brad is more than his biological sex."
Brad ran his hands over the heads and necks of both of the brightly-colored equines. "In any event, I'm glad to be here." He stood up. "But I'm not sure we could call this ah, you know, marriage? Can different species even do that?"
Twilight moved her hoof as if adjusting the glasses she was not wearing. "Technically, yes. Equestria is home to no few cross-species marriages. Being a world of diverse species, it's hardly surprising that love sometimes finds a way across such borders. We don't have any formal taboo against the process."
"Huh." Brad reached to muss Twilight's mane gently. "You sure know a lot."
"Guilty." She nuzzled against that petting hand. "A guilty habit of mine." With a flick of her tail, she looked around. "I have a book on the matter, if you'd like to read it? It could prove enlightening."
That got a new thought in him. "Can I even read your language?"
RC hiked a brow. "You've understood us so far, and we can read your signs and stuff, so why not?"
Twilight nodded towards RC. "She has a point. It would be strange at this point if you couldn't read our writing." With a glowing horn, she floated a book over from a shelf. "Here, have a look."
Brad accepted the floating book into his grasp and flipped it open. The letters were perfectly standard English ones, though they looked like someone had manually wrote them down, rather than a machine doing the work. "Huh, guess so."
Twilight rested a hoof on his leg. "Then, if you like, take that and enjoy it. It goes over what Equestrians expect from a marriage, what's allowed, and so on. It may prove enlightening." She brought a hoof to her mouth to cough into it. "Relatedly! Foals. I don't think we, um, need to worry about that?"
RC squinted at Twilight suspiciously. "How do you know? He's a stallion, we're mares. Foals happen when those two things get together, especially when everypony involved's pretty happy about it."
Brad colored gently. "Back in my world, there'd be no way that'd work. I don't remember why exactly." He was far from a scientific sort, and the specifics of why genes worked the way they did eluded him. "Do ponies even have genes?"
"46 chromosomes." Twilight inclined her head. "How many do humans have? All Equestrian species have 46, all the sapient creatures that is. Critters, and many monsters, have different amounts. That has led to the 'great speech biology' theory." She blushed then. "I'm rambling, sorry."
It took Brad a few moments to puzzle through that. "I think it's the same amount? Christ." He put a hand at the side of his head. "Does that mean we could?"
Twilight shook her head. "Maybe, but there could be other factors at play. Not every species, even the sapient ones, is compatible with every other one. Scholars are still trying to figure out why this is. My specialty isn't biology, so the specifics elude me. I do know, however, that magic can often be used to smooth out places where biology fails us."
RC stomped a hoof. "This is nice and all, but it doesn't involve us enjoying our new life." She flashed a smile up at Brad. "What do you want to do, my bipedal stallion?"
Brad moved for a window, watching Ponyville move outside with its various colorful residents. "First, I just want to put out that I'm not giving up on Earth. That's a bad human habit I don't plan to pick up on. I have a job there, and I haven't quit it, or been fired from it. So I'm not leaving there. They trust me to be there, doing my job. You okay with that?"
Twilight rubbed sidelong against one of his legs, her eyes through the same window. "Of course. In fact, if you're alright with it, I think we'd both like to take a more active role. You can help us while you're here, and we'll gladly help you while you're there."
"Yeah!" RC hopped up onto the window ledge. "We can talk to your horses. That should be a huge helping hoof to get things done, right?"
Brad tickled RC under her chin, making her giggle and lean in against it. "But you're ponies. If I was alone, I'd have no issues, but most of the people there are going to freak out if they see talking ponies just casually helping out."
Twilight flashed in a bright light, leaving a woman behind. She dusted herself off gently. "There. I've been studying you intently, not to mention some other devices I have." She twisted to look herself over from different angles. "Mmm, more mature than the mirror. I like it." Despite her new bipedal form, Twilight still sounded entirely like Twilight.
RC burst into clopping applause. "Woah! Hook a mare up!" She hopped down from the window ledge, wings flapping. "I wanna be match for Brad too."
Brad was gawking at what Twilight had become. "You're a woman."
"Hm?" Twilight inclined her head, though her human ears didn't perk as she was used to. "I am a female human. I am configured properly, I hope? Nothing out of place?"
"Not a thing," he barely got out in a gasp. "Wow. Um, but can you do that for RC too? She looks ready to explode."
"Right." With a flash, she was an alicorn again, wings fluttering. "It's very hard to do magic when I don't have a horn, so let's go back first. This will be easier if I change RC first." RC was vibrating with excitement. "Hold on." She waved at RC as her horn glowed.
RC felt the urge to stand, so she did, her arms becoming thinner as her legs expanded outwards. She gained the curves of a healthy human female, giggling with excited gasps. "Woah!" She almost fell over right then and there, but Brad caught her.
"My hero." She smooched his cheek as she got herself upright. "Woah... Seriously." She wobbled her arms as she fought to stabilize herself. "Why aren't you toppling, Twilight?"
"Practice." Twilight, back to being human, nodded at Brad. "Now, in this form, we can both lend assistance at the ranch without raising undue alarm, yes?"
Brad was stunned quiet a moment. "Seriously, amazing. But, hm." He fished out his ID and showed it to her. "People back there love to track stuff, including each other. You don't have one of these. You don't 'belong' there."
Twilight squinted at the little plastic card and its information. "I could make one like that? May I borrow this?" She worked his ID out of its safe enclosure and tucked it into a pocket. "I'll give it back when I have one of my own." She smiled at RC. "And one for you too."
"It's not that easy," Brad laughed out. "It's complicated. Man. Look. Actually." He rubbed behind his head. "This is going to sound racist, but Miguel may have an idea how to get around this."
Neither pony turned human seemed to grasp those words, expect Miguel's name. RC pointed off. "He went to Applejack's, didn't he? Oh! Gotta try this." She reached out for Twilight, trying, poorly, to wriggle her fingers in idle scritches.
Twilight burst into laughter. "Humans have a very different skin texture. Scratches do not work the same. I don't think a human could deliver the same scratches to another human." She considered Brad curiously. "Such wonderous digits, but only good for another species? Very curious."
Brad shook his head at the two transformed women. "That's an amazing trick. I don't want you two to think I'm forcing it though."
Twilight held up a hand, though it became a hoof as she fell forward back to all fours. "It was my idea. Now, you mentioned Miguel may have more answers for us, so let's go see how he and Applejack are doing."
RC hopped forward, wings flapping as she hit the ground back on her hooves. "Yeah! I want to actually work that ranch with you, instead of pretending to skulk around. Boring."
They all emerged from the library and headed up the road towards Sweet Apple Acres. Ponies waved as they went, a few bolder ones going right up to say their hellos and maybe get a pet in while they were at it.
RC slipped in near Twilight. "One thing, if we can go human, does that mean we have magic fingers too?"
"Difficult to determine." Twilight put a hoof to her chin, walking on the other three. "We'd have to test on a pony. But that's not what we've come to do today. Let's see Applejack."
They found her posing for Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom. She had on a new outfit. It seemed that Miguel had brought her a whole cowgirl outfit, and she was quite cheerfully showing it off with little laughs. "Check this out." She turned to show a new angle and saw Brad, RC, and Twilight approaching. "Oh, hey there!"
Miguel waved from where he'd been sitting. "Amigo! Applejack loves the gift I got her."
Brad snorted at that. "Glad to see it. She looks adorably goofy." The dress was, ultimately, made for a human woman, not a mare. He could see where it didn't hang properly. "We had a question. They want to help around the ranch, but they're about the most illegal aliens I ever heard of. Any tips?"
Miguel struck Brad, a solid punch right across the face. "Seriously?" He grunted lightly at that. "Anyway. You don't go up to someone and just ask that unless you're, never mind." He threw up his hands. "Odd times. Sorry, I shouldn't get so worked up."
He turned his attention to RC and Twilight, both looking a bit shocked at his moment of violence. "Sorry about that. Look, the ranch has taken on a few undocumented workers before. They get paid the least, and they got no room to argue about it, si?"
Twilight rubbed a cheek with the flat of a hoof. "We don't intend to earn our livings doing this, so that is of little issue. How do we apply to work as 'undocumented' workers?"
"Ay dios mío." He laughed lightly at the mares. "I'll help, the next time we're there, but you're getting ahead of yourself. They may take undocumented humans . But you two--" He paused, struck silent as Twilight rose to two legs in front of him. "Oh."
He looked Twilight over. "I hate to put this out there, but you don't look like what they'll be expecting. Come over here." He led her to the side to go over the specific phenotypes and clothing that would get her and RC in with the least questions asked.
Brad's attention was on Applejack. "So, like it?"
"Sure do." She tipped the new hat. "I'll go back to my usual hat though. It's a personal thin'. Oh, and get Rarity to tailor this to fit proper. Speakin' of, she was lookin' fer you! An' Miguel, for that matter. You two should stop by."
Author's Note
My Internet was feeling bad the day I wrote this, which made everything annoying! I wrote anyway, so there.
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Ponies gathered thick around them. They had started with just two humans, but, somehow, two more had joined them. Twilight and RC had joined Brad and Miguel on two feet. The group drew quite a bit of attention as they walked along the road towards Rarity's house.
Brad smiled down at Twilight and Rainbow Charm. "What do you think?"
Twilight wobbled her arms up and down. "It's weird being bipedal. Again. Just have to get used to it."
RC snorted, wobbling far more dangerously. "You're already looking pretty used to it. I feel like I'm going to fall over every time I take a step!"
Miguel shook his head at the mares. "Feeling unsteady on two legs? We'll help as we can, chica." He gave RC a firm slap across her bottom, making her gasp and jolt. "No more thinking about it. Just move around."
Brad chuckled, nodding at Miguel. "He's right. But no more of that."
RC wrinkled her new human nose. "Yeah. Only Brad gets to do that."
They arrived at Rarity's and dropped the crowd of curious ponies as they pressed into the boutique.
"Yes?" Rarity blinked in surprise as she saw the group before her. "Oh! There you are, Brad. I had wanted to talk to you earlier." She shot him a flirtatious smile. "And, how nice! You brought friends! Which is good, as I wanted to see your Miguel friend too. But who are those other humans?"
"Twilight and Rainbow Charm," Brad introduced them properly. "They wanted to visit and get a look around."
Rarity clapped her hooves. "This is Twilight's doing, isn't it? That dear certainly knows her way around magic." She advanced to circle around each of the new humans. "She even made some basic clothing. Very basic, dear. Still, quite nice for your skill level. I'm genuinely impressed. But now! As you may have heard, I wished to see you, Miguel. And you, Brad."
She reached with her magic, drawing over a clothes rack with several suits. They were instantly recognizable as being made for humans, rather than ponies. "Ta da! Here we are. Fashion for humans!" She waggled a hoof. "What do you think?"
Twilight squealed in delight. "They're beautiful! Just like your clothes." She rubbed along Rarity's neck.
Rarity laughed gently even as she shivered at the contact. "Dear! Watch where your fingers are going. We are friends, without benefits, hm?"
Twilight lifted her hands back quickly. "Sorry, sorry! Forgot. My bad." She colored gently at her mistake.
Brad nodded at Rarity. "But, uh, human clothes?" He reached for one and held it against his chest. They seemed to be the right size. "Huh! You didn't have to."
"I did not. But I did anyway." She rolled a hoof up at Brad. "Go ahead. We have changing rooms over there." She inclined her head at the curtains towards the back. "Both of you, try them on!"
"Both of us?" Brad looked to Miguel. "Uh."
Miguel flashed him a bright smile. "Si, amigo. She said both of us." He pointed at the human women as well. "All four of us."
Rarity nodded eagerly. "Oh, hm, that would be lovely, but I didn't make any with their measurements. I didn't even know they existed, in this form, until just now, darlings. Next time! Now, go change." She made little shooing motions at Brad and Miguel.
Brad moved to do as instructed, having always enjoyed a good suit. He even had a few of his own back home. Without further delay, he vanished into the back with his new suit.
Rarity turned to Twilight. "Now that the humans are busy, why are you in that form? This isn't for my benefit, is it?" She laughed lightly, circling around the woman. "No, this feels more like something Brad would appreciate."
Twilight colored under the attention. "It was for Brad's sake. They don't want people to get freaked out by two talking ponies wandering about helping out at the ranch."
RC fired a thumbs up. "Me too. We're gonna help around their ranch and we won't have to hide this time. It'll be way more fun."
Rarity had a sinking feeling as she considered that. "You both can't just pretend to be human all the time, surely?"
Twilight shook her head. "Not all the time, just long enough to help out a work day, then we can go back to ponies. This form is alright, but I am a pony, not a human."
Rarity arched an eyebrow. "There is a degree of irony in hearing you say that, darling. Not to mention, the fact you're here with two other humans?" She quirked a smile. "You are clearly getting along with them quite well."
Before other questions could come, the men stepped out from their dressing rooms. The suits were a perfect fit for both. Twilight and RC let out complimentary whoops as they applauded the two men.
Rarity looked satisfied with herself. "Magnificent. Why, those colors really do complement you both. Dears, enjoy them. If any part of them doesn't fit quite right, let me know, but they should be good for you."
Brad bowed his head in respect. "Thank you, Rarity. I don't know what we did to deserve this, but we'll take good care of them."
"You better." She flapped a hoof at them.
Miguel folded his arms across his new shirt. "This is great! Chica, you are great at this." He chuckled and rubbed the back of his head. "Now I have something to wear at work, instead of that ratty old T-shirt."
Brad gave Miguel a slap on the shoulder. "Alright, thanks. You're a good friend, Rarity. Now we need to get back to the ranch and help out for a bit."
"It's no problem, darling." Rarity moved back towards one of her sewing machines. "Now, dears, I do have other work to be doing."
The group said their goodbyes to Rarity and headed back outside. They had only made it a few steps when Brad stopped short, making Twilight and RC run into his back. "Wait! Mig." He turned to face Miguel. "Your horse."
"She's safe in Ponyville." Miguel smiled warmly. "Everyone is looking after her, so we can go do what we want."
Brad spread his hands. "Sure, but did she get smart, like Bella?"
Miguel shook his head. "Smart? No. She's the same horse she ever was."
Brad frowned at that. "Alright. Sorry for stopping you."
"Nothing to be sorry for." Miguel pointed the way, "Let's pick them up, get that rainbow, and vamanos back to the ranch."
They headed up the road a bit to a nearby field where Roswell was grazing, well-taken care of by a young earth pony foal with a bushy red mane and tail. On their approach, Roswell trotted over to greet them, Miguel specifically. He pat the snout and neck of his steed with a smile. "Had fun? Come on, girl."
As they all left the field, Brad spoke to the small pony watching them go, "Thank you."
"It's no problem! Roswell is my friend now!" The pony galloped off back to where she had been before.
Twilight slid in next to Brad. "Roswell can speak proto pony, like Bella, but she does it much more simply. Bella, I'd call a full creature. I think Roswell is a critter. You said they're the same thing, so I don't really know why one seems so much different than the other."
Brad frowned down at Twilight. "Roswell can understand us? Why didn't she ever say anything before?"
RC snickered at the confusion. "Roswell can understand us, as in us ponies, when we talk proto pony. But she doesn't seem to care that much. She's a horse, thinking horse things. Bella, she's different, like a pony that looks like a horse."
Brad furrowed his brow, finding himself entirely lost. "And a critter is a talking pony? How did this all work?"
Twilight shook her head at him. "You are focusing on the details. But critter is what we'd call a basic animal. That squirrel." She pointed at one scurrying along. "Critter. Rabbits, critters. Birds, snakes, and bears, also critters." She turned her finger back on herself. "Creature is an animal that can, in theory, be conversed with. That line gets fuzzy when you have ponies like Fluttershy that can talk to critters, but that's the basic line."
Brad waggled his fingers as he rubbed at his temple. "So Bella is a creature? An advanced critter?"
Twilight opened her mouth, hesitated a moment, but nodded in the end. "I think she is. She communicates eagerly. If I pretended she was entirely pony shaped, I'd never know the difference, save for their insistence on using proto pony."
Miguel nudged Brad gently. "That would make Roswell a critter."
"She is." Twilight bobbed her head. "Critters have free will, of course. They just don't usually interact with creatures, that's us. Roswell clearly likes you, Miguel. You two have a lovely bond."
Miguel stroked the mane of his horse fondly. "I've loved her for a long time. But she's not smart like Bella."
Brad shook his head at that as they made their way back towards the barn. "It isn't a contest. Roswell's a good girl."
As if summoned, Bella came trotting from the library. She nickered softly, and those tied to her, Bella, RC, and Twilight, understood clearly she was glad to see them and was wondering what they'd be doing next.
RC sighed softly. "Well, we're going back to Brad's world for a bit. But it shouldn't take too long."
Twilight pressed up against Brad's side. "This should be exciting!"
Brad hugged Twilight with one arm. "Bella, this is Twilight and RC, human version. Don't be upset about it."
Bella shook her head with a snort. Why would she be upset? They still smelled right, and she could feel who they were.
She turned in place and looked back at Brad, asking silently if he wanted to hop on and summon the rainbow. He gave her a soft pat on the neck before sliding up into the saddle. She followed that pat with an enthusiastic nod.
With him mounted, she started down the road, knowing where she was going. They picked up speed rapidly before taking the leap that summoned the rainbow road beneath them. She slowed and turned, waiting patiently for the others to join her on the bridge.
Miguel clicked his tongue in wonder. "That is something else." He swung up onto Roswell, now far more confident that his horse would handle such an experience well enough. He knew how brave and reliable Roswell could be. "Let's go, girl."
Roswell advanced on the rainbow. Her second time, she proved less hesitant than the first time. She slowly ascended to just behind Bella. The girls followed behind the horses, creating a caravan to cross the rainbow. It was one of their slower traversals, but nobody got hurt, and they arrived on the ground back on Earth without incident.
Miguel shook himself loose from the ride, giving Roswell a little pat as he walked around her, stretching his legs. "Vaya! I have to say, that is fun." He stopped in front of his horse and scratched under her chin. "And who's the best little horse around, hm?"
Brad stayed atop Bella. "Let's head to the ranch and introduce our new part-timers." He waved to Twilight and RC. "Hopefully this goes without issues. Our ranch has taken in humans that are in a tough spot before, so you won't be the first."
Twilight waved her arms with a giggle. "It will be our first time being humans in your world, so it'll be a fun learning experience for us!"
RC flashed a huge smile. "Now you're talking. Let's go amaze those humans with how 100% human we are. I bet they'll be shocked!"
Brad shook his head. "Don't bring up how human you are, or aren't. That should just be assumed." He nudged Bella ahead at a gentle walk towards the ranch. Miguel fell in beside him on Roswell. Twilight and RC paced on the other side of Bella, enjoying the walk.
As they came into sight of the ranch, a familiar voice rang out from atop a large roan stallion. Sarah waved at them with a suspicious look. "Who are your new friends?"
Brad dipped his hat. "These two lovely ladies are Twilight and Rainbow Charm. They're guests I invited over."
Sarah looked confused as she nodded at the introduction. "They here to learn how to ride horses, or what?"
Miguel waved a hand at that. "No. They are coming in the back door, si? They'll be helping out."
She seemed to grasp that. "Oh! You'll want to head to the office then." She pointed the way. "Good luck. See you out on the fields."
Brad nodded, gave a tug to Bella's reins, and they turned for the main building. "So far, so good." He was glad the introduction went smoothly. As they walked, Brad did notice Twilight and RC looking all around, fascinated by everything they saw. The equipment, the buildings, even the people were all novel and exciting things.
A woman opened the door as they approached, emerging from the cool shade within. "Brad, good to see you. They need you over at the second pasture." She hiked a thumb. "And who are these new people? Customers?"
"Maybe. These two will be helping out. They want to get to know the ranch better. Not quite customers yet." He pulled Bella up short and gestured down at Twilight and RC. "This is Twilight and Rainbow Charm."
Either of them waved as their name was called. RC hopped forward. "Hey, call me RC. I'd like to work here, help out?"
Twilight laughed tensely. "We don't have documents."
The lady's cheer faded. "Oh. That changes things. Come inside. Brad, get to work." She made a shooing motion at Brad, then Miguel. "Both of you."
Brad shot the two mares an apologetic smile. "Sorry. We'll talk later. You know where I'll be." He nodded at the woman. "Later, Nora." He turned Bella and headed off for the second pasture with Miguel at his side.
Author's Note
Twilight and RC will surely get along just fine!
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RC wandered out in the dark. She didn't have to fear being seen, which felt like a new and kinda nice thing. She was a human, like all the other humans. That world had so many of them, and she was just one of the countless many.
It had been exciting to be around Brad and Miguel and work on the ranch with them. She knew where Brad was, at least. She could feel his location through their bond. She wanted to go see him, but she also felt like she should keep some distance. No, it was more like she felt like she needed to be out there, to find something. Find what? She wasn't sure, but she kept wandering.
Something tugged at her and she walked over towards the barn. She stopped by a pile of wood near the door. RC peered up into the darkness for a moment before giving herself a hard nod. It was a lovely night. The stars were tinkling and the strange moon was shining. There was a rainbow even! Well, technically, a moonbow?
She found her gaze stuck on that moonbow a moment. "Aren't you a magical thing," she sighed out in a moment of romance. RC slid along a rail to get closer, keeping her feet moving, not stopping as she sought out something special. She slid off the end and sauntered on up to the bow, taking a slow moment to give it a good look.
Most people would have had little luck coming 'up' to a rainbow, but most people were not RC. She came right up to the rainbow in the dark and saw where it vanished into the ground. Following her instincts, and an intense curiosity, she began digging and pawing at the ground where the rainbow landed. It was tough going. She was unaccustomed to the human body. The limbs were too long, and not strong enough. Even if they were, she didn't know how to use them.
But with time, determination, and a few glances up at the rainbow to keep her encouraged, she ran into something, a little something. She drew it up into her hands, cool and smooth. It was a coin. "Humans do have bits!" Emboldened, she resumed digging, producing a small collection of coins from the earth, giggling all the while.
She inspected each of them carefully, as she pulled them free. "Bit. Bit. Bits." RC turned one of the last bit over in her hand, wondering at their source and meaning. "Why would humans bury their bits? Can't spend them in the dirt."
A deep chuckle drifted over her shoulders, a voice she recognized. "What are you doing out here so late, Rainbow?"
RC gave herself a solid jump. She spun in place, the coins clutched tightly in her hands, to see Miguel right behind her. "Oh hey!" Recognizing who it was, RC's thumping heart started to relax. "Maybe you can tell me." She presented one of the bits she had found. "Why would you hide these out in the dirt?"
Miguel spread his hands slowly. "That isn't mine. But it is yours now." He took a step closer, reaching for her hands. She eagerly presented the collection of coins. He looked them over with a little nod. "Wow, these ain't American coins, chica. You find them out here?"
RC bobbed her head eagerly. "They were in the ground. Why would anyone bury bits?"
Miguel leaned back, rocking his weight from foot to foot. "Well, these don't even look modern. You found real treasure. Old. Old old old." He waved as if the emphasize how old. "Hate to ask, but are you done?"
That had RC twirling back. "Nope!" She crouched down and got to digging. "There could be more. I have a collection going."
"Whatcha gonna do with it?" Miguel scratched at his beard. "Seems kinda silly to go digging around like this."
RC giggled up at him. "I'll trade them in for treats! How much is an old bit worth?"
"Got me." Miguel sank down near her and joined her in disturbing the ground. "You'd have to find out, but it might be worth it, or maybe it's nothing. We won't know until then."
RC tapped a finger against her lips. "Do you think anyone else knows about this?"
Miguel pointed to one of the coins briefly. "That's what might happen when you get them appraised. Now, if you want to dig, focus on that, si?"
"Si!" RC cheered. She returned to digging, trying to ignore the coins for the moment as she sought more buried treasure. "How do you know so much about bits? They're pony things."
"Chica, I have no idea what a bit is. Those are coins. You say there might be more." And he went quiet, focusing on the dig. The two tunneled until they hit the edge of something harder then the earth around it. "Curious." Miguel took the hint and stood up. He reached into his pocket, withdrew a large pocket knife, and clicked it open. It was far more knife than most would carry around, but it had some unique attachments. He began working at the object they found, trying to free it from the dirt around it.
RC jumped back and forth behind him as he worked, chirping happily. "Whoa! That's so cool!" She reached for the blade with a curious hand. "How did you get that thing?"
"I bought it," he said like that should be obvious. "And it's not a shovel." He tucked it back away and went for his hands. Slowly, it was emerging into the light of the moon. It was a statue of some kind, the metal was yellowish in the glow. He straightened up with it cradled carefully in his arms. "A golden horse?"
"No! That's a pony!" RC swept up next to him and got a good look at it. "Yeah, look!" She bounced on her feet without actually jumping. "I had a good feeling." Satisfied, she pocketed the coins she had found. "Let's get back. Brad's probably worried."
"I'll just call him." Miguel smirked at her, tapping at his phone.
RC blinked at the idea. "Call him? You can shout that loud?"
Miguel chuckled lightly. "Chica, phones can't shout. I'm calling him with this." He showed her the screen and tapped it a few times. He held the phone up to his ear, waiting patiently for the ringing to stop. After a moment, he started talking, "Hey, mi amigo! It's Miguel. Si, she's right here. Say hola."
"Hola?" RC inclined her head. "What's that mean?"
"See? She's fine. We're heading back, with a haul! Si. Adios!" Miguel tucked his phone away. "Alright, let's go find Brad." He looked at the statue in his hands a moment, then down at the dirt around them. "Where should I put this?"
"Where do humans put things they want to hold onto?" RC patted her coin-laden pockets. "I used these."
Miguel laughed warmly. "Sure. Good enough." He started for the road, RC walking beside him. As they walked, they talked. She did most of the talking, excitedly going on about all the exciting things she had learned and seen.
They got back to the ranch without trouble. Miguel led the way to their home. "Brad's just over there." He pointed to Brad's room. "Go show him what you found." He pressed the statue back into RC's hands. "Tell me when you find out how much they're worth. I'm curious now."
RC took the statue in both hands, holding it carefully. She ran off with a quick shout. "I will!"
Miguel waved to her as she dashed away. He paused at his door, turning to see RC burst into Brad's room with the artifact held up over her head like a trophy. The door shut, cutting off any sound. With a last shake of his head, he went inside to retire for the day.
In Brad's room, RC put down the statue on the bed. "Look what I found!"
Brad seemed more interested in RC than the statue. He lifted a hand and wiggled his fingers in greeting. "Hi. Glad you're safe."
RC tossed her head back. "We weren't going to get hurt. I was just following a rainbow."
"A rainbow? How?" Brad looked around. "There are rainbows at night?"
"That was a moonbow," RC responded in a matter of fact tone. "You know how things glow in the dark?" She pointed skywards. "The moon, shining? It can make rainbows too!"
Twilight was there, studying the statue curiously. "This looks very old. Brad, do you recognize it? Does it have cultural value?"
Brad shrugged at her. "Sorry, Twi. I'm not really up on the history of all these things. We could probably look it up online." He gestured to his computer.
"Online?" Twilight looked over at him. "Right, online!" That the two human worlds both had an Internet was somehow comforting to her and she sank in front of the computer, eager to try figuring out the differences and how to get anywhere.
Brad shook his head lightly, watching her poke at the keyboard with only mild success. "Let me help." He got up from his bed and put a hand on her shoulder. "I don't know how they are in your world, but around here, the letters spell out the words you want."
She pouted at that. "I know that! I just don't know which words you need where just yet." With a huff, she let him slide in and take the lead. "I was getting there. Slowly."
He rubbed her back gently. "It's fine. Now, what should we be looking for?"
"Old pony statues." Twilight waved at the golden horse before them. "And other bits of pony culture, if you find any."
"I wouldn't be so sure it'll come up if you just look for 'pony'. Oh, RC, was that all you found? Not that it isn't a find." Brad hammered away at the keys, trying search queries as quickly as they came to mind.
RC got in close, watching him work. "Nope! I found a whole bunch of bits! The coins. Like this one." She presented a silver coin to him. "What are these things?"
Twilight got her hands on one first. "These also appear to be quite dated. Fascinating." But she had no context to say much more than that. She showed it to Brad. "Any ideas?"
"That looks like a Spanish colonial coin. We used to see them all the time at auctions or trade shows." Brad bobbed his head slowly as he continued to scan the results from his search. "We've got a museum in town. You find any gold ones? Those are even more valuable."
RC emptied out all her coins in a clatter on the floor. Some where silver, others were gold. She got to sorting them out into neat little piles. "That's good then, right? How many of those cloth bits is each of these metal bits worth then?"
Brad leaned over to look down at the coins. "One is probably about fifty dollars. Not a bad catch. That statue though, I'm having no luck finding info on it. We're really going to have to take this all in for someone way more skilled to figure out what it's all worth." He paused, noting RC next to him, looking quite expectant.
It took him a moment before he stood up and put a hand on her head, ruffling her hair gently. "You did a very good job, RC." He smiled warmly down at her, "Well done. You should be proud of your treasure hunt. It'll take us a little while to find out the full value, but it's almost certainly something."
RC squealed with joy, her hands close together and balled up. She got to her feet, beaming at him. "Twi? What about the statue? Is that something?"
"I'm not sure." Twilight was on the computer again, now that Brad was away from it. She made a face at the screen, frustrated. "Ugh! I know how to do this, and yet it is so different! So much information, but where do I start?!" She fumed at the machine, silently cursing it for not being a familiar library. "Let's get these things safely tucked away. Tomorrow we can go see an expert and find out for sure."
Brad bent over and scooped up the coins. "Alright, let's get these coins put away. And we'll put the statue right here." He slid it onto a high shelf, then he got back on his computer. "Do you want to use my computer? I don't mind. It must be hard to look things up when they're so different."
Twilight pushed away. "Sleep time." That was when she really looked Brad's bed over. "We're going to have to cuddle if we're sharing this little bed."
Brad blushed lightly. "I know, I didn't need much larger before I made some particular pony friends. It'll be a tight fit, but we'll make it work."
RC hopped into the bed, doing her best to sprawl across it all. "Weeeeeeee!"
Twilight casually brushed her aside to make room for herself as she kicked off her shoes. "If you can do it, so can I." She curled up, laying on her side with a pillow under her head.
Brad looked at the bed, at Twilight, then down at himself. "I can sleep here." He sank to the wood floor. "Give you two some space."
RC looked down at him, giggling softly. "If you wanna."
Twilight wiggled up against the wall. "Well, if you don't want to use your own bed..."
Brad was quiet a moment, at least until he was poked. "Fine." He got up, looking at the smirking RC. "If you want to be crowded that badly."
RC put out an arm. "It's not a crowd if you're with ponies you wanna get close to."
Brad got in the bed, doing his best to remain on the edge, only to be pulled into the center of the bed. It took a bit of scrunching, but the three fit. That they were willing to cross various limbs and snuggle in helped a lot. Brad rested a hand on RC's back as she pressed against him. He blinked in surprise as she reached up and patted him gently on the cheek.
"I'll see you in the morning," Brad said as he smiled softly at RC, "or I guess whenever you wake up."
Twilight tickled him gently on the back. "See you tomorrow. We could all use—" She yawned suddenly. "—some sleep."
RC squeezed Brad tight. "Good night!" She laid there quietly with her eyes closed. Soon enough, she was snoring gently, just like she did at home.
Twilight wasn't far behind, already drifting off to dreamland herself.
The room was quiet, but Brad was still awake, finding himself lost in thought. He couldn't help but think about how it felt to have two beautiful women in his bed, cuddling against him. They weren't just random people either. They were, for all intents, his girlfriends. Maybe even more than that?
He lay there, his arms wrapped around them both as he watched over them while they slept. As much as he wanted to go to sleep himself, he knew he wouldn't be able to. He wanted to enjoy every second of this moment. He could feel them, not just through his own body, but he could feel them, from them, pressing against him. They were connected in a loving unit.
He found himself wondering if this was what life would be like from now on. Would he always have them with him? Would they eventually leave him?
Would they want to stay with him forever? The thought terrified him as much as it thrilled him. It wasn't a bad thing, he quickly decided, but it was a new thing. Change was scary. He drew the girls closer and let out his breath. "Relax," he whispered to himself, willing his body to relax.
Author's Note
Bits! I could feel her joy at finding out that humans were lying and hiding their bits. Cloth month, really, who would do that?!
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Brad led the way to a small building. It was well-lit and welcoming by design. "We'll value what you found here." RC grinned at that idea. "See if you found a big thing or a small thing. It should be interesting either way."
The girls were brimming with curiosity and eagerness to see what they'd found. Twilight wanted to find out more about this world, looking around curiously as the trailed behind the other two. "So similar, but different."
They entered the office, finding themselves in a pleasant place filled with all sorts of odd things. It seemed that appraiser kept their more interesting-looking finds posted up for people to examine, most in clear boxes.
A man behind a desk turned to look at them, surprised. "Hello! What have you brought me today?" He beckoned them closer. "Put it on the desk and I'll have a look. It's my job and all."
Brad chuckled at that. "Some coins, and a statue." He dug out the bag of coins first. "Here we go." He dumped them out onto the desk.
The man had his hands on the coins instantly, picking through them quickly. "Quite a find!" He was more than pleased. He held one up to the light, then turned it about slowly, taking in its features. "Mmm. Quite dated specimens. That's good, for you. They're not recent mockups. People find those all the time, and I have to inform them they're only worth the metal in them."
"That is good," Brad said with a nod. "We thought as much."
"These are probably Spanish, probably from their era of colonial holdings. And these," he held one out for them to see, "are silver. A nice haul."
Brad took one and rubbed his thumb over the face on it. "Huh, wow." He put the coin down gently. "And the gold ones are actually gold?"
"I'll have to run some tests to be 100% sure." He nudged the coins closer to himself. "But what I see makes it worth doing. Permission to proceed?"
"Sure." Brad nodded with a thumbs up.
"It's worth it." The appraiser set his fingers on the statue. "And what about this?" He glanced over at Brad. "If you found this on your property, that is."
RC pointed vaguely. "Out in the middle of nowhere." She left out the part about the moonbow. "What is it?"
"I couldn't say at first glance, other than I think it may be genuine, whatever it is. I'd like to verify its composition at least. It wouldn't be too much more hassle since I'm already doing the coins." The appraiser turned the statue on his desk slowly. "Marvelous."
Brad leaned in for a look. "That's definitely old."
The appraiser tapped the statue with one finger. "Well, they both are, but this one seems to be... different. Not Spanish in origin, like the coins. It looks much older. An authentic native artifact? What are the odds? If you're lucky, this could be worth quite a bit. Possibly more than the coins."
Brad sighed at that, while RC burst into a happy squeal. "How long until we know for sure?" He caught himself. "Not trying to rush you or nothing. Things take time. Just curious on the time frame."
The appraiser smiled at him. "About a week, give or take. We'll get it back to you as soon as we can." He slid the statue and coins into a box he'd prepared for them, then snapped it shut. "Until then, I'll keep it all safely secured." He produced a form and began filling it out meticulously. "Let's get you a document of what you've given to me. You don't want to walk out of here with nothing, right?"
Twilight frowned slightly at that. "A piece of paper isn't proof they found something."
Brad leaned in. "The paper means someone is looking into the items, checking them out, figuring out what they're worth, and the like. Also leaves a trail of what we're leaving here, so we can get it back."
"Exactly." The appraiser flipped the paper around. "Sign at the bottom and date it kindly. I'll get it all back to you when it's done. Oh, add your number and email, for contact. Do you have a preference?"
Brad nodded at that and put his digits down with the information requested. He passed the pen to RC. She signed eagerly, not having to write out her name as much as scribble it.
With the paperwork completed and stamped, he gently shooed them off. "I'll give a call as soon as I have something. Don't worry, I'm just as excited."
Brad held up a hand. "One thing. Sorry, but how much will this cost?"
"Ah." The appraiser pulled a little form from under his desk. "Normally, I'd charge $100 per item being checked, since there'd be a high odds of it being random junk. Yours, on the other hand, look like they have real value, so I'd instead ask for 1% of the declared value. Considering how many of those coins you have, this shouldn't be too painful."
Brad stroked his chin. "Alright. We can live with that."
"Nice." The appraiser reached across the desk and shook Brad's hand firmly. "Looking forward to doing business with you."
With all that settled, they left the office. Brad put an arm around RC. "That's going to be a good payday, one way or another."
"How long do you think it'll take?" RC clapped her hands. "Will it really be worth a lot?"
"Depends." Brad rocked his head back and forth. "But let's forget that for now. He'll call when he's finished. For now, I say we relax a little, have some fun."
Twilight had been walking with them, but now she sped up. "If you don't mind, I'm going to go for a bit of a walk, just to see what else is out there."
Brad caught her by the shoulder before she got too far. "Hold on. We can all go for a walk, together."
She glanced back at him, a wry smile crossing her lips. "I was thinking of looking into a few things about the human world. The pony worlds didn't have any info like this."
RC hopped up next to Twilight. "So, let's do that! Why are you being so secret secret about this, Twi?"
"It's... I just want to explore on my own." Twilight rubbed the back of her neck. "And, well, I don't want you guys telling me things."
Brad winced at that. "I'll keep my mouth shut, promise." He waved onwards. "You can be in charge today. Brave explorer Twilight, where are we headed?"
Twilight struck off down the sidewalk, an unabashed grin crossing her face. "Come along!" She trotted on ahead of them.
Brad gestured for RC to follow and she took his hand as they trailed behind Twilight.
Twilight wanted to explore a bank, asking perhaps too many questions of the poor teller inside about how the bank worked in detail. Once she was satisfied, she asked for a ride. A loan from Brad helped pay for the taxi fare to get her around town. She visited a few places of interest, each one filled with delightful information that had been utterly unknown to her.
She finally arrived at a museum. "Now we're talking." She strode inside with a giggle. "Viewing the past will bring a lot of things together. Don't look like that. You're the one that insisted on following me."
Brad groaned and pulled his hat lower. "This is your day." He followed her into the museum.
Twilight wandered around, happily looking at all the different exhibits. RC paced around as well, finding herself drawn to a display about birds. Brad just stuck close to Twilight, listening to her babble on excitedly about whatever caught her eye. He dared to get an arm around her, keeping her close as she wandered. "You know." Twilight paused at his words. "As interesting as this stuff is, you're still beating it out."
Twilight colored at that. "You're trying to flatter me!"
"What? It's the truth." He let her wander towards the next exhibit, right behind her. "If you're having fun, worth the time."
Twilight sighed gently, pulling him along after her. "I guess we can look at this together." She examined a display, peering at the description posted beside it. "Hm, interesting."
"It is." Brad considered the exhibit of early people traveling long to reach to Americas long before any Europeans even got the idea. "Wow, those Native Americans were super brave, coming across like that."
Twilight nodded at that, still reading intently. "A lot of them died trying too."
"Still." Brad rubbed his arm slowly. "They made it, and spread from there, all over the Americas."
Twilight leaned in. "To have come from that point of arrival, across such vast distances, building up their own culture and societies."
Brad glanced down at her. "And what would you have done?"
Twilight paused a moment, considering it. "Too many variables to answer that off the cuff. It seems other humans arrived and tore down what they had built. We should move on." She wandered off to another exhibit, finding herself fascinated by the machines of the industrial revolution.
Brad held back a bit, standing at the display as RC scampered up next to him. RC grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "Thanks, for letting Twi geek out and stuff. I think she needed it." She leaned in close to Brad. "She'll thank you later, if you know what I mean."
Brad laughed at that. "Love isn't an exchange. I'm not doing this in the hopes of getting something back. She wants to explore, I want to help her, because we're friends."
RC raised a brow at that. "You're such a sap. I love it. But she does appreciate it, just like I do." She tilted her head. "Is it weird that we're getting closer?"
Brad nodded slowly. "Yes, but it's the kind of weird I can get used to." He put an arm around her and guided her towards where Twilight was.
Twilight was busy examining an old farm tractor from the 1800s. It was just one of the many old machines on display. The rustic little device seemed perfectly fit for Twilight, even as she began her chattering on about the era, the place, and anything else that came to mind. "This place is full of wonderous things!" She twirled on the others.
"But I've kept you all for long enough. I think I've absorbed all I'm going to in one day. How about we relax?" She gestured for them to come close. "And no more hiding, Brad. You can show us your interests."
Brad chuckled nervously. "Maybe tomorrow."
They wandered back out onto the street and found a coffee shop, somewhere they could hang out for a while. They got some snacks and drinks, sat down at a table and relaxed. "I never knew this world had so much history in it," Twilight said, waving her hands in front of herself.
Brad took a sip from his drink. "I'm going to guess most worlds have a history, as big as you have time to study, really." He considered the idea. "It'd be odder if there wasn't a big history."
"I don't get it," RC piped up. "But that's fine, right?" She poked at her snack idly, chewing on one bit before stuffing another in her mouth. "The history isn't for me, it's for Twi."
Twilight giggled at that. "It isn't really my history either, but it is interesting. The differences between this human world and the other I've seen are vast, and fascinating. I could write a paper on it, or two... But we do have things we should be doing. Thank you, for obliging me. You're a wonderful friend."
Brad ducked his head. "I'm nothing special." He smiled warmly at Twilight. "I'm happy to see you enjoying yourself. We could explore some more tomorrow, if you like."
"Maybe we should." Twilight considered that as she took a sip from her drink. "But no. I've had my fill for the moment, and we really should get back to Equestria. I do have business there."
Author's Note
That was a nice, mellow, slice of life kinda episode right there. Amirite?!
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Brad was gently rubbing along Bella's neck and side when his phone jingled. He dug it out. "Hello?"
"Brad?" The voice sounded quite formal. "I have some news."
Brad recognized the voice with a smile. "You got a price on things?"
"More than that. These are valuable enough that there are more steps involved. Except one. It's worthless. The statue. Want me to dispose of it?" There was a moment of quiet. "No charge."
"N-no. I'll swing by and pick it up." Bella nudged him with a little snort. "I'll come by on my horse." He laughed gently. "Won't bring her inside, promise."
The voice on the other end seemed relieved. "Thank you. That makes this much easier. You have a good day."
Brad clicked his phone off and went to call Twilight and RC, getting them together for another little outing.
Bella trotted along nicely as they headed down the road to the appraiser's office. They passed under the shade of a few trees, spotting the place in the distance.
He had to tie her up just in front. "Not that I imagine you'd wander off." Bella gently thumped him with her massive head. "Rules are rules." He patted her with a laugh. "Let's get the statue back. Still, not worth anything?"
She snorted at that, almost sounding disappointed.
"I agree. We'll get them all sorted out. It's more than worth the time." He pet her as he walked up to the door and opened it, RC and Twilight trailing behind.
The same appraiser was there, waiting for them. "That was quick." The statue was on the desk, clean, shining, and waiting. "Here it is. The coins need to be registered. They're historic relics. I could be held liable if I helped you sell them before we did that step. The registry will have thoughts about what to do with them."
Brad looked over the statue and gently picked it up. "And the statue?"
"If you want to keep it, you can. Otherwise, I'd say throw it out." The appraiser shook his head. "Not nearly as valuable as it first appeared. That happens. It's only worth its mineral contents, and those aren't anything worth getting excited about."
"Bummer." Brad chuckled softly. "So, uh, can we look at the paperwork? Get things rolling?"
The appraiser holds up his hands. "I'm getting a cut. That includes paying for those papers. I'm already on the case. I'll let you know the instant they get back to me. Maybe, I can find some sort of deal that will include selling them as a set. A lower price, but they go together."
Brad shrugged lightly. "Whatever works. Just be honest with us, okay? We don't want to get taken for a ride."
He smiled and offered a hand. "I don't get business by treating my clients poorly. Word of mouth is half of how I get around."
Brad nodded and shook his hand firmly. "Then we'll keep spreading the word about your amazing services."
The man laughed heartily. "That would be splendid."
"Thanks!" Brad waved for the others to follow as he left. "Looks like we'll have to wait to find out what the coins could get us."
RC grabbed the statue out of Brad's hands. "But what about this? I didn't get drawn to no duds! It was in the treasure pile. It has to be something. What if it's special?"
Brad walked on for a moment, stroking his chin slowly. "Yeah, I agree. We'll keep looking into it."
Twilight got to Bella first, undoing the lead that kept her tied there. "I vote we head back to Equestria. The statue looks like it belongs there anyway."
Brad considered it and nodded. "Sure. Let's take it with us." With everything gathered, he hopped up on Bella. "Let's make a rainbow, but not right here."
They moved away from such public sight. Bella took the lead, wandering off until they found a good place. She stopped, pawed the ground a bit, then nodded. Brad pointed ahead. "One little hop." That was all the permission she needed. Accelerating into a trot, then a gallop, she made one good leap, coming down on the rainbow that hadn't been there just a moment before.
RC and Twilight jogged to catch up with them, rising up onto the rainbow. The group of them ascended up into the sky, to come down on a whole different world.
Twilight slid down the other side on four hooves, back to being a pony. "Ah, that fresh air." She shook herself out and turned around to the others. "Your world is fascinating, but Equestria is just, hm, cleaner."
RC landed behind her, grinning wide. "Not much I want to do as a human that I can't do as a pony."
Brad stayed behind a moment longer, taking a good look at the view from his elevated position. "RC?" He nudged Bella down the last few steps. "You still have the statue?"
"Sure do, right—Hey!" Bella snatched the statue away much as RC had done to Brad.
Bella cantered, looking quite proud with her find as she turned away from RC despite her complaints.
"Very funny." Brad rubbed over her neck from above. "Give that back."
With a great puff of smoke, Brad was suddenly standing on his own legs. Next to him was a pony mare, with the same coloration as Bella. Her eyes widened, the statue in her mouth. "Woah! Wait. I can talk? I can talk!" She rushed right up to RC. "Hi!" She hurried to Twilight. "Hello." And back to Brad. "And you!" She pounced him with a great hug. "I love you so much!"
Brad caught her and got himself balanced. "Uh, hi? Glad to meet you too, but, um, what's going on?"
The mare nuzzled him gently. "You love me, so I wanted to be closer to you." She batted her eyes at him. "It's me, Bella." She smooched him on either cheek. "Now I'm Bella the pony instead of Bella the horse. Check me out!" She fell back to all fours to do a little joyful dance in place. "This is great! You're already a pony kisser, and I'm a pony, so I get kisses too, right?"
Twilight burst into laughter. "Whoa there. Slow down, Bella. We should take this a step at a time."
"Steps!" Bella skidded up to Twilight, pressing in close. "Hello, Twilight. Thank you for translating for me. This is better though." She hugged Twilight close. "This is so great!" Her tail whipped around with her boundless happiness. "Now I'm part of the herd properly." She pointed a hoof at Brad. "He's our stallion, right? We are his mares."
Twilight giggled lightly. "Yes, we are his mares, but you weren't part of that." She rubbed behind her head lightly. "Before, at least. Hm. The statue made you a pony?"
Brad took the statue back from the excited Bella, completing the circle of theft. "Can it go the other way?" He offered it towards Twilight. "See if you can be a horse."
"Fine by me," Twilight said as she took it in her mouth. She shook herself out, wiggling her entire body as she did so. Her form shifted and blurred, becoming something entirely different. She was a perfectly normal-looking horse, though she still had her mane cut. She whickered softly, stepping in place with her massive hooves. She was much larger as a horse than a pony, and didn't seem able to speak.
Bella nodded with the unsaid words. "She's alright, but surprised."
With a new puff of smoke, Twilight returned to being a pony. "Huh! Worthless indeed. That statue is quite valuable. It can turn ponies into horses and back."
Brad tipped his hat up to think. "But why? How?"
"I don't know yet." Twilight got close to Bella. "You do seem happy though." The two met in a mutual embrace as she considered the options. "Brad, why don't you try it? It does seem to be bi-directional, so there's no harm in at least trying."
Brad was quite wary about this development, but he saw no harm in doing what Twilight suggested. He took the statue and carefully bit into it. The gold was nice and cold against his teeth. Nothing happened for a moment. He was about to spit it out when it grew in his mouth. He got out a squeak as he fell forward onto new hooves, body reconfiguring with painless jolts and snaps as he became a pony like the rest of them. New wings unfolded from his back, flapping confusedly.
He took a moment to take in the sensations. His body felt very different, and yet also the same. The world around him looked larger, or at least taller. He twitched his nose and blinked. The mares he'd already known and cared for were smelling different, and he liked it. They smelled better, especially Bella. She smelled almost edible, and he wanted to nuzzle in close to her, touch his nose to hers, share that scent with her. "Is it strange to be thinking that?" He shook his head, statue falling from his numb grip. "This is so wild!"
Twilight snagged it up and tucked it away. "How do you feel? You make for a fine pony."
Bella wrapped an arm around Brad, pressing her body against his. "My stallion!"
Brad turned around in Bella's grip. "I'm the same. Just... different." He nodded slowly, not quite believing it. Bella pressed to him was surprisingly pleasant, and he returned the hug. "Bella." She hummed questioningly. "Why do you smell good?"
Bella laughed awkwardly, cheeks coloring. "Because I'm in estrus, silly. I was that way before being a pony, I bet I still am. Stallion, you can do something about that, right?"
Twilight gasped softly, putting a hoof to her lips. "Oh dear." She lifted another hoof and nudged them gently. "Brad, I hate to interrupt, but this is hardly the place to be talking about that." With her own colored cheeks, she turned for the library. "Let's head inside."
Brad and Bella fell into step beside Twilight, who was going quite quickly. The two were quick to notice something off about their motions. Brad blinked slowly. "Huh. I thought my balance was going to be off, or that I'd feel lighter."
Bella hopped on her new smaller hooves. "I feel great! It's like I was born this way." She scurried inside the moment Twilight opened the door. "C'mon!"
RC dashed in just after her, tackling the new pony suddenly to the ground. "You need to hold your horses." She leaned in on the transformed Bella. "Pun entirely intended. 'Your' stallion is a pegasus. Check him out." She leered at Brad, licking her lips. "And he's hot."
Brad put his hat down over his eyes. "Thanks." He glanced back at his new rear end. There was a cutie mark there, showing a rainbow with a pony atop it. "That fits." He fidgeted his wings, then his legs one by one. "This feels so strange, but not as strange as I keep thinking it should feel."
Twilight bumped the door shut. "Magic. The magic of the statue is allowing you to operate in your new body. If your mind was simply placed in a new body, you'd be reduced to a foal in ability and have to relearn how to move everything. All transforming spells I'm aware of include a bridge to skip over that, for obvious reasons."
Bella pointed a hoof at herself. "And now we're all ponies together." She sidled up close to Brad. "Including my stallion. Thank you for making me a pony."
Brad touched noses with her, discovering that pony noses were sensitive, and it just felt so nice to touch them to other ponies, especially ones he liked. It was a moment of calm togetherness, or it would have been calm if not for her spicy smell suggesting they do a lot more than just touch noses. "You're welcome, but you did that to yourself, if we're being honest."
Bella pawed the ground with one hoof. "Well, yes. But I wouldn't have known to try it without you, so..." She grinned at him. "Thank you!"
Twilight finally had the nerve to get in between them. "Bella, Brad is new to being a pony, and it's showing, a lot. A proper colt would have learned ages ago when it's appropriate to show themselves and not."
"Show myself?" He looked back over himself, and what he was showing was quite clear. He had been turned on, and was just displaying that for the whole world to see. "Oh! Um, that really isn't something you control."
Twilight inclined her head. "Humans can't control that? Colts and stallions can. We'll have to train you in that. It's considered extremely rude to ever show yourself in public. Fortunately, we're not in public currently. Bella, no attacking him like that, at least until he's figured out how to behave properly."
RC took that as her cue to pounce on Brad. She pressed into him from behind. "That doesn't mean we can't play though." She ponyhandled him quite shamelessly. "My favorite human is now a colorful stallion and I'm loving it. Check out his colors! Check out those wings!" Her hooves closed. "Check out this pony spear waiting to make a mare happy."
Bella scrambled away, feeling more than a little conflicted about being denied. "My stallion!"
Brad closed his eyes and panted softly as he forced himself to calm. He drew slow breaths, willing himself to be calm, and, perhaps thanks to that magic, it was slowly working. He was soon back to being a cute pony with nothing to show. "There." He shivered and stomped in place. "Both of you, cut it out!"
Twilight tapped her hooves on the ground in irritation. "RC! Stop this! You're no better than she is." She sat down. "Both of you, come here." She looked around the room. "Brad had clearly made his choice. I say we respect that. Also." She clapped gently. "Congratulations! You mastered that quite swiftly. Very impressive."
"Thanks," Brad said with a bit of pride. "The calm breathing is actually a good way to help control stress." He paused and blinked. "Am I going to have to eat grass now?"
RC broke into renewed laughter. "Hay no! We ponies, like humans, prefer our food cooked. Why eat hay when that hay isn't prepared properly? So many ways to do that too, mmm." She licked over her lips, imagining the breadth of pony culinarian options. "You're going to love it with that pony tongue of yours."
Twilight stepped in close, bumping into Brad. "It is nice." She leaned in, getting closer. "And your sense of smell is enhanced too. The pony mind will find that attractive. The same goes for ponies too. But I think you already discovered that. Ponies smell nice to ponies. Humans smelled nice to humans, so you shouldn't be too surprised."
Brad blinked. "What? I don't usually smell other people."
Twilight hiked a brow. "You must be used to it. I could smell other people, and they were nice scents generally."
Bella burst in close, filling Brad's nose with her spicy scent. "Oh, your mane and tail! You are wonderful!" She quickly nibbled his neck, pulling away with a laugh.
Author's Note
Now they're all ponies, gosh dang it. Brad calmed himself, remembering the rating of the story. Thank you, Brad.
Bonus chapter:
[Adult story embed hidden]
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Bella licked her lips in excitement. She was eager to be part of the adventure of the transformation process with Brad. She reached out a tentative hoof to touch the golden surface, which glinted in the light. "It's only been good so far." She danced on her hooves. "It's given us so much fun. Trust in it."
Brad took a deep breath. "Alright." He pushed himself off the bed. "Are you sure you're okay with me possibly turning into a horse forever?"
Twilight put her hoof on his shoulder, rubbing gently. "That would be unlikely. In the event you turn into a stallion, you could use it again to turn back into a pony. The problem would be the loss of your human form, which I am hoping is not the case."
RC shrugged lightly. "Worse things could happen. Like turning into a chair or a random object."
Brad couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't jinx it."
Bella pressed in close, touching their noses together again. "Trust in me. I jumped first." She waved her hooves at Brad. "And look what I got!" She giggled with growing joy. "Like Twilight said, we won't know until you try it."
Twilight held up the statue. "Brad, it's okay, we won't force you into it."
Brad closed his eyes tight. "I'll give it a try." He reached up, took the statue, and stuffed it in his muzzle. He focused on his original form, that human guise that had served him so well for his entire life until that very day.
With a burst of rainbows and sparkling magic, Brad found himself back to his old self once more. He was still standing on two feet and even managed to catch the falling statue. "Success!" Bella called out, jumping up and down.
Twilight clapped her hooves. "Excellent. But that gives me another idea." She held out a hoof for the statue. "If I may?"
Brad handed it over. "What are you planning, exactly?"
"It occurs to me," Twilight began, "that I may not have to use my personal magic." With a fresh set of sparkles, human Twilight returned to being. "See? The statue appears to facilitate changes between all three forms. Oh! We haven't tried horse yet." Just like that, Twilight, the horse, filled the room.
Bella made a noise of appreciation as she ogled Twilight's size. "Nice. Maybe later. I like my stallion as he is." She came in close to Twilight to touch their noses together. "You make for a nice horse, I think I qualify as a good judge of that. Is that really how large we are?" She looked amazed at how much she had to look up at the horse Twilight.
The human Twilight took back over and stood up. "Looks like we can use the statue's power freely, even without personal magic."
"Good luck explaining that one to humans though." Brad took the statue back from Twilight, returning to his pegasus form. "Okay. Well. I guess that makes this worth something after all."
"Oh yes. It's priceless." RC clapped with the biggest smile. "Stupid man thought it was worthless. Shows what he knows. Okay! Brad! Time to show you how to use these." She spread her wings wide. "You did not become a pegasus just to not fly. Flying is awesome!"
Twilight snorted softly. "We're not going anywhere. There is zero need to shout."
RC scrunched her muzzle. "Fine. Brad, it's time to learn to fly. I shall teach you what I can."
"That's the spirit!" Brad pumped his fist. "Let's fly!"
They all cheered and went outside. Brad was back to being a pegasus, wings flapping experimentally. "I tried turning into a different kind of pony, but I still turned into a pegasus."
Twilight inclined her head. "It's already amazing that it allows for the changes it does. I imagine the three species it allows, each pony has a specific variety of all three they will reliably become. I wonder what determines it. Personality, perhaps?" Twilight stroked her chin slowly, already deep in thought.
Bella galloped up to Brad to smack into him. "That's okay. I love how you look as a pony, and your personality is great however you happen to appear."
RC did some stretches while waiting for the other two to finish. "Time to take wing! Let's hit the skies." She hovered just above the ground, beckoning Brad to join her.
Brad brought down his wings, expecting to not get very far. But he did, lifting from the ground with an almost deceptive ease. "Wow. This is actually quite easy!" He slowed and lowered himself back to the ground with a sigh. "So long as I don't go crashing into something."
"Control is the big thing you have to learn, by practicing." RC zipped over to be next to Brad. "C'mon!" She hovered about halfway between the ground and the tops of the trees nearby. "Let's work on hovering first. Take-offs and landings aren't easy. Hovering is the core of flight control."
Bella dashed around beneath them, her eyes locked on the two as they practiced. At least until she ran into another pony. "Sorry." She got back to her hooves. "I was distracted."
Big Mac nodded lightly. "Ayup." He looked her over a moment. "Mornin'."
Bella realized who she had crashed into. "Oh! Hello! Did I scare you before? You were avoiding me last time we met."
Big Mac looked surprised. "I was?" He tossed his mane. "Ah don't remember that."
"You probably weren't interested in a horse." Bella shuffled awkwardly, shifting her weight. "My name is Bella."
He bowed his head respectfully. "Big Macintosh. Just call me Big Mac." He thought over what she had said, his eyes slowly widening. "Oh! You were that big pony, wit' that human?"
"Mhm. I became a pony. So now I can be closer to Brad." She looked up towards where he and RC were still practicing. Brad had gotten to the point of holding a steady hover. "Now we can talk so much more, hm, complicatedly? I can get out so much!" She cantered in place. "It's nice to meet you, again."
Big Mac blinked a few times, processing that all. "Ayup. Me too." He looked between the two flying ponies. "Ya like Brad then, ah take it?"
Bella grinned sheepishly and looked down, blushing hard. "Yes. He is my stallion. He was always a close and wonderful friend, but now he's even more."
Big Mac gave a respectful nod. "Sounds real nice. Ah gotta git ta work. Maybe ah'll see ya later?"
Bella nodded brightly. "Of course!"
Meanwhile, Brad had managed to gain a basic grasp of flight, enough to at least fly forward at speed. It was the finer controls that would still require practice, and perhaps always would. The difference between driving an airplane and being one.
Still, it was an exciting new experience that had left his body tingling from muzzle to tail. That thrill of flight, being up in the air and able to move about like never before. "Awesome." He laughed and landed on the ground. "And what are you two chatting about?" He trotted up to where Big Mac and Bella were chatting.
"I'm saying hello to Big Mac." Bella grinned over at Brad. "Since I couldn't do that before as easily."
Big Mac was already trotting off to other business. "Ayup."
Brad suddenly perked, new ears dancing. "I just had an idea. It might be a very silly one, but what if you, Bella, tried being human?"
Twilight joined the two of them with a nod. "There are two problems. First is how safe that would be. The second is how she'd react to suddenly changing species."
RC laughed, poking Twilight's side. "Did you hear yourself? Suddenly changing species?"
Bella pointed to RC. "I already changed that! Why would one more make me panic? Twilight, thank you for caring about me. You are a wonderful herd-sister." She went in to touch nose to cheek on Twilight. "You care about me a lot, and I appreciate it. But I think I could manage it, especially if Brad is there to help me learn how to be a human, like he is."
Twilight rubbed along her own cheek where Bella had touched her. "Well, Brad could offer insight to help her learn."
Brad took the statue back in his teeth, carefully considering his options. "Okay." With a haze of sparkles, he returned to his human form, then held out the statue towards Bella. "Hold this and imagine you were a human like me. It should handle the rest."
Bella grinned as she grabbed the statue and focused intently. She could feel the change rippling over her flesh as it reformed. Where once were hooves now were hands and fingers. Her center of mass shifted as her legs adjusted length and style. She was a human woman. It even came with clothes. The clothes had her cutie mark printed on it. She danced on her new feet. "Ooo, this is so strange! Look at these funny legs. Only two!" She flexed her arms and fingers. "Five-finger grabbers. Ooo. This is odd. Fun!" She hugged Brad around the chest with an exuberant giggle.
RC snickered at Bella's reaction. "She takes to being human quite easily."
Brad gasped in surprise, putting his arms around Bella. "Not bad." He ran a hand through her hair, smiling warmly at her. It was human Bella, and, as it turned out, human Bella was actually very nice looking. As a mare, she had been quite a pretty thing, and it seemed this extended to being human. He sighed, gazing into Bella's lovely face. She was a perfect image of beauty, loveliness, and utter perfection. Of course, she was still Bella, filled with more boundless energy and laughter than any picturesque perfection.
Twilight poked Brad's shin. "Are you falling in love with her, again? I know the two of you have been close friends for years. But this feels different somehow."
Bella didn't stop to think about what Brad thought. "No!" She gestured wildly. "I'm not in estrus anymore." She paused suddenly. "Do humans have those? I could never ask before. Now I can, so, Brad, do humans have estrus?"
Twilight waved her hooves, interrupting the lesson before Brad got too deep into biological facts. "Human females don't have estrus, but they do have menstrual cycles and fertility cycles."
Brad tapped his chin slowly. "This is all a bit much, but in a good way. I'd have to pencil today as being a fantastic day. RC." He turned to her. "Good job, finding that statue.
"Thanks, Brad." She offered a wing for a high-five, which he managed to slap. "All in a day's work."
Bella twisted a bit, staring down her own frontside. "Humans are built so differently. It's even more different from the inside."
"We can talk anatomy another time. For now, let's let Bella get used to being a human." He tugged her hand gently, guiding her along with him.
As a herd, they got everyone back to the library. Twilight, being closest to the door, opened it. Inside was Spike, curled up on his bed, reading a book. He looked up, spotting the herd as they came in, including a new person. "Huh?" He sat up, eyes on Bella curiously. "Who's that?"
"That's me!" Bella waved happily. "I'm Bella."
"Bella." Spike tilted his head slowly. "Wait, Bella, but she was a—horse?"
Twilight nodded proudly. "Indeed, Spike. It turns out, the statue can turn ponies into horses and also humans."
"Wow." Spike rubbed his forehead. "That's crazy."
Brad laughed lightly. "Actually." He offered the statue to Spike. "You could try it."
Twilight blocked the statue with a hoof. "I cannot recommend that. Spike is not one of the three species it can exchange between. He could lose his original dragon self, and that would be unideal, at the least."
Spike made a face at the statue. "Naw, thanks, Twilight. I like being myself."
RC rolled her eyes. "Dang. And I really wanted to see what he'd transform into. I bet Spike would make for a cute human, or pony, or even a horse. Spike horse!" She laughed, imagining the various permutations of Spike.
He crossed his arms stubbornly. "No deal."
Bella wandered about, exploring the library while the others chatted. It wasn't all that interesting since she was still mostly getting a handle on this human walking thing. It was nice to be in Brad's world with him, and to be able to walk alongside him. She returned to his side, looping one arm with his. "Walk with me, my stallion."
Brad obliged, letting her hold onto his arm for stability. The two circled around the lower floor of the library. Bella giggled merrily, then spun about to dance in front of Brad. He went with her motions, the two starting an impromptu dance despite the lack of music to move to.
"You make for a fine dancer," Brad complimented. His eyes followed Bella as she whirled around, seemingly caught in a storm of her own motion.
Bella felt free, and yet tied down, the freedom coming with her new form, with its ability to walk with Brad properly. But, she wasn't a horse, and the form felt new and alien despite its wonders. It felt restrictive, holding her down to earth. "I want to be a pony again. A mare." She plucked up the statue, then looked to Brad for guidance. "Is that alright?
Brad guided her back towards Twilight. "Of course it is, and there's nothing wrong with it either."
With a puff of sparkles, Bella fell back to her four-legged pony form. "Much better. Human me is interesting, but so strange."
Bella threw herself at Brad in an exuberant embrace, her whole body quivering. "Pony me feels so good. It feels natural! Do you feel natural as a human?"
Brad put his arms around her, rubbing his cheek against hers. "Yep. It's what I've been the longest. Actually, I'm surprised you're so natural in your pony form, considering you started as a horse. Does it really not feel that different?"
"It is different, but not a bad different?" Bella sank to her haunches with thought. "Like a different horseshoe, instead of a big jump. And also not that. It's a difference that doesn't feel like a difference. That's the best way I can describe it." She looked to Twilight. "You tried being a horse, how was that?"
"Not that different, as you said. Similar enough I could get around." Twilight gestured broadly. "Horses and ponies have a lot in common, more than we have differences. Being a human is far more jarring, in comparison." She looked to Brad. "Did you feel this when you were a pony? You appeared to be enjoying yourself."
He chuckled and wiggled his shoulders slightly. "I admit it was fun. Ponies seem so much freer."
Bella nuzzled into him. "Being a human was freeing in a way, but limiting in others."
RC threw up her hooves. "Each is different. Not a bad different, but different. I like them all in different ways, but I haven't tried horse yet. Forget that for now! I feel like we're getting somewhere. Like I understand us, you, Brad, and everything. Together. I think we've done great."
"Yes. Good job." Bella added her two cents cheerfully.
Twilight cleared her throat. "What we've done is generate more questions than answers, even if we've enjoyed the journey."
Spike rolled a hand. "So, a normal day for you then, Twi?"
Author's Note
They all seem to be enjoying this. What would you do with this statue?
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Brad nudged Bella, getting her attention swiftly. "One thing."
"Yeah?" She came stepped over, nose an inch away. "What's up?"
Brad pointed behind himself. "Can we make the rainbow bridge, like this? I can't ride you. We're the same size. That'd be odd."
Bella shrugged her shoulders. "So? I don't mind carrying you."
Brad laughed at that, drawing Bella in for a hug along the way. "You are a treat. But, no, ponies should not be riding other ponies. Is there another way we could summon the rainbow? We should figure it out, so we can do it even if you're not in horse form and I'm not in human form."
"I am not sure. I'd guess that you could." Twilight trotted in a circle, thinking furiously. "We were taught the spell using you being carried across the rainbow as an integral step, but you can both touch the ground now, and you can activate it together." She pointed at both of them, then brought her hooves together. "I think you two working together is more important than one riding the other."
Bella bounced on her hooves, making a sound like she was clapping without hands. "Ooo. Sounds fun. I'd like to try it!" She moved in front of Brad, waving her rump invitingly.
Brad gently swatted her out of the way. "I just said no riding. Alright, let's go outside and try a few things." They went outside to look for a clear spot where nothing would be interrupted or broken by whatever magic might get thrown about.
Bella sidled up beside Brad and pushed on him. "You stand there."
"Okay." He fidgeted his wings a little. "But, maybe, we both run together? Then we jump. Hopefully, we land on the bridge and we're set. Worth a try, right?"
Bella bounced up and down with eagerness to get started. "You think so? If that's how you wanna do it, let's do it!" She dropped down into a low crouch, ready to spring into action.
Twilight inclined her head. "For a guess, it's not a bad one, and fairly harmless. The worst you'll get is some exercise. Alright, on your marks." She looked between them.
"Get set!" RC flew in and landed on their other side. "Go!"
Brad started running, wings beating rapidly to help him gain speed and momentum. His legs powered into the ground, helping propel him faster. Bella matched his speed, pace for pace as the wind whipped around them. Together, they made a powerful jump into the air, rising briefly before gravity caught them both. It was then that the rainbow flickered, lighting up for them. Bella landed solidly upon it, Brad slightly less gracefully as he staggered for balance. Still, they were both on the rainbow, looking pleased with themselves.
Twilight clapped her hooves with a smile. "Fantastic. You two can still summon the bridge then, regardless of which form you happen to be in at the time."
Brad nodded. "Cool." He helped Bella along, encouraging her to hop up and down excitedly, just as she loved to. "Ready to hop over?"
Bella winked and leapt ahead of Brad, calling over her shoulder. "You don't want to get in trouble back at the ranch."
Twilight inclined her head the other way. "She has a point. RC?" But RC was already rushing to cross the bridge with the others. "Hay! Wait!" She galloped after them all. "You'll all need these." With a brief shimmer of her magic, the statue was returned to her possession.
The group, as one, crossed back into the human world. There, Bella rubbed against Brad's side. "Do I need to be a horse now?"
"Well. It'd probably be easier to explain if you're a horse, as compared to suddenly appearing as a random human or a pony." Brad reached over to give Bella's mane a reassuring rub. "We can play with other forms when we visit Equestria."
Bella danced on her hooves in place. She grabbed the statue from Twilight in her mouth. A burst of rainbow magic later, she was her large horse self. She licked over Brad's face.
Brad grabbed her by the cheeks, rubbing gently a moment before he reached for the statue himself. "My turn." With a puff, he returned to his human form. He held it out towards Twilight and RC. "Disguises up."
They both accepted it, each returning to the humanoid forms they had taken earlier, becoming the same colors they had been before. Brad stuffed the statue into his pocket. "Come, Bella. Back home." With the old clicks, he guided Bella like the horse she was.
He knew she was more than that, but they were on Earth. "Thank you, you two. I imagine you'd rather be on your side of the rainbow, but you keep following me." They went down a street, turned at a corner.
RC nodded, skipping along at his side. "Sure, but I want to follow you, my boyfriend." She gripped his arm possessively. "I enjoy it!"
"And I," Twilight began, "want to study the differences." She wriggled her nose. "Also he's all of ours, RC. Don't get possessive."
Brad laughed quietly and shook his head. "Thank you both. We won't take long, assuming I don't get mobbed again. I promise."
Bella lifted her head, sniffing the air. She turned her head and tugged her lead rope to indicate she wanted to go elsewhere. She led them into a parking lot with several trucks and vans parked. Many people milled about. They looked like workers on lunch break.
One of them looked up as Brad and company showed up. "Brad!" He approached with a laugh. "Didn't imagine running into you here, of all the damn random places we could meet." He shoved Brad lightly in greeting.
Brad grunted and stumbled half a step. "Hey yourself." He dusted himself off. "Getting stuff done around here?"
He grunted, gesturing over his shoulder at the vehicles. "Not working, so I'm working, but it's the work I want to do, you know? These guys have various knocks and things in their cars, and I'm taking a look at them." He hiked a thumb. "Plus, these two need some engine work." He slapped the hood of a van affectionately.
Bella's tail twitched. She shifted about awkwardly, wanting to talk, but discovering from a new angle how little horses could do that.
Twilight picked up what Bella was trying to communicate. "What's wrong with them?"
"Them? Oh. Just. You know. Normal things breaking." He shrugged lightly. "Gonna have a bunch of parts ordered. Shouldn't take long."
Bella nosed Twilight lightly. Twilight rubbed over Bella's nose and under her chin, just gently comforting them.
"That reminds me of some jobs I need to do, and some new supplies that I'm supposed to be getting." Brad scritched his beard. "Anyway, I should get Bella in her stall. She's been walking a lot today."
Brad walked around the man, giving a nod as farewell as he got his group going. From there, it was only a few more blocks until they were back on the edge of his property. The sun was setting as they entered.
He led Bella to the stalls first, opening the door to her stall so she could go inside. He did his normal routine of cleaning out the dirt from her hooves and inspecting her. She looked tired, her stance relaxed but unmoving. "You sleep good, okay? I'll be back tomorrow for you, promise."
Bella offered him a sleepy nicker, the most articulate speech she could offer in horse form. Brad brushed her hide gently. Then he pulled the blanket from under her. She got on her stomach so she could lay out flat.
Sure that she was tucked in, Brad headed back to the dorm house and the others. There, Miguel was chatting with the girls. Upon seeing Brad, he brightened and approached. "Hey! You know who came to find me earlier? One of those actors who wanted to ask about horse tricks! It was incredible." He shook Brad lightly. "Somehow they found me, when I didn't have any plans to meet anyone. But I guess I did say they could find me whenever." He scratched his chin, deep in thought.
Brad clapped him on the shoulder. "Good stuff. They still going to rent some horses for that production they were talking about?"
Miguel nodded. "Yes, and I think they will rent mine, so there is that!" He hooked his thumbs on his hips proudly. "It was quite a lucky thing, too, given it would be the first one in a while. She doesn't get rented out very often."
Brad shook his head. "Well, all good news then. They can't have Bella though, before they ask. She's mine. But any of the others they can use if they're paying proper rates." He stroked his beard slowly. "I was going to head to bed though, busy day on all sides of the rainbow.
Miguel's eyes widened. "You went again?! Mi amigo! Why didn't you tell me? I would have gone too."
Brad snorted gently. "Sure, but then who would have talked to those actors? We can't keep vanishing off for hours at a time, at the same time. But, if you can come by tomorrow morning, I'll be happy to go on a quick jaunt with you."
Miguel bowed low, a playful smirk crossing his lips. "If that is a demand, señor, then I will be glad to comply."
Brad laughed, punching him softly on the shoulder. "See you tomorrow then. Bright and early." He pointed at Miguel. "Don't stay up all night partying with the rest of the farmhands."
The two parted as Twilight and RC closed in at Brad's sides. RC pointed back. "So we're headed back tomorrow morning? What about your work?"
"I'm not on the schedule tomorrow morning, and anyway I want to see Miguel as a pony." Brad pushed into his room with a chuckle at the idea. "Which sort do you think he'd be?"
Twilight rubbed her chin slowly. "Hard to say." She tried to picture the man, imagining all sorts of forms. "He's certainly full of energy, a little bit hyperactive perhaps, so perhaps he would be a Pegasus, or possibly even an Earth pony. Pegasi have a wide range of behaviors, so they may cover him." She shrugged. "Not that we have enough evidence that behavior is at all linked."
RC poked at Twilight. "Then we can find out when Miggy tries the statue. Oh, if he brings his horse, they can try too. Find out what breed they'd be."
Brad rubbed his chin slowly. "Interesting, very interesting. My money is on unicorn."
"Why? I'm curious." RC peered at him, but he offered nothing more. "Tease."
They settled in for the night. Twilight curled against him from behind. "Goodnight," she said quietly.
RC hopped in and draped herself along Brad's front, tossing one arm behind his back to grab around to Twilight. "Sweet dreams to you two." She wiggled in place.
"Right," Brad said with a yawn, "see you two in the morning." As odd as life had become, gaining two girlfriends to sleep with was a part he decided was quite firmly on the positive side of things.
Morning came quickly enough. A knock sounded at the door.
Twilight crawled over Brad and to the edge of the bed. She opened it to find Miguel standing there, fully dressed. "Hello, Twilight Sparkle, dear."
He glanced around her to the bed with the other two in it. "You three are very close." His tone was somehow caught between finding it adorable and suggesting far raunchier things. "But Brad said we were heading out early, si?"
Twilight rubbed over her face. "Um, yes." She smiled, despite feeling only mostly awake. "Can you get coffee?"
Miguel smiled broadly, tipping his hat. "Ah, coffee I can manage." He twirled in place and marched off to make that happen. "Get the others awake for me."
Author's Note
Rainbows without riding? Turns out yes.
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By the time Miguel returned, Twilight had roused the other two. She took the tray and managed to juggle all the mugs it had on it. "Thank you." She passed one each to RC and Brad, taking a third for herself.
The three nursed from their respective mugs as they began their morning rituals. Twilight stopped by the mirror, grooming herself.
Brad paused, looking at himself in the mirror. He ran a brush down his beard slowly. As he looked into his own eyes, he thought back on his life before this mess. He would never have imagined that he would become an adventurer. He wasn't Indiana Jones or a famous explorer, yet here he was, having traveled to another world more than once.
He laughed at the idea, but a new idea came. "Miguel, come over here."
Miguel hopped to his side, leaning against him from behind. "What is up?"
Brad offered the statue of the pony to Miguel. "Here."
Miguel took it and examined it closely, trying to figure out what sort of prank Brad was playing on him. "I'm going to regret not making myself a coffee now too."
Brad swatted at him lightly. "This will either be nothing, or amazing. Just hold that and imagine yourself as a pony, or a horse, whichever you prefer. I vote pony. They can fit here better and can talk."
Miguel gazed at Brad from under his hat. "I don't get it, but okay." He focused on the pony, willing it to do something. He wasn't sure what it was supposed to do, but maybe it had some sort of magic powers? With a puff of rainbows and magic, his world became light and changed. He blinked, finding himself looking up at Brad, then to Twilight. He glanced over himself. Black body, white markings. His horn glowed as he tried to focus on what he had become. "Oh! I'm a unicorn!"
Brad leaned down to hug Miguel. "It works for you too. I wonder if it works for everyone?" He took the statue from where it had fallen. "So, welcome to pony life. How does it feel?"
Miguel wiggled on his hooves, getting a sense for his change in form. His long legs allowed him to walk with a sort of grace. "Interesting, amigo. I think I could get used to this."
Brad patted the new equine's back. "Well, don't too much. Not like you can walk around outside like this." He offered the statue anew. "Hold this and focus on your old form and it should get you back to it."
Miguel took it and looked at his hooves again. "Nope. I'm going with you. I want to see this world of ponies." He tossed the statue up in the air for Brad to catch. "If we're going there, I'll fit right in." He skipped on his new hooves. "And I want to fit in this time. Just another pony."
Twilight nodded with a warm smile. "Excellent. Yes, let's go." She took the lead, jogging out into the ranch. They headed out, away from the dormitory and barns, towards where Bella was waiting.
Miguel, despite being new to hooves, trotted along easily. He was a bit unsteady, but still able to keep pace well.
RC walked alongside him. "You're taking this pretty well. You know, unicorns can grab stuff with their magic. Can you manage that?"
"Hmm." Miguel's horn lit up as he grabbed the hat from Brad's head, making it float between them. "Oh wow! This is so cool!" He turned and tried to grab some grass, but his magic fizzled out.
RC laughed at that. "Ponies don't need magic to grab grass. If you're that desperate you want to eat grass, just shove your face in and enjoy. Still, there are better options, cooked options."
Miguel's stomach grumbled at the thought of food. He had been too busy to eat earlier, and only just now remembering that fact. He pushed on, ignoring his hunger.
They reached Bella's stall. She was inside, and already quite alert. She moved towards them as far as her stall allowed her, eyes focused on them. Brad opened the door so she could step out. Bella came out of her stall and turned back around to face the group. She stepped in close, rubbing noses with Brad affectionately.
Brad ran his fingers over her mane slowly. "It's a different world." Knowing Bella had so many words she wanted to say, but couldn't, changed things for him. "We're heading back over. The pony's Miguel, if you couldn't already tell." Brad gestured from Miguel to Bella. "He's joining us on our trip."
Bella nickered softly at Brad. She looked at Miguel, leaning in close. She sniffed along his neck.
Miguel returned the examination, coloring faintly. "She's saying hi, and she likes me. As an amigo, I think?"
Brad laughed gently, giving Bella a final pat before he led her and the whole motley team off the ranch. "Miguel, am I missing anything important today?"
"No. Slated to be a sleeper of a day." He shook his head as he trotted along. "Better spent in pony land, I say."
Twilight nodded. "Yes. Let's go there." She took to the lead position, guiding them towards a good spot for the bridge to come out.
It was just a patch of open space, with some trees in the distance, and grasslands all around. "Brad, Bella?" She looked to them. "Do your magic."
Brad mounted Bella, settling into the saddle comfortably, and he gave the reins a gentle click. Bella started trotting. Brad leaned over her, rubbing along her shoulder gently. "You ready?"
Bella responded by speeding up into a canter. Brad held on tight as she began weaving about before turning into an all-out gallop towards a distant tree line. With a powerful leap, they landed atop a rainbow that hadn't been there a moment before. With some cheer, they all proceeded across it back to Equestria.
As soon as they crossed into Equestria, Brad hopped off Bella, letting her run about at speed, no longer forced to be constrained by human riding laws and limits. Miguel ran after Bella, laughing merrily as he matched her speed.
But that all came to a stop when Brad got the statue out. Bella looped back around and charged for him. He held out the statue for her, letting her snatch it from his hands in her mouth. She changed, becoming a pony once more. She rubbed her muzzle against his shoulder. "Thanks, my stallion."
"You're welcome. Good to hear you talking again." He put an arm around her.
Twilight cleared her throat gently. "Our turn." She pointed between RC and herself. "And I have an experiment to try, if you're alright with it."
Brad offered the statue to them both. They were both returned to their pony selves in short order, with the statue floating in Twilight's magic. "Your question was a valid one. Can anypony, or human, make use of this? Can any horse? We can test with some ponies without an issue, with your permission?" She looked to RC and Brad.
"Sure, I don't see why not," Brad answered for them both. "But who will we ask? I mean, you know them better than I do."
"Of course. We need only ask around, perhaps starting with Applejack and her family." She turned, looking around, getting a sense for their location before starting off towards Sweet Apple Acres. "We'll just borrow them for a few minutes, promise."
The others followed her, including Bella. They all moved at a trot, making good time as they headed towards their destination. Miguel pulled upalongside Brad. "Am I that cute?" He turned a new ear at Brad. "Stupid question, I know. All ponies are muy lindo."
Brad laughed quietly to himself. "Yes, you're very cute, and hopefully Applejack will see you the same, in the best way."
Miguel darkened quickly. "I hope so, amigo." He rubbed at one of his enflamed cheeks with a hoof. "If we're both ponies, then." He rolled a hoof to fill in the training end of that.
Brad snorted gently. "I am the last person that could argue if you two want to get, uh, familar. So long as you two agree, have fun."
Miguel chuckled. "Oh, I think I can convince her. After all, who could resist all this?" He gestured along his equine form. "I mean, besides the obvious answer of anyone, I guess."
They met, balled hand to hoof, and advanced with a shared chuckle as they passed onto the orchard proper.
Big Mac spotted them first, trotting over. "Ayup." His eyes went from one to the next, pausing on Bella. "Howdy." His eyes went instead to Miguel.
Brad saw the question. "This is Miguel, in pony form."
"Ayup?" Big Mac nodded at the pony Miguel. "Sis is in the house." He pointed the way.
Miguel turned towards the house in question. "I'll take care of this. You two get set for whatever comes next." He winked to them, then trotted off with purpose.
Twilight smirked a moment, but her attention was on Big Mac. "Big Mac, a moment of your time." She floated the statue towards him. "As you've seen, we can turn humans to ponies, and back again. We wanted to see if it worked on you. Would you be willing to hold this and imagine yourself as a human?"
He stared at the statue with some suspicion before taking it in hoof. "Ayup." As he started imagining the change, but nothing happened. He gave up after a moment and offered it back towards Twilight. "Nope."
"It's fine." She smiled reassuringly. "Thank you for trying."
Bella nudged Brad gently. "So what does that mean? Why didn't it work? He wasn't focused enough?" Bella was confused by the failure.
Twilight shrugged slowly. "I don't know, but now we have a new question." With a frown of her own, she added, "We could test other ponies and see if they can change or not."
While they went about their experiment, inside, Miguel almost bumped into Applejack as he came inside. "Senorita! I was hoping to find you."
She perked an ear at the strange new pony, but their words were quite familiar. "Miggy?" She examined him carefully, then nodded. "Well I'll be. Ya clean up nice."
"Gracias." Miguel bowed his head lightly. "Maybe after you're done working today, we can talk?"
Applejack pulled him in for a proper hug. "Don't be so stiff. That present ya brought last time, it was mighty nice." She nuzzled his cheek. "But the you managed to one-up it! Does this mean what ah think it means? Yer serious, about us?"
"Only as serious as you are, senorita, and not a drop more." He winked at her, making her cheeks go red.
"Ah'm serious enough." She glanced away, then went in, touching noses with him. "But ah need a pony that ain't gonna vanish on me." She put hoof on his shoulder. "Are ya willin' to stay?"
Miguel thought for several long moments. Would he give up his life back home to live here? It would be hard. "Give me some time?" He rubbed her shoulder gently. "It is a large question you are asking, after all."
Applejack rubbed her snout to his. "'Course. Ain't no small thing not one bit. But ah want an honest answer. Don't go breakin' mah heart with no lies, ya hear?"
"As I said before, I wouldn't dare." Miguel nuzzled against her cheek lightly. "You still have the best apples, and if I don't get to them, there would be something wrong with the world."
The two laughed at that and she led him outside. "Ya became a unicorn? Pity, but we'll see if we can't eke out some bucks from you. Lemme show ya how."
Author's Note
Miguel has a big choice to make there.
Bonus adult chapter here:
[Adult story embed hidden]
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"Twiley!" came a friendly, male, voice from the door. "Surprise!" He looked back at his pink wife. "She actually hates surprises. Are you sure this is a good idea?"
Cadance gently brushed past Shining. "This is not optional, dear. Twilight, are you at home?"
They were in the front area, and Twilight quickly moved to the door to let them in. "Hello, Cadance, hello Shining Armor." She nuzzled each of them lightly in turn, then gestured them inside.
Cadance shook her rump, which was plenty enough hint to start the proper greeting ceremony between herself and Twilight involving butterflies and further such shakes. The two laughing and clopping hooves against the others, the ritual completed. "Nice to see you, Twilight. Now, what is this I hear that you've gone from isolated to suddenly having a special somepony?"
Twilight nodded, smiling softly. "Yes, I'm in love." She turned to look towards Brad, who had been watching quietly from the side, and was now blushing softly. Twilight walked over to him, nuzzling his neck lightly.
Cadance allowed her vision to slip into the strange realm of relationships, where she could see the lines that attached ponies together. The threads that ran between Twilight and this new pony had no single color, as most, instead rainbow hued and brilliantly glowing in a way most didn't. She blinked her eyes, returning to normal sight, and gasped slightly. "Oh my! That's the strongest connection I've ever seen."
Shining Armor nodded slowly. "It is?" He couldn't see what Cadance had. "Gonna have to take your word for it, but I need to talk." He went up towards Brad with a purpose. "After all, you're dating my sister! So I can't approve of you until you prove your worthiness."
Brad looked from Twilight to Shining. "What sort of trial are we talking about here?"
Shining Armor smiled softly at that. "Well, we have a few options. We could wrestle, or play a game of O&O? Or I could take you to this art museum I know! What would you prefer?"
"I can do any of those?" Brad gestured at the door, inviting Shining to lead the way.
Cadance stepped between them. "Actually, dear." She turned and looked into the eyes of her husband. "As much as I respect what you're doing, there needs to be a few words first. I would rather he be around for them. You two can bond after that, I promise."
He gazed down at her. "You're going to ruin my fun, aren't you?"
"Yes. But, for now, you and Brad should go and have your guy talk, so the girls can talk with me." She pointed to the far side of the library, then turned back to Twilight. "So, my dear."
Twilight gestured at Cadance. "We should get Bella as part of our talk." She called out to Bella. "Bella, come on!" She gestured for her to join the trio. Once they were all assembled, she gave Cadance a quick summary of events.
Cadance nodded slowly, rubbing her chin in thought. "How unusual. I didn't imagine you going from nothing to a polyamorous arrangement, just like that." Peeking into the relations, she could see that dazzling rainbow thread between each of them. "You three have a unique bond. Part of me wants to say there's more here than just the magic of a good relationship."
"What else could there be?" Twilight tapped her hooves together lightly, trying to think it through, but not getting too far. "It's not a curse, is it?"
"No, not a curse." Cadance looked over each of the assembled three mares. "I'd say a blessing if anything, but I really can't say what it is exactly. Twilight, you had the elements, you felt the power of that connection. Has this one brought any similar abilities?"
Twilight tapped her hooves together lightly. "I don't think so?" She looked to Brad. "We've got a rainbow bridge, I guess." She pointed at the statue in Brad's hands. "And we can use this. Oh! Cadance, I'd love for you to try." She grabbed the statue in her magic and thrust it against Cadance. "Hold this and imagine yourself as a human."
Cadance did so, then looked down at herself. Nothing happened. "Huh." She offered it back to them.
Brad took it back. "Hasn't worked for anyone else besides us four, so far." He waved it at Twilight. "Warn a guy before you yank it away from them." He tucked it away in the pocket ponies just had.
Shining Armor cleared his throat. "I'm going to go outside. I think this is getting beyond what I want to talk about. Brad, you're welcome to join me."
Cadance gave her husband a look, but he was already gone, taking Brad with him. "At least they're close by. Now, what was this about a rainbow? Your connection does have a rainbow look to it, so tell me more, please."
Twilight gestured to Bella. "Bella can bring us together, and when we do, it creates a rainbow bridge that lets us cross between worlds." She gestured from one side to the other. "To a world of humans. Not Equestria High, a different one. That's where Brad's from. We've gone back and forth a number of times without issue."
Cadance slowly rubbed over her face with a hoof, considering the options. "Alright, that is very unusual. I imagine you want to know if that's something you'll keep? The way it feels, like the power of friendship, I'd say you will. I hope you do."
Twilight shook her head. "I see no reason to assume any of this is temporary. Oh, we can use that statue to become ponies, horses, or humans. But others can't. It's all fascinating, but we don't know what the 'key' is that allows us to do it."
Bella huffed lightly and looked at Twilight. "Maybe it has to do with the statue. If we had another pony statue, we might be able to make others shift."
RC rubbed her muzzle. "I doubt we're gonna find another statue that easily, Bells."
Twilight rubbed along Bella's mane lightly. "We can keep looking, but yes, it's not something we've seen many of around." She smiled as she rubbed over Bella's ears. "We'll figure it out. I'm sure there's a reason for all this, and we will find it."
Cadance inclined her head at the casual touches going on in front of her. "That answers another question before I asked it. Twilight, you're as much in love with these mares as you are with Brad?"
RC nudged in to hug Twilight from the side. "We're a unit. Sure, only Brad can do a certain something, but I love them all." RC looked to Twilight, then Bella, then back to Cadance. "And I think that love comes back to me."
Cadance laughed quietly, shaking her head. "Goodness, this is unorthodox, but what else would be expected? I just didn't think it would happen this way." She reached out and gave Twilight a hug, drawing her in. "You're all so cute, and I hope you have the best luck. I had been worried a moment that, never mind. If you all adore one another, good. I'd hope my sister was in a healthy relationship."
Bella stood up tall and proud. "We love each other, and we're going to have foals."
The other two looked stricken by how bluntly Bella had dropped that revelation.
Cadance looked between them several times before she spoke again. "Well. I had no doubts before, but now I'm sure you've made up your mind." She cleared her throat into a raised hoof. "Are you certain you each have one on the way, already?"
Bella rubbed over her belly lightly, smiling happily. "I know I am. The others probably are, too. I know I'm not very far along, but I feel it."
Cadance's ears shot up. "So certain. Twilight, have you even been formally wed? I certainly have not received an invitation to anything of the sort."
Twilight waved her hooves in a panic. "No! Nothing like that!" She took a moment to catch her breath. "We were just trying things out and, well," she shrugged, "I guess we tried hard enough that I ended up pregnant."
Cadance eyed Twilight with a sharply raised brow. "Trying things out? Twilight, I do not take you for a foal. You know how to avoid a foal if you wished to. You wanted this, I imagine, or not all three of you would be expecting this quickly. This is something you're ready for?"
Twilight nodded. "We've all discussed it. We want this. I do, anyway." She looked at the other two. "You two as well?"
Bella nodded, and RC did so as well.
RC spoke up, "If they're gonna be as adorable as you three, I'll love them all." She paused. "That came out wrong. I'll love them either way." She lifted a few inches up, wings easily holding her. "But, since you asked, no, we haven't been married or anything."
Cadance nodded slowly. "It seems I'll have to make sure you're taken care of. Twilight, come here please."
Twilight stepped in close to Cadance. "What is it? You're not angry at me, are you?"
"Angry?" Cadance reached out with her hooves. "No, but you are a princess. You can't go getting involved, even with just one, without letting other ponies know. These little rituals are just as much for them as they are for you. If you're all expecting foals, marriage becomes an urgent next step. We can't have foals out of wedlock, improper."
Twilight blushed fiercely and looked away. "I didn't realize it was that pressing." Her eyes went from Bella to RC, then back to Cadance. "But what if we're all married? Is that legal?"
Cadance waved that concern away. "If it is between consenting adult ponies, the rules around who married whom are pretty lax. Go ahead and check, I feel certain you will, but there isn't a single rule preventing it. There is no limit on how many ponies one may marry."
Bella rubbed Twilight's shoulder lightly, then looked at Cadance. "So if we want to marry one another, we can?
"Exactly. All ponies must want it, of course, but that is about the only requirement, besides being adults. We can't have foals marrying." Cadance gave Twilight a smile. "We can set up a date for it here, and I can even perform the ceremony personally." She offered out a hoof to them all. "As princess."
Twilight nodded. "Yes, you should do it. If it's going to happen, I'd want you there." She leaned in against Cadance. "You're the best sister a pony could ask for."
Bella leapt up in place. "Oh Oh! This is, I don't know what it is, but it feels exciting." She clapped her hooves together as if to release some of that nervous energy. "We'll tell everypony how much in love we are."
Cadance nodded at that. "You will. I'll send word to the others, but you'll have to send letters directly, Twilight. We'll let everypony know. And I'll make sure you have a wonderful wedding, all three of you." She paused. "Four. Brad will be there and enjoy it as well, of course. Speaking of that." She turned to RC and Bella. "If one of you would go out and inform Brad of our decisions?"
Bella nodded, heading towards the door. "I will." With that, she was outside, searching around for Brad. She spotted him with Shining Armor, and trotted over. "Brad!"
Back inside, Cadance chuckled softly. "I had a feeling she'd jump on a chance to give him the good news. Twilight, do you still have your coronation dress? It would work wonderfully for this occasion. I know it might seem a little much, but trust me."
Twilight nodded at her slowly. "It's in my room," she pointed up towards the bedroom. "But why that dress in particular? I'm not being coronated, again."
Cadance laughed at the objection. "It is not specifically tied to coronations. It's just a wonderful dress. We'll consult with Rarity to get your friends dresses and Brad a tuxedo of his own. We can't have any of you looking slovenly on this joyous occasion." She rubbed Twilight's shoulder lightly. "We're going to throw you a party, and I'm not taking no for an answer!"
Twilight blushed softly under the praise. "If you think this is proper." She laughed nervously. "I hadn't planned my wedding."
Cadance rolled her eyes at that. "Clearly. So I'm doing it for you." She turned towards RC. "Have you imagined how you might dress for such an occasion?"
"I've never been married." She twirled in the air. "But, if I am to be married, I want something cute and simple." She flapped her wings, an easy feat mid-flight. "Something I can still fly in."
Cadance rubbed over her muzzle lightly, thinking it through. "Of course. I'll speak with Rarity about it. It is possible to have a wedding without ruining your ability to do everything you normally can." She smirked a little. "Though one day looking your best on the ground wouldn't be that awful would it?" She spread her own wings. "Then again, I could still take flight in my own dress." She laughed lightly. "But then I don't go out of my way to fly around either."
Twilight inclined her head at those words. "That is fair enough, and it wasn't too bad to be in that dress while walking." She coughed into a hoof. "I had to march quite a bit during the whole coronation process."
Cadance nodded at that. "Yes, well, you survived." She chuckled again. She reached out to rub Twilight's mane gently. "They're going to make wonderful foals. Enjoy every moment you have with them, because they grow up fast." She shook her head. "I'm getting ahead of myself. Wedding first. Also, don't mention the foals, kindly. If we get the ceremony out of the way swiftly enough, we can just pretend the foals started afterwards."
Twilight thought it through. "We don't know if there's an easy way to say exactly when it happened." Twilight shook her head. "So, I think you're right, we shouldn't say anything to anypony else about how soon it is."
Cadance nodded slowly in turn. "You two did it to yourself, and we can't change the past, but yes, we'll make sure this all works." She turned for the door. "I'll go speak with Rarity, then Pinkie. She knows how to plan a party, and what is a wedding if not a formal one of those?"
Author's Note
Cadance leaps into action as she gets a grasp of the situation. Princesses do not do this without the proper displays!
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Cadance poked her head inside. "Pardon."
Rarity looked up, just to jump when she saw what head it was. "Oh, Princess Cadance! Please, do come in, darling." She waved a hoof towards her, urging her inside.
"Thank you." Cadance stepped inside. "How have you been?"
Rarity got off her seat to walk towards Cadance. "I've been simply divine, as I always am." She chuckled softly. "But you are not my usual sort of clientele. To what do I owe this pleasure? A need to dazzle the nobility with something new?" She gestured at Cadance's form. "Or is something else on your mind?"
"Something else," Cadance confirmed with a nod. "A wedding, a royal one. Not mine! You know at least one of the participants quite well." She pointed off. "This is to be Twilight's wedding. She is getting married, and I wish you to provide dresses for her wives, as well as an appropriate suit for her husband."
Rarity rubbed over her face slowly. "Married already? Wait, you named entirely too many spouses in that list." She shook her head at Cadance, who just nodded. "She's not just having a single husband?"
"No, no she is not." Cadance waved Rarity closer. "She's marrying her husband and wives. One husband, two wives, three if she is included. Thankfully, she already has a dress for herself we can make do with. How quickly can you make this happen? I'm willing to pay to push this project to the top of your list."
Rarity let out a slow breath, considering that carefully. "Cadance, darling, this will take some time. You can't just ask a pony to create clothing for royalty on the fly! And how much time exactly do I have? A week? A month?" She sighed heavily. "I have other clients."
Cadance set a hoof on Rarity's shoulder. "This is an emergency. I apologize, truly, but to keep Twilight's dignity as a princess, we must marry her as quickly as possible." She pulled her purse from her side, placing it on the table between them. "As I said, I will pay to make sure you finish these garments in time."
Rarity rubbed over the purse lightly. "If I put off everypony else in the world, and work on this project exclusively, I could probably have three suitable garments in, hm." She frowned faintly. "Who are these spouses to be? I need to measure them, quickly. I can't even start without knowing what I'm working with."
"The other two brides to be are Rainbow Charm, a sky-blue Pegasus with a multi-colored mane, and Bella, an Earth pony of orange fur. You know their husband to be, Brad." She gestured for Rarity to follow. "Though I heard you met him in a different form? I want him married as he is now, a pony. He needs a tuxedo fit for a royal wedding. The others have dresses."
Rarity nodded slowly. "Bring all three by so I can measure them as quickly as possible. I can't start without that, and you're being quite clear on the urgency of it all." She frowned down at her workbench, then looked back at Cadance. "I will have to reschedule with other clients. I can only hope they'll understand when a princess is involved." She tapped her front hooves together lightly, trying to think. "Not the first time something like this has happened. You have this." She was speaking more to herself at that point. "Bring them here, kindly."
Cadance smiled, reaching out and hugging her. "I know you'll do great. I must be off." With that, she left.
Rarity returned to her desk and began working on a new sketch for something worthy of a royal wedding.
Cadance directed Twilight's betrothed towards Rarities before she pointed herself at a particular bakery. The current pony behind the counter, a stallion, started at seeing her. "O-oh! We have a special guest today. How can I help you, ma'am?" Mister Cake put on his best smile.
Cadance nodded to him. "You must be Pinkie's employer." She smiled. "I am here to give her a request, if you could see to that?" She gestured towards the door he had come out of. "I believe she is inside."
He bowed low at that, then gestured to the door in question. "She's probably upstairs. Pinkie!" He hollered out that name. "You have a guest!" Turning back to Cadance with a tense laugh, he gestured at the display of treats. "Can I get you anything?"
Cadance rubbed over her chin lightly. "I'll have one of those green cookies." She waved a hoof towards them. "Thank you." She paid him, taking the cookie.
As Cadance took the first bite, Pinkie flew out the door at full speed. "I have a, OOoo! Cadance! Whatcha doin' here?!" She bounced around Cadance. "Wait, let me guess. Mmm, a princess of love, come to visit me. Are you planning a secret wedding?" She leaned in. "Is it mine? Who am I marrying?! Gosh, I need to know that."
Cadance chuckled softly at that. "No. Actually, Twilight is getting married, and I wanted to ask you to help with the preparations for the wedding." She gave Pinkie a quick summary of events.
Pinkie's eyes grew wide. "Wow! I would not have guessed our little Twilight would get swept up in a whirlwind romance! This is amazing!" She clopped her hooves with building joy. "Well, you came to the right pony. I'll have her shindig ready in no time! Actually, how fast are we talking?"
"As soon as possible, but just far enough away to have time to invite ponies to it." Cadance gestured close to herself and further away. "Can you manage that? Let Twilight and I know the moment you have a date, so we can send invites to everypony."
Pinkie snapped to attention and saluted. "Of course, ma'am! This will be the best day of Twilight's life, until she has children, or something else more important, but it'll still be really special!" In a burst of giggles, she ran off with her quest firmly in hoof.
Cadance took a fresh bite of her cookie as she sank to her haunches. "Twilight has such lovely friends, ready to come to her aid when things call for it." She looked up from her thoughts to the still tense Mister Cake. "Relax. I'm just a pony right now. Pretend I'm just another customer."
"J-just another customer? You're royalty," he pointed out.
"Yes," she acknowledged, "but not here and now. Now I am simply a pony who loves cookies. This is delicious, by the way." She finished the cookie and licked her lips. "Mmm, delectable. In fact, may I have a half-dozen of those to go? Shining should get to try some."
***
Twilight set aside her pen and paper. "There. The last of our invitations. At least Cadance will be there, and my family, as well." She sighed softly, leaning back from the desk to look over at her betrothed. "I'll send an invite to Princess Celestia, of course, but she's a busy pony. I'd understand if she didn't have the time for such a sudden wedding."
RC waved that concern away. "Nah. This is important, and she knows you." She nodded towards Twilight. "There is literally no way she's going to not show up for this." RC flicked her ears lightly. "You're going to have all the ponies around you that matter. Don't worry about it."
Twilight got up to join her friends. "I'm sure it'll be wonderful." She let out a happy sigh as they all hugged her and each other in a moment of solidarity. "How did the sizing go? Rarity didn't look too frazzled, I hope?"
Bella shook her head at that. "We were in and out in moments, no problem. She seemed to be doing very well, considering." She nuzzled against Twilight lightly. "So, who is going to perform our wedding?"
Twilight perked at that. "Didn't I say? Cadance will be officiating the ceremony. Pinkie is the planner. This is extremely kind on Cadance's part, taking her precious time just for me."
Brad put a hoof on Twilight's side. "You need to stop that."
"Stop what?" She turned to him.
"Stop acting like you're not worth the time." Brad stepped in, nose to nose with her. "You are, and you have a lot of friends and family that want you to succeed. Cadance made her own decision, you didn't even ask. She's here because she wants to be, and I'd say you're worth the time, Twilight. You're my mare, and you are worth it."
Twilight blushed softly at Brad. "Oh, okay." She turned towards the others. "You think so too, I assume?"
RC nodded.
Bella replied by going in for a hug and snuggling moment.
Twilight laughed from the embrace. "Alright, alright. Sorry. This is just all so sudden." She took a slow breath. "But it's happening. I'm getting married. Oh!" She slipped free of Bella's grasp. "I haven't been idle. Further research has turned up a little about our mysteries."
Twilight turned and grabbed a scroll. She unrolled it carefully. "I've been combing history as best I can. It turns out, there is such a thing as a human that was able to come to Equestria. It would seem there had been some contact, of a friendly sort. The writing is quite vague, to my annoyance, but it would seem there are some ponies with a dash of human, and some humans with a dash of pony." She rubbed at a cheek slowly. "A pity I don't know how to determine if any given pony or human is that."
Brad leaned in against Twilight. "But we're the ones starting this?"
"Not quite. There have been others, apparently, hiding among the population of Equestria and Earth." Twilight flickered her wings with agitation. "If we had one to start, that may let us get somewhere."
RC rolled her eyes. "Twi." Twilight turned to her with a quizzical look. "Twi, seriously." She pointed at herself, then Bella, Brad, and Twilight. "We literally bridge the gap. I'd be shocked if we weren't one of those crosses."
Bella giggled at that, rubbing along Twilight's back. "That makes sense. I hadn't even thought about it that way."
Brad nickered at that, then nodded. "I guess that makes sense." Brad settled in closer to Twilight, hugging her. "Oh! Is that why we can use the statue, but others can't?"
Twilight blinked blankly a moment. "That makes sense!" She hopped to attention and trotted off. "That makes complete sense. The statue reacts to our hybrid nature, allowing us to become other things we share heredity with. Those without it are stuck with the one they already have, be that pony or human, or horse, technically." She tapped at her chin. "Fascinating... One mystery, solved." She looked quite pleased to have one less of those in her life.
RC rubbed at her own cheek slowly. "What about the rainbow bridge?" She inclined her head towards Twilight. "How does that fit into this?"
Twilight was forced to shrug. "Well, if we assume this hybrid nature is involved." She turned to Bella and Brad. "Those two happened to be hybrids, and working with others—" She pointed at herself and RC. "Seems to make it stronger and more solid. I can't say this is for sure without further research, but it's a start."
Bella looked from one to the next, her gaze finally stopping on Twilight. "So we're special. No surprise there." She laughed softly at her own words, turning to Brad with a grin. "You think?"
Brad chuckled in turn. "I think so, yeah." He kissed Bella's nose lightly, which made her grin. "But it's easy for a person to think they're special. Everyone is the star of their own show, right?"
Author's Note
Cadance has launched the emergency party ponies!
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The day of the wedding arrived, everypony gathered together in a field far from the Ponyville city limits. Tables with food and punch covered much of one end of it, while at the other stood an altar. Rows of chairs had been laid out, filled with friends and family. Twilight had made many friends since arriving at Ponyville, which meant plenty of ponies there to see her, to speak nothing of the general word that a princess was getting married, which had only happened once to recollection.
Applejack rubbed her nose as she joined Twilight's side. "You ready, sugar-cube?" She patted Twilight on the shoulder. "Ain't no big deal, you'll be back to yer life in no time."
Twilight took a slow breath, moving her hoof with the motion as her step-sister had shown her. "I have this. Everything is in place. All I have to do is be one bride of several, say my lines, and that will be that."
Applejack chuckled. "I hear ya." She shook her head slowly. "You just got yerself into somethin' bigger than you expected."
Twilight laughed softly at those words. "I don't regret it, but the sooner we can be done with the spectacle part of it, the better." She hugged Applejack briefly and trotted with purpose towards the altar. The other brides and Brad had already gathered around Cadance, their gazes mostly on her as she spoke to them.
Cadance smiled to Twilight as she approached, then continued speaking to them. "There's everypony, nicely gathered. You all remember your parts?" At their nods, she gave one of her own. "Then we can begin." She inclined her head faintly towards a set of ponies that began playing a wedding tune.
The wedding proceeded simply. There were no incidents, not even the weather tried to ruin it, as they spoke the words that bound them to each other. Their new life as a herd was ready, if not for the fact they were already a herd.
They each said their I do's without hesitation and offered a hoof for another of their group to slide an arm-sized golden ring onto. Even Twilight, who had a horn that could take a smaller ring, went with matching the others with an arm ringlet instead so they all matched while standing there.
With that done, Cadance smiled and spoke to them all, "I now present Mr and Mrs Brad Buckson and Twilight Sparkle, as well as Mrs Rainbow Charm and Mrs Bella!" With those words said, the three brides turned towards their husband, then kissed him in turn. He threw his arms over all three of them and pulled them in for a group hug as cameras flashed.
Twilight let out a quiet laugh as they pulled apart. "We did it."
Brad kissed her on the nose. "Yes we did."
Rainbow Charm fluttered before them. "We did."
Bella bounced a bit in place without leaving the ground. "I don't know why we had to do all that to say what was already obvious, but I am happy to have done it." She nickered quietly. "But, we aren't horses, and that's good."
Cadance nodded slowly and spoke with all the gravity of royalty. "Then by the power vested in me by Equestria and the royal crown, you may now address them as princesses and prince." She coughed gently into a hoof. "Technically consort, but we won't rub that in." The crowd gently laughed.
Applejack stepped forward with her brother on stage. "Now that the ceremony part is done, it's time for refreshments!" She jerked a hoof back towards the tables. "We've got punch, cake, and a whole lotta food to fill your bellies!"
The crowd cheered, and movement began to filter away towards the after-wedding reception. One pony lingered behind, to wander up towards the newly weds as the crowd dwindled. Twilight saw them first and tensed. "Moon! I'm glad you, uh, decided to come. Look, I'm so—"
Moondancer stepped up onto the stand. "It's okay. You weren't wrong. You made a statement, and changing it that late would make you look bad." She sighed, but smiled despite that. "But I can still be involved. I waited too long. I don't want to do that anymore." She reached out with her hooves and pulled Twilight into an embrace.
Twilight felt a little of the tension fade from herself as she hugged Moon in turn. "Thank you."
Moondancer kissed Twilight's nose. "I want to meet the ponies who claimed you. I can't be close to you without interacting with them."
Rainbow Charm looked Moondancer over. "Never really spoke, I guess?"
Brad stepped forward and put his hoof out. "I've seen you around, but didn't know you were a friend of Twilight's until recently. I'm Brad. And you're Moondancer, right?"
She took his hoof. "Yes, that is my name. It's nice to meet you." She looked between them all as she let go. "I want to be a part of your lives from now on. I will gladly assist where I can, and be a friend outside that. Is that agreeable?"
Bella gazed at Moondancer with obvious appraisal. "You don't seem so nervous and scary now." She brightened to a smile. "If you want to be a friend, I'm okay with that."
RC inclined her head towards Moondancer. "We won't turn down a new friend."
Twilight nodded softly. "I'd like to keep you in my life too, Moondancer. Now, let's head over to the reception. Ponies are probably wondering what's taking us so long."
***
Rainbow Dash fluttered her wings eagerly as she approached Twilight and the others. "There's my best mare! And her harem."
Twilight snorted, but shook her head as well. "Don't call it that. We're all a herd, equals. They are not my harem as if I collected them and own them."
Rainbow laughed at that, then hugged her. "I'm just kidding." She stepped back to look over the rest of them. "All the best, ponies. I know this isn't the right order, but who do I speak to about getting flying lessons for these ground-bound foals?"
Bella blinked up at Dash. "I'm a full size adult horse, er, pony."
Dash chuckled at that. "I meant it as a figure of speech. Besides, you lot will have foals, some will have wings. You want somepony that knows flying to show them around, right?"
RC laughed at that. "Are you forgetting I have wings too?" She flapped her own. "And I do know how they work. But if you're offering to come with me when we start flying lessons, that's fine by me."
Twilight took a sip of her punch. "I'll admit, it would be great for any flying fillies or colts we have to learn from somepony that knows what they're doing. The more teachers, the better. I'm still newish to mine, so I will pass on that, but can recommend a good few books that helped me."
Brad chuckled and leaned in against Twilight. "The way we're talking about children is like it's just another day's business. Which, it may well turn into, but we don't need to think about that right now. Let's keep talking to ponies." He looked to the next in the line.
The Riches stepped forward, Filthy Rich and his wife, Spoiled Rich. Their daughter, Diamond Tiara, trailed just behind. She looked like she wanted to leave, but stood there with her parents. Filthy Rich smiled to Twilight. "Congratulations on your marriage." He pulled a card out of his pocket. "I wish you all the best for the future, and hope I will be able to do business with you."
Twilight accepted the card with her magic curiously. "I appreciate the offer, though I'm not sure what business that would be exactly."
Filthy nodded with a chuckle. "Keep the card. When the opportunity comes up, you'll know it, and who to call when it does. You all make a wonderful, if a bit large, family."
Spoiled snorted, one ear back. "It's work enough keeping an eye on the two beside me, and you're starting with three before any foals enter the picture? I can't say I envy you, Twilight. You always were a bit odd."
Diamond rolled her eyes and sighed. "Mom! You can't just call ponies odd because you don't like something they do. What did we talk about?" Her voice took on a lecturing tone.
Twilight giggled at the sight of a foal giving a lecture. "You're all welcome, and thank you for coming."
They offered their final goodbyes, then walked away with Diamond still lecturing Spoiled about what not to say in public.
Other ponies came and went, each offering their congratulations and well wishes, many saying they would be happy to help with the kids if they ever came along, and congratulating the new royal family on finding their loves.
"I can't believe I've lost both my foals." Night Light sniffled, pacing in place.
Twilight Velvet marched past him. "Don't mind him. That was a lovely wedding!"
"Thanks." Twilight smiled and looked around at all the other ponies that had come to see them wed. "And I'm not lost. You'll be able to visit as often as you like." She hugged her parents close. "And you didn't lose a daughter, you gained two more, and a son to go with them."
Night Light chuckled weakly. "Still. You're not just ours anymore. You've got your own family now, and we're all very proud of you. You've grown up to be quite an amazing pony." He pulled Twilight over tightly a moment. "You make us so proud, every single day."
Twilight nodded slowly. "Yeah, we can talk later. Go enjoy the reception. I think Pinkie has more games in store."
Cadance stepped forward to take her parents place, hugging Twilight as they left. "Things have gone well, so far." She glanced around as if expecting something to ruin the wedding at some point. "Good." She leaned in, touching her nose to each of theirs. "I'll keep hoping yours is without so many distractions as mine was." Cadance moved through to hug each of them. "And now I can welcome Twilight into our royal family, as well as the three of you." She kissed each of their noses, then laughed softly. "And I get to stop being the newest royal family."
Twilight nodded at that. "Thanks again for officiating, we couldn't have done it without you." She turned to Brad. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
Brad blinked, the gears turning in his mind as he worked through how that worked. "Oh, yeah! Heya." He offered a hoof towards the larger alicorn. "I got a lot of sisters today. This is going to be confusing for me."
Cadance chuckled. "You're going to be quite a fun addition, aren't you?"
"I'll do my best." Brad grinned at her.
They spoke a little more to Cadance before she walked off to allow others to advance.
Mayor Mare nodded. "If Princess Cadance wasn't here, I would have been delighted to officiate it myself. It went wonderfully. I didn't expect you, Twilight, to be the next married, to a herd no less. Just goes to show that even in Ponyville, you can be caught entirely by surprise. I thought nothing could get me at this point." She let out a slow breath as they all offered their own congratulations to her.
Twilight smiled. "I think we surprised all of Ponyville with that one."
Mayor Mare laughed softly at that, then excused herself. "Have a lovely day."
Moondancer was the next up. "It'd be improper if I didn't appear here." She stepped in closer, voice dropping, "I'll be ready after the wedding." She stepped back. "Congratulations to you all," she finished in a louder tone.
Twilight blushed and looked away, but nodded.
Bella leaned forward to hug Moondancer, though it seemed more for the sake of putting her nose beside Moon's ear. "Glad we can have you over later," she whispered.
The day ended without calamity, to some ponies' surprise. The newest royal family was welcomed to Ponyville and Equestria beyond.
Author's Note
Wait, a wedding without a big problem exploding all over it? Is this possible?
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Brad came in for a gentle landing on the cloud. "Hey, I really can stand on this." He turned as Twilight and RC came in for landings. "This is softer than I thought, and I already thought it'd be soft." He bounced in place, held up by the cloud without any trouble.
"Cloud-walking. One of my favorite skills." Twilight did a little jump in place, wings fluttering. She was wearing her tiara and necklace again. "Now, we did promise Bella she'd join us. I need you two to be ready to hold her up as I cast a spell on her. Are you ready?"
RC moved in side to side with Brad. "Hit us."
With a flash, Twilight summoned Bella right above Brad and RC, her hooves resting on either of their backs. Bella squeaked in surprise, almost falling over. "Oh! This feels very dangerous. Are you sure this is at all safe?"
Twilight inclined her head. "Just a moment." Her horn glowed with a more complex spell. "I've done this a few times now." Bella glowed in sympathy with the magic. "And, there. You should be able to walk on the clouds now. Try it."
Bella blinked at Twilight, then stepped onto the cloud. Her hoof sank down about an inch. She made a noise of nervous protest, but continued putting her weight onto the foreleg. It sank a little further, then firmed up. Though it was like a soft bed, it didn't allow her to pass through it. As the fear passed, she began to smile and trot about with building curiosity. "This is fun!" She turned about, bouncing off the cloud as if she had been born on it. "I love it! How long will it last?"
Twilight giggled lightly at her enthusiasm. "At least an hour. Stay near me and I can help if it wears out." She went to nuzzle with Brad. "A honeymoon in the clouds. I like this idea. What brought it to you?"
Brad returned the nuzzles, rubbing snouts with Twilight. "I'd love to take the credit, but it came up when I was chatting with RC. She said something about making foals on the cloud." He grinned as Bella came around to join in. "But it was your idea, originally."
Twilight flared her wings. "My idea? I don't remember that." Despite her misgivings, she eagerly smooched Bella's cheek. "Welcome back, used to cloud walking?"
Bella smiled at Twilight's side, snuggling in against her. "It's wonderful! I had so much fun bouncing and jumping."
Twilight hummed softly. "Glad you enjoy it." She looked between the two. "So, who wants to go first? I will happily watch or participate, either way."
Brad sank to his haunches. "This may sound odd, but we, uh, do that all the time. I want some quiet time with my mares, just enjoying each of them, all of them, together."
RC flopped down on the cloud, using Brad as a pillow. "That works for us, right girls?"
Bella stretched out next to them. "Oh, yes!" She curled up with the other two. "Breeding is nice and all, but cuddling is forever."
Twilight looked ready to object, but the words failed her. She sank slowly next to the pile and leaned in, resting her head on Bred as the others were doing. "Hm. There is a certain comfort to proximity, isn't there?"
Bella giggled. "You like having us close. And we love being here with you."
Twilight let out a slow breath. "My family, and my loves. You're right." She rubbed the side of her body in closer. "I was getting distracted, and forgetting the lessons I learned before. Before any of you are husbands or wives, you are my dear friends." She closed her eyes. "I love you all, so very much."
RC nodded. "I think we all know that by now, Twi." She nuzzles in to kiss Twilight's side. "But we appreciate the reminder, you silly princess. You're still our old Twilight Sparkle, even if you've added a lot since we first met."
Twilight giggled softly. "Thanks for that, too. I do sometimes wonder how it is all effecting me." She skewed an ear to the side. "I thought I'd said goodbye to my human form with leaving Equestria High, but here I am, back in a human world, and snatching one of them as a partner at that."
Brad chuckled softly. "I'm sure you'll be fine. And if you're not, I will be there with you. We will be there with you. It's not going to be any different for us than it has been."
Twilight rolled over, making her arms in the right place to wrap around RC, snuggling against her. "Of course it's different. We're married. I can't just ignore that. We all are." She looked up at Brad and Bella. "It's not the same as it was." She made a gentle sound of alarm as she was tackled. Bella had jumped forward to land over her, holding her close.
Bella pressed upon Twilight, a heavy but warm presence. "It's different, but it's a good different. I like the idea that we're closer today than we were yesterday." She nipped carefully along one of Twilight's ears. "Just like becoming a pony. Different, but a good different."
Twilight squirmed against her, wings flickering. "Yes, we're all ponies together now. That is different. And yet..." She lifted her head and leaned up towards Bella's. "A good different, I suppose." She chuckled as the fight fled her. "I never imagined I'd become the head mare of a herd like this." She flipped an ear back. "To be honest, in my wildest dreams, I imagined such a thing would have involved my close friends, the ones I've rescued this world with no few times."
Brad rubbed gently along her neck with his muzzle, kissing over the skin softly. "I'm sorry if we're not who you expected."
Twilight laughed at that, turning to press her snout against his. "You were all quite the surprise, but that wasn't meant as a complaint." She spread her wings to reach and tickle RC lightly. "You're the present I didn't expect, but am just as delighted to receive."
RC laughed, squirming against Twilight's tickling wings. "I think I can say the same of all of you. Of all my friends, I'd say I was one of those who thought I'd never end up with such a happy life, much less one surrounded by awesome ponies." She gently batted Twilight's wings with her own, initiating a brief contest that Twilight had no hope of winning.
Bella hummed happily and curled up between Twilight and RC. "We're the luckiest herd ever."
Twilight nuzzled in close. "Not to put a damper on the thought, but I think we're close to the only herd around here. Modern ponies tend to go monogamous, and life-long." She pondered that a moment. "Not that I plan to make this less enduring."
RC nipped along Bella's throat as she laughed. "You'll have to kick me out. Nope, in it for the long haul." She leaned in, nose to nose with Bella. "Not leaving for nothing."
Bella kissed back, then pulled away to look around at Twilight. "So, did we want to do some cloud bouncing, or will it just be more cuddles?"
Brad leaned in to kiss Twilight on the ear. "I'm enjoying this, quite a bit. We don't put aside enough time to just be with each other, talk, touch, hold, you know? Just be."
Bella nodded eagerly, making her way around to Twilight's back to snuggle up close. "This is perfect. I'd say we could cuddle like this all night, but I would get scared of falling through the cloud. It wouldn't last that long, you said so." She nuzzled right between Twilight's wings. "So we'll do the sleeping thing on the ground."
Brad laughed softly, leaning in. "Yeah, I think that would be a good plan." He stretched out further. "But not yet."
Twilight nodded at him, then turned to rub her muzzle into RC. "It's nice just being together like this, isn't it?" She softly hummed, almost purring under the soft warmth of her herd's presence. "I bet Rainbow has done this before." That got RC to perk. "Dash, sorry. I bet she's slept on clouds with other pegasi."
RC rolled over, belly up, and stretched. "Yeah, I guess that's something I'm going to have to get used to, having two Rainbows around. And I can't imagine she hasn't, or wouldn't." She snickered at the idea. "She does good work with the weather ponies. I bet after they do a big tough job, they might settle on a fluffy cloud like this and just take a good little nap together." Her wings flared out to one side, bumping against Twilight's own. She let her eyes close slowly, lost in thought and the sensation of warm contact.
Bella yawned softly as she curled up against Twilight's side. The peace among them felt almost complete, at least until she thought of something. "Twilight? Can I try some magic?"
Twilight's ears rose at that, along with RC's who had not been entirely asleep. "Magic? You're an earth pony."
Brad nodded softly. "Earth ponies don't have magic."
Bella giggled and poked Brad's side. "You and I were just walking on clouds, like pegasi. If you can make me walk on a cloud like a pegasus, why can't you make me able to do some magic?"
Twilight gave a slight huff at that. "Well, it's not quite that easy. The cloud walking spell only gives you one specific gift, the ability to repel clouds as a pegasus does, which lets you sit on clouds, or push them around." She put a hoof under her chin. "Simulating a horn and everything it does would be quite complex."
Brad rolled to his hooves and looked over Bella. "I don't see why we can't try, though." He took a long, deep breath in. "We could simulate a unicorn's horn with a spell, maybe?" He shook his head with a laugh. "But I'm not a unicorn myself. I have no idea what makes a spell 'simple', 'complicated', or just 'impossible'." He looked to Twilight, the horniest member of them all. "Which would this be?"
Twilight waggled her hoof at Brad. "Not impossible. A horn is like a conduit for magic. I could give her one, but then she'd need to learn to use it while it lasted. Like any other transformation spell, it wouldn't last forever." She pointed at herself. "My transformation to an alicorn is the only time I've seen magic permanently change a pony in such a core way, and I haven't the foggiest how to replicate something like that."
Bella grinned at her. "Well, I'm glad you can try. I know you'll do your best, Twi. And if I do get magic, what's something good I can do with it?"
Twilight touched noses with Bella. "You want it, but you're asking me what you'd do with it? Well, it's very nice for grabbing things far above your head. Basic grabbing and moving things isn't too hard to learn, and quite fun, if you ask me, which you just did."
Bella giggled at that. "Oh, yeah? You have any books about it I can study?"
Twilight nodded slowly. "I do, and they're all very basic things." She stretched out. "When we get back on the ground, I'll get you a foal's book on it. Unicorn's usually learn that before they reach adulthood, but a new unicorn would need to learn it now, obviously. You'll be able to levitate things, with practice, but it will be like trying to learn an entirely new limb, at first."
Bella grinned eagerly at Twilight. "Please? I want to learn magic!" She kicked her legs against the cloud, not really moving anywhere. "You make it look so fun, and I want to have fun with you."
Twilight nodded and kissed her nose. "Okay, okay. When we get back to my library, you can start reading about unicorn magic. And I'll give you a spell for temporary hornage."
RC snickered softly. "Look at Twilight go, slapping limbs on any pony that asks nicely."
Author's Note
This is unlikely, but they do enjoy a warm moment together.
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26 - Rainbows Across the Sky
Moon made a note with a floating quill. "Fascinating." She turned the quill towards Bella. "You and Brad were the starters. You initiated the rainbow bridge, but the others are connected to it. There must be ways they can direct it." She made a fresh note. "Twilight." Twilight looked up towards her. "I'd like you to ride Bella, as a horse, and attempt it a few times."
Twilight blinked, then let out a little giggle at Moondancer's words, though she couldn't say exactly why they'd struck her funny. "Okay, I can do that."
Bella grinned at them. "I would love to give Twilight a ride." She grew large, becoming the horse she was born as. She tried to continue speaking, but a strange neigh was the result as she tried to make her horse throat produce unnatural sounds. She shook her head and turned, throwing her head towards her back.
Twilight scrambled onto Bella, settling into the spot between shoulders and neck. "There we go." She spread her wings, flapping lightly to get herself into proper balance on Bella's back. She let out a low breath to steady her nerves, then closed her eyes to concentrate on her magical core.
Moondancer moved in and began taking measurements. She trotted past the two towards the outside. "There's not enough space in here. Go outside so you don't break anything, okay?" She pointed at the door with her quill.
Bella turned to leave and Twilight wobbled on her back. Twilight looked down with a little squeak. "Uh, Bella? I need some reins or something."
Brad laughed, returning to human form just to hold Twilight from the ground as Bella walked. "Just take it easy, and remember all of her is a good grip, but don't pull her mane, that's mean. You know Bella, she doesn't want you to get hurt."
Twilight took a deep breath. "You're right." She spread out, lying down on Bella's back so she had more surface area with her. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate. "I'll try to have more faith in her. She wouldn't let me get hurt."
Moon chuckled at her as she watched. "She is quite strong. I don't think she's going to lose you. A unicorn on a horse. Now there's something I've never seen before, in history books or anywhere else." She made a little note of that for future readers to see in one of those future books. "Now, Bella, please do what you do to summon the rainbow. Twilight, see if you can influence the rainbow as it forms in any way."
Bella nodded, then lowered her head. She took a deep breath in and trotted ahead. She sped up a little with every step, working towards that full gallop that would allow things to continue. Twilight rubbed a hoof down, a sign that she was secure and ready. With that signal, Bella took a great leap and came down on the prismatic surface of a rainbow.
She vanished, becoming a pony with Twilight arriving an instant later to squash her. "Oof! Look!" She pointed at where the rainbow led, which wasn't infinitely high into the sky towards Earth. It sloped right back down at the city on the mountain. "Did you do that?!"
Twilight blinked. "I felt the bridge's magic, but didn't think I could change anything."
Moon trotted up and made a note of this event. "You did change it. This is fascinating. I've never seen one stretch between here and Canterlot before." She tilted her head up towards it. "But if you can direct the bridge, that is a considerable talent, and expands when it might be used." She considered Twilight and Bella. "You just needed a fresh set of eyes to consider it."
Twilight trotted up to Moon and hugged her. "Thank you for being those eyes."
Bella joined a moment later, not needing much prompting to hug a friend. "Oops." With the rainbow empty of walkers, it vanished. "I forgot that. Um, we can make it again if we want?"
Moon laughed softly and pulled away. "Yes, I think we should. Let me get in contact with princess Celestia and inform her of this development so she doesn't panic when a rainbow lands near the castle." She paused. "Oh, Twilight. What part of Canterlot were you envisioning when you directed the rainbow?"
Twilight rubbed her chin with a hoof, then shook her head. "No idea. I didn't think anything, I just remembered Canterlot as a whole, not a specific spot in it."
Moon shook a hoof. "Unacceptable." She turned to Twilight fully. "Next time, be as specific as you can. One, to make sure you can direct the bridge with precision. Two, so we can tell ponies where to expect it." She curled a hoof to her chin. "Like just in front of the castle, a little ahead of the guards that stand there."
Twilight blushed and sputtered. "You want me to land on the guard?"
Moon rolled her eyes. "In front." She turned to Bella and nodded towards the distance. "Either ride Twilight one more time, or gallop aside her. You've proven that can also work. Make the bridge. Twilight, focus on that spot in front of the guards." She moved off to one side. "I'll contact the princesses. Try not to break anything."
Twilight nodded, rubbing her hoof over Bella's back gently. "Shall we?"
Bella bobbed her head. "Let's just gallop this time. I could feel you were scared."
"I wasn't scared!" Twilight laughed tensely. "Just cautious. It was my first time directing a horse, even if she was a dear dear friend." She hugged Bella briefly. "But, if you want to gallop together, I'm alright with that too."
They waited as Moondancer made contact with the princesses, then went through the steps again to form the rainbow bridge towards Canterlot. This time, it stretched out to the castle, then curved down to land right in front of the guard. Not that they could know for sure until they saw it.
This was something Bella was excited to do, cantering in place. "Let's go! We'll go over the bridge this time and see where it goes!"
Twilight nodded eagerly. "Yes! I want to show off this discovery to Celestia and Luna! Come on!" She bounced off. "Last one to Canterlot buys ice cream!"
Bella was eager to charge alongside Twilight, but she looked unsure all the same. "I don't have money, Twilight. Do I have to buy you an ice cream? I'd like to, if I could."
Twilight bumped sidelong into Bella with a laugh. "Well, for one, don't lose. But I wouldn't be mad at you for not doing something you just can't. Focus on that bridge." She took her own advice, imagining that specific spot a bit ahead of the guards. She imagined the smooth cobbles beneath their hooves and the quiet murmur of passing ponies. She knew that spot.
The rainbow bridge formed, and she leapt up onto it without a second thought, knowing it'd be there to catch her hooves. Bella's own clacking followed a moment later, her head whipping back and forth as she gawked at everything around. "Our journey begins." Twilight pointed ahead, then started a lively trot. "Let's see where the bridge goes. Ready?" At Bella's nod, she started to run.
Their hooves pounded against the rainbow road, sending them dashing along the rainbow. The air sang past their ears, the sound making Bella's mane dance wildly about her head. Just like when it went between worlds, it went up before it came down, and coming down allowed one to either run along it or, as Twilight opted, to slide down the side on hooves held up and wings out for balance. Bella slid after her, trying not to crash into Twilight as they both made it down to Canterlot.
The city of Canterlot was a gleaming white castle resting upon a mountain, with buildings surrounding that primary castle. That castle had two guards standing watch, both startled as Twilight and Bella landed in front of them in an ungainly and laughing pile. "Your highness!" One rushed to Twilight's side. "Are you alright? Did a flying lesson go awry?"
Twilight laughed and shook her head. "Not at all! This is exactly what it was supposed to do." She pushed Bella off herself, then stood again. She pointed a hoof backwards at the bridge. But, it was gone. "Right. We can summon that rainbow, and I directed it here. I apologize if that startled." She shook herself clean. "I need to speak to the princesses right away. Are they in the castle throne room?"
The guard nodded, though looked concerned. "We will escort you, your highness. If you're sure it was intentional, we shouldn't have a problem."
Bella stood beside Twilight, eyes wandering curiously over the castle and the city beyond it. Everything was new and worthy of gawking at. "This is amazing."
Twilight threw a hoof over Bella, keeping her close as they walked along past the grand windows and other pieces of art that decorated that hallway. "I'm past due to show Princess Celestia what I've been up to."
Bella trotted alongside Twilight, though her head was still tilted to one side or another to look around the hall. "It's like your library, but much more fancy." She paused beside a painting, head cocked at it, then she nodded and turned away. "I don't understand all of it, but it all seems important to be in such a, um." She struggled to find the word as she walked along. "Proper? place."
Twilight chuckled softly and gently pulled her closer. "That's why we're here. So you can ask all about that with somepony who knows all about this stuff. I'm pretty sure Celestia was there when most of it happened." She mused a moment. "Oh! You don't know who Princess Celestia is. If you think I'm in charge, she's in charge of me, and everything! She's the pony at the very top, but she rules with wisdom and kindness."
Bella nodded slowly. "She sounds like a nice headmare. I will introduce myself then." She cantered in place. "That's only polite. Does she like bumping heads or is she more of a stand nearby and sniff gently kind of mare?"
Twilight shook her head and chuckled. "Not quite either of those. You bow to her, but she really is nice. Even if you don't, she probably won't even be mad, but, um, it's a habit of mine." She laughed nervously thinking about it. "I don't, technically, have to, being a princess like her, but I already know I wi—"
"Twilight, it's lovely to see you." Celestia was approaching them with her gentle smile. "And you've brought a new friend."
Twilight dropped into a proper bow. "Princess! Always lovely to see you."
"You won't see much of me down there." She raised a hoof just under Twilight's chin, directing her up. "Dear Twilight, I apologize for not being at your wedding. I wanted to be there, more than anything, but it came so suddenly." She shook her head. "But here you are, and I am delighted. Tell me, who is this eager pony beside you?"
Bella had bowed as well, though she was more curious about Celestia herself. Her gaze roamed over the grand form with interest. The wings were as magnificent as Twilight's, if not more so. She'd seen an alicorn before, so that wasn't what had her looking. She sniffed in the princess' scent and hummed softly. She stood, but kept her ears flat and head low. "Hello, um. I'm Bella, miss headmare. You run a very lovely herd with so many ponies."
Celestia inclined her head. "I haven't heard it called that, but, I suppose, that isn't a wrong way of considering it. Equestria is my herd, and I do my part to ensure they are all happy in it. Twilight?"
Twilight squeaked. "Y-yes. This is Bella, as she said. She is also my wife."
Celestia blinked at that, but calm returned to her swiftly. "Your wife? I hadn't even heard you were dating, but married?" Her gaze drifted to Bella. "I was unaware Twilight was seeing anypony. You have my congratulations." She turned to walk, gesturing with a wing for the other two to join her. "We should talk, in a less open space." She led the two to one of her sitting rooms, where tea and cookies already waited. "Please, take a seat."
Author's Note
Twilight has a part to play, being able to direct the rainbow where she wants it. A handy little trick, isn't it?
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27 - There and Back Again
Luna prodded Celestia's side with a hoof. "You really didn't take that well."
"Hm?" Celestia watched the train depart far below. "What's that?"
Luna rolled her eyes. "You forgot things you just said. You are not taking Twilight getting married well."
"What? No, she's a free mare, able to marry whom she pleases." Celestia forced a little smile. "Even multiple ponies, if that is what her heart tells her."
Luna nodded. "It is, and she does. So do many other ponies, though most don't have so many as Twilight. But you still didn't take it well." She gestured down towards Ponyville, but Celestia was already walking away. "This is clearly not what you had planned, and I know you, Sister. You had plans." She moved to walk alongside Celestia. "So what were they?"
Celestia looked ahead at the great doors into Canterlot's castle. She took a deep breath, then walked on. "She was to become a princess, the princess. That road is, hm, harder to trot if she is distracted with domestic requirements."
Luna giggled softly at her side. "Come now, you've watched them play and seen their love. She's hardly going to be too distracted to do anything. In fact, they may help her."
Celestia paused to lean against Luna. "That would be nice. I've never been able to rule with a husband or wife at my side."
"You've had a sister." Luna tossed her head towards the castle. "Who cares about you, and helps how she can."
"I know." Celestia leaned in and nuzzled against Luna. "I don't mean it like that. I just, I have plans. But Twilight is married, which throws those into question."
Luna nipped at Celestia's closer ear. "We allow Discord to roam free. That our plans are led astray is the least we should expect. Let's make the best of what we have."
Celestia sighed and nodded. "Yes, you're right." She looked back towards Ponyville with a small smile. "And as much as she was or will ever be mine, I wish Twilight the best of happiness."
***
Bella rocked on her seat softly. "I don't understand. Why couldn't we just run over a rainbow to get back?" She smiled at that. "It would be really fast, and I like running with Twilight."
Twilight tilted her head to one side. "Because Brad isn't here. That is my guess. We each have a unique link to the rainbow. Brad and you can conjure it in the first place. Lacking you two, no rainbow at all." She pointed to herself. "I can direct it, so it doesn't just go back and forth from the human world."
Bella nodded slowly. "Okay, that makes sense to me. So, with Brad there, we could make the bridge, and you could make it go to Ponyville."
Twilight bobbed her head. "Exactly! But, no Brad, no bridge. Rainbow Charm can strengthen the bridge, allowing anycreature to step on it, linked or not. We each have a purpose with the bridge. It's fascinating, really. I wish Moondancer could be here."
Bella paused and cocked an ear, leaning in close to Twilight. She sniffed gently. "What's wrong?"
Twilight tilted her head, then laughed nervously. "It's silly, but I want all of us to be together. Being separated like this? I don't like it." She hugged Bella close with a wing. "I think it's the marriage talking. In the past, I wouldn't have cared so much about a friend or two being somewhere else, so long as I had my studies."
She laughed awkwardly. "Then again, Spike isn't here either. Being without him and my friends at the same time? That is unusual fo—" Her words ceased as she felt a snout pressing right into her face. She burst into laughter, hugging Bella. "Thank you, I needed that."
Bella grinned at Twilight. "Just wanted to see your eyes sparkle." She leaned in, wrapping Twilight close. She rubbed her cheek against Twilight's own. "And your smile. It's so lovely. Now I get why Brad would do things like that."
Twilight colored darkly, but held Bella back to herself with a slow sigh. "Thank you, really. It's so easy to focus on what you don't have and forget what's right there in front of you. At least until she just goes in for a snuggle." She nuzzled gently against Bella. "It's lovely having you here. And, I know I'm not the best with feelings and such, but thank you for everything."
Bella let out a little hum and squeezed Twilight warmly. "It's a new thing. As a horse, my feelings came and went in different ways. I had them, of course. I was sad, or happy, or excited or anything else, but it was mostly in here." She tapped a hoof to her head. "Now they can come out another way." She pointed to her flapping lips. "And everypony else actually listens and shares theirs and it's, well, I like it."
Twilight laughed and kissed her nose. "Good. I'm glad you feel that way." She leaned in to brush noses with Bella. "And I will always listen to you." She blushed with a nervous laugh. "Let's enjoy the company and wait for the ride to be over."
Bella laughed warmly and settled in beside Twilight.
***
Twilight took a deep breath in the cool night air. The stars above gleamed in their constellations, as if she were on a cloud gazing down from above. "Home sweet home." She trotted for the ramp leading off the platform away from the train. "Let's get back to the library. They may be worried about us."
Bella giggled softly, staying close to Twilight's side. "I think Brad would have sent a letter, or something similar."
Twilight got a quizzical look. "They could have asked Spike to send one, which would have gotten to Celestia. But that wouldn't reach us, especially while we were on the train." She got to the library and her horn glowed to open the door. "We're home!"
Spike was standing right there, grinning. "Hey Twi." He turned his head slightly towards Bella. "Two for the price of one? Neat. Brad! They're home!"
Bella looked down at Spike with a smile, then started laughing as he ran in place towards her. She lowered her head and let him clamber onto it. "Hello again, Spike. Enjoy your time with Brad?"
Brad came to a stop by them, reaching a hoof out to Twilight to pull her close. RC was a moment later, which turned into a full family hug of quiet.
Spike inclined his head, still on Bella. "It was fine. I made dinner. Oh! It's in the fridge if you want any."
Brad shook his head, holding his wives close. "We can have it for breakfast tomorrow morning."
Bella rubbed up against Twilight and Brad, eyes closed. "I agree. Bed."
Spike looked from where he was on top of Bella. "Wow, you all are really close." He slid to his feet, off Bella. "I'll be—"
RC caught him with a wing. "Where do you think you're going, Bro?"
Spike blinked with confusion. "Bro? Uh."
RC pointed at Twilight. "You're her brother." She pointed to herself. "I'm married to her. You are my brother in law. That's how that works." She pulled Spike in against her other side. "Which means I get to do this."
Spike let out a little squeak as RC started ruffling his head fins. "Whoa! Okay! Okay! Hey, uh, Sis? That's going to take some getting used to."
RC grinned and released Spike after some more rubbing. "I know I'm not Rarity, but we'll be one big family."
Spike blushed deeply. "It isn't that I don't like you, or Twilight, I just—" He waved a claw about the room, gesturing vaguely. "It's not about her! It's, uh, wow. I didn't think Twilight would not only get a special somepony, but get married to them so suddenly, is all." He shook his head a bit. "This is all so fast for me."
RC leaned down and gently brushed Spike with her wing. "Do you want me to leave? Or, well, not leave, but sleep somewhere else? I'm not trying to make this awkward for you."
Spike shook a hand. "I'll get used to it. None of you did anything wrong." He shrugged. "I just have to adjust to there being four more ponies living around me." Bella laughed at that. "Oh, right. Brad's a human sometimes, isn't he?" He peered at Brad, then Bella. "And you're an ancient pony. Totally normal, for this house."
Brad nodded at that, then grinned. "It's what I want. All this." He got another hug in with his wives. "All these wonderful mares and ponies. I love them all." He became a human, then paused. "Wait. I wasn't holding the statue." He dug it out. "How'd I do that? Change forms?"
Bella looked down at the statue. "I think the statue is a tool to help us learn. Now that we're practiced, we don't need it. You should probably still keep it, though.
Brad lifted a hand at that. "Nice idea, but we should actually test that."
Twilight pricked up. "A delightful idea!" She trotted away from Brad, becoming a human, then a pony, switching back and forth as she went further and further away from Brad. When she got about twenty'sh feet away, she turned back with a frown. She was a pony, making a noise of effort. "Huh, I can't switch back." She took another step forward, reaching towards Brad with a hand. She then began a series of hops, changing back and forth each time with little effort.
Bella grinned, turning into a horse to bump her face against Brad, then became human, turning to give Brad a little smooch. Brad wrapped an arm around her. "Alright, so we don't have to hold it, but it has to be kinda close."
Twilight trotted back in. "Utterly fascinating, and matches with the bridge link we've seen." She pointed a hoof between Brad and Bella. "You two need to be close, but don't have to be touching, to summon the bridge. I likely have to be close, but not touching, to direct it. RC has to be close to strengthen it." She nodded to the statue. "We each have our role in the bridge. The statue seems to have a similar range, at least twenty feet from the primary holder, you." She pointed at Brad. "Unless you want to pass us the statue."
He answered that by tucking it away. "If we don't need to touch it, we can all change how we want pretty freely alright."
Spike made a noise of effort, but nothing happened. "Aw shoot."
Twilight poked him gently. "I told you not to try that. We have no idea how it'd affect somecreature that wasn't a pony, horse, or human. Could you even change back if it did work?"
Bella flicked an ear at that, then moved in to nuzzle Spike gently. He let out a little eep and backed up. "Hey!"
She laughed warmly, stepping in closer to continue nuzzling Spike with her head. "You are an amazing little dragon. You don't need to be anything else."
He blushed darkly, trying to push away from Bella. "Okay! You can stop rubbing against me like that!"
Bella took a few more steps matching his pace, keeping the rub going. "I don't know."
Brad put a hand on her back. "Give him a little space. You are quite the snuggle bunny, aren't you?"
Bella nodded with a broad smile. "Yes!" She became a human. "Yes!" She was a horse. The whinny she let out was likely the same word, if one knew how to understand horses.
RC moved up and hugged Spike. "Alright, my turn." She pressed her snout to his warmed cheek. "I was serious, by the way. You're my little brother now. I accept all that means. You need something, you come to your big sis here and you get it!"
Twilight took a deep breath, then blew it out. "Okay, that's enough. There's going to be plenty of time for you two to have a new sibling relationship. But we have other things to do. Namely, sleep. It's already quite late."
Author's Note
The family's back together, yay! And some rules of how this works is figured out.
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