Survival is Key: Ch.12

>You are Anonymous, and just a few minutes ago, you were turned into a p0ny.

>Not just any p0ny, but a freakin' ALICORN

>And right now, you want to know just WHY you've been turned into an Alicorn.

>Twilight shifted in her seat, squirming under your rather impressive imitation of Fluttershy's "Stare".

>"W-Well..." she began, her eyes darting around the room.

"Yeah?"

>"I don't really know WHY... When I was preparing the spell, I had a vague image of what I wanted to turn you into. I wanted to turn you into a p0ny, sure, but not THIS kind of p0ny..."

"So how did you end up turning me into THIS?"

>"If I had to guess... I'm thinking that without proper instruction, the spell might have reacted to your own magical energies, and altered the spell accordingly."

>You blink. It was a plausible explanation, that was for sure. But you didn't like what said explanation implied.

"So... you're saying that this is somehow MY fault?"

>"Yes... Uh, NO! Maybe, I don't know! Not directly, at least..."

>You sigh.

"Well... how long do you think it'll be before the transformation wears off?"

>"Well... I was originally going to make the spell last a few minutes, so you could 'get a good feel' for the spell like you were saying earlier. But thanks to the... mishap, I'd estimate anywhere from a few minutes to the rest of the day."

>A whole day like this didn't sound so bad, but quite frankly, you weren't the kind of person, or p0ny, in this case, that liked to be cooped up.

>You considered leaving the library, and despite concerns from both Luna and Twilight, you assured them that if you explained the situation to the townsfolk, everything would be fine.

 

>Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.

>Even after explaining the situation and stressing that it was (hopefully) a temporary thing, the townsfolk treated you with far more respect than you were used to. Less respect than say, the Princesses, but still too much for you to be comfortable.

>Even Twilight's friends, mainly Rarity and Fluttershy acted different around you. Well, except for Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. Once Applejack realized that Alicorn or not, you were still you, she loosened up, if only a little.

>Fluttershy was even quieter than normal, and Rarity, well...

>"Oh Anonymous, you simply MUST tell me what it feels like! To be an alicorn just like the princesses... Oh, it must be magical!"

>You sigh, all six of you, eight if you counted Twilight and Luna at a nearby table, sat down at the open air cafe, munching away on some sandwiches. The fact that the daisy sandwiches tasted GOOD seemed rather weird to you. Normally, you would have been put off by the idea of a sandwch made with flowers.

"Heh, uh... Yeah, that's one way to put it. It's not a permanent thing though."

>Or, you HOPED it wasn't, anyway.

>"Why would you say that, Anonymous? Aren't you enjoying being an alicorn?"

"To be perfectly honest, Rarity... No, I'm not."

>At that point, everyone's heads lifted up. You swore their necks extended a little.

>"Why not?"

"Well... I just don't feel comfortable this way. I don't like how differently people treat me just because I have a horn and wings. I'm not royalty. I'm not even a real pony. I'm me. Anonymous. That's who I am. I don't want anyone to forget that just because of a little transformation spell."

 

>"Oh... I'm so sorry..."

>Rarity fell silent, a sentiment shared around the table. No one was sure of what to say to you after that.

>You sigh.

"It's fine. You didn't know. I can't fault you for that."

>That seemed to make her feel better, you think. She managed to smile, if only a little.

>"Still... I can't help but feel AWFUL for going on and on like I did, while you suffered in silence!"

"Uh, I didn't really..."

>"Oh pish-tosh! Don't say another word! I simply MUST do something to fix this!"

"Uh, Rarity, you don't really need to--"

>"NONSENSE! I am the representative of the Element of Generosity! What kind of pony would i be if I didn't do something for a friend that I have wronged so terribly?"

>There was that twitch again. Slamming your hoof down on the table, you speak in the best imitation of Luna's Royal Canterlot Voice you could muster.

"RARITY."

>THAT got her to stop.

>"Y-Yes?"

"You don't have to do anything for me. You don't NEED to, and I don't WANT you to. The fact that you're willing to go to such lengths is good enough for me."

>"Are you sure, Anonymous?"

"Positive. Now can we please get back to the food? I like my sandwiches fresh, you know."

>There's a general murmur of agreement, and the eight of you resume eating.

>You still can't get over how fucking DELICIOUS this daisy sandwich is.

>You hoped that once you changed back, you wouldn't get sick from ingesting these flowers.

>That was one can of worms you did NOT want to open.

 

>After you all finished your meals, You, Twilight and Luna returned to the library.

>"I have to admit, Anon... I didn't know you felt that way."

"It's not so much that I didn't like being turned into an alicorn, Twi... It's just that I don't like being treated so differently because of BEING an alicorn. It just feels weird, you know?"

>"We can understand your predicament, if only a little."

>You turn to Luna, who was busy flipping through a copy of "Myths of Equestria".

>That's right... She's dealt with discrimination too. Though, what she's had to shoulder far outweighs your current situation by leaps and bounds.

>Now you felt like shit.

>Your eyes widen, that wasn't the only thing you were feeling.

>There was that heat in your gut.

>You wince as you hear the sickening crack of your bones being reshaped, your wings receding into your body, and your horn doing the same.

>You howl as you feel your hooves' composition changing, softening, then separating into individual digits, forming your hands and feet.

>You're in too much pain to try and stand up. When the transformation ends, you're fully clothed, remembering that they were transformed along with you.

>How that worked, you didn't know. You were in too much pain to question it, so you chalked it up to magic.

>You can hear the scrambling of hooves and claws. You flip onto your back to find Twilight, Spike, and Luna standing over you, their faces full of worry.

>"Anon/Sir Anonymous! Are you alright?"

>Your only response is a lopsided grin, which very quickly turns into a wide eyed frown.

>Ignoring the pain shooting through your body, you immediately ascend the stairs, clutching your stomach.

 

>It wasn't long before the three of them crowded the bottom of the stairwell, sharing worried glances as they listened to your continued howls of pain.

>"Anon? A-Are you alright?"

>Twilight's only reply are your weak groans, and sounds that the two ponies and the dragon pup would rather forget coming from the upstairs bathroom.

>You REALLY shouldn't have eaten those daisy sandwiches.