>Consciousness comes to you slowly
>Like the corpse of an obese bastard rising from a sinking ocean liner
>Waking dreams tickle the edges of your consciousness
>Your first impression is that wherever you are
>It's warm
>Or at least, that's the conclusion you draw from the feeling of abnormal warmth that permeates your entire being
>And you're laying on your belly
>Eventually, your eyes flicker open, and you're treated to the visage of a wall
>Not just any wall, though
>This wall is the wall of Lyra's house
>Ah, Lyra
>Such a good friend
>A maddening sense of familiarity pokes you when you think of her
>Something you're supposed to remember
>But can't
 
 
 
>You groan quietly
>You don't want to get up, it's so nice just l-
>...
>That's not your voice
>Your eyes pop open, and you lift your head to look around
>The first thing you catch sight of is an ancient, cracked tome in your hooves that you'd been sleeping in
>...
>You go to lift your left hand, and the mint green leg in front of you lifts up, closing the book
What the fuck
>You mutter
>...In Lyra's voice
>the sense of familiarity niggles at you once again, and you look up
>Laying in front of you is your body
>Your human body
>Its eyes are open
>And it smiles at you
 
 
>"I knew we could do it!"
>Says your body
>"Woah!"
>It finally hits you
>You agreed to this
This is so fucking weird
>You quip, still getting used to your new voice
>Your body is examining your hands, opening and closing them
>Then it reaches down and pulls your pants out
Hey!
>The body smirks
>"So that's what it looks like..."
We agreed!  Get my hands out of my pants!
>"Nyeh!"
>It sticks its tongue out at you, but does as you ask
 
 
>You carefully pull your hooves out from underneath the ancient text, and stretch out a bit
>Ever since Lyra found it in the library, she'd been wanting to try it
>And you were sort of curious what it was like to be a p0ny
>So eventually, you agreed
>And now here you are
>In Lyra's body
>"Anonymous, this is so COOL!"
>And she's in yours
Yeah, just don't wear 'em out
>you say, experimentally trying to rise
>The front legs aren't that hard
>Hell, they could be arms, if it weren't for not having hands on the ends
>But the back legs take some getting used to
>Way, way shorter than you're used to
>You wobble half way up, fighting the urge to bend them at a nonexistent joint
>And finally, you find yourself standing on four legs
 
 
This isn't so hard
>You say
>It's weird looking at things from this perspective
>you're used to being way taller
>"Pfft, try standing on two hooves"
>Why the hell not
You're on
>You say as you take a cautious step forward
>This form of walking is really stable
>It takes rather... more concentration to manage all four legs at once
>You aren't gonna be winning any races anytime soon
>But at least you can move
>You walk over to a counter and brace a hoof on it
>Behind you, Lyra sits up to watch
>It takes you a moment to find the proper muscles
>But when you do, your torso slowly rises
>When you finally get up on two hooves, you wobble a bit
 
 
>It's just like your spring stilts
>With no solid base, just standing on your toes, you have to remain in motion
>Constantly readjusting the position of your hooves minutely to keep balance
Hah!
>You say after a second
>A few later and you go back down to four hooves
>Much more comfortable
>"My turn!"
>Says Lyra
Easy
>You say, worried
>You don't need to wake up to fresh bruises when you switch back
>"Pfft, you're looking at the champion two leg stander in all of Equestria!" Scoffs Lyra
>"How hard can it be?"
Just be careful.
>"Okay"
>Lyra gets on your hands and knees and crawls over next to you, bracing on the counter
>"Having knees is weird" She says
This whole thing is weird
 
 
>Lyra presses down upon the counter, putting one knee and one boot on the floor like she's seen you do so many times
>She presses down with the foot, rising up
>Rising, rising, lifting the foot
>She's almost got her other foot on the ground...
>Then she releases the counter
>"Aaah!"
>And begins to sway wildly
Put your other foot down!
>You say, jumping closer
>Lyra lands a hand on your head, using you for support as she puts her other foot down
Takes a little getting used to, doesn't it
>The hand on the counter moves to the cabinet on the wall
>"Woah.... Anonymous, you're tall..."
Uhuh
>You grunt
>The hand is heavy on your head
 
 
>Lyra releases your head
>Then, she reaches her hand up to touch the ceiling in wonder
>Her jacket rides up on her shoulders as she does so
>She frowns, and begins to remove it
Little warm for you?
>"Yes"
>You chuckle
Probably should have taken it off before the spell
>She finally gets the zipper open
>Then pulls it off and sets it on a nearby couch
>You frown when she starts taking off your shirt
Why are you taking that off?
>She shrugs
>"I never got why you always wear clothes, and I don't see any reason to now..."
Hmmm.
 
 
>When she's got the shirt off, you call out to her
>You're inside her house, so you hardly have to worry about being seen shirtless
Lyra, lay down for a minute, will you?
>"Uh, okay?  Where"
On the ground, on your back.
>She obliges you slowly, still getting used to the different form
>And she nearly falls over
>But eventually, she lays prostrate on the ground in front of you
>"Anon, what are we gonna do on the carpet~"
Pfft
>You canter up to her
Hold still.
>You purse your lips
>And blow a stream of air over your chest
>You start at the belt line and move up to the pectorals
>You have to suppress a chuckle when gooseflesh erupts all across the abdomen and Lyra shivers violently
 
 
You like how that felt?
>"I-I-I-I" she stutters
Now imagine that all over your body constantly, every time it's windy outside
>"I-I guess I c-can see why now..." she says as she reaches for the shirt
>You poke her playfully with your hoof before it's all the way on
Good to know
>She grabs your hoof
>"These are a lot more sensitive than my hooves..."
I know, isn't it great?
>"Yeah!"
>It's still so wierd to look at your own face and not be the one controlling it
So, how do you work this thing, anyway
>"Hmm?"
>Lyra's busy feeling her face
>Your face
>You reach up a bit too hastily and touch your horn
>CLUNK
>FUCK
>OW
>THAT STINGS
FUCK
>Lyra grins at you
>"Well, you don't do it like that"
 
 
 
>When the pain in your forehead mounted bony appendage finally recedes, you look to Lyra again
>She's practicing walking
So, how do I preform magic?
>She glances back at you, pacing slowly across the room
>"You just have to concentrate, I guess.  There should be enough residual magical memory left for you to do basic magic, and preform the switch spell."
Soo...
>"So just focus on what you want to do, and imagine it happening."
>Welp
>Time to take 'er for a test drive
>You search around the room for a suitable target
>Ahah!
>That super ball will do nicely
>You stare at the offending object and marshal your willpower
>You want it to levitate
>There's the tiniest feeling of... something in your horn
>And then a mind bending bolt of agony shoots from the tip straight down into your brain
Aaaargh!
>You shout involuntarily as you collapse, clutching at your face with non existent hands
 
 
>The pain is all encompassing
>Lyra's saying something, concerned sounding
>But you've lost the ability to comprehend exactly what it is
>The tiny part of your mind that is still functioning and rational tells you it reminds you of the way a cramp feels
>Except it's like you're having a brain cramp
Ohfuckohfuckohfuckohfuckowwwwww
>Your hooves frantically massage your forehead, in an attempt to rub the pain away
>And after an untold amount of time
>It begins to recede
>You feel hands on your shoulders
>"Anonymous!"
>She sounds near panic
>You muster your will once more, tears leaking from the corners of your eyes
Does it hurt like that every time you do magic?
>"No!  Of course not"
Then why...
 
 
>"I was afraid this might happen."
>You pry your hooves away from your face, and look up, tears in the corners of your eyes
What might happen?
>"Magical burnout."
And that is...
>"Essentially, I burned out my... your capacity for magic."
>A bubble of panic surfaces, but you fight it down
Forever?!
>"Nono!" She backpedals
>"Just a few days, at most."
Why didn't you tell me this could happen?
>"I thought I'd be able to handle the spell.  Besides, can it really be that bad?"  
>"Heh, is the valiant Anonymous getting cold feet?"
I'm not saying it's bad, but Bonbon comes back from her parent's tomorrow, remember?
>Lyra stops dead in her tracks
>"Oh.  Oh yeah."
>Her cheeks color rather suddenly
I don't know if I can pretend to be you for a few days.  I thought it'd just be a few hours of dicking around
>"I, uh... yeah.  Sorry."
 
 
 
>You opt to press onward, instead of dwelling on your annoyance
So is there anything that can be done about it?
>Lyra scratches the back of her head
>"Well, Zecora makes a balm that cuts down on the recovery time..."
Huh.  That could work.  How much time does it shave off?
>"Well, it's been a while since I've had to use it, but I think it works overnight, so you could swap back in the morning"
Okay, that sounds good.
>You pan your head about for a bit before stopping
...You don't have any around, do you
>"Nope"
Guess we'll just have to go get some then!
>"Heh, guess so.  Uuuh, I'll get some bits."
>Lyra gets up and goes for the door to the hallway
Uuh, Lyra, be c-
>KLONK
>She walks straight into the top of the door frame, making you wince
 
 
>"Oooowww buck" Moans Lyra, clutching her head
One thing you will quickly learn
>You note, cantering over to her
Is that the buildings are not designed with your new height in mind.  
>"Buuuuuck"
Don't feel bad, it took me two weeks to remember to duck
Are you going to be okay?
>Lyra sucks air in through her teeth
>"I think so."
Can I get the bits?
>"Uuuh."
>"There's a lockbox under my bed in my room with a handle on the top.  Can you go and get it?"
Yeah, I can do that
 
 
>You pass Lyra sitting on the floor and go down the hallway
>The handle on the green door yields to your hoof, admitting you into Lyra's modest bedroom
>A massive, golden lyre sparkles softly in the corner where the bright sunlight strikes it
>Trotting inside, you examine the bed
>It's just high enough for you to get under
>If you get down on your belly
>You head right up and plop down
>Nudging the curtains aside, you peer underneath the gloomy space
>There are a few boxes, but they're open topped
>Then your eyes light upon a solid looking metal box with a tumbler and a handle on the top
>It's juuuust within reach
>You're about to grab it in your mouth, when something stops you
>And yanks your head back
>Ooooh
>Your horn caught on the underside of the mattress
>You pull back and down, and free your horn
>And finally manage to catch the handle in your teeth
>It's well worn
>You back out from under the bed slowly with your prize
>It drags heavy, and you have to tug pretty hard
>When you're finally out, you try to rise
>but the weight of the box is too much for your beginner's understanding of quadrupedal mobility
>You instead opt to release the box and rise
>Then arch your head down and take the handle once more
>You trot back through the doorway, instinctively ducking
>And then head back down the hallway to Lyra
 
 
>Lyra has moved from the floor to the couch
>"Thanks, Anonymous" She says
Nu problemfsh
>You say, trying to articulate around the handle
>You set it on the coffee table
>Lyra spins the dials to three numbers you take care to not notice, muttering
What was that?
>"I said, this is so cool!"
Heh
>She tugs on the handle, and the lid pops open
>Inside, you see a plethora of objects
>A tiny golden lyre sitting on top of a sheaf of papers and a large, brown sack being the most prominent
>Lyra takes the sack just as you feel a familiar twinge in your belly
>You head out for the hallway
>"Where are you going?"  she calls
Answering nature's call
>You shout over your shoulder
>"Hey, be quick, could you?  It's getting late and I don't want to be in the Everfree in the dark..."
Can do
>You're at the bathroom door when she shouts one more time
>"HEY, DON'T PISS ALL OVER MY HOOVES, OKAY?"
HA HA HA
>You shout back, trotting through the door and kicking it closed behind you
 
 
>You have to admit, it's quite a novel experience being able to use the toilet without having to bend over, crouch, squat or kneel to keep from hitting your head on the ceiling
>Coming back into the living room, you find Lyra on the couch once more
>The lockbox on the table is gone, replaced with a pair of saddlebags
>Lyra picks them up and puts them on you
>The weight settles comfortably on your back
Why can't you carry the bits?
>"Because you're the one that's buying the balm" she responds
>"I'm just your friendly neighborhood Anonymous, along to help poor Lyra with her fine motor control since she went and burned her magic out."
Fair enough
>You respond, heading for the door
>Good thing Lyra lives on the edge of town
>If you're lucky, you won't have to interact with anyone besides Zecora
>And you know her well enough it shouldn't be hard
>Lyra gets up and snatches up your jacket, goofing through putting it on
>Then she follows you out the door
>She even manages to not knock your head on it
 
 
 
>You're on your way back from Zecora's
>And you pass by Sweet Apple Acres
>Big Mac's in the fields
>Working up quite a sweat, too, if you're any judge
>You almost wave to him, but you stop yourself in time
>You don't know what kind of relationship Lyra has with Big Mac
>And you don't want to presume
>Behind you, you hear Lyra
>She's been walking funny
>Her steps are off
 
 
>You finally get through the door to Lyra's house, and exhale
>You didn't run into any p0nies at all
>"Hey, uh, Anonymous..." You hear Lyra mutter behind you
>"Got a bit of a problem here..."
>You hear the door close
>And wheel around
What kind of -JESUS CHRIST!
>And nearly get a facefull of boner
>Kind of hard to miss, it being at eye level and all
>"How do I get rid of it?"
Uuuuh
>You say, backing up and playing for time
It should just go away on its own if you ignore it
>"It's been there all the way back"
Oh.  
>You're doubly glad that nobody saw the pair of you
Do you have to go to the bathroom?
>"I-Hm."
Give that a shot, then
>"I think I will"
>She heads down the hall as you shed the saddlebags
>And fish out the balm
 
 
>You push the balm across the coffee table with your hoof, marveling at the joints
>It's a clear, green looking goop in a glass jar
>One whose seal you won't be able to undo until Lyra gets back from the bathroom
>Speaking of which...
>She's been in there awhile
>You rise from your haunches and head down the hall
>When you get to the bathroom door, you raise a hoof and pound on it
Lyra
>There's a loud crash from within
>"What?"
Lyra, are you playing with my dick?
>'Nooooooo~" Comes the reply
Lyraaaaaaaaaaaaaa
>"Anonymooooooose" she replies
>You hear the toilet flush
>And then the sink running
>Eventually the door opens, and Lyra grins down at you
 
 
>"I had a little trouble... aiming, so I had to clean up."
>"And then I had to wash my hands afterward, of course"
>You have your suspicions
>But for now, you'll keep them to yourself
>You'll know tomorrow for sure
Okay, that makes sense.
>You turn around and head down the hallway
>Lyra passes you and goes into the living room
>She plops down on the couch and picks up the balm
>The seal comes loose with a pop as she opens it
>You know jars can be opened with hooves, but you're not experienced enough to manage it
>"C'mere" She says
Sooo...
>"Just C'mere"
>You canter across the living room
How's this going to work...
>"I'll tell you right now, this is gonna feel really weird.  but in a good way."
>"Now, hold still"
>She takes your jaw in one hand
 
 
>The jar slides down your horn with a wet schlorp
>You shudder involuntarily as a soothing coolness spreads throughout the appendage
>The jar finally comes to rest against your forehead
>Doesn't even feel too heavy
>The balm itself is somewhere between jello and vaseline in consistency
>So it stays in place, instead of running down into your eyes
>The coolness permeates your horn, alleviating an ache you didn't even know was there
Ooooohhhhh
>"It feels good, doesn't it?"
Yeahhhhh
>You sit down
>It feels, you decide
>Like Aloe Vera on sunburn
>If said sunburn was felt through the entire limb
>And the Aloe Vera was also
>Sudden motion causes you to open your half lidded eyes
>Lyra's consulting your watch
>"Fifteen minutes" she says
 
 
>Lyra leads you into the bathroom at the twelve minute mark
>And runs the bath water until it's hot
>Then she removes the jacket, and rolls up your sleeves
Lyra, what are we gonna do in the shower?
>you ask somewhat distractedly
>The soothing coolness has progressed to almost painful icyness
>"We're gonna get that off you" She says
>"Usually this is handled by another unicorn, but... well... yeah.  I've never done it that way, so I don't know how this is going to feel for you."
>The undertones of sympathy and concern in her voice remind you why she's one of your closer friends
I'll... heh, I'll do my best
>"Good.  Now, hop in the tub"
>You do as instructed, as she checks your watch
>"This IS waterproof, right?"
Damn straight
>"Okay, good."
>She reaches up, and you feel her grip the jar
>She begins to pull
>You brace your hooves in the tub
>But it's wet and slippery
>You slide down towards her, and she frowns
>Then she stops pulling
>"Back up again"
Okey
>You back up a ways, and Lyra dries her hands off and comes at you again
 
 
>This time she uses both hands
>One on the jar, one braced on your head immediately surrounding the horn
>She begins to pull
>More and more pressure she applies, until finally
>To an orchestra of wet sucking sounds
>The jar comes free
>But not the sensation of icy coldness
>You glance at the mirror
>There's a jar shaped blob of goop on your horn
>"I was afraid this was going to happen"
So what now?
>"Now we wash it off" she says, pulling the shower curtain partway across
>Determined to make yourself useful, you reach up and hit the hot water knob
>Lyra pulls the appropriate valve, and hot water rains down upon you
 
 
 
>It's an interesting feeling
>The water running down your coat
>You're used to it being bare skin
>"Put your horn under the showerhead" She commands, and you obey
>The warmth of the water and the cold of the gel produce an interesting contrast on your scalp
>You can feel the gel weakening, however
>Lyra reaches out and grabs it
>She squeaks in surprise as her fingers knife right through the softening goop
>And straight to the horn underneath
>For your part, you inhale sharply
>The horn is surprisingly sensitive
>And the sensation of rough ridges over soft flesh, where before there was only uniform gook is causing goosebumps to rise all over your body
>And tingles in parts of your nether regions that up until now you hadn't paid too much attention to
>Lyra immediately releases your horn
>And all the balm except an inch thick ring at the base falls away to the bottom of the tub
>"Wow Anonymous, you're strong..."
Yes, I lift
>you grunt, trying to distract yourself
>After a break, Lyra reaches a finger out and breaks the remaining ring
>It joins the rest of the balm in the bottom of the tub, dissolving in the running water
>"You, ah... you think you can handle the rest?"
Yeah.  Yeah, I got this
>You respond
>Lyra pulls the shower curtain closed
>"See you in a bit then"
 
 
 
>After the door closes, you have a shower to yourself
>A fair portion of which you spend recovering
>Eventually, you manage to work the pump on the shampoo
>And lather yourself up
>A not so quick rinse later, and you shut the water off
>You marvel at the mobility of the p0ny body as you towel off
>You've seen it before, but seeing it firsthand really confirms it
>No horse from Earth would be able to do what you're doing now
>You make one last use of the facilities, before heading back into the living room
 
 
 
>Lyra's on the couch
>"C'mere" she beckons, patting the cushion next to her
>You yawn, and approach
>Why not?
>It's getting late
>And it's not like you can go home
>You climb up on the couch
>And squeak when a pair of hands grab your sides and flip you over
W-what-
>"Ssssshhh" She shushes
>"No wierdness now.  Only dreams."
>You're about to protest further when the warm hands run up and down your exposed belly
>It's like you've never felt before
I-I... ooooohhhhh....
>"You see why I like your hands so much now?"
I-I g-guess... yeah...
>You've done this for her before, once or twice
>And you resolve to do it more in the future
 
 
>You're about to fall asleep when the hands stop
Hey!
>you say, yawning afterwards
What'dja quit for?
>"Roll over" she says
>You oblige her, and she pulls you up onto her lap
>You'd complain, but you're kinda sleepy
>Then the hands come again
>This time, they scratch briefly behind your ears
>Then, like a pack of jet skis on a green and white sea, the fingers run up and down through your mane
>You absolutely melt on her lap
I'm definitely gonna do this more often...
>You mutter
>"Good" she replies
>Then you hear her yawn
>You lay your head down on the couch on the far side
>And close your eyes
>Your final thought as you drift off to sleep is that hands are awesome
>And not having magic sucks