Alchemy Chapter 1: Nigredo Calcination

>Be Apple Bloom.
>You could not be more sure that this would work.
>You and the other two crusaders had decided that you would try alchemy.
>Right now, you were deciding what you'd try to do.
>"Ooh! That looks cool!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed
What is it?
>"Yeah, what is it?" asked Scootaloo, as you both looked down at the page Sweetie Belle was pointing out.
Creating... Life.
>"You sure that'd work...?" asked Scoots.
>"Yeah, all the instructions are right here! I'm sure we can replace a few things here... for instance, I don't think we'll need this basilisk blood thingie...

>It wasn't long before the cauldron was bubbling with a ferocity, the liquid inside all green.
All right... now it wants a pegasus feather to start up the reaction. The age of the feather's owner is the age of the resulting soul...
>You plucked a feather from Scoots, who yelped in shock and a bit of pain. Ignoring her, you dropped it into the cauldron... and it started screaming.

~~~

>You are Anon, a humble college student.
>And you just burst into flames.
>You run out of your bedroom and try to get to your dorm's bathroom, screaming your head off and no doubt waking up your roommates.
>You don't make it. Your legs collapse under you as you feel the air and life sucked out of you, consumed by the fire...

~~~

>Your first thought is that being dead wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
>You're all cramped up in the... hard round thing you're stuck in.
>Then you realize that you're not dead. You can't be- this thing you're stuck in is reverbrating your heartbeat back to your ears... Oh yeah, that reminds you, you have ears.
>And they're picking up three screaming little girls.
Neugh... I... Could someone get me out of here? What's going on...?
>You struggle to move, before finally popping your head out.
>You're in some sort of cauldron. It's fast getting really hot and uncomfortable in it, and you can swear that you're already smelling the scent of... burnt horsehair? Odd.
>And right behind you are three... odd-looking horses. One has a pink bowtie in her hair, and the other two... an orange one with wings and a white one with a horn?!
>You're quickly distracted by a very, VERY familiar burning sensation on your hindquarters, that sends you screaming in pain, trying to get out of the cauldron.
NYAAAAGH I'M BURNING I'M BURNING HELP ME!!!
>The fillies quickly drag you out of the cauldron and use a fire extinguisher to put out your burning legs and ass, then turn off the cauldron.
>You faint from the pain, but the last thing you see is the reflection of a mirror... showing a green filly with black hair...

~~~

Euuugh....
>"Oh! You're waking up!"
>You're soothed by the gentle, hushed, almost melodious voice that greets your ears, but your eyes push on in their attempt to open, especially at the musky scent that permeates the room. And your aching rear end isn't helping matters.
>The first thing you see is the back of a slightly dirty green couch. You deem it not enough to explain your situation, and roll over a bit, wincing as your ass brushes against the bottom of the couch.
>You're greeted by the sight of a butter yellow... Pegasus? Pegasus, yeah. You knew what little bit of greek mythology one could glean from that one Disney movie, and that was the name you were giving these winged horses until you knew what they really were.
>So yeah, a butter yellow pegasus with a flowing cotton-candy-pink mane and gentle blue eyes, who was towering over you like an adult would when you were six.
>What the fuck happened to your head?
Who... who are you...? And what are you...?
>"My name is Fluttershy, dearie... and I'm a pegasus pony. Do you have a name...?"
>Whaddya know. You oughta listen to your instincts more, because you totally called that one.
Y-yeah... call me Anon... wait, why is my voice so high...?
>"It's not supposed to be...?"
Yeah...
>"Hm. Twilight might want to know that... She's a friend of mine, she wanted to study you but I convinced her to let me take care of you. You're hurt after all..."
Hurt? Nh... yeah, what's the damage, Doc...?
>"Well, your hind legs sustained a few second-degree burns, including ah... your private parts..."
>Oh god.
>They hurt Little Anon.
"My dick's burnt?! I... it's still there right? They didn't burn it off?!"
>This startles the pegasus, who shakes her head a bit
>"I... n-no-"
No? No to what?!
>"Y-you never had one... You uhm, you... you have filly parts..."
>Time slows to a stop.
Y-you're not serious. You have to be joking, Doc...
>Fluttershy only backs away, mumbling.
I... Y-you can't be... I...
>You throw off the blanket covering you and freeze.
>While your lower parts are covered by bandages, there's a rather obvious cameltoe in the bandages.
>She was right. Little Anon was no more, replaced by a gash between your legs... but that's only half of your shock.
>The rest comes from the shape of your legs, and the green fur covering your chest and... well, everything else not covered by bandages.
I... I'm a pony... girl...?!
>"Y-you're not supposed to be?"
N-no! I'm supposed to be a human! A guy at that! N-now I...
>"I... I'm sorry... uhm, d-do you want a mirror...?"
...Yeah...
>The pegasus meekly walks out of the room, as you look back at your bandaged and burnt body. You decide to touch your new fillyhood through the bandages, to see if being a filly had any perks of that type...
>Big mistake. Your burnt nethers scream at your already-reeling brain.
>WE'RE STILL UNDER RECONSTRUCTION YOU IDIOT!!! WE'RE BURNED FOR FUCK'S SAKE, WE'RE NOT READY!!!
>You let out a yelp of pain and place your forehooves protectively in front of your bandaged cootch for a few seconds.
>You then lean back, sighing in indignation as you look back down at your bandage "pants" and furry chest.
>Finally, Dr. Butter Mellow comes back with a small hand mirror. (Hoof mirror?)
Thanks...
>You take it from the timid pone and examine your new face.
>Staring back at you from under a tangled mess of black hair is the face of a confused but cute young filly, with eyes the same shade of green as her fur.
>With a sigh of resignation, you hand (hoof?) the mirror back to Dr. Butters and grab the blanket, trying to get comfortable on the couch despite your burns.
>"Uhm, if you want a bed, I can get you one..."
No, no, it's fine... I've slept on couches before...
>A growl comes from a savage pit somewhere in your abdomen.
>FEEEEED MEEEE ANOOOON
>"Uhm... you sure you don't want something to eat before you go to sleep?"
...Yeah, you're right, I am kinda hungry...
>The butterscotch pone disappears as you try to calm the rabid stomach residing in your gut with empty promises of foods you'd had before. Even the mention of Mom's chocolate chip cookies didn't assuage the starving beast- it only made it angrier.
>Finally, a warm, inviting scent reaches your nostrils as 'Dr. Butters' returns, a few plates of food balancing on her back. And just on cue, every single woodland animal you could ever think of raced into the room, turning the homey living room into a veritable zoo.
>She went about, placing plates of vegetables and fruits and meats in front of different animals, as they- surprisingly- patiently waited their turn to be served.
>Finally, she placed a sandwich on a plate into your lap, causing you to wince a bit, and sits down with one of her own.
>After looking at the amazing spectacle of all the animals eating together peacefully, you look back down at the sandwich and do a double take.
>It's a hay sandwich.
Uhm... why is this...?
>"O-oh, I'm sorry... Is it undercooked...?"
It's... hay.
>"...Uhm, yeah... is that a problem? I have some oats in the fridge if you'd prefer that..."
>This makes you stop and look over to Fluttershy, and you see that she's eating pretty much the same thing.
>Of course. They're horses, of course they eat hay.
>You turn back to your own sandwich, and consider it. You are a horse yourself, technically, and well...
>What's good for the goose is good for the gosling...
>You take a bite out of the sandwich and immediately freeze.
>It's PORK.
>For some odd reason, the hay tastes like shredded pork!
>After a few more tentative bites, you start gulping down the sandwich, all the while trying to think up some sort of reason why this sandwich would taste like a pulled pork barbecue sandwich to you.
>By the end of the sandwich, you believe you have a hypothesis down.
>Humans never eat hay, but at the same time horses never eat meat. You suppose it'd make sense for your human mind to be reprogrammed to equate the alien-to-a-pony taste of meat to the alien-to-a-human taste of hay.
>It does make you wonder what other things taste like what other meats...
>Finally you turn to Fluttershy to find her a bit shocked at your enthusiasm at eating the sandwich.
...O-oh, ahm... I ah, I've never eaten hay before... It was really good though. Oh, and can I have something to drink, please?
>She giggles a bit and leaves for the kitchen, quickly coming back with a glass of milk.
>While nursing this glass, you start to think... This was probably a whole new world you were in. You were pretty small, at least judging from the size of the glass and the fact that Buttersworth was twice your size... Either you were a child or a dwarf...
Erm, Miss Fluttershy?
>"Yes, dearie?"
Ahm... if you were to look at me, how old would you say I was?
>"About six years old."
And... what age would I have to be to be an adult?
>"Eighteen... why?"
>Yep, you were a child. Fuck.
Just... just checking...
>You turn back to your now-half-empty milk glass, sighing.

~~~

>after a bit, Fluttershy moves over to you, and starts to undo your bandages.
What're you doing?
>"Changing your bandages."
>You accept this, and sigh, watching her. Underneath your bandages, your fur is gone, replaced by angry, red skin that looks... wet, for some reason, although it doesn't feel like it.
>You also get your first look at your lower lips. Or as much as you can see without a mirror.
>Before she can wrap your legs back up, much less your filly bits, a knock at the door calls her away.
>"I'll be right back. Don't touch it, you'll only make it worse..."
>She leaves, opens the door, and before she can react, three excitable-looking fillies about your age burst through the door, past her, and rush over to you. You recognize them as the fillies that... erm, greeted you to this world? Yeah.
Uhm... hello?
>"Hello! Ah'm Apple Bloom, an' this is Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo," the yellow one tells you, guesturing to her friends. "We made you!"
>"Now now," Fluttershy quietly protests, "She just got through a rather terrifying ordeal, and she's really hurt-"
>"I... I think we might've needed that basilisk blood," Scootaloo says, looking at your burnt lower half. "She's unfinished."
>"U-uhm, maybe you should stop-"
>"No she isn't!" protests Sweetie Belle. "She's burnt! Remember? I told you we should've turned the heat down, but no, you said she'd incubate quicker!"
>"U-uhm, please, girls, stop arguing-"
>"Says the one who burns juice!" retorts Scootaloo.
GIRLS. PLEASE. STOP.
>The three look to you.
Look, I appreciate the fact that you're fighting over me, but I've had a long day, I'm really hurt, and I'm still trying to get over the fact that I'm not only a pony, but also a girl AND a kid, so could you either quiet it down or bicker someplace other than right next to me?
>This stuns the three girls for quite a bit. Finally, Sweetie Belle speaks up.
>"I... I'm sorry... C-can you forgive us...?"
Yeah, sure, whatever. Anyways, my name's Anon.
>"Anon? That's a funny name..." the yellow one replies. The other two nod at this.
Well, what would you three name me?
>"That's easy! Green Hornet!" Scootaloo shouts.
>"Warm Meadows!" Sweetie Belle exclaims.
>"Apple Fritter...? No, that's my aunt... Apple Pie? No, cousin... Apple Cinnamon? No, that's my great-great uncle..."
>"Apple Bloom, she doesn't have to have an apple-related name..." Sweetie Belle retorts.
>"Yes she does! She's technically related to me, right? That means she's an Apple!"
Eh... actually, I think I like Green Hornet. Still prefer Anon though...
>This makes Scootaloo jump up and down in joy at her name being chosen, while Sweetie Belle sighs. Apple Bloom, however, storms away in rage.
What's wrong?
>"YOU'RE AN APPLE! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN APPLE-RELATED NAME!"
>She leaves the house, leaving you with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.
>"I ahm... I think that's enough... Anon- erm, Hornet needs her alone time and I need to finish putting her new bandages on..."
>With a sigh, the other two fillies leave the house. They're quickly replaced at your side by Fluttershy, who gets back to putting on your bandages. Good thing too- the more you looked at your burnt belly the worse you felt...
You know, I only chose Green Hornet to shut them up.
>"Y-yes, but... it does sound more like a pony's name, doesn't it...?"

~~~

>It's been a few weeks.
>You'd been moved to a bed, and nursed back to health there.
>While there, you'd gotten friendly with a black kitten that liked to rest on your pillow.
>She seemed to like cheese. You decided to name her Brimstone.
>Finally, it was time. The pain had receded, and you're under the impression that the burn had healed.
>And just in time, Fluttershy's there to change your bandages.
>You don't mind as she gently peels back the bandages, but she squeaks after a bit. Your skin isn't red anymore- it's a gentle shade of pink, and some fur is growing back here and there.
>"It's done... I'll need to check the rest, but you're largely out of the woods."
All right... wait, where's my fur down there?
>"It'll take a bit to grow back. In the meantime you'll need to wear some clothes. In fact, my friend Rarity will be here soon to make you a dress!
>A dress. Great. This'll be rich. You sigh as she finishes removing the bandages from you, and as if on cue, a white unicorn with a flowing purple mane steps into the room, a few bolts of cloth and some thread behind her.
>"Where is the little darling? Auh, she's so cute... and she's a mess. Well! I'll fix you up, free of charge!"
Waitwaitwait!
>Before you can protest, you're pulled into a flurry of cloth, brushes, even a bit of shampoo and makeup. Finally, as the cloud of fashion fades away, you are shown a mirror.
>You have enough makeup on your face to turn a banshee into a pretty little princess, and you're outfitted with the largest, frilliest dress possible.
>By the gods you look girly.
But... but...
>"Not your style?"
>You nod.
>And back into the cloud of cloth, brushes, shampoo, and makeup you go...

~~~

>Finally, the cloud recedes and you step out.
>While you still have enough makeup on your face to make a hag look fabulous, the frilly dress has been replaced by a sharp-looking buisiness suit, finished with a small black miniskirt. Behind the miniskirt are a pair of black panties, and black pantyhose covers up the exposed skin of your hind legs.
>While you weren't hot on the skirt and pantihose, you *were* a filly, and you suppose that you had to get used to a few feminine touches.
Ahm... why the makeup?
>"You don't like it, dahling?"
With the suit, I look like a clown.
>"All right, let me find something else to put you in-"
NONONO! I LIKE SUIT! I LIKE SUIT! I just don't like the makeup...
>"All right..."
>Rarity sighs as she scrubs the makeup from the fur of your face, before adding a little bit of mascara to your eyes and stepping away.
>Now you look like a secretary.
...Eh, it'll do... Thank you.
>"Not a problem, dearie!"
>Rarity kisses you on the forehead and walks away, carrying the bolts of cloth and frilly pink dress with her using her magic.
>With that, you decide that you've had enough of being cooped up in this cabin...
>You decide that you'd take a stroll around whatever place these ponies lived in, see what was there.
>After telling Fluttershy you were taking a walk through town, you walk out the door and down a rather long path.
>Finally, you reach what seems to be a small town. A few ponies shoot you a few glances, but you write it off as your being new to the town and being so sharply-dressed.
>After all, it did seem to be a small town.
>Eventually, you see a pair of seemingly well-to-do fillies sharing some chatter over a pair of milkshakes.
>Curiosity gets the better of you, and you walk over.
>"So then Daddy got me some more silver and a few diamonds, and let me make a new one!" the pink one says, taking off her rather ornate tiara and showing it to her gray friend. "What do you think?"
>"Much better than your old one," the gray one says, adjusting her glasses. "But of course it is, you have more experience now, right? I wish I could make jewelry, all I can do is brew tea..."
>"And you're going to be the best in Canterlot, serving tea to the Princesses. Besides, you have that lineage behind you to back you up, right?"
>"Yeah, yeah. Still... oh?"
>The two rich fillies turn to see you and your sharp suit, and smile.
>"Why, hello! My name's Diamond Tiara, and this is Silver Spoon. And you are?"
Oh, ahm... My name's Green Hornet. May I sit here...?
>The fillies nod, and you pull up a seat at their table, between the two.
>"So," Diamond starts, "Where are you from?"
Well, I'm from this city called Memphi-
>"OOOOH! You're from MEMFILLY?!" Spoon interjects. "I hear it's absolutely gorgeous!"
Uhm... yeah, it is. Music's even better, though.
>You'd originally meant to say Memphis, but this works.
>And it's apparently working pretty well.
>"Well, what about the suit?" Diamond interjects. "Where'd you get it?"
>"Yeah, and how much was it?" Spoon follows up.
Well, my dad knows this guy, and he was able to get it at a big discount... Not sure how much, but I think it was still at least a thousand dollars...
>The two fillies oohed at this. Your ego lifting a bit at this and spurring you on, you continued spinning a tale about your single rich father raising you in a posh room in a riverboat casino he owned, until he sent you to live with your aunt down here in the "boonies" so you could learn "how the common folk think".
>And they eat up every single word. They don't even flinch when you let slip that your "aunt" is Fluttershy, even reasoning that of course she had some rich ponies in her family- someone had to pull some strings for HER to become a model.
>This even gives you the idea to try making a few bucks by letting a few fillies and colts play a few hands of blackjack with you as the dealer. All you needed was a deck of cards...
>Before you can impress the two further with a mention of an indoor pool in the fictional casino riverboat you "used to call home," you freeze as you hear a very familiar face shout your name from behind you.
>"Green Hornet! What in tahnation are yah doin' talkin' to Diamond Tiarah an' Silvah Spoon?!"
>"She's another Babs Seed, isn't she..."
>You stiffly turn around to see the CMC in a sort of formation, with Apple Bloom taking "point" and Scoots and Sweetie on the "wings".
>Diamond looks at you with a pretty convincing I'm-going-to-destroy-your-entire-career-if-you-fuck-this-up gaze. "Do you... know... these fillies?"
Yeah... Aunt Fluttershy introduced me to them. Said I should make some friends if I was to be here for a while...
>"Friends?" says Silver Spoon. "Oh, don't worry about them. We're your friends, you don't have anything in common with them anyways."
>"Yeah... who needs friends like them anyways..."
>"Green?" a concerned-sounding Sweetie Belle said. "You... you're not..."
>Honestly, this dissappointed you. It really did. But you could see what was happening from a mile off- peer pressure trying to section you off, and keep you away from... well, away from the first ponies you'd ever seen.
>It might've been the Scootaloo feather or the Apple Bloom hair in you, or maybe it was the three drops of Unicorn blood in you that had replaced the Basilisk blood, so graciously given from Sweetie Belle... but you somehow felt a lot closer to the CMC than you did these two...
>However, you didn't know much about the CMC other than that they brought you here and fucked you up quite a bit in the process. In addition, they *were* a bit annoying...