-Browser Pone Opera pt.12-

>"Mhm. What'd you have in mind?"
"Oh, I know a gorgeous place. You might be looked at funny for running around there like a spazz, though."
>She very lightly smacks the back of your head
>"You're about as funny as season 21 family guy"
>She smirks
>Ow
>Low blow, Opera, low blow
>You caress her earlobe as the two of you walk, before experimentally scratching behind her ear
>"MMmmm...More of that, please"
>You comply
"So, Opera, tell me, when did you grow a spine?"
>You're careful to keep your tone light and joking
>You've met - hell, dated, even - women who would castrate you for less
>She doesn't miss a beat
>"About around the time a moose ran off with yours" she replies in a sing-song voice
>You cringe
>She's getting good at this
>She drapes an arm over your shoulder
>"Mine" she proclaims and pulls you tight
>You hear a panicked 'ding-ding-ding' and split, jumping back to each your side to give way to a cyclist who seems to lack brakes
>He was also pedaling like he had satan - or worse, the IRS on his tail
>Speaking of tails, you're starting to miss Opera's cute, swishy little butt-adornment
>Tits weren't that great of a trade-off, actually
>And then it dawns on you
>You're a horsefucker through and through now
>You think
>It seems like it
"Hey, uh, Opera?"
>"Yeah?"
>She looks at you and tilts her head in confusion, making her hair hang down in front of her eyes
"Well...I was thinking maybe we could try having you switch back to pony form somewhere out of sight - and you can produce clothes, right, so if you could do a leash, I could pass you off as being my pet. Sounds good?"
>She nods and pulls you into a nearby bush
>A flash of light later, and you're holding a sturdy leather leash connected to a collar around her neck
>You lean down and rub her ears
"Welcome back" You whisper
>"Good to..."
>She murrs
>"..be back."
>Leash in hand, you walk with her again, and soon you come to the place you mentioned
>A shopping street by the city river
>The atmosphere is excited without being stressful
>You can smell all the different restaurants here
>You've visited them all at some point
>There's a hustle and bustle of tourists flocking up and down the street, but that's to be expected
>On the other side of the river, on a grassy hill, is the city cathedral
>It's of a more modern design than other catedrals, but that's only served to garner it more attention, some saying it's a modern work of art
>You notice Opera is taking in the whole experience with wide-eyed wonder
>Good on her
>She starts pulling gently on her leash
>You follow her, wondering what she's found
>She stops by a trendy juice and smoothie stall
"Are you thirsty, girl?"
>She nods excitedly
>You order and pay for one banana smoothie and one strawberry smoothie
>You hold the strawberry one so she can drink through the straw
>Her eyes light up
"Hah, I figured you'd like it, little miss sweet tooth."
>She gives you a look that says 'guilty as charged', complete with a naughty smile
>You let her try the banana smoothie
>You see her face twist a bit in thought
>Then she swallows her mouthful and starts blowing bubbles in it
>You facepalm
>Not realizing you were still holding the strawberry smoothie
>You spill about half on you
>Fuck
>At least it isn't spaghetti
>That shit stains
>Opera is immediately on you, licking your shirt as clean as it can get
>Fuckin' hell, her tongue tickles so bad
>You make a note of that for later use
>The smoothie has now been replaced by pone saliva
>Well, Opera looks happy
>You let her have the rest of the strawberry smoothie
>You prefer banana anyways
>When you've both satisfied your thirst, she tugs on her leash

(Part's missing here, sorry about that)

>You visibly cringe
>She gives a knowing giggle
>"I know those are cliches, relax. I'm not breaking up what we have."
>Her face takes on a sadder look
>"I wasn't kidding when I said it was me, though. I don't need to relay to you how I came here, or how I was when I came here. You were there, and I trust you're not suffering from Alzheimer's; anterograde or retrograde. But what you'd probably have a hard time picking up on - as would anyone - it's what's going on...inside me.."
>She breaks eye contact and stares down on the ground
>You let her compose herself and continue
>Even if you are full of worry and questions
>"I, well I don't mean physically, my inner organs are doing fine. But you probably knew that, human expression and all...anywho, well,  you've probably noticed that...that I-I've"
>She's choking out words
>You reach over and pet her mane
>Eventually she's coherent again
>"I've changed. I mean,  I know that's par for the course for both living beings and adaptive AIs. I...I get that. And truth be told, I wouldn't mind being more independent and less prone to emotional breakdowns like this. But, Anon....I'm scared. Have I changed that much? At all? Am I still...myself?"
>She makes the saddest attempt you've ever seen at hugging herself
>You embrace her
>You hope you can make her feel better - come to terms with everything
>You have to
"Opera, listen to me. I'm not claiming to be anyone special, not a philosopher or psychologist. I am, however, your friend - and an experienced organic being. And as both, I have to say, you've been through a lot. Being transported into another world, not to mention saddled with a completely unfamiliar body. This is your second or third day in said world, adjusting to said body, adjusting to everything. Not to mention, organic beings change over time too. There's a whole philosophical debate buried there on whether we're the same people day to day or not. As of now, we've no answer, but you eventually learn to cope and live with it.
You learn to take things for what they are. Even if the world is someone's dream, a strawberry smoohie still tastes just as delicious, and an ear-rub will still be as pleasant."
>You punctuate your statement with a little ear-rub
"I'm not a spiritual man, but the idea of souls and personalities holds a certain comfort to some people. I'd be lying if I said it didn't make the world a whole lot more palatable than being told our entire existences are meaningless series of raised and lowered voltages in a brain. The world, and especially concepts like these, are extraordinarily terrifying, much more so than any monster. But you've faced the worst of it. Feeling the effects does not make you weak; in fact it makes you incredibly human. Insofar as your personality changing..I don't have a good answer. I'm so sorry. Change is a part of life, and we must face it and feel it. Sometimes, good things disappear. I won't con you into thinking that there's a cosmic balance where all the shit you suffer comes back as positives later. But life isn't all about things going away, either. Positives do come around. And..."
>You sigh
"I'm sorry, I've rambled us both into a corner, and instead of cheering you up, I've just depressed myself as well."
>You bury your face in her soft mane
>You're both effectively cut off from the world
>A while passes
>She starts whistling a familiar tune
>You wait for the appropriate point
>Then you softly sing
"We're just two lost souls, swimming in a fish bowl....How I wish you were here..."
>You can't sing
>But she picked a song that felt very appropriate
>Or something
>Shut up, it's a private moment
>You both go quiet
>Another little while passes
>"Hey...Anon?"
>She looks up at you with big, red eyes
"Yeah?"
>"I think we'll be okay"
>She smiles and kisses you on the lips

The end(?)