"... Rosie?... Rose! ... ROSE! Come on, darling, stay with me."

I lift my very heavy eyelids. Not all the way, just to little slits so I can see the blurry figure in front of me. Oh, crap. I passed out, didn't I?

Shit. This reminds me of when I was a filly.
There's a numbing, tingling pain which fades away by the second. Still, it's going very slowly, and everything hurts.

"Mmn," I try to answer with the best vocabulary I can muster at this point in time.

"Stay back!" I hear the figure yell. I don't think it's directed at me, but at the crowd forming around me.

The back of my head rests in a hand, I can feel it, the other hand from the owner on my side, placed firmly in a protective manner. Whoever it is notices my eyes moving. "That's it," the smooth voice whispers.
I drop my eyelids again. Seeing is too difficult. "No, no, no, come on, Rose, don't give up, come on," the voice encourages me.

I feel my heart beating in my chest, my head thumping along with it. Normally I hate it when someone calls me 'Rose' but this voice sounded like it was meant to be said that way, made it sound... sexy.

Still. Shut up, sexy voice.

I raise my eyelids again, but my eyes seem to wander around warily, refusing to focus, so after blinking and squinting a few times, I let them drop again, the blurry figure leaving an image in my mind the way you would look at the sun, then look away and blink, the image still burnt in your mental imagery. "You know..." says the voice teasingly, "There's a chocolate pudding over here."

I suck in a breath. I. Love. Pudding.

My eyes open slower than usual, but they open to meet ocean blue ones staring back into mine. I blink, focusing on the figure. I squint. "L... Loki?" I rasp. It feels weird when I talk.

A relieved smile spreads across his face as he dabs a cool, damp cloth on my forehead. He pulls me up quickly for a hug, putting his chin on my shoulder as I look around, to see all the mares from earlier, including Zoe, Rarity and Cheque, and a few stallions from the other room, staring wide eyed in shock at us, mouths open.

"Oh, Rose," he breathes in relief.

Loki suddenly realises he's showing a public display of affection and pulls away suddenly. He places my left arm on the ground for support, putting his hand on my shoulder and forgetting the cloth on the floor. I glance around. "... Is everyone staring at us?" I murmur.

"Well, no... no, not everyone- oh, wait," he looks around, "Yes. Now they are," he cheekily smirks at me.

I breathe out a laugh, but then I remember what just happened and my face drops. "How'd it go? Did it go well? Do I look normal?" I question frantically, "How'd you get that cloth!?"

Loki just smiles. "You look..." He breathes, then changes the subject slightly, "Why don't you see for yourself? Can you walk?"

I nod. I'm all achey, yes, but I just can't resist a look at the 'new' me. I stand up on all fours, my legs now too long so my knees touch the ground. I trot over to the mirror with balled up fists, making Loki look at me funny. I kneel in front of the mirror, gasping when I see my reflection.

My clothes are all ripped because I'm too big for them. My head is shaped differently now, with thin eyebrows and, not a muzzle, but a nose. It looks like Loki's, only the bridge is pushed in more and the tip pokes out a little bit. The ears on my head have changed dramatically, moved from the top to the middle on the sides, still slightly pointed so my pony element is still in there somewhere.

My messy, fluffy brown hair reaches down to my lower back, the ribbon still tied in loosely. My outrageous side fringe is still there, though. I lean back on my 'haunches', putting my hands around this weird hole in the centre of my stomach. I don't know what it is, but it's weird.

I stare in wonder at my hand, and the weird wiggly things on them. I move them and squeak in shock. My skin tone is a little more faded colour than my peachy fur that I once had. Now it just looks like I have a really strong tan.

I look like me. Only... not me.

I wiggle my fingers again, before realising that it was me who did it. I panic, I screech, "AAAAAAARGH!"

"Shh, Sh! Rosie!" Loki exclaims, putting a finger on his lips, trying to stop me from drawing attention to myself.

He walks up to me, kneeling in front of me with a hand out. "KNEEEEYUL!" I exclaim all of a sudden, pointing at him. Loki chuckles. I put my hand in his and he grabs the other one.

"Okay... on the count of three, we rise," he instructs. I nod, concentrating. "One... two..." he mouths the word three.

"Rise!" I exclaim. I use all my leg muscles to push me up, and with the help of Loki, I manage to stand upright. My legs wobble with unsteadiness, like a newborn foal trying to walk.

Loki reaches out and places another hand on my waist, almost gripping my hip, but in a more gentle way. I don't know why, but I find it very reassuring, making me feel safe in his arms.

"Let's try to take a little step," he says, almost whispering in my ear.

I nod and raise my left leg a little higher than the ground. I squeak and shuffle it forward, afraid of falling down. "I don't think I can do it," I say between hurried breaths.

Rarity steps forward. "Well, we need to get you some clothing that actually fits you now, and fast," she states, signalling for the other mares to help her with new measurements as the room starts bustling with ponies going here and there to sort my attire out. "I apologise. We really thought your friend would have made them grow with you."

"It's okay," I smile, feeling like a fish out of water.

While I get taken for measurements and wait for the new dress and adjustments, Loki stands there with me, helping me keep balance. I take this opportunity to take in his appearance.

They cut his hair, no doubt. It used to be shoulder length, now it's cut short and slicked back with hair gel, as per usual. He wears his green and gold armour with a green cape, but no horned helmet. Personally, I think it looks better like that, but it's disappointing because now I can't call him 'bicorn'.

Now that I'm tall enough to compare, the top of my head is just a little higher than his cheekbones. My gaze trails up to his eyes to notice he's been glancing at me up and down as well, taking in this old/new appearance.

"How do you feel?" He inquires. It surprises me that he's so concerned about me all of a sudden.

"Taller," I sigh.

Loki does a little 'ehe', putting an arm around me when he notices my legs wobble, threatening to give way. "You... you look taller," he smiles.

"Yeah, you do," I hear from the ground. I look down to see Zoe staring up at me, pouting, "Now I'm the short one of the group!"

"Aha," I laugh, "Don't worry, you look prettier from this angle. And hey, at least you remembered my bra." I hold these strange, yet soft lumps on my chest.

"Too bad I couldn't have an input on the dress," she huffs, "I would have made you wear something new, something more special."

"You could have, but you didn't," I answer.

"Yeah, well..." Zoe looks dumbfounded, "It would've ripped anyway!"

I roll my eyes at her, "Transformation or no transformation."

"... Shut up."

After an hour or so of ponies rushing around and making my clothes, I'm finally dressed and look presentable. Loki kneels on one knee and sits me on his other leg so I can reluctantly let Rarity re-apply my makeup. This is actually so weird. I've been transformed into a human, Loki is being gentle and caring, and I'm letting someone do my makeup. I hope nothing else gets weirder.

I turn to Loki when Rarity goes off to find some eyeliner for him. "How did you get here, anyway?" I ask. Loki gives me a confused look, so I explain further, "You weren't in the room before I... passed out."
Loki licks his lips and looks away. I follow his gaze and lean forward, blocking his view of whatever it was he was looking at. "Lokes?" I say, trying to get a response.

"I... uh... well, I heard you scream, so... I sort of... had to know what happened," Loki replies slowly.

"Aw," I coo. A slight, light pink blush creeps across his face, though nopony would notice if they were an inch further away. "No, really. Thank you." Loki lets out a short, one breath laugh and shakes his head. Who knew he'd be so modest?

"AWWWWWW!" Zoe blurts from behind us, "After all this time, I still ship it."

"Celestia says Loki may roam the castle, but he can not leave it," Rarity says, rolling up a scroll, "She's put a magical forcefield around the castle, so he cannot leave without her consent."

"She couldn't turn me into a people but she could do that?" I raise an eyebrow, "What is that woman on!?"

"The floor?" Zoe looks at me, confused, "So, what do you and Loki wanna get up to first?" She gives me her signature perverted grin, raising her eyebrows up and down.

"Well, I think the first thing I need to learn is how to walk," I say to Loki.

"Oh, come on!" Zoe growls in frustration, "Y'know what? Imma let these two do what they want. I'm trying to go vegan by eating banana pudding instead of caramel. See ya!" And she trots out of the room.

Way to leave the scene, Zoe.

"We shouldn't practice here," Loki turns to me, "Somewhere less crowded."

I make a small squeal when he suddenly lifts me up bridal style, carrying me out of the room. I wrap my arms loosely around his neck when I feel like I'm slipping. He lets out a husky grunt. I don't think he's used to carrying stuff this heavy. "How about a hallway?" I suggest, "Some ponies don't go down some for days."

"Okay, which one?" Loki asks,

"Hm," I think, squinting my eyes as I ponder. "How about the hallway that goes from the library directly to one of the guest rooms? Twilight's in Ponyville for a few weeks, and there's no doors on either side, so nopony is likely to go down there."
Loki nods and walks out the door, then relying on me to lead him to the end of the hallway we planned. "Here," I state after a minute or so of being in control.

"Now, then," says Loki, bending his knees slightly and sliding me carefully out of his arms, my blue heeled boots placed unsteadily on the ground.
He steps in front of me, holding my wobbly hands as I attempt to grip them, almost accidentally forcing all my weight on him.
"This takes me back," Loki breathes.

"Huh?" I take a moment to look up in confusion.

"To the time when you taught me the very same thing," he grins, "How to walk."
I smile back.

"That's what we're doing? Well, now it's your turn," I say, somewhat eager to get this lesson over with.

"Alright, darli- um, Rosie," he stutters, before stopping to think. "Okay, so, we can stand straight?"

I nod, "Barely," I add when my legs wobble in their red boots.

"Alright, let's see if we can make it to the door," he gestures his head toward the end of the hallway, with the door to the library closed. He slides his hands up my arms to my elbows, where he holds firmly.
"You've just got to put one step in front of the other. After a while, try not to really think about it. You're attempting to train your subconscious."

"So that's why you can remember to walk like a people after being a pony for months?"

He nods, "Yes. Trust me, you never forget these things."

I smile a little at the words 'trust me'.
"Okay," I mumble, before looking down at my shoes and concentrating. Slowly, I manage to drag the left foot first, pushing off on my right.

"Lift your feet," Loki advises, also assessing my crappy shuffle-steps. "We have to not only make a decent stroll, but something elegant for a place like Asgard."

"I never really thought about what Ass-Guard would be like," I comment while still concentrating on my crooked steps, "How many donkeys live there? And how many do you actually guard?"

Loki furrows his brow, "I think you're confused."
Suddenly, I take a large, wobbly step towards him, barely managing to avoid stomping on his black boot. "Hooray," Loki cheers quietly, his face brightening.

"Yay!" I whoop at the same time, like we're in some sort of game and I just jumped the most amazing hurdle. Abruptly, I swing the other leg forward, slamming the blue heel of my shoe into the ground. I take another rough step. And another.
Each time, Loki steps back as well, just far enough so I can take the biggest leap I want and not crash into him.

Just as he said, I put one foot in front of the other, every new attempt better than the last, until Loki tells me to look up at him. I stare into his eyes, still hobbling roughly. I'm half concentrating on walking, half on him.
He is so beautiful...

Suddenly, Loki's back presses against the door. My brain doesn't comprehend how to stop, and I accidentally walk straight into him.
I try to step back, but loose my balance, yelping as I fall backwards.

"Eheh," he gives a nervous laugh, quickly wrapping his arms around my waist so I don't slam into the ground, which is nice.

"Thanks," I breathe, my heart still racing from the fear of falling.

"We made it," Loki grins, nudging the door with his shoulder lightly.

"Aw," I groan in disappointment, "But I didn't learn anything!"

"Well, then... try again?"

~

It's been what seems like forever. It feels like I'll never get this walk right. It's not that Loki's unsatisfied- the God of Lies has done just that- he says I'm getting better.
But I'm not happy with it. I keep tripping, needing Loki to rush in and save me.

"Urgh!" I growl in frustration as I lose my footing once again, my face pushing into Loki's golden, cold chest plate. He gently pushes me back to a steady balance with one hand, holding my wrist in the other.
"This isn't working!" I complain, "Maybe I shouldn't go. I'd just embarrass all of Equestria, or even worse. You."

"Why would I ever be embarrassed of you?" Loki asks in soft retaliation, "You're smart, Rose. You can do this."
I sigh, avoiding eye contact, but he brushes my chin with his fingers, making me stare up at him. "One more go? Please, darling?"

I purse my strange new lips, "Alright."

"Great," he smiles half sarcastically, unexpectedly sweeping me off my feet and carrying me to the other end of the hallway, before plopping me back down to the normal-people-standing position. Loki walks briskly back to where we were, in front of the doors to the library.

My legs wobble slightly. I hold my arms out awkwardly for balance, before sending a suspicious glance at Loki. "You're very confident about this, aren't you?" I half-pout, squinting.

"Who, me?" He shrugs innocently, "Come on, I know you can do this."

"No, you don't," I retort, glancing down at my shaky legs. They look as if they could give way at any second, leaving me to the mercy of the cold, hard floor. "Get back here," I order, though it comes out as more of a request, "I'm going to fall!"

"It's just like riding a horse, if you'll excuse the expression," Loki says enticingly, though it comes off as a bored salesclerk, "Once you learn, you never forget."

"You really think insulting me's gonna help the situation?" I snap. I just want him to come over here and give me some physical reassurance that I won't slam face first into the ground.

"Darling, please?" Loki's face falls into adorable-puppy-dog-mode, complete with one eyebrow raised a little higher than the other.

"Shut up, you learned that off me!" I fold my arms stubbornly.
Loki stays quiet, intensifying his sad face, bottom lip quivering. I roll my eyes, slouching. "Fine," I murmur, unfolding my arms and holding them out slightly for balance, trying to concentrate.

"You're doing very well," Loki tries to encourage me.

I look at him incredulously. "I haven't done anything yet."

"You must be exceptional, then," he smirks.

"That doesn't make sense," I mutter.

A look of realisation spreads across his face, then he grins cheekily.
"Nor does Rosie Burrito Chuckito Assface."

My eyes widen, my head snapping up. "You little PRICK!" I scream, stomping forward with two large, shaky steps, "Shut up!"

"Get over here and make me," Loki grins slyly.

"You know I will!" I stagger several more paces forward, "If I had my hooves, you know I'd be there right now." I drag the other leg toward him.

"Yes, but you don't."

"I'll slap the man out of you!" I threaten, stumbling forth as I wack my hands around.

"Maybe then we'd have something in common," Loki shrugs casually.

"You are so dead!" I fume.

"What, like your social life?"

My cheeks puff up angrily as I near him. "YOU ASSHOLE! I SWEAR I'M GONNA-"

"Rose-"

"Don't you 'Rose' me, mister!" I get all in his face, "I can roundhouse kick your ass to the grou-"

Loki smiles down at me softly, "Hey, listen-"

"No, you listen to me," I growl, "You know how sensitive I am-"

"I'm sorry," he says even softer, sincerity in his voice, "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Look."

He points down the hallway. I turn to see that I subconsciously walked over to him. My face turns into utter shock and surprise. "How did that-"

"You did that on your own," he chuckles, "I do apologise for the rude comments, but they drove you on."

"Yeah," I shrug, "I like proving everyone wrong."

"So, we can walk, now?" Loki asks as if he wants to move on.

"Well, better than before," I reply, turning away and practicing steps with my arms out, like on a balancing beam.

"Excellent," Loki sneaks up behind me, wrapping his hands around my waist, lifting me up slightly. I squeak in surprise, jumping around to meet his gaze, "Let us now learn basic Asgardian etiquette."

~

I sit with my legs crossed, a pencil and a pen in each hand. I keep my fingers in the same position Loki showed me, in front of an open book symbolising a plate of food. Loki walks up and down the shelves in the library, looking for a book that he said he'd be back with while I wait in a corner. The library lady's giving me the evils, and I don't even know why she's here, it's a Saturday.

Low and behold, Loki returns with a thin book. He flips through the pages, sitting in front of me, also crossing his legs. "This is really the only source you have, and it's about the mortal world?" Loki mutters in disbelief.

"I know," I shrug, stationary still in hand, "Not much diversity."

"Anyway," he stops at a page, turning the book around to show me, "This is what cutlery looks like. That?" Loki puts a finger on what looks to be a metal stick with other, smaller metal sticks coming off it in his book, "That's a fork. It goes in this hand-" he points to the pen in my grasp, "-And the knife goes in the other."

"I can't believe you use weapons to eat," I guffaw in awe, "That's so hardcore!"

"To make a morsel smaller, first poke the fork into your food gently," Loki instructs, gesturing to the open book sitting in front of me.

I stare at the page of words, then back at him. "There's nothing there," I state.

"Let's just imagine that there is for a moment," he says, a slight impatient twinge to his tone. I pretend to press the pen into some imaginary food, looking up to him to see if I did it right. Loki nods and continues, "Now move your knife back and forth through said food, near the fork," he mimes with his hands, the other book in his lap. I copy, smiling when he nods, "Lift the fork to your mouth and eat the food."

I bite the imaginary food. "Yay!" I throw my hands in the air in success.

Loki suppresses a grin, "Continue until you've finished eating."

"That was one of the weirdest things I've ever done. Can we do it again?" I ask hopefully.

He shakes his head, "I think you've got it. I'll try and sit next to you when the meals are served- just copy what I do."

"Okay, but... why can't we practice this a bit more?" I pout.

"Because I have something I wish for you to learn," Loki answers, standing up and helping me do the same, "It may take some time."
He holds my hand, gently making it rest on his shoulder, sliding his hand to above my hip. Loki slips his fingers through mine with the other hand.

"What are you doing?" I question, ignoring the fact that my skin's prickling under his cool touch. I've never met someone who could do that. I like it, because it's him.

"My dear, it's called dancing," he smirks, "I only wish that we had music to dance to."

"Dancing? I can do that!" I smile, "Twilight told me about that a few years ago."

"This is no pony dance," Loki reminds me, "Don't worry- you won't have to do much. I'll lead."

With that, he steps forward with skilled footing, making me shuffle backwards as quickly as I can. He goes off to the side, and I try to follow with much less confidence. I look like a three legged goat compared to him.

It takes me a few minutes, but soon I start to get the gist of things, keeping one hand in his and the other on his shoulder, getting to see his flawless pale skin up close.

Loki keeps his chin up, reminding me of a meerkat, while I stare down at his black shoes, trying to mirror his footing.

"Well, you're right about one thing," I murmur through slight pants as we circle and weave between bookshelves, still staring at Loki's shoes while he looks down effortlessly at me, "This would be much better with music."
I flick my eyes up to him for a split second and he grins a white smile, making me return it uncontrollably. "So," I glance away, back to the ground, "What's Asgard like?"

"Oh, you'll love it," Loki replies casually, "I know you will."

"Really?" I ask, "What's so special about it?"

"There is a kingdom," Loki explains.

"Like this one," I add.

"... And it has many great heroes," he continues.

"Like the elements of harmony?" I raise an eyebrow as we pass another bookshelf.

"And there's a rainbow bridge."

"Now, that, we don't have," I smirk, "You get a point."

"But do you know the best part about Asgard?" Loki returns the smirk, a devilish look in his eye.

"No, what?" I tilt my head quizzically, looking up to him in confusion.

Suddenly, Loki lets go of my waist, twirling me with the other hand, before leaning forward, bending me backward. I squeak in surprise, my long hair almost touching the ground. "The best thing about Asgard," Loki growls seductively in my ear, his lips so close to kissing my neck that I feel his breath on my skin, "Is that you'll be there with me."

It sends an excited chill through my body, something I've never felt before. I tilt my head back, trying to stop myself from smiling like an idiot.

"Um, excuse me?" Calls a self conscious voice. Loki and me look up at the same time to see pony Cheque standing in the doorway.

"What's up?" I ask as Loki hurriedly stands back into normal posture, helping me do the same.

"Uhm, ma'am," Cheque rubs the back of her head, "Princess Celestia requests your presence in the throne room with Loki."

I look to Loki, "Let's go, then," I sigh.

"Can you walk?" He asks.

"I can dance," I shrug.

~

"Rosie Burrito Chuckito-"

"Celestia, pls no," I hiss as Loki and me stand in front of her throne. I managed to lead Loki all the way here, without falling more than twice!

Celestia's been mumbling a very boring speech about peace and honour and stuff that I haven't been listening to.

"Uh- yes," Celestia stammers, "Well, my faithful student. When you carry yourself through Asgard this evening, you carry all of Equestria on your shoulders. Do you understand the importance of this assignment?"

"Yeah," I nod. "But is it just Loki and me going?"

"Loki and I," Loki corrects.

"What?" I furrow my brow at him.

"You say 'Loki and I', not 'Loki and me'," he states.

"Thank you for the useless, in-no-way-relevant comment," I say sarcastically.

"Yes, it will be just Loki and you," Celestia answers my question, "We don't know much of this Asgard, or it's inhabitants. If we send any more of our own, we may be putting them at great risk."

"Okay," I smile, before turning to Loki, "You ready to go?"

"You must return immediately after the event," Celestia says firmly, "It will only worry us if you stay longer."

"Yes, Princess," I nod, "We'll be back tomorrow morning at the latest."

"I am ready to depart," Loki says to me. He's been standing slightly further away from me than before.

"Good luck, my little pony," Celestia says as a final goodbye to me, giving Loki a short nod, "I will send you on your way, via the Bifrost."

"Thank you, Celestia," I give her a short bow.

The alicorn's horn glows golden, the aura surrounding Loki and me.
Loki holds my hip and pulls me closer, "Hold on," he whispers, "It's going to be quite a ride."

Rays of sunlight stream above us, swishing faster and faster. The shimmering magic gets brighter and brighter, shooting up through the roof, blasting through the wood as if it were paper. The stream of magic intensifies, reaching some point so high in the sky that I can't see it. And then, I feel myself being pulled upwards.

We race through the sky, no flying lessons could ever prepare me for this. The ground disappeared seconds ago. Strong wind whips at my hair, the orange sky abruptly fading into black, stars whizzing by like fairy lights. The noise hurts my ears. I bury my head into Loki's chest - well, try to at least. The sight is all too much for my eyes to focus properly.

All sense of direction is stripped from me, all sense of time flees. I hear my heart in my ears, thumping in shock and fear. I have no idea what Loki is doing, but I assume he'd probably used to this kind of stuff, anyway.

Just as it began, it's all over in an instant. I feel my boots on the ground, and hear only Loki's small pants. And then I hear a loud, rich voice.

"Welcome to Asgard."