I know I should be asking this, and…well Max will never talk to me if she found out, but.
The thing you did yo Lyra, can you do it to me today? We've spoken a bit and I know it's painful and not everypony can go through with it, but if there's a chance I want to try. You know better than anopony how I feel about RRBB, and I want her to be happy.
I'm not talking about doing it right away. There's still school, and I want to go to college afterwards. RRBB denies it, but I think she wants to become a business owner like her father, though in a different field, if anything I'd say that she’ll open a publishing house. Between her, PaintDrop, and Jade they have enough funds to make it happen, as well as the skill and drive. To be honest I'd like to be part of that as well.
In any event i just want to know that the option is there, should we decide, so can you perform some tests after the convention?
Thank you,
Short&Hoofy
Short, I feared you might ask me. You are a magnificent pony and have helped RRBB a lot already, but I'm afraid I can't do that. Not yet anyway. Lyra never told you how painful the process is. I’m not sure your body will be able to handle it. I'm sorry, but I'm scared for your well being. There's no point in you ending up a cripple or worse.
InItForTheShipping
I'm fully aware that I can't handle it now. After college, however. I've also been looking into training programs to increase my endurance and mana output. If about five years, I should be close to where Lyra is.
Please do the tests. I just have to know.
Short&Hoofy
I know perfectly well that you won't give up until I say yes. Okay, I'll do a few tests, but that doesn't mean anything. Regardless of the results you're not going through this until after college and with the full approval of RRBB.
You never spoke with her about this, did you? Just as you were so afraid to confess your love to her. I admire what you'd do for her, and unlike everypony else I know she's the fragile one and not you.
InItForTheShipping
I didn't… she sometimes talks in her sleep. I know she wants to have foals very much. If things go on like this she'll be the one to make the same request. The difference is that she's not a unicorn and couldn't go through this. When you tell her she'll be shattered and do something stupid.
Short&Hoofy
No arguments there. Even with you and therapy RRBB remains a complicated pony. Good idea about Pixel.
Do you know what I suggest? Don't think of this anymore. Enjoy the convention, go a little crazy, have fun with RRBB (though try not to do anything too wild.) After all the events have ended and the ponies left back to their town and cities, come see me.
When are you arriving, by the way?
InItForTheShipping
Not sure. Quarters says it should be eight hours. But I have my doubts. RRBB finds it romantic (don't tell her I said that). It's relaxing for one thing. Quarters’ mom has taken us on a ride, before. This time it's just me, Quarters, RRBB, and Snails.
Since I know RRBB will spend most of the time on the site, or reading story submissions, I expect it to be a calm flight.
Short&Hoofy
That's sweet. I took my husband on a balloon ride back when we were dating. He had this amazing fear of heights. When we lifted off, he became very quiet huddled in a corner. I thought he was very shy and found it cute. Turns out he wanted to make a good impression and was screaming on the inside the whole flight. Was still cute, though. When I found out I felt so bad that I took him to the theatre to watch some adventure play. (Easily one of the best days of my life.)
InItForTheShipping
I know I should get my hopes up, but what do you think my chances are?
Short&Hoofy
Honestly, this isn't an exact science. Needless to say that it hasn't been attempted for over half a millennia. And I'm not saying this just to avoid the question. The tests will give an idea. You are an unicorn and are healthy with strong magic, so all those are pluses, but Lyra is extraordinary as well. You can’t tell because her classmates were all geniuses, but she is a really capable mate. In theory almost everypony of her class could have become the Princess of Magic. She had a talent for magic, although in her case it's also combined with music. She doesn't like to brag, but she's top tier in both.
In your case, you are a bit short in that field, but that doesn't mean anything. As I told you: more art than science. But remember, that your sister was also in the same class, so you have more than a good chance.
InItForTheShipping
Thank you. That's what I wanted to know. I'll still work on improving my magic.
Short&Hoofy
By the way, loved the first chapter of Project Butterfly. Other than the name (Luna is so going to get it when she comes here) it's wonderful. I even caught my husband snooping around trying to read it. Sadly I gave in… I'm such a softy when he does the pouty face. We both liked it. What's more our daughter liked it as well. We used it to put her to sleep (it worked a few times, but I fear I'll need chapter two in a week or less.)
InItForTheShipping
Thank you.
Must go. Quarters is calling, and I must help convince RRBB that five baskets of food for the trip might be a bit too much. See you soon.
Short&Hoofy
Of course. I’m glad we talked. For the next few days have nothing but fun ;) I'm always here if you need me.
InItForTheShipping
You and Lyra both.
Thank you.
Short&Hoofy
Cadance?
Hmm... since when?
8359934
I think there's a "not" missing there.
I'm assuming you mean not a unicorn, otherwise this doesn't make sense. I'm also assuming that this conversation is about the pregnancy spell Lyra used. Though I am curious as to why one needs to be a unicorn, and specifically an extraordinarily powerful unicorn, to go through the process. Couldn't an earth pony or pegasus just ask a powerful unicorn to perform the spell for them? A doctor, maybe? Or is it something to do with their biology? But that wouldn't make sense, as pegasi and earth ponies are able to have foals... So many questions!
8360218 Pretty clear to me it's a FUTA spell.
8360218
8359934
Non-Unicorn Pegasi have children the NATURAL way, ie Heterosexual Sex. This is pregnancy using MAGIC with Homosexual Sex. Totally different.
Unicorns are the only ones who seem to be able to Reshape Reality, unlike the other two, who can only influence Nature. Spells like changing Species, Teleporting, etc. are of a level of Reality Altering far above what a Pegasi or Earth Pony has been seen capable of.
Therefore it must take EXTREMELY HIGH levels of inner magic, along with control from what it sounds like, for two mares (women) to have a baby together WITHOUT a male donor. At least without a donor who was born male. For all we know the spell completely changes one's sex down to being able to have viable sperm for impregnation, which requires a lot of magical power & control.
8360359
If this were the case I'm fairly sure Lyra's mother would have less of a problem with Bon-Bon, seeing as Lyra would now be dating (I forget their marital status) a stallion, for all intents and purposes.
Also, that still doesn't explain why another unicorn can't cast the spell on a non-unicorn. I mean, we've seen Celestia turn Twilight into an Alicorn, so while it might take an enormously powerful spellcaster to do it, its should be possible. Unless... Maybe the sperm is created from a unicorn's own magic, and they have to do it themselves? Not sure.
8360326
While I feel stupid for not thinking if it earlier, it doesn't seem like the kind of spell an exceptional unicorn needs to cast. (Then again, maybe fanfic has just conditioned me into thinking it's a simple spell, since it's used everywhere)
8360414 It would actually be a pretty powerful spell. I mean, using magic to create viable sperm that can lead to a healthy pregnancy? That's altering DNA at a fundamental level.
8360414
Well sure that's assuming that the change is permanent. More likely the change has to be sustained the entire time.
Also again as someone else said, we're talking about magical creation with the sperm that would have to have viable dna. Let's not forget even Alicorn Twilight wasn't able to do a Gender Change as far as we're aware of, as seen in Twilight's duel with Alicorn Amulet Possessed Trixie. So most likely the Unicorn themselves has to be able to power the spell, as it would be even WORSE for another pony to try to maintain the spell.
Whether worse means more Pain, Magic Cost, etc.
At least this makes the most sense given the information we have.
Remember, Unicorns, Alicorns, and discord have been the only ones able to create a fundamental change in reality itself. Neither Earth Ponies nor Pegasi ponies have been shown to create Something from Nothing, unlike Unicorns. They can Enhance, but that's about it.
For instance a Pegasi cannot create Lightning or Water without clouds or magitech. Earth Ponies cannot create plants from nothing or transmute one plant (Apple) into a different plant (Orange).
8360518
8360414
8360487
Unicorn Twilight couldn't. She wasn't an Alicorn then.
I assume however that there's one ancient, extremely difficult spell that can only reasonably safely be used on yourself and only works for a short amount of time because of the strain it puts on the caster, like you said. For all we were told, genderbending is an impossible concept, harder than age spells.
By the way, I feel really bad for Twilight in this fic. She gets mocked on the forum like nopony else, she's trying so hard to be the princess ponies expect her to be, and then Cadance basically calls her accomplishments not all that impressive because " In theory almost everypony of her class could have become the Princess of Magic."
That just feels mean at this point.
8360834 Ah, but don't forget she broke rule #1 back in the early days of the Nightlings:
She hit on Jade!