Big Bang harrumphed as he started looking over the setup for the Summer Sun Celebration fireworks display. Something wasn't quite right. He double and triple checked every fuse and wire, each canister and mortar tube, but something was just off, he couldn't put his hoof on it.

“What's wrong, boss?” One of the workers had wandered by, a gray mare with auburn mane carrying a board across her back.

The big gray stallion wiped at his forehead, his mane plastered to his neck with sweat, “I dunno, Screwy, somethin' just don't feel right.”

Screwloose just shrugged a shoulder, causing the board on her back to wobble wildly, “That didn't stop you before. Hell, one of your most famous displays was when something went wrong!”

A frown pulling down the corners of his mouth, the big stallion grumbled, “Yeah, and started a wildfire that burned about forty acres of land.”

Sighing, he shrugged his broad shoulders, cracked his back and gt back to work. He only had a few more hours to prepare for the close of the celebration.

Finally the big moment arrived. Princess Celestia lowered the sun as Princess Luna raised the moon. Knowing that was his signal, Big Bang lit the fuse to set off the entire display.

A chill ran through his body as he finally remembered. He knew hat had been bothering him all day. Looking over towards the stands he could see the barrels of black powder that had been placed there earlier for easy access while they were setting up. He had never put them away.

Shouting at the top of his lungs, he raced towards the stands. His voice was swallowed up by the roar of cheering ponies as the princesses took their bows. He turned to chase the burning fuse, trying to stomp it out, but missing in his blind panic. His eyes went wide as the fuse burned down to start the display.

There was a blinding flash and a searing wave of heat hit his body, then nothing.

The stench of sulfur filled the air when Big Bang finally awoke. A low moan escaped him as he opened his eyes. He saw what looked like a mass of reddish bricks in the ceiling, but his vision was swimming and he squeezed his eyes tightly shut.

Rolling out of the bed, he landed firmly on his back legs, upright. That wasn't right? Trying to lean forward was almost impossible, as if his bottom were weighted to keep him upright. Looking down at himself, he let out a shriek!

His forelegs were gone, replaced with a pair of what looked like blue wings or flippers. His body was rounded with a white belly and some sort of storage pouch was wrapped around his waist. Reaching up with those weird flippers he felt his face and let out another cry as he realized he had no ears and his face was stretched out into a thin, pointed beak!

A shrill, high-pitched voice with an upbeat attitude cut through his panic like a knife. “Let's see, Big Bang, huh? Glad to see you're finally awake! Time to meet the Prinny Instructor, dood!”