Sunburst was moving to Ponyville after getting a new job at the School of Friendship. He was no longer needed as a caretaker for Princess Flurry Heart in the Crystal Empire since she was growing up and her parents were starting to get used to her powerful magic, which she was learning to control. Because of this, Sunburst needed a new job and lucky for him, his old friend Starlight Glimmer had told him she had a job opening as a teacher at the School of Friendship.

Since Sunburst’s new job was in Ponyville, he knew he would have to move there to take the job. It wouldn’t be so bad though, since he would move into the same town as Starlight. Sunburst had been wanting to get closer to her since they reunited during Flurry Heart’s crystalling a few years back.

Sunburst thought about his time in the Crystal Empire as he packed up his belongings. He looked out at the “For Sale” sign outside of his home as he loaded up his cart. Sunburst gave a sad sigh as he hooked himself up to the cart and started pulling it towards the Empire’s main train station.

Sunburst took a look around the city one last time before he left it behind. He began to think about his role at the school and began to remember his magic studies, and flunking out of Celestia’s school. This caused the professor to worry about how he would be able to teach his new students. Would he help with their education, or would he fail as he did back in his magic classes?

Starlight would be able to help him with this predicament, Sunburst thought. The idea calmed him down a little. Suddenly, he heard the sound of something hitting the ground next to him. Sunburst saw one of his books had fallen out of his cart, which was strange because he thought he had strapped them all in. He levitated it up to his face to see what it was and found… A psychics textbook?

Sunburst didn’t remember this book. Most of the ones he had were either about magic or Equestrian history. Still, not all creatures could use magic, so maybe he could teach them psychics instead? As he opened the book and read it on the way to the station, some strange things began to happen to him.

First, Sunburst’s magic suddenly stopped working, causing him to drop his book. The stallion tried to pick it up again, but his horn just wouldn’t cooperate. Signing in defeat, Sunburst just picked up the book with his hoof, not questioning why his horn stopped working.

He continued to head towards the station as his horn began shrinking into his forehead. Eventually, it was no more than a small bump on his head, which he subconsciously rubbed away with his hoof, eventually disappearing completely. Sunburst didn’t focus on his horn at all and just kept reading the book. “I hope my fantasy books don’t get in the way of my lessons,” he muttered to himself. “I shouldn’t have unicorns on my mind right now.”


Sunburst kept walking and reading until he got to the train station, where he would purchase his ticket to Ponyville. He walked over to the bench to wait for his train, while his changes were only getting started. His hooves would grow five digits each, growing like tree roots, and allowing him to grip his book much easier than before.

Sunburst let go of the book with one of his hands, as his fingers felt pretty stiff. He wiggled them a few times until they felt a bit better, rather than as if they had been rolled in a fist for hours on end. Sunburst’s white and orange fur was suddenly starting to fall off, revealing a caucasian pigment underneath, now matching the coloration of his new fingers.

Sunburst kept waiting for his train until he heard the telltale whistle blowing in the distance. The moment the train stopped at the platform, Sunburst trotted towards it, pulling his cart along with him. The cart began to warp as it moved, the wooden frame starting to turn into a more modern combination of metal and plastic. The hitch would morph into a handle as the cart’s opening started to close up around its contents. A zipper formed around the sides, the cart finishing with the wheels shrinking drastically and moving underneath the new suitcase.

Sunburst didn’t focus on it as a cramp began to overcome his legs. His hindhooves started to stretch out a little bit as the feet pushed out into L-shapes. Sunburst grabbed onto the handle of his suitcase and pulled it onto the train with him, still not noticing any changes.The fur around his new feet became a new pair of loafers, retaining the white color of his old hooves.

Placing his suitcase away in the coach’s baggage compartment, Sunburst sat down and kept looking at his book as the changes continued foreward. His tail disconnected from his spine and wrapped around his waist, turning into a nice set of tannish-orange shorts with a pair of underwear forming underneath. Sunburst looked out the window as he heard the whistle blow, notifying him it was time for the train to disembark.

As the train left the empire, the fur around Sunburst’s chest started to fall off and change into fabric, becoming a nice white t-shirt. He adjusted his cape subconsciously, the only changes left being the ones on his head.

Stanley scratched his beard as his muzzle slowly began to shrink. His mouth and nostrils split apart, his nostrils becoming his new nose. He moved his tongue around his mouth as his teeth grew sharper, gaining canines, making him a little hungry, perhaps he’d go for a burger or something from a fast food restaurant later?

The remaining fur was fading away quickly as his ears migrated down towards the side of Stanley’s head, their sensitivity decreasing as they grew lobes. His glasses magically adjusted themselves to have the temples extend out and use Stanley's new ears as supports.


Stanley’s hair stayed roughly the same color it previously was, and his beard did the same. The final changes to Stanley were his memories. He no longer had any memory of growing as a unicorn, he only remembered them from cartoons he used to watch with Stacy, his old childhood friend.

He remembered how they were separated after he had excelled in his classes at school. Stanley moved up a few grades, and his mom was very proud of him. However, Stanley eventually slipped up and flunked out of his classes. He managed to find a job babysitting for his neighbors, but it could only do so much for him.

Fortunately, Stanley was reunited with Stacy when he had learned she had a past feud with a woman named Tiana Smith, as well as her friends. Stacy had managed to work past it, her actions having motivated Stanley to keep moving forward.

Stanley got back into his studies of becoming a teacher and now had a good motivation to succeed this time. With a degree in theoretical physics, he was fully ready to help teach his new students. He just needed to double check his lessons to see if he could make the classes more interesting for them.

Some time later, Stanley heard the public address system announce the train’s arrival at his new home. “We are now approaching Pennywood Station. All passengers stopping here, prepare to disembark.” Stanley stood up and quickly opened his suitcase and placed his book inside, quickly zipping it closed afterwards.

The doors opened up as Stanley and other passengers stepped out of the train, which was now being pulled by a diesel engine with each coach now made of steel. Stanley wished he could find the time to take a trip on a old steam engine, but he couldn’t find the time. He quickly caught a bus to get to the Pennywood High School.

When he arrived, he could see woman in a white button shirt, with a purple jacket and pencil skirt waiting outside. “Stanley!” she called. The woman walked over to her old friend, who she shared a hug with. “I’m so glad to see you in person!”

“I missed you two Stacy,” Stanley said. “So… My new job?”

“I understand if you’re nervous, but I’ve talked with Tiana and she said I could have the day off to help you move in. There’s a place you can stay not too far away from the school. It’s just a three-minute walk.”

“Sounds good to me! Lead the way.” Stacy nodded as she and her old friend walked down the street to Stanley’s hotel.


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A few days later, Stanley held his books as he stood outside of the classroom. He could hear some students inside chatting, waiting for their lessons to start. Taking a deep breath, Stanley walked into the room.

“Hello everyone,” he spoke. “Please quiet down so we can begin.” The class got their papers and pencils out as Stanley wrote his name on the whiteboard. “I’m your new teacher, Mr. Butcher. I’m hoping to make a good impression with you, and if we can get along, we may be able to do a fun experiment!” This got some of the students excited as Stanley could feel things were likely looking up for him. This was going to be a great year!

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