Jeremy woke to the sound of whispered giggles outside the shed.
At first he was very confused. Jeremy didn't remember what happened last night and he couldn't understand how he ended up in the humid shed in his backyard. He tried to stand up, but his stiff joints wouldn't cooperate. Then he heard his hooves clop against the hard cement floor beneath him. He looked at the purple fur covering his equine body and remembered everything.
As Jeremy got to his feet, or rather hooves, he was furious. It was unbearably hot in the shed. It had to be late in the morning, maybe even the early afternoon. Jeremy wondered why his wife hadn't woken him up and taken him to the doctor.
The chorus of muffled laughter grew louder. The lock on shed clinked and fell to the ground outside. The door to the shed flew open and Jeremy suddenly found himself facing a crowd of wide-eyed young girls.
"See? I told you she was in there. I wasn't lying!" said Izzy proudly.
A few of the girls oohed and aahed. But one girl pouted and crossed her arms. She was taller than the other girls, possibly a little older.
"It's a fake. Your parents just dyed a pony purple and stuck a fake horn on its head," said the girl smugly.
A few of the girls whispered snidely behind her, giggling and pointing.
"It's really her, I swear it. That's the real Princess Moon. Tell them, Princess Moon, tell them who you are," pleaded Izzy.
"Um, I'm not sure this is such a good idea," said Jeremy, backing a little deeper into the shed.
The girls gasped at the sound of his voice, the lyrical notes still ringing in the air.
"It really is her!" squealed a girl.
Then the crowd descended on him. It was like a feeding frenzy. Little girls were all around him, hugging and squeezing him, petting him, tugging on his fur, yanking on his tail, pulling his mane. The girls in front of him were battering him with questions, questions he had no idea how to answer. He had watched a few episodes of the show with his daughter, but he hadn't really paid it any attention.
The parents quickly arrived to do crowd control, curious what had attracted the attention of their children. As they separated their children, they were a little surprised to find Jeremy hidden behind them.
"Oh, how interesting. I didn't realize this was a themed party. What a strange looking animal - wherever did you get it?" asked a mother.
"Oh, Cheryl. Don't you know? The magical land of Ponitopia is full of them. I just rode up on a rainbow and captured one of them, " said Lucille.
The other parents broke out in laughter, much to the confusion of the children. Lucille took Cheryl aside.
"I'll tell you later, but not in front of the children. I wouldn't want to spoil the illusion. Now, could you help hand out the cake? I need to have a little talk with our party guest," said Lucille.
"Who wants cake?" asked Cheryl.
The children roared with excitement, eager for a taste of the promised sugary dessert, and quickly abandoned Jeremy. Well, all except for Izzy, who gave Jeremy another hug.
"I love you, Princess Moon. Thank you for coming to my party. I wish you would stay with me for ever and ever....."
"Scoot, Izzy. The birthday girl always gets the first piece of cake and its rude to make your guests wait to eat," said Lucille.
Izzy waved goodbye and ran to join her friends. Once Izzy was out of earshot, Lucille tore into Jeremy.
"I can't believe you did this. You are always ruining everything, " hissed Lucille angrily.
"Me? I ruined it? I didn't have much choice in the matter, especially after you left me locked up in the shed. Why didn't you take me to the doctor like we discussed?" asked Jeremy.
"I didn't have any time. As soon as I woke up I had to start setting up for the party. By the time I was finished, guests just started arriving. I didn't think you would mind going to the doctor after the party, for the sake of your daughter at least, " said Lucille.
Lucille sighed.
"Listen, I don't want to fight, not here and not know. I don't want to make a spectacle at Izzy's party. So, for once can you at least help out. Just prance around and look pretty or do whatever those stupid ponies are supposed to do. And for God's sake try not to touch anyone. I don't want you turning the whole neighborhood into little ponies," said Lucille.
"I don't think I am contagious. Otherwise you and Izzy would have changed. Besides, it is already too late. I think every kid at this party groped me in some way. At least that is what it feels like," said Jeremy.
"Whatever. Just don't embarrass me or Izzy. And keep your mouth shut around the parents - that is, unless you want to end up in a zoo or lab or something, " said Lucille.
Jeremy and Lucille looked over at the crowd of children. They had finished the cake, carelessly tossing their empty plates aside. Their parents were frantically trying to wipe their hands clean, but a few children had already broken free and were running towards him.
"Okay, time for the show to begin," said Lucille as she backed away from Jeremy. "And it better be a good show. Your life and freedom may depend on it."
Jeremy didn't understand Lucille's cryptic comment. But it was too late to ask. She had already rejoined the other parents. And Jeremy was once again surrounded by energetic little girls, this time fueled with a large amount of sugar.