Both Brian and Mike felt relaxed and content inside the stable - the magic that had transformed them before was based here, and elements of stable magic were all around. Although Mike was aware of the animal control spells and the influence they were already having, he made no attempt to resist. It had been a long day, and the soothing touch of magic eased his worries, relaxed his tension, and made him docile. At the same time, Brian was gathering the brushes, picks and combs to groom his friend, the magic objects reinforcing the inner stable boy and making it harder to think of Mike as a centaur and friend. When he looked at the centaur, he saw the inner Shire stallion whinnying to come out.
No, Mike did not want to be horse. Did he? Brian was feeling confused. Mike kept doing things to be more horselike, and he said he liked everything Brian had done to him. Sorting through the brushes, he smiled as he found one with ebony bristles and an onyx handle. This one would make big changes that the centaur would like. He went into the stall where Mike stood and said "I'm gonna make you solid black. All over."
The centaur looked back and nodded. "That sounds good!"
Since Mike was already mostly black on his horse parts, Brian finished those off. White feathering darkened to a glossy black that matched the Shire hide, and the already dark hooves also became ebony. A white patch on the equine chest vanished into the midnight fur, and then a quick all-over brushing took care of the occasional stray brown and white hairs that had marred the otherwise perfect blackness.
With that done, Brian got Mike to hoist him onto his back, and he ran the bristles over Mike's upper body. The pale human skin immediately darkened, coal black spreading through the flesh like paint in a sponge. Brian felt excitement growing, a sense of accomplishment and a thrill. Seeing the humanity fade from the centaur was exciting. Brian wanted to put it off to the stable boy spell, but part of him had to admit that transforming Mike was fun. Besides. Mike had said he liked everything that Brian did.
It only took a few minutes for the skin on Mike's upper body to be totally black. Mike looked at his arms and chest and grinned, teeth startling white against black lips. "Good night cammo."
Brian stared at the centaur's face and then reached up to run the bristles over the exposed teeth. "Let me take this all the way." Mike complied, and only blinked when the brush tickled his nostrils, ears, and finally, his eyes. Brian watched in fascination as the brown eyes darkened into solid black orbs. Mike was now completely black, every hair, every inch of skin, the inside of his mouth, teeth, everything. Somehow, Brian knew that the centaur's blood was now black, as was everything else. He would piss black urine and dump black manure. His spit, his semen, his tears, all black.
It looked so awesome! Brian ran the brush over his own arm, but nothing happened. Damn. A failsafe to keep the groomer from being affected. But maybe if he concentrated on wanting it? he tried again, imagining his skin turning black like the centaur's and this time it worked. He ran the bristles all over, and by the time the stable doors creaked and the stable owner returned with Llandros, he was as totally black as Mike.