When the crying finally subsided, I wiped my face, trying to regain some sembnce of control. My chest still felt heavy, but I forced myself to push up from the floor, stumbling slightly as I stood. I went to my bed and sat down, feeling like I sank way more into the mattress than I had before. Fuck, I must weigh nearly a quarter of a tonne now, I thought with a grimace. Every part of me felt different—rger, heavier, more... imposing—and it was more than a little overwhelming.

  I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, desperate for some kind of solution, even if it felt pathetic. I opened my messenger app, staring at the screen for a moment before typing out a message to the one person who might be able to help.

  ACollins: Hey Windy, I need a really, really fucking big favour.

  I stared at the screen, waiting for the usual quick response. But minutes ticked by, and nothing. I scrolled through my messages, trying to focus on something else, but my mind kept drifting back to the same thoughts. It felt like everything was slipping through my fingers.

  Finally, after what felt like forever, a notification popped up.

  WHanner: yo Aves, whats up?

  I exhaled in relief and typed back quickly.

  ACollins: I need you to go to that plus-sized women's clothing store in Te Aro and buy the biggest shirt, briefs, and skirt you can find.

  The words felt ridiculous as I typed them, but they were the only thing I could think of.

  I paused before sending the message, unsure of how it would nd, but quickly hit send. I needed this to work. There was no other option.

  A few seconds ter, another response came through.

  WHanner: ..wut?

  I rolled my eyes, already anticipating the confusion. I quickly typed out a response.

  ACollins: Please. It’s an emergency. I’ll send you money for it. I’ll expin everything when you get here.

  I could practically feel her hesitation through the screen. I wanted to get up and pace, but it would be just another reminder of how awkward I felt in my own skin now.

  Sure enough, the next message came in, dripping with sarcasm.

  WHanner: kinda busy bro, I know you’ve been taking it easy but I actually wanna pass my course.

  I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. I couldn’t be mad. Wendy was the only person I could reach out to in this situation, but her priorities were... well, normal. I was anything but normal right now.

  I typed as quickly as I could, trying to convey the urgency in my voice.

  ACollins: Please, Wendy. It’s a really fucking big emergency, and I’ll expin everything when you get here.

  I hit send and stared at my phone, hoping she’d see past the absurdity of the request and understand how much I needed her help.

  I waited again, my thumb hovering over the screen. My heart was pounding in my chest as I stared at the little “typing” dots, praying that Wendy wouldn’t just ghost me.

  Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the dots disappeared, and a new message popped up.

  WHanner: Fine, fine. But you're gonna owe me big time for this, Aves. Don't make me regret it.

  I let out a relieved breath, feeling the tension in my shoulders loosen just a bit. At least someone was on my side right now.

  ACollins: I swear, you’ll get more than enough in return. Thank you, Wendy. Seriously.

  I quickly followed up with the money transfer and added a few more details, like sizes, and the best store to go to, hoping she wouldn’t get overwhelmed by the randomness of it all. As I hit send, I realized just how much of a mess this was. Wendy had no idea what had really happened, and I couldn’t even begin to expin. But I’d have to—eventually.

  Once the message was sent, I leaned back against the wall, sinking into the soft comfort of the bed, trying not to let the panic creep back in. I was thankful Wendy was willing to help, but part of me felt like this was just deying the inevitable. My whole world had been turned upside down in the span of a few hours, and all I could do was sit here and wait for clothes to arrive that might not even fit properly.

  I closed my eyes for a moment, breathing deeply, trying to gather my thoughts. How would I face anyone like this? How would I even face myself?

  But before I could spiral into another wave of despair, the buzz of my phone broke through my thoughts. I picked it up, seeing a new message from Wendy.

  WHanner: Gonna be a bit. But I’ll try to get something that works. Don’t go anywhere!

  I smirked, imagining her rolling her eyes as she typed that. She was always so dramatic, but she was coming through. I could almost hear her annoyed tone through the screen, which made me chuckle a little despite everything.

  ACollins: I’ll be here. Thanks again. And hey, when you get back, I’ll tell you everything.

  I had nothing to do but wait. Bke was still holed up in her room, and I didn’t want to bother her, so I decided to take a nap. The weight of my transformation was still heavy on me, and I figured some rest might ease the soreness. Besides, it was better than just sitting there, feeling trapped in this new, unfamiliar body.

  But when I id down, I realized something else. I couldn’t y on my side anymore. My horns—those damn things—prohibited it. I’d had to adjust, carefully positioning myself to avoid them poking into the pillow or scraping against the bedframe. It was bizarre. I’d never thought of something so small—so small—becoming a problem.

  And then there was the breathing issue. I couldn’t breathe comfortably unless I positioned my breasts just right, each side nestled against my torso. The sensation was strange, almost suffocating at first, and it made me feel acutely aware of just how... ridiculous they were. I had imagined what it might be like to have breasts—just idle fantasies that I’d dismissed as impossible. I’d never even considered them as part of my future. It felt surreal to be this person now. It wasn’t like I was trans... but it almost felt like I had stepped into someone else’s life entirely. This was more than I’d ever bargained for.

  I finally managed to drift off, but the nap was cut short by loud banging on the front door. The noise was jarring enough to pull me out of my sleep, groggy and disoriented. I fumbled for my phone, blinking at the screen. Eight missed messages from Wendy. I didn’t have time to go through them right then; I just needed to get to the door before whoever it was started breaking it down.

  My hooves clicked against the hardwood floor as I made my way toward the door, the sound unnervingly loud with each step. I pulled it open to find Wendy standing there, staring at me with her mouth hanging open in disbelief.

  She looked... tiny, as usual. Petite frame, delicate features, her blonde bob cut framing her face. Her bright blue eyes were wide behind her rge gsses, and for a moment, she didn’t say anything. I stood there, awkwardly shifting, realizing with sudden crity that I wasn’t wearing anything from the waist down. Fuck. My hands instinctively went to cover myself, hiding behind the door as best as I could.

  She blinked a few times, still processing what she was seeing. “Umm… who are you?” she asked, voice shaky, her gaze still lingering on my chest—on my breasts.

  “Uhh, it’s me… Aves,” I muttered, my voice quiet, unsure.

  Her confusion only deepened, and then—slowly—it clicked. “What? What the hell? Aves, is that you?” Her eyes widened as realization dawned on her. She stepped back, almost stumbling in her shock. “Oh, fuck... you got hit too, didn’t you?”

  I nodded, wincing a bit at the bluntness of her words. “Can we... can we do this inside? I don’t think I’m exactly presentable right now.”

  Wendy blinked, snapped out of her daze. “Right, yeah. Sure. Come in, come in,” she said, hurriedly stepping back so I could enter. I let out a sigh of relief and quickly ducked inside, closing the door behind me as I tried to adjust myself.

  I couldn’t help but feel self-conscious, my body feeling so exposed under Wendy’s gaze. There was so much to expin, so many changes I couldn’t quite even comprehend myself yet, but I knew I’d have to do it. Wendy was one of my closest friends, and right now, I needed her more than ever.

  She followed me in, still looking at me like I was some sort of living, breathing puzzle. “So... magic or whatever did this to you?” she asked, her voice finally steadying.

  “Yeah,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “It’s... it’s a long story, Wendy.”

  She nodded, pacing slightly in the living room, eyes flicking to my body again, but this time with more concern than shock. “Okay. Well, I’m all ears... but first, we need to get you covered up. I don’t think the neighbors are ready for this.”

  I couldn't help but smile weakly. “Yeah, I wasn’t exactly prepared either.”

  “Whatever,” Wendy muttered, still looking over me with that bewildered expression, but now her focus was elsewhere as she rummaged through the paper bag she’d brought. “I did get ya some clothes, though.”

  I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. “Clothes? You... you actually found something?”

  Wendy finally pulled out a rge, folded pile of fabric and shook it out, revealing a bck knee length skirt, a pair of very rge panties (Not what I asked for but weirdly enough I was okay with it) and an oversized blouse. “I wasn’t sure on the exact size, but I figured better too big than too small. You need space, right?”

  I couldn’t help but ugh softly, still feeling the weight of my situation, but that little gesture from Wendy made me feel a bit more human. “Yeah. Space. Definitely need a lot of that now.”

  Wendy handed me the clothes, not sparing any more gnces at my exposed body. She seemed to have recovered from the initial shock, her practicality kicking in. “I’ll just leave these here, you can change, and we’ll talk, okay?”

  “Thanks, Wendy,” I said quietly, taking the clothes from her. As I grabbed them, I felt a strange sense of comfort—she hadn’t left me to figure this out alone. She was there. She was with me, even though everything had changed so fast.

  “Don’t mention it,” she said with a shrug, though I could see a glimmer of concern still in her eyes. “I’ll grab some water or something. Take your time.”

  With a struggle, I managed to get the shirt off from earlier. The neck hole was completely ruined now, stretched out from the attempt. The blouse, however, was a button-up, so I could manage a little better. I pulled it on slowly, feeling the fabric stretch and give around my form. It was made for heavyset women, and for once, I felt like I wasn’t trying to force myself into a size that just didn’t work. I sighed with relief when it finally went over my chest, the soft fabric making me feel somewhat normal again.

  Still, my new, rger proportions made it feel strange. My oversized nipples brushed against the smooth fabric, and I bit my lip, trying to focus on anything else. I couldn’t quite ignore the way they felt—sensitive, almost like I was experiencing everything differently now. Buttoning the shirt up was another challenge, though. My breasts blocked my view, and it was awkward, but after some struggle, I got it done. Sure it looked ridiculous, but at least they were covered.

  Next came the panties. I slid them up, relieved they were stretchy enough to fit over my thick thighs, though it was a tight squeeze. The fabric clung to my curves in pces it never had before, especially around my hips, and I could feel it tugging at the waistband as I tried to pull them higher. The waistband was uncomfortably tight, digging into my softer, rounder waist in a way that wasn’t exactly painful, but definitely not pleasant. Still, it was better than nothing, so I kept going.

  But the real issue hit when I tried to adjust everything in pce. Between my legs, my body had changed so much that the fit was completely off. The waistband rested too low, barely covering my lower lips, and I could feel the fabric pulling and tugging in ways that just didn’t feel right. It felt like the panties weren’t made for my new proportions—especially with the additional fullness and sensitivity in that area. I could feel the soft, stretchy fabric barely reaching to cover me, leaving the rest exposed, and it was more than uncomfortable. The feeling of not being fully covered, and the awkward fit that exposed more than it should, made me feel off-bance and self-conscious.

  Even though I had gotten them on, it was clear they weren’t designed to fit a body like mine now, and I couldn't stop thinking about how they barely did the job. The waistband continued to dig into pces it shouldn’t, and I felt exposed, like the panties were doing more to shift and pinch than actually cover.

  Lastly was the bck skirt. I had never worn a skirt before. Growing up, I always stuck with what was expected: jeans, shorts, the usual men’s stuff. I never had the bravery to try anything different. Men don’t wear skirts, right? But… I wasn’t a man anymore. Was it okay to wear a skirt now? It felt like a silly question, especially now that I had no other options. With my tail, pants weren’t even an option—skirts were the only thing that would fit my new form without getting in the way.

  I slid the skirt on, its bck fabric cool against my skin as I pulled it up over my hips. The estic band hugged me snugly, giving me just enough space to breathe without being too tight. I tucked my blouse into the waistband and adjusted the fabric. The skirt was meant to be ankle-length, I think, but with my new shape, it stopped just above my knees. The hem rested awkwardly, shorter than I had imagined, but it was better than nothing.

  I sighed, trying not to think too much about it. It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do. At least I wasn’t completely exposed anymore. With a little more adjusting, I managed to smooth out the fabric. This was clothing. It was something to cover me. I could get through this.

  Just then, the door creaked open, and Wendy walked in. She paused, her eyes widening as she took me in. “Wow, Aves, you look great.”

  I felt my face heat up instantly, the warmth rushing to my cheeks. "Thanks, Wendy," I mumbled, suddenly self-conscious.

  I plopped down onto the couch, feeling the cushions dip more than usual. It was a three-seater, but now, with my body taking up more space than before, I felt like I was occupying almost two seats. I shifted uncomfortably, trying to adjust my posture to make myself more comfortable, but it was impossible to ignore how much bigger I was now. I also had to adjust my position a little so I wasn’t crushing the base of my tail. It wrapped around my rear and poked out of the skirt, zily flicking up and down.

  Wendy sat down in the chair across from me, her eyes glued to me. I could feel her gaze, and it made me squirm. She wasn’t saying anything, just staring. I awkwardly shifted my gaze to the floor, avoiding her eyes. I didn’t know how to feel about this—about being seen like this. It felt… strange.

  I wasn’t used to the attention, especially not when I was still trying to get a handle on this new body of mine. It felt strange, being seen like this, but at the same time, it was... nice? It was new, and I wasn’t entirely sure how to navigate it. I could compin a lot about the situation—hell, there were a million things I could gripe about—but it definitely had its perks. A lot of unexpected perks.

  “So, how are you managing?” Wendy asked, her voice breaking through my thoughts.

  I shrugged, trying to keep things light. “I mean, well enough. I’ve got clothes now, so at least I’m not naked.”

  Wendy tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “No, I mean, like, in general. You were a guy before. Now you’re very much not that.”

  Her words hit me in a way I didn’t expect. It wasn’t the kind of thing I had really thought much about. Of course, I’d noticed the change, but hearing someone say it out loud made it feel more... real? More tangible.

  That thought, though, made me feel oddly happy. I wasn’t attached to being a guy in the first pce. If anything, it felt freeing, like I was shedding something old and heavy that never really fit me. What did it matter what my body used to be? It was me now. And honestly? I didn’t mind how I looked.

  “I don’t know. It’s fine? My life’s gonna be kind of screwed up from now on, though,” I said, half-joking, but the weight of it still lingering.

  Wendy sighed, a little exasperated. “You changed gender, bro.”

  I raised an eyebrow at her. “And? It’s fine, isn’t it? Doesn’t matter what my body looks like. At least I look cute now.”

  Wendy blinked at me, completely taken aback. Then her expression shifted, something mischievous glinting in her eyes. “Cute? You’re a fucking bombshell. Like, you put Tsar Bomba to shame. You are a fucking superweapon, dude.”

  The compliment hit me like a punch to the chest, and I immediately hid my face behind my hands, a rush of heat flooding my cheeks. "W-what?" I stammered, embarrassed beyond belief.

  “Like, even that cute-embarrassed thing you’re doing right now? It’s both cute and hot as fuck.” Wendy continued, leaning forward with wide eyes, taking in the sight of me. “Your elbows are, like, smooshing your tits together. Fuck, this is wild.”

  I whined. No, I didn’t just whine—I let out an actual, pained squeal. My body tensed up, like I was ready to curl into a ball and disappear. Too much. Abort, abort, self-destruction sequence in 10, 9, 8…

  Okay, fine. I was overreacting. I’d admit that. But it still felt like a sensory overload. Way too much all at once. I was still trying to adjust to being in this body, to all the new sensations, and Wendy was making it impossible to just... breathe.

  “Please stop, I can’t take any more,” I begged, half-ughing and half-pleading.

  Wendy raised an eyebrow, but at least she backed off. “Lol, fine. But you’re taking this so well. Did the magic or whatever mess with your mind? Like, seriously, if I got transformed into a dude, I’d be pretty upset.”

  I slowly lowered my hands from my face and peeked out, meeting her gaze. “I don’t know why I’d be upset about that. We all think about what it’s like on the other side, right? We’ve all wondered what it’d be like to walk in the shoes of the opposite gender.”

  Wendy leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. “How often do you wonder that?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

  I shrugged, trying to py it off. “I don’t know, a few times a month? Or week, or whatever. Not that big of a deal.”

  She raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “That’s like, a textbook trans fg, Aves. Seriously. Cis people don’t think about that that much. Maybe once or twice, sure, but they wouldn’t want it. Waking up in the body of a different gender would be a nightmare for most of us.”

  I blinked, not sure where this was going. “Really? It’s not that big of a deal. I’m cis,” I replied, a bit more defensively than I intended.

  Wendy let out a small, knowing chuckle. “Uh-huh, and I’m straight. See? I can tell btant lies too.”

  The words hit me harder than I expected. I felt my face flush, my heart skipping a beat. I didn’t want to admit it, but this whole situation—my transformation, the way people were looking at me, the fact that I was adjusting so easily to it—was throwing me off. It didn’t make sense. It wasn’t what I’d ever thought my life would be, yet here I was, feeling almost comfortable with it.

  “I’m not trans!” I blurted out, louder than I meant, the panic rising in my throat. My voice cracked with the sudden intensity of my reaction.

  Wendy’s hands shot up in a pcating gesture. “Woah, dude, I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m just trying to figure out why you’re not freaking out about this part of the transformation.” She paused to take a sip of her water, then looked at me more seriously. “So like... why didn’t that part of it upset you?”

  I paused, not sure how to answer her. The question felt too big, too personal. But then, as the words left my mouth, I realized just how true they were.

  “I’d never look good as a woman,” I muttered, barely above a whisper.

  It felt almost embarrassing to admit that out loud. I didn’t think I was ugly, not exactly, but... I just didn’t think I was good at being a woman. I’d always imagined women as these idealized figures, with curves and beauty and grace, and it had never been something I could rete to. I’d always seen myself as... something else. But here I was, wearing a skirt, with a body that looked feminine, and it was messing with my head. I wasn’t supposed to be that.

  Wendy’s expression softened, her lips curling into a small, reassuring smile. “Aves...” She started, her voice gentle. “That’s also fgging trans. It’s not about what you look like, just who you are on the inside. Honestly it doesn’t matter. As long as you are happy with your body, which is killer by the way, then that’s all that matters.”

  I nodded numbly but didn’t respond. It was too much to chew on and I had bigger things to worry about. Two of them even.

  “Fuck, bro, I can’t even see your nipples poking through that blouse,” Wendy said, eyes flicking over my chest with an amused grin. “I think they’re thicker than my thumb!”

  I groaned, shifting uncomfortably. “Ugh, don’t remind me. They’re really sensitive. Even wearing this shirt is kinda difficult ‘cause of them. They just—keep rubbing up against the fabric. It’s like having two goddamn pressure sensors that won’t shut up.”

  Wendy ughed. “Yeah, that sounds like a problem I definitely wouldn’t want.”

  Before I could compin any further, she cocked her head. “Bee tee dubs, where is B? Has she been out while all this was happening?”

  That made me pause. I hesitated, my tail flicking behind me. “Oh… no. Um. She’s in her room.” I shifted awkwardly. “She, uh… got hit by it too.”

  “What?” Wendy’s eyes widened. “Last I heard, it was just individuals getting targeted! Now I’m kinda jealous. Everyone I’ve seen that went through it so far ended up with a killer body. When’s my turn?” She threw up her hands in mock frustration, flopping back into the chair with exaggerated exasperation.

  I let out a dry, humorless ugh. “Yeah, real lucky. My whole life’s been flipped upside down, Wendy.” I rubbed my arms, suddenly feeling the weight of it all again. “I don’t even know if it’s worth the trouble…”

  Wendy deadpanned at me so hard I felt it in my soul.

  I squirmed under her gaze. “…Okay, maybe a little worth it,” I admitted, shifting in my seat. “But seriously, how the hell am I supposed to convince the university that it’s me? Or my family? Or my friends? My ID sure as hell doesn’t look like this.” I gestured vaguely at myself. “Wait, actually—why’d you believe me so fast? I look completely different.”

  Wendy snorted. “Aves, you literally asked me to get oversized women’s clothing, then an oversized woman opens the door and talks exactly like you. You think I wouldn’t put two and two together?” She rolled her eyes. “Plus, y’know, I’ve been keeping an eye on the news. It was a guess at first, but after talking to you for five seconds? Yeah, no doubt.”

  I frowned, sitting back against the couch. It made sense when she put it that way, but it still felt weird that someone could recognize me so easily when I could barely recognize myself.

  “I wanna see Bke! Do you think she’d mind if I knocked?” Wendy asked, already shifting in her seat like she was ready to spring up.

  “Oh, um… maybe I should go first?” I offered, rubbing the back of my neck. “I wanna check in on her anyway. It’s been a few hours, and I haven’t heard anything from her.”

  “Chur. I’ll be here.”

  Taking a steadying breath, I heaved myself up from the couch, feeling every shift of my new body. The added weight on my chest made me hyper-aware of how much I jostled with every movement, and the sensitivity—God, the sensitivity. My nipples brushed against the fabric of my blouse with every step, sending little electric tingles through me. It wasn’t just uncomfortable—it was too much, almost pleasant in a way I really didn’t want to acknowledge.

  I shook my head, trying to shove the feeling aside as I made my way down the hall.

  Stopping at Bke’s door, I rapped my knuckles lightly against the wood. “Hey, B, you all good in there?”

  For a moment, there was silence—then came a low groan, followed by the sound of shifting fabric, something heavy creaking, then quick, hurried footsteps. A second ter, the door swung open, and—

  The musk hit me.

  It was thick, warm, and heady, rolling over me in a wave that made my skin prickle. I inhaled sharply, and instantly regretted it. A deep, instinctual shiver ran down my spine, coiling low in my stomach and pooling between my thighs. My breath hitched, and my legs tensed, heat blooming under my skin. I felt lightheaded. No—more than that. Aroused.

  Bke stood in the doorway, her face flushed, her pupils blown wide. She looked like she’d just been through something, her breathing uneven, her hair a bit messy.

  “H-hey, Aves,” she stammered, her voice slightly hoarse. “How can I h-help?”

  I swallowed, trying to push through the haze in my head. “Oh, uh—” My voice came out thinner than I wanted, and I cleared my throat. “You’re, uh… you’re doing okay, right?”

  She blinked, then gnced down at herself, like she’d only just realized how disheveled she looked. A nervous ugh bubbled out of her. “Oh! Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just, uh… y’know. Getting used to things.”

  Right. Getting used to things.

  I wasn’t about to unpack that right now.

  Bke seemed to notice my attempt at composure and quickly changed the subject. “Oh! You found some clothes,” she said, her gaze sweeping over me. “They look amazing on you.”

  I exhaled a little too hard, gripping the doorframe like it might keep me grounded. “Wendy brought them for me. She’s in the lounge right now.”

  Bke nodded, but I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers twitched at her sides.

  Something was definitely up.

  SupernovaSymphony