Zeydaan finds after a disastrous trip to alrest- they're no longer able to stop a transformation that threatens their very identity.

Story by  AgentXY14

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Zeydaan dashed across the terrain as fast as they could, hurrying towards their escape route. The androgynous wolf fey’s adventures had led them into some hot water, in the form of a rather large and destructive beast barreling towards them. A large, lizard-like creature that moved quick and possessed sharp fangs. And it had its sights set on Zey.

The wolf ran as fast as they could, their dimensional rift in sight. If they could just get to it, they and their friends could flee. But the creature was fast, gaining on Zey little by little, fangs extended and ready to bite...

It suddenly was knocked to the side, the force of impact causing the ground itself to terraform around it as it slid away. Zey’s ally Zach had landed where it once stood, weapon at the ready for when the creature stood up once more.

“Really cutting it close, mate,” Zach quipped, standing between the beast and Zey. “Best to get that doorway going as soon as possible. We’ll cover you.”

“Much obliged,” Zey waved his ally off, and continued rushing for their entry point. This would be the last time they would make a hole into the Xenoblade universe, they thought.

The beast began to thrash around, righting itself up. It was then distracted by a burst of light; Alvis, the mechanical force of the Hawkmoths, had activated a strobe effect to disorient the creature. He glanced back at Zach, an artificial eyebrow raised.

“May I remind you that we are supposed to not spill unrelated blood?” he asked. “There will be a time for that later.”

“The plan went south,” Zach commented. “So now we have to improvise.”

The creature eventually recovered, roaring in anger. It tried stomping forward, only to be halted by some strange force. Down below, Lilith the half-orc, half-lycanthrope mix was holding back the creature with raw strength alone.

“Oh sure, leave me ta save yer arses,” she grumbled in her Scottish dialect. “Nothin’ new there, methinks.”

“I’ll owe you another drink, then,” Zey called out, rushing towards the portal. They began to quickly weave their dimensional magic, focusing on recreating their way home. Just a few moments of unbroken concentration were needed, and they would be free.

The portal was already starting to open within Zey’s paws, tearing a hole in the fabric of space itself. Growing larger, enough to easily walk through. Or, in this case, dash through.

“We’re good!” Zey called out. “Quickly now!”

“About time...” Lilith said, pushing away the lizard once more to buy them all some additional time. Zach and Alvis started off towards the portal, backs to Zey so they could properly watch out for the beast. It was already starting to recover as they started to hasten themselves.

“Meet you on the other end, mate,” Zach patted Zey on the shoulder, before diving in. Alvis followed, as did Lilith. That left Zey alone in Alrest, and they were starting to slip inside themselves...

Suddenly they found themselves tugged upon from the Alrest side, and Zey gasped in shock and pain. The creature was refusing to give up its prey, gripping upon Zey’s body. They yelled, their body halfway between both worlds. They couldn’t give up yet, they couldn’t! Not when they were so close to safety. They...They...

There was a blast of energy, dimensional feedback coming directly from Zey themselves, and the creature was stunned long enough to let go. Zey toppled to the ground on the other side, the rift closing shut behind them. They struggled to stand, the residual energy exhausting them, but all they did was collapse.

They saw some feet running towards them, some concerned voices...and then silence.

…

Zey awoke with a start, panting heavily. The last thing they remembered was escaping the creature, and then...Nothing.

“Ah, there you are.”

Zach approached where Zey was laying, and it was only then that Zey could see where they were. Their own cottage, safe and sound.

“I was hoping you’d wake up soon,” Zach continued. “Quite the adventure though, eh?”

“Glad we made it out,” Zey said, uncertain. “It was looking pretty dicey out there, but...”

“Yeah, we had to drag you away from the rift at the end,” Zach nodded. “Good thing we had an extra hand nearby to help.”

Zey blinked. “An extra hand?”

Said “extra hand” peeked into the room next, shyly. It was Agent, a friend of Zey’s across dimensions.

“Guess I came to the right place at the right time,” Agent explained. “Good thing you pulled me over here before this whole adventure. You doing okay?”

“I think so,” Zey said. Yet their body felt...off. Outwardly, they looked fine, their usual wolfen-fey self. Not even any external injuries, surprisingly enough. But there was that small sense of unease, the sense that something just wasn’t right.

Zey’s fears were confirmed when Alvis barged into the room. “We have a problem,” he said.

…

The group had assembled upon the couch to listen to the resident scientists. Alvis was there, as well as Doctor Asriel, the optimistic goat medic of the Hawkmoths. The group mascot, Bean, was seated in the corner; the silent moth creature observing cautiously.

“Put simply, when Zey first escaped the rift, they possessed glowing blue veins across their body,” Asriel explained. “Like Bioshock, except very real and very, very bad.”

“How bad?” Zach asked, worried.

“We’ve run a diagnostic of Zey’s cellular makeup,” Asriel was explaining. “To ensure no damage to their structure. The problem is that their cells are currently in a consistent state of flux from their original state to a new default.”

“Could ye translate that?” Lilith asked, irritated.

“Simply put, Zey is shapeshifting on their own, gradually,” Alvis said. “And this new form is essentially locked down.”

Zach and Zey rested their heads down, paused in thought. “A permanent change,” Zach realized. “Zey, I’m so sorry...”

Zey was silent for longer, coming to terms with what was just described. “And there’s no fix for it?”

“We’re still examining our options,” Asriel added. “But--”

“It’s not looking likely,” Alvis said. “We can’t even tap these new cells for your dimensional tearing abilities. If I had to guess, the stress of being caught between two realities sent your body into overdrive and forced it to match the world of Alrest.” Alvis shrugged. “Evidently, your new form would be that of a resident of that world. Namely, Nia. The equivalent of a catgirl.”

“There...could be worse things,” Zey said, trying to keep a brave face. “But you said I couldn’t tap my rift powers? How are we going to go on adventures and get Agent home?”

“We’ll worry about me later,” Agent said, equally as concerned as the rest of the team. “What do we need to do for you?”

“I mean...” Zey had to think about this carefully. A new body. A whole new identity. Maybe even a new personality, should the worst occur. “I guess we’d just have to transfer information. Bank accounts, the cottage deed, the sort.”

Zach nodded. “Good idea,” he said. “Least we can do is ensure you don’t have any stress once you’re done transitioning.”

Lilith groaned briefly. “Bloody ‘ell, the guv’ment,” she said. “Well...Best we get started sooner than later, eh?”

“Right,” Zey nodded. It was a slow process to come to terms with. But it was happening whether they liked it or not. May as well make the best of the time they had left as themselves.

...

Month 1

The initial scramble was a difficult one, in part due to the sheer volume of items left in Zey’s name prior to the incident. A significant chunk of time was spent merely categorizing it all, as well as probing Zey to ensure nothing was forgotten. The obvious, such as banking information, to the less obvious, such as various minor magazine subscriptions and at least one “meal of the month” shipment.

Priority one, however, was the cottage. A small one nestled between two skyscrapers, yes, but one that Zey took pride in. It also helped that the cottage rested upon a dimensional instability, one that was regularly harnessed by the Hawkmoths in order to traverse across space. The destruction of said cottage would most likely cause some chaos. And it just wouldn’t be polite, either.

The bulldozers were already in place when the other Hawkmoths came outside to negotiate. The head foreman was waiting, bored, as they approached.

“News spreads quickly around here,” he remarked. “The owner’s gone and turned themselves into something else, eh?”

“We’re working on it,” Alvis said. He pulled out the deed, showing it. “We’ll be getting this revised shortly, upon which we’ll be protected.”

“But, ah, you understand the predicament I’m in,” the foreman said, with a sarcastic grin. “These boys came here, ready to bulldoze something. Can’t let them down, right?”

“You can and you will,” added Zach. “Need I remind you we have a protection order on the house? Unless you’d like to speak with the local ordinance, plus the collected shapeshifters alliances?”

The foreman stood in place, debating his choices. Then he scoffed, gesturing to the drivers to turn around. “Whatever,” he said. “We’ll have this place someday.”

He wandered off as the bulldozers drove away, the Hawkmoths watching in irritation.

“Cheeky,” Lilith commented. “Ink’s nae dry an’ he comes to rob us?”

“Eh, just his job,” Zach reminded the group. “We can stall for a bit, but until we get the formal documents changed, we’ll have them hounding us.”

Around then, Zey was being led outside by Agent, both dressed in more modest faire. “Glad you mentioned that,” Agent explained. “I can take Zey to get their license changed, ideally. Get the ball rolling on the bureaucracy while you all find the rest of what we need.”

“We do have strength in numbers,” Alvis remarked, nodding. “Very well. I also suggest we speak with S.E.A.”

Agent blinked. “S.E.A.?”

“The Shapeshifter Enforcement Agency,” Zach explained, with some mild distaste. “I mean, if we have to, I suppose we can go see them. If nothing else they can provide some essential documents to make all this official.”

“I’ll bring along a tissue sample,” Asriel suggested, earning a glance from Zey. Asriel merely shrugged. “For research purposes.”

“We had originally requested a piece of Zey from a rather…unfortunate mission,” Alvis said. “It would work well if we ever had to kill you—”

A sharp glare from Zey.

“—Or regenerate or clone you,” Alvis added, miffed. “Poor wording, I suppose. But it would have been a major ‘if’, I can assure you.”

“Well, nothing else for it now,” Zach nodded. “They’ll be our best bet. I just hope they don’t try and get us to register with them.”

...

The Department of Motor Vehicles wasn’t far away, thankfully. Zey had even nabbed a “dimensional visitor” lanyard for Agent to wear as they waited in a government office. Better safe than sorry, after all.

They registered at the front desk for an appointment, and were instructed to sit down in the waiting area amongst other visitors, such as jittery office staff and equally jittery teenage drivers. They examined their ticket number: seven.

“Oh, that’s not bad,” Zey commented. “We’ll make good time.”

“Yeah, hopefully within the next half hour,” Agent agreed.

Four hours later, the exhausted wolf and human were finally given their turn. Zey sat down in front of the bored DMV attendant and explained the situation.

“...So essentially it’s a slow-burn transition,” they finished. “I was hoping to transfer my license name and registration to reflect my future identity.”

The clerk slid over a large stack of paperwork. “Please fill these documents out and return them to me after.”

Both Zey and Agent blinked. “All of this?” they asked. “I mean, I know this is a big ask, but...”

“That’s protocol,” the clerk merely said. They resumed their game of solitaire on their computer while Zey began their paperwork. Agent observed idly, acting as support.

“Um...” Agent said suddenly. Zey was briefly startled when Agent pointed out a mistake. And a very clear one, at that. “Nation of birth”, the line said. “Alrest” was Zey’s answer.

Again, Zey blinked, as they scribbled it out. “Why did I just do that?” they asked in a whisper. “I know it’s England...”

“Maybe some mental changes are starting to creep up,” Agent suggested, wary. “We should definitely get moving on all this.”

Zey sighed, pen in hand as they continued writing. “I wonder how the others are holding up...”

…

The Shapeshifter Enforcement Agency’s scientists were surprisingly forthcoming for being such a bureaucratic system. They had nodded when Alvis and Asriel explained the problem, giving a helpful smile.

“Don’t worry, we’ve seen this happen before,” the associate explained. “This sort of thing is commonplace with shapeshifters, especially those first starting out or those with traumatic experiences. We intend to assist in a painless transition.”

“That’s a relief,” Zach said with his own smile. “Finally, some good news.”

“My only concern is ensuring that this transformation can’t, in fact, be reversed,” the S.E.A. representative added. “Crossing the “t” and dotting the “i”, you understand, I’m sure. But...”

“Is there a problem?” Alvis asked.

“Well, you mentioned that your friend is undergoing a shapeshift into a copywritten character,” the representative said. “There are laws to assist such an affair, of course. But it’s all relative to the copyright holder.”

Zach’s face turned pale. “Not them...” he groaned. The representative frowned briefly.

“I take it this is bad news?” he asked.

“They’re turning into a Xenoblade character,” Zach explained. Alvis and Asriel started to understand Zach’s point. “They’d be under copyright of Nintendo.”

…

Zach, upon arriving home, had elected to call Zey’s family to explain the situation. Zey would have done it themselves, but there had been some...strain on their relationship, as they described it. They still felt nervous ringing them up. Especially their father, Darius Jem.

It wasn’t that he was a bad father, just a stern man in general. Kept to himself mostly. The present situation certainly made for an awkward conversation.

“I understand,” Darius said on the other end, once Zach had explained what happened. “Dimensional magic...Always very temperamental. It’s a shame.”

“Is there anything you can do at all?” Zach asked. “To help Zey, I mean.”

A long pause. “I can’t,” Darius said. “I swore I wouldn’t interfere with Zey’s life. I can’t go back on this.”

“But--”

“You’re frustrated, I know,” Darius said. “As am I. Zey should have had a choice in this. But what’s done is done. We cannot change their fate.”

Zach nodded, despite this being a phone conversation. “Yeah, I get it,” he said. “I’ll send my regards for you then, just in case.”

He hung up, and then he sighed. “This is way beyond me,” he said. “What the hell have we gotten into, Zey?”

...

Month 2

With some effort, things were piecing together for the Hawkmoths. All paperwork submitted, all “i”s dotted and all “t”s crossed, as the expression went. The only thing to do now was to wait and see.

Zey, for their part, was starting to adapt a little to their form. They had noticed their fur beginning to recede into human-esque skin, though the grey seemed to have transferred to their hair. Their ears remained pointed, more feline than lupine, but it was still familiar nonetheless. Their tail, however, was shrinking to nonexistence, and the ensuing perpetual lack of balance took some time to get used to.

Further, their own voice was experiencing some adaption as well. Certainly, it was lighter than their original tones, but they had also conspicuously gained a Welsh accent when speaking. Better to fit who they were becoming, they supposed.

“So d’ya think they’ll give me a hard time?” Zey asked the assembled friends. “About the transition, I mean.”

“Guess it depends on our own luck and their own openness,” Zach said. “Of course, you may have to get a new adventurer’s license...We all know how much of a pain that is.”

“What do you mean?” Agent asked, confused. “When Zey took me to get mine, I had no trouble.”

“Yeah, ‘cause ye were human, luv,” Lilith chimed in. “For the rest o’ us, it’s a fookin’ mess.”

“Maybe...” Agent said, not wanting to believe that anti-human bigotry could be that widespread a problem, for the sake of his friends.

“The Hawkmoths have their reputation on the line here,” Zach said. “But more importantly, our friend. Without their dimensional shifting, we’re either forced to take on a human--” Agent raised his hand. “--From our dimension, sorry, but thanks for the offer. Or we’ll have to make something artificial.”

“I’ve got some theories...” Asriel nodded in understanding. “I’ll need a bit of time to make them work, though, if I may.”

They were disrupted from their thoughts when Alvis came inside the cottage holding the mail.

“Anything for me?” Zey cheerfully asked. But Alvis looked grim, holding one letter in particular. “...Bad stuff, then?”

“Have you been taking photos of yourself?” Alvis asked. “For the internet?”

“Well...yeah,” Zey admitted. “I mean, I’ve been feeling right cute, ‘at.”

“That’s the problem,” Alvis said, as he handed Zey a formal document. A Cease and Desist letter. “Nintendo of Europe wants to talk to you.”

Zey read the letter carefully, cautiously. Their expression was grim upon completion.

“Oh no,” they said, simply.

…

The Nintendo of Europe offices were deeper in the English cityside, far enough that it required a trip on the bus to arrive to. Fortunately, Zey’s bus pass was one of the easiest documents to transfer over, so the only concern was time restraints and keeping track of the route.

For simplicity’s sake, Zey went with Agent, who evidently had more experience with copyright law. “Publishing is a nightmare about it,” he sighed, wiping his brow. “But hey, better to have a guy on the inside, right?”

“If yer sure...” Zey said, growing increasingly nervous about the whole affair. A Cease and Desist! And for taking selfies, at that. What sort of insanity could this be?

They were escorted up to the higher offices, where their contact was waiting. A middle-aged management type with a pretend smile.

“Ah, there they are,” he greeted. “A pleasure for you to make it, Mr. Jem, was it?”

“Z-zey is fine,” Zey stammered a bit. “Or, well...I’m turning into Nia, so...”

“We’ll come to that part in due time,” the man said. “The name is Anderson. I’m the current acting chair of Nintendo of Europe. And of course, you know why you’re here.”

“Yes, you seemed to take issue with my friend and client wanting to take photos of themselves,” Agent said. Zey was briefly surprised by the inclusion of “client” in his description, but they shrugged it off. “Going as far as to send a C&D.”

“It’s business, you understand,” Anderson said. “We can’t have people passing themselves off as a character of ours, after all. It puts a bad stain on the marketing boys, not to mention there’s the risk of damage to our reputation should he do something risky.”

“Before we continue,” Agent said, sounding sterner. “I must ask that you use the pronoun ‘they’ to address my client.”

Anderson raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“We are here at your request because we anticipated at least some charitable will,” Agent continued. “However, it is sounding like you have no interest in their situation whatsoever, even to the point of refusing even customary respect. Respect, mind you, that I had requested in the return letter.”

After a pause, Anderson nodded. “Of course,” he said. “I apologize for that.” He may or may not have meant it.

“Thank you,” Agent said. “You are aware that Zey is the victim of a shapeshifting snafu, then?”

“A terrible tragedy, I’m sure,” Anderson said. “But it does leave our company in a bind all the same. Though perhaps we can come to an understanding and avoid a lawsuit?”

Zey did not like the sound of this, but listened nonetheless.

---

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