If it had been know, the first sign of doom was the change in the weather that had started in the first half of November. Temperatures had started a rapid and steady downward trend all across the northern hemisphere, no matter how the weather service protested about Global Warming. 

Then the snow started, first in the far north, but spread with an uncanny rapidity until all areas north of the equator were having snow. The United States was quickly blanketed with it, and still it came down. Energy prices went up and up, until the federal government stepped in and declared a national emergency.

The sightings started. Reports started trickling in of people seeing the snow swirl into a feminine shape and solidify. They were dismissed as hallucinations caused by the cold and continual cloud cover, until the changing of people started. A panicked survivor told of a group of these Snow Ladies converging on the small town the survivor was from. They had started embracing the people of the town, changing any they embraced, young or old, male or female, well or infirm, into beings like themselves who then changed others yet.

Once enough towns had succumbed to the wintry metamorphosis, Homeland Security was mobilized, and troops recalled from overseas, but to no avail. When the armed forces tried to fire on the Snow Ladies, they just laughingly swirled back into loose snow, and then coalesced into solidity behind the troops and started embracing soldiers.

Reports started coming in on news feeds from other northern hemisphere countries of the same thing happening. But, then the news fell silent. In what seemed like a short time, it was all over. All who had lived north of the equator were now Snow Ladies.

And then, the summer temperatures south of the equator started to cool unusually fast...

It was a so-so day, not clear, but not really threatening rain either. The temperature was a bit on the hot side, and the humidity had risen with it. Bob had decided to go walking in the woods as it usually felt at least a bit better in there. Besides, he needed to get away from everyone again for a while. As he ambled on a game path through the green dimness, he thought about how unfair life was. He had a body that many men would do almost anything to have. And not only did he not have to work out or take any 'supplements' to get it, he didn't want it!

He had always felt that he should have been born a girl. He had been to a therapist to get cleared for HRT. But when he started going to an endocrinologist, he had a nasty shock. When the doctor had heard that Bob had never done anything at all to get the almost over muscled body that he had, the doctor had ordered a series of tests. And the results of those tests had led to the ordering of even more tests. The final finding was that Bob had two rare genetic conditions. On resulted in a much higher muscle mass than normal. The other resulted in a complete insensitivity to estrogen! There was no way that HRT would help him become as he needed to be.

That had crushed Bob. He had actually considered doing something desperate, but couldn't bring himself to that point. Every once in awhile he would just take a long walk away from everybody else. He didn't take his depression and disappointment out on anyone else, but instead was as kind, gentle, and helpful as he could possibly be.

As he continued his walk, he came to realize that he didn't recognize these woods. He hadn't turned off onto a different path, so he couldn't be lost, could he? He kept walking, as he still hadn't walked off his latest load of loathing for his body. He saw a lighter area ahead, which meant that he must be coming to a clearing of some kind.

He emerged from the woods into a large clearing around a small lake full of crystal clear water. The rest of the clearing was full of beautiful flowers. As he gazed out over the scene, Bob saw what he first thought was a flight of large dragonflies coming towards him. But as they drew up and hovered in front of him, he realized that they were actually … fairies?

One of them, who seemed neither male or female, flew up a bit closer to him. They said "Your soul has been crying out to us. It has taken a while, for your world is bereft of magic, but we have finally managed to craft this between place. We can give you part of what you so dearly want. But! Magic such as that requires a price. For you, the price would be that, while you would become female, you would no longer be human. You would be a magical being, who would look only partly human. And you would be tasked with starting to bring magic into your world. This place would remain, connected to both worlds, and would be your new home."

Bob was still feeling a bit rattled by encountering a real fairy. But he concentrated and managed to clear his mind. No longer human? Having the task to bring magic to the world? That seemed daunting. But … to be female … to no longer be a man in body … that … that would be worth it.

"I agree." said Bob.

The fairies flew up into the air, high above his head. Then they descended in a glittering circle, drawing visible threads of Power in the air. They started weaving those treads back and forth as they flew around him.

Bob felt his massive muscles softening, melting into new shapes. He didn't seem to be getting shorter, but actually taller. But his shoulders were slimming. He felt his facial bones rearranging themselves, and the skin over them softening. He felt his hair growing out a lot. His ears felt odd, like they were getting longer and becoming more mobile. His once masculine chest narrowed and his pectorals were replaced by the growth of what were definitely female breasts. All this was accompanied by unusual but pleasant sensations that he didn't have terms for. Then this was accentuated by the feeling of something growing out of his forehead.

At the same time, his lower body was rearranging dramatically. From a bit below his navel his body elongated from the hips backwards. It was an odd sensation. Not like being stretched, but not unlike it either. As it lengthened, he could feel his manhood being moved back towards the rearmost part of the new length, and also becoming ... less. Pulling into his body, and being replaced by something else. Something that had a part internal to his body also. His legs changed, becoming longer and thinner. His feet changed also, becoming split hooves. Another pair of legs with similar hooves grew out of the rear part of the new length of (his? her? definitely her by now) body as it grew. When the length reached slightly less than that of a Quarter Horse's body the lengthening stopped. But then a tail started growing from the base of the spine that was between the back legs. It was a long slender tail with an end that looked rather like an exaggerated lion's tail puff, if that puff was lilac.

The fairies stopped their weaving flight and drew up in front of her. She blinked, and walked forwards to where she could see her new self in the water of the lake. Some of the fairies flew over, picked a large flower, and then flew it up to her. She took it and placed it in her hair. The one that had talked to her when she had been Bob said "It is done, my lady. We must withdraw back to our world for awhile to recover the magic that we have used. This between place is as far as we will be able to come even when we are fully restored. But you will be able to enter both worlds freely from this place. What shall we call you, my lady?"

She thought for a moment. "I think that I like the name Asteria. It just popped into my mind."

"And a fitting name it is, my lady Asteria. For you are as bright and as beautiful as any star in the heavens." they said. Then they rejoined the rest of the fairies and they all flew back to their world.

Asteria looked around her new home, and thought of the joy she would have in bringing magic to the world that she had originally been from.

Sailor Moon with a divergence happening immediately after the Outers leave with baby Hotaru. The past changes, but the battles that have already happened by that point have not changed. There is a transgender transformation. But the actual change happens "off camera".

The Series' timeline starts in June 1995, which is when the end of the "Infinity Arc" of the Sailor Moon Manga was originally published.

The Series title is "Corrected Past".

The Arc title is "The Unexpected Sister Interlude".

The challenge was to steal a rare gem, one that could be the most precious treasure any of them had seen. Nobody was supposed to be in the house that week. Anyway, they each had enough connections to get off if they did get caught. What could possibly go wrong?

Harry carefully bypassed the house's alarm system using the special devices he had made. He then removed a window screen, and used a thin but strong metal tool, sliding it through the tiny space between frames to unlatch them. He quietly opened it and climbed in the window, using a purposefully dim flashlight. He knew which room the prize he was looking for was in, and looked for the master bedroom.

He smiled to himself, thinking how envious the rest of the group of his cat burglar friends would be. They had all heard of the fabulous gem that the owner of this house had. They had also heard that she was out of town this week, and had decided to make a bet. There were seven total of them, and each would get one night to try to get the gem. If they succeeded, they would leave a message for the others and then show it off at the next time they got together. If they failed, no message would be sent, but they would still have to show up the next time to be gently kidded about it. It wasn't like any of them needed to steal in order to make a living, they did it to fill a feeling that something was missing from their lives. He was the second in line to try, the first having left no message after last night.

Moving quietly, he found the bedroom, and looked around. There was a small but ornate dresser against one wall, its mirror catching the dim flashlight's beam. He moved to it and was going to start to look in it. He had a odd feeling that what he wanted was in it, not in some hidden wall safe.

Suddenly the rooms lights came on, and he heard a little girl's voice say "What'cha doing mister?"

He startled, turned around and looked. There was the cutest little girl, dressed in a little baby blue nightshirt that had blue and white clouds and butterflies with pastel purple, blue, and yellow wings. She had large violet eyes, and pink hair. He couldn't help smiling, even though he knew that the house was supposed to be empty and that the child could sound the alarm. He hadn't know that the lady that owned this house even had a child. He had a soft spot in his heart for kids, especially little girls. He said softly "Hi cutie, what's your name?"

"Robyn," she replied, "what's yours and what'cha doing?"

"My name's Harry," he said, "And I'm looking for something."

"Mommy's necklace with the pretty gem?" she asked.

Stiffening slightly, he choked out "How did you know?"

She giggled cutely and said " 'cause mommy said someone looked for it last night. She said they went away."

"D..did she tell the police?" he asked with a slight quaver.

"Nope, mommy said that no one else but us knew."

Worried a bit now, he asked "Do you know where your mommy keeps the necklace?"

"Sure, it is in her music box in the center drawer."she replied, pointing at the dresser.

He quickly turned around and opened the drawer indicated. There was an ebony music box that had mother of pearl inlays in the shape of hearts and stars. He took it out and placed it on the dresser top. He opened the music box, driven by a need to see that the gem was still there. A soft tune that he couldn't place started playing as he took the necklace out. The necklace was a fine "serpentine" platinum chain with alternating small diamonds and sapphires set into it. But it's centerpiece was a heart shaped gem about 2 inches across at its widest. The gem seemed to have all colors in it, but became its most spectacular when the light hit it fully. Then the gem seemed to awaken with a silver flame in its core. Fascinated, he watched the seeming dance of the flame as it spun slightly on the end of the necklace. A sort of languid pleasurable tingling seemed to start from his hand holding the necklace and run through his body.

Suddenly he thought he saw something move. He looked up from the gem, and realized that it was just his own reflection in the dresser mirror. But why did his black bodysuit look looser on him? As he looked he realized that he was getting shorter. And younger! Why, he looked like a teenager now. Unable to look away, or move at all, he watched as the years faded from him. Other changes were happening to him also, he realized. His face softened more than youth could explain. His hair lengthened and turned a soft leaf green color. His eyes got larger and turned a brilliant turquoise. He felt the rest of his body changing in ways that he would not have been able to describe the feeling of, except to say that they were causing waves of more intense pleasure. The changes spread to the very loose black bodysuit, as it shrunk and changed. The long sleeves melted into ruffles at the shoulders, the leg material fusing into a skirt. Finally, the former black bodysuit finished changing into a softly ruffled little girl's sundress of purple with pink unicorns. The leaf green haired little girl stood there and blinked a bit, feeling like a fog had lifted from her mind.

"Hello sweetie, are you playing with my necklace?" asked a dulcet female voice from behind her.

She turned around quickly and smiled joyfully. "Mommy!" she exclaimed as she ran to hug the incredibly beautiful woman that had dark rich blue hair.

"Shh, it is okay." the woman said, "Do you know your name?"

The little girl thought for a moment or two, then brightened "Harmony!"

The woman gave a musical laugh and said "That is a wonderful name darling."

Harmony nodded happily and hugged her Mommy again.

"Now give me my necklace, go change into your night shirt and you and your sister Robyn go to sleep. Another of your sisters will be arriving tomorrow night."

The two young girls skipped off to their bedroom, while their 'mommy' put her necklace on, letting the gem hang between her breasts. She smiled gently as she thought of what she and her seven daughters could do at the City's Halloween party.

I just recently managed to find copies of two things that I wrote back in 2003. That year is significant because it was the first year of my transition.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Healing Transformation

A piece of onion-skin paper, made into a male mask by a 5 year old girl using safety scissors and crayons about forty- four years ago. She didn't make it because she wanted to, but to please her Mommy and Daddy.

The mask is even thinner now than when it was new. There are rips around the mouth where the teeth behind it were clenched to keep from screaming. There are tear -tracks around the eyes from the despair of the one forced to wear it.

It has been taken off several times. Years ago, in private only, and for very short periods, because it was necessary to remove it in order to keep breathing. Recently, voluntarily, eagerly, it was removed for hours or most of a day. It is put back on with greatest reluctance.

The mask is turning brown and crisping at the edges from the force bottled up behind it. A light shines through the eye holes, as bright as the sun.

The mask will fail relatively soon, bursting into flame. The one behind it will then have been revealed to all. A glowing amethyst butterfly, spreading her wings. Some would try to harm her, for they don't like butterflies. Others will say it's only a caterpillar with wings. A few will appreciate her for what she is, and the difficulties she has gone through.

She doesn't care about the nay-sayers, as in her fully revealed freedom from the mask, she flies off to at last sample life's flowers. She will carry her joy with her and share it with those who will let her.

She is herself at last.

Amanda M. Penn
August 13, 2003

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Family

Family. You think you know what the word means? Probably not to me. I have four sisters and only one of them is blood-kin to me. But she and the other three are all heart-kin to me.

Heart-kin? Oh, that means that I connect with them emotionally on a level that is very deep. What I feel for my heart-sisters can partially be described by a word, an old word, Agape. An unselfish platonic, giving love. But even that word doesn't go far enough.

I would put their welfare before my own. If I was sick at the same time as one of my heart sisters, I would get up out of my sick bed to tend to them. I would risk my life to save theirs. I would hunt down with a cold anger any who irreparably hurt them.

Not all people even connect emotionally with their biological immediate family. I have seen those whose blood-sisters were cold, whose mother only looks to see how she can manipulate her daughter, and those who treat the rest of their family a lot worse than they do strangers and pillage their father's money in his old age.

I care for people. I care for those I barely know, I care deeper for those I know. I love my heart-sisters. Their pain makes me hurt. Their happiness gives me joy.

Are there other members of my heart-family out there? I hope so, I really hope so. I like to make friends, and finding heart-kin is so much more than that, it can't really be compared. Are there heart-brothers to me out there? Maybe, but that will be harder to tell. It is hard for men and woman to only be friends, not impossible, but hard. I will have to look deep to see the family connection with any man, for I am very much a woman in my heart, where it counts.

Are you heart-kin to me? I don't know, but we can become friends and see. Some of my heart-sisters I knew immediately. With others, we grew into heart-kinship. It will be fun to try to find out, won't it?

Family, a lovely word, isn't it?

Amanda Michelle Penn
September 10, 2003

As I fastened the silver mesh choker around my throat, I mused about my life as a Vampire Slaying Pretty Princess. I didn't start out that way, far from it. I cast my mind back to that night...

I had been working late at the office as was usual, and the streets were empty when I left. This should have cued me in that things were going odd, as the streets were busy all the time, no matter what hour of what date. Then my car sputtered and quit just as I reached a long section of street with just one dimly working street light. It was dark at that time of night, being the end of October. I gave an exasperated sigh, and pulled out my cell, only to see the dreaded "no service" notice.

I muttered a few choice curse words, and got out of the car to walk to someplace with cell service. As I walked, I heard a voice cry out from a nearby alley. It sounded like somebody really needed help, and I had always been cursed with a hero complex.

As I ran into the alley, I looked around warily for an ambush. There was only one person in there, a guy about as tall as me, and looking like he had last seen sun in the eighties. He seemed to be unarmed but also unhurt. I stopped abruptly and gave him a nasty look.

"Look buddy," I said, "I don't know what your game is, but I'm in no mood for ".

He cut me off by moving impossibly quickly, picking me up and pinning me to the grimy alley wall as if I weighed nothing. He smiled at me, showing two long, pointed fangs. His eyes turned a solid blood red as he said "Not what I was hoping for in a meal, so I will make ... adjustments."

After saying that, he said some words that hurt my ears, made my vision blur, and my mind swim. When things settled back down, he smiled again, and said "Much better."

As his fangs just penetrated the surface of my neck, a female voice cried out something that distracted him and made him quit biting me and turn around. I didn't catch what she said, as I was rapidly discovering that my body felt different.

The person that had distracted him staked him as he turned. I was unceremoniously dropped, and slid down to a sitting position with my back to the wall. I looked down at my body, and saw that I wasn't a 50's something, overweight, out of shape, male cubical jockey. My clothing was still the same, but the body underneath it!

It was a young woman that had saved my life, and she said "Hey, are you okay? He didn't bite you deep did he?" I looked up at her, and was momentarily bemused by the fact that she was dressed in a ... princess outfit? She bent forward and said "Naw, it's just a flesh wound. A little holy water, and you'll just have an interesting little pair of scars."

As she helped me up, I stuttered "B..but I'm a woman now..."

"Yeah, and about my age too, I'd judge." she said, "That was this vampire's fallback. He preyed on about 21 year old women, but if they weren't available, he'd change whoever was to fit the bill with magic. That magic sinature was what we used to track him down finally."

I started to say there was no such thing as vampires or magic even then, but the brush of my clothing against certain new parts drove home the fact that there had to be.

"Well, I can't just leave you on the street. And you sure can't go back to your old life." she said, "Come on, I'll take you to one of our Vampire Slaying Pretty Princess safe houses. We'll set you up with a new I.D. Heh, after this, you could even join us."

It took years, and lots of therapy sesssions, and even a little magic help with my mind to settle me into my new life. It seemed that the spell that changed my body could only be removed or reversed by the one that had cast it. And he was dust now. Also, my new body didn't age and had a capacity for magic.

My mind came back to the present and I checked myself in the mirror. It turned out that I had done exactly as my rescuer had half joked. The princess outfits served as a distractgion factor both for the vampire, and for any witnesses. I looked every inch the Pretty Pretty Princess now, and the choker hid the two small fang scars. I smiled grimly as I hefted my stake in one hand, and my functioning magic wand in the other.

The gods had better have pity on any vampires I encountered tonight, because I was fresh out of it.