selfhelp | [voice/written/action]

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[voice/written/action]

Hey, ah... Vision - I mean, Jonas - of the Young Avengers got sent home. Sorry, if you knew him.

[Why is he always full of bad news? Ugh... let’s try to be less depressing for a while.]

There’s something else I wanted to talk about today: since I got here almost a year ago I’ve noticed how there’s this huge range of cultural norms across the multiverse- which makes sense, different worlds have different standards, I get it. People who are accepted in one world aren’t tolerated in another. Luceti’s kind of an anomaly, where there’s really not much, if any prejudice. I mean, there’s the whole Malnosso versus Us mentality, but that’s because of what they do, not what they are. Basically what I’m saying is that I think that’s great, and I want to do my part to keep encouraging that universal acceptance here for the people who might not be able to get it back where they come from, open up discussions to people who might not be sure about who or what they are, um...

Okay, this is a really roundabout way of saying I want to start an LGBT club. If you don’t know what that means, here’s a breakdown:

[Below is a jotted list-

L = Lesbian = girls attracted to girls
G = Gay = guys attracted to guys
B = Bisexual = guys and girls attracted to BOTH guys and girls
T = Transgender = People who feel like they were born in the body of the wrong gender (or genderfluid)
*Q = Questioning = Anyone not sure about the above or if they apply

And then it returns to voice.]

Those are really oversimplified, and there's still a lot of other words people use to define themselves, but you get the gist of it. I’d really like to meet up with anyone who matches any those descriptions, or feels like they might, or are just curious about it. I’m gonna put up some posters with suggested meeting times and places, but if you have any questions or just want to talk about it, you can use the journal (it’s okay to be anonymous!) or come right to the school. I’ve got a table set up and I’ll be here pretty much all day. I don't know if this is going to go anywhere, but it's worth a shot, right?

One last thing- we’re looking to make this a safe place, so if you plan to come just to make fun of people: we have a Hulk.

[And true to his word, Billy will be at the school, curled up in a chair at a plain table littered with papers. He’s designing posters and doodling various symbols to use for logos. Come bother him if you like?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, uh. Maybe? I've never thought about being represented by a single symbol. It seems too simple.

Sometimes it means more than you think, at first. Like, I don't think my star cutie mark just represents magic. I think the six points are supposed to represent me and my friends.

Hmm... maybe like a yin-yang then. Chaos magic is all about finding balance between good and evil, natural and unnatural... that might work.

[Plus there's a callback to his family history. Or he and Teddy. Hell, he and Tommy...]

That sounds like a good one! It would probably look pretty good on red fur, too.

Maybe I can work on a spell to try it out. It could be fun to be a pony for a day.

Being human has certainly been educational. And... yeah, fun in its own way! You'd be welcome to the pony house if you did figure out a way to change.

What, you guys are that exclusive?

[His tone's just a bit cheeky, indicating a tease. The spell is an intriguing idea, though, now that he's thinking about it.]

I think it would just be an illusion or something, though... I've never actually tried any kind of body transformation. That's more my boyfriend's territory.

We could probably induct you as an honorary equine if you liked! But... does that mean you would be able to see yourself as a pony, but not feel it? How would that even work?

I really don't know. I've only ever done illusions, I've never tried to like... turn into an animal. [Is that offensive? To say that to a sentient pony? God he is so out of his element.] I mean, four legs instead of two seems like a lot to control.

Take it from me, it's a lot easier to balance on four legs. I wish I had the books of Canterlot's library on hand. I might be able to work out a shapeshifting spell with them.

I'm mostly worried about tripping over the ones I'm not used to having.

I could try it, though. See what happens. If it doesn't work, I just won't do it again.

You're really going to do this! [ She's excited. Science is fun! ] I can come over to where you are when you do. To help you get your bearings. Take it from me, transforming is disorienting. Would it be more helpful for me to help you as a human or as a pony? ...

Um, I don't know. Does it matter what you are at the time?

[Unless she wants to go, like, galloping together. Assuming he does get all four legs working.]

Hmm... Probably not! I'll come over to your house now, if you want to try it!

[ A few minutes later she's knocking on his door. ]

[He meets her at the door, momentarily taken aback - it's one thing to see her as a human over the journal, and it's another to see it in person - before he blinks it off and smiles sheepishly.]

Hey, uh. Twilight?

[ She waves once, still a little awkward in her own skin. ] Yep! Hi. Um, should I come in?

Oh, sorry. [Billy hastily moves aside to let her in, swinging the door shut after her.]

Wow, look at you all humanized. If this spell really does work it'll be halfway to a body swap.

Uh, that's okay. You can keep your chaos magic. Unicorn magic is just fine with me.

Now, before you turn into a pony, there are some things you should know. First of all, you're gonna be shorter, so make sure you put everything within reach. Unless you're gonna be a pegasus, in which case you could just fly. Or a unicorn, in which case you could just use your magic.

Also, you're gonna need to learn to walk on four hooves. It's a little different than walking on two legs. Easier to balance, for one thing. But that will come with a little practice, and that's why I'm here!

Maybe I should turn the floor into pillows first, the prepare for when I inevitably fall on my face a hundred times.

[Sarcasm aside, he steps further in to where there's more room to move, takes a deep breath, and lifts his hands to focus inwards, starting up a chant.]

IwanttobeaponyIwanttobeaponyIwanttobeaponyIwanttobeaponyIwanttobeapony...

[The magic glow surrounds him almost immediately, starting at his hands and moving to spread over the surface of his entire body. It swirls and sparks, flickering like a flame, turning his eyes an ethereal blue. As the chant goes on longer the light seems to consume him, like a small aqua-coloured bonfire in the middle of the living room, until it finally bursts outwards, and-]

[And the light fades to reveal a dazed and scruffy-looking teenage unicorn.]

...Wh... whoa...

[ Twilight kneels down to spot the now-pony Billy before he falls over. ]

Hold on. You okay? That was some magic! How do you feel?

...I, uh. I think so?

[He wavers a bit on all fours, spreads his legs to try and balance himself, then lifts a hoof, peering down and around to try and look at himself.]

Oh my god. Oh my god, I'm a pony. This is the weirdest thing I've ever felt...

Stay calm. You're experiencing body dysphoria. I read about it in the library after I turned into a human! Your brain's trying to catch up to your new body.

[ She looks to see what his cutie mark is, but it's obscured by- ] Look, you've even still got your cape! It's so cute!

[He looks over his shoulder to check, and- huh. Sure enough. Then he tries to reach back for it, but oops, his arms - legs! - don't bend like that anymore.]

...Wow, this whole not-having-hands thing is really jarring. How do you even deal?

You can grip. At least, if you're a pony like Dash and Pinkie and me. The horses here don't seem to be quite as dextrous. And you have magic! Although that might take some training.

[ She lifts the cape to see what his cutie mark is. And if he has one. ]

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