Help! Chapter 15 (Patreon)

The next morning, they were shaken awake by Cynthia who giggled and ran a finger through Sylvia’s longer hair. “Looks like you two have changed some more.”

Groggy, sitting up, Sylvia nodded. “Any sign of guru?”

“Yes, he’s back and available to speak with us.”

Bethany moaned. “Ohh, I hurt in places I didn’t even know existed.”

“Jesus, I’m shorter than you, now.” Sylvia looked up into Bethany’s eyes. “And your eyes have changed.”

“Let’s not keep the guru waiting,” Cynthia said.

They walked back out into the garden, and Sylvia did see the guru back at his usual spot.

“We were worried when we didn’t see you yesterday,” Sylvia said.

The guru nodded. “I take it you are Jeremy who became Sylvia and is now...”

“Yesterday I was back in Jeremy’s body, but something is wrong with my mind. I feel like I’m still Sylvia.”

The guru nodded, and rubbed his chin, thoughtfully. “I’d like to speak with...ah, Jeremy alone if I may.”

“Of course,” Cynthia said, pulling Bethany by the sleeve. “We’ll wait outside for you, darling.”

“Okay, ah, mom.” Sylvia waved to them as they departed.

“Tell me exactly what happened when you attempted to use the Reckoning Stone. We felt the massive release of power even here.”

Sylvia nodded and related the story from beginning to end.

“And now, you still don’t feel as you were as Jeremy, but you identify as Sylvia?”

“Yes.” Sylvia nodded “I’m super happy I didn’t get pulled back into the older body, though.”

“Yes, the gender change in you both is a little odd.”

“You think?” Sylvia giggled.

“I take it you’ve had intercourse in your current incarnation?”

Sylvia blushed and nodded.

“Well, that explains things somewhat. That much of a release of chaos magic is bound to have unintended side effects.”

“I’m worried the real Sylvia will find us and be angry.”

“Oh, she is,” the guru said. “Quite angry, I can assure you.”

“Has she been here?”

With a whirl of unknown magical energy, guru Venkman disappeared, and Sylvia Manchester stood in front of ...well, Sylvia.

“Oh, Goddess, what have you done to yourself, Darling.”

“Run!” Sylvia yelled to his mother and Bethany. “She’s here!”

“Oh, they’re a bit...hung up at the moment, darling, it’s just you and me.”

“Stay away from me!” Sylvia said and tried to turn and run only to find she was frozen in place.

“Or what, you’ll scratch my eyes out?”

“Why can’t you just leave me alone?”

“Tsk tsk, sweety.” Jeremy walked around her, staring at her form. “What on earth has happened to you, though?”

“We used the reckoning stone to reverse it! It was kinda working, but I’ve been slowly changing into a woman. But I don’t care, just leave me alone!”

“Yes, I can see that.” She stared intently at Sylvia’s middle. “No reproductive equipment, thank god, who knows what kind of little monster you might have borned in this state.”

Sylvia felt herself blush.

Jeremy sighed. “Now, what to do. You’ve proven far more resourceful than I gave you credit, yes. And that...reckoning stone has complicated things quite a bit.”

She tapped a long nail on her chin thoughtfully. “Our identities shifted, if you hadn’t noticed, I fully consider myself Jeremy, as you must consider yourself Sylvia, no?”

Sylvia clamped her mouth shut, not wanting to give anything away.

“I can see your aura, sweety, it’s shifted to a mirror of my old one.”

“But I’m not you!” Sylvia said.

“Oh, but you are. Just a younger version of me, plus a bit of that Bethany thrown in for good measure through the destruction of that artifact. Do you know how powerful that was, and what was lost due to your action?”

Bethany? Sylvia thought of that. Her hair had certainly shifted to a light blonde, and Bethany had been shifting to a form similar to Jeremy...

“Regardless, what are we going to do?” Jeremy tapped her foot slowly. “Reality is in such a state of flux right now...hmm.”

Sylvia struggled against the magical bonds Jeremy had imposed on her. She hoped Cynthia and Bethany were okay, and not hurt.

Jeremy sat on the edge of the reflection pond. “You have no idea what I’ve been through the last 24 hours,” she said, appearing winded and tired. “That snapback weakened me considerably.”

Sylvia worked her wrists and legs, trying to get free. If she could just work her way out of the magical bonds, maybe she could somehow rescue the other two.

“Look, I give up,” Sylvia said. “I already feel like I’m Sylvia in my mind, you might as well just...swap us again, but leave Mom and Bethany alone!”

Jeremy nodded. “The issue is your gender, dear. That release of chaos magic is adjusting things so you are female in mind and body. I’m not certain I could reverse it at this point...”

“But you must be male in mind, if not in body. So won’t it adjust once you’re back in this body?”

Jeremy looked up at her. “True, there is that possibility if you haven’t crossed the point of no return.”

“So how do we do this?”

“With your help we can do it through opening your third eye. Can you remember how to do that?”

Sylvia nodded. “Yes.”

“Take some deep breaths, center your thoughts and your will, and close your eyes.”

Syliva nodded, letting them slide shut, and trying to relax.

“Let yourself feel as if warm water is sliding up your feet, relaxing your body.”

Sylvia did as instructed, letting her body slowly relax as Jeremy recited in a soft low tone.

“The water is so warm, so relaxing as it slides up your body. Every muscle relaxing, becoming loose.”

“Yes,” Sylvia said.

“Now, when you are completely relaxed, open your third eye.”

Sylvia slowed her breathing a bit more, then focused on the imaginary eye on her forehead, and felt it opening.

“Wonderful,” Jeremy said. “Now come to me, and we will press our foreheads together.”

Sylvia sat next to her and they pressed foreheads together.

“Now feel our souls entwine, unite, combine. Breathe my breaths, fill my lungs.”

Sylvia could feel the shifting again, as her essence slid from her body.

“Let me in, and find your way here. Feel this body, and allow mine to enter.”

Sylvia could feel Jeremy then, feel the essence slip through then past as Sylvia did the same.

They were quiet, then one of them said. “Now release and close the door behind you so none may enter. Let the cord of our spirits go, releasing it into the other.”

Sylvia did as instructed. She could feel the thread of the other spirit being released, and a door being shut.

“Now open your eyes,” a masculine voice said.

“Ohh, you changed back,” Sylvia said.

“Yes, once I had a handle on this body again, I was able to return to normal.” Jeremy stood up, stretching, and waving his arms.

“Your hair though.”

“What do you think?” Jeremy said with a grin. “Maybe a change is in order.”

From the entrance of the enclave, Bethany and Cynthia came in. “Umm...is everything okay?” Cynthia said.

Jeremy nodded, “We’ve come to...and understanding. Isn’t that right, Mrs. Manchester?”

“Indeed,” Sylvia said.

“So who is...ah...” Bethany said.

“I’m Jeremy and this is my teacher, Mrs. Sylvia Manchester.”

“Yes.” Sylvia looked at Bethany. “And who might you be, young man?”

“Hmm, I hadn’t thought of a name yet,” Bethany said. “Maybe Bruce?”

“Bruce is a fine name,” Sylvia said. “A fine name, for a fine young man.”

“Shall we head back into town?” Bruce said. “I’m starving.”

And with that, the group started the long hike back.