"...a lesbian." Ember's voice echoed in Jon's head, shattering his hopes. Well, he always suspected, but still it was kinda... heart-breaking? It could be just silly crush, but he really liked Karyn. "Aww, don't be sad, Jon-boy. You still got me. Besides, it is not like you can't fix this with a wish or two." Ember said.
"That would be wrong. I can't just change her against her will, it will be like brainwashing her, even if she would never find out, I would have to live with guilt my whole life." he said. Ember chuckled "So kind and noble of you, dear Jon. There is another way, though." Jon looked puzzled "What do you mean?" Ember giggled "Well, you can always change yourself to become her perfect lover."
Jon's brain came into sudden mental halt, refusing to compute the new idea Ember suggested "But then I would have to be..." "A girl, yes what is wrong with that?" Ember asked "But I'm a guy." "So? You need to stop thinking narrow-mindedly. With the stone in your possession you can easily be both. A girl and a boy. Just like in that manga you read long time ago. What was it? Ranma 1/2? Yeah, that one. Just without water thing, but with actual control in your hands. You could live life of both girl and guy, changing when it strikes your fancy." Jon didn't really had an argument for that "Besides..." Ember continues "Don't act like you aren't curious. I saw your fantasies and memories. You are curious about opposite sex. Sure, you aren't interested in ever doing anything with another guy, but being hot lesbian? You had dreamed more than once about that. Also you have that lesbian porn collection you are hiding in..." "Okay, okay, I get the idea. Maybe I am curious... It still would be weird..." Jon said. "Well, welcome to magic awareness, sugar. Weird is pretty much a norm here." Ember said with a giggle
"Are you alright Jon? You barely touched your breakfast?" Jon's mother Linda said, snapping him out of his mental conversation and making him focus on present. It seemed that both Zoe and Jacob left already. "Sorry mom, was just thinking about some stuff. Guess I am not that hungry this morning." Linda looked a bit concerned, but didn't push it. "Okay, then. You better get going or you will be late to school." Jon nodded, grabbing his bag. "Okay, bye mom." he said and left the house.
"So, what do you think?" Ember engaged him in conversation again. "About what?" he asked back. "About becoming a girl, silly." she giggled. Jon sighed heavily "Why are you suggesting me this?" "Because I know that you desire to be with Karyn. Because I know that you like her very much. Because I know that you will never use stone to hurt or change her in a way she doesn't want, unless she betrays you first. Because I want to help you." Ember said, sounding very sincere. "And your best idea is for me to grow boobs?" he asked. Jon could almost feel Ember roll eyes on him "You don't need to put it into such crude way, but yes. Becoming girl would solve more of your problems than just giving you chance to be with person you like."
"Problems? What problems?" Jon asked. "Like bullying. Lack of affection. Lack of friends. Becoming sexy girl with stone's help would make you popular, confident, would let you be more affectionate to others. Would also solve your self-esteem problems, because let's face it - you constantly doubt yourself. You are smart guy, but you feel like that is not enough. You are jealous of other more popular guys and girls at school." Jon sighed "Okay, maybe I am... But using stone to get all that feels like cheating..." "Well, look at it this way - you maybe didn't won genetic lottery to grant you good looks and confidence, but you won as a good person, else your grandpa wouldn't have left the stone to you. Why not use it? You already decided to use it last evening anyways. You are only uncomfortable because you are afraid to admit that you would like to be a girl. You don't want to be a freak. You don't need to worry, I will never think less of you because of your desires. I am here to help you. I shouldn't really be persuading you this much. You want this, you have the means to change your life. Don't let all pressure make you stay a loser boy of high school forever. Take life into your own hands. What is stopping you from being happy?" she asked, seriously "I... nothing... You are right, I'm just afraid..." he answered, unsure "That is right. Nothing is stopping you, except your own doubts. Be brave and become what you want to become. I will always help you, but you need to take first step." Ember said, encouraging Jon. "You are right. Thank you, Ember." "You are welcome. Seems we are there."
Indeed, while they were talking Jon reached his school.
