Deep in the steamy interiors of a barbeque restaurant, a businessman and his partner lie wasted around a wide table strewn with sauce and spilled liquor, most of the seats around the pair left vacant with the departure of the other guests a few minutes ago.

Having snared his company a massive deal that could see them well off for years to come, Mike had been roped along by his colleagues who had seen fit to celebrate. Drinking and eating themselves drunk in the span of an hour and introducing the young man to the world of alcohol for the first time. Although he wasn’t so eager to take a swig of a yellow drink that Jerry, a senior colleague of his, had promised with a wide smile was ‘mild stuff’.

And as expected, the veterans had a good laugh after seeing how cherry faced their breadwinner had become after just a single chug of the seemingly innocuous fluid. With how careful Mike was with his new, larger paycheck after moving on from a part time gig at the local warehouse, he had rarely treated himself to the finer things in life despite living alone, losing himself in the celebrations.

But with how popular the place was, the time was up for their stay at the booth, with Mike having to haul his friend Bernard off on his shoulders before dumping him into a cab set to bring him back home safely, leaving the up and coming prodigy all on his own.

Hearing the dampened hollers from Bernard fading into the night as the cab drives off before turning out of sight down the street, Mike slings his suitcase over his shoulder before deciding to walk home. It was a weekend tomorrow and despite how emotionally exhausted he was, still felt like enjoying the cool evening air, never one to spend much time online in games and other forms of entertainment, walking the light-headedness off sounded like a good way to while away the time. Like his late mother always said whenever they strolled around after a heavy lunch or dinner outside on the weekends; ‘you need to take a walk after a heavy meal, it’ll be good for you.’

Underestimating how bad a hangover could be though, Mike would soon begin to regret his decision, fumbling for the phone in his breast pocket all while clutching his pounding cranium, every beat of his heart making his limb’s feel heavier and heavier, as if tiny weights were slowly being implanted into his bones.

“Holee…craap…thisshursh reaal bad…”

With his speech slurred and feeling beginning to leave his fingertips, Mike slams against the wall of the apartment block after tripping over a stray beer can, barely able to support himself with the blurry view of the staircase that led up to the lobby getting harder and harder to focus on as a gentle warmth floods his body, coaxing him to rest with his hobble slowly turning into a crawl, barely registering the prickly feeling of the bare concrete floor against his palms before landing with a soft thud on the steps, drool trailing his open mouth with his mind fading rapidly.

“...Landlardies…gonna bee pissed…”

With his last clear thought on the landladies face twisted in anger, Mike drifts off to sleep, just as a heavy wind passes by, blinking street lights and malfunctioning electronics interrupting the silent night for a moment before returning to normal.

And where there was once a man lying out cold on the steps of the apartment building, nothing remained besides a discarded sling bag lying against the railing..

–

Rising slowly from his splayed out position on the ground, Mike groans at the uncomfortable creak in his body from sleeping for so long in an awkward position, gingerly rubbing at the base of his stinging neck before realizing how green everything was…nothing like the greys and orange of the same city blocks he’d seen for years now.

“T-This can’t be real now can it?”

Reaching out slowly to poke at the vibrant green blades of dew kissed grass, Mike’s hangover returns with a vengeance, a sudden spike of pain in his head forcing him over in a fit, punching the grass in a knee jerk response to the mind rending headache currently settling in.

But the grass didn’t vanish, instead the sensation of dirt and cold water against his fists only served to reinforce the gravity of the situation; that he was indeed stranded in some forested area he’d never seen before. But how could this be? The last clear memory he had before blacking out was of the fear of upsetting his landlady for collapsing in such an unsightly fashion right outside the lobby.

With the sounds of birds chirping in the distance and how the sight of thick branches and foliage went on for miles around him, Mike was even more dumbfounded than before. There shouldn’t be a forest this close to town, he would’ve had to gone out of his way to even get that far from civilization.

Deciding to make the most of his situation though, Mike slowly stands to his feet, trying not to topple over once more as he explores the small clearing ahead of him, noting the strange trees and plants he had never seen before.

Although the scent of something cooking over a fire had taken immediate attention over his other worries, looking around slowly in an attempt to keep the pounding in his head to a minimum, the haggard businessman eyes the small plume of smoke rising slowly over a neatly arranged pile of logs, along with a whole assortment of rucksacks and items that struck some measure of nostalgia in Mike’s heart, the sudden memory of playing a round of Dungeons and Dragons with his schoolmates years ago flashing by.

“Are these herbs? Never seen one this red before…”

Moving closer after having made sure he was alone, Mike had begun to browse the assortment of items; picking through empty glass vials and stacks of bound herbs and other strange unknowables. With a limited knowledge of herbalism after attending one or two classes back in college, Mike swallows hard as another pang from the terrible hangover makes the urge to mix up a concoction grow stronger.

If Mike was paying attention however, he would’ve noticed the gradual knowledge gleaned from running his hands over the different plants and strange ingredients, mistaking the sudden influx with his limited insight into herbs as he puts aside the ingredients he ‘knew’ would help with curing the hangover, while rummaging through a bag that coincidentally contained all the necessary tools for fashioning a concoction, picking up the pestle and mortar clumsily before slowly getting used to the routine.

It wasn’t long before Mike had himself a bitter tasting mush, a tiny taste already proving its effects with how a renewed burst of strength flowed into Mike’s body. But he needed to down the entire thing at once if he didn’t want the hangover to persist and return eventually, feeling the debilitating throb of his headache slowly picking back up in strength.

Licking up another dab of the herbal paste, Mike doesn’t realize how slender and lean his hands were becoming, the long sleeves of his suit hiding how his hairy forearms have begun to lose muscle definition, leaving just enough to give them a lean contoura as his shoulders shift inward slowly, rounding out into smooth hills as Mike shivers at the sudden feeling of a chill running down his spine, masking the crack of his bones as his entire skeletal structure seems to shift at once; popping his spine into a slender curve as his pelvis widens to fit his lengthier legs.

“Maybe I should get a PhD in medicine or something, pretty potent drug I've got here…damn I even sound weird too.”

Rubbing his notably slimmer neck, Mike takes a seat over one of the logs arranged around the dwindling campfire, bending over to grab at an empty mug as longer locks of black hair tumble down his back and fringe, drawing no remark from the oblivious man even as they begin to reach down to the lower half of his back, framing his inflating rear as the curves of a plump ass begin to strain against the fabric of his pants.

Setting the mug down in his lap, Mike grabs a leather canteen without realizing how practiced his movements were, as if he had known that the particular section contained food and drink, popping open the cork before taking in the sweet aroma of the berry extract within, pouring the scarlet liquid into the mug, salivating as his cushioned lips take on a natural pink hue, glistening in the rays of the morning sun before mixing the pestle into the medicinal paste, mixing in a good amount with the juice before bringing the smooth wood up to his mouth.

With his slim neck bulging as each gulp of the energizing drink runs down his throat, Mike’s belly growls with change as the beginnings of the six-pack he had been nurturing slowly fades away into a toned core that rose and fell in gentle waves; a valley of firm flesh lined with slim layers of soft fat as the warm drink settles down, spreading a pleasant warmth in his stomach as the medicine does it’s job, a satisfied sigh escaping Mike as he brings the mug down to his lap, before dainty hands brush past an unusual obstruction…

“Huh? Was I always that…fat…”

Trailing off as his attention shifts to the orbs slowly popping buttons from his suit as they balloon outwards, Mike begins to feel a sense of serenity cross his mind as he lazily brings a hand up to grope at the hefty pair of breasts protruding from his chest, eyeing the small pink nubs of his erect nipples tenting the transparent shirt before registering the fact that they were indeed real...

“What the fuck is this?!”

Bringing the mug down in a panic, Mike’s flinching sends him sliding off the log in a mess, barely holding onto the drink in his hand as the blades of grass beneath him tickle at his exposed feet, glancing down in shock at the unravelling tendrils of fabric of his former slacks, revealing long shapely feet connected to handlebar hips, running shivering hands over the smooth skin before raising them up in the sunlight in panic, realizing just how smooth and well cared for his nails were as he feels the length of his face begin to ripple and shift.

“B-But how?! An-And why? I-I even sound like-”

“Oi Jessica, you alright back there? Wot’s all the yellin’ about?”

Y-Yangus? Wait who?!

Flustered over what to do, Mike turns around before noticing how long his hair had become, grabbing at lustrous locks of red hair as he eyes the approaching figure of a short stubby man with a spiked helmet framing a worrisome look from the woods, an imposing axe in hand.

“Ye-Yeah i’m fine! It’s all good here! I was j-just changing and fell over!”

Fumbling with the loosening fabric of his clothes as even his suit begins to warp but with no time or peace left to wonder what was going on, Mike feels panic rise even further when the man he somehow knew as Yangus ignored his words, stepping closer. Fighting off the suffocating sensation of a corset tying itself tightly around his cinched waist, emphasizing his hourglass figure even further.

“Mmpf! D-Don’t come any closer! I’m still-agh-changing!”

Sighing in relief when the crunching of leaves beneath Yangus’ boots stop, Mike looks apologetically at the gaunt dwarf as a tinge of guilt for yelling at him probes at his conscience, cupping a small hand around his mouth as his breaths turn labored, lean shoulders jittering at the alien sensation of something tugging hard beneath his belly, pulling at his privates as the dangling member beneath the long skirt that had subsumed his slacks begins to shrivel up, rubbing up against sensitive thighs in their retreat.

“A-Alright then…S’pose I should give a lady some measure ah privacy then…if y’need anythin’ just holler alright? Guv an’ I’ll be right with ya!”

Trotting off back into the woods, Yangus’ disappearing figure gives Mike an opportunity to relax as he, or rather she, let’s loose a lengthy moan, letting her clenched fists relax as she leans backward, supporting her weight on a shaky arm, poking at the hefty yet pert set of tits that squeezed up tight against the strain of the new purple blouse that hugged her slender torso, rounded shoulders left exposed as a set of sleeves in matching purple run up the length of her slender arms, tracing the slim contours with a dainty finger before bringing them up to grasp at her neck, swallowing once the realization of her predicament sets in.

Where she had been a man wearing a prim and proper business suit just a few minutes ago, she now blended in well with the set of ancient medieval tools and fantasy items strewn all around her as a voluptuous young woman dressed up like a seductive village girl descended from a well-off family, a messy red mane of hair strewn around her alluring body as she looked herself over in disbelief.

T-That voice…isn’t mine at all…and that accent! Was that british? Forget that, I’m not even a m-man anymore!

“C-Calm down…let’s think for a moment…god, this is so weird!”

Whispering in a hushed tone as Mike fumbled for a pocket in the dress that clung tightly to her shapely hips with a blush on her face at how awkward and tight the clothes were, the former man finds nothing, even when browsing the new pouches that had grown forth from the belt that hung around her waist. The handphone she had hoped for replaced with vials and other magical implements…along with a set of matching golden clasps.

“Ah right…these are for my…hair?”

Clutching at the bands as she brings up an arm to bundle her newly grown hair together, Mike slowly works on getting them tied up, leaving just enough for a long fringe of crimson to frame her lovely yet sharp eyes, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment as she tugs wistfully at a strand of her hair, picking the mug that had lain untouched on the forest floor back up as she takes another long sip of the drink, feeling a calming wave wash over her as she glances around the forest. The sensation of displacement and loss no longer plaguing her.

“Weird...all that panic from earlier…it’s gone? No, it’s like I’ve…been here before…”

Throughout the changes, the slow trickle of knowledge and memories from a second life had begun to grow into a steady flow, filling Mike in as to where he, or rather she, had woken up in and the person she had turned into, lining up with what Yangus had called her earlier.

Apparently back in her ‘hometown’ of Alexandria after saving the world from the threat of the demon Rhapthorne, ‘Jessica’ and her friends had initially seen the restored Princess Medea off to her wedding with the less-than-noble Prince Charmles, a less than pleasant run-in with the pampered prince showing them just how crude and corrupt he was leaving them hesitant with the arranged marriage.

God, even I would rather jump off a cliff than be forced to marry a scumbag like that…

But thankfully, events had played out differently when the Hero; the group's nameless leader, came bursting out the doors of the Cathedral with the Princess in hand, retreating to a carriage as they declared their love for each other.

All’s well that ends well…

But here they were again as a party, dealing with reports of rabid creatures in the woods that bordered Alexandria, having her friends tag along to aid in her investigations, with the princess staying at an inn back in town while her husband worked to solve the case with Jessica.

Although it all seemed like the script for a fantasy movie, Mike could vividly recall the first memory she had of casting magic and the feeling of swinging the toughened notch of her whip around as it struck its target, fingering the deadly weapon in her hand as she slips it free of the belt, grasping the leather grip with familiarity while taking another sip of the red liquid in the mug, before toppling backward in another bout of sudden dizziness, dropping the whip in an effort to steady herself, no longer feeling that weirded out when her assets jiggled along with her momentum.

“Whoops…hope Yangus won’t mind his missing wine~”

Giggling absentmindedly in her newly intoxicated state, Mike drunkenly picks through her belt, fingers lazily wrapping around a wand before waving it gently in the air, a subtle blue glow enveloping her arms as she whispers a curative spell under her breath, tiny particles of light wavering in the air for a moment before it all fades away. Pocketing her wand while breathing in a sigh of relief with the detoxification of her body. The perks of being a Sorceress.

Cradling the mug in her arms once more though, Mike couldn’t help but think about the immediate future, feeling nothing for her previous life after her mind had come to a standstill with the initial panic of arriving in this strange new world wearing off after she had come to understand her new identity as Jessica Albert, sole daughter of the family after her brother had lost his life to Rhapthorne’s machinations, the memory of finally bringing an end to the wretched demon bringing a smile to her face. As weird as it sounded, Mike couldn’t help herself as she played with the mug in hand, eyeing her reflection in the drink as she gazed upon her own face.

If she were still a man, she’d have found herself to be irresistible, a 10/10 babe. Sparking a series of awkward memories of being hit on by the less than refined menfolk throughout her adventures besides one of her more-than-annoying party members. Wondering what the man was up to after having not seen him for awhile since the party had split back then.

“Strange, feeling this way for people I've technically never seen before…”

Wherever this was, a profound longing to remain had taken root in her heart. For she knew that back at Earth, her life had been pretty much set in stone to remain an ordinary affair as a tryhard paper pusher. With no family and a group of people she had no real attachment to, it was hard to find the life of Mike an appealing one to return to when compared to that of Jessica; living life freely on the road with people she had strong ties with. And despite how annoying her gripes could be about conforming to a ‘maiden’s proper lifestyle’ and ‘matters of etiquette’, Jessica had a loving mother to return to whenever she felt the need to if life on the road ever needed to take a break.

Here, Jessica was free to be her own person with a unique skill set and personality to call her own in a world vastly different from that of Earth. But with Mike, one wrong move and she’d be struck with pay cuts, a demotion in the office hierarchy or even worse; being sacked. Despite how sociable the boss was last night, she still remembered the stern talking to he’d given to an unfortunate, tear stricken employee on her first week there, no longer seeing a lick of her around the office giving her a hint as to what her ultimate fate had been. A reminder to how expendable Mike was as an asset to be used.

Or maybe she was adjusting a little too well to this new life, already finding herself sitting in an undeniably feminine posture with her stocking clad legs tucked neatly by her side, but even if she wanted to leave, she had doubts if it was even possible to return to where she had come from…well, where Mike had come from…

“Morning Jess, a little too early to be drinking isn’t it?”

Looking up at the tall figure of a young man that cast a shadow over her, Jessica waves her mug in greeting to the Hero, no longer a hint of hesitation left in her scarlet hued eyes, complimented by her rosy cheeks. Laughing as she notices how flushed the man was as he stared her straight in the eyes, trying his best to to divert his gaze elsewhere.

“Good morning to you as well Hero…dear me, what would your wife say if she saw you now?”

“I-I was just concerned! Yangus mentioned you weren’t looking too good earlier so…i came over to check was all!”

“Hahah! Relax, I was just teasing~”

Rising back up to her full height before laying down the mug of liquor, the emboldened Jessica dusts her dress off before helping the flustered young man set up the bounty of boar and hare he had dragged in from behind for a hearty breakfast, the troubles that had plagued her not long ago settled firmly into the back of her mind with the acceptance of her new identity in this strange but familiar world.

THE END