“Anything else you need help with?”  Duncan asked Vanessa.  “You’ve been handling your own changes for a while now.”

Vanessa nodded.  “Ever since Gwen...”  She winced.  “Sorry.  I know that’s still a sore spot.”

“Less than it used to be.  She’s better than ever, and to have two sisters in power has been a gift.”

Vanessa shook her head and looked away.  “I don’t have nearly your power.”

“Are you kidding?” asked Duncan incredulously.  “You’re at least as good at shaping people, and your command of music is incredible.  I may have access to more raw power, but I consider you a full peer in our queer pantheon.”

Vanessa chuckled softly.  “You will always be the first.  Don’t try to deny it, it’s all because of you.”

“I’m just an ordinary man that stumbled upon the Moonstone.  Could have been anyone, really.”

“You weren’t the first to touch it,” noted Rowan, walking up behind them.  “You’ve grown far beyond it, unlike other bearers before and since.”

Duncan slithered around to face the Blue Vixen’s house mother.  “You know where it went?”

“Corrie keeps tabs on it.  It seems to orbit around her, always returning.”

“Does she know where it came from?”

Rowan shrugged.  “If so, she has never seen fit to share that with me.  And she has said it is best that you let it go on its way, unimpeded.”

Duncan sighed softly.  “I’m a curious creature by nature.  I can feel its path through this place, not only the times I brought it here, but the others.”

“Kimmy brought it here?” asked Rowan.  “She never said so, and never shared it.”

“She wanted to be sure she was the biggest,” replied Duncan.

Rowan laughed merrily.  “Ah yes.  That sounds exactly like Kimmy.  Did you ever meet her?”

“No, but I spent a little while as her, thanks to one of the custom bras she stiffed Pauline for and a bit of silver.”

Vanessa raised an eyebrow.  “Do tell.”

Duncan rolled her eyes, and an overdone tart of a woman stepped out of her body, did a little twirl, snorted as if this sort of place was beneath her, and vanished.  “She has no idea what she missed out on, but I imagine she’s having fun even so.”

“So will you follow the Moonstone’s trail?” sighed Rowan.

“Already have.  Forward is easy.  Backward... not so much.  I can see the baby girl of the next owner, he carried her to term with a little help from the Moonstone, but is back to normal and never truly accepted the Moon’s blessing.  It has moved on to a new owner, now.  She’s still figuring out what she wants.  I suspect it’ll be quite the journey.  But I shan’t jostle her elbow and spoil the fun.  There, see?  No crisis.”

“Good.  Because Creepy Dave’s been asking after you since you slithered out onto the floor, and you know what he’s like.”

Duncan grinned.  “Best tipper in the house, if the girl has scales.  Anyone interested or...”

“All on you, tonight.”

Duncan slithered off to the bar, and waved to Dave.  She coiled herself around a barstool, arranging herself to the right sort of height for a person sitting at it, and grinned as Dave took the next stool over.  “Hey there.  Having a good night?”

Dave looked her over appreciatively, without leering.  “It has just improved dramatically.”  Then he tilted his head as he studied her further.  “You look different.  More comfortable.”

Duncan shrugged.  “This body is working for me, better than most.  I’m not entirely sure why.”

“Does that mean you’ll consider my request to stay at my place for a while?”

“If I wasn’t married, and all that entails, I’d certainly consider it.  You’ve upped your game from Creepy Dave to making it sound like... an honoured guest, or something like that.”

“So it’s working?” asked Dave with a grin.  “I mean, I’d love to find a girl willing to be my sexy snakegirl lover, don’t get me wrong.  But sexy guest-about-the-house would be wonderful, even without the other.”

“So you’re looking for a snake escort?” chuckled Duncan.

“Know anyone who’d be interested?”

“I’ll ask.  You don’t happen to know anyone who finds you appealing and might be willing to try the snake thing?”

Dave’s gaze flicked away from Duncan for a moment.  “You’d do that?”

“If she’s willing.  Or even if she’s just curious enough to give it a try for a while.  This design has a lot going for it, so it might grow on someone.  If you can manage the ‘can’t go outside’ part for her, anyway.”

Dave nodded.  “I took Ray’s advice, and improved the privacy of the estate.”

“Ah!  Well, that explains things.”

“What does?”

“You listening to Ray.  He’s good at this.  Did he figure out you had someone in mind?”

Dave glanced away again as he considered the question.  “He didn’t call me on it like you did.  But now that you mention it, yeah.  I wondered about that smirk.”

“So, bring her along one night.”

“Here?” asked Dave, horrified.  “Jessie would never... I mean this hypothetical person whose existence I don’t necessarily admit... might not be the sort to...”

“The Crimson Kitten, then.  Nice dinner, catgirls, and a table-side magic show to let her know that magic is real, so you can ask her if she’d be willing to be transformed.”

“I...  Is there any chance I could take you up on that table-side magic offer somewhere a little... classier?” asked Dave with a wince.  “I know how that sounds, but she’s not really like that.  I’d just... her family and mine go way back, and we’re both very well off.”

“Perhaps a catered picnic on your estate?” asked Duncan.  “Next Sunday, the Moon will be in the sky at noon, and sets an hour and a half later.  Time for lunch and a little demonstration.  Or a big one, if she’s willing.”

“That would work very nicely.  Are you available then?  You mentioned married life.”

“I can make the time.  Or send Donna while I stay home.”

Dave blinked.  “You’re not Donna?”

“Duncan.”  She stuck out her hand, and Dave shook it hesitantly.  “Donna’s male half.  Sort of.  Been feeling distinctly less male the last couple months.”

“I can see that.  So how does your spouse handle it?”

Duncan winced.  “Not as well as I’d like.  It helps that I have a fully male body I can use when I’m at home.”

“But you don’t really like using it,” mused Dave.  “That sucks.  Can you run both at once?”

“It’s... distracting.  I can’t give her my full attention if I’m somewhere else too.  And sending Donna in my place would be worse.  Hah.  What a mess.  Three of me, and none of us male.”

“Three?”

“Dia is... sort of a spirit of magic.  In many ways, they are the true me now.  Which makes this even more complicated.”

“Did someone take my name in vain?” asked a glimmering spark hovering over the bar.  “Hey Duncan.  Having a nice night?”

Duncan smirked.  “Why ask a question you know the answer to?”

“For my benefit, presumably.  Are you?” asked Dave.

“Yes.  Full Moon nights are always the best nights.  Not just because of the unlimited power, though that’s definitely a perk.  The mood here is always...”  She frowned, and looked to Dia.  “Vanessa.  She’s doing something.”

“The choir is warming up, yes.  We’re up in five.  Or whenever you’re done here, no rush.”

Duncan chuckled softly.  “What are you scheming now?”

Dia chirped happily and vanished.

“Trouble?” asked Dave, lightly.

“Not as such.  Mischief, more likely.  Trying to get me to come to terms with who and what I now am, I suspect.”

“And that is something other than a lovely but not entirely female snakeling?”

Duncan chuckled.  “Not other than, no.  More like... on top of.”  She held up a hand, and a glowing ball of magic appeared there.  “We can do nearly anything.  Why here?  Why us?”

“Why not?”

Duncan stared at Dave, then started laughing, low at first and then outright belly-laughs that made all her breasts jiggle and her tail wriggle.  “You’re right.  No point in second-guessing now.  I’m here, I can do this, and so it shall be done.”  She darted forward and gave him a big hug.  “I think I have a show to put on.  You’ll watch, yes?”

“Wouldn’t miss a moment.”

Duncan flashed Dave a brilliant smile, then slithered off to the green room.  She was joined by a hot pink incarnation of Donna, who looked like she was made from polished silicone rubber.  Once they were ready, Vanessa led most of the dancers (and Kelly, as a shiny red insectoid robot) out onto the stage.

As Duncan and Donna entered, Vanessa started singing.

There is a house in Victoria,

They call the Blue Vixen.

It has changed the life of many a poor girl,

And God, I know, I’m one.

Duncan smiled to his other half, and slithered out on stage with her hand in hand.  They began a slow, twining dance to match the pace of the song.  Both showed off their flexibility – Donna was quite literally made of rubber.

For the next verse, the choir joined in.  A little unevenly, but they soon were swept up in the hymn.

Each of us found our own way here,

Our stories are our own.

In dance we have become sisters,

The Vixen is our home.

Duncan and Donna gestured to the singers, and some of them stepped forward, swaying and dancing as they sang.

Folks would call us sinners,

For what they think we’ve done.

My sisters know what we do here,

Isn’t hurting anyone.

Duncan’s accusing gaze swept the audience, as if daring any to accuse them.  Donna smiled invitingly, arms open and accepting.

The full Moon rises overhead,

And bodies flow like clay.

These nights we are your anything,

Mould us as you may.

The dancers changed, flowing and fusing into crystalline forms, yet still dancing, still moving.  Their voices became fluting and pure, resonating within the walls of the Blue Vixen like an organ.

There is a house in Victoria,

They call the Blue Vixen.

It has changed the life of many a poor girl,

And God, I know, I’m one.

Dia glowed above the dancing couple, and then magic flared around them, fusing the three into a single crystalline entity, a pillar with a human face, and sleek glossy scales.  They stood there for a shining moment as the echoes of the song faded away, glowing brightly.  Then Gwen stepped forward, and the statue dwindled, shrinking from human size to that of a small figurine that floated up into her hands.

Gwen strode forward, then sat at the edge of the stage with the statuette in her lap.  “Come forward one and all, to change as your heart desires.  They and I would love to live in a world where transformation is routine and accepted.  Where two guys could become girls for the weekend just because they feel like it, with no stigma attached, and if one or both decide to stay that way, that would be fine, too.”  Gwen smiled as the pair she was staring at blushed and whispered to each other.

“Where your dream of being so close to another person that you’re practically a second skin can be real for a night, a day, or as long as you like.  Or you could spend a week as their pampered pet.  Any takers?”  Gwen winked at a couple that had drifted closer to her.  “Put your hand on D, here, and your dream will become very real.”

The man’s hand reached out hesitantly, then a moment later he was dwindling away.  The woman with him scooped him up as he shrank, then grinned as his form flattened into fabric.  Soon she was holding a gem-studded black dress that sparkled like the night sky.  “Oh, how lovely.  How long will he be like this?”

“Until morning.  Show him a good time tonight, and he might stay longer next time.”

“There’ll be a next time?” the woman asked in awe.  “I... thank you.  This is wonderful.”

The two guys that Gwen first spoke to approached next, and both reached out.  Their change was far more subtle, a slight shifting of curves, and softening of faces.  Their clothes changed cut, but otherwise stayed the same.  Two sparkling golden necklaces settled about their necks, each with a half-heart pendant.

“You may change back and forth for the balance of the night by taking the necklaces off or putting them back on.  They will only work while the Moon is in the sky, and only for the next week.  If either or both of you decide to stay female, put the heart together while wearing the necklace.”

Both looked at each other, smiling shyly, then bowed deeply before Gwen and D.  “Thank you for this gift.”

Many more lined up behind them.