Weed 1: A Green Christmas by Amethyst

Mesa, Arizona
The Rozic Residence
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015 – 7:15 a.m.

Ron was called by his mother, but feeling off and sluggish, I hope it isn't a virus. Ron Rozic, curious about the last name now. Mother comes in and pulls off his covers only to be shocked by what she sees, saying he needs sunlight. Uh oh, plant-based mutation with green skin is my guess at this point.

So out of it, Ron doesn't remember his mother taking off most of his clothes and taking him outside.

Kneeling beside me and looking down at me in concern was a youthful and pretty woman with light green skin and four arms that were really more like tentacles. In place of hair, weeping willow branches grew from her head and they were laced with poisonous vines and barbs.

His mother looks like that, don't tell this is a case of a child inheriting a similar mutation to their parent. She can make plants grow really fast and are a superhero on a team called the Elementals, cool.

Interesting setup for a hero team, but everyone has to make a living somehow. Dad has a plant-based mutation too and is codenamed Redwood, that name seems familiar to me. Dang, best kind of flower shop. Being told by his mother what happened, was not much of a shock to Ron. Wait, the beginning of whatever changes he is going through. Taking more after his mother than his father, I wonder how much he will take after his mother before the changes are done.

Getting out of school to go be tested and get his MID, yay! Wave, another female in the Elementals and sounds like she might be their leader. Oof, MCO testing, glad she is going in costume then. Phoenix, oh no, some of the bad ones in the MCO work there. Thinner eyebrows and thicker eyelashes than before, Ron doesn't realize it yet but he is probably a changeling. Aww, poor kid, now his hopes of looking more like a boy than a girl are dashed.

It will be interesting to watch his plant hair grow out over time. Plant growth like his mom, or at least that is part of his powers and long 'hair' like that now makes him look even more like a girl.

“Great,” I muttered, “I’m a plant bishonen.”

You better hope that is all it is. Sharp little thorns in his vine hair, will discourage all but the biggest idiots from pulling it. Mint plants on the arms and shoulders, that is unique.

Saying you have nothing to wear, watch it, Ron, or just look like a girl will be the least of your worries. A doctor's appointment before powers testing is a good idea, they might notice things that have only just started in his changes. At least he has something to wear even it if is too big.

Mesa, Arizona
Dr. Deville’s Office
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015 – 10:39 a.m.

Oh boy, playing with his vine hair, who will tease him first at this rate. A devisor with minor GSD, a good doctor to have for mutants. Nervous when seeing doctors, oh boy, that will be a problem at Whateley.

She had pebbly lavender skin that sparkled like tiny crystals, shiny silver hair, and spindly hands with ten digits on each instead of the usual five. She smiled as we approached, showing a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth.

I like her already pretty and has the name I want to use when I transition.

Gadgeteers and more advanced tech, but they still use those paper gowns everyone hates to wear. Dr. Deville has crimson horns and a spaded tail, good thing she doesn't work at Whateley or a lot of boys and a few girls would get crushes on her.

“You’re growing like a weed, Sprout.”

Hey, only a fellow GSD can make such jokes work. Oh, Dr. Deville is her codename on her MID, I wonder what her real name is.

“Take your situation and own it or others will do it for you, and they probably won’t be as good-natured about it.”

Wise words, listen to them well, Ron.

The thorns in her hair excrete a fluid, intriguing, I wonder what it does. A paralytic toxin, dang, weaponized hair. Immunity to plant poisons, I would love to have that. Six growths on his back and the way they are spread out has me curious as to what they will grow into. Shirts that don't cover the arms, shoulders, and opened back, oh boy, few clothes like that in the boy's section of most stores from what I can recall.

Mesa, Arizona
Mesa Center Mall
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015 – 12:09 p.m.

I knew it! Halter tops from the junior miss section, Ron is going to have to adapt fast. Mom has a point about them being practical, but pointing out people mistaking him for a girl regardless, ouch. Referred to him as a girl 3 times already, his ego can't take much more, captain. Starving and craving meat, don't tell me part of his mutation is based on a carnivorous plant.

Mesa, Arizona
Dr. Deville’s Office
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015 – 12:52 p.m.

Perplexed by something on her screen, that is never a good thing to notice about your doctor. Similar but with differences to his mother's own mutation, and similar power as well, but needs testing to confirm it. Hormone levels, yup, Ron is a changeling. Yikes, this hit hard, and every two weeks to keep track of his hormone levels.

It is never an easy transition to make except for the transgenders who it happens to, Ron has a rough road ahead. A generally human shape is a good thing to have with GSD, I hope it doesn't progress beyond that.

Phoenix, Arizona
Mutant Commission Office
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015 – 2:15 p.m.

Oh great, MCO receptionist who is a bigot as well. Blossom, is that the codename Ron choose? Don't have to give any personal information, if only all newly manifested mutants knew this. Hooked on Paul Simon's music, and nice use of the lyrics. Broken bigot, such fun to mess with them.

Agent Dobson and already trying to manipulate Ron into not wanting his mom in when they do the testing, creep. Plant puns, can't wait. Jerry, this guy gives me a bad vibe. 4 hours of testing, yikes. Aww, power isn't as powerful as his mom's, ten times longer to grow a tree fifty years worth. Thick vines on Ron's back and useful for dealing with idiots.

I couldn’t lift much more with them than with my normal arms but I could constrict them pretty tightly around things. He even had me try growing flowers or thorns like those in my hair on the vines. I think we were both surprised when that actually worked.

Gah! A constriction-based attack is very useful, especially leaving his hands free.

So might be a manifestor, those vines are going to get Ron a lot more testing in the future.

I had used my growth ability on the plant aspects of myself rather than external seeds and pushed myself closer to my BIT in the process.

Eep, now he needs to check himself in a mirror when they get home. Sprout is taken, but not Weed, a good codename for the speed Ron is growing at, never seen them this fast before.

The codename was Weed, of course, and it listed my powers as Energizer 3, Manifestor 4, Shifter 1, and Exemplar 1.

With training and experience Ron is going to be a powerhouse. Affiliated with the Elementals, that will keep some of the more hotheaded of the MCO off his back, hopefully. Janet sounds like a Gadgeteer/Devisor combo, I wonder what she specializes in.

Mesa, Arizona
The Rozic Residence
Wednesday, December 9th, 2015 – 8:32 p.m.

Dad's power is definitely handy, able to generate sunlight orbs like that. Try not to make messing with MCO agents a regular thing, don't jinx him. Holo-projector to look like a normal human, Janet probably made that, very handy.

Janet is built a bit like a fantasy Dwarf; short, bulky, and muscular. She’s probably even stronger than she looks, but she has these thin fingers though that help her with precision work when she’s fixing something or working on a new devise or gadget.

Dang, pretty GSD women all around here.

Whoa, she does fast and good work, Full spectrum HID lights are already set up in Ron's room. A panel to turn it off and on, control the intensity, and even set a timer for when it goes on, she gave him a deluxe package imo. Holo-projector as a Christmas present, I wonder how easy it will be to reprogram as his look changes. Drink Ron's dad under the table, so she got the full Dwarf package.

Mesa, Arizona
Dr. Deville’s Office
Thursday, December 24th, 2015 – 4:45 p.m.

Having to see the doctor alone as his parents will meet up with him later. Oh boy, the changes to his chest and the itching, he doesn't realize what that means yet. A dull sense of touch through his back vines, his powers get more interesting the more we learn about them. Examination of his chest and Dr. Deville has an idea of what is going on, but tests to be sure, good.

With all that testing, hope Ron doesn't feel like a pin cushion afterward. Need to talk in her office, yup, the changes are what I suspect. All the testing confirms Ron is a changeling, turning into a girl. So in shock Ron only says that he is going to need all the help and comfort he can get.

Mesa, Arizona
The Rozic Residence
Friday, December 25th, 2015 – 7:30 a.m.

Not eating, barely spoken a word, the poor kid is still processing what is a huge change he is undergoing. Oof, telling the tale of how he was conceived, at least they are honest with him. Nearly lost Ron due to complications, he really is their miracle. So that is how the Elementals formed, good reason as any.

No, Ron, it isn't any different from a severe GSD case, you still have to get used to it, but it will still be you. Ron is putting on a brave face for his parents, I just hope even half of what he is saying is true. Clover and yes, Ron is acting by becoming Clover that he is dying, but it will still be him.

“No, I’m just cleaning house. You know, out with the old and in with the new. Look at the time! It’s almost eight o’clock! Don’t we have company coming soon?”

Ron, this isn't a healthy way of dealing with this, acting like you are fine with it will backfire when more changes happen.

Aunt Becky and Aunt Lucia, aka Wave and her girlfriend, cute couple. *facepalms* Telling about turning into a girl this way, he is taking Dr. Deville's advice about using humor to heart at least. Uncle Ben aka Wick, so we have water, fire, and plant powers on the team so far. Uncle Damon aka Notus, I wonder what his powers are. His wife Kayla aka Sparkle has a rainbow aura that constantly surrounds her, I would love to see that. Aww, their four-year-old daughter Sierra, what a cutey.

Kaede shows up, and the team tank is a short Japanese American woman called Quicksand, nice to see stereotypes broken. And her power is awesome. Hehe, introduced Ron to anime, good job. Motormouth was an understatement for Kaede.

Kaede sighed and shook her head. “Don’t bullshit me, Ron. This can’t be easy for you.”

“Easy, no. From what the doc says, it’s unavoidable though. The sooner that I get used to that idea and try to adapt, the sooner that Clover can get on with her life. So I’m adapting,” I told her while trying to casually usher her to the living room.

Good, someone needed to call him out on his bullshit for his own sake.

Crud, she glomp-hugged him and got affected by the paralytic in his hair. Very fast acting, good to know. Oh, so it is a harmless paralytic toxin, not the kind that can shut down your breathing, good. An hour and 15 minutes to mostly recover, potent stuff.

“Relatively harmless, my ass,” she muttered. “I’m still numb, and I think I can taste colors.”

Very potent stuff.

Nice bunch of gifts. And Sierra warming up to Ron again, good, and no, not all girls play with dolls, Ron. Hehe, of course, a little girl would like a girl 'cousin' more than a boy cousin, she can get you to play with her more easily.

It was just a painful reminder of what I was going to become, and what I was losing. I turned in my bed to face away from them, but the thoughts were already firmly planted in my mind. That Christmas night was the first time that I had ever cried myself to sleep, but it wouldn’t be the last.

Oh Ron, this is why you need to talk with your parents, Kaede, and anyone who can help you adjust and not just try to act like everything is okay.

One year later…

Mesa, Arizona
The Rozic Residence
Thursday, December 22nd, 2016 – 6:52 p.m.

Oof, Clover has to use a tampon. Just get this over with, Ron, ask your mom for more help if you need it. Gift from Mother Nature, might want kids of her own someday, not the right words to say right now, mom. Using her new name and girls' clothes since January, her name and gender changed on official documents. You feel like a fake, all changelings go through this, well, most.

Going to Whateley, where her Mom and Dad meet, and Clover is freaking out over the whole situation, it is understandable. Homeschooled until the changes finished and no more excuses not to go to Whateley, Clover is going to be shocked at what the school is like. Dang, she came out attractive, poor girl is going to need friends to help ward off the boys.

2 weeks to plan out everything needed for her trip to Whateley, they should have started sooner! Mom knows Clover is not trying to adjust and says that ends right now, this is where you hiding your true feelings for this long backfire on you. *facepalms* And avoids having the holo-projector made to look like Clover instead of Ron, too stubborn for his own good. And Mom is right about this, you need to really adjust, Clover.

“You can make your own damn list, and make all the decisions for me. You’re good at that. I’m going to go do what I’m good at.” Then I turned on my heel and ran to my room, locking the door behind me to hide from the world at large, but especially my mom. Eventually, I cried myself to sleep.

She is doing it for your own good, Clover, I hope you can see that sooner rather than later.

Mesa, Arizona
Dr. Deville’s Office
Friday, December 23rd, 2016 – 11:30 a.m.

Midol barely helps with her cramps, yikes. Mongollan Monster is there, and June his girlfriend, is nice to see some of the Phoenix Warriors besides Janet. Oh good, June survived that fight with Forte and was healed so nothing permanent, I hope. Her secret identity is toast, darn it!

Sorry, Clover, but a pelvic exam is a regular part of a female's life. Don't lie to your doctor, you still have some dysphoria, Clover. And feels like she is a fake female, she needs counseling, fast. Her blood is more like the sap found in cacti, dang, reduced risk of bleeding out is a good thing. Whoa, her internal GSD is something else.

Oh boy, mom is not there to pick her up for lunch yet, and her mom calls to tell her to get a ride from Gavin, a local mutant cab driver, home. Must be hard being a busy superhero and mom. Mongollan Monster knows she is Weed, Blossom's daughter. Lingering issues from her fight with Forte, Sun Hawk didn't deserve this. At least Sun Hawk remembers Clover and invites her to lunch with them.

Mesa, Arizona
Martelli’s Pizzeria
Friday, December 23rd, 2016 – 1:22 p.m.

Dae-Jung and June getting talked about like that, some people need to mind their own business. Oh god, June's situation is that bad from the brain injuries, Forte needs to be stopped before any more people are hurt or killed. Clover, real girls who have only had their first period forgot stuff like that too. You are a real girl and need to stop letting your own fears get to you.

Full-blown panic attack when June shows up, at least she has help with this problem, but Clover needs counseling already or things will only get worse. Dang it, you have me tearing up with Clover, telling June all this.

“Nobody normal. Not just one type girl. Everyone different. Learn, find yourself. Be girl you want be.”

Finally someone puts it into a clear, simple message. June was the perfect person to be her big sister today.

Afraid of dealing with people because of her GSD, trust me when you don't look how you feel you should everyone feels that way, I know I do. Whateley is a great school for finding out who you are and finding friends who don't care how you look or your past. And now Clover has two more people in her support system to help her out, so happy for her.

Mesa, Arizona
The Rozic Residence
Thursday, December 22nd, 2016 – 6:32 p.m.

Stuffed peppers, beef stew, and dinner rolls, yum. Your mom is right, everyone needs those life skills. Well, this dinner is a good start to an apology, hard to argue over a good meal.

“I… I’m not. I’m not holding on to Ron, Dad. I just… I’m scared. I get terrified… every time that I even think about meeting new people. Terrified that I’ll try to make friends and they’ll figure out that I used to be a boy… that I’m not a real girl.”

Now cut that out right now, young lady! You are a real girl.

Anyone who judges you over something you have no control over isn't a real friend, please let Clover get good friends who protect her from fake ones. Letting fear control you is no way to live, please let Clover's opening up and trying to make more friends work out. Mom and the Elementals are providing security for a celebrity, so is going to be home late, rats.

Helping Dad out with the flower shop business, a cute father-daughter moment. A seed vault in their home, impressive. Aww, flower arranging could come in handy in the future, you never know when some random thing you learned comes in handy. Mom is surprised Clover cooked, you've been teaching her, time she learned how to do it on her own. Nice to see them make up, and Whateley is going to seem like a dream at first with all the amazing things there.

Mesa, Arizona
The Rozic Residence
Sunday, December 25th, 2016 – 6:32 p.m.

Christmas again with the whole extended chosen family. Aww, Sierra is such a sweet little girl, giving her cousin a doll of her own so they can play together. Thought it would cook faster with more heat, no wonder Kaede is still banned from the kitchen. Hehehe, I loved the good-natured teasing between Clover and Kaede.

So that is why they come for Christmas every year, just in case they let Kaede cook again and a fire needs putting out, heh. The family you choose. Kaede and Aunt Kayla on a shopping trip with Clover and her mom, oh boy. And Sierra continues to be the sweetest little girl. A sleepover, a good idea, Aunt Kayla.

Sierra is just like all little kids on Christmas, and sure you joined in with her for Sierra's sake, Clover. Mom and Dad hung out with the Dylans, oh boy, a good thing to warn her about that group. The Dylans were so stoned they tried to smoke her mom, yikes. Got that right, never a boring day at Whateley.

I loved getting to know Ron, his parents, and their family and friends. With the early clues of eyebrows and eyelashes I figured he was a changeling, I just never thought he would try and cope with the news like he did. So glad Clover has a big support system in all those who care about her, and I hope it grows with new friends when she gets to Whateley.

Her powers are some of the most interesting I've seen in a while, who knew plant growth could have so many uses along with her other powers. I hope the staff helps her figure out ways to monetize them to help with her tuition, as that paralytic toxin could have medical uses.

Her interactions with Dae-Jung and June were my favorite though. She really needed to hear what June said in the restroom and everything else they said. She will still have that fear, but I hope she can overcome it to put herself out there to become friends with others.

Her extended family in the Elementals is great. Kaede has such a personality, and Sierra is the most adorable little girl. I hope in future stories we can see more of them. And I hope the next story for Clover is her arrival at Whateley and the first week or more there. I would love to see how she settles in.