What's a' gender with you?
It was a quiet evening in the Draft Horse, Ponyville's only bar. Perhaps too quiet. It had been a hot day, after all, and the warm evening air called out for a heightening beverage or two.
Two mares sat by the bar, one making broad, excited gestures with her forehooves as she spoke, the other sitting beside her and listening with the kind of patience that only a best friend could muster, and perhaps only at the best of times. But she had a smile on her face too, and not just because of the drink in front of her.
“… and now I barely even want to use my lyre cause all I can think about is that one. Oh, why can't bits just grow on trees?” Lyra said, dropping her hooves to the table with a dull thud. Her face fell slightly, and she levitated a mug of cider up to her lips.
“You know,” Bon Bon said, picking her words carefully. “You get paid a pretty good amount. If you saved up for stuff like this on a regular basis, you'd be able to afford it with plenty left over.”
Lyra rolled her eyes. “Eugh, you sound like my mom.”
Bon Bon opened her mouth to retort, but Lyra leaned over and silenced her with a quick kiss. Bon Bon arched an eyebrow.
“Good thing you're a lot cuter than my mom,” Lyra said, sticking out her tongue.
Bon Bon tried to fight a grin, shortly followed by a blush. She rolled her eyes at herself. It was absurd that Lyra could still make her blush so easily. “You're such a weirdo, Ly.”
It was comfortable being a couple in Ponyville, where the faces changed less often than the buildings, and where anyone or thing you needed was within a ten minute trot. The Draft Horse, for instance, was only three blocks away from Bon Bon's shop, and their seats at the bar were always empty. Depending on the time of year they would sometimes see Rainbow Dash and Applejack, or even more rarely Big Macintosh and Sugar Belle. A small crowd of regulars filled in the background. It was easy and predictable.
The door behind them opened, and two sets of hooves stepped inside.
Bon Bon lifted her head and turned slightly, watching the door from the corner of her eye.
Lyra, on the other hoof, spun around in her seat and stared directly at the new patrons with all the subtlety of a runaway wagon.
In the doorway stood two unexpected sights. A changeling, with a soft magenta carapace and bright green eyes. They had an easy going smile on their face as they appraised the room. Beside them stood a kirin with a chestnut brown coat. It would be wrong to say that the kirin was hiding behind the changeling, but that was certainly the impression they gave off. The changeling turned and whispered something to their kirin companion, and they both started for the bar.
The changeling hopped into the seat beside Lyra, and the kirin settled in beside them.
Berry Punch, Ponyville's dutiful bartender, looked the new patrons up and down. “I don't think I've seen you two before. First time in the Draft Horse?”
“First time in Ponyville,” the changeling replied. Their voice had that bit of changeling pitchiness to it, like a leaf fluttering in the breeze, but beyond that Bon Bon couldn't start to describe it other than 'friendly.' “You have a lovely bar.”
“Thanks. Built it myself,” Berry Punch replied sarcastically.
“You did?” The changeling's eyes went wide, and they surveyed the room with renewed intensity. “What kind of wood did you use? Is your special talent for carpentry or—”
Berry held up a hoof, a grin on her face. “Sorry, that was a joke. Didn't expect you to take it so seriously. I'm glad you like the place.” She cleared her throat. “Now, what can I get for the two of you?”
It seemed to take the changeling a second to understand the question. “Yes, alcohol! Such a fascinating pony invention.”
The kirin huffed quietly. “You mean a fascinating non-changeling invention. Almost every agricultural species in Equestria produces some kind of alcohol.”
As soon as the kirin opened her mouth, Lyra and Bon Bon turned to face one another. Silently, through mouthed words and raised eyebrows, they communicated a simple point. What a voice! It was somehow smooth and rough, high and throaty, sweet and salty. Lyra pouted. Why can't I sound like that, she mimed.
You sound fine, Bon Bon signaled in return.
“All right then,” said the changeling. “In that case, why don't you order for both of us, you dashing botanist, you.”
The kirin rolled her eyes and leaned over the bar. “Do you have something sweet? Maybe a rosé or a radler?” When Berry's nose wrinkled with distaste, she said, “I know, I know, but some of us have the palate of a honey bee and won't even eat toast without four different spreads on it.”
Berry nodded, still looking pained. “And for yourself?”
The kirin smiled a bit shyly. “The best of whatever's on tap. I trust your judgement.”
The bartender brightened at that. “You won't be disappointed,” she said, and then trotted to the far end of the bar where the kegs were kept.
Lyra barely waited a spare second. She extended a hoof and flashed her best smile. “Hiya! Name's Lyra! Welcome to Ponyville. And this is Bon Bon!”
The changeling stared at Lyra's offered hoof for a moment with crossed eyes, then blinked and gave it a bump. “Hello Lyra and Bon Bon! I'm Sternite, and this is Holly Glow!” Sternite turned to the kirin, Holly, and smiled. “See, we're already meeting new people. Isn't this exciting!”
Holly Glow shrugged, but she had a small smile on her face. “So far so good.”
Stars above, her voice!
“Do you two live here?” asked Sternite.
“Yes,” said Bon Bon.
“Mostly,” said Lyra. Bon Bon shot her a look. “I'm out of town a lot though,” she explained. “Less so now that we're engaged.”
Bon Bon sighed, but leaned in to give the unicorn a quick nuzzle. There it was. It had been months since they'd proposed to each other, but Lyra still brought it up at every opportunity.
Sternite tilted their head. “Engaged in what?” they asked.
Holly made a little choking sound and quickly leaned over to whisper in their ear.
“Oh, marriage! You're engaged in marriage!”
“No, Ess, they're going to get married. It's an idiom.”
Lyra chuckled. “I guess that's another cool non-changeling invention?”
“Yes,” said Sternite, “but I believe there have already been several changeling marriages in imitation of pony custom. It's a very sweet idea.” They leaned back against Holly and added, “Perhaps Holly Glow and I will be 'engaged' sometime.”
The kirin didn't respond, but her cheeks glowed ever so slightly and a little smile crossed her face. “Maybe one day.”
Bon Bon beamed. “You're a couple? I thought so, but I didn't want to assume.”
Sternite smiled back. “Yes, for some time now. A year or more?”
“Twenty months,” Holly stated a bit dryly. “Twenty very strange months.”
Berry Punch set down two drinks in front of the two tourists. “A blush for you, and for you, one of my favourites. An old craft from the Crystal Empire of all places,” she said to Sternite and Holly Glow respectively.
Sternite smiled, grabbed their glass, and took a big sip. They coughed and sputtered, then swallowed hard and smiled. There was a hint of mania in their eyes. “V-very… good!”
“You didn't like kirin alcohol, why would you expect pony alcohol to be any different?” Holly sipped at her drink and hummed in appreciation.
Lyra piped up, “I'll have it if you don't want it!”
“Lyra!”
The unicorn shrugged. “It's Berry's wine. Even if it's the worst drink in the bar, it's too good to throw away.”
Sternite very casually slid the drink toward her.
Bon Bon cleared her throat. “The kirin village is pretty remote, right? I don't think we've ever had any of you visit Ponyville before, at least not while I've been alive.”
Holly considered it a moment. “You're probably right. I've never heard of a kirin leaving the valley, let alone taking a train. Now that's a pony invention. And I wouldn't have left the village either without the corrupting influence of a certain shapeshifter.”
Lyra gulped down a mouthful of cider and said, “That sounds like a story!”
Holly Glow blinked, opened her mouth, then looked to Sternite.
“All right,” Sternite said. “I suppose the tale does start with me. Back when I was a drone, I was in charge of hive construction and maintenance. When King Thorax freed us from Chrysalis' control, I wanted to see what other kinds of materials were out there beyond boring old changeling wax. Stone, wood, clay, even paper is more fun to manipulate. At some point I learned about a special kind of stone in the Peaks of Peril. Of course, I had no idea that the kirin's hidden village lay just beyond.”
“It's not hidden,” Holly retorted. “Just because a place is on the other side of a mountain doesn't make it hidden.”
“Fine, fine. Anyway, I was exploring some caves when I accidentally, ah, fell.”
“The ceiling collapsed and you were nearly crushed to death by falling rocks.”
“But I wasn't! And thanks to a certain kirin, I made a full recovery.” Sternite and Holly shared an affectionate look.
“The rest of the story isn't as interesting,” Holly said.
“And perhaps not as appropriate for casual conversation,” Sternite added with a smirk.
Holly Glow lived up to her name and lit up brightly, a hoof covering her mouth.
Lyra grinned. “Wow, look at that blush! You know, she and Bon Bon have that in common,” she said to Sternite.
Sternite blinked.
Holly also blinked, and her blush almost seemed to deepen and spread. She turned and grabbed her drink and took a long swig.
“Ahem,” said Sternite, sounding suddenly serious.
Holly swallowed and took a breath. “It's okay, Ess.”
“They're ponies, dearest. Of course they meant no harm, but they should be corrected.” The changeling looked Lyra square on. “Holly Glow is a stallion, and you shouldn't call him 'she'.”
Bon Bon's heart skipped a beat. “Oh gosh, we're—”
“Really sorry!” Lyra said before her fiance could get the word out. “I'm usually pretty good about that, but I guess I didn't realize that kirin are—well, obviously they would, but—” She gulped and turned to Bon Bon for help.
A look of rising horror painted Holly's face, while Sternite's eyes were starting to narrow.
“What Lyra's trying to say is that we're obviously pretty ignorant about kirin. All we really know is legends and rumours, including that all kirin are mares.” Bon Bon winced. “That does sound dumb coming out of my mouth.”
The kirin blinked. A moment ago he had seemed to be on the verge of a panic attack. Now he just looked confused. “All… mares…? That's strange. How could anyone know something like that?”
Sternite cleared their throat. “Kirin are single-sex. Perhaps that's what you were thinking of.”
“Oh!” Holly said, brightening immediately. “Yes, that must be a strange concept for you. I can't imagine how your legends confused that with gender, but we are pretty unique in that way. No sexual dimorphism, no fixed roles in reproduction. I've always been interested in biology, and it's a marvel how fundamentally different one species can be from another despite all their similarities.”
Lyra took a breath. “I guess that's magic for you,” she said flatly.
“Yes, sexual dimorphism,” Bon Bon said without much grace. “That must be what we were thinking of. So male and female kirins pretty much look the same?”
Holly frowned. “Well… obviously we're all unique in our own little ways, just like one unicorn might be blue while another is green, or one might be tall and another short.” He peered between Lyra and Bon Bon. “I'm sorry, you seem to be confused about something, but I don't understand what.”
Sternite sighed. “I should clear the air. Ponies, and most other sapient species, associate gender with, er, physical traits pretty tightly. Some believe that they're one and the same.” At Holly's tight lips and creased brow, Sternite added, “I know. Trust me, it's weird for changelings too, but we had to get used to it in order to infiltrate pony society in the old days.”
“Weird is one word for it.” Holly looked Bon Bon and Lyra up and down, then turned and scanned the sparse crowd around the bar. “So if you two are both mares, then… those three are stallions, I suppose, and the one sitting across from them is a mare?”
“Uh…” Lyra followed the kirin's gaze and licked her lips. “I mean, yes? Well, no, you can't know that. Some ponies, um, defy expectation? Like you just reminded us, appearances can be misleading. But generally, yeah, that's the assumption.”
Holly looked out at the crowd again, then down at his chest and forelegs. “And I look like a pony… 'mare' to you?”
“More than you look like a pony stallion,” Lyra said. Her voice was strained. “But you're not a pony, so not a problem, right?”
The kirin pinched his lips and nodded slowly. “Well, this has been very educational. Thanks for explaining that. I can tell it wasn't easy for you.”
“No problem,” said Bon Bon. She reached out and grabbed her drink.
A moment of awkward silence stretched over the four. Everyone minded their drinks, except for Sternite, who just stared into the middle distance.
“So… on a lighter note, what brings you to Ponyville?” asked Lyra. “I hope it's not Princess Twilight, because she's been living in Canterlot for a while now.”
Sternite smiled and said, “Holly promised me that he'd let me drag him out of that village once my chitin finished healing from the cave-in. It took less than a month, and he managed to find excuse after excuse for over a year to put off leaving.” They leaned and rubbed against the kirin. “But I finally got him onto a train, and now we're going to really explore Equestria and beyond. Ponyville's our first stop.”
“Ess wanted to start in Canterlot, but I managed to talk them down to Ponyville. I don't love crowds, so we compromised,” said Holly.
Them. Bon Bon had been trying not to focus on that question. Changelings could, well, change. She didn't really understand how that whole process worked. Them. Maybe changelings didn't have gender at all? Sternite had said that it was a strange concept for changelings too, so maybe they were like kirin, or maybe—
“Hello? Bon Bon?” Sternite said, waving a hoof in front of the mare's face. “Is everything all right? You seem quite distracted.”
Lyra tossed her a glance, noticed the unasked question on her face, and rolled her eyes. Lyra cleared her throat, licked her lips, and said, “Hey, Sternite. I know we kind of got off on the wrong hoof, but would you mind if we asked one more teensy question?” At Bon Bon's panicked expression, she quickly added, “It's okay if not. We can totally leave you to your drinks and vacation and all.”
The changeling arched an eyebrow and smiled. “You can ask.”
“And please, don't worry about the mix-up earlier,” said Holly. “I'm sure it would have happened sooner or later. You're just the first ponies we've had a proper conversation with since we got off the train. I'll be better prepared for next time thanks to you.”
Bon Bon sighed. “That's very gracious of you, Holly.” Then she turned. “I was wondering along those same lines about you, Sternite, and changelings in general, I suppose. Holly just said 'them.' Is that how most changelings like to be addressed?”
Sternite pursed their lips, considering. “I shouldn't claim to speak for all changelings, but yes, in general I believe that's still the most common. In Queen Chrysalis' hive, individuality and personal expression were not encouraged. If you encountered any number of us back before Thorax's reign, you would have noticed that we all looked almost exactly the same, save perhaps for some small differences in size. Chrysalis styled herself as female, and of course that was beyond question. For the rest of us, we were a collective. Addressing one drone was to address them all, hence the plural.”
“I see. I thought it was a gender neutrality thing, but it's because you were all drones?” Lyra asked.
“It is—was, both. We were not individual. We did not have possessions, we did not have desires, and we did not have identities. It's strange to think back on, now. None of us were happy, but almost none of us could see it. Thankfully there were a few, like Thorax, who could.”
Holly Glow reached over and wrapped a foreleg around one of Sternite's in a subtle show of support. The changeling nodded. “Anyway, to answer your question, now that we're allowed to be our own creatures, everyling is deciding for themselves who they are. Most are most comfortable as they were. Blending in, sticking with the group, making little choices and changes here and there.”
“Most?” Bon Bon prompted.
“Yes, only most. Thorax is an excellent example of the opposite. According to Pharynx, Thorax was calling himself 'he' even before he left the hive. That's not something you could just get away with back then. And now, plenty of changelings, especially the younger ones, are following his lead. I believe there's a female changeling attending the School of Friendship here in Ponyville.”
Lyra opened her mouth and took a breath, but Sternite grinned and cut her off.
“There are two kinds of changelings, technically. One with eggs to lay, one with, well, the other half of that equation. But we can change, as our name suggests, and those things rarely come up outside of, uh, relations with other creatures. I had a few short flings with ponies before I met Holly, and they had every uncomfortable question you're trying not to ask and more.”
“I can imagine,” said Bon Bon. “So you personally don't feel either male of female?”
Sternite shrugged. “Not particularly. Some times more one way than the other, but never to the point that 'they' feels wrong to me. I'm very used to it. Of course, I have nothing but respect for other changelings who feel differently.” And then they brightened. “Oh, this might interest you. Ponies like being able to tell a creature's gender from appearance alone, yes?”
“Well that's a can of worms,” said Lyra with an eye roll. “We're used to doing that.”
“Since more and more changelings have started to adopt genders, a kind of trend has emerged. Feminine changelings tend to choose cool colours, while masculine changelings like warmer colours. There are exceptions, of course. Pharynx is purple, but mostly because it reminds him of his old form. And I can't fault him. It is a nice colour.” Sternite extended a leg so the other three could admire their magenta carapace. “You should probably still ask someling their name and just use that until you know them better, but the colour trick might help you sort things out mentally.”
Lyra and Bon Bon nodded thoughtfully. It felt a bit strange to be talking frankly with another creature about their differences. That was the kind of thing that Twilight Sparkle or her friends would usually do, and now here they were, two normal ponies, breaking down the species barrier.
Maybe that was a little grandiose.
All of their drinks were empty now, even Sternite's (by way of Lyra). Berry Punch took advantage of the momentary lull in conversation to wander back to their side of the bar. “Another round?”
Bon Bon ordered a julep that Berry sighed dramatically at, muttering about cleaning her cocktail equipment. Lyra, surprisingly, just asked for water, as did Holly and Sternite.
“We just wanted to stop in and get a taste for Ponyville's atmosphere,” Sternite explained. “We'll probably do a quick tour around the town center before heading back to the train.”
Lyra scowled. “Really? You're taking a red-eye to Canterlot? Wouldn't you rather stay overnight? Golden Harvest runs a really cute bed and breakfast on her farm, so long as you don't mind an early morning.”
Holly shook his head apologetically. “We already have tickets for the last leg to Canterlot. Maybe we'll stop back in Ponyville sometime soon, though. It seems like lots of Canterlot connections run through here, so it probably wouldn't be out of our way.”
Bon Bon nodded and leaned back in her chair. Their bar nights were usually so quiet, so still. Boring, even despite the alcohol and the company of her favourite pony in Equestria. And yet, despite the tension, the uncertainty, the constant back and forth of intense conversation, she felt surprisingly satisfied.
“Then we won't keep you. It was a pleasure to meet you both, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.”
“And that you don't run into any jerks,” Lyra said into the rim of her glass. She took a big gulp. “I hate to say it, but there are some pretty insensitive ponies out there.”
“We appreciate the warning, but we know what to expect,” replied Sternite. They reached into a pouch and dropped a few bits on the bar counter. “Don't forget, I've been spying on ponies for years.”
As one, the changeling and the kirin stood up and started toward the door. “It has likewise been a pleasure to meet you,” said Holly.
“Yes, hopefully we'll run into each other again soon,” said Sternite.
They reached the door, and it suddenly flew open, and another couple stepped inside.
“Oh awesome!” shouted Rainbow Dash, wings extended. “New creatures!”
“Don't crowd the door, Sugarcube,” Applejack said from behind her. “Seems like they were just on their way out.”
“But AJ, look at them! Another gay couple. It's exactly what this bar's been needing.”
Sternite and Holly looked at each other, silently deliberating the exuberant pegasus' word choice.
“Sure,” said Sternite. "I suppose we are."
Holly shrugged. “Why not? More fun than the alternative.”
“I don't follow at all, but I agree.”
After a few moments of shuffling, 'excuse me's, and a bit of gentle shoving on Applejack's part, Sternite and Holly managed to get past the Ponyvillian couple. With a final wave back at Lyra and Bon Bon, the changeling and the kirin walked out of the bar.
Rainbow took the seat next to Lyra, and Applejack the next one down.
“What was that all about?” asked Rainbow.
Lyra froze, staring at nothing. Then she sighed and said, “Order your drinks. This'll take a while.”
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A nice little slice of life :)
this is such a sweet read, and you explore/explain the gender concepts and constructs in individual species' society's incredibly well! and rainbow's statement in the very end was a massive crackup. thank you for the read! :D
Ooooooh.
Ah, fun with fantasy biology. Always makes for a good time, especially when everyone can approach the subject respectfully. Nice work.
Interesting.
There are only two genders.
They're mine. You can't have any
A cute fic
10291076
We don't need your genders! We'll make our OWN gender! With blackjack! And hookers!
10291726
MOM SAID ITS MY TURN ON THE GENDERS!
And please note the two genders are bat or not bat.
....
i.imgur.com/p368xxK.jpg
GOD AND THE BABY JESUS HAVE FORSAKEN US! WHY DID THEY PUT THE WORLD IN HIS HANDS, HE'S A BABY, BABIES CAN'T HOLD SHIT!
Mm
Maybe it is, but "not in plain sight" enough to keep it "hidden" from most ponies.
I believe the second part. But only the second part...
That's the default explanation for almost everything weird in Equestria and beyond...
And the worst thing is it actually makes sense.
Good story!
I enjoyed reading it.
This was a nice story, and good job with those two OCs. It was an interesting exploration of how gender works with kirins and changelings, and you did a great job making things awkward but still recoverable.
Changelings are Geth confirmed
EDIT: Fixed the embed
"I'll bet you say that to all the mares."
I really like the idea of gender as resistance among changelings. :)
This is actually... incredibly confusing. I've never heard of a single-sex species, and can't imagine how one would work. If they have no fixed sex, what would be the point in having them developing any capacity for gender like a species where fixed sex (and gender correlation) is generally pretty important? While the changelings are well-explained and make a lot of sense here, the kirin biology is very hard to grasp. Is Holly supposed to be non-binary and intersex? Only one or the other? Something else? Are they genderless due to the nature of their species and only able to regard it as a costume of sorts others have that kirin do not?
As a trans reader, finding stories like this that either loop around or seem to gloss over whether a character is trans can really rob me of immersion because I tend up stuck on what the author is trying to convey about the character.
10641720
All very valid criticism. I think I waffled quite a bit on how exactly kirin biology worked before deciding that I didn't really want to spend too much time on that aspect of the story. As necessary as it is, I think 'biology' is usually a bit of a bummer to sift through while talking about gender.
There are a few arguments I could make for kirin having gendered identities without any kind of sexual differentiation—they can communicate with other creatures on the show, which means presumably either their culture or language has history in common with ponies. I think I also originally speculated that their nirik forms were sexually dimorphic but those features only settle in after puberty, meaning sex follows gender for them rather than the other way around.
And on your last point, I definitely get that, and as a reader I'd probably feel the same. I conceptualized this fic as being a way to flip the script and put cis characters in a situation where they'd need to explain their identities to a status quo that doesn't understand them, but in the process you could argue that I ended up with an entire cast of cis characters, which is a bit unfortunate. As a trans writer myself, I've always found it difficult to find a balance with feel-good trans rep. Too realistic and it's hard to keep things cheerful, but too utopian and it's hard to even communicate trans themes because so much of queer identity and culture are explicitly in response to cisnormativity. Hopefully I'll manage that balance better in the future.
Thanks a ton for reading and for the feedback.
10641720
One thing that comes to mind is Ursula K. Le Guin's novel The Left Hand of Darkness where the population of the planet is ambisexual and only display sexual dimorphism during a reproduction cycle.
10642123
Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with that book. However, looking up that definition fits the intersex-ish depiction of kirin here, at least as far as I'm reading into it. If the author wishes to correct me on their intent, then that would be well-received.
10642102
Considering how immensely helpful it is, I'd probably think about it before getting started on the next fic. The possibility of transness and other biological anomalies in other sapient species is something we aren't lucky enough to observe in our world. Knowing the fundamentals you want for your world-building, even if you don't always use them, is always something safe to do.
I've always found it especially helpful, but that sounds like it's more of a me thing. It helps me with understanding some fundamental Trans Trade Secrets while being able to shape where a character might be at in their transition.
I always took that to mean 'hey they can at least communicate' with ponies, but I don't recall more than a couple of kirin being referred to in any gendered sense. I'm sure all manner of reasons could be given why they don't appear sexually differentiated, or maybe they're a sort of third sex species. Maybe one without any real indicators. But yeah, I just was having a hard time trying to understand if the kirin were androgynous, since there are still ways to suggest a character's sex/transition/etc without resorting to being invasive or giving an unethical moral.
It would be super interesting to see a story handle how a species like that could work and really ground them in the world. Is there any hope it could/may get written?
I wouldn't say that is the case. If the kirin are meant to be read as third sex/third gender in their makeup, they really skirt the line between cis and trans, especially because being trans is dependant on biological mismatches occurring. I mean, isn't it only 1 in 200 people who has an intersex condition? At least, I think it was the last time I remember reading so. That would mean that most people have pretty good wiring, so to speak, and that an evaluation of the sex makeup of a nation would show a cis majority just because of how sex would work, and that intersex conditions in humans/sexually dimorphic species tend to be flukes/anomalies/non-functional, albeit harmless ones (if I am remembering this right). I'd say justify was the wrong word to use here, since this story really combines themes of alien biology and also trans characters on top of that. Lyra and Bonbon are best explained as the former, since they exhibit no indication of the latter. Seeing foreigners being fascinated by it makes for a wonderful slice of xeno-fiction, but the way you might have mentally framed it sounds like it might have been in need of some ironing out? Still, calling kirin and changelings "cis" in here doesn't seem to make much sense, and if they were, it wouldn't be a problem. The story was still well-written, the confusion being the only issue aside.
At least, that's just if I'm reading things right.
Oh cool! Lad, lass, or enby?
I think there are really good ways to convey personal anxiousness and struggles inherent to the individual that is guaranteed with dysphoria without venturing into total real-world cut and paste. If you need some fanfic recs here, I could probably find some. Even then, I've seen some more creative examples for why ponies might have certain prejudices humans have, but to different extents and for different reasons. Though, it probably wasn't what you were going for here, in a positive bit of short fluff and fun.
Thank you for writing this! There aren't a lot of enby characters that are in pony stories, and this was a blast. I'm so used to seeing "trans = mtf" both online and off. Seeing something different really makes my day.
10648308
I've actually read The Left Hand of Darkness. It's an interesting book, and surprisingly relevant considering when it was written. I believe Ursula K. Le Guin is on record saying that she would have written the aliens in question with they/them pronouns if she'd been aware of that kind of gender neutral language at the time. That wasn't really what I was going for here, since that species is both genderless and sexless, but definitely along the same lines of speculative fiction about alien gender.
I'm nonbinary, and relatively recently cracked (a year or two ago) so I'm still figuring myself out. You know how it is.
I personally find the social aspects of transness more interesting than the physical. The 'why's more than the 'how's. That probably reflects how I feel about my own place in the community more than anything.
But you're right that I should have at least mapped it out internally. You probably wouldn't know it from this fic, but I'm not much of a world-builder usually, so I've mostly let those lessons pass me by.
They all share the same basic model (except the big one) and I believe there's some behind the scenes audio where the voice director says that they're all female. That was part of the inspiration for this fic, since I heard that and thought, "that sounds like some cis shit, let's find a more interesting interpretation."
I don't know if you came to this fic from PresentPerfect's review, but he's dead on about this narrowly avoiding being a headcanon-dump. I still like the final result, but it is pretty tell-y and I'm not confident in my ability to pull the same off again. I'd be thrilled if someone else took that bait and handled it better though.
If you're interested in some lit that's sort of along those lines, you should check out Neon Yang's The Black Tides of Heaven. It's an East Asian-inspired fantasy novella where everyone is considered genderless until toward the end of puberty where they decide their identities and effectively receive magical confirmation therapy. It's a quick and fun one, and written by a nonbinary author.
I guess it depends on how you define being trans. I'd argue that saying it's dependent on your identity being at odds with your birth sex only really makes sense in the context of a species where the default is that male = XY and female = XX. Changelings (at least in the canon of this story) can just change their entire bodies however they want, so does someone stop being trans when they transform? And in kirin society, gender is entirely identity based and they have only one sex, so what biology are they transitioning away from or towards?
If you instead define it as not identifying/transitioning away from the gender you're assigned/expected to perform by society, then no one in this story is trans at all. Kirin are expected to pick their gender however they please, and changelings are expected to be genderless. In that context, Thorax and Ocellus and any other changelings who identify in any kind of binary way are the trans ones. Holly and Sternite are only abnormal from the ponies' perspective.
You're still very correct about kirin not quite making sense either way, but maybe I was subconsciously avoiding doing the same thing as Le Guin and making them both sexless and genderless. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Like I mentioned up top, I'm an enby, and a fairly comfy enby at that. My own physical dysphoria is fairly mild, so I'm really tentative to write that kind of fiction since I only really know it second hand. Almost all of my dysphoria is social, and in a less sexist, less binary world, I genuinely think most of that would disappear.
But uh-oh, I started speculating about the nature of gender in the comments of a My Little Pony fanfic again, which means it's time to stop.
I would appreciate those recs though. I've gotten terrible at actively looking for good stories on this site over the last few years, since the ratio of good fics to absolute dreck is only getting smaller the more I read.
My pleasure, and again, seriously, thank you for the thoughtful comments. Writing trans fiction sometimes feels like talking to a brick wall, since at best cis commenters are still relatively poorly equipped to critique the meat and bones of that aspect of the story. This discussion has been a brighter highlight than just about anything else about this story to me.
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I suppose that either way, a dual-sex species and a sexless one would manage to be a 'they' either way, but yeah it's not as though they're the exact same. Different flavors would probably be the best comparison, but I don't exactly want to eat sapient beings.
Wow, that's so poggers! I'm so used to this fandom being filled with trans sisters, next to no trans misters (sadface), and a smattering of thudes. It's nice to see another trans author around!
I'd say that a great way to work with your world-building ability and desire to focus on social aspects would be to write stories centered around characters who have reached a point of comfort in (or have completed) their transition. I'm sure it would also save a lot of second-guessing too, especially if you're as worried about discovery trans aspects, dealing with the medical aspect, and so on.
I mean, it's clearly more reasonable than how underdeveloped and hastily delivered they are in canon. So yeah, I'd say what you've done here is definitely a huge improvement over what show viewers got.
I don't know if you came to this fic from PresentPerfect's review, but he's dead on about this narrowly avoiding being a headcanon-dump. I still like the final result, but it is pretty tell-y and I'm not confident in my ability to pull the same off again. I'd be thrilled if someone else took that bait and handled it better though.
I don't think that's a reason to stop writing trans fics, it's just a sign to improve upon some things. I came here cause this was one of the few Pride and Positivity entries I hadn't read. Since it's both easier and my entry was one of the longer ones, I decided to save the longer and more complex-looking entries for later. I only have a couple left to go now!
Man, not only does that sound like some gigachad title skills there, the idea of such well-thought-out representation is some extremely poggers stuff. Fantasy is my jam! I'll be picking up a copy when I can.
It sounds like the changelings change, well, everything with them when they shift. Brain and body. So while I could see them functionally being considered non-binary (they clearly do not live in a gendered society beyond having queens in the past) in purely social aspects, they're probably best seen as 'sort-of' cis here in the sense that they transform any parts that could possibly be at odds (if that's even biologically possible within their species for them to be trans). Ocellus and Thorax sound like they could probably be considered trans. If there is no sex for them when they're hatched, the fact that Ocellus and Thorax are examples of trans changelings.
As for the kirin? Well, a third sex and third gender character at least is a queer character and what could probably be considered intersex. Instead of worrying that you didn't write representation here, I'd go back and look more carefully. It seems more likely that you just ended up surprising yourself with the representation you ended up writing! Still, the non-binary nature inherent to the kirin's physicality and the fact that some show that they aren't always 'they'... well, I'd say what you see as 'cis' kirin occupy a gray area between trans/cis while the latter kind are trans.
So... Sternite would probably be cis, just a different flavor, based on what was yielded in this discussion (and the story) while Holly skirts the line of both.
Even if I'd been more familiar with the book and you had decided to take that route, I don't see what would be wrong about being inspired by her concepts.
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Sorry for the double comment, I felt that the last one was getting too long. Also, I'm gonna be spamming stories.
I would appreciate those recs though. I've gotten terrible at actively looking for good stories on this site over the last few years, since the ratio of good fics to absolute dreck is only getting smaller the more I read.
I find that joining groups and following a wide variety of people helps. The way the site is designed, it's encouraged since relying on the front page for stories is a really bad idea.
(Note: I've written some stories that would fit the criteria here, but am not shameless enough to clog up your comments with them. It'd be rude.)
Doesn't contain transphobia as a theme:
- MLP: FiM
- Adventure
Winter Wheat enters Discord's castle hoping for a favor and finds himself trapped in an adventure- MLP: FiM
- Romance
- Drama
- Slice of Life
When Yona invites Sandbar to a Yakyakistan festival, Sandbar's past history experiencing transphobia rears its ugly head. Can he win against his own intrusive thoughts and enjoy his Hearth's Warming with the yak he loves?- MLP: FiM
- Slice of Life
Not every journey needs to be taken alone.- MLP: FiM
- Romance
- Slice of Life
Twilight has something on her mind and needs to get it out.- MLP: FiM
- Romance
- Sad
- Slice of Life
Reflections show you what you most want, but what you envisioned cannot always be seen. Dinky learns this the hard way.- Equestria Girls
- Drama
- Slice of Life
Vice-Principal Artemis is visited by a student with a problem that reminds him of his past.- MLP: FiM
- Romance
- Slice of Life
Princess Luna knows that things are what they are. Fish do not fly, birds do not swim, and she cannot be other than who and what she is. Or can she?- MLP: FiM
- Slice of Life
Applejack is finally ready to transition and become a stallion, but not everyone is behind the decision. Will he be able to overcome and be true to himself?- MLP: FiM
- Drama
- Slice of Life
He's finally summoned up the courage to buy himself that pink dress. But Thunderlane soon finds that what he wants--or who he is--isn't as simple as he once thought . . . .- MLP: FiM
- Slice of Life
A pony, caught between two conflicting desires, contemplates who he wants to be.- Equestria Girls
- Drama
Sometimes it can be very, very hard to remember --or believe-- that you're awesome. Fortunately, that's what friends are for. (Sunset Shimmer checks on Rainbow Dash.)- MLP: FiM
- Slice of Life
In those early days, when she first moved to Ponyville, one must imagine Pinkie Pie happy.- MLP: FiM
- Equestria Girls
- Slice of Life
Sunset Shimmer recounts her first time in the human world.- Equestria Girls
- Romance
- Dark
Rarity and Twilight are trapped underground.- MLP: FiM
- Romance
- Drama
Your dad is out of town, and that means you and Berry Punch get the whole house to yourselves.- Equestria Girls
- Romance
- Slice of Life
Rarity and Sunset go on a very important trip.- MLP: FiM
- Romance
- Drama
- Slice of Life
When Applejack moves back to Ponyville after living with the Orange side of her family, she wants to pick up where she left off with her best foalhood friend, Matte Palette. Something seems different about him, though.- MLP: FiM
- Romance
- Slice of Life
Transitioning was the best thing Caramel ever did for herself and her boyfriend was completely supportive... But since she transitioned, something feels off about their relationship.The Sum of Her is also a fantastic trans story by Gay for Gadot. I helped edit the SFW parts, which are complete in themselves, but it's got NSFW content too.
It's too been too since I read it for me to remember if that specific content is there:
- MLP: FiM
- Sad
- Slice of Life
Princess Luna has been going through a bad patch in the last thousand years or so, to put it mildly. Now, at this time in her life, she is finally ready to answer the difficult questions. But there's one thing she's never thought to question ...(This one 100% contains self-harm but no death)
- MLP: FiM
- Slice of Life
"There's that face looking back." She doesn't feel like it's hers. She never has. Maybe there's something to be done about that.- MLP: FiM
- Romance
- Slice of Life
Applejack has gone through a lot in her life. She's lost family, been a primary caregiver, even had a few massive shifts in her identity... And she's still standing. She's still here. But is that enough?- MLP: FiM
- Drama
- Slice of Life
A gender-dysphoric pony tests the waters at the expense of his, or her, classmates.- Equestria Girls
- Slice of Life
Rainbow Dash needs Rarity's help for a rather personal matter. Luckily, Rarity is always willing to help a friend, no matter how awkward the situation.- MLP: FiM
- Slice of Life
Rarity finds that success is hollow.There is transphobia (internalized or otherwise) as a theme:
- MLP: FiM
- Romance
- Drama
- Slice of Life
Despite everything going well for her, Scootaloo can’t feel comfortable in her own skin. She just can’t figure out why.- MLP: FiM
- Drama
- Slice of Life
When Starlight approaches Sunburst the night before he returns to the Crystal Empire, she inadvertently discovers something about her old friend that explains a bit about their past—and present.- MLP: FiM
- Romance
- Drama
- Slice of Life
Although they live miles apart and rarely see one another, Amber Glow and Luna both find themselves plagued by a similar feeling. While they appear whole and happy on the surface, underneath neither is sure of who they are.- MLP: FiM
- Romance
- Drama
Ever since Rarity knew she was a filly, she knew what it meant to be a lady. Her prince would sweep her off her hooves any moment now, if only she were a little more lady-like. That's what she tells Twilight, anyhow.[Unpublished stories cannot be embedded]
- MLP: FiM
- Dark
- Sad
- Slice of Life
[One-Shot] A not-quite-mare named Glitter Shell goes on a trip to find some acceptance and maybe even some affection; for ponies like her, hate is far more common.I try and do what I can. It's always hard for me to find really good trans content too, and even among professionally published stuff. Still, I hope to see more trans stuff from you.
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Fantastic. I might go ahead and make a special read-it-later for that list, just to keep a nice dripfeed of trans stuff coming. And sounds like I definitely need to check out your bibliography as well. Thanks for the links!
And I have at least one more trans story in the works. Maybe not quite as Interesting as this one, but hopefully overall better executed. After that, who knows. I always feel like I'm just a few months away from packing my bags and moving on from this hellsite, but I guess I haven't yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I remember Sum of Her. Great story, real nightmare of a comments section, as you've kinda got to expect from Fimfic. It's stuff like that that keeps me haunting these parts.
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Darn, it’s always a bummer when folks head out, but best of luck if you do.
Sequal please! Dont have enough stories of kirins and changelings interacting with one another.