The Conversion Bureau: A Department in Transit
The line was out the door when Chris, Brent and Lyra got to the end of it. It was a hot morning and both of them had the uncomfortable displeasure of not being in the shade as they waited. Every so often, the sliding doors leading in to the Conversion Bureau opened and the pair were blasted with a refreshing gust of the AC. Slowly, the line inched forward until they were almost inside.
"We should've made an appointment," Brent commented.
Christ thought for a moment. "I don't think they do appointments, only walk-ins."
"They don't," their unicorn friend Lyra informed them. "Not at this one, anyway. I haven't been to every Conversion Bureau there is but I don't think they're all that different."
Brent chuckled. "Yeah, I'm sure some of them you can make lunch reservations at. Have a bowl of soup and a sandwich and at the end of the meal, you're a pony."
The entrance doors slid open again. An orange Pegasus colt with a red mane stepped out along with two stallions in labcoats, technicians, on either side of him. The pegasi's eyes were focused on the ground as he walked out. He took two steps forward, stumbled and fell on the pavement.
"Take it slowly, you're still getting used to the new muscles," one of the technicians told him as they helped him up.
"Thanks... I can't wait to try out my wings!" the Pegasus said.
The other tech smiled. "You gotta learn to walk before you gallop and you're going to have to learn to hover before you fly. It's going to take a while." The two continued helping the orange Pegasus walk, traveling past the line of bipeds and around to the side of the building.
"Lucky... he got Pegasus," Chris remarked, watching the three ponies as they passed.
Lyra frowned. "I still don't see why you guys are going through with this."
"That makes two of us," Brent agreed.
"We've been over this," Chris said, turning back to the entrance. "There's no reason for you or me to be human any more, there just aren't enough opportunities for either of us."
"Maybe for you," Brent shot back. "I have a job I like. What are they going to say to me when I show up for work with hooves?"
Chris turned to Brent. "Most places are already modified to accommodate ponies. It's all in the brochure." That was true. Ever since Earth and Equestria had combined, most places of business had quickly adjusted to the new pony population. While the integration had been difficult at first, immigration from Earth to Equestria was a simple enough process and soon, pony and human society had become one. Humans and ponies were fascinated with each other, so much so that recently the process of converting from human to pony had become common place for those who tired of walking on two legs.
Lyra looked up at Brent. "If you don't want to be a pony, why are you choosing conversion?" The taller biped uttered a disgruntled huff but didn't answer.
"His girlfriend Jess and her whole family chose to be converted into ponies," Chris answered for him.
Brent huffed again. "We talked about it... for a long time. Her whole family, her mom, her dad, sister all wanted to make the conversion. She didn't want to be left out and I didn't want to leave her."
"I see. I'm sorry, Brent," Lyra offered her condolences. "If it makes you feel better, I'd rather be a human myself," she smiled at him. But Brent was almost inconsolable. He would've gone with Jess if he'd had the option and they could've gotten converted together. Instead, he'd been surprised by it when a bright purple mare ran up and hugged him one day.
Brent still loved Jess in whatever form he and she were in. He just wished he'd had the option to choose what form that was instead of being told. They'd talked about the process for a long time but then she'd made the decision on her own. Brent didn't agree with what she'd did and now he was being forced to play along with it. Part of him wondered why he was standing in line. Would that part be the same when he was converted, he wondered.
The line inched forward another foot or two and a gust of air conditioned wind blew fourth.
"Oh heavens, that feels so good," Chris remarked at the refreshing breeze.
"Probably make a killing selling drinks in this heat," Brent said, wiping a trace amount off his forehead.
"If we get Pegasus, we can use our wings to fan ourselves. Stay cool a lot easier."
"Or if you get unicorn like me, there are spells to help regulate temperature," Lyra added.
"You have to admit," Chris continued. "Being a pony just has a lot more opportunities right now than being a human." That was true. Earth and Equestria uniting had created new opportunities and new chances for development in dozens of emerging markets, things a lot of people could capitalize on if they were willing to take the risk. Additional resources, new technologies and an entire new civilization was open to Earth. The only problem was there weren't enough ponies to really see those technologies implemented.
Things like magic and weather control were new concepts to Earth and presented lots of new avenues for people looking for something different. Ever since the discovery of 'The Equestrian Quarter', a dimensional rift in the middle of the Pacific, ponies are their methods had been of great interest to humanity. Unfortunately, implementing them had had little success because there were so few ponies compared to humans. Which is where the Conversion Bureaus came in. In order to facilitate these new methods and see them applied faster, scientists had developed a way for humans to become ponies and gain access to their powers. It was a complex process but the result would balance the population of two worlds and add provide Earth and Equestria with more chances for development than ever before.
"Give it a rest, Chris. It's too damn hot," Brent said.
"Come on, you're not at least a little excited about this?"
Brent looked over at his friend, getting annoyed. "No, I'm not. I was perfectly happy working here in town on two legs. Then, Equestria pops up and everyone decides they don't like being a person any more and wants to hop on the next bus to change into a pony. I wouldn't be going through with this if it wasn't for Jess. I like being human."
Chris kept his eyes forward for a moment, thinking carefully about what to say next. Other people in line, different strangers from all walks of life were starting to notice their argument.
"Sometimes, things change, Brent." Crappy cliché wasn't going to cut it. He needed something real. Chris thought back. "We... we were scared the first time we went to college, too. Moving out, starting new jobs. That was a big adjustment."
Brent chuckled. "You were a lot more afraid to go to college than I was. It was easier then because I had Jess."
Bingo. Chris turned to look his friend in the eyes. "You have Jess now. That's why you're going through this whole process."
Brent opened his mouth to say something but stopped himself. What his friend was saying was true. He didn't know what was making him feel so uncomfortable about this transition, maybe the fact he felt this change was being forced upon him. He wasn't sure but something didn't feel right; this may have been what his girlfriend wanted but it wasn't what he wanted. Brent stepped out of line.
"What are you doing?" Chris asked.
"I... I'm going to call Jess," Brent said, taking out his cell phone and walking away.
Chris rose his hand to try and stop him but he was already gone. "I can't save places in line!... damn it, he's gone."
Lyra looked up to her human friend. "If he doesn't want to make the change, we can't make it for him."
"I know," Chris said, turning back around. "I'm just afraid something else will."