Dreams emerge from the minds of those seeking an escape — a return to a simpler past, a diversion from current troubles, or an encounter with the unknown. Within the confines of one's mind lies a vast realm of possibilities.

Olmec, a finance manager entangled in the monotony of a dull accounting project, wrestles with the burdens of looming deadlines. His lunch hour, accompanied by homemade tea and a modest peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwich from his life partner, leaves 45 precious minutes for one thing — nothing.

His phone is switched off, and office blinds drawn, Olmec loves this solitary time. Ankle joints roll within his brown oxford dress shoes, laces untied, black socks slipped off for repose. A blue-black suit, sharply draped over his moderate frame, conceals a buttoned white shirt and a red tie. The buttons relinquish their hold under his deft left hand, revealing a golden company watch. Short and wavy brown hair, parted down the middle, crowns his fatigued face adorned with a neatly trimmed beard. His brown eyes reflect weariness.

In the struggle to stay awake, Olmec allows selfish thoughts to permeate, liberating himself momentarily from the cogwheel existence.

For this time, tense thoughts melted upon anticipating something good in the future.

Wasn’t that new Shantae game coming out next year?

Hearing about it on a Nintendo Direct video stream, the unreleased Shantae Advance - Risky Evolution, never released for the Gameboy Advance was headed to the Switch system. Nostalgia made it so going back through the games in the Genie platformer series was shared at home.

Wouldn’t that be nice? Getting away from the responsibilities of some rich folks getting richer to explore a lively world? Be able to transform yourself into cute animals and beat up pirates?

It felt good to stand out instead of being some guy in a suit.

Crossing his legs, a hand feels along his chest. Eyes closed as a nap is perfect with a lingering idea. Yes, it did feel good to want to be magical instead of being mundane.

In the moment of near exhaustion, of a floating desire, things seem to fall into place. Some call it willpower, mind over matter, or bio-feedback. The power of dreams to access parts of the brain untapped by modern science triggers something wonderful.

Too deep in rapid-eye movement, or deep sleep to realize what is going on, his body reacts to the desire that burns inside of him.

Both of his hands move to rest over his lap, patiently waiting for what will happen.

It’s not long before his hips pop out to expand ever slightly. The suit shrinks while his heart slowly diminishes from his body, releasing warmth out of his pores to vent out the muscles covering him. Eyes squint while they tighten, feeling the rising air escaping their pores. His tanned skin darkens, retreating the hairs upon his body to a smooth-shaven sheen. This happens to his facial hair. The hairs on his face sink into his pores like the rest of his body.

Good. It didn’t make sense to be so restricted with that darned hair uncomfortable on tight clothes. Lighter clothes and darker skin are good ideas to act upon.

Synthetic blends soften to a soft silk pressing against his body. Slimmer legs spread apart to feel the material stretching to larger leg room. Red dyes the new thinner but flexible harem pants fit for a genie. Black fabric remains to hide retreating masculinity in a gentle intrusion. Shrinking slimmer feet step slowly, slipping out of worn socks to step upon the fabric to reveal slender toes and purple-painted nails. Hands slide up to slip over his shoulders to narrow and be visible. A pudgy stomach is exposed while his suit and shirt pull upward to his chest.

Mediterranean skin stains the Latino skin to the darker olive tone of his body. Her chest, as gold jewelry attaches to her waist. Earrings slip out of pointed ears. Long tall pointed ears dangle gold hoop earrings. Straightening hair follows softening facial bones and purple hair running along her head. A gold headpiece styles a growing bunch of hair to an anime-exaggerated ponytail running towards her feet. A red top swells with a gold ring between her flat woman’s chest. Black straps hold the top around the shoulders and sides, crossing for a black cloth choker. Strips of red silk and gold bracers lock onto her arms, feeling the weight. A sly grin forms as a gold crown weighs down on her head, with sea-green eyes looking gleefully as they open up.

Up onto her feet, Shantae looks around at her office. Was there something wrong with the half-genie hero padding over remnants of male clothes, looking around the office?

Oh no. Not a problem. A nearby clock shows how lunch still hasn’t ended. Another 20 minutes?

More than enough time to get to see what new magic could work upon the unknown masses.

A dance with a few changes to co-workers instead of being so worried?

There’s plenty of energy to see. Now what animal dance to use and get lost in?

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After being sick for quite some time, here comes a little tidbit. An idea that came from realizing a new lost Shantae game was showing up, decided to make a little blurb about it. Just to get my feet wet again. While I made an AI TF animation asset for this, got this out a month later. Why? Upper Respiratory Infections back to back with feeling depressed is an awful combination, ah. Least I am back to the writing grind while scraping by.

URL of the GDoc file is here.

Stencil outline for the image was found here.

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