Chapter Two- Shocking Realization

"Hmm, a monster that lets you retrieve a ritual spell card after you've played it." Atticus examined the Ritual monster. "Very cool, Lexi."

"Thanks." She looked through Atticus' deck. "You have some spells and traps that have a stage theme to them. Don't get me wrong, they're impressive but some seem flashy and no real use."

"I got inspiration from you when you compared me to a rock star. I thought to make a deck centered on that idea. If I may, sis, I noticed that all the monsters in your deck are female."

"Well, I like to prove that just because a monster or duelist is female doesn't mean she's weak."

"Some people still believe that?" Atticus asked, sounding shocked.

"Some do, yes."

"Not me, sis. I've seen you duel. You're tough."

"I know you don't believe girls are weak. Most of my guy friends know girls can be strong duelists." She handed back his deck and accepted her own.

Atticus put his deck away and then stifled a yawn. "I think I'll get ready for bed. I've got some studying and surfing to do tomorrow."

"Yeah. I've got studying too and I plan to hang out with Mindy and Jasmine." Alexis gathered a nightgown and hairbrush before heading to the bathroom.

Atticus quickly changed into his pajamas and ran a comb through his hair before reaching back to undo the clasp of the necklace. His fingers felt all along the chain, but couldn't find the clasp. Where is it? he thought, frantically feeling for it. I know there's a clasp. It's how I got it on and took it off before my shower.

"Ooo, Atti. That's a pretty necklace," said Alexis as she came out.

"Thanks. There's just one problem: There was a clasp earlier today, but now I can't find one."

"Really?" Alexis sat next to him and searched the chain. "You're right. It's one solid chain. Where did you find it, anyway?"

"In the sand on my way back to our room."

Alexis then blinked. "Did it just…glow for a moment?"

"I…think it did. I wonder why."

Both siblings studied all morning and separated after lunch. Atticus headed out to surf, but his necklace was on Alexis' mind and she decided to see if she could find anything about it as the glow made her think it was magical somehow. Since she had some time before meeting her friends, she headed to the library to see if she could find some answers.

She scanned the shelves and checked out books pertaining to magic or magical items. She carried them back to her dorm and quickly skimmed them before putting them in her desk drawer before going to meet her friends.

Atticus sat on the beach, surrounded by a group of admiring girls. He smiled at them, signed anything they handed him, told jokes and stories, and generally enjoyed their company. Eventually they dispersed and Atticus was left to watch the ocean and think.

I had a good long surfing run and enjoyed every second of it. I also enjoyed having the girls hang out with me, but something about it felt different today. It didn't feel the way it did yesterday. Why would that be? Hmm, maybe I just need to hang out with the guys for a while. I'll shower off, change clothes, and maybe duel my friends. Atticus stood, gathered his board, and set off to do just that.

Atticus moaned softly and rubbed his temples as he headed to dinner. He had just has a weird time with his pals, not that anyone was aware. He had dueled with them, his new deck working nicely but during the times when he wasn't dueling, he found himself admiring their looks…like a girl! He was shocked at his thoughts and confused about why he thought of his friends like that. His confusion was what brought on the headache. His confusion continued to grow when he entered the cafeteria. He saw Alexis with her friends and felt a desire to sit with them instead of his guy friends. He gripped his head as his headache throbbed painfully. He took deep breaths to control and ease his pain. It worked and his head felt clearer. He got his food and sat with his friends.

Alexis watched Atticus with concern. He seemed like he was having headaches as he kept rubbing his temples every now and then. I hope he goes to the infirmary for an aspirin, she thought before she was pulled into a conversation with a classmate concerning homework. She left later, noticing that Atticus had left earlier, rubbing his head intensely. She headed for her room, intending to read one of the books on magical items but when she opened the door, she found Atticus lying on his bed on his back, his eyes closed, and his hands clutching the sides of his head.

"Atti?" she asked softly and with concern.

"Lexi," he replied in a soft tone too. "I'm feeling confused and it's making my head hurt."

"Confused about what?"

"I was talking with some girls after surfing but it didn't feel the same as yesterday. Then I went to duel with my friends and I found myself admiring their looks, like a girl would. I don't know why and it confuses me."

"Could it be because of your necklace?"

"Could be, but I don't know why that would be." He sighed, eyes still closed and looking as if he was endeavoring to sleep.

Alexis gave her brother a sympathetic look before going to her desk and taking out one of her books. She leafed through the pages, pausing to read passages every once in a while. She continued to look and heard her brother's deep breathing. He did fall asleep. Just as well; sleep off that mysterious headache. She turned another page and the title caught her eye: Gender Items. Curious, she proceeded to read. In the past, there had been times when some civilizations created magical items to change a person's gender as either a punishment or to teach a lesson. All lessons were temporary changes while the punishments could be temporary or permanent based on the crime.

Other civilizations created their magical items to change the gender due to population problems. In order to insure survival, sometimes a woman would voluntarily become a man and vice versa. It was this section where she found an image of Atticus' necklace. She read the captions and passages that accompanied it and her mouth fell open. It was a necklace to change boys to girls and girls to boys. If a girl wore it, the clasp would vanish, become unbreakable, and the jewel would turn blue. Then the girl would gradually begin thinking like a boy and after she gained a boy's mind, her voice would change and her body would change to a boy's body at which point the necklace would slip off, ready to be used again. Worst of all, one could not change back to their original gender.

Oh my God. Atti's gonna become a permanent girl? She stared at her sleeping brother. She stood and went over to him, shaking his shoulder. "Atti, wake up. I found some answers and I'm afraid you won't like it."

Atticus' eyes fluttered open and then blinked. "You did?" He sat up and smiled. "My head feels better."

"You better read this." She pressed the book into his hands.

Atticus read the page, his eyes widening with each line. When he finished, the book fell from his hands onto his lap and he stared at the wall. "I'm, I'm becoming a girl?" he gasped. He blinked before grabbing at the chain and trying to yank it off.

"Atti, the chain won't break and besides it's too late. You're already starting to think differently as you just told me."

"Well," he sighed. "I'll have to tell our parents, friends, and of course Chancellor Sheppard and the teachers."