Preface

Edie had been a police officer for over a decade. In the beginning, fresh out of the academy, she had been determined to prove herself. Being a woman in a male-dominated field wasn't easy, and Edie had quickly realized that the best way to gain respect was to minimize her femininity. She cut her hair short, kept her wardrobe practical and masculine, and made a point of being tough, stoic, and uncompromising---traits that helped her blend in with the guys on the force.

Over the years, Edie's transformation was so complete that even she had forgotten the woman she used to be. Her colleagues saw her as just another cop, a part of the brotherhood, no different from the rest. In many ways, Edie had achieved her goal. She was respected, relied upon, and, most importantly, seen as a good cop. But in the process, she had lost something essential---her sense of self, her femininity, the softer aspects of her identity that made her feel like a woman.

Late one night, after a particularly grueling shift, Edie sat alone in her dimly lit apartment, staring into the mirror. Her reflection was unrecognizable to her. Her once-bright eyes had hardened, her movements were stiff and deliberate, and her body language screamed masculinity. She sighed, running a hand through her cropped hair, wondering how she had gotten so far from who she once was.

That's when she found it---the magical orb. It wasn't clear where it had come from. It had simply appeared on her dresser one morning, glowing softly with a gentle, golden light. She didn't question it much at first, thinking it was some kind of trinket or gift she had forgotten about. But after a moment of curiosity, Edie picked it up, and the orb pulsed with energy. Words seemed to echo in her mind: *"Regain what you've lost."*

Intrigued but skeptical, Edie held the orb in her hand and thought about everything she had given up over the years. Her femininity, her softness, the way people used to see her as a woman. And suddenly, an idea came to her---a chance to bring that part of herself back. She could regain her femininity, but the magic of the orb came with one condition: she could only swap one trait per day, and the trait would be taken from another woman she met on the job. Edie wouldn't know what trait she'd acquire each day, and the women she copied would remain unaffected by the exchange. It was like borrowing an aspect of them without them losing it.

Despite her hesitation, Edie knew she had to try. It wasn't about undoing all the work she'd done to be a good cop, but about finding balance. She didn't want to be just one of the guys anymore---she wanted to be Edie again.

The next morning, Edie went about her usual routine, except now, there was an air of anticipation. As she went to work, she wondered which woman would be the first to unknowingly help her begin this transformation. Would it be a victim, a witness, or perhaps one of the women in the station?

And so began Edie's unusual journey---each day she would meet someone new, a woman who had something she had lost, and with the help of the orb, she would swap one of her masculine traits for a feminine one. She would regain her softness, her grace, her warmth, one day at a time.

But what traits would return? How would they manifest? And as she balanced her two identities---cop and woman---how would her life change?

Edie wasn't sure of the answers, but with the orb's magic guiding her, she was ready to find out.

To allow herself to carry the orb wherever she went, the orb transformed itself into what looked like a credit card that she put in her wallet. She knew that should wouldn't be able to notice any of the changes, but she didn't care, in a few weeks, she would be the epitome of femininity. It was about time.

Chapter 1

Edie and Robert, or as his friends call him Bobby, two dedicated police officers, decided to take a well-deserved break between their shifts one sunny afternoon. They opted for a small diner located a few blocks from the precinct, a cozy spot known for its hearty burgers and friendly service.

After settling into a booth, Edie and Bobby scanned the menu, both eventually settling on their favorites---a classic cheeseburger for Edie and a club sandwich for Bobby. The waitress, a cheerful woman named Sarah, took their orders and returned shortly with their drinks. As they chatted and enjoyed their meal, Edie pulled out her wallet to pay. In her haste, she mistakenly handed Sarah the orb card instead of her credit card. Unbeknownst to Edie, she excused herself to the restroom while Sarah tried to make sense of the card.

Sarah really couldn't believe the mix-up and approached Bobby, who was at the table lost in thought about the day's cases.

"Excuse me, Officer," Sarah said, a hint of confusion in her voice. "I think there's been a little mix-up with your partner's card. She handed me her orb card instead of a credit card."

Bobby perked up at this news. "Oh, no! That's not what she intended to do. I'll take care of it." He was about to suggest they just wait for Edie to return, but as he considered the potential hassle, he decided it would be easier to cover the whole meal himself. "Let me just pay for this---my partner can settle up with me later."

Without waiting for a response, he handed Sarah his credit card, thinking it would simplify things and avoid any embarrassment for Edie. Just then, the diner's phone rang, and Sarah momentarily stepped away, leaving Bobby to finish their meal.

But just as they were wrapping up, the precinct's radio crackled to life on Bobby's belt. "Units needed for a priority call. A robbery in progress at 5th and Main!" Bobby's heart raced; instinctively, he clicked his pen into action and said to Edie, who had just returned from the restroom, "We have an emergency---let's go!"

In his rush, Bobby mistakenly shoved both cards back into his wallet without mentioning the lunch mix-up, thinking he'd tell Edie once they were done with the call. When Edie exited the restroom, Bobby told her we have to go there is a possible armed robbery in progress at Maple and 3rd. Respond immediately."

Bobby and Edie hurried to the squad car and sped toward the scene, lights flashing. The adrenaline coursed through Bobby as he mentally prepared for what could be a dangerous situation. But as they arrived at the location, the reality was far less dire than expected.

The dispatcher had been mistaken---it wasn't an armed robbery at all. A young woman, Miss Abiline, was standing on the sidewalk, clearly upset, but unharmed. Her purse had been snatched by some quick-moving thief who had already disappeared into the crowd. Bobby suppressed a sigh of relief, though a small part of him was frustrated. He'd been expecting something more intense, something that would justify rushing out in the middle of lunch.

Bobby and Edie approached Miss Abiline. She was in her mid-twenties, slender, with soft features and delicate arms that looked like they had never seen the inside of a gym. She was wearing a floral sundress, clutching her phone in one hand while anxiously glancing up and down the street.

"I'm Officer Matthews, this is my partner, Officer Lopez," Bobby said in his usual authoritative tone. "We're here to help. Can you tell us what happened?"

Miss Abiline's voice trembled as she explained the situation. "I was just walking out of the store, and this guy came out of nowhere. He grabbed my purse and ran before I could even react."

Bobby listened, his notepad in hand, jotting down details. Miss Abiline described the thief, though she couldn't give much beyond "medium build" and "wearing a hoodie." Bobby had dealt with plenty of cases like this before---routine, frustrating, and rarely leading to an arrest. Still, he stayed professional, asking follow-up questions as Edie checked the surroundings for potential security cameras.

As Bobby stood there, noting Miss Abiline's responses, something strange happened---but he didn't notice. The orb's magic quietly activated in his wallet, responding to his proximity to Miss Abiline. Bobby unknowingly absorbed one of the woman's traits: her slender, untoned arms and narrower shoulders. The shift was imperceptible to him. The bulkier, muscular arms Bobby had worked hard to develop over the years---through weightlifting, physical training, and countless hours at the gym---subtly thinned and weakened. His broad manly shoulders, which had given him an imposing presence on the force, narrowed slightly, becoming more delicate, more in line with Miss Abiline's frame.

But to Bobby, everything felt the same. As he continued asking questions, he didn't feel any weaker or notice the lack of definition in his arms. He remained focused, all business, wrapping up the interview and promising Miss Abiline that they would do what they could to retrieve her purse, even though the odds were slim.

"Thank you so much," Miss Abiline said, her voice still shaky but grateful.

"We'll be in touch," Bobby assured her, slipping his notepad back into his pocket. Edie had returned, shaking her head. No usable footage from the nearby cameras.

"Looks like this one's going cold pretty fast," Edie said as they walked back to the squad car.

Bobby nodded in agreement, feeling slightly disappointed, but that was part of the job. "Yeah, purse snatchers are quick. Let's hope we get a lucky break."

As they got back into the car, Bobby's posture subtly shifted, his narrower shoulders no longer as accustomed to supporting the bulletproof vest he wore. He adjusted it slightly, chalking it up to discomfort after rushing out of lunch. His arms, now resembling Miss Abiline's delicate limbs, didn't quite feel as strong on the steering wheel, but Bobby remained unaware. The change had happened, but Bobby had no idea---his journey had just begun, one trait swap at a time. He didn't even know he was supposed to be taking a trip at all.

Bobby had completely forgotten about the credit card confusion.

Chapter 2

The next day, Bobby and Edie were patrolling a quiet residential area. It was a routine drive, checking in on the neighborhood and looking out for any suspicious activity. As they turned a corner, Bobby's eyes were drawn to a woman jogging along the sidewalk. The woman's long, luxurious chestnut hair bounced lightly in a ponytail, catching the sunlight. It was hard not to notice how well-kept her hair was, even in such a casual setting. Bobby's eyes lingered for a moment before he looked away, but in that moment, the orb's magic activated once again.

Just like the day before, the swap happened silently and seamlessly. The woman continued her jog, unaware that anything had changed. Bobby's own short, low-maintenance hair---a staple of his no-nonsense, practical look---had been swapped for the jogger's long, luscious locks. His hair now cascaded down his back, tied in a ponytail similar to the jogger's, but thick and vibrant with the careful attention of someone who dedicated hours every week to its upkeep. The knowledge of how to care for this hair---weekly salon visits, special shampoos, conditioners, heat styling techniques, and the patience to maintain such a mane---flooded into Bobby's mind.

However, just like before, Bobby was completely unaware of the change. He simply adjusted the rearview mirror without a second thought, his new long hair brushing against his shoulders as he did so. It felt natural to him, as if he'd always had it. He even reached up absentmindedly to smooth a few strands, as if it were something he'd done a thousand times before.

"Quiet day, huh?" Edie commented, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, not much going on," Bobby replied, his focus returning to the road. There was no recognition of his transformation, no hint that anything was different.

Later that day, when they returned to the station, Bobby found himself glancing at his reflection in the window as they passed by. His hair looked glossy and well-maintained, pulled back into a perfect ponytail. For some reason, he felt a small sense of satisfaction. He didn't pay it much mind, though, and went about his day as usual.

Over the next few days, the impact of the hair swap became more apparent in small, subtle ways. Bobby found himself scheduling his first salon appointment, without thinking it odd. He invested in higher-end hair products and started to dedicate time every morning to brushing and styling his hair. The care and attention he gave to it felt natural, like a habit he'd always had.

Even his colleagues started to take notice, though none of them saw the transformation as out of the ordinary. "Hey, Matthews," one officer called out in the break room, "your hair's looking good these days."

Bobby smiled, adjusting his ponytail. "Thanks," he replied casually, as if this kind of compliment was a regular occurrence.

Life continued as normal, except now Bobby's locker had a small selection of hair ties, a salon appointment reminder on his phone, and a habit of touching his hair whenever he was deep in thought. The second trait swap had come and gone, but there were still many more to come. As Bobby's physical transformation unfolded, his sense of self remained the same---unaware of the changes happening to his, unaware of what was yet to come.

Chapter 3

On the third day, Bobby and Edie were called into a meeting with a social worker to discuss a sensitive case involving a troubled teenage boy who had been caught shoplifting. The boy, Marcus, had no prior record, but the circumstances surrounding his home life raised concerns about his well-being. The social worker, Ms. Melanie Rivers, was known for her extreme empathy and ability to connect with troubled youths on a deep emotional level. She had a reputation for understanding the pain of those she worked with and often found ways to break through the walls that people built to protect themselves.