Inspired by Alex Warlorn's Not Just Ponies series, The Conversion Bureau: Transhumanism
is a My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fanfic by Leobracer that offers a different take on The Conversion Bureau.
In this version, there is a new version of the conversion potion that allows humans to remain human, while being able to use magic. The new potion is called the Transhuman Potion, and it comes in six versions: Nephilum, who can use magic, Laputan, who can sprout energy wings to fly, Gaian, who can increase their strength and manipulate plants, Lantean, who can breath underwater and swim really fast, Methuselah, night counterparts to Laputans, and Shifters, who can shape shift.
Each chapter tells a different story about people who took the Transhuman Potions.
Now has a side story that's about other events taking place within the Transhumanverse found here.
It is now a Dead Fic due to the author losing interest in it.
Tropes:
- Advancing Wall of Doom: Wouldn't be a TCB story without it. Though in this version, it's because Equestria's arrival on Earth had awakened the leylines that had laid dormant underneath the surface of the Earth.
- Affectionate Nickname: Kimberly and Veronica call each other Veri and Kimmy respectively.
- Amicable Exes:
- Played Straight at first, when Ellen had taken the Gaian potion, she and Trevor decided to break up, but were still on good terms. Until months later when Trevor changed his mind, as he felt that going to Mars wasn't worth abandoning the woman he loved.
- Averted with Eleanor and Bonnie. For after she witnessed what it takes to become a member of the HLF, Eleanor decided that she wanted nothing to do with her anymore.
- Bestiality Is Depraved: When Richard married Wind Dancer, a number of his fellow churchmen left for other churches in disgust.
- Changed My Mind, Kid:
- In Ellen Briggs’ chapter, she finds that her ex-boyfriend, Trevor, has become a Gaian. He was originally going to take part in the Mars Initiative, but decided that going to Mars wasn’t worth it, if it meant that he couldn’t be with the woman he loves.
- The rewritten first chapter of the Side Story shows that Cecelia’s family was going to join the Mars Initiative together. But Cecelia’s mother, Margaret, changed her mind when the Transhuman Potion was announced, leading to Margaret and Lucas getting a divorce.
- Enemy Civil War: Richard’s chapter reveals that the Transhuman Potion caused the HLF to split between two factions. One which embraces the Transhuman Potion, only to use their magic against non-humans, while the other does not, as they don’t view tranhumans as ‘true humans’.
- Evil Versus Evil: The PER and the HLF. Though with the introduction of the Transhuman Potion, the HLF have become divided.
- Fantastic Racism:
- In Frank Walter's chapter, it's mentioned that one of his coworkers killed his fiancée after she went to the Conversion Bureau to become an Abyssinian.
- The HLF, obviously enough. Of course, they also go after Nephilum, Laputans, and Gaians, as they don't see them as "true humans".
- The PER are also prejudiced towards them. Though their reasoning is because they think that their transformation is "incomplete", and Leonard's chapter reveals that they ambush these people and force them to take the pony potions, which ultimately doesn't affect them.
- Cecelia's father, Lucas, calls Cherry Blossom a "Screwheaded Horse". Cherry Blossom isn't particularly bothered by it.
- Green Thumb: John Bradley's chapter shows that Gaians can manipulate plants. He used it to have a tree get a PETA member out his way while he hunted.
- Homeworld Evacuation: The goal of the Mars Initiative is to take a number of people to Mars, who have refused to take the Conversion Potion.
- Hypocritical Humor: Matthew chastises Leonard for risk using incomplete healing spells, when he and his family are taking a risk by going to Mars.
- Ignored Expert: How Kimberly feels, after trying to tell people about the dangers of going to Mars.
- Interspecies Romance:
- Richard, a Catholic Priest who became a Nephilum, is married to a pegasus mare named Wind Dancer.
- The first chapter of the side stories show that Leonard is married to an Eastern Unicorn named Cherry Blossom.
- Last-Name Basis: Kimberly's name is Terrance, but she prefers to be called by her last name.
- Ley Line: Earth apparently has these laying underneath the surface. But for reasons unknown, they were dormant before Equestria appeared on Earth.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: How one becomes a full fledged member of the HLF. Which is why Eleanor broke up with Bonnie.
- No Transhumanism Allowed: The PER and a faction of the HLF are against the Transhuman Potion. Though ultimately, for different reasons.
- Open-Minded Parent: The Side Story reveals that most of Leonard’s family was supportive of his marriage with Cherry Blossom. Though the same couldn’t be said about Cherry Blossom’s family.
- Power at a Price: No matter what potion people take, while it does protect them from the magical energies coming from the leylines, it also makes them unable to leave Earth, as their bodies are now depended upon it.
- Power Gives You Wings: Laputans are able to sprout energy wings from their backs, allowing them to fly. This is how Frank got to work after he sold his car, as he felt that he didn’t need it anymore.
- Psycho Ex-Girlfriend: Eleanor broke up with her girlfriend Bonnie when she took part in the HLF initiation ceremony, which involved beating up people who had taken the conversion potion.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Leonard’s chapter mentions that Celestia had donated resources towards the Mars Initiative. Though he also mentions that some, like the HLF, view it as a publicity stunt.
- Required Secondary Power:
- Laputans have enhanced eyesight and hearing in order to allow them to fly and land safely.
- Lanteans are given the ability to use sonar while underwater.
- Retcon: The original version of the first chapter of the Side Story had Cecelia's parents have a Slap-Slap-Kiss relationship. The rewritten version removes that, while keeping the reason for them getting a divorce.
- Shock and Awe: Laputans have the ability to use lightning magic, as Kimberly's chapter shows.
- Shout-Out:
- Laputans are named after the city in Castle in the Sky.
- The Mars Initiative is one to Mass Effect: Andromeda.
- Kimberly has a gargoyle friend named Goliath.
- John Bradly shows that Gaians can sense the vibrations in the ground, much like Toph.
- Eleanor’s chapter introduces another variant of transhumans who can swim and breathe underwater called Lanteans.
- Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids!: Kimberly does not believe that the Mars Initiative will succeed, and believes that anyone who thinks otherwise are naive for thinking so.
- Super-Strength: Gaians are described as having a ‘connection with the Earth’, and that by tapping into this connection they can increase their strength, as Ellen showed when she lifted up a crate, and when Trevor lifted up a couch.
- Take That!: John Bradly's chapter has a PETA member turned deer try to interfere with his hunt.
- Transhumanism: It's in the title of course. The new potion is even called the Transhuman Potion.
- Underwater City: Eleanor's chapter reveals that one of these is being built off the east coast, which is where she plans on moving to, so that she can get away from her hometown, and her ex-girlfriend Bonnie.
- Ungrateful Bastard: A faction of the HLF has actually embraced the use of the Transhuman Potion... Only so that they can use magic against non-humans.
- White Mage: Father Richard Edmond, a Catholic Priest, became a Nephilum so that he could use magic to heal people.
- Winged Humanoid: People who take the Laputan and Methuselah potions will become one of these.
