Once upon a time, in the early Twenty-First Century, a certain powerful man had three sons. All three sons were the same age, born of a terrible and difficult pregnancy. When his sons turned eighteen, the man, who was named Ambrose, called his three sons together.
"This amulet has been in our family for at least fourteen generations," Ambrose said, holding up a talisman of elaborate gold and silver lacework around an opal teardrop. "It's hard to say how we came into possession of it; perhaps one of your ancestors made it. I don't know. What matters for our purposes is that it has the power to alter matter. Now, as you stand on the verge of adulthood, ready to inherit your place in the family enterprise, the time has come for you to fulfill our family tradition.
"You see," Ambrose continued, "we have a rite of passage, which all sons and daughters of this family must endure. It is a little different for everyone, according to their needs, but it is very simple. Using this amulet, I transform you into that which you most fear. You then have one year to find the magic that will transform you back. If you can find the magic, you will receive your share of the inheritance, and take your place as an adult member of this family. But if you cannot, you will remain what you fear. Forever."
Ambrose turned to Phillip, who was his oldest son by forty minutes. "You, Phillip, have been in a hurry to grow up. You have always taken risks and behaved in a headstrong manner because you want to achieve adulthood, respect, and mastery of every skill. You have not taken the time to enjoy where you are, or improve yourself by slow steps. Therefore, this is your test."
With that, Ambrose touched Phillip's forehead with the amulet, and all at once, Phillip became a child. "Inside your head," said Ambrose, "you are still eighteen, on the cusp of manhood. Yet everyone who looks at you will see a boy of only eight. You must work through the judgments of all people who would see you as a mere precious child; only then will you find your way back to adulthood."
Ambrose turned to Mark, who was his middle son. "You, Mark, have been reluctant to grow up. You have reveled in play and leisure, always trying on new roles, but never accepting any as your mature identity. You do not want to leave childhood, with its cozy womb of nurturance, to take on your place in the adult world. Therefore, this is your test."
With that, Ambrose touched Mark's forehead with the amulet, and all at once, Mark became a man. "Inside your head," said Ambrose, "you are still eighteen, on the cusp of manhood. Yet everyone who looks at you will see a man of forty-eight. You must work through the judgments of all people who want you to be sedentary, incurious, and bland in your age; only then will you find your way back to youth."
Ambrose turned to William, who was his youngest son by forty minutes. "You, William, have made your way through life with bullying and swaggering. You will not permit anyone to see you as weak, so you have exaggerated your strength through chest-thumping displays of masculinity. You have refused to see others with empathy or even the slightest kindness. Therefore, this is your test."
With that, Ambrose touched William's forehead with the amulet, and all at once, William became a girl. "Inside your head," said Ambrose, "you are still a youth, on the cusp of manhood. Yet everyone who looks at you will see an attractive young woman. You must live in a world that judges you by your sex, surrounded by men who perceive you as an object of lust; only then will you find your way back to manhood.
"You three have your tests," Ambrose said. "You must now leave this house, bringing only what you can carry. If you find the magic to restore your former selves, come home, and we will welcome you gladly as our beloved sons. But if you cannot, you have no place in this family, and must live the rest of your lives in the roles I have given you."
"But wait," said Phillip. "You said all members of this family must undergo this test. What test did you endure in your youth?"
Ambrose smiled, and stroked his beard like a true guru. "That is a good question. In my youth, I was headstrong, always trying to go my own way, never trusting others to help me, and rebuffing the company of friends. My father turned me into five young men, each of whom held some aspect of my personality, but not matching aspects. The five of us could not stand each other, yet we had to work together if we ever hoped to become one."
"And how," asked William, "did you beat this test and become one man again?"
"I cannot tell you that," said Ambrose, "for my answer was mine alone. If I tell you how I solved my test, you will waste time trying to follow my path, and when you realize you cannot save yourself that way, you will find yourself short of time to discover your own path. Now go, all of you. Get out. You have no place in this house until you find the path back to yourself."
With that, the three sons found themselves transformed, and forced out of their home, on the path to becoming adults and taking on their roles in the family.