is this true?

[satchel_dawg]

i was recently checking out wikipedia, and i stumbled apon this article:
Flea

Flea, known in the Japanese version of the game as Mayonnai (マヨネー, Mayonē?), appears to be a shapely humanoid female (ample breasts and hourglass figure), but reveals that he is actually a man. In English, he is named after Flea (musician) of Red Hot Chili Peppers [12]. Flea has the ability of transforming into a bat and actually follows the heroes around the castle since the Magic Cave before eventually showing his true colors and coming out. He is defeated by the heroes in their first confrontation. As expected, Flea joins Ozzie and Slash in Ozzie's fort. He now has the Flea Vest (a bra in the Japanese version) and is now named Flea Plus. With a few upgrades to his magical arsenal, Flea prepares himself again to battle it out; however, he is defeated.

In Chrono Cross, Flea has undergone the most physical changes of the Mystic trio. He has a medium-length haircut parted in the middle and a sailor-like shirt instead of a bustier. The description of the "Flea Vest" states that it "makes him look feminine."



i rrealize wikipedia is usually wrong, but let me be the first to say "WHAT THE HECK."

[FaustWolf]

I think that's completely in line with canon, actually. And unfortunately. There seems to be two streams of thought on this subject: Flea is physically a hermaphrodite, or Flea is a shapeshifter a la Sprigg, and we really don't know what his "natural" state is -- the feminine body is completely feminine, and perhaps stolen. I subscribe to the latter belief, but it does conflict with the description of the "Flea Vest" given in Chrono Cross.

In Flea's CT character design, is it proper to call what she's wearing a bustier? I always associated that word with undergarments, but maybe in medieval clothing terms that's exactly what it is. Yes, this is a serious question that needs answered!

[Radox Redux]

I think that's completely in line with canon, actually. And unfortunately. There seems to be two streams of thought on this subject: Flea is physically a hermaphrodite, or Flea is a shapeshifter a la Sprigg, and we really don't know what his "natural" state is -- the feminine body is completely feminine, and perhaps stolen. I subscribe to the latter belief, but it does conflict with the description of the "Flea Vest" given in Chrono Cross.

In Flea's CT character design, is it proper to call what she's wearing a bustier? I always associated that word with undergarments, but maybe in medieval clothing terms that's exactly what it is. Yes, this is a serious question that needs answered!

Shapeshifter? Where have you heard that? Both CC and CT make it seem pretty clear that Flea is simply a guy who looks like a girl and likes to dress up as such. Perhaps I'm behind, but last I checked, this wasn't even a debate.

[Chrono'99]

Yeah, I can't see the point of this topic either. What does "Is this true?" mean? Why would anything be false? The party mistakes Flea for a chick; Flea corrects them. That's all.

[FaustWolf]

Well, the fact that Flea can change into a bat and back indicates shapeshifting ability. And Robo says that Flea's "exterior is that of a female" -- I would assume Robo's judgment on the matter might be more accurate than what human eyes can see. There was actually something bordering debate on the topic in this thread:
http://www.chronocompendium.com/Forums/index.php/topic,4866.0.html

But yeah, I know I'm beating a dead horse here. I don't start these topics -- I just like to proselytize an alternative (if canonically flawed) point of view.

Several other Mystics in Chrono Trigger exhibited shapeshifting ability as well, specifically the Naga-ettes and devilmen in Manoria Cathedral. I can't remember which type turned into which human gender -- I think one Mystic shapeshifted into Leene while the others were all male. I'd be interested in knowing if a Naga-ette shapeshifted into a male Guardian soldier at any point -- it would set a precedent for Mystics being able to shapeshift into the opposite gender in another form.

The one thing that unravels all this, of course, is Chrono Cross' description of the Flea Vest. As far as Flea claiming he's a guy, well he is a guy -- but one can separate his/her mental state from his/her physical state, non? That's why we have transvestites in the first place. They were stuck in the "wrong" body by genetics, and that body conflicts with how they psychologically view themselves. I guess I view Flea as the opposite of a real-world transgendered person: he is psychologically male, but wanted a female body. Magic helps -- no hormones or surgery necessary in his case.

[Radox Redux]

Maybe Flea is a shapeshifter. He's still clearly a hermaphrodite though, he's just using different skills to appear like a woman. Perhaps Flea purposely learnt his shapeshifting skills to become a woman.

[FaustWolf]

That's what I've always thought. By hermaphrodite, do you mean that Flea has, well -- you-know-what, and you-know-what? I thought that hermaphrodites possessed both male and female organs, as opposed to transgendered individuals, who have gone from one end of the spectrum to the other completely.

Although if Flea were masculine from the waist up and feminine from the waist down, I suppose that could explain the Flea Vest. Agh, I don't even want to think about this anymore.

[V_Translanka]

The only part I don't agree with of that wiki is the "ample breasts and hourglass figure"...Flea clearly doesn't have ample breasts...

Anyways, I think Flea is a guy who shapeshifts into the form of a female. He says he's a guy, Robo says he's got the body of a female, and Flea seems rather flippant about the whole thing, saying that it doesn't matter because power is beautiful and Flea's got the power. If nothing else, he has somewhat skewed views of self-image. Instead of shapeshifting into some kind of bodybuilder guy, he went in another direction and made himself into a woman, his idea of beauty.

*shrugs* Maybe he's just a one-track mind kinda guy.

Maybe Flea is a shapeshifter. He's still clearly a hermaphrodite though, he's just using different skills to appear like a woman. Perhaps Flea purposely learnt his shapeshifting skills to become a woman.

No, clearly Flea IS a shapeshifter as seen when he SHAPESHIFTS from the form of a bat. I don't think we have enough information to define Flea as a hermaphrodite unless you want to say that Robo's scans only the top portion or something...?

[Chrono'99]

Flea is just meant to be a joke character. Remember that Akira Toriyama created him... there are several female-looking male aliens in Dragon Ball Z.

[maggiekarp]

I think confusion and beauty are Flea's gimmicks, so we're not really meant to know exactly.

[Prince Janus]

Flea is just meant to be a joke character. Remember that Akira Toriyama created him... there are several female-looking male aliens in Dragon Ball Z.

 ...why do I still call Frieza "The Lizard Queen" ?

[satchel_dawg]

i only brought it up because i'd never heard that. anyway thanks.