Canterlot High's Changelingby OdicHastingsChaptersA Better You - PrologueA Better You - IA Better You IIA Better You - IIIA Better You - PrologueI tapped my fingers against my desk while staring at my class's clock. The minute hand inched closer and closer to twelve. The silent whispers of the class had intensified within the last few minutes. The teacher was done with her lecturing, and the students with their work. Just a few more minutes. Out the window, dark clouds formed in the distance. Wouldn't be much longer. Tick-tock. The hand kept marching forward. And there I was, sitting there, bored; in a classroom, filled with teenagers. “...How did it come to this?” I let my head fall forward, allowing it to smack against the desk. One day you're invading an entire city of pathetic foals, the next you've somehow wound up in another world, turned into a... 'human' or something. It wouldn't have been so bad if I wasn't also freaking de-aged to a punk kid. And now I'm trapped in a public education facility. Who would have thought that the police think a kid not attending school is suspicious? My eye twitched as I stared down the clock. Just one more minute. Something like 'appearing to be a child' didn't use to be an issue. It was almost comical how I took my gift for granted back in my own world. Being able to shape-shift, able to completely alter my identity on the fly with no effort, big whoop. Who cares? I started to, right after arriving in a world where I couldn't do it anymore. Well, couldn't 'quite' do it anymore. I smirked darkly, trying to conceal a chuckle from my classmates. The bell rang. “Finally!” I leapt from my seat near the back and dashed across the room, making it out the door before any of the students. I hated that school. It was worse than anything I had ever experienced in my life; I was surrounded by idiot teenagers, I had to relearn material that was still mostly useless, and I couldn't transform anymore. A she-demon trashing the school awhile back spiced things up for a surprisingly short period of time at least. But, like everything, it faded into old news. I marched through the school's corridors and out the entrance. A horse statue adorned with mirror surfaces on all sides of its base waited just outside the school. Its purpose wasn't clear to me; perhaps it was meant to be aesthetically pleasing? Perhaps it was meant to memorialize something? Who knows. All I do know, is that I came out of it. Somehow. And now I can't get back through. I touched the smooth glass. Nothing happened. I simply felt cold glass. With a longing sigh I stared ahead, seeing an unfamiliar face looking back. It didn't matter how long I held that form for, it never quite looked right to me. Blue hair, yellow skin, and green eyes. How ridiculous; everybody knows teal and black is the way to go. “Someday,” I mutter before taking off for what served as my home. The same thing, everyday. Tartarus isn't an awful plane of indescribable pain. Its just a slow tedium that consumes your entire existence. The same thing every day. “Every. Single. D-” “Excuse me, sir.” I stopped, staring down the empty sidewalk ahead of me. Through my peripherals I saw somebody had set up a booth on the school's lawn. “Yes, you sir.” It was a man talking. “I would like to speak to you!” I took a deep breath, sighed, and turned my head. A chubby fellow in a dirty and torn lab-coat stood behind a table. His hair was black, and his skin was as white as that lab-coat probably should have been. A banner was taped to the front of his table, the words 'A Better You' were printed across it. Two sticks held a similar banner up above his head. “Aha, I see you've noticed our slogan.” He smiled. “'A better you'!” I blinked slowly. “Tell me, son.” He snickered. “Have you ever wished you could go that extra mile?” I stared. “Did you ever try to get that girl, but just couldn't quite pull it off?” He asked. “Have you ever crammed for a tough test the night before, but just couldn't remember anything you read the next day? Ever failed to keep up with your rival school's sports team during the big game?” “No.” I continued down the street. “W-wait!” He waved his arms frantically over his head. “Do you wish you were more charming? Smarter? More agile?” I rolled my eyes, and continued at my pace. “What about hostile!?” I kept going. “A better you!” He shouted. “Come in today, and be a better man tomorrow!” I honestly wondered who let that guy on school grounds. They should really keep the psychos away from the kids. “A better you? Utter nonsense.” I shook my head. “Who would even give that guy the time of day?” I arrived home half-an-hour later. “Yeah. 'A better you'. It looked really interesting!” My 'mother' chatted merrily with a friend on the phone. I sat on the sofa, pretending to watch the news. The living room was meticulously clean, not a speck of dirt, or a mote of dust, blemished the carpet. Fine china sat behind a glass screen in a shelf; various vases sat atop it. The television set was an older model – or so I had been told – first manufactured almost two decades ago. “I'm thinking of heading up there, maybe take a look around.” She was a plump woman, with pale-yellow skin and blue hair. She held the phone in her neck by tilting her head to the side, while digging through her briefcase. “I know, I know,” she said. “But there's no harm in looking, right?” I narrowed my eyes. “Alright, I gotta let you go.” She closed the briefcase and walked over to the front door, setting the case down next to it. I craned my head to see her. “You're not actually checking that hack's offer out are you, Glory?” “Honey!” Glory placed her hands on her hips. “That's a little harsh don't you think?” “Not really.” She smirked. “C'mon, I'm not expecting a miraculous, life-changing experience. It's all in good fun.” I opened my mouth to speak, but couldn't come up with a retort. She walked past me. “Wanna come?” “Not really.” “I never see you go out anywhere after school.” She snickered. “Do you really have anything better to do?” “...Not really?” She smirked. I sighed. “Grab your coat, honey.” She wandered into the hall. “It's nippy out.” “Wait.” I stood up. “We're going now?” In less than fifteen minutes, we arrived at the most pathetically rundown building I had ever seen. Windows were either shattered or completely missing their panes. Cheap wooden boards were set behind them, keeping people from seeing inside. The walls were marred with dozens of holes. We were at the outskirts of town. The dull noise of the city was behind us, replaced by utter silence. Apparently even feral animals knew to stay away from such a location. A cracked concrete path led up to a door stained with yellow spots. Rust clung to its metal handles. 'A BETTER YOU!!!' was crudely painted over the doors in vibrant pink paint. Glory stared at the building with a look I could best describe as a mixture of disbelief and outright terror. “It's all in good fun?” I smirked at her. “I, uh.” She swallowed nervously. I took one final look at the dilapidated structure. Glory seemed eager to leave. It probably wouldn't be too hard to talk her out of going in. But who was I kidding? There was no way I wasn't at least taking a peek inside that pathetic hovel. I gently grabbed Glory's shoulder, and guided her forward. “Shall we?” She nodded numbly. “Sure...” I marched up to the doors, grasped the handle, and threw them open. My jaw nearly hit the floor when I looked inside. Author's Note And there we have it. I've been writing original fiction for a little while now, but wanted to try my hand at fan fiction again. Might just be nostalgia, might just be so I can do a side-by-side comparison to my old stuff on FanFiction.net compared to now, but either way I'm having fun with this. I hope what you've read thus far interested you, and I'll keep writing the next chapter. Any criticism of my writing would be greatly appreciated, it always helps me improve. A Better You - II stared in amazement at the most perfectly pristine lab I had ever seen. The dilapidated shell I witnessed on the outside showed no hint of the scientific perfection beneath it. The tiled floors were so clean that they had an almost mirror-like reflection. Fresh pale-blue paint coated the walls. The lights were a little too bright, and a little too numerous. Their collective glare forced me to wince away in pain. A powerful antiseptic smell hit me before I even stepped inside. It was strong enough to leave my mind feeling fuzzy. Glory winced as she stepped inside. “At least we know its clean.” I looked around. “And you know, probably not owned by a serial killer.” Half-a-dozen tables were scattered haphazardly across the room. Metal folding chairs sat against a far corner, not yet set out. Vials, flasks, and beakers were set on the tables, inside shelves and stacked atop each other within wire cages. Most were empty, though a few contained strange-colored fluids. A few steel doors were built around the room. Unlike the rest of the lab, they didn't look clean or new. They were covered in dents and rust. One was missing a handle. A thick tarp was thrown over something round that sat in the back of the building. A sign with the words 'A Better You!' hung from it, connected only by rope. Machines lined the walls. Dozens of tiny lights blinked on and off across the front of them. I had no idea what they were supposed to be, or what they actually did, but I did note that they were oddly silent. In fact, the whole lab was. I could have heard a pin drop. There was no staff around. At all. Glory cautiously walked forward. “Hello?” “Was there a specific time we were supposed to show up?” I asked. “Um.” She crossed her arms. “You know, I don't really remember. I don't think he said anything about it.” A metallic crash came from nearby. I whipped to face the nearest metal door. “Ow ow ow!” Someone yelled. “Gah!!” Another metallic crash. “OH G-” A long metal screech followed, lasting the next few seconds before being cut off by a deafening bang. The entire building vibrated from the noise. Glory and I glanced at each other. “I-Is somebody there!?” It was a man's voice. And a familiar one at that. “owowowowowowowowowow” Glory took a step back to the exit. I followed suit. The nearest metal door flew open, smashing against a decidedly not-metal wall. I winced as a crack formed in the drywall. “Hello!” A man stumbled out. He was a chubby, white-skinned fellow in a worn lab-coat. “Welcome strangers... to a better YOU!” I raised a brow. “Didn't I see you at the school?” He frowned at me. “No...” I narrowed my eyes at him. “No. Definitely not.” Glory and I shared a perplexed look before taking another step backwards. “W-wait!” He forced a crooked smile. “you've likely heard all about 'A Better You' through one of our charming and handsome salespersons?” “Yea-” Glory looked him up and down. “Kinda.” “Fantastic!” He beamed at us. “Dr. Brighter, at your service.” He approached and offered his hand. Glory and I both stared at it. He kept holding it out, his smile unwavering. “Uh...” Glory glanced nervously at me. “Pass,” I said. “Thanks for the offer though.” Dr. Brighter reluctantly withdrew his hand. Something shifted in his features, perhaps he was annoyed, but that smile still didn't vanish. An awkward silence followed. The three of us exchanged silent glances at one another. Brighter to me. Glory to him. Me to Glory. Glory to me. Me back to Brighter. “Well.” Glory cleared her throat. “It's been lovely, but my son and I should really get going.” Dr. Brighter's smile vanished instantly. “Oh? But you've only just arrived.” he pointed to the round object concealed by the tarp. “And you haven't even seen my invention yet.” Glory coughed nervously. “Well, it's just, um. We...” I pointed a thumb behind me. “...left the house on fire.” Both Glory and Dr. Brighter stared at me. I maintained a stoic expression. “We should really get back to it.” A light knocking came from the front doors. “Hm? Another visitor!” Dr Brighter clasped his hands together. “I wonder who this could be.” “Someone with a lethal lack of common sense?” I mumbled. One of the doors creaked open. “Um, hey?” A teenage girl with mostly red hair stepped through. Multiple locks were dyed blonde. ...Or was it the other way around? She wore a black jacket on top of a purple top and orange skirt. I tilted my head. “Sunset Shimmer?” She stopped dead in her tracks, flinching at the sound of her own name. “Really?” I smirked. “You're here?” Glory leaned in closer, and whispered, “Is that one of your friends?” Hardly ... was what I wanted to say; instead I just mumbled, “Not really.” Sunset Shimmer approached us, glancing around the lab in awe. “Hey. We talked at school.” “Did we?” Dr. Brighter gave a perplexed expression. “No, no. That was definitely just one of my many charming-” “Okay.” I threw my hands up. “We're done here.” I spun around and marched to the door. “Have fun being Brighter's first victim, Shimmer.” “Radiant!” Glory ran up and grabbed my arm. “We are not leaving that girl alone with that man.” “I-” She smacked he side of my head. “And don't say things like that.” “Yeah. I hear what you're saying.” I frowned at her while rubbing the side of my head. “Or.” I pointed a thumb toward the exit. “We could just go.” “Honey...” “She'll be fine!” “Honey.” “She kinda has it coming anyways.” “Honey!” Glory stomped her foot, practically snarling at me. I tried to speak, but found my words dead in my throat. “H-” She stopped, took a deep breath, and pointed to the nearest wall. “Stand over there with your friend for a moment.” “She not-” “Stand. Over. There.” I quickly stepped aside, watching as she approached Dr. Brighter and led him a few feet away. Sunset Shimmer tried to follow, but Glory sent her back towards me. I leaned against the wall, watching Glory be led closer to the tarp covered object. Sunset Shimmer crossed her arms, watching the two as well. I shot a few looks her way. She didn't take her eyes off Glory and Dr. Brighter. I could see something hidden in her expression though. She was doing the same thing I was doing. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. One of us had to say something eventually. Dr. Brighter and Glory spoke, though I didn't pay any attention to their conversation. “Be honest.” I smirked at her. “You hoped this place would somehow change things at school, didn't you?” No response. Not even the slightest shift in her expression. “Must be rough,” I said. “Knowing that everyone hates you.” Barely even a twitch. “'A better you'!” I laughed. “Is that what you were hoping for? You'd step in here and just change who you are?” Her expression shifted. Finally. I could see anger seeping into her features. “Oh, woe is me...” I clasped my hands together and brought them up to my my left cheek. “If only, if only, I could change myself from a hateful she-demon to a nice girl! Maybe then I'd have a friend.” “I have-” “Obviously those girls that take pity on you don't c-” “Shut up.” “Oh?” I asked. “What are you going to-” She whipped around to face me, a snarl spread across her face. “Shut. Up.” “There she is.” I laughed. “Now where's that Sunset Shimmer been? Haven't seen you around since-” She took a step closer. For a second I thought she might actually punch me. But she didn't. Surprisingly, she just closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and turned back around. “And now!” Dr. Brighter grabbed the tarp. “My greatest invention!” Glory and Brighter had gathered around the round object. “Not to mention my only invention.” “What?” Glory asked. “Are you prepared!” “Sir, I already told you.” Glory took several steps back toward us. “We're not interested. I wish you the best of luck with... whatever that is.” “Uh.” Dr. Brighter looked back and forth between her and us. “Be- Be amazed!” “Sir-” He tore the tarp away, flinging it off to the side. It was a... thing. Author's Note And we've got the second chapter out. And hey, more upvotes than downvotes! That's a victory in my book. Super excited about that, probably more excited than I should be, but they gives me the warm fuzzies. As always, any criticism would be greatly appreciated, and I hope you enjoyed this. A Better You II“Is that even a machine?” Sunset Shimmer asked. “Is this thing alive?” Glory asked. “I thought you said this was an 'invention'?” I asked. “People, people, please.” Dr. Brighter gave a nervous smile. “This was made with my invention.” The thing looked like some sort of black, fleshy cocoon. It's surface pulsated every few seconds. It had a glossy and wet texture; like it was covered in a slimy substance. A strange slit was formed in it, as if the thing was capable of opening up. “How is it possible that the... object, you have created here,” I said. “Was the worst part of this entire experience? I'm impressed honestly” “T-t-the w-worst!?” Dr. Brighter stared at me in disbelief. “This specimen is fantastic! It can change people's lives for the better!” Glory, Sunset Shimmer, and I glanced at each other. Dr. Brighter stared expectantly. “Okay,” I said, “See you at school Shimmer. I'm out.” “Right behind-” “Wait!” Dr. Brighter's voice was tinged with desperation. “Just give me a chance here...” He rushed over to the cocoon thing. “I'm only asking for a moment.” Glory gave Dr. Brighter a sympathetic look. And then she looked to me. She didn't say anything, but I could read her face well enough to know what she wanted. I shook my head. She mouthed 'we can stay just a minute longer'. I shook my head. 'I'll take you to sugarcube corner after' “I don't even like sugarcube corner,” I said. “What!?” She stared in disbelief. “But you always said it was your favorite place in town.” “Oh, uh... I did?” I scratched the back of my neck. I flinched when the door slammed shut. Apparently Sunset Shimmer had the good sense to leave. “You're losing your audience.” “Huh?” I whipped around to see Dr. Brighter facing one of the room's corners. “I-I...” “Did you say something?” Glory asked. Dr. Brighter looked back and forth between Glory and the cocoon thing. “Oh well, I was just-” I scanned the room; I didn't see anyone around besides us three. “A better you!” Dr. Brighter rushed over the cocoon thing. “Come in today, and be a better you tomorrow!” He patted the side of it with his hand. A wet sound came from inside the cocoon thing. I winced as the slit opened and the thing split open. As they opened, strands of slimy goo connected the two fleshy flaps. Steam rose out from the cocoon in a thick, musky cloud. The antiseptic smell that filled the lab came back in full force. “BEHOLD!” Dr. Brighter shouted. The mist faded, and I finally could see inside the cocoon. It was empty. “Okay, well. That was horrifying.” I looked to Glory. “Can we go now?” “b-but... Where is-” “Thank you, Dr. Brighter,” Glory said. “But I think we'll be going now.” For once, she didn't dawdle. Glory grabbed my arm and led me out of the lab as quickly as possible. Nothing could describe the relief I flt finally getting out of that outwardly dilapidated building. We were lucky that weirdo didn't leave us a bloody mess in the back somewhere. In could see the headlines already. Mother and Son Missing For Weeks Search still ongoing Tragedy grips the community today as Glorious Destiny and her son Radiant are still missing. The woman in question was a single working mom, who vanished shortly after telling her friends she'd 'check out this interesting place'. Her son, Radiant, who had returned home after running away a few weeks earlier, disappeared at the same time she did. Authorities speculate that the two of them were taking part in a terrible family outing, that Radiant ultimately wanted no part of. Public officials and local police have since apologized for repeatedly stopping him on the street for something as stupid and petty as 'truancy'. Principal Celestia herself is stepping down, stating 'I shouldn't have forced that glorious god-child to attend school against his will, nor should I have made him stay late after in a pathetic attempt to punish him for truancy. Because ultimately, who needs a public education? Alate. That's who.' “I think that one may have gotten away from me.” Glory pulled us into our driveway. “What?” “It's nothing.” I shook my head. “Just talking to myself.” The night was pretty quiet after that. Glory cooked meatloaf. It took me a few seconds to work up the courage to eat it. It's not that Glory was a bad cook or anything, but meat wasn't exactly something I was used to eating. Ponies don't usually offer it in their restaurants. Except that one time. I should try infiltrating a diamond dog burrow when I get back. Pretty sure those guys actually eat meat. It's always nice to try something new from time to time. Of course, I don't know that much about their people. Might be hard to keep up a disguise. “Honey?” Glory was washing dishes in the kitchen. I sat on the couch. I wasn't really sure what was on television. I had let my mind wander for the past... Actually, I wasn't really sure how long I'd been sitting there. “Why did you say those things about her?” “Huh?” I raised a brow. “That girl,” she said. “The blond girl with red dyed hair.” “I-” “Or the red head with blonde dyed hair...?” “I don't know what your talking about,” I said. I flinched at the sound of her roughly putting a dish down. “'She pretty much has it coming anyways?” She stepped into the living room. “That's not exactly what I said.” Glory stared at me. “'She kinda has it coming anyways' is what I said.” She glared. Hard. “Look, she's not a good kid, alright?” I crossed my arms. “A while back she-” “I don't care!” She sounded exasperated. “You don't say things like that about other people! Least of all, TO other people!” I rolled my eyes. “I was saying it to you, not her.” She looked like she wanted to say something after that, but didn't. She just wandered back into the kitchen, and returned to the dishes. Not much happened after that. I pretended to watch television, while silently brooding about being trapped in another world, and then went to bed. And that's when she stopped me. I was lying down in bed when she opened my door a bit, and poked her head through. “Honey.” Her tone was subdued, almost sad even. “You need to apologize to her tomorrow.” “You just expect me to walk up completely out of the blue, and-” “I don't have any way of knowing whether you apologize or not,” she said. “I can't keep tabs on you when you're at school.” “Glory-” “But, I'm asking you to do it anyways.” Glory sighed. “Because it's the right thing to do.” She shut my door before I could think up a response. Not that it mattered, even after a few minutes there wasn't much I could think to say. Glory didn't seem to care what that girl had done in the past. Perhaps it was because she hadn't experienced her attack first hand. Glory would change her tone if she'd been there. Did it really matter? Glory said it herself, she had no way of knowing one way or the other what I did. “Tomorrow...” I groaned. “I'll decide then.” I took a deep breath, and did my best to put it out of my mind. Author's Note So, NaNoWriMo is coming up. I've known about it for a couple of years, but I think I'm actually going to enter a story this year. It'll definitely slow down this story. As well as my original fiction. However, I promise that this wont fall by the way side. I will absolutely, without fail, write the new chapters to this story every day, without fail. That said, it probably won't be very much each day. Still, even if its only a hundred words, I'll make sure I keep working on this. In the meantime, as always, criticism is appreciated and I hope you enjoyed what's here. A Better You - IIIMy alarm clock sent off a deafening buzz. I hated waking up early. Back in Equestria I always made a point to impersonate someone who got to sleep in. Needless to say, a teenager of any kind was always on my blacklist. Why do schools open so early? Is it going to damage the kid's education if they get an extra hour of sleep? “Or three...” I sluggishly sat up, feeling around the table for my clock. I was relieved when Glory didn't bring up yesterday's conversation that morning. She quickly munched down some sort of protein bar and was out the door before we really had a chance to say anything to each other. The sky was very dark that morning. Thankfully there wasn't any rain yet, but I made a point of rushing to school that morning anyway. I lived close enough that walking was viable, but it didn't mean I wanted to be caught out in the open during a storm. Every now and then a rumbling came from the distance. Flashes of light kept appeared in my peripheral vision. I picked up the pace, breaking into a brisk jog. My bag rustled behind me, its contents shifting and bouncing as I went. Despite my concerns about the storm, I was actually enjoying myself. The poor weather was keeping other people off the streets, so much so that aside from the occasional car, I pretty much had the road to myself. I enjoyed the near silence, and the solitude. A few blocks from the school unfortunately, I spotted someone walking along the same sidewalk. A familiar head of red and blond hair gave away who it was well before I reached her. I frowned. “Sunset Shimmer. This is what I get for trying to be quick, if I had just walked...” I could probably take a detour around her if I needed to. Or at least, I would have thought that, had she not looked behind her, spotting me. I grumbled something under my breath while looking around. I was split between wanting to turn onto a different road, and just playing it cool and moving forward. After a few feet I had an opportunity to turn left. However, instead of just turning, I entered a strange stride where every third or fourth step would move me to the side, only for me to step back into my original course. My open indecisiveness looked, for lack of a better word, unbelievably stupid. Eventually went far enough that it was too late to change direction. With a sigh I slowed my jog down to a brisk walk. Just in time to wind up almost right next to Sunset Shimmer. “Hey,” she said. “Hello.” In the moments that followed, I swear you could hear a pin drop. Our collective footsteps and the rumble of thunder were the only sounds present on the near deserted neighborhood streets. I shot a glance her way every few moments. Sunset Shimmer kept her attention ahead of her. Maybe she didn't want a repeat of what happened yesterday. Maybe she just didn't care about my presence one way or the other. She cleared her throat. I looked over to her. She didn't do anything else. “So...” I looked away from her, watching the nearby houses. “Aren't you usually walking to school with those other girls?” “Yeah.” I frowned at her. She just kept walking. “But not today.” “No.” I rolled my eyes. “Great talk.” I picked up the pace, leaving her behind. Apologize to her? Hah. I tried meeting her halfway, and she didn't even make an effort. A few droplets of rain were falling by the time I arrived at the school. It wasn't enough to really bother me, but I didn't dawdle. I was certain it was only going to get worse as the day went on. The only thing that gave me pause was when I saw a familiar slogan on the side of a van. 'A Better You', was crudely painted across the side of it. I wondered if I should mention how creepy that guy was to someone. I didn't understand how Dr. Brighter even got permission to set that booth up on school grounds. He was so awkward, it was hard to believe he held up in a meeting with the administrators. “Get out of here. Now.” The front doors flew open. Dr. Brighter came stumbling out, clutching several papers and a briefcase to his chest. Principal Celestia stood in the doorway. “But-but!” “If you show up on these grounds again, I will call the police.” She glared at Dr. Brighter as he went over to his van, threw his things into the passenger seat. “I assure you-” “Go.” She practically snarled at him. Dr. Brighter leapt into his van, and drove off. “Uh...” I tentatively approached the principal. “Isn't that the guy who had a booth set up outside yesterday?” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yes.” “Changed your mind about letting him push his... product here?” “You could say that.” Celestia looked me over for a second. “Radiant?” “Huh?” I raised a brow. “Oh! Yeah, yeah. That is most definitely... my name.” “Good to see you coming through these doors on your.” “Yeah. It's great.” I frowned at her. I would have been angry if I believed she was mocking me, but she didn't look any more amused than I did. I pointed toward the doorway. “I should really get going.” She nodded, stepping aside as I entered. The rest of the day would normally consist of me brooding about my current predicament, and fantasizing about what I'd do when I finally returned to my own world. However, I found myself distracted by Dr. Brighter's recent actions. That... cocoon, thing, was creepy. That lab was creepy, heck even the guy was creepy. But was he actually trying to do? He set up a booth on school ground's to lure student's to his lab. Considering that my mother knew about him, he must have been set up somewhere else too. He tried to show us something, but I got the sense it didn't turn out how he wanted it to. And then principal Celestia booted him from the premises. ...Why? Ultimately, that was only one way to find out, and that was to go to the woman herself. During lunch I entered a bathroom stall, and waited for everyone to clear out. I chose one of the bathrooms furthest from the lunchroom to ensure few people would unexpectedly drop by. Standing in front of the mirror, I looked myself up and down. blue hair, yellow skin, green eyes? “Lets fix that.” My magic may have diminished in this world, but it's not gone yet. I took a deep breath and focused on my reflection, as a veil of green light enveloped me.
A Better You - PrologueI tapped my fingers against my desk while staring at my class's clock. The minute hand inched closer and closer to twelve. The silent whispers of the class had intensified within the last few minutes. The teacher was done with her lecturing, and the students with their work. Just a few more minutes. Out the window, dark clouds formed in the distance. Wouldn't be much longer. Tick-tock. The hand kept marching forward. And there I was, sitting there, bored; in a classroom, filled with teenagers. “...How did it come to this?” I let my head fall forward, allowing it to smack against the desk. One day you're invading an entire city of pathetic foals, the next you've somehow wound up in another world, turned into a... 'human' or something. It wouldn't have been so bad if I wasn't also freaking de-aged to a punk kid. And now I'm trapped in a public education facility. Who would have thought that the police think a kid not attending school is suspicious? My eye twitched as I stared down the clock. Just one more minute. Something like 'appearing to be a child' didn't use to be an issue. It was almost comical how I took my gift for granted back in my own world. Being able to shape-shift, able to completely alter my identity on the fly with no effort, big whoop. Who cares? I started to, right after arriving in a world where I couldn't do it anymore. Well, couldn't 'quite' do it anymore. I smirked darkly, trying to conceal a chuckle from my classmates. The bell rang. “Finally!” I leapt from my seat near the back and dashed across the room, making it out the door before any of the students. I hated that school. It was worse than anything I had ever experienced in my life; I was surrounded by idiot teenagers, I had to relearn material that was still mostly useless, and I couldn't transform anymore. A she-demon trashing the school awhile back spiced things up for a surprisingly short period of time at least. But, like everything, it faded into old news. I marched through the school's corridors and out the entrance. A horse statue adorned with mirror surfaces on all sides of its base waited just outside the school. Its purpose wasn't clear to me; perhaps it was meant to be aesthetically pleasing? Perhaps it was meant to memorialize something? Who knows. All I do know, is that I came out of it. Somehow. And now I can't get back through. I touched the smooth glass. Nothing happened. I simply felt cold glass. With a longing sigh I stared ahead, seeing an unfamiliar face looking back. It didn't matter how long I held that form for, it never quite looked right to me. Blue hair, yellow skin, and green eyes. How ridiculous; everybody knows teal and black is the way to go. “Someday,” I mutter before taking off for what served as my home. The same thing, everyday. Tartarus isn't an awful plane of indescribable pain. Its just a slow tedium that consumes your entire existence. The same thing every day. “Every. Single. D-” “Excuse me, sir.” I stopped, staring down the empty sidewalk ahead of me. Through my peripherals I saw somebody had set up a booth on the school's lawn. “Yes, you sir.” It was a man talking. “I would like to speak to you!” I took a deep breath, sighed, and turned my head. A chubby fellow in a dirty and torn lab-coat stood behind a table. His hair was black, and his skin was as white as that lab-coat probably should have been. A banner was taped to the front of his table, the words 'A Better You' were printed across it. Two sticks held a similar banner up above his head. “Aha, I see you've noticed our slogan.” He smiled. “'A better you'!” I blinked slowly. “Tell me, son.” He snickered. “Have you ever wished you could go that extra mile?” I stared. “Did you ever try to get that girl, but just couldn't quite pull it off?” He asked. “Have you ever crammed for a tough test the night before, but just couldn't remember anything you read the next day? Ever failed to keep up with your rival school's sports team during the big game?” “No.” I continued down the street. “W-wait!” He waved his arms frantically over his head. “Do you wish you were more charming? Smarter? More agile?” I rolled my eyes, and continued at my pace. “What about hostile!?” I kept going. “A better you!” He shouted. “Come in today, and be a better man tomorrow!” I honestly wondered who let that guy on school grounds. They should really keep the psychos away from the kids. “A better you? Utter nonsense.” I shook my head. “Who would even give that guy the time of day?” I arrived home half-an-hour later. “Yeah. 'A better you'. It looked really interesting!” My 'mother' chatted merrily with a friend on the phone. I sat on the sofa, pretending to watch the news. The living room was meticulously clean, not a speck of dirt, or a mote of dust, blemished the carpet. Fine china sat behind a glass screen in a shelf; various vases sat atop it. The television set was an older model – or so I had been told – first manufactured almost two decades ago. “I'm thinking of heading up there, maybe take a look around.” She was a plump woman, with pale-yellow skin and blue hair. She held the phone in her neck by tilting her head to the side, while digging through her briefcase. “I know, I know,” she said. “But there's no harm in looking, right?” I narrowed my eyes. “Alright, I gotta let you go.” She closed the briefcase and walked over to the front door, setting the case down next to it. I craned my head to see her. “You're not actually checking that hack's offer out are you, Glory?” “Honey!” Glory placed her hands on her hips. “That's a little harsh don't you think?” “Not really.” She smirked. “C'mon, I'm not expecting a miraculous, life-changing experience. It's all in good fun.” I opened my mouth to speak, but couldn't come up with a retort. She walked past me. “Wanna come?” “Not really.” “I never see you go out anywhere after school.” She snickered. “Do you really have anything better to do?” “...Not really?” She smirked. I sighed. “Grab your coat, honey.” She wandered into the hall. “It's nippy out.” “Wait.” I stood up. “We're going now?” In less than fifteen minutes, we arrived at the most pathetically rundown building I had ever seen. Windows were either shattered or completely missing their panes. Cheap wooden boards were set behind them, keeping people from seeing inside. The walls were marred with dozens of holes. We were at the outskirts of town. The dull noise of the city was behind us, replaced by utter silence. Apparently even feral animals knew to stay away from such a location. A cracked concrete path led up to a door stained with yellow spots. Rust clung to its metal handles. 'A BETTER YOU!!!' was crudely painted over the doors in vibrant pink paint. Glory stared at the building with a look I could best describe as a mixture of disbelief and outright terror. “It's all in good fun?” I smirked at her. “I, uh.” She swallowed nervously. I took one final look at the dilapidated structure. Glory seemed eager to leave. It probably wouldn't be too hard to talk her out of going in. But who was I kidding? There was no way I wasn't at least taking a peek inside that pathetic hovel. I gently grabbed Glory's shoulder, and guided her forward. “Shall we?” She nodded numbly. “Sure...” I marched up to the doors, grasped the handle, and threw them open. My jaw nearly hit the floor when I looked inside. Author's Note And there we have it. I've been writing original fiction for a little while now, but wanted to try my hand at fan fiction again. Might just be nostalgia, might just be so I can do a side-by-side comparison to my old stuff on FanFiction.net compared to now, but either way I'm having fun with this. I hope what you've read thus far interested you, and I'll keep writing the next chapter. Any criticism of my writing would be greatly appreciated, it always helps me improve.
A Better You - II stared in amazement at the most perfectly pristine lab I had ever seen. The dilapidated shell I witnessed on the outside showed no hint of the scientific perfection beneath it. The tiled floors were so clean that they had an almost mirror-like reflection. Fresh pale-blue paint coated the walls. The lights were a little too bright, and a little too numerous. Their collective glare forced me to wince away in pain. A powerful antiseptic smell hit me before I even stepped inside. It was strong enough to leave my mind feeling fuzzy. Glory winced as she stepped inside. “At least we know its clean.” I looked around. “And you know, probably not owned by a serial killer.” Half-a-dozen tables were scattered haphazardly across the room. Metal folding chairs sat against a far corner, not yet set out. Vials, flasks, and beakers were set on the tables, inside shelves and stacked atop each other within wire cages. Most were empty, though a few contained strange-colored fluids. A few steel doors were built around the room. Unlike the rest of the lab, they didn't look clean or new. They were covered in dents and rust. One was missing a handle. A thick tarp was thrown over something round that sat in the back of the building. A sign with the words 'A Better You!' hung from it, connected only by rope. Machines lined the walls. Dozens of tiny lights blinked on and off across the front of them. I had no idea what they were supposed to be, or what they actually did, but I did note that they were oddly silent. In fact, the whole lab was. I could have heard a pin drop. There was no staff around. At all. Glory cautiously walked forward. “Hello?” “Was there a specific time we were supposed to show up?” I asked. “Um.” She crossed her arms. “You know, I don't really remember. I don't think he said anything about it.” A metallic crash came from nearby. I whipped to face the nearest metal door. “Ow ow ow!” Someone yelled. “Gah!!” Another metallic crash. “OH G-” A long metal screech followed, lasting the next few seconds before being cut off by a deafening bang. The entire building vibrated from the noise. Glory and I glanced at each other. “I-Is somebody there!?” It was a man's voice. And a familiar one at that. “owowowowowowowowowow” Glory took a step back to the exit. I followed suit. The nearest metal door flew open, smashing against a decidedly not-metal wall. I winced as a crack formed in the drywall. “Hello!” A man stumbled out. He was a chubby, white-skinned fellow in a worn lab-coat. “Welcome strangers... to a better YOU!” I raised a brow. “Didn't I see you at the school?” He frowned at me. “No...” I narrowed my eyes at him. “No. Definitely not.” Glory and I shared a perplexed look before taking another step backwards. “W-wait!” He forced a crooked smile. “you've likely heard all about 'A Better You' through one of our charming and handsome salespersons?” “Yea-” Glory looked him up and down. “Kinda.” “Fantastic!” He beamed at us. “Dr. Brighter, at your service.” He approached and offered his hand. Glory and I both stared at it. He kept holding it out, his smile unwavering. “Uh...” Glory glanced nervously at me. “Pass,” I said. “Thanks for the offer though.” Dr. Brighter reluctantly withdrew his hand. Something shifted in his features, perhaps he was annoyed, but that smile still didn't vanish. An awkward silence followed. The three of us exchanged silent glances at one another. Brighter to me. Glory to him. Me to Glory. Glory to me. Me back to Brighter. “Well.” Glory cleared her throat. “It's been lovely, but my son and I should really get going.” Dr. Brighter's smile vanished instantly. “Oh? But you've only just arrived.” he pointed to the round object concealed by the tarp. “And you haven't even seen my invention yet.” Glory coughed nervously. “Well, it's just, um. We...” I pointed a thumb behind me. “...left the house on fire.” Both Glory and Dr. Brighter stared at me. I maintained a stoic expression. “We should really get back to it.” A light knocking came from the front doors. “Hm? Another visitor!” Dr Brighter clasped his hands together. “I wonder who this could be.” “Someone with a lethal lack of common sense?” I mumbled. One of the doors creaked open. “Um, hey?” A teenage girl with mostly red hair stepped through. Multiple locks were dyed blonde. ...Or was it the other way around? She wore a black jacket on top of a purple top and orange skirt. I tilted my head. “Sunset Shimmer?” She stopped dead in her tracks, flinching at the sound of her own name. “Really?” I smirked. “You're here?” Glory leaned in closer, and whispered, “Is that one of your friends?” Hardly ... was what I wanted to say; instead I just mumbled, “Not really.” Sunset Shimmer approached us, glancing around the lab in awe. “Hey. We talked at school.” “Did we?” Dr. Brighter gave a perplexed expression. “No, no. That was definitely just one of my many charming-” “Okay.” I threw my hands up. “We're done here.” I spun around and marched to the door. “Have fun being Brighter's first victim, Shimmer.” “Radiant!” Glory ran up and grabbed my arm. “We are not leaving that girl alone with that man.” “I-” She smacked he side of my head. “And don't say things like that.” “Yeah. I hear what you're saying.” I frowned at her while rubbing the side of my head. “Or.” I pointed a thumb toward the exit. “We could just go.” “Honey...” “She'll be fine!” “Honey.” “She kinda has it coming anyways.” “Honey!” Glory stomped her foot, practically snarling at me. I tried to speak, but found my words dead in my throat. “H-” She stopped, took a deep breath, and pointed to the nearest wall. “Stand over there with your friend for a moment.” “She not-” “Stand. Over. There.” I quickly stepped aside, watching as she approached Dr. Brighter and led him a few feet away. Sunset Shimmer tried to follow, but Glory sent her back towards me. I leaned against the wall, watching Glory be led closer to the tarp covered object. Sunset Shimmer crossed her arms, watching the two as well. I shot a few looks her way. She didn't take her eyes off Glory and Dr. Brighter. I could see something hidden in her expression though. She was doing the same thing I was doing. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. One of us had to say something eventually. Dr. Brighter and Glory spoke, though I didn't pay any attention to their conversation. “Be honest.” I smirked at her. “You hoped this place would somehow change things at school, didn't you?” No response. Not even the slightest shift in her expression. “Must be rough,” I said. “Knowing that everyone hates you.” Barely even a twitch. “'A better you'!” I laughed. “Is that what you were hoping for? You'd step in here and just change who you are?” Her expression shifted. Finally. I could see anger seeping into her features. “Oh, woe is me...” I clasped my hands together and brought them up to my my left cheek. “If only, if only, I could change myself from a hateful she-demon to a nice girl! Maybe then I'd have a friend.” “I have-” “Obviously those girls that take pity on you don't c-” “Shut up.” “Oh?” I asked. “What are you going to-” She whipped around to face me, a snarl spread across her face. “Shut. Up.” “There she is.” I laughed. “Now where's that Sunset Shimmer been? Haven't seen you around since-” She took a step closer. For a second I thought she might actually punch me. But she didn't. Surprisingly, she just closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and turned back around. “And now!” Dr. Brighter grabbed the tarp. “My greatest invention!” Glory and Brighter had gathered around the round object. “Not to mention my only invention.” “What?” Glory asked. “Are you prepared!” “Sir, I already told you.” Glory took several steps back toward us. “We're not interested. I wish you the best of luck with... whatever that is.” “Uh.” Dr. Brighter looked back and forth between her and us. “Be- Be amazed!” “Sir-” He tore the tarp away, flinging it off to the side. It was a... thing. Author's Note And we've got the second chapter out. And hey, more upvotes than downvotes! That's a victory in my book. Super excited about that, probably more excited than I should be, but they gives me the warm fuzzies. As always, any criticism would be greatly appreciated, and I hope you enjoyed this.
A Better You II“Is that even a machine?” Sunset Shimmer asked. “Is this thing alive?” Glory asked. “I thought you said this was an 'invention'?” I asked. “People, people, please.” Dr. Brighter gave a nervous smile. “This was made with my invention.” The thing looked like some sort of black, fleshy cocoon. It's surface pulsated every few seconds. It had a glossy and wet texture; like it was covered in a slimy substance. A strange slit was formed in it, as if the thing was capable of opening up. “How is it possible that the... object, you have created here,” I said. “Was the worst part of this entire experience? I'm impressed honestly” “T-t-the w-worst!?” Dr. Brighter stared at me in disbelief. “This specimen is fantastic! It can change people's lives for the better!” Glory, Sunset Shimmer, and I glanced at each other. Dr. Brighter stared expectantly. “Okay,” I said, “See you at school Shimmer. I'm out.” “Right behind-” “Wait!” Dr. Brighter's voice was tinged with desperation. “Just give me a chance here...” He rushed over to the cocoon thing. “I'm only asking for a moment.” Glory gave Dr. Brighter a sympathetic look. And then she looked to me. She didn't say anything, but I could read her face well enough to know what she wanted. I shook my head. She mouthed 'we can stay just a minute longer'. I shook my head. 'I'll take you to sugarcube corner after' “I don't even like sugarcube corner,” I said. “What!?” She stared in disbelief. “But you always said it was your favorite place in town.” “Oh, uh... I did?” I scratched the back of my neck. I flinched when the door slammed shut. Apparently Sunset Shimmer had the good sense to leave. “You're losing your audience.” “Huh?” I whipped around to see Dr. Brighter facing one of the room's corners. “I-I...” “Did you say something?” Glory asked. Dr. Brighter looked back and forth between Glory and the cocoon thing. “Oh well, I was just-” I scanned the room; I didn't see anyone around besides us three. “A better you!” Dr. Brighter rushed over the cocoon thing. “Come in today, and be a better you tomorrow!” He patted the side of it with his hand. A wet sound came from inside the cocoon thing. I winced as the slit opened and the thing split open. As they opened, strands of slimy goo connected the two fleshy flaps. Steam rose out from the cocoon in a thick, musky cloud. The antiseptic smell that filled the lab came back in full force. “BEHOLD!” Dr. Brighter shouted. The mist faded, and I finally could see inside the cocoon. It was empty. “Okay, well. That was horrifying.” I looked to Glory. “Can we go now?” “b-but... Where is-” “Thank you, Dr. Brighter,” Glory said. “But I think we'll be going now.” For once, she didn't dawdle. Glory grabbed my arm and led me out of the lab as quickly as possible. Nothing could describe the relief I flt finally getting out of that outwardly dilapidated building. We were lucky that weirdo didn't leave us a bloody mess in the back somewhere. In could see the headlines already. Mother and Son Missing For Weeks Search still ongoing Tragedy grips the community today as Glorious Destiny and her son Radiant are still missing. The woman in question was a single working mom, who vanished shortly after telling her friends she'd 'check out this interesting place'. Her son, Radiant, who had returned home after running away a few weeks earlier, disappeared at the same time she did. Authorities speculate that the two of them were taking part in a terrible family outing, that Radiant ultimately wanted no part of. Public officials and local police have since apologized for repeatedly stopping him on the street for something as stupid and petty as 'truancy'. Principal Celestia herself is stepping down, stating 'I shouldn't have forced that glorious god-child to attend school against his will, nor should I have made him stay late after in a pathetic attempt to punish him for truancy. Because ultimately, who needs a public education? Alate. That's who.' “I think that one may have gotten away from me.” Glory pulled us into our driveway. “What?” “It's nothing.” I shook my head. “Just talking to myself.” The night was pretty quiet after that. Glory cooked meatloaf. It took me a few seconds to work up the courage to eat it. It's not that Glory was a bad cook or anything, but meat wasn't exactly something I was used to eating. Ponies don't usually offer it in their restaurants. Except that one time. I should try infiltrating a diamond dog burrow when I get back. Pretty sure those guys actually eat meat. It's always nice to try something new from time to time. Of course, I don't know that much about their people. Might be hard to keep up a disguise. “Honey?” Glory was washing dishes in the kitchen. I sat on the couch. I wasn't really sure what was on television. I had let my mind wander for the past... Actually, I wasn't really sure how long I'd been sitting there. “Why did you say those things about her?” “Huh?” I raised a brow. “That girl,” she said. “The blond girl with red dyed hair.” “I-” “Or the red head with blonde dyed hair...?” “I don't know what your talking about,” I said. I flinched at the sound of her roughly putting a dish down. “'She pretty much has it coming anyways?” She stepped into the living room. “That's not exactly what I said.” Glory stared at me. “'She kinda has it coming anyways' is what I said.” She glared. Hard. “Look, she's not a good kid, alright?” I crossed my arms. “A while back she-” “I don't care!” She sounded exasperated. “You don't say things like that about other people! Least of all, TO other people!” I rolled my eyes. “I was saying it to you, not her.” She looked like she wanted to say something after that, but didn't. She just wandered back into the kitchen, and returned to the dishes. Not much happened after that. I pretended to watch television, while silently brooding about being trapped in another world, and then went to bed. And that's when she stopped me. I was lying down in bed when she opened my door a bit, and poked her head through. “Honey.” Her tone was subdued, almost sad even. “You need to apologize to her tomorrow.” “You just expect me to walk up completely out of the blue, and-” “I don't have any way of knowing whether you apologize or not,” she said. “I can't keep tabs on you when you're at school.” “Glory-” “But, I'm asking you to do it anyways.” Glory sighed. “Because it's the right thing to do.” She shut my door before I could think up a response. Not that it mattered, even after a few minutes there wasn't much I could think to say. Glory didn't seem to care what that girl had done in the past. Perhaps it was because she hadn't experienced her attack first hand. Glory would change her tone if she'd been there. Did it really matter? Glory said it herself, she had no way of knowing one way or the other what I did. “Tomorrow...” I groaned. “I'll decide then.” I took a deep breath, and did my best to put it out of my mind. Author's Note So, NaNoWriMo is coming up. I've known about it for a couple of years, but I think I'm actually going to enter a story this year. It'll definitely slow down this story. As well as my original fiction. However, I promise that this wont fall by the way side. I will absolutely, without fail, write the new chapters to this story every day, without fail. That said, it probably won't be very much each day. Still, even if its only a hundred words, I'll make sure I keep working on this. In the meantime, as always, criticism is appreciated and I hope you enjoyed what's here.
A Better You - IIIMy alarm clock sent off a deafening buzz. I hated waking up early. Back in Equestria I always made a point to impersonate someone who got to sleep in. Needless to say, a teenager of any kind was always on my blacklist. Why do schools open so early? Is it going to damage the kid's education if they get an extra hour of sleep? “Or three...” I sluggishly sat up, feeling around the table for my clock. I was relieved when Glory didn't bring up yesterday's conversation that morning. She quickly munched down some sort of protein bar and was out the door before we really had a chance to say anything to each other. The sky was very dark that morning. Thankfully there wasn't any rain yet, but I made a point of rushing to school that morning anyway. I lived close enough that walking was viable, but it didn't mean I wanted to be caught out in the open during a storm. Every now and then a rumbling came from the distance. Flashes of light kept appeared in my peripheral vision. I picked up the pace, breaking into a brisk jog. My bag rustled behind me, its contents shifting and bouncing as I went. Despite my concerns about the storm, I was actually enjoying myself. The poor weather was keeping other people off the streets, so much so that aside from the occasional car, I pretty much had the road to myself. I enjoyed the near silence, and the solitude. A few blocks from the school unfortunately, I spotted someone walking along the same sidewalk. A familiar head of red and blond hair gave away who it was well before I reached her. I frowned. “Sunset Shimmer. This is what I get for trying to be quick, if I had just walked...” I could probably take a detour around her if I needed to. Or at least, I would have thought that, had she not looked behind her, spotting me. I grumbled something under my breath while looking around. I was split between wanting to turn onto a different road, and just playing it cool and moving forward. After a few feet I had an opportunity to turn left. However, instead of just turning, I entered a strange stride where every third or fourth step would move me to the side, only for me to step back into my original course. My open indecisiveness looked, for lack of a better word, unbelievably stupid. Eventually went far enough that it was too late to change direction. With a sigh I slowed my jog down to a brisk walk. Just in time to wind up almost right next to Sunset Shimmer. “Hey,” she said. “Hello.” In the moments that followed, I swear you could hear a pin drop. Our collective footsteps and the rumble of thunder were the only sounds present on the near deserted neighborhood streets. I shot a glance her way every few moments. Sunset Shimmer kept her attention ahead of her. Maybe she didn't want a repeat of what happened yesterday. Maybe she just didn't care about my presence one way or the other. She cleared her throat. I looked over to her. She didn't do anything else. “So...” I looked away from her, watching the nearby houses. “Aren't you usually walking to school with those other girls?” “Yeah.” I frowned at her. She just kept walking. “But not today.” “No.” I rolled my eyes. “Great talk.” I picked up the pace, leaving her behind. Apologize to her? Hah. I tried meeting her halfway, and she didn't even make an effort. A few droplets of rain were falling by the time I arrived at the school. It wasn't enough to really bother me, but I didn't dawdle. I was certain it was only going to get worse as the day went on. The only thing that gave me pause was when I saw a familiar slogan on the side of a van. 'A Better You', was crudely painted across the side of it. I wondered if I should mention how creepy that guy was to someone. I didn't understand how Dr. Brighter even got permission to set that booth up on school grounds. He was so awkward, it was hard to believe he held up in a meeting with the administrators. “Get out of here. Now.” The front doors flew open. Dr. Brighter came stumbling out, clutching several papers and a briefcase to his chest. Principal Celestia stood in the doorway. “But-but!” “If you show up on these grounds again, I will call the police.” She glared at Dr. Brighter as he went over to his van, threw his things into the passenger seat. “I assure you-” “Go.” She practically snarled at him. Dr. Brighter leapt into his van, and drove off. “Uh...” I tentatively approached the principal. “Isn't that the guy who had a booth set up outside yesterday?” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yes.” “Changed your mind about letting him push his... product here?” “You could say that.” Celestia looked me over for a second. “Radiant?” “Huh?” I raised a brow. “Oh! Yeah, yeah. That is most definitely... my name.” “Good to see you coming through these doors on your.” “Yeah. It's great.” I frowned at her. I would have been angry if I believed she was mocking me, but she didn't look any more amused than I did. I pointed toward the doorway. “I should really get going.” She nodded, stepping aside as I entered. The rest of the day would normally consist of me brooding about my current predicament, and fantasizing about what I'd do when I finally returned to my own world. However, I found myself distracted by Dr. Brighter's recent actions. That... cocoon, thing, was creepy. That lab was creepy, heck even the guy was creepy. But was he actually trying to do? He set up a booth on school ground's to lure student's to his lab. Considering that my mother knew about him, he must have been set up somewhere else too. He tried to show us something, but I got the sense it didn't turn out how he wanted it to. And then principal Celestia booted him from the premises. ...Why? Ultimately, that was only one way to find out, and that was to go to the woman herself. During lunch I entered a bathroom stall, and waited for everyone to clear out. I chose one of the bathrooms furthest from the lunchroom to ensure few people would unexpectedly drop by. Standing in front of the mirror, I looked myself up and down. blue hair, yellow skin, green eyes? “Lets fix that.” My magic may have diminished in this world, but it's not gone yet. I took a deep breath and focused on my reflection, as a veil of green light enveloped me.
