Effie was glad to be home...
Both digital fairies rested on top of their host... though Effie was feeling a bit... empty.
She found herself nudging closer to Dennis, who was also sleeping.
The closeness... felt nice.
She smiled finally at ease, her head on his chest, as she fell asleep.
Ultimix looked in awe at realm of cyberspace. Lights dazzled about him, corridors were gateways into realms and worlds that reflected reality or abstract ideas of reality. All things could be experienced, but he had a job to do.
He used his digital hammer, as he received a plea for help. It seemed a digital fairy was stuck behind a firewall and was unable to get out. Using his hammer, he cut a short path into that world. His body glowed, with sheer power as he punched away the firewall with ease.
Inside he found the most beautiful digital person he could imagine... based on the nintendo colour gameboy of all things. Her hair was a fiery red, and she wore a white dress. She was... perfection.
"Thank you Ultimix! You saved me... I don't know what I would have done without you!"
"It's okay... I'm here to help, it's what a hero does," he smiled embracing her in his arms.
Then... he woke up.
Kyle blinked, he had fallen asleep on his computer.
It was just a dream... he saw the avatar he had made, still on his screen.
He sighed in disappointment. He had spent all night crafting it. Was there any way to coax the sunlight into fulfilling his wish? There were many websites that claimed to be able to do just that. Some claimed that putting your wish onto a stone and then putting it under your bed as you slept will make it come true. Others suggested prisms, with holographic pictures of your true desire... but there has been no mention of anyone getting what they wanted though.
What if he printed a picture of his creation, placed it on his window, and then allowed the light to shine between him and the computer?
Could that possibly work?
Maybe... maybe there was no control. Maybe someone else dictated it.. he didn't know. He knew on his block, most people were already changed. He was one of the few humans on his area, at least according to the pizza delivery man.
He looked outside his window at the darkened sky... he just couldn't sleep.
Ah well... maybe if he played some online games, he'll get sleepy. It usually did the trick.
Andy glanced at the clock.
How long has it been since they all left the house? His entire family, had gone next door for a little party. It made him sick to his stomach... it certainly was not the fourth pint of beer... and that he was out of the good stuff.
Someone must have drank it all.
It all made sense. They were all conspiring against him. His wife probably made his children go into the sun, to take her side. Now they were probably going to back stab him.
After all he did for them!
He knew, his children were going to put him into the sun. They were different now... and certainly no longer his. They were tainted, poisoned... gone wrong.
There was no way he would call that thing his son! As for his daughter.. well.. they were the same now weren't they?
It's been more then an hour.. what are they plotting out there? He turned the curtain to see their neighbourhoods light on.. that slut bunny girl... probably teaching them all about the life of a whore and how to be one.
Well, he wasn't going to just wait for them to do whatever they were planning. Besides, he was out of beer. He might as well go to a bar... He looked for his wife's purse, and found ten dollars. He then went into his son's bedroom, and found a few more dollar bills... that should be enough.
He took the money, walking to the closest bar.
The saleslady was quite professional in measuring Steven's new figure. It took less then a minute. Still, Steve was very uncomfortable with her arms raised as someone was.. doing this.
"A-cup" She nodded. "We'll try some materials and see what works for you."
Some generic underwear was brought in... They just looked so.. foreign. Some were laced with patterns..."Mom? Why are they.. um... styled? Nobody saw bras anyway."
Her mother gave a little giggle at that. "Well... you'll see one of these days sweetie," she smiled despite herself.
Steve sighed. "Did you have to tell that saleslady my real name?"
"Do you want a new name?"
"No! I just..." Steve shuddered. "I just don't want people knowing... that's all."
"I don't want you to lie to anyone Steve... especially to yourself. You have to deal with this."
"But you're going to make me into a spectacle! I'll be a laughing stock."
"You won't be... Now, is that Bra more comfortable?"
Steve looked down at the Bra fitted on her. It was a good fit, no question... but it really obstructed the flowery parts of her chest. The stamens felt 'irritated'. It felt like something she had to scratch or itch, or something. She just wasn't sure.
The saleslady looked. "I think it looks pretty on you."
Steve shuddered. She didn't want it to look pretty! "J-Just give me something.. basic?"
"Well, the basic ones tend to be thicker. I think it will chafe your flowery parts a lot worse then these models. We could try silk instead of cotton? But it will cost more."
Steve looked down, quite disgusted with herself as she saw the small orbs of her breasts held by a bra.. she didn't need it really, but that it was there and that one could fit her was just... urgh...
They tried various articles of clothing, however it was quite apparent that cotton worked on her better then silk. While it was irritating and uncomfortable, it was bearable...
Her mother paid for them, as they walked out the shop.
Steve had never felt more humiliated in her life. She glanced at the time, hoping to be home before the sun rose. Maybe... if she stayed away from the sun, her flower parts would go dormant again? Then she could go back to wearing her sweat clothes. Even if she didn't turn back into a boy, at least she would look like one- as much as he did before anyway. It was worth a try.
"Well, since we're here, do you want anything else? Maybe something to cheer you up?" Asked her mother.
Steve thought about it. If this were any other day, maybe he would go look up some videos. But she didn't really think to.
Steve's mother saw her daughter glance to the usual video shop... and started pulling her in. "Good idea" She smiled. "Come on pick a video, my treat."
A few people glanced to her in the shop, partly because of her odd look and of course, her scent caught them too. It was annoying that she was 'broadcasting' her presence like this... why did she produce a scent!
She looked at the DVD's... That horror movie little shop of horrors caught her eye. She really enjoyed it as a kid... now it had a more creepy vibe to it. She used to be very fussy when it came to videos. Just so much was so... fake to her. You knew they were acting, you knew the situations were out there... so much was just garbage it was hard to find a good decent video.
Steve would probably be considered old fashioned to her friends, she was quite a critic when it came to directors. She always watched the commentaries to every movie he had. It was... fun to her.
She browsed the documentary section, and found something on plants...
"I think that's a good one to help you Steven," Nodded her mother. "We might learn a few clues about your biology by looking at other plants. But I insist you get something fun as well."
Steve wasn't even sure she wanted the documentary, but her mother already put it to the counter. She browsed some more, eventually finding a movie set in world war II she wanted to see.
They paid for the purchases as Steve sighed, glad the trip was almost over.
The two new dragon girls were eating soup, as their mother talked to Maple. It was weird being at a teacher's house like this... really weird.
"What happened to Andy to make him like this?" Maple asked.
"I... I don't know." Susan said sadly. "He used to be a very kind man..." she said softly. "He lost his job some years ago, and was made redundant... then he started drinking. I... I think he became upset and depressed about it. I... just don't know. "
"It's no excuse though," said Alex angry. "Mom, sometimes I thought he was going to hurt you."
"He would never do that Sally," said her mother.
"Um.. I'm Alex," she reminded glancing at her sister.
"Oh-" Susan blinked. This was... going to take some getting used to.
Sally was spending time quietly studying her new sister... trying to make out any differences between them. It was... really strange to see herself in someone else. It was also... exciting. She couldn't wait to fly around the city with her! Since they were the same age now... would they have to study the same things? With her smarts, she could now help her with her own homework! But ... why didn't she think of such things before?
Maple listened carefully. She was no stranger to the signs of distress in this family. It made her glad that she had a man like Theo.
Theo looked quite sympathetic to Susan. "Listen... you are all welcome here, if you need to get away from him for a bit. Sometimes a bit of space is good," he said.
"Thank you but... I can't leave him..." she said glancing at the house. "I... I want to help him. I love him..."
"But he treats you and the rest of us like dirt!" said Alex getting more angry. "He doesn't deserve it!"
"He's your father dear..." Susan reminded.
"And you're my mother," She said back.
Silence descended as Susan considered her daughter's words. It was true, maybe she had been too soft on Andy. Did she not stand up to him today? It was him who was walking out on them. He was doing everything he can to control things to make them feel bad. Trying to make it out like it was somehow their fault... manipulating their emotions.
The awkward silence was broken a moment later. Sally looked to Maple and Theo... "Are you two going to have kids too?" She asked innocently.
"We hope to," smiled Theo. "I'm not sure if we can... but yes."
Maple blushed a bit... "Oh Theo..." she held his hand.
Sally smiled. Why couldn't their own parents be more like that?
The people in the Bar was mostly human... 'mostly'. There were two animal types in suits. One looked like a wolf, the other a... duck? some kind of bird woman judging by the beak.
"One pint," Andy said parting with the cash. Finally a beer... he got his drink quite quickly. "Damn it.." he swore of the whole situation. "I thought no animals were allowed," he said slightly slurred.
The barman looked at him, realising he was already quite drunk... and quite ashamed to have given him that pint now. "We allow the changed sir... we always have."
"No- No.. see? You got a sign there.. No Animals. Allowed."
The barman was a young man, in his twenties. He looked like a typical university student doing a job to get by... he mentally noted this guy not to have any more drink. "That refers to pets..."
"Pets.. heh, yeah.. that's all they can ever be. Pets. Or dangerous beasts. Same thing really. I can show you a scar or two from keeping pets"
The wolfman and bird girl glanced at the drunk man... The bird was looking like she wanted to have a word with the 'gentleman' but the younger wolf raised a paw shaking his head. "Its not worth it dear," he whispered. They continued to drink.
Andy took another drink. "Ah, the animal sorts aren't the worse anyway."
The barman quietly alerted security to keep an eye on this guy... He wasn't sure if he was trouble, but he was already quite drunk.
"Now see.. you know what? I lost my son today..." he said taking another drink.
The barman blinked, and suddenly looked sympathetic. The guy suffered a tragic death? He lost a son? No wonder he was in such a state! Maybe he could calm him down some... "I'm really sorry sir," He said sadly. He didn't mind lending an ear to customers like this...
"Yep. The sun took my son. Ha.. that's almost funny... now he's a queer."
The sympathy evaporated instantly. the barman stood up straight. He did not need to hear this crap... his brother was a changed, as was his mother... both had swapped genders. "Mate, I think you should go."
"Bah. I still have my drink." He said taking another swing. "I think I would die rather then be one of them. It's a sickness... all of it. Still can't believe my son wanted to be a girl... their all just whores. You know I hear there's some devil slut walking the streets naked. She must be desperate for it.. Bet she would be a good lay, if you don't mind your dick being red for the week," he laughed.
Suddenly, Andy was struck, he fell back on the floor hard.
The tall man who had punched him, looked at Andy coldly. "That's my daughter you're talking about..."
