Rachel had a lot of mixed feelings now as she walked to her school.
That priest was so offended by her on their first meeting that he burned down his church just to remove her. Perhaps he was insane at the time? The sun did bring out a lot of fear... and indeed, she couldn't really think of something more terrifying to such a pious person, to become an image akin to her.
Rachel didn't see anything bad with what she was. She enjoyed her change in some (make that- many) ways. Though she wasn't sure she would actually wish it on anybody... still.. when that priest changed into a devil like her, did she... get her wish in some small semi-conscious way? If so, it certainly did the trick. Father Robert's mind seemed mended. He- She was at least open now to their sub-culture when before she may just dismiss them. Still... if it had not happened... what would father Robert be? Just another devil-hating priest. There where probably hundreds if not thousands of them in the world, all believing in some kind of 'divine' force placing these changes onto them.
She was the image of evil to them. Yet... in truth, she had not heard many priests actually becoming devil changed. So Robert had to be unique in that respect. Though who knew for sure? She was certainly the first in their area... and she had to giggle a little, remembering when she saw the new devil naked on her first transformation. Rachel certainly knew the 'assets' she carried, even if she did a fairly good job hiding it. She'll keep it a secret, if that's what she wanted. Still... if she would open up a bit more, she could have a lot of fun in that form...
"Why are you smiling?" Asked David walking up to her.
"Oh you know me... always something to smile about."
The two walked down the street. It was nice that they shared this part of the route together. It would be just a short bus ride, but it was also easily walkable. Since neither were in a rush, they decided to walk the full distance, to the stares of everyone passing by.
"So, who dressed you today?" Rachel asked giggling.
The angel girl groaned. "My mom got me some clothes.. these ones are mine. Now."
David seemed to be wearing girl-jeans with a yellow blouse. It softened her a little though there was still that very stocky look to her. her blond hair was tied back. Her wings poked through the holes on the blouse, stretching and moving occasionally. Of course, the light from her Halo seemed to make everything she wore just that little bit lighter in colour.
"And everyone else is okay with that?" Asked Rachel curiously.
"It's Tuesday. So I get to decide. I think Zara get's Wednesday." That probably meant.. a dress. She wasn't sure why Zara felt the need to dress feminine... it was hard to object to it 'too' much when one of them loved it.
"Sounds awfully complicated..." Rachel smiled a little more, her tail just.. slightly brushing along the angel's feathered wing.
"We're... working out an arrangement. Though I just wish one of my sisters wouldn't eat pop-tarts for breakfast."
Rachel giggled again. "she burned your tongue?"
"Yeah. But we heal fast." David said checking the damage with her tongue. Indeed, there didn't seem to be any damage.
"You are so very lucky you know" The devil girl smiled. "Oh... that priest has a proposition for you... and your sisters. If you are interested."
Aneeza floated to an employment office. She vaguely knew the drill. She had to show the paper that she was unemployed, and then maybe she might get some state help. The office should be able to help her find a new job, or at least some new lodgings. Will, the rather young police wolf, and Ellen were with her. She kept Ellen near her pocket. Though as a living doll she was certainly very sturdy. She tried to tell them she didn't want or need their help...
"Next please?" The civil servant said.
Anezza floated up to her.
The civil servant stared at the space girl. He had seem some really weird people come through the doors... but this one was really off- off the floor even.. He was not a transformed person, but the government was quite quick to make a building safe for normal humans in the day... they were even getting special sensors on the doors so that they wouldn't open during sunlight without a special code.
Anneza bit her lip. she gave her papers to the man.
"Right... hm.. I take it you are claiming to be Andrew? Okay... no problem." Gender changes were such a pain to process. "I just need to ask you a few questions to verify your identity. What's your mother's maiden name?"
Anezza stared blankly. "Huzzi.. mesu janatais" she said softly.
The civil servant looked at her as if she were crazy. Was this a foreigner trying to steal someone's identity? It was certainly possible. For one thing, There was no mention of Andrew having a daughter on the records...
Will stepped forward. "I will vouch for her identity."
The man chuckled. That was... adorable. "Very kind of you little miss. But there are procedures to follow here."
Will flashed her badge. "I'm an officer..."
The civil servent's jaw hit the floor. He wasn't sure if she was joking.. but it looked like a real police badge. He ran the badge through her system, and indeed it was authentic. The computer verified her identity and post transformed state... it also listed her as still active. "In... that case... let's see what we can do for you Andrew."
Keith clenched his hand into the dirt. He didn't believe this.. it wasn't possible. It just.. no! It wasn't possible. He was just suffering some kind of.. hallucination. Probably from that chemical. It was possible wasn't it? A sort of hypnotic suggestion.
He tried to rationalise what happened. He couldn't deny his hair was longer. So either he forgot how long it used to be... or maybe it was the influence of the sunlight and being outside. He had heard that could happen. That was certainly possible. He saw his reflection in water.. hardly the best surface.
His horse was not in the best of shape... and he at least a few more hours to the next town. It was either that... or go back and confront what happened to him.
"The hells with that-" He stopped. His voice sounded... just a little too high pitched. He cleared his throat, and drank some water. He then undid the reins of the horse, and pulled himself up on the beast- actually having to pull himself up!
He had to get out of here. What if this was some kind of Indian voodoo curse? Hells! Why would they even care to do this to him? He just wanted to get the last remains of his gold across the border. Since there was nobody to share it with...
He rode the horse for several miles, his lower back already complaining. He couldn't ride at high speed as much as he wanted to. All he wanted to go and run. Run as far away as possible. He cut through plains, and fields, and even a train track, and never saw a single soul in this wild frontier.
Keith allowed himself a little smile at that. Nobody for miles... he was the hunter. The ranger. God on this Earth. His beast of burden... everything, playing onto his own rules. This land was where men could ascend to greatness... the land of opportunity it certainly was. He took out the gold coins to admire them a moment. They were stamped with the symbol of this new land. Probably one of the first coins to be minted... and of course, it was real gold. He put them back in the bag.
He must have rode for hours... his skin was cracking a bit. He rubbed the skin a little, and winced. Flakes of skin pealed off... and...
The bandit looked aghast. Underneath his flaked skin, revealed a new skin- as expected. But there was something a little different about the shade. It wasn't quite as red as it should have been. For one thing, there was no hair.. it had all pealed off with the rest of the skin. Did that chemical touch him there? What the hell was going on!
Ah... he saw a small town ahead. Perfect. He rode the horse into the stable.
"That'll be Four dollars a night sir," said the stable master.
Keith paid the man. "I need a drink," He said. Why did his voice sound so...
"You can find the local drinking hole a few yards down. Avoid the orange broth." He grinned. "It's strong stuff.
"They got rooms too?"
"Yup. Four dollars a night."
"Everything here four dollars?" Asked Keith.
"A gun might cost you thirty." said the stable master chuckling.
Nikki had never been so happy. She saw her mother and father... and didn't mess things up. She was so worried she might undo her own existence- not to mention all the happiness they had together in the future. She wished she could tell them what happens...
Erica herself couldn't really believe this. Wasn't it a few days ago she was seeking being a man again? How she had rejoiced at being what she was... yet as she saw Nikki, and the terrifying possibilities of what it meant to be a woman...
Nikki continued to smile at the teenage skunk girl, that was to be her mother someday.
Erica bit her lip. "I... I guess you knew.. what I used to be then?" She asked. This was awkward... very awkward.
"You used to be a man. I know," Said Nikki. "It never bothered me- or anyone who knew. You're my mom."
Erica blushed a bit at that. Was it really so simple? "What.. happens to the world? In the future? Will the sun...."
Nikki looked down. "I... can't tell you." she said softly. "Sorry..."
"It's okay sweety" Erica sighed. She did want to know.. but that Nikki was here, and alive, must mean the world coped in some way right? Even if... they might not be any humans any more. That saddened her, but it was certainly not fatal.
Sam placed a gentle hand onto the skunk-child. "Popin, we got to get you back to your own time. Until then, I guess we're gonna be campin' as a family."
Nikki giggled. This was nice.. just like a vacation. To think she got a week off school now... her mother said she will return, and she never felt in safer hands.
Erica glanced to her discarded dress... strangely... she forgot she was naked.
This felt.. fine.
Miss Violet placed the posters for her missing niece. Maybe someone in the school would know where she was? She hoped so... It had been so long, and she still hadn't turned up. But then... so had many. She had an instinctual feeling she was okay... it wasn't just hope, maybe being an elf gave her this 'instinct' for her close family. She just knew her niece would turn up in time... probably with an interesting story or two.
Class for her did not go well. She didn't know what she was doing wrong... why couldn't she keep order any more? What was she doing wrong? She had gone to the staff room to take a break, and pulled out a little chocolate bar with a coffee. She took this for the really bad days...
Acorn academy was one of her favourite places to work. But it was also very high pressure for the faculty. If she couldn't cut it as a teacher any more... While the staff were very understanding, and would give her time to adapt... it was also pridefully very wounding to her.
... What if she couldn't adapt? What if... there were important social aspects to being a female she was missing in this? It was the kids that were suffering not her... and that couldn't be right. She needed help from someone who was really female... preferably not in the same school. Fortunately she had one friend- though she had gone onto the public sector... maybe if she gave her a quick call....
She dialled the number a little anxiously. "hi... is Crawford there please?"
