Puck reluctantly obeyed the summoning after.. the third time his name was called. Returning to their own realm among the forest and trees, he fluttered to the nest that existed on the tallest most beautiful among them. He was tense as he approached the new Queen, but still as charming as ever. "Sorry I am late your highness! There were just.. a few errands I had to do."
Queen Kimi looked at Puck. "Even I have heard of you, in my time as a mortal Puck... you left our circle to... do what amongst the humans?" He had to be gone for at least an hour... it didn't seem long but.. how much trouble could one fairy do to a human town in one hour? She kicked herself for not considering Puck... he kept himself so quiet that she forgot about him completely.
Puck's eyes glinted a little. "Oh such wonderful people humans have become! So many different kinds too... I would have so much fun playing-"
King Farin cleared his throat. "Please answer her," he said calmly.
Puck turned a little red as he looked to the side. "Ah- well I certainly did not reveal ourselves, your majesty. Your decree to keep us outside their eyes, I took all the way to my heart!" He smiled again merrily.
"You didn't change any humans... into anything did you?" asked the Queen with a hint of concern in her voice.
"Oh... you heard about that? The events of that day are grossly misinterpreted and were hundreds of years ago! For one thing... the human was 'asking' for it. Besides! This new ages doesn't seem to afford me 'quite' that much power... I certainly couldn't transform anyone into anything I would want..."
"That is at least true," said King Farin.
Queen Kimi nodded. "Very well Puck... you may go. Please... just behave. I am trying to work out how we can establish a relationship with humans that wont end up with us being put into bottles or banished... Your... interactions do not help in this."
Puck groaned unimpressed. "I do not see why we need political relations... we always got on fine with an informal arrangement. They give us their tokens, we give them our graces... appropriate to the offering, of course." It was not easy to insult puck.. he always took the gift for what it was... and expected they too accepted him for what he was.
Kimi was a little at odds with the world she saw. It was so different to the one she knew... even if only a hundred years had passed. "Things might be different this time... I don't know how it will play out. But no more 'playing' with mortals, understand?"
"Of course my queen of course! Consider me your most humble servant" The trickster fairy said with a grin- though inside, was certainly disappointed... the Queen was young and simply didn't understand 'the old days'... what joyful days they were! He was looking forward to the nostalgia of it... he loved humans, now more then ever.
...and Puck certainly, was not going to be happy with just one game...
Jay, the fox girl news reporter was the face on the news, to explain what had happened. The camera crew were all tense at this occasion, as her face appeared on all the television to explain the momentous news.
"Jay reporting for the morning news. It appears.. that the sunlight has changed back to normal. Yes, that's right.. back to normal. We are still trying to work out the effects of the light however. It would appear that some people have changed back... but some have not as well, myself included. It is difficult to place into numbers the probability of changing back... it is advised that if you like your transformation, you might not want to risk going outside-
Jay paused a moment listening to his microphone. "We have just received word of a warning. It has been reported that at least one person in Lakeside, a homeless man, was changed by the sunlight. I repeat, the light from the sun is still capable of changing people, but what might be a reduced capacity. Scientists are still trying to work out the pattern to this, but at the moment there is not enough data to suggest a reason for this all."
Jay paused a little. "We are getting a statement from Sunwatch, a company in charge of looking at the Irredecent sphere that was believed to be responsible for the strange light effect. I am putting us through to one of the doctors there."
There was another pause as a voice was patched in. "Doctor Smith? can you hear me?"
"Hello Jay," said the voice. "We've been studying the sun from before and after... From what we can tell, the sun is back to normal... the iridescent sphere has been negated. However, there also appears to be a difference in solar flare activity. Some solar flares have an iridescent quality to them. Solar flares should not affect anyone on Earth in general... but we can not confirm this as a certainty. We have to continue to work with the data we have."
"Do you have any advise?" Asked Jay concerned.
Dr smith nodded. "From what we can tell... the probability of a changed being changed back to human is relatively small... but varies from population to population, age groups, and such, as well as the nature of what they were turned into. Interestingly, those who have had the greatest difficulty with their transformations seem to have a much higher probability of changing back... but it is no guarantee, and it is important to stress that."
"And what of unchanged normal people? Can they go about their normal lives now?" Jay asked.
There was a sigh from the other end as the question was considered. "Jay, it's only been a few hours. The honest truth is, we don't know. We are still running probability studies, but we can't find what the criteria is. My advise for now, is that if you are happy with your life, continue your routine. If you are human and absolutely do not want to risk the remotest possibility of being transformed, avoid sunlight. The same will have to apply, if you are a transformed that does not want to return to being human."
"So... are you saying we might see more transformed people on the night-side of life, living in the same fear as the unchanged?"
The man on the other line made a thoughtful hum before answering."It... is not outside the realm of possibility, but I must stress the possibility of change either way seems to be low, especially in those happy with their transformations. One thing we have found quickly is that stability of a subjects general lifestyle seems to play a part in transformations. Generally, those in stable good houses will not transform... changed or unchanged. The first change reported was of a homeless man, and this fits the general pattern we have seen. Those happiest with their transformations, will also not change... unless their current state was a hindrance in some way, to them, or could potentially be in the future."
"To them? Are you saying the new criteria only applies to personal perspective as opposed to society requirements? There are many changed that require a degree of care among the population. How is that not- to put it delicately, not a hindrance?"
There was another pause. "I think what we have learned in the last six months Jay, every transformation offers something to society... nobody is a burden. If they are happy with their transformation, we should be happy for them as well, and happy ourselves to be able to help them knowing others would do the same for us."
"Yet... we must still live in fear of a change?" asked Jay with neutrality.
"Society has adapted to change, Jay... as it has many times in different ways. Perhaps not on such a way as this before... but to live in fear? I disagree. If change happens, it happens... if it does not when it is desired, then that too should be welcomed and embraced without fear or regret of what could be or should... We live in a world of change, but most importantly... good people."
Jay was taken aback by the words. They were so sincere, so full of hope... she had the brief wonder in her eyes, if Dr Smith had just set the tone for what people in the morning will feel. In a way... she had to realise that people will not live in fear... no matter what happens.
"It- was nice speaking to you Smith," said Jay.
Mark was outside... in the sunlight. She looked over her angel body and knew... just knew, she was going to be this way now forever. In a way, knowing that was a good thing. Having some kind of certainty on if she would change back or not was difficult and made her hesitate on building whatever relationship she did with people.
David was with her, and the two... shared a brief contact of the hands, each feeling the same contact on the other hand. "
We're.. like this forever then?" said Mark.
"I sense... we might lose two people. They couldn't handle it as easily."
Mark nodded. "Well, perhaps for once I could take a walk without feeling my boobs being touched,"she said with a grimace. "Six months and whoever 'that' one was, still didn't get over it?"
David blushed a bit. "Well- that would be an improvement.. but.. I feel a kind of sadness from you Mark. You don't really want any of us to leave... right?"
"What are you crazy?! I- I just-"
"Mark..." David said pulling her closer. "It's okay... talk to me. Tell me what it is. We don't have secrets any more."
Mark looked a little angrily but relaxed. "...okay... fine. Yes... I don't really want any of us to leave. I've... always felt alone you know? Never really told anyone how I felt... and as 'annoying' as you all are, it was also kind of nice knowing... you were out there. Feeling the things you felt.. it kind of... gave me a different perspective to things." She sighed sadly. "I did some horrible things... lashed out in my loneliness... but to have five other sisters, and to be connected like you in such a way... well.. what am I saying? If anyone else heard me talk like this, they would think I'm trying to make us all the same person."
"It isn't like we're the borg or anything like that though," said David. "We're all different people.. you acknowledge that when you say that you enjoy feeling a different perspective close to you."
Mark nodded. "Still... this was my own fault. I made you do those things... if anyone should be stuck like this, feeling everything you feel... it should be me. Just me. That would be justice."
David gave Mark a gentle hug. "Don't ever think that way sister... we're not the same people we were now. You don't deserve a punishment.. and the connection we share is not a punishment. It could have driven us mad.. but it didn't. I know I am happy to feel a... strength from you I never felt before." She smiled a little. "You have such great confidence that just needed to be tempered... and I lacked it but had the common sense... of course Zara was... well... Zara," she said with a grin.
Mark relaxed a little in the embrace. "I hope we don't lose them all... I really don't. But if we do... it'll be okay."
Bryan watched the news report feeling... happier. Maybe he didn't get to change... maybe he never would know what it might be like to live a different life.. but there was certainly nothing wrong with his current life...
Jack was right. He should be happy. He went to the kitchen, to help with the pizza.
"So, what did you hope you would turn into anyway?" asked Jack.
"I dunno... something unique? Maybe something nobody had ever seen before."
Jack laughed a little. "Have you seen the news? Its a damn zoo out there. You're more unique just being human."
Bryan sighed. "Maybe... but... still..."
"No buts. Come on, have some pizza." Jack offered the plate with a bit of ketcup. "I'm looking forward to going back to school day-side. Coach will probably be extra hard on us though."
"Sounds rough..."
Jack shrugged. "Got to do what you got to do," He said with just a faint grimace. "Wasn't really what I wanted to do... but I'm good at it."
"What did you want to do?" Asked Bryan curiously to Jack.
"Eh.. that's a secret. Forget I said anything." He quickly ate another slice of pizza.
