Chapter 13: All That Glitters
Blue tapped her chin thoughtfully, causing her leather mechanic's hat to tilt.
"If the energy drink Pink consumed caused me to manifest..." she mused, "...wouldn't that imply we could intentionally surface another emotional state? Or... perhaps even reach Tony himself?"
Alice's eyes immediately lifted.
"Do... do you really think that could work?"
Miss Marcy stepped forward at once, raising both hands.
"Now just one minute! I am really not convinced that's a good idea! Forcing another unknown transformation could make this situation significantly worse!"
Riley's hands trembled.
"...Or..."
She swallowed.
"...it might help us find Tony."
A soft...
Clack.
Everyone turned.
Standing proudly on the counter was Pigeon Chad.
Beside him rested a bright metallic can labeled:
Mango Gold Power-Boost.
Riley slowly looked from the can...
...to the pigeon.
"...How did you even get that?"
Pigeon Chad puffed out his chest, striking the unmistakable pose of a bird completely convinced he had just saved civilization itself.
Behind the counter, the vendor glanced toward the display shelf.
"...Huh."
She noticed the missing can.
Then looked at Chad.
Then sighed.
"You know what..."
"My glasses are already broken..."
"My shift has been weird enough."
She waved a hand.
"Keep it."
"Give it to Blue."
"We absolutely should not!" Miss Marcy protested.
"If another form exists..." Riley whispered, "...it might know something Blue doesn't."
Alice closed her eyes.
For several long seconds she didn't answer.
When she finally looked up...
"...We should do it."
Blue gave a confident nod.
"I shall now consume the mango-flavored experimental variable!"
She proudly accepted the can.
"If I fail to return..."
"...please publish my findings under my preferred name..."
She struck a heroic pose.
"...Blue!"
Maya blinked.
"...You don't have findings."
"I shall improvise some."
CLICK.
Blue cracked the tab and took an enormous gulp.
She paused.
Smacked her lips.
"...This tastes like actual dirt."
"I am profoundly disappointed."
Immediately, golden light erupted around her.
"Dammit!" Maya shouted, throwing both arms over her face.
"Not again with the friendly fire!"
Suki calmly reached into seemingly nowhere, produced a pair of sunglasses, and slipped them on.
"...Prepared this time."
The glowing silhouette continued rising.
Maya cautiously peeked through her fingers.
"...Uh..."
"...Why is she still getting taller?"
The silhouette kept growing.
"...Seriously?"
"...She's STILL growing!"
When the golden light finally faded...
Everyone looked up.
Way up.
Standing before them was a towering young woman nearly six-foot-seven.
She wore a shimmering golden tube top paired with a matching golden skirt that glittered with every movement. Her long metallic-gold hair flowed down her back like liquid sunlight. Two tiny golden horns peeked through her hair, while sharp feline-blue eyes quietly examined the room.
When she yawned...
Tiny dragon-like fangs caught the light.
The enormous girl looked down at the empty can.
Curiously, she pinched the metallic pull-tab free.
She held it toward the ceiling.
Turning it slowly.
Watching it sparkle.
"...Oh..."
Her eyes widened.
"...That's beautiful."
She carefully slipped the tiny tab into her pocket.
Then looked down at the can.
"...The can is ugly now."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Suki slowly lowered her sunglasses.
"...She appears significantly less volatile than the previous form."
The towering girl immediately gasped.
Suki blinked.
The dragon girl wasn't looking at her face.
She was staring directly at the polished guard of Suki's katana.
"...Sword shiny."
Suki instinctively pulled the sword slightly closer to herself.
"...Yes."
The giant girl slowly wandered toward the counter.
The vendor began sweating.
"C-can I help you?"
The dragon girl politely pointed.
"...Your glasses."
The vendor froze.
"...Y-yes?"
"...They're beautiful."
The vendor let out the smallest sigh of relief.
"...Thank you?"
"...May I have them?"
The vendor immediately hugged her cracked anime glasses.
"...No."
The dragon girl nodded once.
"...Understandable."
Without another word, she turned and began walking away.
As she did, the squad finally noticed something they hadn't been able to see before.
Nestled neatly against her back...
...were two small golden dragon wings.
Not decorative.
Not part of the outfit.
Actual wings.
Alice's eyes widened.
"...Those weren't there before."
Riley slowly adjusted her glasses.
"...None of the other forms have physical traits like that..."
Even Suki looked genuinely puzzled.
"...Interesting."
Completely oblivious to the stunned silence behind her, the towering dragon girl wandered toward a polished vending machine.
"...Ooooo..."
Her eyes sparkled.
The chrome surface reflected her face perfectly.
She smiled at it like she'd discovered buried treasure.
Alice watched her for a long moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
"...She's Pink."
She smiled faintly.
"...Just with better posture."