Chapter One
"Buttercup!" addressed the Professor with an intense scowl.
The girl in question perched herself atop the stairs, resting her glum mug on a fist, as the tell-tale blonde wailed painfully.
"I didn't do it" grumbled the raven haired devil half-heartedly.
"She's hiding octi from me again!" blabbed the softie, clinging to their father's leg.
Could noone understand she was doing the dummy a favor? Having been deprived of her own treasured item that was a snug blanket, wasn't it fair to rid her sibling of the same childhood dependence? People were such hypocrites.
"Buttercup" began Mr. Utonium. "You know how your sister gets when you tease her like this"
"I haven't seen her stupid doll! Get off my back"
She had actually. She'd hidden it in the garden in the bushes, far back, but there was no reason for Bubbles to look there, unless she would be willing to comb the whole neighborhood and go dumpster diving in desperation.
"I know you're telling fibs, young lady. Don't think you can fool me!"
All the while, the tomboy glared at her sister who looked up at her with the most pathetic, tear-streaked gaze.
"I ain't touched it. I got better things to do than pinch some lame toy"
"You take that back" whimpered Bubbles.
"Enough!" exclaimed the gent, marching up the stairs and snatching his daughter up. She flailed and wriggled in his grasp, until she was made to stand out in the grass of their backyard. "You're not coming back in, until you return Octi"
"This is ridiculous" snapped the brat, folding her arms in a huff.
"I'm sick of these games, Buttercup. I'm sick of you lying and thinking there'll be no consequences for your actions. So, until you mature enough to apologise and return Bubbles's doll, you will stay in the yard"
"You realize I can fly, right?" retorted the tyke. "You know I can just swoop up into the window and return into the bedroom"
"If you do that, I'll lock you in the isolation chamber in the lab. Think yourself lucky you have space out here to go over what you've done"
With that, the door was shut and the Professor marched away. As he did, Buttercup's blood boiled as she was mocked by the redhead leader, sticking her tongue out.
"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!" she lied, kicking the ground.
Grouchy, she paced along the perimeter of the garden, cursing and griping. She couldn't understand why she was always singled out and made to be different from everyone else. Was the world full of people saying one thing and practicing another? It was ludicrous.
Punching at the sides of the climbing frame, she then climbed on up and sat herself at the top. She looked into the kitchen window and saw her family preparing meatballs for dinner. Their father was a strict man and, if she hadn't made a resolution in time, would be granted no supper. She'd starve for her actions. For her submission and apology. They wouldn't have it.
A flash of light and a flicker occurred in her vision, like a television with ill reception, and she rubbed her eyes, irritated. Suddenly, the world around her had morphed into an obscure perspective. Hues dulled and the rest of her senses appeared to heighten in intensity, as if severely amplified at the cost of her seeing colour.
"What in the heck?!" she said, rubbing her eyes more violently, as if to feel better. As her movements became more sporadic due to her anger, a sensation had her lost. She stopped then felt the top of her head and felt something like suede or felt. It was soft.
Positively bewildered, she dropped off from the frame and looked into the adorable heart speckled mirror in the play equipment, embedded in the metal. Her jaw drop, realizing the oddities attached to the top of her head were a pair of ears, even more so, as her mouth also possessed more accessories, particularly pointy and jagged in her jaws. Gulping at the scenario, she shuddered at the writhing taking place behind her. Rearranging her dress discreetly, an alien body part wiggled shyly, reaching down to her feet. A tail, with the same feel as her ears.
Her heart raced, climbing out her throat, as she was blinded in panic over what was happening to her.
"PROFESSOR!" she cried, dashing from the frame. "Help!"
As she motioned towards the house, a green sheet enveloped her and the world seemed to enlarge and grow more menacing all about her. Haven shrunk, she shuffled about in the material that was once her clothing and finally made for a breather out in the open. Kicking off her foot a clingy sock, now big enough to act as a sleeping bag for her, she shuffled on all fours, her muzzle burying into the pile of clothing, sniffing.
Whimpering and whining at the absurdity of everything, terrified, she could do nothing but tilt her head back and cutely howl in despair. The world was a massive, taunting entity, mocking the girl who had used her tongue to draft lie upon lie to her family. Now there was no hope, no prayer... no meatballs.
End of Chapter One