I woke up before opening my eyes and my whole body felt strange. I felt fine, but things were just. . . off, somehow, like I'd been rewired. I was on something soft, but it wasn't a pillow. I opened my eyes and saw that I wasn't in my black and purple room, but rather in a plain tan room.

"Oh hey, you're awake" Jennifer's voice came from above me. "Enjoy your nap?"

"What happened?" My voice was girly. Now I was fully awake. "What happened?!" I jolted up to my feet and fell down. There was something under them that caused me to stumble. I saw that I was wearing some kind of white dress. Eugh. "What's going on?" Jennifer stood up and walked over to me with a brush in her hand. She sat down next to me and the moment she started brushing my hair, a wave of calmness came over me.

"I'm just getting you ready for school" Jennifer said. "By the way, we need to get you some new school supplies."

"What for?" I already had all my supplies ready to go. "And will you please just tell me what's happening?"

"You're going to Henway, and to get you ready for that, I had to ask a few favors and do a bit of magic. You're now my adopted sister, Weiss Schnee." The calmness from the brushing clashed horribly with the shocking information I just heard and left me in a confused silence. "Anyways, we've got some serious shopping to do, and only a week to do it. Before we do that though, you have to relearn the basics of life."

"Basics?"

"Why, walking and using the bathroom, of course. But first, tell me you still don't believe in magic."

"I must be dreaming. That's gotta be it."

The brush was replaced by a sharp tap to my head. "Nope. You're as awake as anyone else who's awake. Let me help you up."

That was the beginning of my lessons for standing in heels, or at least wedges. Apparently, actual heels were another lesson down the road.

It was now well into the evening and Jennifer and I were tired, though I think I was more tired than her. After my lessons on standing, we moved on to walking, and then to the stairs. I have no idea how, but despite the number of falls I took, even going from the top of the stairs to the bottom, I had no bruises. Those falls also reinforced the fact that I was indeed a girl now.

As if those tumbles weren't enough, what followed after that was even worse. For a number of hours, Jennifer and I were in the bathroom, and she used her magic to make me have to go multiple times until I got the motions down cold. Needless to say, it got a bit messy, but she had a spell for that too. It was a humiliating experience.

We flopped onto her bed with all the grace of a glass bottle of chunky salsa hitting a hard floor. "Why?" I asked.

"To make you a better person" Jennifer answered. "We've got a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. Good night, Weiss."

"That's not my name."

"You'll get used to it."

Late morning

I woke up in my sister's room. "What a drea. . ."

None of it was a dream.

Everything that happened after I grabbed that sword had happened.

I was still a girl.

I was still wearing a frilly white dress.

My breathing grew rapidly as last night's events and activities came back to me in full force. Finally, I screamed. I don't know how long I screamed for, but once I was done, I buried myself in the blankets of my sister's bed.

"Weiss?" Jennifer asked from just outside the door. "Come on down, breakfast's ready."

How was she so calm after that scream? "No."

"Weiss, are you even up? Oh, right, I cast a Quietus on the room earlier." A moment of silence, a tingle in the air around me, and an opened door later, she continued. "Oh, you are awake. I made banana nut muffins for us."

That's a good type of muffin. "Nothing weird in them?"

"Nothing magical. Just regular stuff made and baked through regular means."

I started getting out of the bed. "I'll come down in a bit. I just have to use the, you're not going to be in the bathroom with me, are you?"

"Nope."

"Good."

Jennifer went back downstairs while I went to the bathroom and relieved myself. After last night, which certainly did happen, there was no way I was forgetting how to take care of myself in here, even if the dress got in the way. Once I was done washing my hands, I caught sight of something in the mirror. Specifically, a scar over my left eye. Why would that be there?

After pondering over the scar for long enough, I went downstairs to have some breakfast. Breakfast was always a good way to start the morning. "You made oatmeal too?"

"And I've also got us some orange slices." Jennifer slid some pieces of the candy my way. "Mom and dad both left for work a while ago. Anyways, eat up. I've got plans for us."

"What kind of plans?" I had one of the orange slices while my sister put a muffin and bowl of oatmeal on a plate for me.

"Big and expensive. Fortunately, I've got access to enough money to make it easy."

"Is it a car?" I really wanted one. Black with purple flames. And a silver skull hood ornament.

"No. Now, eat up. You're going to need the energy."

"The mall?" I asked as we pulled into a parking spot. I'd managed to talk Jennifer into giving me something more plain and dark to wear. I didn't like the pleated skirt, but the rest was alright. I still had wedge shoes though.

"That's the plan."

"We're just spending the day at the mall?"

"Along with a good chunk of change. You'll like it."

"I don't like this." This was the fifth ensemble at the third clothing store we had gone to, and I was tired of it.

"I think it looks great on you" Jennifer said as she straightened out part of the top. "Besides, it's good to have some nicer options. We're taking that one. And I've got five more nice ensembles for you, including some dresses."

It had been a long day and it didn't look like it was going to get any shorter.

"Jennifer, why aren't we using a cart to carry all these bags to the car?" I was carrying two bags full of clothes in each hand while my sister had six on each arm.

"Aside from not having gone to one of the stores with carts, it would look undignified and tacky for us. Besides, a little walking with some bags of clothes never hurt anyone." She saw that I wasn't entirely happy with her answer. "Hey, at least the first store was done fast. They didn't even have to measure you since I got those numbers ahead of time."

"Let me guess: with magic."

"Got it in one, Weiss." I have no idea how she did it with all those bags, but Jennifer managed to, somehow, get her keys out of her purse without dropping any of the things we had purchased. Then she put all the bags, including the ones I was carrying, into the trunk. What really amazed me was how she neatly put all sixteen bags in there without using her wand.

If 'impressed' was a color, then I would be drenched in it. Hopefully, it was a dark color.

"All that shopping sure does make a girl hungry, doesn't it?" Jennifer asked.

Even though she was the one doing the shopping, I was probably more hungry than her. "Is it going to be a place you like?"

"Oh, that wasn't the plan at all. You get to choose where we have supper."

"Supper? How late is it?"

"Almost six."

I thought for a bit. "Let's go to Wendy's. I like the flavor of their burgers."

"Let's do it."

And so we made the short trip through the mall parking lot to the nearby Wendy's. I had a plain double cheeseburger, fries, and water while Jennifer had a salad and small soda.

"We're home!" Jennifer called out as we came in with our shopping bags full of my new clothes.

"Hi, girls" dad said. "Man, it feels strange to say that."

"It feels strange to hear that" I concurred.

"We got that thing done for you, Jennifer" mom said.

"Thanks" Jennifer responded. "That will give us plenty of space for Weiss's new clothes."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"They got home while we were out and cleaned your room a bit."

I dropped the bags I was carrying and walked over to go upstairs to my room. I may have somehow gotten used to the wedge shoes really quickly, but I wasn't about to run with them on yet.

I went into my room and saw everything was neatly put away. I liked my controlled mess, so I didn't like this change. The corner where my school supplies were was empty, save for a note taped to the wall. I grabbed and read it.

Dear Weiss,

Due to the change in your education, your previous school supplies have been reclaimed and turned into office supplies. Really, if you think about it, school and office supplies are practically the same.

Jennifer will be helping you with your new school supplies later this week. If the little tricks and trinkets she's brought back are any indicator, then you will be seeing some amazing things there.

I wish I could go to Henway with you, but I can't. It sounds like an amazing place.

Sincerely, Mom

Why am I getting railroaded down this path I don't want to take? Why can't I just live as normal of a life as possible?

I looked around my room again. All the furniture was in place, so what else could have been done?

A look inside my closet gave me the answer: all my clothes were gone. Shoes, shirts, socks, every piece of clothing that I had was gone. I knew that the empty closet would be full again, but with everything from today's shopping spree.

I got into my bed and curled up there. I just wanted this whole thing to be a dream.

"Hey, Weiss" Jennifer said as she came in. "Are you already ready to go to bed?" The sound of paper hitting the floor gave away the fact that she had brought at least some of the shopping bags with her.

"Go away." I wanted to be alone.

"I know I should have said something sooner, but the clothes you're wearing are about to disappear."

"Huh?"

"The clothes you've been wearing since you got your new body. They're going to vanish in about fifteen minutes."

"Why?"

"It's just how it works. If you're going to turn in early, you may as well put on a nightgown."

"And if I don't want to?"

"Then there's other clothes you can sleep in. Your choice. If you're not going to sleep, mom and dad want to talk with you."

"What kind of talk?"

"Important."

". . . Alright."

Jennifer left my room, then returned a minute later with the rest of the shopping bags. After she left and closed the door, I could feel the clothes I was wearing begin to disintegrate. It felt a little tingly.

I got a good look at my body, even though I didn't want to, while I changed from the disintegrating clothes to a black and purple shirt and skirt. I didn't want to wear the skirt, but there were no other options. Jennifer didn't get me any pants or shorts for whatever reason.

I'll have to fix that myself, I guess.

I saw the sword that changed my body leaning up against the wall. I didn't want it out, so I found the case for it and, using some of my new clothes to hold it with, put it in there. After the latches were closed, I set it under my bed and went downstairs.

"There you are, Weiss" mom said from the living room. "Let's talk."

I made my way over to the couch and sat next to dad, who seemed bigger than before. Apparently, I got smaller. Great. "What's this about? And can you please use my real name?"

"Sorry, we're sticking with Weiss. Anyways we need to go over your backstory. We adopted you from a foster home that's closed down since we got you, your scar came from a fight there, and you're going to Henway to learn how to be a witch."

"And the sword?"

"A gift from Jennifer for getting accepted."

"There's nothing made up about that."

"You're taking this really well, Allison" dad said. "How are you not freaking out over this?"

"I'm keeping my mind flexible on the matter" mom answered. "After all, if life gives you lemons. . ."

"You make lemon grenades and burn Life's house down" I finished.

"No, you make lemonade. We've got an opportunity that nobody's never had before."

"It's not an opportunity, it's a situation" dad corrected.

"At least someone's making sense here" I thought.

"It's a situation to take advantage of." When mom wasn't met with a rebuttal, she continued. "Since we're both off tomorrow, I was thinking of us going out and spending the day together as a family."

Jennifer ran into the room. "Ooh, that sounds fun! Got something in mind?"

"Minigolf and HuHot?"

"Excuse me while I go put together a minigolf ensemble for Weiss."

"No, Jennifer" dad said, stopping her in her tracks. "Weiss is not a doll for you to dress up."

"Thank you!" I nearly shouted. It was good to have someone on my side for once, even if he didn't use my actual name.

"Besides, you can't have her all to yourself. Some of us want to spend time with her too."

"Fine. I'll share her."

I decided to leave the group, went to the kitchen, had some leftover chicken strips, and went to my room. I was not looking forward to the next day.