"I don't see why I have to do this." Diamond groaned.

"Look, if you're going to be a proper Killjoy, you need to look the part!" Missile smiled at her. "Now turn around and face the new you."

Diamond looked into the mirror at the strange new girl in front of her.

Over her black t-shirt she wore a light, neon green trench coat that fell to mid-thigh. The coat was decorated with buttons and patches on her arms and chest.

Her jeans were now ripped at the knees, the large holes revealing the bright purple tights underneath. She had a white studded belt on with that, with a holster attached to safely keep her gun (now purple with green and silver splatters) at her hip.

Her sneakers had been decorated with bright purple and green paint splatters. On her hands she wore black leather gloves. Her hair was tied back into a loose braid, and some long curls were already escaping to hang down by her face and shoulders.

Maybe it was her teenage hormones talking, but the change of style made her feel like a new person. She was no longer the shy runaway from Battery City. She was a Killjoy. She was there to make noise.

Show Pony called it his best work.

"Darling, you look absolutely stunning!" he cooed, coming up behind her to wrap his arms around her shoulders. She smiled. With only a couple years between them, she felt closest to Pony. Over the past day and night at the diner they'd grown into quick friends.

"He's right Diamond. You're really pretty!" Missile smiled. Already the little girl felt like a little sister to Diamond.

"Thanks guys." she smiled.

"Oh! I almost forgot the finishing touch!" Show Pony dashed out of the room.

"Does he ever sit still?" Diamond asked. Missile just laughed and shook her head.

"Hang on! I'm back!" Pony rushed back into the room. What he had in his hands made Diamond raise an eyebrow in question.

"A mask?" she asked, as Pony held it out to her.

"Well you have to protect your identity somehow!" he smiled. Diamond took the mask and slipped it on.

It was bright green, with a vertical silver stripe over the right eye, and purple splatters on the left. She loved it.

"I think it really completes the look." Pony said.

"Definitely." Missile nodded.

"Hey! You guys done playing dress-up? We gotta go!" Kobra knocked on the door impatiently.

"Yep! She's ready to go!" Pony called. He hugged Diamond again. "Now I want you to stay safe out there. No stupid moves. And keep those boys in line."

Diamond smiled. "Will do, Pony." As she pulled out of the hug, she felt Missile's arms wrap around her waist.

"Bring Party back safe, okay?"

Her little voice almost broke Diamond's heart. She kneeled down and hugged the girl tightly.

"I will. I promise. Party will be home soon."

-x-

"Took you long enough," Kobra muttered when Diamond stepped out of the diner. He was leaning against the side of the building, near the door. Diamond ignored him.

"That's what we get for bringing a girl with us!" Jet called from the Trans Am. He was sitting on the hood. Ghoul sat next to him, finishing a cigarette.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Diamond asked, heading for the car.

"You're a teenage female. You possess the obsessive urge to primp whenever possible," he shrugged.

"I do not! This was all Pony's work."

"Ah. I figured." Jet smiled, "He's a good kid, huh?"

"Yeah. He's great."

"Let's go." Kobra said anxiously, coming up behind Diamond, "We hit Zone 3 first."