With the Guardians' meeting adjourned and the rest leaving Seiyo Academy, Ikuto and Yoru sat on a table under a ramada wrapped in vine flowers as Utau walked up to him with her Charas.
"Looks like Amu isn't bugging you today," Utau smirked.
"Nope, just you," Ikuto sighed, so Utau slightly growled. "She's busy chasing around a tomboy with a bunch of X Eggs."
"... You don't say."
"I knew you would be interested. They'll probably meet at the park later. Now go fail again and leave me be."
"You're so mean!" Utau turned away. "Not even a 'hi, imouto-san' from you! Hmph!"
"Imagine what you could do with all those X Eggs," Il told Utau.
"Lure them back to their owners?" El asked Il.
"Hah, no," Il laughed. "She'll show those Guardians who's boss!"
"Life is no competition," El continued. "Acting out of jealousy distracts you from having gratitude and joy for the now." As El lectured, Il groaned over her.
"'Jealousy-?'" Utau cut herself off as she spotted Amu and Rima walking together. "I guess I didn't have to wait long."
Not knowing for sure what Akira's intentions were, Amu devised a way to reason with her again alongside her Charas and Rima with Kusukusu. They finally arrived at the same park and hid behind the bush wall to discuss.
"Definitely feels like there are a bunch of X Eggs nearby," Rima commented.
"Yeah," Amu added. "Do you see her back there?"
The Charas all floated to the top to see Akira laying on the same spot watching the X Eggs mess around.
"Which prop should I pull out on her?" Kusukusu asked. "A squirt gun or a rubber chicken?"
"Combine them," Rima replied.
"Maybe later," Amu giggled. "I'll already be predictably funny meeting her again the same way."
"How about we go through the entrance," Miki suggested. "And confront her already in your Character Transformations. Just for dramatic effect."
"Very thought-out," Su nodded.
"I guess that would be less embarrassing," Amu agreed. "Wanna give it a go, Miki?"
"Sure," she replied. "Maybe you'll have time to use some Amulet Spade attacks."
"Maybe next time I'm called up," Ran added. "You can pull out the good ole Heart Rod! Pew pew!"
"You got it," Amu smiled, then shouted in unison with Rima. "My Heart: Unlock!"
As Miki popped into her egg, a blue light shone around Amu and her clothes transformed. When the light dimmed, she was wearing her frilly-topped outfit "Character Transformation: Amulet Spade!"
As Kusukusu popped into her egg, a light shone around Rima and her clothes transformed. When the light dimmed, she was wearing her rodeo clown outfit "Character Transformation: Clown Drop!"
"Good luck, you two~" Su chimed.
Right when Amulet Spade turned around to emerge from behind the bush, Akira ended up right in front of her.
"You guys didn't think I could see those lights, did you?" Akira asked, making Amulet Spade jump. "You were gonna attack from behind. So low."
"Well, actually," she explained. "We just wanted to already be transformed for dramatic effect... Nevermind that. Kaminari-san, I have no choice but to purify the X Eggs."
"So persistent," Akira shook her head.
"Can you blame me? You started ignoring me and I don't know if you could be involved with Easter or what you plan on doing to Seiyo Academy or..."
"What the-" Akira rebutted. "'Involved with Easter?' I just moved here! And that holiday isn't until a few months from now!"
"Kiseki," Amulet Spade muttered under her breath and then turned back to Akira. "You're right. I'm really sorry for believing those assumptions and transforming because I was scared of what you're capable of. I get that you just want some friends and me acting this way doesn't make me worthy of your friendship. Maybe I am like everyone else."
"It warms my heart for you to say that. But it's not me you should be scared of."
Then the X Eggs arose from behind Akira to swarm Amulet Spade and Clown Drop, this time not showing any signs of fear. Mega stood on Akira's shoulder with a smug expression.
"You're making other people's Charas attack us for you to get out of transforming yourself?" Amulet Spade asked.
"Got 'ah problem? These are just my friends sticking up for me. They didn't have to. Besides, how could I take advantage of Mega-chan by forcing her to make me stronger than I already am? My strength comes from within. Charas are friends, not tools."
"I thought these guys could use a little pep talk," Mega shrugged. "They were so used to not facing consequences for having some fun around here, but now it's time to revolt!"
The X Eggs were hyped up and grew more reckless.
"But aren't X Eggs just supposed to crush people's dreams?" Amulet Spade quietly asked. "And don't Charas embody what's within, so Mega should be fine with the transformation?"
"If those X Eggs find negativity fun," Clown Drop sighed. "They should find a better hobby. You should be glad she hasn't thought about transforming; imagine how much stronger she would be considering she knocked you out without it."
"You don't have to remind me," Amulet Spade sank in embarrassment.
"Let's just purify her Chara right away," Clown Drop continued.
Tadase, Kairi, and Yaya then rushed over to Akira and the Guardians.
"We made it, Amu-chi- Oh," Yaya ceased at the sight. "Wow, that's a lot of X Eggs."
"Reinforcements?" Akira rolled her eyes. "Go ahead and transform, guys. I'll wait."
"Oh, okay," Tadase awkwardly replied. "Give us a moment, please."
"I didn't miss too much, did I?" Utau approached them.
"Utau," Amulet Spade gasped.
"Give me a break," Akira facepalmed.
"... I think she's waiting for you to transform, too," Yaya told Utau.
"I'm good," Utau replied. "I'm just enjoying the show. I won't even Character Change-" she covered her mouth hoping her Charas missed the slip-up.
"Character Change, you say?" Il inquired.
"Oh, no," Utau violently shook her head. "Not now!"
"You got it!"
A pair of bat wings popped onto Utau's back and she grew more malicious. Everyone shot a blank stare at her.
"And now the attention is away from me," Akira looked back on her confused X Egg friends. "It's about time."
"Get used to it," Utau sneered. "You're so special now until you're a total nobody in high school."
"Character Change," Mega whispered as Akira's fists tightened and the earrings returned.
"Maybe that's what I want," Akira stated. "Why should I care?"
"Her earrings," Clown Drop glanced at Akira. "They seem to appear when she wants to act rebellious."
"She would never say that," El puffed at Il. "Character Change!"
Utau's bat wings were replaced with angel wings and her tone changed to match.
"I'm sorry," Utau apologized. "That kinda slipped. What others think of you isn't as important as you being true to yourself."
"Um, yeah!" Amulet Spade cut in. "What she said!"
"Eww!" Il winced. "What was that?! Character Change!"
The bat wings returned and Il took back control.
"And if you're gonna say that dumb catchphrase of yours, say it right," Utau ridiculed.
"Got 'ah problem with me saying 'got 'ah problem?'" Akira shot back. "How else was I supposed to get it through the other kids back home that I don't care how weird they think I am?"
"Utau said that like she already knew her," Amulet Spade speculated.
"Well, I think it's a great catchphrase," El defended. "Character Change!"
The angel wings returned as with Utau's kindness.
"The other kids don't matter so long as you remember your parents' love," she smiled. "Family comes first after all."
"That's even worse!" Akira yelled. "All they do is compare and scold me."
El and Il continued to switch and fight over Utau's Character Change, tempting and confusing Akira at the same time. The King, Jack, and Ace had already transformed into Platinum Royal, Samurai Soul, and Dear Baby in the background, waiting for the right moment to act.
"Are Utau's Charas granting a wish she didn't mean to make or have they gone rogue?" Platinum Royal wondered.
"Um," Samurai Soul whispered to him and Dear Baby. "Let's go round up the X Eggs."
"Good idea," he nodded as the three snuck off.
Mega observed the Humpty Lock in Amulet Spade's possession the entire time and finally came up with an idea for her master.
"Akira-chan," Mega suggested to her. "Look at that shiny lock. That might be what's making the guardians transform. How about we give it a shot?"
"Are you sure?" Akira asked her.
"Definitely. That'll shut them up."
"You got 'ah point. Let's do it while they're distracted."
"You two-" Utau scolded her Charas, finally having a grip on the both of them before catching on to Akira and Mega.
"My Heart: Unlock!" Akira chanted. As Mega popped into her egg, a dark greenish light shone around Akira and her clothes transformed. When the light dimmed, she was wearing a Timber Green and Tiffany Blue zoot suit. "Character Transformation: Dire Influencer!"
"Sorry for jinxing it," Clown Drop apologized to Amulet Spade.
"It's not you, it's me for getting distracted," she patted her head. "Besides, it's two against one, we got this!"
"What do you mean 'one-?'" Dire Influencer asked before turning around to find that the X Eggs were elsewhere. "Okay, change of plans. Let's finish this."
...