Chapter 9: The Experimentation ~ A Transformation Spell
Within the next morning, everything between warm, cold, and quiet. Keith was lying down on something on something soft with dreamless sleep. Suddenly, he felt a strange flinch on his head. Keith slowly opens his eyes; he sees a door that seems to be a cell door. With dim lights within his room. Feeling lightheaded and groggy, Keith slowly forced himself to sit up. "Uh," Keith moaned. My head…my throat… Keith has begun to rub his head. What happened? Keith wondered. How did I…? Suddenly, Keith felt something clinging to both of his wrists. Keith looked at both of his wrists, he saw chains wrapped around both of his purple wrists. Wait for a tick, Keith's eyes widened. Purple? Keith looked straight towards his purple, claw-like hands. "What?" Keith examines himself. Keith found himself wearing prison clothes that Shiro once wore during the Galra Empire was still around. But due to the smell, he suddenly knows it was clean. Slowly, Keith as started to notice that both his nose and ears are sensitive, and his jaw ached a bit. He has also noticed that his ears are moving as well. Within the nearness of curiosity, Keith has almost begun to panic. Stay calm. Yield. Focus. Keith calms himself down. Now's not the time to panic. Keith thought as he took a deep breath and started to look around his surroundings. Keith knew that he is on a bed, but to his left. There is a nightstand with a lamp and a book for him to see and read with. On his right, Keith saw a toilet, a sink, and a mirror. Mirror, Keith quickly got up and quickly walk straight towards the mirror.
When Keith is in front of the mirror, he looks at his reflection. In horror, Keith couldn't believe what he is seeing through his eyes. He saw himself that he is covered in purple fur, his scar-like-mark is in deep purple. But his mullet/maine hair is close to a dark indigo-blue, purple cat-like ears, fangs sticking out in his mouth, and his eyes. His eyes are bright purple which is shining against the light-yellow cornea color. He wasn't expecting to see all of that from his reflection. Not just that. He can feel it as well, both in and out. Slowly, Keith has his hands on both sides of the sink. "No," Keith muttered. How…how did I…?
"Good morning, fellow blade." A familiar voice has spoken up, with Keith's ears pricked up. Keith spun around to his right and see the shadow figure woman that he has saw before. "Glad to see that you are up."
"YOU!" Keith growled as he tried to run to her. But the chains that are connected to both of his wrists are attached to the wall that is above the bed. Both of his wrists are behind him and his face is near the shadowy body. "What did you do to me?" Keith snarled as he felt his ears flatten.
"Now, now kitty. Calm down," the shadowy figure spoke to him calmly.
"Calm down?" Keith growled, "I won't calm down, look at me. I am a half-breed Galra, not a full-fledged one."
"And now you are," the shadowy figure giggled. "And the truth to be told, it looks good on you."
Keith growled, "Whoever you are, you better change me back. Before I…"
"Or what?" the shadowy figure interrupted, "Pounce on me. Please darling, save that heroic face. I am not flesh and blood, I am a shadow. I cannot be touched."
"Whatever!" Keith snarled, "As long as you can change me back."
"Change you back," the shadow figure giggled. "It seems like you don't remember."
"Remember?" Keith felt his cat-like ears tilt a bit, "Remember what?"
"About last night," the shadow figure approaches Keith.
"What?" Keith jumped. Suddenly, the shadow figure's arms have stretched out. Having both shadow hands at both sides of Keith's head. "What are you…?"
"That night…" her voice has begun to echo, "I have the power of life…to change…" Within a flash, Keith's head started to ache with images flying before his eyes.
Flashback Starts
…Over 12 hours earlier…
Within the hallway, Keith (still in human form) has been dragged by the teenage boys through the hallway. Keith struggled to get out of the teenage boy's grasp but noticed that they dragged him to a room that he wasn't familiar with. "We have to get him ready," said the teenage boy on Keith's left. "Before the Mistress would get angry at us."
"Right," the teenage boy on Keith's right replied as both boys have thrown Keith to the floor. In impact, Keith's air has been knocked out of him when he hit his chest on the floor. Slowly, Keith regain his breathing as he slowly struggled to free his bound arms. Suddenly, Keith felt one of the boys sit right on top of his body arms and back.
"Mmph mnmph gooph," Keith grunted within his gag.
"Sorry," said the teenage boy that is on top of Keith. "Can't take any chances to let you up."
The second teenage boy chuckled when he is near the cabinet. "You got that right."
Keith grunted as continued to struggle. Suddenly, he felt the teenage boy that is on top of him untying the knot that is behind his head. Slowly, the cloth slipped off his face. Keith was about to spit the cloth out of his mouth. Within a tick, is a cloth that is in the color of navy blue. It has swooped down and covered both his nose and stuffed mouth. The cloth was wrapped around his cheekbones and chin tightly. The teenage boy makes sure that it was fully secured tightly behind Keith's head. "Mph!" Keith grunted as he could nearly breathe for a moment.
"Sorry mister," the boy that was on top of him spoke. "We couldn't change you when you are awake."
"Mph?" Keith moans weakly as Keith continues to breathe in and through the cloth. Slowly, he noticed that his head has started to get fuzzy. With every breath that he's been breathing, his head has become fuzzier and fuzzier. Suddenly, his world turns black.
While Keith is unconscious, the teenage boy got off Keith. He sighed, "Finally, he's knocked out." He spoke.
"Indeed," the second teenage boy nodded. "Now, let's hurry before the Mistress calls us."
"Right," then the boys have begun to uncuff and untie Keith. And, begin to do something that they won't regret.
A few moments have passed, and the teenage boys have fully changed Keith into prison clothes that they have collected from their scavenger hunts. They put Keith's armor in the garbage shoot and kept Keith's blade in a box for their Mistress to examine. In relief, the boys have started to drag unconscious Keith to a room that is in the West Wing of their ship. A room that they wished that they have not been introduced to in the first place. But keeping it clean for a reason.
Slowly, the teenage boys use their strength to hold onto Keith's unconscious body and strapped him to a strange table that is at a diagonal angle. After strapping him on the table. One of the teenage boys took the navy-blue cloth off Keith's face. And replaced it with the previous cloth that was over Keith's stuffed mouth once again. After he is done, they left the room and went to tell Nephrite and their Mistress about their task.
A few moments later, Keith slowly woke up and felt his body is very stiff. Keith slowly open his eyes; he saw something strangely familiar. He saw a table with familiar tools, but only in a different color. Keith tries to move, but he has forgotten that he couldn't. Keith looks up; over his head and sees both of his wrists are restrained to the table that he is on. He looks below, he saw a change of clothes that looks oddly familiar. But to his ankles, he saw that they are restrained to the table as well. Keith tried to move a bit, but he restrains won't budge. Keith also tried to make a sound, but he noticed that his mouth is still stuffed with the rag and cloth from before the change of clothes. "Mph," Keith muffled as he felt how dry his throat is. Keith tried a bit as his strength weakens a bit before he knew it. Something has moved within the room.
Keith has remained silent and still for a tick, the familiar shadow figure has approached to him. "Well," the shadowy figure wickedly chuckled. "I see that you are awake."
"Told you that wouldn't take long," Nephrite spoke.
"Indeed," the shadowy figure giggled.
"Mph mmph rumph," Keith gagged for his way of a growl.
"Sorry about this sweetheart," the woman's shadow figure has a stroke of its hand on Keith's cheek. "We can't let you go just yet, because I have bigger plans for you tonight."
"Mmm?" Keith raised an eyebrow.
"You'll see soon blade," Nephrite spoke.
"Yes, but…" the shadow figure moved away from him, "Let's just say that I like to play with the poor unfortunate souls."
"Mph?" Keith nearly jumped as he struggles a bit.
"Now Nephrite," the shadow figure hissed. "Let's get him ready."
"Yes ma'am," Nephrite nodded as he and the shadow figure began to work on something.
Within a few moments, strange sounds began to fill the air and become a strange melody that Keith is not familiar with. While the shadow and Nephrite are playing with some items from their lab.
Mash-Up Song of "Poor Unfortunate Soul"/"Got Friends on the Other Side"
Inspired by: Little Mermaid and the Princess and the Frog
Mistress Shadow:
I admit that in the past I've been a nasty
They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch
But you'll find that nowadays
I've mended all my ways
Nephrite:
You're in my world now
Not your world
Mistress Shadow:
Poor unfortunate soul…
Mistress Shadow and Nephrite:
I got friends on the other side!
The items started to glow. Keith began to panic as he continues to struggle.
Mistress Shadow:
Repented, seen the light, and made a switch
Nephrite:
Just a little something we have here in
Mistress Shadow and Nephrite:
To this…
Both the shadow figure and Nephrite began to dance while they are creating something in their materials.
Mistress Shadow/(Nephrite):
And I fortunately know a little magic/ (Sit down at my table)
It's a talent that I always have possessed/ (Put your minds at ease)
And dear, please don't laugh/ (If you relax it will enable me to do anything I please)
I use it on behalf/ (I can read your future)
Of the miserable, the lonely, and depressed/ (I can change it 'round some, too)
Both:
I'll look deep into your heart and soul
(Pathetic)
Poor unfortunate souls
Within a flash, it almost made a loud sound that nearly busted Keith's eardrums.
Mistress Shadow/(Nephrite):
In pain, in need/ (I got voodoo)
This one longing to be thinner/ (I got hoodoo)
(I got things I ain't even tried!) /And do I help them?
Both:
Those poor unfortunate souls
And I got friends on the other side.
Suddenly, some glass has begun to form within their mixing bowl.
Mistress Shadow/(Nephrite):
(The cards, the cards, the cards will tell) /So sad, so true
Nephrite:
The past, the present, and the future as well!
Mistress Shadow:
Crying, "Spells, Ursula, please!"
And I help them
Suddenly, some light danced around the glass within the mixing bowl.
Both:
Yes, I do
Now it's happened once or twice
Someone couldn't pay the price
And I'm afraid I had to rake 'em 'cross the coals
Yes, I've had the odd complaint
But on the whole I've been a saint
To those poor unfortunate souls
Come on you poor unfortunate soul
The shadow figure flew towards Keith, terminating him to frightening him. Keith nearly growled as he struggled.
Mistress Shadow:
Go ahead
Make your choice
The shadow figure flew away. Then Nephrite went to Keith.
Nephrite:
I'm a very busy and I haven't got all day
Nephrite left his side. Keith stared angrily as he struggles. Suddenly, the glow within the mixing bowl as started to glow.
Both:
You poor unfortunate soul
It's sad but true
If you want to cross the bridge, my sweet
You've got the pay the toll
Take a gulp and take a breath
Mistress Shadow:
Poor unfortunate soul…
Both:
The boss is on a roll
This poor unfortunate soul
Before they could finish, Keith struggled with all his strength. But he can feel both of his wrists stinging for a bit as it lightly bleeds. Keith ceased his struggle and took a breath for a moment. "Now," the shadow figure hissed as the flash of light glowed dimly.
Nephrite:
Yes...
Both Nephrite and the figure shadow smiled mischievously.
Mistress Shadow:
Beluga sevruga
Nephrite:
Are you ready?
Mistress Shadow:
Come winds of the Caspian Sea
Nephrite:
Are you ready?
Mistress Shadow:
Larengix glaucitis
Nephrite:
Transformation central!
(Transformation central!)
Mistress Shadow:
Et max laryngitis
Nephrite:
Reformation central!
(Reformation central!)
Mistress Shadow:
La voce to me
Nephrite:
Transmogrification central!
Can you feel it?
"It is done," Nephrite hands an orb glass to the shadow figure. Slowly, the shadow figure turned to Keith.
Mistress Shadow/(Nephrite):
Now, the change/ (You're changin', You're changin', You're changin', all right!)
"Yes, it is time." The shadow figure approached Keith, "For the change," as the shadow figure lift the orb. It started to glow as she quietly began to chant. Suddenly, Keith has begun to feel a burning sensation in his chest. As his chest began to burn, even more, Keith tried to contain the pain. All at once, his body couldn't take it anymore.
Mistress Shadow/(Nephrite):
{Purring from Keith's chest}
Keep purring! / (I hope you're satisfied)
{Keith purrs}
Keith throw his head back and muffled his pain through the gag. Suddenly, the aura around his body started to glow. Slowly, some of his aura and the blood from his wrists floated towards the orb.
Nephrite:
But if you ain't
Mistress Shadow:
Poor Unfortunate Soul…
Both:
You can blame my friends on the other side!
As Keith's blood and aura are inside of the glass orb, everything has stopped. Suddenly, the cloth snapped off from Keith's face and Keith was now been able to spit the cloth out. For a tick, Keith slumped his head and body in defeat. Breathing in as pain and heat remains both within and out of his body. The shadow figure chuckled as it held the glass, multi-colored orb. "It won't be long now for his transformation."
"Indeed," Nephrite replied. Keith weakly lifted his head and tried to see what the shadow figure and Nephrite are doing. But all he can get is a blurry vision and ringing sound in his ears.
"Now, let's measure him. Before moving him," The shadow figure's voice echoed through the ringing sound.
"Yes Mistress," Nephrite replied. In pain and exhaustion, Keith fully passed out on the table without any idea of what the shadow figure and Nephrite are doing to him.
Flashback Ended
When the images finally stopped, Keith yelped as he yanked himself away from the shadow figure. With his head throbbing, Keith collapsed to his knees and tries to breathe for a moment.