Bedazzled
"Alison Blaire how the hell did you end up like this?" The nineteen-year-old blonde girl shook her head as she looked at the mirror in the decrepit dressing room. She was wearing a gaudy silver and purple costume with silver and purple makeup. A year ago she wouldn't have been caught dead in such a lousy outfit. But a lot had happened in a year.
"Hey Daz," A young woman her age with green skin and hair dressed like Xena the Warrior princess sauntered in. "How's it going?"
"Oh the usual, Ivich" Alison grimaced as she finished applying her makeup. "Straight to hell."
"Ah that's just your nerves talking," Ivich waved. "You always get like that before you perform!"
"Yeah but I never had to play gladiator in front of an audience before," Alison groaned.
"You'll be fine," Ivich told her. "It's just a one time thing. Hey if Cassie hadn't broken her leg last week…"
"I know, I know…" Alison sighed. "I swear if Alex hadn't asked me to do this I would have told Hugo to take a flying leap off a…"
"Yeah well these things do happen," Ivich said playing with some spare spangles and contemplating putting them on her uniform.
"These things happen…" Alison sighed. "A lot of things happen. Do you know what today is?"
"Let me guess, Wednesday?" Ivich grinned. "Oh…Oh gee honey I forgot. Sorry."
"Well don't be," Alison sighed. "No one's been sorrier than I have. But it's been a whole year today since my big coming out party. So I might as well celebrate in style huh?"
"No wonder you've been so bummed," Ivich sat down next to her on an extra chair. "I mean who wouldn't be when you go from the red carpet to a dump like this!"
"It's all so surreal," Alison sighed. "One minute I'm the next Brittany Spears, the next thing I know my jerk of an ex-manager outs me as a mutant cause I wouldn't sleep with him."
"Jerk," Ivich spat to the side. "Don't worry hon. Alex told me he had Fang and Rocker scare him but good. Last time he'll work in this town."
"He what?" Alison asked.
"You didn't know?" Ivich asked. "Your boyfriend really gave it to him good for what that creep did to you."
"Oh man," Alison sighed. "I never asked him to do that!"
"Hey that's the best part about dating the boss," Ivich grinned. "You don't have to ask for things sometimes. He did it cause he cares about you. He's only looking out for you girl."
"He always has been," Alison sighed as she remembered.
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It had been over three months since Alison's exposure and her fall from grace. Although the people in most cities wouldn't have been caught dead to have a mutant at their party in most towns, Hollywood had some rules of it's own. There were those in Hollywood that took the rule that there was no such thing as bad publicity to the ultimate level. The more famous, or infamous the guests, the bigger the story in the tabloids. The bigger the story, the more people talked about it. And the more people talked, the better the publicity.
Alison Blaire found herself at such a party, watching the spectacle of scantily clad dancing girls entertaining the guests. She knew she'd only been invited because of her notoriety, as well as others such as Heidi Fleiss and O.J. Simpson. The irony of this was not lost upon her. Still people barely talked to her or if they did, it was a brief strained conversation, like a performance one gave for a barely tolerated eccentric aunt.
As she was trying to figure out how much free food she could stuff into her tiny purse she accidentally bumped into a tall figure wearing a tux. "Excuse me," She stammered and looked at the face. It resembled the face of a brown horse with elf like ears. He had long brown hair that was raised high exactly like a horse's mane. "Uh nice mask. Where did you get it?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you sweetie," The horse faced figure grinned with huge teeth.
"Come on Rocker," A tall young man in his early twenties with perfect teeth, model looks and medium length brown hair grinned. "Don't you know who this is? Alison Blaire, the Dazzler herself."
"Oh yeah," Rocker nodded. "You're a freak too. Didn't recognize ya."
"I did," The handsome man grinned. "I'm Alexander Flynn, and a huge fan."
"Well you're one of a vanishing breed," Alison shook his hand. "I'm not exactly Miss Popularity lately."
"You sound a little bitter over your recent…" Alexander paused for a moment. "Problems with the media."
"Problems? That's the understatement of the year," Rocker snorted. "The bastards crucified ya babe for no freaking reason other than you're a mutant. I'm amazed that you're here. Why are you coming to a joint like this anyway?"
"Two words: Free food," Alison sighed. "And you're right. I just had to get out."
"Hey Rocker why don't ya go get some extra champagne?" Alexander indicated with his head.
"Yeah I can take a hint," Rocker snorted. "Can't say I blame you, she is a dish." He walked away chuckling.
"Charming friend," Alison grimaced.
"He's a bit…Well crass but a good guy," Alexander told her. "Come on, why don't we go somewhere private to talk?"
And talk they did. Before Alison knew it she was telling Alexander all her problems as freely as if they had known each other for years. "I really don't know what to do anymore," She sighed. "The world hates me. I can't get any work. I'm almost out of cash. My career is ruined. I can't even get a job as a waitress in this crummy town! I'm probably blacklisted. I mean I don't know what the world's afraid of! I just create light shows. All I ever wanted to do was sing and act! What do they think I'm going to do? Turn 'em all into mutants by looking at 'em?"
"That would be a fun power," Alexander grinned. "But you have a voice, a real talent that can't…that shouldn't stay hidden for long. Actually maybe I can help you with that. I know some people. My partner and I are producers of a live underground theater who hire people based on their talent!"
"Like Horse Face?" Alison asked.
"You'd be surprised at what he can do," Alexander grinned. "And what you can do. My partner, Hugo Longride, he's just the guy you should meet." He pointed to a chubby white haired man with loud clothes, gold chains and a huge cigar hitting on a waitress.
"I know I'm gonna regret this," Alison hesitated. "But what have I got to lose?"
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Months later here she was preparing for the biggest night of her life and she was scared to death. "Come on honey you can't say you've regretted joining," Ivich said. "You're making almost as much money as you did when you were a superstar. Hell you still are a superstar, just in a different way. With real fans who appreciate you for who you are and you don't have to hide anything from them! I mean you've been opening the show every week since you got here to a packed house!"
"But I was singing," Alison sighed. "This is different!"
"You said it yourself, you wanted to sing and act," Ivich pointed out. "Well tonight's the acting part. Aw come on Ali, you know Alex would never let you do the actual rough stuff. That's where bruisers like Rocker and Horns come in."
"Horns is who I'm up against tonight!" Alison told her.
"Hey he knows the rules," Ivich told her. "And we told him to go easy on you. You'll be fine. It's almost time girl. Just go out there and knock 'em dead!"
"Easy for you to say," Alison sighed as she got up. She then noticed that light was leaking from her fingertips. "Oh no, not now!"
"You still having problems with your light?" Ivich looked at her.
"Yeah, maybe it is just nerves," Alison sighed as she took a bottle from her dresser and took out two small pills. "But I've been having such a hard time controlling it lately…"
"Just take a deep breath honey and calm down," Ivich told her as she took the pills. "You've been hitting the tranqs' pretty hard lately."
"Well I've been freaked out of my mind, even with all the rehearsals," Alison took a deep breath The light faded from her fingers. "That's better. At least Alex is finally back. I wish he didn't go on these weeklong business trips!"
"Hey somebody's gotta search for backers and new talent," Ivich shrugged. "But don't worry girl, you're gonna knock 'em dead!"
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE MOMENT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR HAS ARRIVED! YOU'VE HEARD HER VOICE, YOU'VE SEEN HER BRILLANCE, NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME WE ARE GOING TO SEE HER FIGHT! PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER AND CHEER FOR THE MAIN EVENT, THE ONE…THE ONLY…THE DAZZLER!"
The crowd roared and stomped their feet. Alison made her way to the high center rink skating on rollerblades. Rollerblades…How corny can you get? She thought. Still what a way to make an entrance!
She triumphantly skated in raising her arms, allowing her mutant ability to convert sounds into light fill her. There's nothing like the crowds…I've missed it so much! It feels so good! So right! I can do anything!
She heard the boos from the crowd announcing the arrival of the 'villain' of the piece. A huge brute of a mutant with a large horn in the middle of his hideous red face stormed out. He also had several small but sharp spikes protruding from his forearms. Okay, Alison gulped, remembering Horns' reputation for being extremely vicious. This is just a show. Just an act. Nobody's supposed to get hurt for real, especially me! Whoa! That was close!
She barely jumped out of the way as Horns charged towards her. The crowd cheered as she effortlessly flipped out of the way of a second attack. She countered by sending a beam of light into his eyes. "AAGGHHH!" He responded by hitting his fist to the side of her ribs.
"OW! Hey watch it!" Alison fell to the ground and held her side. "This isn't…" She barely missed Horns' horn and rolled out of the way. "This isn't supposed to be for real! Hugo said…"
"I don't care what Hugo said, bimbo," Horns hissed. "I take no dives for nobody! I'm winning this fight so you'd better stay….YEARRRRRGGHHH!"
Alison shot out a force beam made of light that knocked him several feet. "This will teach you to stick to the script!" She shouted.
"All right girl, now the gloves are coming off!" Horns shouted as he got up and charged at her. "I ain't gonna be beaten by some powder puff weakling!"
"YOU CALL THIS WEAK?" Alison glowed so brightly she lit up the entire arena. "I'LL SHOW YOU WEAK! YOU WANNA SEE POWER! YOU GOT IT!" She then shot off another beam that knocked Horns across the arena and down for the count.
The crowd went wild, cheering her name. Some people threw roses at her. She bowed and picked them up. I've never had cheers like this when I just sang! These people…my fans! They love me! They adore me! I thought I'd never feel like this again but it's real! It's real and I'm a star again!
At that moment Alison never felt more alive.
It was after the 'show' that Alison felt like she was going to die. "I can't believe I did that," Alison gasped.
"Who knew you had it in you," Rocker grinned. "Hell of a fight girl." They were in the lower half of the Arena where about thirty mutants and a few humans were celebrating with a party.
"I wouldn't have fought so hard if Horns…" Alison shook. "I mean this wasn't supposed to be a real fight this time right? You said that was against the rules!"
"Horns has been breaking a lot of rules lately," Rocker snorted. "And neither Hugo nor your boyfriend are exactly discouraging him!"
"Did someone call me?" Alexander walked in grinning. "What a great show Alison! You were great!"
"I was almost gutted alive," Alison hugged him.
"What the hell was that about?" Ivich growled at Horns. "I thought we agreed to go easy on the Dazzler! This was only supposed to be a fake show!"
"Didn't look fake to me," Horns growled. "Besides you wanted it to look good right?"
"Yeah well next time I tell ya to make it look good I don't mean make it look that good, got it?" Rocker jabbed his finger into Horn's chest. "We're trying to keep fatalities to a minimum ya know? I knew it was a mistake to pair her up with you for her first time!"
"Relax Rocker," Alexander intervened. "She did fine. And the crowd loved it."
"Well I'm glad somebody did," Alison hugged him. "But it was…thrilling."
"That's my girl," Alexander hugged her shoulder. "Everybody I have an announcement to make! First of all I want to congratulate all of you on another great show! Especially our newest rising star, Dazzler!"
Everybody shouted cheers. "Second I want to introduce a new member of the family to you all. Now I want you all to be nice to the new girl. She's kind of had it rough."
"Haven't we all?" Rocker snorted.
"No really rough," Alexander glared at him. "Rough like Green Wonder here."
Ivich stiffened. Everyone then kept wisely silent. They all knew about her past. Several of them had had pasts similar to hers. "Her old man sell her out to some whack research company too?" Ivich's voice was struggling not to break.
"Worse," Hugo grunted. "They grew her in a lab."
"Bastards," Ivich spat. "Let me guess, some kind of weapon huh?"
"Yeah," Hugo nodded. "So don't be too shocked that her social skills aren't exactly as polished as yours."
"If Rocker's manners are polished, I'm Miss Manners herself," Ivich snorted.
"Don't worry Hugo," Alison said. "We'll look after the kid."
"Well with that out of the way I'd like to all of you to meet our newest member to our little family," Alexander opened the door. "Meet…X23!"
X23 walked into the room proud and defiant. "That kid?" Rocker blinked. "Kinda young ain't she?"
"Rocker!" Ivich elbowed him.
"I'm not a kid," X23 hissed. "I'm a warrior."
"Sure you are," Horns guffawed. "And I'm Tinkerbell! Come on you don't expect us to baby sit this child and…"
To this X23 responded by kicking Horns and knocking him down. She shot out her toe claw right in front of his face. "Don't ever call me a child!" She roared. "Got it!"
"I like this kid," Rocker grinned. "But uh, what's with the name?"
"That's what Hydra called me," X23 backed down and Horns skitted away quickly.
"Yeah we're gonna have to change that," Hugo fingered his chin. He whispered to Alexander. "Where'd you find her?"
"Friend of a friend," Alexander told him. "But you gotta admit, she's good."
"Yeah perfect for the Arena," Hugo grinned. "She'll knock 'em dead!"