To anyone who is actually still reading this: Sorry for taking so long to update! My life has pretty much been hell. But now that school and all is over, I have more time to write!

Part II: Victory and Defeat

"You must be able to withstand the punishment, get up off the ground after each tackle, and have no fear of running again at that same defender who just sent you barreling to the turf. Eventually you'll wear them down."

-Mia Hamm

PRETTIES

Blinding white light. That was all she saw.

Minerva blinked her eyes a few times to make the pain go away, but still the only thing she saw was white.

Then she remembered where she was: the hospital. She was pretty! Min turned her head to the left and right, taking in the details of a basic hospital apartment decorated entirely in white. Her vision was in perfect focus, naturally, but she suddenly became very aware of a pain all over the whole surface of her body. Min could feel every wrinkle in the sheets of the hospital bed she was in, and it soon became too much. She sat up, which sent a fresh wave of pain through her. Her skin felt puffy and tender, but when she stretched her arms out and saw them for the first time, they looked normal enough: even skin tone, maybe a little red, and absolutely no freckles! Her nails were perfect. But just as she became tempted to look in the mirror, Min remembered what her swollen face probably looked like, and that stopped her. She had always been a disciplined athlete, and she could wait for two weeks to see her face, especially when she reminded herself that she didn't really want to be pretty. Min would have to sustain herself with the glimpses she caught of her dark and shiny hair.

Two weeks later

It was strange, but Min thought that she would probably miss the hospital and her little white apartment there. It was quiet and peaceful, and never boring due to the presence of a wallscreen. Best of all, she had even met and befriended some of the doctors and talked with them about their work every chance they had. This only intensified her desire to become a cosmetic surgeon one day, a thought that had been with her since she began designing faces as a littlie. Most uglies simply spent years pining for the day when they would be able to move into New Pretty Town. Today, Min would be doing just that, but first, she would meet her parents and friends outside of the hospital. Min climbed out of bed, but before she ordered up a decent outfit from the drab ones the hole in the wall gave her, it was time to look in the mirror.

She had already decided that she wanted to get it over with and see her new self all at once, so Min stripped herself naked. She closed her eyes and changed the wallscreen to a mirror. Then she opened her eyes and gasped.

Deep breaths, Minerva told herself. Just look at it from the bottom up. A delicate little chin. Deliciously full lips curved downward into a pretty pout. Min grimaced, revealing two rows of perfect white teeth. The bridge of her nose seemed to curve inward, then turned upward to end in a very pert little point. Her eyes were big and round, outlined in dark and thick lashes, and were the same color as they had been before, but now their gray tones were brought out even more by flecks of silver that sparkled in the harsh hospital lighting. Above that were two perfectly arched eyebrows.

Breaking it down one by one had been a good idea. Now, Min could look at the whole picture. He features were proportioned flawlessly in a pretty heart-shaped face. All around it, her hair tumbled down to the middle of her back (previously it had only been just past her shoulders) in soft waves, thick and lustrous and shiny. The hair was still dark, but where the light hit it, it shone copper. They had made her into a readhead?

Her body was a series of luxurious curves. Min just hoped that it was as good at playing soccer as her old one was. Hair, face, and body, when viewed all together, were gorgeous.

In short, she looked nothing like herself.

And yet, she still was unique-looking. Hardly anyone had red hair anymore, and the Pretty Committee seemed to have pushed themselves to the limit when it came to paleness, keeping with her natural coloring. Her skin looked creamy and ivory, and while she was still pissed about having dark red hair, it looked nice with the rest of it.

Presently, a knock came on the door. "Minerva? Everyone is waiting for you outside!" came the too-cheery voice of an orderly. Min threw on some clothes, grabbed the bag of stuff she wanted to keep, and met the woman outside her door. The orderly then led her into an elevator, which traveled down to the main floor, where Min immediately ran out the front doors of the hospital to meet her parents. Her mother screamed and hugged her, and even though Min hated hugs, she let her mother hold her. "You look amazing!" she cried, with tears in her eyes.

"Was my old face that bad?" Min asked, a little bit insulted.

"Well, of course not, honey...It's just that...you're beautiful!" her mother answered, then burst into sobs.

"I look nothing like myself!" Min said, feeling contrary. Then she finally noticed the face standing right next to her, wearing what was probably the hugest smile ever. "Max!" Min screamed. At least her face still looked the same, her warm brown eyes instantly comforting. "Is anyone else here?" Although seeing Max again was amazing, Min was still kind of wondering where the rest of their friends from the soccer team were.

"Oh, they wanted to come, but there's a big basketball game today. I was like, 'Guys, don't you want to go see Min?' and they did of course, but the team really needs their support. Even though they still have Jana, they're doing pretty crappy without you," Max answered, still grinning just like on the day they met. Jana was the star player and team captain of the basketball team, and the coach always talked about what a good team she and Min were on the court. "They all liked your idea of not wanting anyone to see you all puffy, it's awesome, but they still said they would just want to move into New Pretty Town aysap, like me," Max added.

The excuse about their friends Max gave was mildly comforting, but not enough. Minerva hated not being the center of attention, and Max had said that the basketball team sucked without her anyway. Why weren't they here? As usual, she began resenting Jana. Somehow, being captain and star of the soccer team wasn't enough. Minerva wanted it all. All throughout uglyhood, she had felt this way. It was awful, it was wrong, she was supposed to work with her teammates, not see them as enemies that stood in her way.

Distracted by her thoughts, Minerva didn't notice how Max had been staring at her. "Wow. You really don't look like yourself," she said with a touch of sadness. "But you really stand out, with the reddish hair and all. It's great!" Max continued, switching back to the usual smile. As always, Min was so grateful to have a friend who agreed with her so often.

"Well, I had better be getting back, they don't want me gone the whole day," Max said with a touch of nervousness, looking anxiously back at the hovercar which had brought her to the hospital.

"Well, see you in a few months!" Min called back, climbing into another hovercar with her parents. Then they took off, Min furiously waving out the window back at Max, but soon she was lost in the distance. The hovercar began to head towards some place called Grace Kelly Mansion, where Min was supposed to move in.

Uneventful, I know. But Min's pretty now! And the good stuff is coming up: sports action, intense drama, and shocking revelations! Stay tuned! And, as always, please tell me if you want more. I feel kind of pathetic writing for nobody... -Fanna