Chapter 3

Daria returned to the window after a few minutes. "Jane?" She called, hovering outside.

Jane appeared at the window. "That was quick. Where'd you go?"

"I just went to see if the Lions were still holding their practice for tomorrow night's game," Daria said. "I've got something I want to try. Come on, I'll fly you."

"Oh, no, uh, I'll walk, thank you very much," Jane objected, even as Daria enveloped her in a bubble and pulled her through the open window. Jane stopped speaking when she noted they were airborne. She then looked around and said, "Say, you're pretty good at this."

"Flying's pretty easy," Daria replied. "I just imagine the way I feel when I'm flying in a dream, and volia! I'm up and away!"

"Yeah, but what about those dreams you have when you're falling?" Jane quipped. Just then, the green aura around the pair died, and they started to plummet.

"Eep!" screamed Daria. "Why did you have to say that? Come on, ring, work!" Putting all of her concentration into remaining airborne, their auras blazed into life while their fall slowed, then stopped, with them hovering mere feet above the ground.

"You sure you got that thing under control?" Jane moaned.

"Well, you're the one that started talking about falling!" Daria said. "I got to thinking about it, and as soon as I started to be afraid it would happen, it did! I'm all right now. Come on, the school is just over this stand of trees."

"Okay," Jane said, chastened. "Sorry, I guess you don't need any doubts when you're trying to concentrate, especially about flying, Lets go, Amiga!" Daria smiled, and with a blaze of the ring they once again headed for Lawndale High.

The pair landed behind the bleachers. "Go up in the stands and keep an eye on the locker room exit," Daria said. "Kevin should be out in a few minutes. Watch for the fireworks."

As Jane made her way up the stands, Daria slipped over to the exit and hid behind a bush. Inside, Kevin Thompson, LHS quarterback and Michael MacKenzie, team captain, had finished changing.

"That was a great practice session, Mack Daddy!" Kevin said. "We shouldn't have any problem with those Cougars tomorrow night!" He pulled on his shoelaces. "Can you tell Brittany that I'll be out in just a mo?"

"Don't call me Mac- aw, never mind," Michael replied. "Yeah, we're gonna cream 'em." He grabbed his backpack and headed for the door. "Sure. I'll tell her." Michael left.

"Good. He's alone," Daria thought as the infrared goggles she had created to check the locker room vanished. "It's show time."

Kevin got up from the bench and walked to the mirror over the sinks to check his hair. He heard a noise behind him.

"Grrrr."

"What was that?" Kevin looked up.

"GRRRR!"

Kevin looked behind him. Standing behind him was the biggest, meanest looking Rottweiler he had ever seen! It stood four feet high, wore a spiked collar and stared at him with eyes blazing, snarling, a mouth full of foam flecked fangs that just waited to tear him limb from limb! The fact that it was also Kelly green almost didn't register at all with Kevin's fear addled brain.

"Nice doggie. NICE doggie," Kevin quavered as he inched towards the exit. "Just don't kill me. Let me eaaase out of here-" His courage broke. "Aaaaaa!" He broke for the exit at breakneck speed, with the emerald Cujo growling and snapping at his heels.

Mack was with Brittany at the foot of the bleachers. "I hope Kevvie comes out soon," Brittany said. "I have this new cheer I had worked out, he always seems to like them especially when I jump waaay high and - Kevvie? Is that you?"

"Aaah! Help! He's a killer! Save me!" Kevin screamed past the two, a tiny Chihuahua yapping at his heels.

After a moment of stunned silence, Michael spoke. "Brittany," he said, "Did that dog seem a little...green to you?"

"I don't know. Maybe he had too much guacamole?" Brittany replied.

Daria and Jane took off, laughing into the night. "Did you see the look on Kevin's face?," Daria said.

"I wish I had a camera," said Jane. "Of course, I probably would have done something like a mouse or a moth, but I think a Chihuahua works, too."

The pair landed in the Morgendorffer back yard. "It should be about nine," Daria said. "Quinn should still be babysitting, and my folks told me that their movie started late. I don't think anyone's home yet, but why take a chance?"

"Yeah, you don't want to walk into the house trying to explain who's having a costume party and why you were there," Jane said.

"Speaking of which, I wonder if I can change this costume?" Daria said. "I know that tights are standard garb for the super set, but I'd like to leave a little more to the imagination."

Why don't you try? I'll be Edna Mode and critique for you. Just remember…"

"No capes," Daria laughed. "How about a trenchcoat? I've seen a couple of superheroes wear them." Her ring blazed, and a black trenchcoat covered her body. "How do I look?" She turned for Jane, while a green full length mirror appeared behind her.

"Nah. Trenchcoats are more of a guy thing." Jane replied.

"Maybe you're right." The trenchcoat vanished. "But since I am a girl…" A green skirt appeared over her tights, covering her to mid thigh.

"I like," said Jane, "but there seems to be something...missing."

Daria studied her reflection. "I know. What do I need?…" She snapped her fingers. "Oh, yeah!" Over her feet appeared a pair of green Doc Marten boots, the tops coming up to just below her knees.

"Perfect!" said Jane. "Enough girls wear them so they won't associate you with Green Lantern. Gotta protect the old secret identity, you know."

"Secret identity? Jane, this has been all fun and games up to now, but I'm not cut out to be a superhero," Daria said. "Fighting crime, saving lives? I'm just a schoolkid with a smart mouth who likes to veg out on the sofa." She held up her right hand. "Besides, this ring belongs to the real Green Lantern."

"You heard what the ring said," Jane replied. "You've been chosen. Besides, 'With great power-'"

"Don't give me that Spider-Man crap. That was just a movie. And, besides…" Daria sniffed. "Do you smell smoke?"

Jane glanced up. "Look!" she pointed. There was an orange glow beyond the trees.

Daria gasped. "That's the Gupty's house!"