The day of the dance arrived. School had let out early for everyone to get ready. Magenta and Chandra were at Layla's house. Layla had just finished putting on a bohemian lime green sleeveless dress. Her hair was set in princess curls and her black eyeliner made her eyes pop. Chandra was wearing a silver, form-fitting gown that hugged her torso before falling loosely towards the ground, with a long leg slit to allow mobility. She had a feeling that Gwen was up to something, despite no one believing her. And Chandra could bet it had everything to do with the most famous superheroes being her personal invites to the dance. Chandra's eyeshadow was a bright silver, which made her brilliant blue eyes pop. And if they turned silver, they would look good too. Her scar was slightly visible when her dress swayed away from her hips, but Chandra didn't care. Her scars were her favorite thing about her appearance. The open back of her dress exposed the web of silvery scars that nearly glowed on her skin. Magenta was in a cute purple dress with black lace covering the color and her legs showing through her fishnet leggings. Her eye shadow was the same purple as the streak in her hair and her brown eyes looked almost purple with all the color surrounding them.
The doorbell rang and Chandra watched as the other two girls scurried down the steps. Chandra was slightly disappointed that Warren never asked her to the dance, but she guessed that he just didn't like her that way. She sighed as she watched Layla jump into Will's arms and Magenta tuck herself under Zach's arm.
Chandra walked down the steps calmly and paused at the bottom as she saw Zach grin at her.
"What?" she smiled, seeing a mischievous light behind his eyes.
"You look absolutely stunning," he said before stepping aside in sync with Will. Behind them was Warren, looking absolutely gorgeous in his dad's tux and his hair freshly washed. He looked stunned at the sight of Chandra and she blushed slightly as the girls awed in the background.
"I. I." Warren stammered before taking a deep breath. "Would you," he closed his eyes, "go to homecoming with me?"
Chandra's smile got even wider. "You mean, as a date?"
He nodded, smiling at her happiness. She started to turn away before launching herself into his arms.
"I'll take that as a yes." Warren smiled as he hugged her, his chin resting on top of her head.
Chandra was beyond happy. They went off to the dance and enjoyed themselves. Chandra noticed that Lash and Speed had no date. No wonder, she thought, they were too mean to everyone to convince anyone to go out with them.
The principle stepped up onto the stage, announcing, "Welcome, Commander and Jetstream! Good evening," the principal continued until the applause died down. "First, a quick announcement. The owner of the blue cold fusion-powered jet pack, you left your lights on."
"Sorry. Sorry. Excuse me. Sorry," Professor Medulla could be heard as he stepped past people to get out.
"And now, please help me welcome the head of the homecoming committee, the girl who made all this possible, Gwen Grayson."
Chandra tensed, knowing if anything were planned this would be the moment. Afterall, Gwen was quite…dramatic.
"Thank you, Principal Powers. And a very special thank you goes to our guests of honor and recipients of our first ever Hero of the Year, the Commander and Jetstream. And to mark this occasion, we've planned a special tribute to the most powerful super-being to ever walk to halls of Sky High…Me!"
Everyone gasped as Royal pain turned her dress around to reveal a suite of bronze techno armor and allowed tendrils of electricity to shoot across the stage, pulling two large walls with the words "Royal Pain" on them. The music dramatically shifted before cutting off after a weirdly dressed gray and white joker with gray skin and black-painted lips jaunted up the stage and handed Royal Pain a machine resembling a gun with a bigger than reasonable lightbulb off the front. Chandra instantly recognized the picture from the History of Superheroes and Supervillians textbook.
"Royal Pain is a girl?" the Commander asked stupidly and Chandra couldn't help but roll her eyes at his observation.
"Yes, I'm a girl, you idiot!" Gwen's deep voice, modified by her golden mask bit out, echoing Chandra's feelings exactly.
"How I ever lost to a fool like you I'll never know. Now prepare to be Pacified!"
"Do you honestly think you can kill me with that little toy gun of yours?" the Commander challenged. Chandra knew Gwen was smarter than that. No. That gun did something other than external damage.
"My dear Commander, who said anything about killing you?"
She shot the gun as the commander groaned in pain, causing him to shrink until a baby's cry came from the pile of clothes.
Jetstream stupidly charged head on right into the beam, also turning into a baby, falling from air until Mr. Boy threw his food and caught her. He yelled something that seemed like the start of a love confession before being turned into a baby.
"Rock-a-bye, baby!" Gwen sang melodically as chaos erupted, everyone screaming and running for the exits, which were blocked by Lash, Speed, and Penny, who pulled down the safety panels.
"Boomer! Get the kids out of he-re!" the principal squealed as she was pacified.
"Gothead! Find and exit!" Boomer instructed as he ran up to Warren. "Get as many people out as you can. I'll slow her dow…!" He was cut off as the ray hit his back. Warren grabbed Chandra's hand as he led her and the others to a large ventilation grate, using a fireball to melt through the screws holding it to the walls before ensuring everyone through and following, closing the grate behind them.
It was very dark and Chandra couldn't tell which way was out or even if there was a way forward. "Hey, Warren, how 'bout a torch?" Ethan asked.
"Only if you want to get barbecued." Chandra cut in before Warren could. She couldn't see it but she could just feel the grin he sent her.
"Ladies, if I may." Zach said, glowing and making his way past them to lead the way.
"Then all the reindeer loved him," Magenta sang sweetly.
"Way to glow, Zach," Ethan cheered.
"Thanks, man."
When they reached a grate leading out to the hallway, Will made his way to the front and punched the grate open. As they crawled out, they were met by what was supposed to be menacing laughter.
"Try again." Chandra intoned, bored.
Speed looked at her, confused. "What?"
"Try laughing like a fat clown again, maybe it'll make you sound scarier."
"Guys?" Chandra started, "You know all that stuff you've been told about letting the Heroes do the fighting?"
"Yeah." Ethan said.
"Forget it. There are no more of the so-called heroes left. You guys are smart, use your powers to defeat Penny. I've got Lash and Speed."
Penny instantly multiplied herself into about 15 identical copies. Chandra waved her hand and Lash collapsed, once again boneless jelly and Speed fell to his rear, his knee in immense pain as he grasped at it.