Clothes Make the Woman
By HikerAngel



I love clothes.

I love feeling their fabric between my fingers, against my skin. I love their
texture.

I love the new way each outfit paints a different part of my body in a
different light. I love how each brings out a different curve, a different
line of my body.

I love trying on something new for the first time. I love slipping into
something warm and comfortable. I love the excitement and anticipation of
dressing for a formal event. I love pushing my breasts into a tight sports bra
and sliding yoga pants over my hips, knowing I look cute for my workout.

I'm not the prettiest girl in the world, but I keep my twenty-five-year-old
body fit, and I've been called cute. I've had a boyfriend or two that called
me beautiful, but that's on the checklist of boyfriend job responsibilities,
so it doesn't really count. Besides, those boyfriends left me for someone
prettier. Or sexier. Or blonde.

Which brings me back to why I'm thinking about clothes. I'm going to this
singles event tomorrow night, and I need something to wear. I want to feel
desired. I want to feel desirable. I need the perfect outfit. Something
different. Something amazing!

I looked through rack after rack of clothes at one department store after
another. Nothing was quite right.

Frustrated, I walked through the mall trying to think of another store to try,
when a bright red dress in the window of a strange little consignment shop
caught my eye.

I didn't normally go for used clothes or vintage stuff. The thought of wearing
something that others may have worn didn't appeal to me. But this dress ...
there was something about it. It was a mini halter dress with a high hemline
and open back. It was a solid red color, but it had intricate stitching that
gave it an elegant and unique texture upon closer examination. The stitching
was exquisite and in perfect condition. It was designed to show off my best
features""toned arms, legs, and back--and cover my worst""small breasts and
narrow hips. It was the perfect dress for my body. It was the dress that I
wanted. I knew it from the moment I saw it.

I entered the store to find a hunched, dwarfish old woman minding the shop.
She gave me an odd, overbroad, predatory smile as I entered that didn't fit
her grandmotherly appearance whatsoever. It totally gave me the creeps.
Ordinarily, I probably would have hustled out of the shop at that moment ...
but I had to have that dress.

"Hello?" I said.

"Hello," she said expectantly, continuing to wear that disturbing, overly
broad grin.

"Would you mind if I tried on that dress? The red one in the display?" I
pointed it out.

"Not at all, dear," she said, still grinning.

She shuffled slowly over to the display and removed the dress from the
mannequin, bringing it to me.

I took it from her as she continued to smile her hideous smile. I walked to
the back, the hair on the back of my neck sending warning shivers down my
spine as I had absolutely no doubt she was continuing to watch me with that
eerie grin on her face.

I tried to put the spooky old woman out of my mind while I tried the dress on.
I walked out of the changing room and over to the floor-length mirror as I
clasped the straps behind my neck. I swayed from side to side, turned
slightly, then finally did a pirouette.

I loved it.

The dress fit as if it had been tailored to my body. I was reasonably sure
that I had never looked so good in anything before.

I went back to the changing room and slipped my jeans, t-shirt, and hoodie
back on. I brought the dress to the strange shopkeeper. She continued her
smile""how I wanted to tell her to stop smiling!""but I was almost out of
there anyway.

"You can have that one for free, dear," she said. "You just have to do me a
favor sometime if I call on you."

"Thank you very much, but I would rather just pay for it, and ... " I said,
not wanting to ever see this freaky lady again.

"Nonsense, dear. Now have a nice day."

With that, she shuffled to the back and was gone. She had never asked for my
phone number, email, or even my name. It seemed unlikely that she was ever
going to call in that favor. So I took the dress, walked out of the shop,
thanked the Lord that I was rid of that creepy lady, and went home.

This dress was meant to be worn without a bra, with its open back and
supportive chest, but I wasn't sure whether that was a good idea. Would going
to a dating mixer braless send the right message to my prospective partners?
What kind of man would I end up with if I did that?

I looked down at my women's fitness magazine, at the perfect abs of the cover
model, and came to a decision. Screw it! I was going to look my best, and
whatever happened, happened.

Putting my bra back into the drawer, I slipped into the dress. I looked in the
mirror. My makeup looked great. My new earrings sparkled. My hair was up in a
French bun, and I was fairly pleased with it as well. As my gaze lowered, I
was again astonished by just how great I looked in this dress. I sprayed
perfume on my neck and wrists, then shifted my hips from side to side,
watching the fabric bunch and straighten. The pattern of the solid-colored
fabric was mesmerizing and gorgeous.

***

I arrived at the mixer five minutes late, noticing several pairs of eyes
turning in my direction. It wasn't like I commanded the room or anything, but
I was nice to see that I was attracting at least some attention from the
start.

One of the men approached. He was nice enough, but not really my type. As we
chatted, and I noticed his eyes flick downward on occasion, I began to feel a
strange sensation on my skin under the dress. I ignored it, trying to seem
interested in what this guy was saying. Even though I had no interest in
dating him, I still wanted to be polite. We were all in this dating scenario
together, no reason to hurt anyone's feelings.

We finally wrapped up our conversation and moved on to other clusters of
people. Another man approached. This one was fit, not particularly handsome,
but a good body impressed me more than an attractive face. It showed effort
and willpower""something about the person. A nice face just showed good genes.
I smiled.

He looked me over as he approached, and I felt the sensation under the dress
again. It didn't feel uncomfortable, and it didn't feel good. It was just...
distracting. I fought the urge to look down at myself. The man must have liked
what he saw as he checked me out, as he smiled broadly. The sensation
intensified to the point where I needed a bit of privacy to see what was going
on. I apologized and excused myself to the restroom for a brief moment. I was
interested in this guy, so hopefully he waited for me.

Walking into the restroom straight to the mirror, I fidgeted under the dress.
My eyes widened.

My breasts looked more full, my hips more voluptuous. I felt my slender
stomach, tracing lines of definition through the fabric that I was certain
hadn't been there before. Everything that the dress covered seemed to have
improved.

I gave a delighted giggle before covering my lips with my fingers. What was
going on here? Was it the dress that was changing me? I thought back to the
way it had captured my attention, to the creepy old lady...

I decided that I was going to have to have to pay Creepy Grandma another
visit. First, however, I needed to test out my new charms on the man I'd set
my sights on at the mixer. I smiled and walked out of the bathroom with a
confidence I hadn't felt before.

Striding up to him, I let my newfound confidence fuel my flirtatious side.
Maybe it was my confidence, maybe my larger chest, but his roaming gaze along
my body lit his eyes with hungry fire. His eyes darted sideways before they
came to mine. He didn't know I noticed, but I did.

I gave him my sultriest eyes, my sexiest smile, and I could see its impact in
his face, in his eyes. This felt good, a game that I now felt ready to play.

"Want to get out of here? I think that I've found what I'm looking for here,"
I said. Whoa! Had I just been that forward? Was the dress influencing my mind
as well as my body?

He smiled and seemed to consider. It didn't take him long.

"Actually, yes. Coffee?" he said. I was pleased.

"As long as it comes with dessert..." I said with a wink. Oh. My. God. Where
was this coming from? This so wasn't me!

"What did you have in mind? I could go for dessert..." his response was safe.
He wasn't sure what I was saying, and he probably didn't want to offend.

We walked toward the coffee shop, and I'm not sure what came over me. I pulled
his strong body toward mine and kissed him. Hard. Passionately.

I could feel him harden against my abdomen. I smiled into the kiss as I pushed
him against the wall.

The muscles of his hard back and firm butt hit brick as my hands and lips
roamed. He tasted like baked brie, sweet, savory.

Why was I doing this? I thought, suddenly alarmed.

Then, I stopped thinking and nipped his lower lip with my teeth.

Stop! I said, in conflict with myself.

Finally, I pulled back, leaving him gasping for breath. I had clearly
overwhelmed him. I had clearly overwhelmed me!

Who was I becoming?!

Concerned by the thought, I grew suddenly demure. I smiled and mumbled an
apology, then left, hustling away in the dark rainy night.

I seriously needed to see Creepy Grandma. Like NOW.

The following morning, I looked in the mirror, giving a sexy smirk as I looked
at my new body. My smirk quickly turned to a frown, however, as I thought,
that's not me! I should be freaking out about that dress changing my body, not
feeling satisfied and sexy. What is wrong with me?

My body, improved as it was, was no different than it had been when I had
taken off the dress last night. The changes must only happen while wearing it
then. That was good. It gave me some control over things. I wondered if it
would work again, tempted by my new, daring side... but I resisted.

Was the dress changing my personality too? That was a really concerning
thought. Whatever the benefits of wearing the dress were to my body, I
certainly didn't want it affecting who I was. I certainly hadn't been myself
last night at the mixer. I had been far more forward and daring than normal.

I tried to put that thought out of my mind as I looked at my phone to find out
when the mall opened. I would get answers soon enough when I had a chance to
speak to Creepy Grandma again. The mall opened at 10:00 AM. Perfect! I went to
the gym for my morning workout, got my morning latte, then headed to the mall.

As I walked into the shop, I didn't see Creepy Grandma. I did, however, see a
skimpy black getup on the mannequin in the window where the dress I had
purchased was previously displayed. It looked like something a figure skater
might wear, with a form-fitting bodysuit look for the front of the torso, an
open back, and a short skater skirt. The only thing that was a bit different
was the black and silver shield on the front. I had never seen anything quite
like it before.

I rang the bell at the desk, hoping that it would bring out Creepy Grandma.

I waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

I rang the bell again.

Creepy Grandma didn't appear, but a green mist began to swirl around me. I
tried to turn and leave the shop, but I seemed to be frozen in place. I
frantically looked from side to side, as my eyes were the only things that I
seemed to be able to move. All that I saw, however, was green mist!

The world began to spin, faster and faster. Until the world went black.

As I awoke, I found myself in complete darkness, limbs spread out, chained to
a cement wall. I had cold iron cuffs on each wrist and ankle that were
attaching me to the wall. My back was bare, pressed to the frigid cement, and
I began to shiver immediately after regaining consciousness. I could feel that
I was wearing clothing however, but not my sweater and jeans from when I had
been in the shop.

Had someone changed me? Into what? Why? Bare back, covered front ... Was I in
that figure skater outfit from the display in the shop? It certainly fit the
profile of whatever I was now wearing.

The thought of some stranger changing my clothes was odd and more than a
little disturbing. I didn't want to dwell on that right now, however. I had to
figure out how I was going to escape this situation.

Maybe these chains were old? I pulled my right hand out from the wall with all
my might. I felt a warm strength pour into the arm as I pulled, but it wasn't
enough. The cuff wasn't going to break. If it was old, it was still sturdy
enough to hold me.

I tried the other arm and each leg. Same thing. Warmth, strength, no use.

Suddenly, I heard a clang. Something from the darkness behind me, above me,
and to my left. There must be a stairwell over there somewhere? I tried to
reimagine the room's layout now that I had heard a sound.

I heard footsteps descending, slowly, methodically.

Clunk.

Clunk.

Clunk.

I began to see the slightest bit of light. It was warm, orange, flickering.

The light grew brighter as the steps approached, until finally, I could see
myself in the faint flickers. I was indeed wearing the skater outfit from the
shop. My breasts seemed even larger than before, blocking my view of the rest
of my body. Affixed to the wall, I couldn't crane my neck forward far enough
to see over my now significant swells. As I looked to each side, I noticed
that my arms were more toned and defined, the flickers sending shadows dancing
along the swells and valleys of their contours.

Finally, the owner of the footsteps came into my view. It was Creepy Grandma,
looking all the creepier with the flickers of the candle she held before her
fluttering over her overly wide smile.

"Good. You're awake, my dear. I'm glad. Come to see me when you let yourself
out," she said in a gravelly voice. Then, she began to head back to the
stairs.

"Wait! That's it! I can't exactly let myself out with these chains on!" I
said, trying to hide the desperation and anxiety in my voice.

The old woman's expression didn't change, but she looked at me intently. She
gave me the impression of a raven, quietly intense, studying. Then, she turned
and began a slow walk up the stairs.

"So no water? Food? You're just going to leave me here?" I said, no longer
caring if I sounded desperate. I was becoming desperate! I thought that the
woman was going to do something. Tell me something. Something. Anything! But
she just left me here. For no apparent reason.

What the fuck was this? What did she want from me?

I should never have come back to the shop. After that first trip, I should
have known.

Thinking back to that first trip, I remembered the favor that I owed the lady
for the dress. Was this what she considered a favor?

What a fucking pyscho!

I was becoming angry now. Furious. I couldn't remember ever feeling so mad.

With rage giving me energy, I tried once more to pull my arm from the wall.
This time it moved. Ever so slightly. I could feel the iron cuff pulling out
from the wall. It began to bend, creaking. Finally, a snap! My right arm was
free! With one side free, I had much more leverage. I used my powerful core
muscles to twist as I pulled as hard as I could with my left arm. I heard a
ping and the clang of metal pieces on the ground. My left was free now too!

It was then that I realized I should have freed my legs first. With nothing
holding my upper half to the wall, I began to fall face-first toward the
ground. My ankles pressed against the front of their cuffs as I went down
hard. The cuffs seemed to bend under the force, until they popped open,
allowing me to fall the rest of the way to the ground.

As my hands hit the stone floor, it wasn't feeling as cold now. My skin was
feeling insulated from the cold somehow. As I rose to my feet, I already knew
my next course of action. I was going to show that old lady exactly what I
thought of her favor. I felt my lips twist into a sneer as I began to ascent
the steps that Creepy Grandma had traveled a moment before.

I threw open the door, ready to confront Creepy Grandma. I saw her across the
room, smiling her wicked smile as ever.

I began to march across the large room to give her a piece of my mind, you
know, for the whole chaining to the wall in the dark dungeon below her house
thing, when I saw a large form step between us.

How had I not noticed this guy before? He bulged with muscle, its striations
visible under his tight suit. Why did superheroes and supervillains always
wear tight clothes? I mused momentarily. I should come out with a line of
fashionwear focused on invulnerable baggy jeans and chunky sweaters. I could
totally own the loose-fit superhero outfit market!

Anyway, I should probably be more worried about the situation at hand right
now, so I went back to my original thought about noticing the guy. I suppose I
had been too focused on Creepy Grandma to look around at the rest of the room.
I did now. Luckily, there weren't any other people in the room besides the
three of us.

I looked back at the man. I recognized him. He was Vile Vern, one of the more
powerful supervillains in the city!

Uh oh! Even with my new strength, I doubted I was in his league.

Before I could figure out what to do next, he was on me, an amused Grandma
looking on in the background.

Vile Vern grabbed me by my black skater outfit and let loose with a punch to
my stomach.

All air left my lungs, and pain exploded from my abs. I fell back, pulling him
off balance and onto me due to his grip on my clothes. I felt like cursing,
but I couldn't manage it with the lack-of-air-in-the-freaking-lungs issue. At
least I could mentally curse, right?

Fuck! That hurt!

There. That felt better. It wasn't better for long.

Vern's huge body crashed on top of mine, creating another whoosh of air from
my lungs just as I was beginning to refill them from his punch! Apparently, I
wasn't invulnerable, because the combination of the two really hurt!

Not knowing what else to do, I duplicated a move that I had watched several
times in MMA fights. I wrapped my legs around his lower back. That's when I
realized that MMA fights didn't usually involve a man and a woman. This had
the look of something distinctly more sexual... The thought didn't last long,
however, because I saw my legs. The were so long, so smooth, so sexy. I had
always had pretty good legs, but now they were amazing! I guess that this
latest Creepy Grandma outfit hadn't just made me stronger, it had improved my
body just as the first had. Where was a mirror when you needed one?

Then, I felt a blow to my head. Oh yeah, fight. Why was my mind always
wandering when I should be focused on not getting my ass kicked?

This blow hadn't hurt as much as the one to my stomach. Thank goodness for my
hard head! I reached out to grab his large hands in my smaller ones, in an
attempt to prevent him from landing any other blows. He pulled out of one
hand--barely, but when he tried to do the same and his other arm out of my
grasp, he didn't seem to be able to. Was I growing stronger?

In his moment of surprise, I reached out and grabbed his free hand with my
right again, and this time he couldn't pull free.

I was growing stronger!

I tightened the grip of my legs on his lower back, pulling him into me. His
hard chest pressed against my breasts... which I now noticed were larger. Yay!

Don't get distracted by your sexier parts now, Elaine! I chastised myself.
You've got a fight to win here.

I tightened my legs even harder and Vern grimaced in pain. I was hurting him!
I was actually hurting him!!

Unfortunately, with him pressed against me and his arms in mine, in a
decidedly unromantic lover's embrace, I couldn't really hurt him. Or him me.

Gaining confidence in my growing strength, I decided to push him off me. Using
my long legs and toned arms, I pushed up and outward. Vern went flying,
crashing into the corner of the room where ceiling met wall, then slamming
down into the ground.

I rose to my feet as he began to slowly rise to his. I didn't want to give up
my momentary advantage, however, so I walked over to him and kicked him in the
face, my toe catching his chin. He flipped upright and smashed against the
wall a few feet away, half-caving it in.

I spared a quick glance in Creepy Grandma's direction, and she was smiling
even more broadly than usual. I shivered at the sight of her distended cheeks.
This lady was just so incredibly hideous.

Vern had recovered while I was distracted with Grandma and her awful smile,
and he launched a punch in my direction. Luckily, either he was slowing down,
or I was moving faster, because I dodged out of the way before it hit me.

He followed up with a punch from the other hand. This time, I put my hand up
to block it and did, knocking it away without too much trouble.

He sent another right hand toward me, really slow this time--almost as if he
were moving through water. I grabbed his large hand in my smaller one,
stopping it cold.

I had seen this part before in the movies, so I knew what to do. I squeezed.

At first, all it seemed to do was cause him a grunt of pain. I doubled down on
my effort, feeling strength pouring into my arm and hand. His fingers seemed
to bow under the pressure until they finally snapped.

*Snap* *Crackle* *Pop*

It was like the Rice Krispies slogan... but less delicious and way grosser.

His face contorted in pain as I released it, his fingers bent at odd angles,
obviously broken. I threw an uppercut to his jaw before he even knew what hit
him, and he flew into the ceiling before landing on the floor in a crumpled
heap. Wood, plaster and other detritus landing on top of him as he lay there,
unmoving.

Damn! I was pretty strong now apparently. I tried to be concerned for Vern,
but I couldn't seem to care about him. All I felt was satisfaction at having
overpowered the man. My lips curled into a smile involuntarily, and I looked
over to Creepy Grandma.

She was gone.

Damn it, I thought, as I searched the house for the old woman. How is that old
lady so spry that she can slither out of here like that?

I wonder what her deal is? Why did she give me these clothes? Did she want to
make me stronger? Does Vile Vern work for her? Maybe I should have thought to
ask him some questions before I kicked him? Oh well... she thought.

Maybe the real question was why I didn't think twice about kicking him in the
face, and why I felt only satisfaction, no guilt or remorse about it. Was I
becoming evil? I felt as if the thought should bother me. It didn't. All that
was really bothering me is why the old lady didn't seem to have a single
mirror in this place, so that I could get a look at my new body.

As I debated whether to leave or wait for Vile Vern to awaken, I heard a soft
thump outside the front door. Wow! Maybe my hearing was improving too. Then, I
looked through the door. I'm not quite sure how I did it, and I didn't dwell
on the fact that I had for long, because I was too distracted with what I was
actually seeing.

Megaman.

Megaman and his cousin, Megagirl, were the strongest, most powerful
superheroes in Megatown. And probably in the world. I couldn't help but lick
my lips, as I looked through his costume with my x-ray eyes. Look at that
ridiculous chest... those abs of steel. Vile Vern was muscular, but this man?
He was chiseled to perfection. Yummy.

My eyes roamed his acres of tanned, carved muscles then began to go lower to
check out his...

...and then he was right in front of me. In, like, an instant. Shit! Had he
caught me checking him out? Well, if he had, at least he would know I was
interested...

I put on a sexy smile and cocked my hip. Where was this coming from? The
dress? Had that dress permanently changed my personality to make me a sexy
little delicious minx who could wrap any man around... STOP IT!

I really needed to stop thinking these thoughts! I was in control. I was in
control... of my sexy legs that went on for days, and my...

ARG!

Megaman seemed confused as he looked at me. Finally, he spoke, giving me
something to think about other than SEX!

"Why hello, miss. Thank you for taking care of Vile Vern here. I've been
looking for him for a while now," he said with a smile before his expression
turned serious.

"But if you don't mind my asking, why are you in Megagirl's costume from the
time she turned evil?"

Uh oh. Was I evil now? Was he here for me? Shit! Wait, though. All I had done
was knock out a supervillain. That wasn't so bad, right?

"Well, it's funny that you should ask that. You see, a few days ago I got this
dress from this weird, creepy old lady in the mall, and I wore it to a singles
mixer, but I noticed that it made me hotter, with bigger breasts and stuff. So
I went back to find the old lady, but this lady knocked me unconscious somehow
and dressed me up in this thing, then chained me to the wall of her dungeon
downstairs. Then, I somehow started to get superpowers, and I broke through
the chains in the dungeon. Then, I came upstairs, and this Vern dude tried to
kill me! So it's really not my fault, you see. I just happened to be in the
wrong place at the wrong time, and now that I think about it, it is seriously
creeping me out that the old lady must have seen me naked getting me out of my
other clothes and into this costume. But you probably don't care about that
part, and I probably didn't need to point it out, but there you have it.
That's how I got into this evil Megagirl costume."

Megaman stared at me in awe. I do tend to ramble when I'm nervous. Or in
trouble. Or in front of a hot guy. And when all three are happening... and I
have superbreath? Well, I guess you just saw what happens.

Finally, he spoke. "Well, miss, it sounds as if you've been through a lot
today. It might be best to change out of that costume, though, before someone
thinks that you're evil."

"And did you say you had superpowers now?"

"Yeah," I said. Limiting myself to a single word answer now, so that I didn't
babble again.

"Mind if I test them a bit?" he said.

I bit my lower lip and batted my eyelashes. "You can test my body however
you'd like, any time you'd like..."

"Oh. My. God!" Had I just said that to Megaman? I flushed with embarrassment,
unable to control my seductive side around someone I was attracted to,
apparently.

"Um, okay. Ah, thank you," Megaman said, clearly a little embarrassed at the
situation himself.

He took my hand in his.

"Okay, grip my hand as hard as you can."

I did. I squeezed with everything I had. His hand turned a little purple, but
his grip still felt firm on mine.

"Good Lord! You're almost as strong as I am--probably on par with Megagirl!
You say you never had superpowers until this old woman dressed you in that
costume?"

"No! Never!"

"Hmmm... I need to see what's happening here and consult with the Megatown DEO
branch. Let me take you home, so you can change out of that outfit. I need to
take it with me to be examined."

"Actually, do you mind if I try to fly back on my own? Maybe you could give me
some pointers or something, but I've always wanted to fly. I thought that
since I had all of Megagirl's other powers, I might..." I trailed off,
embarrassed.

"By all means..." Megaman said. "I always like to give a little hop at
takeoff, like this."

He hopped.

I watched.

With my x-ray vision.

And OMG, he was huge--his, package, um, packaged up rather nicely in its
spandex cocoon as it bounced with his hop.

What? I couldn't help it... and I was evil-ish now, remember? And a sex fiend,
thanks to the dress. It's not my fault!

I walked outside to try out what he had shown me... Not that! The flying
thing! Get your mind out of the gutter! Not that evil. Yet.

I launched myself into the sky, then slowed to a stop, floating in midair. I
turned to look down at Megaman. I was doing it! I was flying!

Megaman rose to meet me.

"Nice work!" He said.

"Thanks!" I said coyly, absently wondering what those huge, hard muscles of
his would feel like against my...

"Well, what have we here?" Said another voice from behind me.

I spun and saw Megagirl hovering in space.

"Megagirl, I... it's nice to meet you," I said, feeling momentarily guilty for
ogling her brother or cousin or whatever. Then, I realized that I hadn't
actually said or done anything, so I didn't need to feel guilty.

"Likewise. Though I'm curious why you are wearing my old evil-Megagirl
costume."

"Um, well, it's a long story..."

"She was forced to wear it by some sort of evil old woman," Megaman
interrupted, probably to avoid another crazy run-on story gush by yours truly.

"Forced? By an old woman?" Said Megagirl, incredulously. "How did she even
have this outfit?"

"Good question," said Megaman. "And I intend to find out the answer..."

I wasn't sure whether to be grateful to Creepy Grandma or not. She had somehow
turned me into a sexy superheroine, but she also seemed to be changing my
personality either with these clothes or via some other mechanism. I tried to
decide whether I liked the changes. I was becoming bolder, more aggressive. I
didn't necessarily mind that. I was becoming less restrained, less concerned
about doing whatever I pleased. Was that a good thing?

That one was a bit tougher to answer. On one hand, it was freeing. It felt
good, caring less about everyone else. I could simply do what I wanted,
consequences be damned. On the other hand, what about others? Shouldn't I want
to do right by others? Shouldn't I want good things for others more than for
myself?

The conflicting thoughts warred within me. Each had its appeal. I decided that
I should pay another visit to Creepy Grandma to learn more about what was
going on. Maybe that would help me define my course.

As Megaman and Megagirl discussed what had happened to me, I slipped away,
floating slowly away before accelerating to maximum speed back to the shop at
the mall, the only other place I knew to find her. The two superheroes didn't
seem to be following.

I landed outside the mall, then made my way to the shop.

The shop was open, and I walked in. Creepy Grandma was standing at the
counter, freakish smile and all.

I walked up to the counter, set both forearms on it, and leaned forward until
my face was less than a foot from the old woman's. I would never have been so
bold to do that with the evil, creepy old hag before the changes in my
personality, but, well, that was then. This was now. And I needed some
answers.

"So, lady, I need you to tell me what's going on. Why are you doing this to
me? Are you putting some sort of spell on the clothes? Are they changing my
personality? Talk."

The old woman began to laugh. I was confident in my new strength, my new
abilities, but her raspy gasps of delight were making me feel uneasy.

Before I could blink""which is now pretty damn fast""Creepy Grandma's hands
shot out and clamped these silver bracelets around my wrists.

As I looked down to examine the new hardware on my wrists, her hands shot out
again, wrapping a silver choker around my neck.

How was this old hag so fast?! I mean, I was nearly as fast as Megaman! This
lady was faster than that? How was that possible?

I began to feel strange. My skin tingled. My hair raised. A sensation of power
began to spread from my wrists and neck. Was I becoming even more powerful?
Was it something else?

I tried to be concerned, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. The
feeling of power seemed to be washing my worries away. I felt as if I were
floating in darkness. I felt the warm arousal of wickedness melting my
goodness away.

I don't know how else to describe it, the inherent goodness that my parents
instilled in me through childhood felt charred, burning away by the moment.

I was so lost in the mixture of heady, complementary sensations""power and
amorality""that

I didn't even notice that Creepy Grandma was no longer in front of me. She had
vanished.

That lady was seriously elusive. I had come to get answers, armed with powers
nearly a match for Megaman's, and I had managed to get exactly none.

As I looked around, a blue and red figure walked into the shop. It was
Megagirl. Gorgeous, blond, sexy Megagirl. I licked my lips as I felt a strong
attraction to the wholesome heroine. Was I into girls now too? Shit! That was
new!

I rose from my lean over the counter and walked slowly toward her. She must
have seen something in how I now looked because her eyes widened slightly, and
she tensed.

I strolled casually her way, and she eyed my new choker and bracelets with
suspicion. I felt myself smile, my chin moving down slightly. My eyes stayed
on hers. As I approached, I saw Megagirl's muscles prepare for action.

What was it that she was sensing that told her to prepare for action? Was it
simply my approach? Now that I thought about it, I wondered why I was
approaching. Couldn't I have spoken to her from the counter? But I hadn't
spoken, had I? I wondered what I was doing. It was almost as if my body were
developing a mind of its own.

I came to a stop two feet in front of the beautiful heroine. She looked
nervous.

I saw Megagirl's nipples tenting the fabric of her sheer costume. Her hips
shifted.

Was this girl attracted to me? I couldn't believe it! Megagirl? The nubile
blond goddess herself? The thought sent an electric thrill through me.

I wondered what I looked like. I still hadn't gotten a proper view since
donning the black Megagirl costume""and now I had the bracelets and choker as
well.

I glanced toward the glass in the shop window and saw a faint reflection. My
figure looked dramatic and incredibly toned. As I compared my faint outline to
Megagirl's hers was left wanting. Her profile looked flat and girlish next to
my dramatic, sexy curves. I was somehow filling out her costume far better
than she could.

The realization of just how phenomenally gorgeous I must be sent a wash of
strong emotions through me. Pride, arousal, and a carefree, ecstatic feeling
blended in a heady rush.

I was dangerously sexy. And with the restraint of years of social conditioning
slipping with my burgeoning power, I didn't even know what I might be capable
of doing.

Megagirl gulped, and she remained tensed for action. She obviously wasn't sure
what I was capable of doing either.

I heard Creepy Grandma's voice behind me.

"What are you waiting for, girl? Kill her! I've given you the power."

My body tensed involuntarily, and I watched Megagirl's eyes go wide. Already
prepared for a fight, she launched a fist toward my face. It seemed slow. I
slapped it away, spinning with the movement while raising my other arm. I used
the momentum of my spin to send my raised elbow into the other girl's mouth.

The power of blow sent the girl flying through the wall of the shop.

Why had I done that? I hadn't meant to do that! I just wanted to ogle the
pretty girl's body!

Wait! What?

Neither attack nor thoughts of attraction seemed like my own. I was becoming
some sort of uninhibited goddess. The thought wasn't unappealing... but it
wasn't exactly me.

How should I fight this? Should I fight this? It would be so much easier just
to go with it. So much easier. And more fun...

I looked back to Creepy Grandma, with her evil smile and met it with one of my
own.

I heard something from the room next door and watched as Megagirl struggled
back through the ragged opening in the wall. She seemed a bit wobbly from my
blow, and her lip was bleeding.

I had never seen Megagirl bleed before, even in the toughest of her fights.
But somehow I had done this to her. I felt a surge of empathy for the poor
girl. I knew that she was no match for me anymore, and I didn't really want to
hurt her.

She walked up to me and readied herself to throw another punch. Seeing her
telegraph the coming blow, I moved before she could react. I knew that if I
let her swing, my body would launch a counter-strike before I could stop it.
So I hugged her, wrapping my armed around the slender girl and locking her
arms to her side. There, now she couldn't attack me, and I didn't have to hurt
her.

Pleasant sensations coursed through me as my breasts pushed into those of the
blond girl. I smiled in the knowledge that mine were obviously larger and
firmer. Just as I was beginning to think sexy thoughts, Megagirl's lips moved
upward toward mine, and she kissed me.

"What are you doing?" I heard Creepy Grandma hiss from behind me.

I ignored her, intent on Megagirl's soft lips as they explored mine.

Then I felt her bony hands snake around my waist from behind. As pleasant as
it was, I broke the kiss and glanced down to see the old woman's hands clasp a
thin black belt into place around my ridiculously toned abs.

Oh, God!

I felt another rush ripple through me, the strongest yet. I shuddered with the
sensation, my fingers and lips trembling with power. I felt my body changing
once more. I couldn't see what I was becoming, but I could see the smoldering
haze of desire in Megagirl's eyes become an inferno.

My attraction to Megagirl remained, but it fell under the shadow of irrational
fury. My lips curled downward as I felt hatred pouring into my veins.

"Now finish her," commanded a raspy old voice.

My hands rose at the woman's command, and I gripped Megagirl's shoulders
firmly, my slim fingers sinking into her indestructible muscles with ease. She
yelped with pain, but there wasn't anything she could do about it now. I was
far too strong.

I saw a red and blue flash behind her.

"Let her go," said Megaman.

Creepy Grandma cackled behind me, and Megaman's gaze drifted to her.

"You!" he cried, a hint of fear in his eyes. What was that all about? Did he
know her?

I flung Megagirl to the side with casual ease and approached Megaman with a
nonchalant saunter.

He swallowed hard.

I could see the delicious mixture of fear and arousal in his eyes as they
watched my languidly graceful movements. Smiling, I struck before he ever knew
what was coming. My first powered through his unprepared abs with ease. I
watched his features contract in pain as if in slow motion as my hand wrecked
him, rearranging his internal organs. I felt one of his bones crack as my hand
nicked the bottom of his ribcage.

Then he was gone, flying through the roof of the mall with hypersonic speed.
The heat of my rage diminished, vented by the pain I knew I had inflicted on
Megaman. It remained, but it had been turned down to a low simmer. I turned to
find that Creepy Grandma was gone once more. Where did this old hag go all the
time? I needed some answers!

Hearing a moan, my eyes turned to Megagirl, who was peeling herself out of a
crater in the floor. Had I really thrown her that hard? I shrugged. Guess so.

I walked back to the mangled shop, eager to find a mirror as Megagirl rose
shakily to her feet.

I walked right past a wobbly Megagirl on my way to the mirror in the back of
the shop. I saw her dazed eyes trace the curves of my body out of the corner
of my eye.

As I stopped in front of the mirror, my breath caught. I was...

Absolutely.

Unbelievably.

Gorgeous.

I swallowed hard as my eyes wandered the delicately chiseled perfection of my
face, its radiant skin, its large, luminous green eyes. I ran my fingers
through the thick, lustrous chocolate strands that poured over my shoulders.

Before I could visually explore my body, a body I already knew was far
superior to Megagirl's, I saw her face appear over my shoulder in the
reflection. My eyes were drawn to hers ... and the blazing firestorm of desire
that raged within them. She rested her chin on the slope of my toned shoulder,
turned her head slightly to the side and began to kiss my neck.

I felt pinpricks of arousal from the lurid sucking of her soft lips on my
tender flesh and my full lips parted.

Her hands slithered around my impossibly firm waist, and her fingers traced my
abs upward until they cupped my breasts with a crackling thrill. I felt my
breath escape my parted lips in an amorous exhale.

I reached back and found her hips with my hands. Resting my fingers on their
fabric-clad swells, I pushed inward, just slightly. Her flesh, indestructible
by even the most powerful of weaponry, was pliant under the immense power of
my slender fingers, pushing inward and eliciting a moan from the blonde as she
felt my strength.

I turned and straightened, looking down on the girl who was previously held as
the ultimate woman. Our breasts touched with prickling electricity, mine far
fuller than hers. Her hands found new purchase in the middle of my back, and
she attempted to pull me toward her. The effort, one that I knew was
sufficient to overpower all but the most powerful of supers, felt light,
inconsequential to me.

Just how powerful was I now?

I felt a surge of dark pride quicken my heart. I was so beautiful, so
powerful, so invincible.

I was better in every conceivable way than the woman before me, this paragon
of feminine power.

As the realization dawned, I felt a confidence I had never before known. My
eyes explored the beautiful superheroine, quivering like living clay, ready to
be molded by my desires, living, for the moment, in anticipation of ecstasies
she could scarcely imagine.

I smiled broadly as I wrapped my arms around the small of her back and pulled
her upward and into me. Her body wrapped around mine, seeking the maximum
amount of contact between us, as our lips met.

I felt her husky moan vibrate against my mouth. She had never been with anyone
like me, someone who could overpower her with ease. She clearly loved it, the
excitement was written all over her tensed muscles.

I bent my knees and lowered her to the velveteen chair by the changing rooms
where we stood. I pulled her gently away from my body, leaving her panting
with arousal, half-reclined, on the chair. I took off the belt, briefly
worrying that I would lose its effects...until I remembered that they were
permanent. I took off the boots deliberately, watching her azure eyes trace
the contours of my shapely calves. I could feel their staggering hardness as
my fingertips slipped down their slowly arcing length to push the boots down.

Megagirl shifted in the chair.

I slowly began to peel off the tight black fabric of my uniform, rolling it
down my defined arms, over the dramatic swells of my bountiful breasts, down
the sculpted ridges of my abs. I pushed the outfit over my lavish hips with a
sexy shimmy.

Megagirl clasped her hands, her fingers whitening the flesh on the opposing
hand as they clenched.

I finished pushing the costume past the smoothness of my sleek thighs until it
dropped to the floor, then stepped carefully out of the small heap of cloth. I
kicked it to the side as I rose my eyes to meet hers once more. I knew that
they smoldered. I know that Megagirl's did.

Her jaw trembled.

I stepped toward her, placed a hand on the armrest to either side of her and
lowered my body tantalizingly over hers.

I could see her uncertainty. She didn't know what I wanted, yet she squirmed,
knowing the untold pleasures it would bring.

As I was about to swoop my mouth toward hers once more, I heard a sound. My
eyes darted up to see Megaman's shocked expression at the store entrance.

Megagirl saw my gaze rise to something in the distance behind her, and she
shifted to look. Her eyes bulged as she saw a stunned Megaman watching us.

He was clutching his side, near where I had struck him. That struck me as
funny for some reason, and I laughed. Megaman's surprised expression quickly
turned into a scowl and he began to walk toward us.

Megagirl, still clothed, jumped in front of me and held out her hands. He came
to a stop just before his chest bumped into them then looked at her
quizzically.

"What, exactly is going on here?" he asked her, his tone reminiscent of a
father questioning a daughter who had been out too late.

I watched with amusement. I wondered whether I should put my clothes back on.
I was hot as hell. Invulnerable. More powerful than either of the
Mega-cousins. Fuck it.

"Just leave me be right now. This doesn't concern you."

"The hell it doesn't! You're letting this evil bitch corrupt you, and I
can't"""

"Who are you calling an evil bi""" I started.

"Corrupt me how exactly?" Megagirl interrupted.

"Well, you know ... I mean ... look at what ... uh ... you know what I mean!"
As Megaman struggled for the right words, digging himself into deeper trouble
with everyone, Megagirl stiffened.

"So because we were having a private moment between two women, you call it
corruption?"

"No, I call it corruption because she's obviously EVIL! And you're getting way
too friendly with someone who's EVIL!!!"

"Tell me""what has she done that's so evil!"

"What do you mean? She attacked us!"

"Actually, I attacked her first."

"But ... her costume is black!"

"...And wearing black makes one evil because ... "

"It ... I mean ... it's obvious! Look at her!"

"So because she's wearing black and is into women, she's evil?"

"Well, when you put it that way, it doesn't sound good, but ... "

I smirked and crossed my arms, delighted by Megagirl's verbal beatdown of her
older cousin. Even I was beginning to be persuaded by her arguments, and I
knew the dark thoughts that I'd been thinking!

"...But what? Attacking someone simply because of how she looks and her sexual
orientation? Sounds more like you're the evil one here!"

"WHAT?! Are you calling me""?"

"YES! I think you're not nearly as open-minded as you think you are, cousin!
And you need to give that some hard thought. In another place. Right NOW!"

Megaman looked at his younger cousin with an expression of absolute shock,
hand dropping from his injured ribs. He opened his mouth as if to speak, said
nothing, and, after a moment, clamped it back shut.

I stifled a giggle as Megagirl simply continued to glare at him.

Finally, scowling, he jumped into the air and flew away. Megagirl turned back
to me, her eyes dropping for a brief moment to my nude body, then flicking
back to meet mine.

"Now where were we ... " she said, voice dropping.

"I am seriously turned on right now," I said.

"You and me both," she said with a dark smile. "Sorry about my cousin. He
means well, but he's kinda old-fashioned."

"No worries ... but let's go to my place. When I'm here, that creepy old hag
always shows up and dolls me up more. I'd rather have a bit of privacy right
now ... "

"Sounds perfect."

When we arrived at my place a few seconds later, I realized that I didn't have
my keys. I grabbed the door handle and twisted, sending splinters of door
frame flying. Looking at Megagirl, I shrugged.

When we entered my apartment, I closed the damaged door as best I could, for
privacy. Taking Megagirl's hand in mine, I lead her to my futon. Gazing at me,
distracted by my insanely gorgeous face and not looking where she was going,
Megagirl stumbled over my coffee table. Not wanting to damage it, she lurched,
lost her balance and fell on the cushions. Her hand, still gripping mine,
pulled me off balance toward her.

I suppose that I could have used my flight power or superstrength to resist
the pull ... but why? I allowed myself to fall on top of her, onto the futon,
bringing our faces mere millimeters apart. I could feel her breath on my lips.

We both smiled, relieved to have privacy this time for our intimate encounter.
I swept over her, brushing her lips with mine. They felt soft and pliable as I
grazed them. Megagirl shivered beneath me.

"Now I think this is about where we left off," I whispered throatily, oddly
confident despite never having been with a girl before. Probably because her
desire for me was so obvious I could nearly taste it.

Gone were all the insecurities about my body that normally plagued my thoughts
during foreplay. Gone were any concerns that I wouldn't be "good." I hadn't
had a chance to fully explore this new body of mine, but I had seen enough to
know that it put Megagirl's to shame ... and hers was pretty much perfect.

I felt a strange warmth beginning to burn in my belly as I realized just how
overpoweringly gorgeous I must be. I mean, Megairl had graced every magazine
cover known to humankind. She was who every girl wanted to be""the strongest,
most powerful, most desirable woman alive ...

...And she couldn't hold a candle to me!

I shuddered, my heartbeat quickening as the thought sunk in.

I pulled my lips away from hers. Her head came up slightly, mouth reaching
upward for mine, eyes closed. She flicked her tongue over her lower lip. I
could practically taste her need as her moistened lips searched for me.

I sliced her uniform right down the middle with a sharp fingernail, exposing
her delectable body to my hungry eyes. After peeling the flaps of the costume
away from her flawless skin, I playfully remained just beyond her reach. After
a moment of hesitation, she opened her eyes a sliver, long lashes opening ever
so slightly to reveal the iridescent blue oceans beneath them.

God, she was beautiful.

She snaked her bare, willowy arms around me and slithered her smooth legs
around mine, pulling me toward her. I resisted, giving her a brief taste of my
phenomenal strength. She pulled harder, but it was no use. She was powerless
against me.

When I heard the hint of a moan escape her lips, her fingers pressing against
the smooth, sculpted steel of my elegantly muscled legs and back, I relented
and gave her what she clearly yearned for.

I surged forward into her, crushing her lips with mine, feeling her bite and
suck their ruby plumpness. Our breasts collided, sparking fireworks of
sensation. I rolled my supple hips into hers as she devoured every part of me
that her mouth could cover. As I plunged my tongue into her mouth, I heard her
chirp in delight.

The sensation was all-consuming. Our tongues swirled together, sleek bodies
gracefully sliding against each other. I felt enraptured as never before, lost
in the consummate pleasures of her idyllic form. I pulled my mouth away,
breaking the silence of the evening with heavy breathing.

Sliding my lips across her cheek, dabbing kisses along the way, I found her
earlobe and bit down lightly, teasingly.

A tremor in hers tickled my body.

I held back a smile, knowing the impact I was having on her, and dragged my
teeth along the edge of her jaw, then dropped my mouth to her neck. I sucked
in then bit lightly on her sensitive flesh.

She writhed underneath me, gasping out a soft breath.

I worked my way down her long, swan-like neck in this fashion, running kisses,
teeth, and tongue into the hollow of her clavicle, then diagonally down to the
upper slopes of her breast.

I heard her tongue lick her lips, a barely audible purr rumbling from her
throat.

I kissed her breast slowly, ensuring that she felt the full effect of every
leisurely purse of my luscious lips. When I arrived at her nipple, I swirled
it with my tongue, barely touching delicate pink flesh, knowing exactly the
electricity that fired through her overtaxed synapses. Once I had completed
several loops, I touched my teeth to it on both sides, pressing carefully into
her nipple.

Her back arched, and I felt her firm, fleshy orb quiver.

I continued, drifting my tongue down the lower arc of her exquisite breast to
her ribcage. Working my way down, nipping and kissing each steel-hard
abdominal, I finally neared her tender folds.

Her moans became huskier with anticipation, skin warm under my touch.

I darted my tongue out, receiving an answering gasp, then curled it and slid
down her entrance. When I turned my attention fully to pleasuring her, her
moans began to rise in volume.

Her breathing grew more urgent, becoming an anxious pant.

After a few more coaxing, clenching minutes, she began to thrash. I wanted to
make it last, but her delectable body was so coiled with pent-up arousal that
she came far faster than I expected.

She exploded in violently wriggling tremors. Her slim, sexy legs clamped down
on my tightly as she threw back her head and screamed her release. I watched
her buck, fingers hyperextending, then curling inward, clutching as if to
latch onto the fleeting pleasure that rocked her breathtaking form.

When her involuntary movements faded, I laid my hand gently on her stomach. I
could still feel the trembling aftershocks of the intense climax deep within
her. Her breathing, stopped for the duration of her orgasm, began anew as she
sucked in a lungful of air, then let it out slowly, calming and cooling her
torrid body. I glanced up to her face. Her eyes were half-open, gazing at me
adoringly with those stunning blue eyes of hers. Her cheeks were flushed, her
forehead glistening with sweat, a few strands of blond hair beginning to clump
together with moisture.

She had never looked more beautiful to me than in that moment.

"Your turn," Megagirl breathed as she recovered. We changed positions on the
futon, and I closed my eyes, snuggling into the pillows for the pleasure to
come.

Except that it didn't.

Popping one eye open, I watched Megagirl, entranced by the black material of
my "dark Megagirl" costume, pull it over her naked body. My jaw dropped open
as a red flow flashed along the edges of her profile.

"No!" I cried, remembering the hateful feelings that had welled within me each
time I had donned more of Creepy Grandma's outfit. Besides, Megagirl was
already so strong, would she become even more so with the power infused by the
clothes? I shuddered to think of what she might do with that hatred and that
much power at her disposal.

Those thoughts evaporated, however, when I saw the effects of the costume on
her already gorgeous body. Curves leapt outward into mouth-wateringly
exhilarating shapes, bones rearranged into feminine perfection, muscles
rippled with impossible might, like magnificent springs loaded with
unbelievable tension.

Was this what I had looked like when I changed? I didn't think so. I was
pretty sure she looked better. Way better.

Wild-eyed, blond hair whipping as she moved, Megagirl clamped the bracelets
and choker on as well, her phenomenal beauty becoming still more awe-inducing
with the electric crack of each item's closing clasp.

I jumped up from the cushions and grabbed her wrists, attempting to prevent
her from buckling the belt. Which she did anyway. With ease. As if I wasn't
even been pulling on them at all.

Good Lord! Was she that much stronger than me now?

As if in answer, she twisted her achingly beautiful lips into a smile and
broke free of my grip instantly. Faster than I could see, her hand was
suddenly tightening around my wrist ... and it hurt!

I dropped to one knee as the pain from her slender fingers became unbearable,
and Megagirl simply laughed. I looked up into her eyes, searching their hard,
glassy, indigo irises for a sign as to her intentions. I wondered whether she
was going to kill me, influenced as she was by the dark clothes.

I swallowed hard, sensing the indecision in the conflicted furrow of
Megagirl's now-divine brow.

Luckily, just as Megagirl seemed to be deciding on a course of action, I heard
Megaman's voice outside my third-floor apartment window. From the sound of it,
he was barking orders to someone that was with him.

As both Megagirl's and my eyes turned toward the window, I realized that he
hadn't been talking to someone. More like someones.

An entire super-team was assembled, some hovering in the sky. The rest
gathered immediately below, on the ground. It looked like the entire Megasquad
had come with him!

I felt a brief surge of pride that Megaman had brought such a contingent
solely for the purpose of dealing with little ol' me. Of course, wouldn't they
be surprised when it was more than likely Megagirl who they would be forced to
contend with.

While still wrapping my mind around yet another abrupt turn of events (there
had been a LOT of those lately""sheesh!), Megagirl disappeared, her hand no
longer around my wrist. I pulled my arm in with super-speed, caressing my
injured wrist with my other hand, when I heard the window glass shatter,
crystalline shards showering my living room floor with a symphony of rattling
taps.

I rose to my feet and looked out to see Megagirl grab the cape of her first
challenger and windmill her arm, flinging him into the ground with
earth-shuddering force. Several more heroes flew toward her only to be
catapulted back at hypersonic speed by lightning fast blurs of hands and feet.

Megagirl was completely unscathed, smiling, staring down Megaman, apparently
wanting him to make the first move. I wasn't sure he would. After the ease
with which she had dispatched the first wave of heroes, Megaman's nervousness
looked to be transforming in abject terror.

Something needed to be done. Before I gave it much more thought than that, I
leapt forward into the sky.

As I jumped out of the window, I had a brief worry that maybe I had lost the
powers granted by the clothes""that maybe that's why Megagirl was so much
stronger than me. Luckily, however, that was not the case, and I did not
plummet several stories to the ground below like a self-reprimanding brick.
Note to self: check for powers before jumping out of windows, not after next
time.

Flying toward the arial fray, however, I wasn't entirely sure what I should
do. Should I fight against the Megasquad? Against Megagirl? In the movies, the
superheroes always knew who the bad guys were. In reality, it wasn't quite so
simple ... Hell, I didn't even know if I were there hero or the villain of
this little tale!

As I debated my strategy, I heard a voice call out behind me ... from the open
hole in my living room? Twisting in the air for a look, I saw the face I was
half-expecting.

You guessed it. Creepy freaking Grandma.

I zoomed back toward her but stopped a good ten feet short, determined not to
come within range of her ultra-quick hands. Unless she could fly too. Please
tell me she can't fly ... please?

"What have you done, girl? You gave my beautiful costume to one of the
Megas???" she asked, incredulous.

"Well, it's not like you gave me a freaking instruction manual, lady! How was
I supposed to know ... " I huffed.

"...that it would do exactly the same thing to her that it did to you, child?"
she interrupted with a punctuating eye roll. "Why I chose the most insipid,
vain, millennial to do this ... "

"Hey! I'm not sure what insipid means, but I'm pretty sure it's bad. And
you're saying millennial like it's a bad word. And I'm standing right here!" I
looked down and quickly amended the statement. "Floating right here!"

There. Take that, bitch, I thought, crossing my arms over my *ahem* fabulously
endowed chest.

Creepy Grandma began to laugh. Actually, it was more of a wheezing cackle. The
harsh, rattling sound seemed to gain momentum for a moment, becoming louder
and faster... until it sputtered into a coughing fit.

"Are you okay?" I asked the red-faced woman.

"Fine, fine," she rasped. Then, she waved her hands in the air, as if knitting
with no needle, and I watched as fabric began to form around my naked body.

"What are you ... ?" I asked, still looking down at the threads rapidly
forming and stitching together over my breasts.

"Quiet, child," said Creepy Grandma, looking even paler than usual. As her
hands continued to go through the motions, I felt a surge in strength and
vitality ripple up my spine. The old woman wobbled, seemingly ready to keel
over.

"I need to give you the power to overcome Megagirl, enhanced as she is by your
stupidity. You must kill them both. You must!"

"But why? Why do you hate them so much?"

"I hate them because of what they took from me. I hate them because they
tricked me into giving them powers, then used them only for themselves. I made
them their suits, bestowed upon them their powers. In return for a favor. One
that they never granted. Instead, they went and saved people. They made
themselves celebrities," she spat.

"So I learned how to ensure that wouldn't happen again," she said, shooting a
clawed hand to the window frame to keep herself upright. "I discovered how to
make the cloth change thoughts. How to infuse the powers with a price. A
burning need to do my bidding. To kill the Megas!"

"But what did you want them to do? Originally, I mean," I asked, feeling my
eyes go wide at her revelations. Megaman and Megagirl had gotten their powers
from Creepy Grandma too?

Her unnatural smile creaked even wider, but she didn't answer. Instead, she
stumbled backward and collapsed.

"Lady? You okay? Creepy Grandma?"

I flew into the apartment and knelt beside her. Checking for a pulse, I
frowned. There wasn't one. Had making my outfit done her in? I felt a little
guilty now ... but shit! I had never asked for this. None of this! I had
simply wanted a damn dress for my mixer!

So the Megas had wronged her somehow? Stolen her gifts without paying the
price? Maybe they really were the bad guys ...

...except they were on opposite sides now! So what was I supposed to do about
that! Remembering the battle, I looked out the window to see that Megagirl had
wiped out all but one of the Megasquad's members. A few seemed to be
splattered on the ground, but most simply looked injured, albeit out of
commission. The only one left was Megaman. And Megagirl was floating toward
him.

Casting a final glance toward Creepy Grandma, I wished her happiness in the
afterlife, though I sincerely doubted that would be her fate. I leapt out the
window once more, feeling the air flutter my probably-super-mega-gorgeous mane
as I rocketed toward Megagirl.

She put him down before I could even get there. Easy peasy, with one punch to
the stomach and one to the jaw. He slammed to earth unconscious. Or maybe
dead, I thought, remembering the feeling of his rib cracking under my fist
when I had fought him.

But he was pretty tough. I was putting my money on unconscious.

Okay, decision made. I'm fighting Megagirl! I love it when things work out
like that. No struggling and agonizing with difficult choices. Just: Elaine
smash. I really hoped Creepy's upgraded threads were going to put me in this
girl's league. If not, this was going to be a very short fight.

I slammed into Megagirl from behind as she watched her cousin, unmoving, in a
crater on the ground with what looked like conflicting emotions. As my
outstretched fists collided with her spine, her back arched, and the momentum
of my strike flung her half a mile away before she slowed with her flying
power and came hurtling back toward me.

As she neared, I could see the anger in her eyes. I probably could have seen
it before too, if I had thought to use my X-ray vision, but I wasn't all that
accustomed to my powers. I had mostly used them to have sex. Really, really
good sex. I mentally shrugged. Not that there was anything wrong with that. It
seemed like a damn fine use of powers to me! Saving cats from trees and people
from burning buildings was so played out these days ...

I tugged my attention back to the task at hand. Megagirl was pretty much
unstoppable by the looks of what she'd done to the Megasquad. My power level
was a bit of an unknown right now. I needed to take this fight pretty
seriously.

I turned to the side just as Megagirl arrived, dodging her double-fisted
return blow. Then, I slammed my fists down on the back of her head, sending
her plummeting to the ground below. Deciding to take advantage of my
opportunity, I flew down stomping on her to grind her further into the
pavement before she could recover.

I stepped back to see the effects of my punishment. The damage seemed pretty
significant. Megagirl was moving, but it was more of a pained, writhing motion
than a I'm-going-to-jump-back-up-and-kill-you-before-you-can-blink sorta deal.
Then, I noticed something. It was a dark-red streak. On the back of her hair.
I was fairly certain it was blood.

Sweet! I could hurt her. I felt a twinge of guilt at the thought. But for some
reason, it didn't bother me as much as it should have. Maybe it was the
influence of the clothes. Creepy had implied that she laced all of her clothes
with Mega-hate these days.

While my mind was busy musing, Megagirl lunged forward and smashed a front
kick into my stomach, knocking me backward. Damn it! I had thought I was
prepared for that move!

I dug in my heels to come to a stop, wreaking havoc on the pavement. The city
was going to have to dig deep into the budget after this battle, I thought
idly. I ran a hand over my sculpted abs. They hurt a little from her strike,
but not too bad. I felt my lips curl upward as I realized that I was quite a
bit stronger than Megagirl again.

I dug my toes into the soft asphalt and launched myself back at Megagirl like
a track athlete jumping out of the blocks. I saw her eyes widen and arms cross
in a cringe as I struck. This time, however, I abandoned caution and just
continued to pound her with my fists. I knew I was stronger now, and I decided
to simply use that fact to my advantage, raining blow after blow on her.

Eventually, she collapsed to the ground, blood trickling from her nose and
lips, bruises forming on her face. I could see her chest rising and falling,
so I knew she was still alive, but she was out of commission for the moment.

I flew over to Megaman and noticed his chest moving as well. So he was alive
then. Good, I guess.

Hearing sirens and the stuttering thuds of helicopter blades approaching, I
decided to take off. I remembered to use my X-ray vision this time as I zoomed
away, peering down to see the medical workers trying""and failing""to get an
IV into Megaman's arm.

I let out an amused laugh. Good luck with that, guys, I thought.

I was fairly certain they would be okay. I thought about what they had done,
taking their powers and refusing to pay for them, but decided to do at least
mostly good with their use. Was that ethical? Maybe not. Was it the right
thing to do? Maybe it was. Particularly if Creepy Grandma had wanted them to
do something awful. And that was my sneaking suspicion.

People don't come by such power cleanly. I sure hadn't. There is always taint.
I could almost hear my father saying: What's important is how you wield it,
Elaine.

Maybe I should reconsider the whole "saving people" thing. Might be pretty
cool. I'd be loved and adored. I wouldn't be hurting for dates anymore! Not
with this body! Plus I'd probably have, like, a billion Instagram followers.
Yay, new influencer career!

But being a supervillain could be pretty awesome too. Who needed a career when
you could just take whatever you wanted? I could just set up shop on a beach
resort in Tahiti and kick back for the rest of my life.

Decisions, decisions ... I pondered, as I flew toward the haze of the horizon.

________________

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