Rising Shards

We found a row of curtains between giant video screens that led backstage, which was a dressing room that looked like someone’s half remembered version of a movie set dressing room, where the mirrors with the lights above them were there but they were all the wrong shape, looking more like lumpy board game dice than lights, and the mirror was also funhouse styled. The counters were all warped, and there was no furniture, save for a lone chair where Rain sat. Her eyes were closed, and pink energy waves flowed from her mind, and her head bobbed around slightly.

“Ugh, I can like feel that,” Marmalade said, holding her head.

“Yeah, everyone keep the shades on.” Diast said.

“Why’s Rain blue now?” Oka asked.

“It’s her powers...it's a long story.” I said. “Wait, can I say it now?”

“Say what?” Oka asked.

“Rain is Sweetheart…” I paused, waiting to see if the charm blocked me. “Blue. Sweetheart Blue." As the words left my mouth, the idea that I'd even been charmed churned around in my head like my mind was a slow, clunky washing machine. "She had a secret identity when she was hiding in the basement! I just remembered that! They wiped my memory! Rain used her powers to make it so I couldn’t say anything because I saw her and she didn’t want to let Amara and KJ know!”

“Are you serious?” Oka said, anger rising in her voice.

“This is why everyone at school has a strong disdain for the love trio.” Lillia explained to Marmalade. “Entirely because of Rain.”

“Well, we can channel that into stopping this,” Diast said. “See that one blue energy band there?”

A wave of blue flowed from Rain’s head to the ground behind her. We turned around to see it went into a small device that looked like one of Kalei’s game consoles.

“So we smash this and we’re good?” I asked.

“Well, not good,” Diast said. “As soon as we do this, everyone should be freed from this. But that means everyone.”

“So that big army outside…” Oka said.

“Will all be very angry and start raging immediately.” Diast said. “Once we break this tether, it’s pretty much guaranteed that all hell will break loose. I think Caya would have it under control once she snapped out this, but this is still a huge risk."

We all contemplated that.

“I mean,” Marmalade said. “Hasn’t all hell already broken loose that we’re at this point?”

“Ugh.” Lillia said.

“What?” Marmalade said. “Sorry, did I just mess up there?”

“No, Lillia just hates when people start sentences with ‘I mean,’ ignore her.” Oka said. “I think you’re right.”

“Is smashing that thing the only way to break the spell?” I asked.

“Well,” Diast mulled it over. “We could probably give Rain a good smack and that’d break the tether too."

Oka got in her ‘I have a business pitch’ posture, always adorable. “Dr. Diast,” She said seriously. “Please let me give Rain a good smack.”

“I really probably shouldn’t encourage violence between students.” Diast said.

"In normal circumstances sure, but it's Rain." Lillia said.

“Allow me to explain my thoughts here,” Oka said. “A few months ago, Rain orchestrated it so my girlfriend Zeta, you know Zeta, obviously. Rain made it so Zeta’s tail was stomped on by Ema Kari and Snake Riley. I’ve been harboring resentment for that incident and have been desiring revenge.”

“Oh, wow.” I said, impressed that Oka held a grudge for me longer than I had. “I love you?”

“I love you too.” Oka said. “So Dr. Diast. If it’s possible to alternatively just smack Rain one good, please let me do so.”

“I really shouldn’t,” Diast said. She turned her back to us. “OK, now I’ll use the ‘pretend I didn’t see it’ move. But everyone get ready for a fight and a hasty escape, alright?”

“Yay!” Oka said. She turned to Rain. “Oh, it feels kinda bad doing this to someone who’s all hypnotized.”

“Well, you’re kinda rescuing her.” Marmalade said.

“And she genuinely deserves a good smack.” Lillia said. “I’d volunteer for all the times she stole the better tea set from me at school, but you have a better claim to the smack.”

“Alright,” Oka said. “Zeta, this is revenge because I’m still mad about the tail thing.”

We all got ready for whatever was about to go down outside.

“Rain,” Oka said, raising an open hand. “You pompous, self-obsessed, manipulative, spoiled…JERK!” She swung her hand down, directly slapping Rain across her face, knocking her off the chair. The blue beam from the machine split as she fell, as did the pink waves of energy coming from Rain.