In the dead of night Mirabelle, Yancy, and Isabeau awaited the arrival of their enemy. Zick would be here any moment as foretold by Vel. Under the dancing stars they awaited the zealot just outside Jince's home, a penthouse in a fancy apartment complex not far from Nincy's estate. Zick was to break in from the roof.

Isabeau inquired, trying to pass the time. "So... how did you and Odile know each other?"

"I worked in Bodycraft investigations undercover," Yancy explained. "She was helping people use Bodycraft to be their true selves illegally. I... turned a blind eye to her activities and lied, saying the lead was a dead end. We entered a relationship some time after. However as the law closed in on her I encouraged her to flee until the heat died down. We kept in touch via letters. She broke up with me a few months ago. Claiming she couldn't abide her partner working for the guard. I... couldn't tell her I was working for Bodycraft revolutionaries due to the risk of my letters being inspected."

"Wow," Mirabelle replied. "That's... I'm sorry that's a lot."

"I mean sometimes things just go that way," Yancy shrugged. "I do love her as a friend but I still-"

"We can talk to her if you like!" Mirabelle offered. "She needs something to lift her spirits anyways."

"I think that's a conversation I want to have with her myself," Yancy replied. "But, thanks. It would best be after all this Wishcraft stuff is settled."

"Yeah she's overwhelmed as it is," Isabeau added. He looked up at the sky and declared, "Must be around midnight by now. We sure this is the right roof?"

"Right roof to be a throne in my side," a voice declared. Zick's whip flew at Isabeau who ducked out of the way, rolling back to his feet as it scraped and sparked against the ground.

Zick sneered as he revealed himself, arms outstretched as he walked forward, emerging from the shadows with the arrogance of a demon escaping Hell. "Hello again Mirabelle."

Isabeau and Yancy rushed into combat, only to be stopped by an invisible force field. Shieldcraft blocked the way. Mirabelle turned to Zick, who explained. "You've got me thinking a lot recently. About Change. About who our god favors. Claiming I use our God to defend sin. Thus... a detour is needed. I must confirm I am righteous. The Change god will protect the one he favors, yes?"

"No point in talking to filth like you," Isabeau conceded.

"I'll change you into a crimson corpse," Zick mocked.

Isabeau and Yancy tried to call to Mirabelle, break through the barrier, but it was no use.

It was only her and Zick.

Zick cackled and lunges with a shield bash. Mirabelle leapt out of the way only for Zick to sneer as she saw his face.

It was a feint! Zick revealed his other hand to be in a fist, which he swung towards Mirabelle after she dodged the false attack. She was stuck with a harsh blow of raw force in the stomach. She coughed up blood and staggered back. That horrid impossible shade, that red, dribbled from her mouth as she steadied herself. Zick was fast. Faster than she was ready for. His whip slithered across the ground like a serpent aimed right for her throat. It lunged as the scraping sound warned her like a hiss. She bobbed her head to protect her throat but Zick flicked his wrist and the bladed end of the whip went right for her jugular and-

Changed.

The trajectory of the attack changed in a way it shouldn't.

The trajectory of the attack changed to just barely miss.

It changed.

Zick was left flabbergasted. Horrified. "No! No! It can't be protecting you! It just can't!"

Mirabelle saw her opening and sneered. She lifted her blade, readying a secret craft a hand behind her back. She openly sliced with her other hand, firing off craft as a bean of light from her blade. The craft was amplified and reflected by Zick's shield.

Just as planned.

Mirabelle reflected the attack right back, consuming Zick in the blinding light and-

Light consumed her vision.

An endless room of white.

"I would wish to speak to you," a melody of ever changing voices declared. "This change is so fun to watch!"

Mirabelle turned around to see the voice, but its face morphed and melted, always welcoming but impossible to identify. "You did good Mira!"

"Are you-" Mirabelle began to ask.

"Yup!" The Change god smiled with several sets of teeth, morphing and changing into new faces like clay being molded. "Zick was a fool! The use of my rhetoric to defend sin! You have it right the first time! You grow past negative change, not inflict it on others! Good riddance! Please continue to spread positive change!"

"Wait!" Mirabelle cried as the divine being began to leave. "What do I do? So much stuff is changing for the worse and I just can't-"

"I cannot prevent negative change," the god explained. "Nor do I endorse it. What I endorse is changing to be better in response. I never promised this would be easy. Only that it would be worth it. That can promise you Mira."

"OK..." Mira sighed. "I just... miss my brother."

The god sighed solemnly, "May your journey for a wish be fruitful. Continue to grow."

And the light was gone. Zick lay defeated. Isabeau rushed to check on Mirabelle, hugging her and tending her wounds best he could.

A voice declared, "You got him! Good work sir!" Jince emerged seeing the scene and crediting Isabeau.

"Actually it was my sister," Isabeau pat her on the back.

"Yup all her," Yancy added.

Jince chuckled, "I think now isn't the time for jokes. I mean come on."

Yancy where this was going. She glared, "Don't."

"I mean she's a woman!" Jince continued. "No way she beat Zick!"

This conversation.... Escalated. The bigotry and vile words spewed by Jince are to.... Graphic to repeat in this text.

"If he misgenders you one more time-" Yancy growled trying to console Isabeau as they returned to the hotel.

"If someone beats him he gets fired right?" Mirabelle inquired. Isabeau was crying.

"Yeah but no one can," Yancy tried. "I've tried. Even Vel challenged him. No luck. It's all because of that blinding armor he wished for..."

"We have four days until the festival," Mirabelle replied. "We can... figure this out. We should sleep. You OK Isabeau?"

Isabeau wiped his tears and put on a strong facade. "I'm... I'm fine. I'm going to bed."

Isabeau rushed off to his room where he continued to cry. Loop could hear him crying. They felt rage. Who would dare make him feel this way?

They knocked on the door, waiting until everyone else was asleep. "Isabeau? Are you OK?"

"Don't worry about it," Isabeau deflected.

"If you don't say no I'm coming in you can say no," Loop gently pushed to support Isabeau without overstepped.

Isabeau fell silent.

Loop entered to see Isabeau wiping his tears. "I knew Ka Bue had some bad people but-"

Loop pat Isabeau on the back. They didn't like touch normally but as they became more... whoever they are they grew to desire it. A warm hug. A pat on the back. Something to remind them they're here now. Something to make them feel human. That they aren't some star that they-

"Are you crying too?" Isabeau demanded.

"Just got a bit on my mind," Loop deflected. They wanted to drop the mask. They wanted to drop the mask and be accepted by their new family, even if it wasn't the original, they were new, in a way. Different versions of the same people. Loop wanted them to accept them as... whoever they were. Whoever lay behind this mask, but, no. Not yet. Now was not the time. Not until Loop knew he was OK. Then maybe. Maybe he would accept them and...

No.

Why would anyone accept them?

They brushed the thought aside due to fear.

"So..." Isabeau collected himself. "We learned why Zick wanted Jince dead..."