The Starside

           Samantha immediately dropped the cage due to only being a foot taller than it now, the door jostled open and a now woken tiny dragon blundered out of the cage, still noticeably round. the little guy tiredly looked around before returning to the cage and falling asleep once again.

           "I'M A LIZARD!" Samantha shouted. all of her clothes were now WAY baggy on her and she looked like she was absolutely swimming in the pants and t-shirt. Lydia was having the opposite problem, now that she was a seven foot tall lord of the rings elf with galaxy hair her t-shirt and jeans were a bit snug. Aloice looked fine. "FRANK YOU'RE A DRAGON!" samantha was beyond excited.

           "actually young lady, he is only a pseudo dragon." Theodore corrected, "and if you are wondering you're a kobold."

           "what exactly am I?" the shrek guy asked.

           "you are an ork." he answered. "you Lydia appear to be a high elf, you Aloice are a half elf, and you Phillip are a Drow." he was pointing to the guy with midnight black skin as he said that.

           "and where exactly are we? we're not in Seal Beach." Lydia remarked, watching as a 1930's era car drove by on the cobblestone street.

           "this is the Starside, think of it as a dimensional bubble connected to the Arlington. There are many many more bubbles all around the world but none are quite as safe and beginner friendly as this place here." Theodore motioned to the rest of the street which was filled with architecture that looked like it was pulled straight from new york in the 1920's. many of the people here were dressed as such too. but there was also people dressed in the normal street clothes you might see in Seal Beach. "The movie is a bit of a ploy I will admit, the seven of your are full of magical potential, some of it appears to have manifested as alternate forms  and your potential will continue to grow should you choose to cultivate it here in the magical world vs the mundane. we gather as many young adults as we can in one place and find the ones with that potential, give them the VIP treatment, and then show them our wonderful world." Theodore reached into one of his pockets and pulled out bags of what felt like coins to each of the teens. "here are some funds, it's equivalent to about 150 American dollars. if ever you want to take this money to the mundane world however just ask us at the Arlington and we'll trade the proper currency for whatever world you desire. now, I will be here, you seven go and explore if you wish.

           "I have to be home soon, I can't leave my brother alone." Samantha chimed in, "sorry, I really wish  I could stay longer." 

           "time moves differently here my dear, it fluctuates but right now five hours here means that one hour passes in the mundane world." Theodore answered, "any other questions? alright, now run along. I'll be here in the restaurant waiting for you to return. although you may come and go as you please." Theodore smiled lightly and went back into the restaurant, pulling one of the chairs down off of a table and flopping down into it.

“Where too next?” Lydia asked, picking up the birdcage that still contained a sleeping Frank which Samantha was struggling to carry. Samantha still clung to the cage and hissed at Lydia but the tall elven woman shook the little creature off.

            “Me and the guys are gonna go this way, see what’s up, you go the other way and we meet here?” The orc man suggested.

            “Sounds like a plan.” Lydia shrugged, “Aloice, Samantha, let’s see if we can’t find a place to get some clothes.”

            “Be careful with him!” Samantha squeaked as Lydia began walking off with Frank.

             “He’s fine! He’s got a little cushin.” Lydia replied

            “Stop swinging him around!”

            “I am not swinging him around!”

            “Yes you a-“ Samantha was suddenly cut off when her own tongue darted out of her mouth and wiped across her massive spherical eye.

            “Oh my god.” Lydia paused, doing her best to contain her laughter.

            “What in the-“ Samantha’s tounge did it again, “STAP IT.” She squeaked.

            “You’re a geko, a big purple geko.” Lydia laughed.

            “I am not! I’m a kobold! I’m sure we're a very noble and dignified people.” Samantha huffed dramatically and crossed her arms. Although her eyes remained open and as spherical as ever. “I’m not sure I can blink.” She admitted.

             “Yea, just like a geko, because Gekos don’t have eyelids.” Lydia explained, still trying and failing to contain her laughter, “they just lick their eyeballs, like you!”

            “Licking your eyeballs is dignified!” Samantha insisted. Once again she instinctively licked her eyeball, screeching in frustration.

            “If it helps I think you’re dignified.” Aloice offered.

            “Thanks…” Samantha sighed, feeling like that somehow made it worse and deciding to pivot the conversation. “Aloice, is this the world you’re originally from?”

            “No, my world is much darker, like my soul.” Aloice struck another pose, “perhaps my world is an adjacent bubble.”

            “Up until about five minutes ago I thought you were crazy, but maybe we will find your world.” Lydia shrugged. Lydia kept on walking, all while Samantha and Aloice chatted idly about vampires and Aloice’s world. It was then when Lydia looked back at them that she realized she’d have to watch after these two idiots. Aloice had struck another pose and Samantha was eyeing a trashcan. They’d get eaten alive.

            “Alright Dignified lizard, that looks like a boutique. Let’s grab some clothes.” Lydia says, walking up the steps to the building's front door.

            “Yes!” Samantha cackled as she followed Lydia inside with Aloice close behind. The bell on the door chimed and the woman behind the counter looked up. She was a short human woman with blond hair wearing a pink outfit that made her look like Barbie. The boutique around her was set up like a hot topic with all the jewelry and accessories in the middle on little kiosks and the walls were COVORED in every style and type of clothing you could imagine.

            “Hello!” She called out, “you three must be some newbies? My name is Amy.” 

            “I’m Lydia, Samantha’s the lizard, and Aloice is the vampire looking one.” Lydia said, stepping forward and shaking Amy’s hand. 

            “Oooo strong grip, feels a little magical too.” Amy winked.

           “I’m magic?”

           “All of you seem to be more magical than most. Once you’re done here you should go across the street and see Dick, he’s an expert at finding out what kind of magic you got.” Amy clapped her hands, “now, let’s get you some Starside clothes, what are you looking for?”

            “Hm, one practical and one beautiful.” Lydia answered.

            “I have a slip dress I think will be great for Beautiful.” Amy walked away into the depths of the boutique, returning a moment later with a white, sort of risqué slip dress. “What colors?” Amy asked, presenting the dress to Lydia.

            “Something to match my hair.” The elven woman answered, rather enjoying the flowing galaxy mane around her head. Amy nodded and with a wave of her hand the dress changed colors from the white to purple and blue, with glitter and sparkles all over it.

            “Try this, we’ll worry about fitment after that.” Amy said. Lydia went to the dressing room, but in the meantime Samantha and Aloice we’re messing around. Aloice was looking systematically through all of the silver jewelry on one kiosk while Samantha was poking and prodding anything shiny.

            “Samantha was it? What are you looking for?” The woman asked.

            “Well… I need something that’s not this. My legs are shaped all differently, and I’m tiny.” Samantha answered.

            “We can’t forget about your tail… how about a summer dress? Something puffy with a petticoat underneath. Like Alice and Wonderland?”

             “Sure! Room for tail and weird legs.” Samantha replied, her tail whipping back and forth.

             “You’re looking for the word digitagrade, let me go find the dress.” She winked and walked back into the depths, returning a few moments later with a black summer dress that was way too big for Samantha. Samantha was about to say something but Amy grabbed onto the bottom of the dress and pulled up, and by some magic the dress shrank down to Samantha’s size. “Alright, go try this on.” She said. Samantha happily toddled away with the dress as Lydia appeared wearing the beautiful glittering gown. For a few moments Amy fussed about, using her magic to adjust the sizing until it was perfect.

           “Alright time for something a little more casual.” Amy tapped her chin, “jeans, poet shirt, corset belt?”

           “Oooo good choice, corset belt feels very ren fair.”

            “what can I say? It’s in style right now.” Amy giggled. She stepped back into the depths and appeared back with the aforementioned items and handed them to Lydia. She took them and waited patiently for Samantha to get out of the dressing room.

            “And you Aloice, you already have a strong style, so I won’t mess with it. How do you feel about a trench coat of a similar cut? White with red trim?” Amy was smiling lightly as she watched Aloice’s eyes get wider and wider with excitement.

             “YES!” He shouted excitedly. Amy just laughed and went over to a rack of coats that she shifted through until she found the trench coat. With a wave of her hands the coat became primarily white with the red trim. Aloice immediately changed coats and swirled it around. “It’s perfect!” He squealed.

           “Glad you like it,” Amy mused, “you might like something silver too, go grab something from that rack over there.”

            “How much do we owe you?” Samantha asked as she stepped out of the dressing room wearing her new black dress. It was an extremely similar shape to the Alice in wonderland dress, but it was sleeveless and featured a sweetheart neckline.

            “I want to say 150 gold for all of it, that’s the newbie discount.” Amy chuckled, “oh and these clothes will change sizes for you between worlds. and that dress has another trick, pick up the hem a little bit, look at that little square of patterned fabric and rub it between your fingers.” Samantha did as Amy instructed, rubbing a blue floral patch of fabric on the inside of the dress's skirt, and the dress suddenly changed to be all blue floral. Samantha played with the different colors for a while and settled on a nice canary yellow floral pattern.

            “This is awesome!” Samantha exclaimed, “I match my pet dragon now!”

             “Pet dragon? Do you mean the sleeping pseudo dragon over there?” Amy asked.

             “His name is Frank, he just kinda found me and now we’re buds.”

            “Maybe he’s your animal familiar, you do have that sort of nature aura around you. It wouldn't be far-fetched if he chose you.”

            “Oh like a witches familiar?” Samantha asked excitedly.

             “Similar to that, yes.” Amy laughed. “When you go to Dicks you could get some weapons too, try out adventuring.”

            “Adventuring?” Aloice asked excitedly, “going on epic quests? Falling in love! Defeating dastardly villains.”

            “Yea, something like that. It’s a common starting point for a lot of newbies.” Amy explained.

            “I’m excited to meet Dick, see what our specialities are.” Lydia said, stepping out of the dressing room. She was absolutely stunning. Radiant even. The blue jeans, crème colored poet's shirt, and the corset belt made her look amazing. The trio and Amy chatted idly while they bought their things, pooling their money for the 150, before walking out with bags for their extra items. 

            Next was dicks shop, across the cobblestone street that 1930’s era cars frequented. The trio walked into the building and gasped. The walls were covered in massive displayed weapons and armor, some of the more expensive items were behind glass cases. Like a crystal sword, some kind of old timey looking rifle, and overly ornate axes. From behind a cluttered counter covered in tools and parts a little man about the same height as Samantha popped up.

            He had very long pointed ears that were kind of scraggly, and lime green skin. He wore a slate gray flat cap and dressed sort of like a 1920’s PI with the vest that matched the hat.

             “Ey, you must be the fresh meat I’m hearin about, the names Dick.”

            “Lydia, lizard is Samantha, theater kid is Aloice.” Lydia said. “Amy sent us over, said you might know what kind of magic we have.”

            “I’ve got just the tool.” Dick said, turning to the counter and sifting through some things before grabbing a pair of goggles and putting them on. The goggles magnified his eyes to look ridiculously huge. First he Carefully inspected Lydia, walking all around her.

            “You’re what we call a barbarian, you’ve got that internal rage that you can use as power. You’re real strong, and’ll probably want a big weapon.” He went quiet and began inspecting Aloice. “You’re interesting, the real lithe and sneaky type. You’re a rouge, maybe a few spells too. I’ve got just the thing in mind for you.” He then looked at Samantha, carefully inspecting her, and even inspecting Frank in the cage. “You’re a druid, the real nature type. Spells n shit, maybe even some transformation too. And it looks like you and your bud got a connection, it’ll get stronger the more you use your powers. I’ve got just the thing for you.” The little goblin man took the goggles off and scurried around the shop.

            First he pulled what looked like an oversized switchblade off of a shelf, then an old looking Arcubus, an oak quarter staff, and then two little hand axes.  He swept his arm across the counter to make a little room and plopped the things down.

            “Lizard gal, grab the staff.” He said. Samantha did as she was told and grabbed it, holding the long thing. Samantha felt a little spark in her brain, like this was a weapon correct for her, and only her. She suddenly felt the knowledge of how to use it flood her mind as if it’d always been there.

            “Drama boy, pick up the gun.” He instructed. Aloice did, and the very same thing happened. A complete understanding of the firearm filled his mind. The grip felt like the most comfortable thing in the world to his hand.

            “Tall gal, you’ve got options. These throwing axes, that turn into rings” Dick demonstrated by clinking them together anx then they turned into two silver rings on his hands. Then he clapped twice and they turned back into throwing axe. “You could also go for this big boy.” He said, grabbing the oversized switchblade looking thing. He flicked it out and unfolding from it was a massive double headed great axe. Then he quickly folded it back up to the smaller form factor. “Throwing axes are cheaper, switch axe is bigger.”

            “Could I have both?” Lydia smirked.

            “Even with the newbie discount that’ll run ya 150 gold.” He said, “if you got the moolah I’ll give ya the goods.” 

            “How much is the arcbus and staff?” Lydia asked.

            “About fifty each, then another 10 for 500 bullets.” He replied.

             “Let’s pool 250 then guys.” Lydia said, “if we’re gonna go adventuring it’ll be nice to have options.”

            “Fine by me.” Samantha shrugged. Aloice just nodded, too busy posing with his gun. The three of them paid for the weapons and dick was very happy. He led them through a door in the back of his shop that led to an alleyway full of training dummies.

            “Don’t walk down range without anouncin yourself.” The goblin man instructed, lighting a cigarette. Lydia was up first. Holding the throwing axes in her hands. With an inhuman strength and speed she threw the axes. Very easily they found their mark in the dummies head. A fire lit in Lydia’s eyes and her muscles got slightly bigger as she rushed forward. She flicked open the switch axe and in one swipe cut the dummy cleanly in hand. She stood there panting for a second before folding the axe back up and putting it in its holster, turning the axes back into rings as well. Aloice was next.

            The half elven man was deft and quick just as Dick expected. Not only that but he had excellent aim, hitting center mass practically every time. When Aloice was done playing he simply held it over his shoulder.

            “Let me see that coat.” Dick said, stepping forward and grabbing. He opened it up and put his hand in an interior pocket. He says a few words and then he returned the coat, “alright, put the gun in the pocket.” He instructed. Aloice then slid it in and surprisingly the long weapon slid all the way into one pocket without a trace. If you didn’t know you wouldn't be able to tell there was a gun in his coat.

            Samantha was next. She took her quarter staff and began wailing on the dummy’s. She wasn’t nearly as effective as the other two but still was a little whirlwind. You wouldn’t wanna cross her path. Dick did also show Samantha another trick with the staff, where you plant it on the ground and it turns into a little tree. Just an extra little quirk.

            “You kids should go to a park nearby, ya can’t explore the extent of your powers in a cramped alleyway. If you head just outa the Starside going west, turn right, walk a little, you’ll stumble on it. There’s trees n rocks for the lizard, open space to throw around an axe, plenty of targets to shoot as well.” The goblin took a long long dreg off his cigarette. He dropped it on the ground and stomped it out, and went back inside his shop.

            “I guess… we go to a park?” Lydia said, slightly confused. 

***

            “Lightning is MINE TO COMMAND!” Samantha laughed. It was just little teeny tiny zaps that went between her fingers. “HAHAHHAHHAHHAHAH.”

            “Not really lightning, fuzzy carpet and slippers static maybe, not lightning.” Lydia joked, she had been running drills with her great axe

            “LIGHTNING!” Samantha screeched. There was suddenly a giant wave of energy that burst out of her body, flattening the grass and sending a crack up one of the giant rocks. Still even after all of that, there were only little tiny zaps between her fingers.

            “We have quite the sparkler.” Aloice said, aiming and firing at a tree.

            “I AM NOT A SPARKLER!” Samantha shouted indignantly.

            “That’s not lightning though, they’re sparks.” Aloice explained.

            “It’s a smaller version of lightning? So small lightning is yours to command?” Aloice looked lightly confused.

            “You’re trying to be helpful, and I appreciate that, but for real?” Samantha groaned, flopping over onto the ground. “Oh boy that took a lot outa me.”

            “I bet, you’re like a food tall.” Lydia smirked, knowing what was next.

            “AMY MEASURED ME AT 3’3 AND YOU KNOW IT!” Samantha shrieked from on the ground.

            “Whatever you say sparkler!” Lydia shouted.

            “AAAAAAAAAA!”