Chapter 12: Power Placement (Part 1/3)

Chapter 4: Power Placement

As applause erupted throughout the hall, Mia turned to Zoe and Aiden, her eyes wide. "Okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I officially take back every snarky comment I've made today. This... this is going to be one hell of a year."

The roar of excitement in the hall was deafening, like someone had unleashed a horde of caffeinated chimpanzees with megaphones. Students were practically vibrating in their seats, their faces a mix of awe, excitement, and holy-shit-what-have-we-gotten-ourselves-into terror.

"Did that just happen?" Zoe asked, her voice high and squeaky. "Like, for real? We didn't all collectively hallucinate that, right?"

Aiden, whose skin was pulsing with so many colors he looked like a sentient disco ball, nodded vigorously. "Unless we're all tripping balls on some seriously good shit, I'd say yeah, that definitely happened."

Mia snorted. "Great. So we've gone from 'School for Mildly Inconvenient Powers' to 'Hogwarts on Steroids' in the span of one speech. No pressure or anything."

As if on cue, the crowd began to surge towards the exits, a tidal wave of teenage superpower and hormones. Mia found herself swept along, sandwiched between Zoe and a guy whose hair seemed to be made of actual fire. She silently prayed her power wouldn't kick in and turn his flaming locks into something ridiculous like hot pink. The last thing she needed was to be known as the girl who gave Hades a makeover on day one.

They spilled out into the courtyard, blinking in the sudden sunlight. The air was electric with excitement, snippets of conversation flying around like deranged butterflies:

"Did you see when he made that lightning? Holy shit!"

"I wonder if we'll learn to fly. I've always wanted to flip off gravity."

"Think they'll let us use our powers in gym class? 'Cause I could totally dominate dodgeball if I can turn into mist."

Mia's head was spinning. She turned to Zoe, ready with another snarky comment, only to find her friend frozen in place, staring wide-eyed at a nearby flowerbed. The plants were going absolutely bonkers, flowers blooming and withering in rapid succession, vines reaching out like they were trying to give Zoe a hug.

"Uh, Zo?" Mia waved a hand in front of her friend's face. "You okay there? You look like you've seen a ghost. Or, you know, a really enthusiastic ficus."

Zoe blinked, snapping out of her daze. "They're... talking. All at once. It's like being in a chatroom with a bunch of overexcited grandmas who just discovered emojis."

Aiden, who had finally managed to dim his impromptu light show to a dull glow, peered at the plants curiously. "What are they saying? 'Water me, Seymour'?"

Zoe shook her head, looking slightly overwhelmed. "More like 'Oh my god, she can hear us!' and 'Tell her about my new buds!' and 'Is that fertilizer in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?'" She paused, then added, "I think that last one was the snapdragon. It's got a weird sense of humor."

Mia couldn't help it. She burst out laughing, the sound borderline hysterical. "Jesus Christ on a pogo stick. We've been here for all of two hours and already my best friend is getting hit on by flora. What's next? Am I gonna turn someone's hair into a mood ring?"

As if the universe had been waiting for that exact cue, Mia's elbow brushed against a passing student's backpack. Instantly, the dull black fabric erupted into a psychedelic swirl of colors that would make a tie-dye shirt weep with envy.

"Oh, fuck me sideways," Mia groaned, watching the confused student try to figure out why their bag was suddenly channeling Woodstock.

"Language, Miss Harper," a crisp voice cut through the chaos. Mia turned to find herself face-to-face with a woman who looked like she'd stepped out of a 1950s etiquette manual, complete with perfectly coiffed hair and a smile that could probably cut glass. "Although I must say, your colorful vocabulary is quite fitting, given your abilities."

Mia felt her face heat up, pretty sure she was turning as red as the student's now-crimson backpack. "I, uh... sorry? I mean, about the swearing. And the bag. And, you know, existing in general at this point."

The woman's smile softened a fraction. "No need to apologize for existing, dear. We're all extraordinary here, in our own ways. I'm Professor Prism, head of the Minor Powers department. And you three must be..." She consulted a holographic tablet that flickered to life in her hand. "Mia Harper, Zoe Greenthumb, and Aiden Glowstick. Charmed, I'm sure."

Aiden snickered. "Greenthumb? Seriously? Talk about on-the-nose naming."

Zoe elbowed him sharply. "Like you're one to talk, human glow stick."

Professor Prism cleared her throat, effectively silencing their banter. "Now then, if you'll follow me, it's time for your power assessments. We need to determine your placements and... potential."

As they followed the professor across the courtyard, Mia couldn't help but notice the other students around them. Some were showcasing abilities that made her color-changing seem about as impressive as a half-dead Chia Pet.

A girl zoomed by overhead, leaving a trail of rainbow sparkles in her wake. Nearby, a boy was casually juggling balls of fire, water, and what looked suspiciously like solidified darkness. And was that kid over there actually bending metal with his mind?

"Well, don't I feel special," Mia muttered, shoving her hands deep into her pockets to avoid any more accidental redecorating. "Watch out, world. I can turn your favorite shirt into a color you hate. Truly, I am the pinnacle of superhuman achievement."

Zoe nudged her gently. "Hey, come on. You heard what the Headmaster said. There's no such thing as a useless power, right?"

"Yeah," Aiden chimed in, his skin pulsing with encouraging yellows and greens. "Besides, think of the pranking potential. You could give the whole school a rainbow makeover overnight!"

Mia snorted. "Great. I'll go down in history as the girl who turned Evergreen Academy into the world's largest, gaudiest Easter egg. My parents will be so proud."

As they approached a massive, high-tech building that looked like it had been designed by Tony Stark on an acid trip, Professor Prism turned to address them. "Welcome to the Power Assessment Arena. Here, we'll evaluate the full extent of your abilities and determine your optimal educational track."

The doors slid open with a soft whoosh, revealing an interior that made Mia's jaw drop. The place was huge, easily the size of several football fields, filled with all manner of bizarre equipment and testing stations. It was like someone had taken a science lab, a gym, and a video game design studio, thrown them in a blender, and hit "puree."

"Holy shitballs," Aiden breathed, his glow intensifying with excitement.

"Indeed, Mr. Glowstick," Professor Prism said dryly. "Though perhaps we could find a more... eloquent way to express our awe?"

Mia bit back a laugh. She had a feeling Professor Prism was going to have her work cut out for her with this bunch.

As they made their way through the arena, Mia couldn't help but feel a growing sense of anxiety. Everywhere she looked, students were showcasing abilities that ranged from mildly impressive to holy-crap-is-that-even-legal. A girl was creating intricate ice sculptures with a wave of her hand. A boy seemed to be having an animated conversation with his own shadow. And was that kid over there actually phasing through solid objects?

"Don't worry," Zoe whispered, noticing Mia's wide-eyed stare. "I'm sure they've got something for us... minor league supers too."

"Yeah," Mia muttered. "Probably a nice, safe corner where we can't accidentally turn the school into a Skittles commercial or start a plant rebellion."

Professor Prism led them to a waiting area filled with other students who looked just as nervous and out of place as Mia felt. "You'll be called for individual assessments shortly," she explained. "In the meantime, feel free to mingle. You might be surprised by the... creative applications some of your peers have found for their abilities."

With that, she glided away, leaving Mia, Zoe, and Aiden to fend for themselves in a sea of anxious, potentially volatile teenage superhumans. 

"Well," Mia said, clapping her hands together and immediately regretting it when they came away smeared with neon green. "This ought to be fun. Who wants to start the 'Most Useless Power' support group? First meeting's free, but you have to bring your own snacks. I hear the guy who can turn water into slightly different water is in charge of refreshments."

Zoe rolled her eyes, but Mia could see the tension in her shoulders. "Come on, let's go make some friends. Or at least find people who won't laugh at us when we explain our powers."

As they moved through the crowd, Mia couldn't help but eavesdrop on the conversations around them. It was like being at the world's weirdest cocktail party:

"...so then I sneezed and accidentally turned my entire family into rubber ducks for an hour. Thanksgiving's been awkward ever since."

"...can make any liquid taste like pickle juice. It's not much, but it makes for some hilarious pranks in the cafeteria."

"...talk to dust bunnies. They're surprisingly good gossips, actually. You'd be amazed what they overhear under couches."

Mia was so engrossed in the bizarre snippets of conversation that she didn't notice the girl approach until they collided, sending them both stumbling.

"Oh shit, I'm so sorry!" Mia exclaimed, reaching out to steady the girl and then immediately yanking her hand back. "I, uh, probably shouldn't touch you. Unless you want your shirt to suddenly become violently orange or something."

The girl laughed, a warm, musical sound that immediately put Mia at ease. "No worries. I'm used to people being hesitant to touch me. I'm Lily, by the way. I can talk to inanimate objects."

Mia blinked. "You can... what now?"

Lily grinned, tapping the wall beside them. "Hey there, big guy. Mind telling my new friend here what you think of all this excitement?"

To Mia's utter astonishment, a voice that sounded like it belonged to a grumpy old man emerged from the wall itself: "Bah! In my day, we didn't need all these fancy tests. You either had powers or you didn't, and that was that. Now get off my lawn, you whippersnappers!"

Mia's jaw dropped. "Holy shit, that's actually kind of amazing. Creepy as hell, but amazing."

Lily shrugged, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "It's not much, really. Mostly it just means I can never get away with talking to myself. There's always some smartass teapot or know-it-all bookshelf ready to chime in with their two cents."

Mia couldn't help but laugh. "Oh man, I can just imagine. 'Dear Diary, today I—' 'Actually, sweetie, let me tell you what REALLY happened...' Must make for some interesting arguments."

Lily grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You have no idea. Try having a heart-to-heart with your crush when your bed decides to play matchmaker. 'Just kiss already!' is not exactly helpful advice from your furniture."

As they chatted, Zoe and Aiden drifted over, drawn by the laughter. Introductions were made, powers explained, and soon they were all swapping stories about their most embarrassing moments of power manifestation.

"...and that's how I accidentally turned my entire wardrobe neon pink the night before picture day," Mia finished, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and laughter.

Aiden, who was practically vibrating with amusement, his skin pulsing with cheerful yellows and oranges, chimed in. "That's nothing. Try explaining to your parents why you can't go trick-or-treating because you keep giving away your position by glowing like a radioactive firefly."

Their laughter was interrupted by a commotion near the center of the room. A boy with startlingly blue hair was being ushered towards a different set of doors by a group of official-looking adults.

"Holy crap," Lily whispered, her eyes wide. "That's Max Voltage. I heard he can control electricity. Like, city-wide blackout levels of control."

Mia felt a twinge of... something. Not quite jealousy, but a sort of resigned acceptance. "Guess that's what a 'major' power looks like, huh?"

The mood in their little group shifted, a sudden tension filling the air. It was Zoe who broke the silence, her voice uncharacteristically sharp. "So what? Just because he can play human battery doesn't make him better than us."

"Yeah!" Aiden agreed, though his glow had dimmed noticeably. "I bet he's terrible at... I don't know, stealth missions or something."

Mia snorted. "Right, because I'm sure there's a huge demand for sneaky color-changers in the superhero world. 'Quick, Mia! That villain's outfit is so last season! Give him a makeover he'll never forget!'"

Their debate was cut short by the arrival of a harried-looking staff member. "Alright, folks, listen up! We're going to start the individual assessments now. When you hear your name, please proceed to the designated testing area. Remember, these tests are designed to evaluate your current abilities and potential for growth. There are no wrong answers, only... unexpected results."

As names began to be called out, Mia felt her stomach tie itself into knots. She glanced at her new friends, seeing her own nervousness reflected in their faces.

"Well," she said, trying to inject some bravado into her voice, "may the odds be ever in our favor, I guess. Try not to blow up the arena or start a sentient dust bunny rebellion while I'm gone."

Lily grinned, though it looked a bit forced. "No promises. My sock might decide it's time for a solo career as the world's stretchiest superhero."

One by one, they were called away. Zoe went first, looking like she might throw up or start a plant revolution, possibly both. Then Aiden, his glow flickering between nervous blues and determined reds. Lily was next, pausing to give the wall a reassuring pat before she left.

And then, finally:

"Mia Harper? Please report to Testing Room 12 for your assessment."

Taking a deep breath, Mia stood up. "Well, here goes nothing," she muttered. "Time to dazzle them with my incredible ability to turn the world into a walking Crayola commercial."

As she made her way to the testing room, Mia couldn't help but feel like she was walking to her own execution. Or maybe a really bizarre job interview. 'So, Miss Harper, where do you see yourself in five years?' 'Oh, you know, probably accidentally redecorating the Louvre or giving the Mona Lisa rainbow hair.'

The door to Testing Room 12 slid open with a soft hiss, revealing an interior that looked like a cross between a high-tech lab and an art studio on steroids. Every surface was covered in different materials and textures, from rough stone to sleek metal to what looked suspiciously like liquid glass.

A man stood in the center of the room, his lab coat a riot of swirling colors that made Mia's eyes hurt. His hair was a shock of white that seemed to change hues depending on the angle you looked at it, and his eyes... were they actually glowing?

"Ah, Miss Harper!" he exclaimed, his voice surprisingly deep for someone who looked like he'd escaped from a rave at a mad scientist convention. "Welcome, welcome! I'm Dr. Chromatic, specialist in color-based powers and occasional walking migraine trigger. Are you ready to explore the full spectrum of your abilities?"

Mia blinked, momentarily stunned by the sheer... well, everything of Dr. Chromatic. "Uh, sure? I mean, as ready as I'll ever be to turn your nice testing room into a tie-dye nightmare, I guess."

Dr. Chromatic's laugh was like a burst of audible rainbows. "Oh, my dear, that's the spirit! Now, let's start with something simple, shall we? Could you please touch this plain white cube and show me what you can do?"

As Mia reached out, she couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and dread. Whatever happened in this room, she had a feeling her life at Evergreen Academy was about to get a whole lot more colorful... for better or worse.