The next morning Asuna was the first up. She took a long shower exploring her new body and seeing a full length mirror in the room when she came out she tossed her towel in the hamper and stood in front of it examining her body in the light of the summer sun. What she saw in the mirror was a tall girl with red hair down past her shoulders pale skin without a freckle or blemish, strong features, one eye blue as the summer sky outside and one as green as any emerald. She flexed her arms and legs, they were slender but toned and there was visible muscle there, and the rest of her was in good shape as well. “Pretty good,” she said softly to herself, and then she heard her mom’s voice agree.

“Yep, you could have done lots worse.”

“Mom! I’m naked!” Asuna cried, covering herself with her hands.

“So? I’m your mother and we’re both girls. Besides after that stunt in front of the hospital I’m surprised you are being so modest.” Her mother closed the door and walked up to stand next to her at the mirror. “Not exactly lush but that’s overrated anyway. You’re pretty and you’ve got presence. You’ll never fade in to the background with this hair but you won’t have to deal with the sort of drooling idiots the more endowed girls do.”

“Thank god for that!” Asuna said with feeling.

Her mom smiled, “You might not always feel that way and either way is fine by me. I experimented a little before I met your father. If you still like girls I won’t be shocked.”

Asuna blushed deeply, “Please can we talk about something else mom?”

Mihoshi smiled, “Sure.” She ran a hand through Asuna’s hair, “This really is lovely hair. I hope you take good care of it.” She gathered a section of it in one hand, “Want me to braid it for you? So it will stay out of your way?”

“Sure mom,” Asuna said and sat in a chair while her mom braided her hair.

They were almost done when there was a knock on the door, “Breakfast is ready. I came up here to tell you and see if you needed me to wash anything. You didn’t look you had much when you came last night. If you like you can eat in breakfast in a bathrobe while I wash your clothes so they’ll be fresh and ready to where when Rob comes to pick you up.”

“Thanks, can I just pass the clothes through the door?” Asuna asked.

“Sure hun, and I’ll pass you the robe afterward,” Iris said. “I remember how it was. It took me a while to get used to how girls do things as well.”

“I’m almost finished braiding her hair,” her mom said. “If both of you can wait a minute,” A short pause later, “There! Now you’ll all set.”

Asuna gathered up her old clothes and cracking the door open a little she passed the clothes out and pulled the robe in. “Thank you,” she said as she closed it back.

“No problem dear,” Iris replied, “Come on down to breakfast as soon as you’re ready.”

Asuna put on the robe and looked at her braids in the mirror, “Pretty nice but it’s missing something.” She grabbed the ends of the two braids and concentrated, there a brief soundless flash and the braids had little silver bells tied to the ends.

“Wow,” her mom said.

“Yeah,” Asuna smiled, “Cool huh?”

Her mom said, “Well let’s get down to breakfast. It looks like you have a big day ahead of you and you’ll need it.”

When they got down to the table they saw Iris coming in with a pitcher of fresh orange juice which she placed on the table to complete the lavish breakfast spread, “Your clothes are in the wash and should be done soon.”

“Thanks,” Asuna said.

On the table were several plates; one piled high with blueberry pancakes, a little jug of maple syrup nearby, one with eggs scrambled with cheddar, also french toast, sausage patties, and hash browns. “The syrup is from maple trees in Vermont and the cheddar I used in the eggs is from there too. The blueberries in the pancakes were picked locally. I don’t cook at the diner much theses days and living alone I don’t get to cook for others here too often anymore so I want to thank you for the chance to stretch my culinary muscles.”

“Everything smells wonderful,” Mihoshi said, “but don’t mutants have to worry about cholesterol?” She sat down and took only a piece of french toast.

“Exemplars generally don’t and even low powered energizers never have to worry about getting fat,” Iris said while serving herself a healthy portion of everything. She smiled, “I guess we didn’t cover that last night while we were talking.”

Asuna was hungry so she grabbed some of everything too, “You guys talked last night?”

“Yeah baby, we did,” Mihoshi replied. “I was half asleep by the end though so maybe I missed a bit.”

“Well I should repeat for Asuna anyway,” Iris said. As they ate she talked about the main categories of powers and gave examples of heroes in the news to illustrate the points. “I’m not current on the latest theories behind the powers but you’ll get that from the school I’m sure,” she said as she finished.”

“So, if I understand you correctly, I’m an Exemplar because I uh changed and a Manifestor because I created a sword and these bells?”

Iris nodded and then made a waffling motion with one hand, “Well probably. Avatars can change gender too but I’d think you’d know if you were sheltering a spirit. Also manifesting can sometimes make you change but that is more gradual and you already looked like that before you made anything right?”

“Right,” Asuna said.

“So you are most probably an Exemplar and Manifestor. Now you should be careful until you get tested and only try new powers in a safe setting like the testing areas I described to you but you had no trouble when manifested those bells right?”

“Right again, there was just a small flash of light.” Asuna replied. “So?”

“They look and sound like silver. I’d like you to produce another set and try to hand them to me. Some manifested matter disappears away from the manifestor and some disappears after a few hours but if you can create silver and have it stick around that would be a significant source of income for you.”

“Wow, you think that’s possible?”

“I know it’s possible at least. Whateley will even help you sell it if you like but first we need to check to see which type of manifestor you are,” Iris said.

Asuna created another set of bells and leather ties then tried to hand them to Iris but they disappeared as soon as they left her hand.

“Too bad honey,” her mom said. “That would have been a nice way to add to whatever stipend the feds will be giving you.”

Iris nodded, “Yeah, Manifestors who can create things that stay are usually well paid by one industry or another. My old roommate from Whateley makes a nice living creating copper for a German company, something Farbenwerk. Maybe with more training you can manage it. I know you’ll be working for the DPA after you get out of college but that won’t be forever and even if you decide to stay a little extra money never hurt.”

Mihoshi nodded, “That’s very true.”

By then breakfast was over and Iris went to go put the clothes in the dryer. “I’ll be back in just a minute. You two just sit there and chat, I’ll clear the dishes when I get back.”

Asuna stood to start clearing as soon as she left and her mom smiled,” I’m proud of you honey. Let’s see how much washing we can get done before she comes back.”

They had cleared the table but not actually started washing things when Iris found them. “Hey now! You’re guests. Unless you want to make me a poor host you’ll scoot over and let me do that.” She said while making shooing motions.

“Can I at least dry for you?” Asuna asked.

“Nope, and I’ll show you why in a minute,” Iris replied. When she had finished washing a dish she held in up in one hand so the other two could see and then her hand glowed red. The water on her hand and plate dried quickly and she handed the plate to Asuna.

“It’s dry! Dry and warm,” Asuna said. She started looking for a place to put it.

After directing her to the right cabinet Iris says, “Yup, one thing I learned is that when your power isn’t strong creativity counts more.” She smiled and continued washing dishes. “Something you should remember even if you have ended up with a strong power Asuna.”

Asuna nodded putting away another plate, “Seems like everyone is in the mood to educate me today. I appreciate it though and I'm glad I got to see your power. I was wondering if your name meant you made rainbows or something.” Then the dryer *dinged* and she went to go get dressed leaving the robe on top of the laundry basket. She was trying to cinch in the waist of the swim trunks somehow as she re-entered the kitchen because it was loose at the waist but ended up leaving them alone since they didn't seem to slipping any lower and she had no belt to go with them.

“Nope, I picked the name because having switched sexes I figured I had just became a member of the rainbow coalition. My energizer power is to put out infra-red or heat energy but not a lot. I can light a cigarette or dry a plate but that’s about it. I can surprise the hell out muggers but I’m not quite a superhero.” She looked at Asuna fiddling with her clothes and added, “I’m sure Rob, that is agent Spaulding, will see that you get a new wardrobe that fits but it will probably be a bit conservative. If you have any favorite shirts from back home you can have your mom send them to you at Whateley.” She gestured with a soapy hand, “That shirt still fits well enough. If you wear a bra under it then you can keep wearing it.”

“It does? My belly shows a bit and most of my other shirts will be even shorter. This one was a little long on me when I bought it.” Asuna said, passing a hand across her navel.

“Grew a few inches did you? Well showing a little belly is fine for girls and you have great abs. Of course there is such a thing as too short for shirts as well as skirts so I guess your mom will have to decide which shirts will be decent and only send those. You’re lucky in that. Girls can wear boy’s clothing with nobody bats an eye. If you’d switched the other way you’d really need a new wardrobe.” Iris thinks a bit then adds, “Do you know what your measurements are now? I could loan you a bra until you can get your own. Just bought a few so it’d be new but I don’t know if it would fit you.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” Asuna started to decline.

“Hey I’ve got an idea,” her mom interrupted. “Do you have a tape measure? I should really get an idea of her sizes now if I’m gonna decide what clothes to send and for presents and such. We could also get an idea if she is close enough to your size for your bra to fit. Although bras that aren’t sized for you never fit quite right, maybe we can get as close as an off the rack bra gets.”

Asuna decided it was time to put her foot down before she became like a lifesized barbie doll for them, “No, absolutely not! I am not standing around in my brand new birthday suit while you two measure it and make comments about pink taffeta and lingerie. I’m sure Agent Spaulding knows a perfectly reputable tailor and once I’ve been professionally measured I’ll send you the results as long as you promise not to go overboard with it. Let me get used to seeing myself like this before you attempt any makeovers okay?” She looked from one woman to the other, “One day I may end up striding around in high heels and makeup but that day is not today. Fair enough?”

Her mom sighed, “Fair enough. I guess I was getting a bit over enthusiastic. You go at your own pace and don’t let anyone push you into anything, not even me.”

Things might have gotten a little teary then but they were saved by the doorbell ringing. “That must be Rob,” Iris said.

“I’ll go let him in,” Asuna said.