Back at the outpost outside the school, Mini-Phila was regrowing fast. Oma went outside to guard, but the others stayed behind to watch. As the test tube holding Phila’s goo overflowed, a small explosion happened, making everyone look away. Suddenly, Phila’s regular-size goo blob appeared, looking distinctly familiar. Sahara ran up to it. “Phila? Come on, change shapes! Phila?”
The only response was that the goo frosted over and froze into a solid mass. Amethyst cried out. “Oh, shoot! The book said that a damp environment was necessary, and this was clearly wrong… Oh, no!”
Sahara picked up the block. “Well melt her, come on!”
Amethyst put her hands out. A blueish light shot out of them, making all of the frozen goo melt into its original form. As it poured out of Sahara’s hands, the block transformed into a human girl. However, this was not a look Phila would normally wear. She had on a long ball gown, not unlike Amethyst’s, and her hair was black and curly. Her skin flickered lightly.
“Guys! I died but, not really,” said Phila as she started pacing.
“PHILA!” screamed everyone as they enveloped her into a group hug.
After the hug was over, Garnet stepped back. “What happened?”
Sahara ran outside. “HEY OMA PHILA’S BACK FROM THE DEAD!” She yelled.
Oma came inside, muttering something about “bipolarity” and “afterkill”. She too hugged Phila, but then sat down to hear the story.
Phila paused. “Soooo, we went to airlock 7.” Phila went on explaining what happened. The girls were silent.
“Where’s Terrence? And Ella?” asked Sahara. “And why do you look like Rece?”
“I don’t know. I died, remember? But they’re either in trouble and in airlock 7 ,or are perfectly fine and on their way here,” said Phila. “And I’m Rece because don’t you remember how I always get the sucky part of the plan?”
Amethyst snorted. “Well, death didn’t change you at all…”
“Obvi,” said Phila. “What, you thought I was going to reincarnate as a different person?”
“Hey guys! Phila died!” said Chad running in and breaking down on the floor.
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“How did you find us?” Accused Oma.
“Hey Chad, look who just returned from the dead!” said Garnet at the same time.
Chad gasped. “Phila? What? How?”
She shrugged. “I’ll explain later, with the help of Amethyst. But first, what happened to Ella and Terrence?”
Sahara stood up. “Are they-- are they okay?” Her voice broke.
Chad nodded. “They’re fine. Ella killed Frida--”
Garnet stood. “Ella killed Frida?”
Chad nodded as Oma said, “That’s my girl!”
“Oh my….” said Sahara, dropping to the ground clutching her head. “We’ve become murderers,” she murmured in disbelief.
“So much death today,” observed Amethyst. “But anyway, please continue.”
Chad gulped. “And, uhh, she started crying, and Terrence hugged and comforted her--”
Sahara looked up. “Wait, what? Terrence never touches anyone! You’re kidding. He’s got this weird problem… Wait. No way. No way!”
Garnet looked at her. “What?”
Chad avoided Phila’s gaze. “I think they’re a couple now. But what would I know, right?”
Sahara fell flat on her face and built a force field around herself. “Don’t, just leave me alone.”
Phila noticed his second comment more. She quietly looked at him and put her hand on his. “Plenty.”
Chad cleared his throat as Amethyst sat down. “Stop interrupting him and let Chad tell the story!”
He looked at her. “Oh! Well there’s not much more to tell, I just kind of left before they could catch me. I figured you’d want to know about Phila, and considering you just escaped confinement… yeah.”
All was quiet except for the quiet buzzing of Sahara’s forcefield. Chad broke the silence. “Well, how did Phila come back to life?”
Amethyst stepped forward. “So, since Phila’s a shifter--”
Phila stopped her. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. What matters now is that I’m alive, because really here I’m the most valuable person.” Everyone looked at her.
Amethyst gasped. “No! We need to fully figure out and explain why! This could revolutionize the Powerful world!”
Chad looked at Phila. “Hey Phila, can I talk to you outside for a minute?” He grasped her hand.
When they went outside, he looked her in the eye. “Look, I’m really sorry again. It was all a misunderstanding.
“I understand. And honestly, after you came to help us… I forgive you.”
Chad looked at her from a different angle. “Um, I understand this isn’t easy, but will you accept my earlier offer? Or at least can we be friends?”
“Friends,” said Phila.
“But I thought-” started Chad
“Don’t push your luck,” Phila winked at him and went to go join the rest of the group. “Maybe later.”
He smiled. “I can live with that.” Chad stood looking out into the distance for a long time, both disappointed and happy at the same time.