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July 3rd
"Dammit." The portly man muttered as he dug through a wide dresser drawer, causing it to shift and creek. That American flag t-shirt he had intended to wear tomorrow seemed to have just turned to dust. If he couldn't wear that to the parade what would he? Maybe there was a coat or something in the closet.

He removed his burly arms from the shirt drawer before shoving it back into place. He then proceeded to act on his thought, stomping over to the white door at the corner of his barren bedroom, some of the paint chips visibly ready to fall to the ground, peeling back to reveal a smooth wood. With a minute amount of jiggling, the man pulled the door knob open to peer inside the closet.

"Huh?" He spat out cartoonishly. Sitting in plain sight on the center of a shelf that stood over the few coats that hanged in the closet was a short, white top hat that bore red stripes running down it and a blue, star spangled brim. The man had never seen this hat in his life, but figuring his wife must have bought it, forgot any suspicions he had and enthusiastically plucked the hat from the shelf, fitting it right over his head snugly.

The moment the man happily rested his hands on his hips however, an inexplicable feeling washed over him. It was as though millions of small objects were applying pressure to every point on his body, yet it didn't cause any pain.

"Ah hell, I don't feel so hot..." his head waved side to side for a few seconds before his large body flumped onto its back, visibly shrinking in the torso area.

From downstairs, a middle aged, brunette woman seated on a peeling couch before a tv twisted her head towards the staircase at the sound of a loud crash.

"Harold?! What's going on up there?!"

No response. One too many perhaps? She'd better have a look.

Another loud noise soon emitted from that home. A shriek at the sight of an unfamiliar presence.

A police report made later reported a break in where a man had gone missing, seemingly kidnapped by an athletic, brown haired, female intruder. The clothing he wore strewn about the ground. His wife, a witness, reported that she didn't see her husband when she went up and that the women had said something along the lines of "It's not the fourth yet so you're fine. Bye!," before running past her and out of the home, into the night.

PatrioticaA 4th of July Transformation tale
by
Transformingguy

Independence Day - Morning

"All floats are accounted for Mr. Brennan. They're all here, but..." A skinny, blonde, young man holding a clipboard said.

"But what?" Replied his manager, a taller gentleman in a flannel and jeans, donning a tan cowboy hat.

"It's just that there's seems to be an extra one."

The two men were standing at the back of the long line of parade floats that would soon be driven and marched down the town square. Tall, hunkering statues and low trailers with paper decorations all stood at attention, patiently awaiting their owners. Mr. Brennan and the young worker, whose name was Keenan were the only ones present.

"Which one is that?" Mr. Brennan asked, turning his head to scan the long row of colorful vehicles.

"It's that horse drawn carriage over there." Keenan said, stepping closer to Mr. Brennan so he could see where he was pointing.

Sure enough, a black carriage that shined glimmering, white light under the sun stood in between a similarly black convertible that would later drive the mayor and a white semi truck that would pull along a live band. Mr. Brennan raised an eyebrow and walked over to examine the vehicle. It seemed like it was in ready, working order. The wooden wheels were intact, there was a pair of fine, leather reigns attached to it, and its overall build seemed brand new. The only things missing seemed to be horses and a driver.

"Well, I guess we oughta just wait here and see if the owner of it comes by." Mr. Brennan decided aloud after a moment's thought.

"What'll we ask them to do?"

"Well, we aren't supposed to let unregistered floats in like this. I suppose we'll ask whoever they are to leave."

A light, modulated voice came from behind them. "Awwww, is that so? That's really too bad."

The men turned to see a shapely, brunette woman, donned in a blue jean skirt, an American speckled crop top, and a similarly themed hat. Her brown eyes gave both an aura of sensuality, and even deeper, one of mischief. She wore a smirk that would be interpreted by some as flirtatious, and by others as smug.

After a few seconds of admiring, Mr. Brennan blinked and spoke. "You the owner of this carriage ma'am? If so, I'm gonna have to ask you to move it."

"But I had two great ideas for horses in mind!" She said with a faux anxiety in her tone.

"Maybe so, but you didn't get registered beforehand." Mr. Brennan turned his feet and body to face her completely. A quick glance to the side revealed to him that Keenan was distracted by the girl's beauty.

"No exceptions. Ain't that right Keenan?" He continued.

"Oh, um, yes sir." Keenan said, snapping out of his spacey state.

"I think just one would be fine. Don't you?" She asked, striding forward to get closer to the men. She was tall compared to both of them, standing a bit higher than Keenan.

"No actually. I don't."

"Too bad." The girl caught the two off guard by quickly tapping each of them on the head and stepping back.

"What was that for?" Mr. Brennan asked, to which he received no reply to.

"Mr. Brennan, I don't feel so good." Keenan said, before falling flat on his face, Brennan making no effort to catch him.

"Keenan, what's up with you boy." Brennan lifted his foot to nudge the kid with it, but stopped when his foot slipped out of his shoe, revealing a widening, black, rock solid foot. Mr. Brennan stared at his foot before setting it to the ground, hearing a familiar clopping noise. It was a hoof. He felt his other foot penetrate his shoe, also becoming a hoof. Keenan pushed himself up, but remained on all fours as his body seemed to grow in mass, becoming tight in his clothes. Brennan also spotted hooves on his feet too.

"What the fuck did you do to us?" Brennan yelled at the woman.

"Honey, I just needed some horses." She replied smiling.

"I ain't no horse you bitch! Waagh!" Brennan tripped over Keenan, and found himself caught on his way to the ground by two more pairs of hooves, this time where his hands should've been.

"Not fully yet."

Brennan stared in horror at his sleeves which were detaching from the fest of his shirt due to his legs (former arms) growing in length and thinning out. If he could look back on this event, he likely would comment on how much stronger his legs felt then. The sleeves of his shirt, and the halves of his pants and underpants fell to his ankles as his clothing ripped away with his growing mass, which was being absolutely covered in thin fur.

The fur was a creamy brown color, and covered Brennan everywhere below his neck. He tried to speak but only a wheeze escaped his throat. His hat finally managed to fall off as a stringy tail grew in to brush against his legs. His neck thickened as it too grew hair, also stretching out to place his head towering over the woman who did this to him. He wanted to kick her, but something stopped him. Something he couldn't quite explain and soon forgot about when his face started to push forward. He looked back to Keenan to see his changes. He watched as the boy's eyes widened until they were practically on different sides of his head. His ears pinched and turned floppy and ovular. His hair became a mane running down his neck. His nose disappeared into the growing muzzle, though his nostrils flared, being covered in his amber-colored fur. Then they were horses, and their minds went blank, turning to horse things.

"You're so beautiful! Let's get you guys reigned up."

Afternoon...

Many smiled and waved at the girl on the horse drawn carriage. Even more than they did to the mayor in the car in front of her. Her beautiful horses merely walked along, tugging the shiny painted carriage with them. Eventually, the parade ended, and she subtly snuck off, ditching her carriage and horses. Maybe someone will pick them up, or put them down, she didn't care. It was the afternoon, parties would be starting up soon. It was time to get some invitations.

Meanwhile...

"Kyle!" Shouted the angry voice of a young woman.

"Duaaaah?!" Her boyfriend hazily awoke from his slumber that lasted much too long. He cocked his head to look at her blonde haired, short, skinny form.

The also blond, somewhat large and broad shouldered man leaned up, scratching at his clean shaven face. "What is it?" he asked.

"It's the Fourth of July and you've been sleeping all day. Get ready, we're going to a party." The girl named Mia replied.

"Do I gotta?" Kyle asked in reply, rubbing one of his sleepy eyes as he did.

"Uh, yeah, you do. We're on our way there in an hour. Have midday breakfast and get dressed." Mia smirked and gracefully turned to head out the door, adding in "I'm not making your food," on the way out

Kyle rolled his eyes. What the girlfriend said was law. He swiveled to throw his legs over the side of his bed and stood up slowly, as though his joints had wood strapped to them to limit their movements. After pulling on a red shirt and some somewhat blue shoes to get in the spirit as much as he could, he stepped out to dig through the cabinets for cereal.

A small amount of time dripped by and the couple were in their car.

"What time is it?" Asked Kyle

"About four." Mia replied

"How long will we be there?"

"Until the fireworks."

"When're those?"

"About nine."

Kyle stifled a groan as he turned to look out the window, spotting some oddly placed male clothes next to an oddly placed top hat. A beautiful girl caught his attention for a moment, but he twisted his head back to his lover at the wheel.

That beautiful girl stalked her way down the suburb street, having heard of a large party at one of the bigger homes a ways away.

"I shoulda turned that guy into a car." she thought aloud, catching the attention of a man sitting on his porch.

He turned his eyes to the oblivious woman and muttered a "no" under his breath. The middle-aged man's face twisted into an expression of recognition and fear. As soon as she was gone, the gray haired man stood up to stalk inside, his muscular legs pounding on the deck. The thought of finding that woman danced in his head as he marched to his room.

A few minutes later, Kyle and Mia were entering a two storied home with a stone path and plenty of yard space for a party, which was exactly what was happening. Drinks were had, pools were swam in, fire crackers were lit, and a barbeque was roaring. A brunette woman apporached the man at the grill. "Hey." She said. "You got hotdogs?"

A tall man stoked the burgers on the grill as he shook his head. "No, sorry, only burgers. Maybe someone brought some, ask around."

"Maybe I could get one from you." She said smirking, causing the man to smile and turn his head.

"Maybe. Wanna find out? We could sneak into the guest house once these patties are done."

The brunette nodded. "See you there in a few."

Kyle had found someone he hadn't spoken to in a while, a ginger with a scruffy beard and an average build named Wes. They clinked some beers together and got into a conversation about work as two other people, a man and a woman, waltzed into the guest house built into the garage excitedly. Kyle mentally noted this for some reason after seeing it out of the corner of his eye.

Mia, on the other hand, having earlier found the bathrooms in the main house occupied, had slipped into the bathroom in the guest house and was just washing up when she heard people undressing outside. She eased the door open a little and sure enough, the slender fellow who was at the grill earlier was standing pantless, in front of the guest room's bed. Whoever he was stripping for Mia couldn't see for the moment. She silently shut the door and decided to creep over to the opaque window the bathroom had to open it and climb out, feeling it was too awkward to walk through there.

She was just lifting her leg when she heard a "What the fuck are you doing?" followed by a chorus of phrases such as "Noo!" "Somebody help!" and "I can't move!"

It was probably too loud for anyone to hear the guy, but Mia could. She crept back over to the door and opened it once more, just in time to see what looked like a smooth, bald and fleshy head sink into a shirt sitting on the ground. Also visible was a curvy, brown haired girl in distinct, American gear, once of them being a striped top hat.

Where'd that guy go? Was that his head there?

Mia watched as the girl reached her hand into the shirt laying on the ground and plucked out a sausage wrapped in a bun to make a hotdog. Mia's eyes widened. What did she just see? There has to be a logical explanation for this right? She closed the door once more. Was she going nuts? She'll have to watch that girl to be sure.

Kyle, standing out front of the guest house entrance next to his old friend Wes, was confused to turn his head and see the woman he saw earlier leave alone, chewing on a hotdog, then for his girlfriend to come out after, her eyes darting about warily.

"Just a sec." He said to Wes, before setting down his beer and approaching Mia, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Hey, what's up? You look nervous."

"I am, but it may be nothing, could you let me alone for a few minutes?" Mia asked.

Kyle raised an eyebrow, but gave in, walking back to his spot with Wes as Mia wandered inside in pursuit of that mystery girl.

Said mystery girl was eager for a swim, so when she noticed a girl wandering into a bathroom to change, she wasted no time sliding in with her before she could close the door.

"Hey, what're you doing?" the curly haired, chubby, glasses donning girl asked to the stranger who nudged her way into the bathroom with her.

"Oh, I was just wondering if I could change in here. We're both girls right? It's fine."

The blonde girl slowly nodded permission. "I guess."

The brunette smirked. "Great."

"Wait, where's your swimsuit?"

"Riiiight here!" She pressed a finger to the forehead of the glassed girl.

"What? This swimsuit is mine if that's what you mean."

The patriotically dressed girl smirked as the oblivious girl's forehead turned completely red. "That's not what I mean honey. Sorry to say..."

The blonde girl's arms suddenly snapped to her sides. As the fabric textured red spread throughout her face, it became apparent due to her quivering lips that she was trying to yell but couldn't. Her arms that had just frozen still started to pull into her body as the other girl removed her top to reveal a contracting torso. Her bra was pulled off next, revealing to breasts that looked oddly like a bikini top, the left cup red, the right blue, and with a white star on each of them. The poor girl could only use her eyes to stare in horror as her contracting torso, arms, and now legs continued to shrink away. Her lower garments all fell to reveal a smooth crotch, white, and also seeming to be made of fabric. Soon, her head was vanishing along with the rest of her body, which flattened out and split into two parts, one top, one bottom of an American flag themed bikini.

A fine woman stepped out of the bathroom wearing this bikini, carrying her own clothes in her arms, besides her top hat which remained firmly on her head. Mia watched her go by before stepping into the bathroom she used. Sure enough, a woman's top, skirt, underwear, and a swimsuit all sat on the linoleum. Mia gulped a breath and stood up from the crouched position she was in to examine the clothes. Could still just be her imagination running wild, but she wasn't fully sure of that.

Kyle had become concerned about Mia during his continuous chat with Wes, so the two of them walked into the house after her, running into each other in the front hall, just before the door.

"Hey, really, what's going on?" Kyle asked sternly.

"Did a girl in a top hat walk by?" Mia asked. "To the pool maybe?"

"Yeah." Wes said in his deep, mellow voice. "I remember eyeing her rack."

Just then, the door swung open. A man in jeans and a light blue turtle neck jogged inside. He was older than practically everyone at the party, and had an urgent look on his face. He seemed to be hiding something under his shirt too, as he had his hand pressed against there.

"There a girl in a top hat here?" He asked in a growly voice.

All three of them slowly nodded. "Why? What do you know about her?" Mia asked.

"I know she's fucking dangerous! She makes people... disappear. Where is she?"

"Backyard." Kyle said. "What's that you got there?" Kyle indicated to the long lump in the man's shirt.

The man ignored his question to push by the group, who curiously followed him out into the backyard. From there, they watched him slowly approach the top hat wearing girl from behind before using his free hand to grab at her hat and attempt to yank it off. It didn't budge from her head, and the girl whirled around and bounced off her hot tub seat, jumping straight at the man. He fell to the ground, and everyone turned to watch the ensuing confrontation.

"You again, you think you'll get my hat off like that?" She asked, sneering.

"No, I think I'll get it off like this!" The man revealed that the object he had under his shirt was a small double barreled shotgun.

"Ah crap." The girl said, before throwing her head back after a shot went off.

Some people turned to run, but others, including Mia, Kyle and Wes, stayed to watch as the girl looked back down at the man, smiling. "You missed old man."

The man pushed himself up. "Everyone! For your safety, run!"

Most people left at that, but Mia grabbed Kyle's arm and Wes just stayed to watch in fascination.

"I haven't got time for this." The top hat wearing girl said.

"No!" The man yelled as she turned and ran off towards a fence gate, dodging another shot from the man.

He turned back to the observing trio. "You wanna know about her? Follow me, I may need some help."

Mia and Kyle ran after the man who was pointlessly pursuing the all too quick girl. Wes shrugged then followed them as well. By the time they saw her again, she was just getting into a car surrounded by tattered cloths. She waved goodbye then slammed on the gas, speeding off as more buckshot bounced across the car.

"Shit!" The gun-toting man yelled, before once again looking to his followers.

"Before I tell you what I know about her, you tell me what you know."

Mia stumbled over her words. "W-well, I think that she... that she... made some people"

"Into something not human?" The middle aged man finished for her.

Mia slowly nodded, causing Kyle to twist his face into a look of awe and dart his gaze between Mia and the man.

"Hold on, who the hell are you?" He asked the man.

"The name's Jones. Many years ago I saw what that girl can do. Looks like she's back. Probably glued her hat on this time... sorry. You guys don't believe me?"

Wes shrugged. "I've seen some wild shit man. This story would only be about number five on the list, and you seem pretty serious about it. Plus, that girl did get shot in the face..."

"I was aiming for her hat. You have to remove the hat!"

Kyle cut in. "Whoa whoa whoa, how am I supposed to believe all this? Yeah, that girl shrugged off a gunshot, but turning people into...?"

"Anything."

"Turning people anything else seems a little farfetched to me still."

"Well." Jones said. "Where'd she get that car? Have you noticed we literally chased her into the middle of a minor league baseball field?"

Kyle looked around and sure enough, bleachers, batting cages, and local ads on fences that just had a hole busted into them surrounded them. He then looked to the serious faces of Jones and of his girlfriend. "Alright, I believe you. How do we stop her?"

Evening...

Despite the earlier incident, police decided not to go through the hassle of closing up all the parties in town. The top hat wearing girl, who the young ones learned called herself Patriotica, could be at any one of these parties, with new victims lined up.

As the four searched house party to house party, Patriotica made herself home at a party in a smaller house that had lasted for a while and was now mellowing out. She counted four people in the house and three sitting out in the back by the fire pit, drunkenly messing with a guitar and singing songs. The two guys and one girl were too intoxicated to seem to care when she gave them each a quick tap on the forehead before sitting down with them. They did however notice when their bodies starting shrinking and either folding up, or becoming or cylindrical. They could only make confused drunk sounds before being reduced to a gram cracker, a piece of chocolate, and a marshmallow ready to be roasted.

After finishing her treat, Patriotica made her way back inside and scanned the living room. She noted the clock on the wall, reading 9:07, the couple in a face-lock on the couch and the girls on their phones, each in their own armchair. When one of the armchair-bound girls stood up and started walking towards a bathroom down the hall to Patriotica's right, she saw her chance to get a change.

Once the girl was done in the restroom, she stepped out to be greeted by a smiling girl in- (fuck it, you already know). She smirked and tapped her on the head once before stepping back.

"What?" The girl asked Patriotica.

"Could I ask you something?" Patriotica replied, hoping to distract her long enough for her to lose her voice.

"Wha-arf."

That was quick.

The girl put a hand to her face in shock, but barked once more upon feeling rough, gray pads pressing into her face. She stared at her hand then turned to the smiling girl. A cracking sound emerged from the girl who cringed and fell on all fours as under her clothes, itchy, golden fur started to sprout, and her shoulders and pelvis began to merge with her torso before disappearing entirely, forcing her arms to become legs and for her four legs to be below her stomach. She scratched and pulled at her clothes with her nails that were slowly rounding out and becoming dull, black claws

A loud bark escaped her lips which were pushing forward and being surrounded by a furry muzzle. She looked up to her tormenter in fear as her ears began to extend, losing their rigid shape as they became pointed and slid up the side of her head, pushing past hair that was receding to be replaced by fur. Her pants and panties finally came off to reveal a shaggy tail as her nose pressed back into her newly formed muzzle, moistening and turning black before becoming a round end to her face. She opened her mouth to pant, showing off her now pointed pearly whites and a flat tongue between dark jowls.

Satisfied with her work, Patriotica left the dog to sit and pant tiredly before heading back over to the living room to see if she could call for the next patient. She made it about one step out of the hallway before a shotgun blast to her back knocked her face down, and three heavy bodies pinned her to the floor.

Kyle looked up to his smiling girlfriend. "Nice shot." He said.

"Her hat! Rip it away! Don't let her touch your head!" called Jones. Mia dropped the gun and rushed to the splayed out Patriotica as Wes struggled to keep her arm down, Jones lay across her back with her other arm trapped below her stomach, and Kyle held her legs. Mia pulled and pulled on the brim of the hat despite the profanities and desperate acts of strugle being given by Patriotica. "It's not midnight yet you bitch! I'll go when it's the fifth!" the hat wearer had said.

Pop! It came off.

"Nooooo!" Screamed Patirotica. Before Mia backed away and the guys released her.

"Patriotica my ass." Jones said as they stood. "Get outta this country. In America, we die when we get shot!" Jones spat to her.

She stood up, brushed herself off and ,surprisingly, smiled. "Well, you guys got me beat. Maybe I'll see you next year. Happy fourth of July!"

A noticeably deep red color had spread across Patriotica's face. Everyone, including the three remaining party guests, who stepped out of the closet, watched as Patriotica backed out the wide open back door, her hair congregating above her head in a pyramid shape before hardening and turning red as well, pointing to the sky. Her face began to fade away once there wasn't a roof over her head, and her arms were pulled in. Her clothes fell away as her body became cylindrical. The seven people all stepped outside to watch as Patriotica was launched into the sky with a whistling sound, before exploding overhead in a brilliant, multi-colored fireworks display that spread out and sparkled for the whole town to see.

"Well, there was the firework show." Mia said, still clutching Patriotica's hat.

"That mean we can go home now?" Kyle asked, reaching his arm around Mia to grab her shoulder.

"Yeah, it does." Mia replied, before kissing his cheek.

Jones put in his own thoughts. "You three stay safe. Keep an eye on that hat too. I didn't do a good job with it, but maybe you will. Make sure no one ever puts it on. You hear?"

Wes turned his head to regard the three confused strangers. "You guys need to lay off the weed. It'll start to make you see shit y'know?" He said, before turning to walk off just before the rest of the triumphant victors of July.

The End
Happy late Independence Day

Description

July 3rd
"Dammit." The portly man muttered as he dug through a wide dresser drawer, causing it to shift and creek. That American flag t-shirt he had intended to wear tomorrow seemed to have just turned to dust. If he couldn't wear that to the parade what would he? Maybe there was a coat or something in the closet.

He removed his burly arms from the shirt drawer before shoving it back into place. He then proceeded to act on his thought, stomping over to the white door at the corner of his barren bedroom, some of the paint chips visibly ready to fall to the ground, peeling back to reveal a smooth wood. With a minute amount of jiggling, the man pulled the door knob open to peer inside the closet.

"Huh?" He spat out cartoonishly. Sitting in plain sight on the center of a shelf that stood over the few coats that hanged in the closet was a short, white top hat that bore red stripes running down it and a blue, star spangled brim. The man had never seen this hat in his life, but figuring his wife must have bought it, forgot any suspicions he had and enthusiastically plucked the hat from the shelf, fitting it right over his head snugly.

The moment the man happily rested his hands on his hips however, an inexplicable feeling washed over him. It was as though millions of small objects were applying pressure to every point on his body, yet it didn't cause any pain.

"Ah hell, I don't feel so hot..." his head waved side to side for a few seconds before his large body flumped onto its back, visibly shrinking in the torso area.

From downstairs, a middle aged, brunette woman seated on a peeling couch before a tv twisted her head towards the staircase at the sound of a loud crash.

"Harold?! What's going on up there?!"

No response. One too many perhaps? She'd better have a look.

Another loud noise soon emitted from that home. A shriek at the sight of an unfamiliar presence.

A police report made later reported a break in where a man had gone missing, seemingly kidnapped by an athletic, brown haired, female intruder. The clothing he wore strewn about the ground. His wife, a witness, reported that she didn't see her husband when she went up and that the women had said something along the lines of "It's not the fourth yet so you're fine. Bye!," before running past her and out of the home, into the night.

PatrioticaA 4th of July Transformation tale
by
Transformingguy

Independence Day - Morning

"All floats are accounted for Mr. Brennan. They're all here, but..." A skinny, blonde, young man holding a clipboard said.

"But what?" Replied his manager, a taller gentleman in a flannel and jeans, donning a tan cowboy hat.

"It's just that there's seems to be an extra one."

The two men were standing at the back of the long line of parade floats that would soon be driven and marched down the town square. Tall, hunkering statues and low trailers with paper decorations all stood at attention, patiently awaiting their owners. Mr. Brennan and the young worker, whose name was Keenan were the only ones present.

"Which one is that?" Mr. Brennan asked, turning his head to scan the long row of colorful vehicles.

"It's that horse drawn carriage over there." Keenan said, stepping closer to Mr. Brennan so he could see where he was pointing.

Sure enough, a black carriage that shined glimmering, white light under the sun stood in between a similarly black convertible that would later drive the mayor and a white semi truck that would pull along a live band. Mr. Brennan raised an eyebrow and walked over to examine the vehicle. It seemed like it was in ready, working order. The wooden wheels were intact, there was a pair of fine, leather reigns attached to it, and its overall build seemed brand new. The only things missing seemed to be horses and a driver.

"Well, I guess we oughta just wait here and see if the owner of it comes by." Mr. Brennan decided aloud after a moment's thought.

"What'll we ask them to do?"

"Well, we aren't supposed to let unregistered floats in like this. I suppose we'll ask whoever they are to leave."

A light, modulated voice came from behind them. "Awwww, is that so? That's really too bad."

The men turned to see a shapely, brunette woman, donned in a blue jean skirt, an American speckled crop top, and a similarly themed hat. Her brown eyes gave both an aura of sensuality, and even deeper, one of mischief. She wore a smirk that would be interpreted by some as flirtatious, and by others as smug.

After a few seconds of admiring, Mr. Brennan blinked and spoke. "You the owner of this carriage ma'am? If so, I'm gonna have to ask you to move it."

"But I had two great ideas for horses in mind!" She said with a faux anxiety in her tone.

"Maybe so, but you didn't get registered beforehand." Mr. Brennan turned his feet and body to face her completely. A quick glance to the side revealed to him that Keenan was distracted by the girl's beauty.

"No exceptions. Ain't that right Keenan?" He continued.

"Oh, um, yes sir." Keenan said, snapping out of his spacey state.

"I think just one would be fine. Don't you?" She asked, striding forward to get closer to the men. She was tall compared to both of them, standing a bit higher than Keenan.

"No actually. I don't."

"Too bad." The girl caught the two off guard by quickly tapping each of them on the head and stepping back.

"What was that for?" Mr. Brennan asked, to which he received no reply to.

"Mr. Brennan, I don't feel so good." Keenan said, before falling flat on his face, Brennan making no effort to catch him.

"Keenan, what's up with you boy." Brennan lifted his foot to nudge the kid with it, but stopped when his foot slipped out of his shoe, revealing a widening, black, rock solid foot. Mr. Brennan stared at his foot before setting it to the ground, hearing a familiar clopping noise. It was a hoof. He felt his other foot penetrate his shoe, also becoming a hoof. Keenan pushed himself up, but remained on all fours as his body seemed to grow in mass, becoming tight in his clothes. Brennan also spotted hooves on his feet too.

"What the fuck did you do to us?" Brennan yelled at the woman.

"Honey, I just needed some horses." She replied smiling.

"I ain't no horse you bitch! Waagh!" Brennan tripped over Keenan, and found himself caught on his way to the ground by two more pairs of hooves, this time where his hands should've been.

"Not fully yet."

Brennan stared in horror at his sleeves which were detaching from the fest of his shirt due to his legs (former arms) growing in length and thinning out. If he could look back on this event, he likely would comment on how much stronger his legs felt then. The sleeves of his shirt, and the halves of his pants and underpants fell to his ankles as his clothing ripped away with his growing mass, which was being absolutely covered in thin fur.

The fur was a creamy brown color, and covered Brennan everywhere below his neck. He tried to speak but only a wheeze escaped his throat. His hat finally managed to fall off as a stringy tail grew in to brush against his legs. His neck thickened as it too grew hair, also stretching out to place his head towering over the woman who did this to him. He wanted to kick her, but something stopped him. Something he couldn't quite explain and soon forgot about when his face started to push forward. He looked back to Keenan to see his changes. He watched as the boy's eyes widened until they were practically on different sides of his head. His ears pinched and turned floppy and ovular. His hair became a mane running down his neck. His nose disappeared into the growing muzzle, though his nostrils flared, being covered in his amber-colored fur. Then they were horses, and their minds went blank, turning to horse things.

"You're so beautiful! Let's get you guys reigned up."

Afternoon...

Many smiled and waved at the girl on the horse drawn carriage. Even more than they did to the mayor in the car in front of her. Her beautiful horses merely walked along, tugging the shiny painted carriage with them. Eventually, the parade ended, and she subtly snuck off, ditching her carriage and horses. Maybe someone will pick them up, or put them down, she didn't care. It was the afternoon, parties would be starting up soon. It was time to get some invitations.

Meanwhile...

"Kyle!" Shouted the angry voice of a young woman.

"Duaaaah?!" Her boyfriend hazily awoke from his slumber that lasted much too long. He cocked his head to look at her blonde haired, short, skinny form.

The also blond, somewhat large and broad shouldered man leaned up, scratching at his clean shaven face. "What is it?" he asked.

"It's the Fourth of July and you've been sleeping all day. Get ready, we're going to a party." The girl named Mia replied.

"Do I gotta?" Kyle asked in reply, rubbing one of his sleepy eyes as he did.

"Uh, yeah, you do. We're on our way there in an hour. Have midday breakfast and get dressed." Mia smirked and gracefully turned to head out the door, adding in "I'm not making your food," on the way out

Kyle rolled his eyes. What the girlfriend said was law. He swiveled to throw his legs over the side of his bed and stood up slowly, as though his joints had wood strapped to them to limit their movements. After pulling on a red shirt and some somewhat blue shoes to get in the spirit as much as he could, he stepped out to dig through the cabinets for cereal.

A small amount of time dripped by and the couple were in their car.

"What time is it?" Asked Kyle

"About four." Mia replied

"How long will we be there?"

"Until the fireworks."

"When're those?"

"About nine."

Kyle stifled a groan as he turned to look out the window, spotting some oddly placed male clothes next to an oddly placed top hat. A beautiful girl caught his attention for a moment, but he twisted his head back to his lover at the wheel.

That beautiful girl stalked her way down the suburb street, having heard of a large party at one of the bigger homes a ways away.

"I shoulda turned that guy into a car." she thought aloud, catching the attention of a man sitting on his porch.

He turned his eyes to the oblivious woman and muttered a "no" under his breath. The middle-aged man's face twisted into an expression of recognition and fear. As soon as she was gone, the gray haired man stood up to stalk inside, his muscular legs pounding on the deck. The thought of finding that woman danced in his head as he marched to his room.

A few minutes later, Kyle and Mia were entering a two storied home with a stone path and plenty of yard space for a party, which was exactly what was happening. Drinks were had, pools were swam in, fire crackers were lit, and a barbeque was roaring. A brunette woman apporached the man at the grill. "Hey." She said. "You got hotdogs?"

A tall man stoked the burgers on the grill as he shook his head. "No, sorry, only burgers. Maybe someone brought some, ask around."

"Maybe I could get one from you." She said smirking, causing the man to smile and turn his head.

"Maybe. Wanna find out? We could sneak into the guest house once these patties are done."

The brunette nodded. "See you there in a few."

Kyle had found someone he hadn't spoken to in a while, a ginger with a scruffy beard and an average build named Wes. They clinked some beers together and got into a conversation about work as two other people, a man and a woman, waltzed into the guest house built into the garage excitedly. Kyle mentally noted this for some reason after seeing it out of the corner of his eye.

Mia, on the other hand, having earlier found the bathrooms in the main house occupied, had slipped into the bathroom in the guest house and was just washing up when she heard people undressing outside. She eased the door open a little and sure enough, the slender fellow who was at the grill earlier was standing pantless, in front of the guest room's bed. Whoever he was stripping for Mia couldn't see for the moment. She silently shut the door and decided to creep over to the opaque window the bathroom had to open it and climb out, feeling it was too awkward to walk through there.

She was just lifting her leg when she heard a "What the fuck are you doing?" followed by a chorus of phrases such as "Noo!" "Somebody help!" and "I can't move!"

It was probably too loud for anyone to hear the guy, but Mia could. She crept back over to the door and opened it once more, just in time to see what looked like a smooth, bald and fleshy head sink into a shirt sitting on the ground. Also visible was a curvy, brown haired girl in distinct, American gear, once of them being a striped top hat.

Where'd that guy go? Was that his head there?

Mia watched as the girl reached her hand into the shirt laying on the ground and plucked out a sausage wrapped in a bun to make a hotdog. Mia's eyes widened. What did she just see? There has to be a logical explanation for this right? She closed the door once more. Was she going nuts? She'll have to watch that girl to be sure.

Kyle, standing out front of the guest house entrance next to his old friend Wes, was confused to turn his head and see the woman he saw earlier leave alone, chewing on a hotdog, then for his girlfriend to come out after, her eyes darting about warily.

"Just a sec." He said to Wes, before setting down his beer and approaching Mia, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Hey, what's up? You look nervous."

"I am, but it may be nothing, could you let me alone for a few minutes?" Mia asked.

Kyle raised an eyebrow, but gave in, walking back to his spot with Wes as Mia wandered inside in pursuit of that mystery girl.

Said mystery girl was eager for a swim, so when she noticed a girl wandering into a bathroom to change, she wasted no time sliding in with her before she could close the door.

"Hey, what're you doing?" the curly haired, chubby, glasses donning girl asked to the stranger who nudged her way into the bathroom with her.

"Oh, I was just wondering if I could change in here. We're both girls right? It's fine."

The blonde girl slowly nodded permission. "I guess."

The brunette smirked. "Great."

"Wait, where's your swimsuit?"

"Riiiight here!" She pressed a finger to the forehead of the glassed girl.

"What? This swimsuit is mine if that's what you mean."

The patriotically dressed girl smirked as the oblivious girl's forehead turned completely red. "That's not what I mean honey. Sorry to say..."

The blonde girl's arms suddenly snapped to her sides. As the fabric textured red spread throughout her face, it became apparent due to her quivering lips that she was trying to yell but couldn't. Her arms that had just frozen still started to pull into her body as the other girl removed her top to reveal a contracting torso. Her bra was pulled off next, revealing to breasts that looked oddly like a bikini top, the left cup red, the right blue, and with a white star on each of them. The poor girl could only use her eyes to stare in horror as her contracting torso, arms, and now legs continued to shrink away. Her lower garments all fell to reveal a smooth crotch, white, and also seeming to be made of fabric. Soon, her head was vanishing along with the rest of her body, which flattened out and split into two parts, one top, one bottom of an American flag themed bikini.

A fine woman stepped out of the bathroom wearing this bikini, carrying her own clothes in her arms, besides her top hat which remained firmly on her head. Mia watched her go by before stepping into the bathroom she used. Sure enough, a woman's top, skirt, underwear, and a swimsuit all sat on the linoleum. Mia gulped a breath and stood up from the crouched position she was in to examine the clothes. Could still just be her imagination running wild, but she wasn't fully sure of that.

Kyle had become concerned about Mia during his continuous chat with Wes, so the two of them walked into the house after her, running into each other in the front hall, just before the door.

"Hey, really, what's going on?" Kyle asked sternly.

"Did a girl in a top hat walk by?" Mia asked. "To the pool maybe?"

"Yeah." Wes said in his deep, mellow voice. "I remember eyeing her rack."

Just then, the door swung open. A man in jeans and a light blue turtle neck jogged inside. He was older than practically everyone at the party, and had an urgent look on his face. He seemed to be hiding something under his shirt too, as he had his hand pressed against there.

"There a girl in a top hat here?" He asked in a growly voice.

All three of them slowly nodded. "Why? What do you know about her?" Mia asked.

"I know she's fucking dangerous! She makes people... disappear. Where is she?"

"Backyard." Kyle said. "What's that you got there?" Kyle indicated to the long lump in the man's shirt.

The man ignored his question to push by the group, who curiously followed him out into the backyard. From there, they watched him slowly approach the top hat wearing girl from behind before using his free hand to grab at her hat and attempt to yank it off. It didn't budge from her head, and the girl whirled around and bounced off her hot tub seat, jumping straight at the man. He fell to the ground, and everyone turned to watch the ensuing confrontation.

"You again, you think you'll get my hat off like that?" She asked, sneering.

"No, I think I'll get it off like this!" The man revealed that the object he had under his shirt was a small double barreled shotgun.

"Ah crap." The girl said, before throwing her head back after a shot went off.

Some people turned to run, but others, including Mia, Kyle and Wes, stayed to watch as the girl looked back down at the man, smiling. "You missed old man."

The man pushed himself up. "Everyone! For your safety, run!"

Most people left at that, but Mia grabbed Kyle's arm and Wes just stayed to watch in fascination.

"I haven't got time for this." The top hat wearing girl said.

"No!" The man yelled as she turned and ran off towards a fence gate, dodging another shot from the man.

He turned back to the observing trio. "You wanna know about her? Follow me, I may need some help."

Mia and Kyle ran after the man who was pointlessly pursuing the all too quick girl. Wes shrugged then followed them as well. By the time they saw her again, she was just getting into a car surrounded by tattered cloths. She waved goodbye then slammed on the gas, speeding off as more buckshot bounced across the car.

"Shit!" The gun-toting man yelled, before once again looking to his followers.

"Before I tell you what I know about her, you tell me what you know."

Mia stumbled over her words. "W-well, I think that she... that she... made some people"

"Into something not human?" The middle aged man finished for her.

Mia slowly nodded, causing Kyle to twist his face into a look of awe and dart his gaze between Mia and the man.

"Hold on, who the hell are you?" He asked the man.

"The name's Jones. Many years ago I saw what that girl can do. Looks like she's back. Probably glued her hat on this time... sorry. You guys don't believe me?"

Wes shrugged. "I've seen some wild shit man. This story would only be about number five on the list, and you seem pretty serious about it. Plus, that girl did get shot in the face..."

"I was aiming for her hat. You have to remove the hat!"

Kyle cut in. "Whoa whoa whoa, how am I supposed to believe all this? Yeah, that girl shrugged off a gunshot, but turning people into...?"

"Anything."

"Turning people anything else seems a little farfetched to me still."

"Well." Jones said. "Where'd she get that car? Have you noticed we literally chased her into the middle of a minor league baseball field?"

Kyle looked around and sure enough, bleachers, batting cages, and local ads on fences that just had a hole busted into them surrounded them. He then looked to the serious faces of Jones and of his girlfriend. "Alright, I believe you. How do we stop her?"

Evening...

Despite the earlier incident, police decided not to go through the hassle of closing up all the parties in town. The top hat wearing girl, who the young ones learned called herself Patriotica, could be at any one of these parties, with new victims lined up.

As the four searched house party to house party, Patriotica made herself home at a party in a smaller house that had lasted for a while and was now mellowing out. She counted four people in the house and three sitting out in the back by the fire pit, drunkenly messing with a guitar and singing songs. The two guys and one girl were too intoxicated to seem to care when she gave them each a quick tap on the forehead before sitting down with them. They did however notice when their bodies starting shrinking and either folding up, or becoming or cylindrical. They could only make confused drunk sounds before being reduced to a gram cracker, a piece of chocolate, and a marshmallow ready to be roasted.

After finishing her treat, Patriotica made her way back inside and scanned the living room. She noted the clock on the wall, reading 9:07, the couple in a face-lock on the couch and the girls on their phones, each in their own armchair. When one of the armchair-bound girls stood up and started walking towards a bathroom down the hall to Patriotica's right, she saw her chance to get a change.

Once the girl was done in the restroom, she stepped out to be greeted by a smiling girl in- (fuck it, you already know). She smirked and tapped her on the head once before stepping back.

"What?" The girl asked Patriotica.

"Could I ask you something?" Patriotica replied, hoping to distract her long enough for her to lose her voice.

"Wha-arf."

That was quick.

The girl put a hand to her face in shock, but barked once more upon feeling rough, gray pads pressing into her face. She stared at her hand then turned to the smiling girl. A cracking sound emerged from the girl who cringed and fell on all fours as under her clothes, itchy, golden fur started to sprout, and her shoulders and pelvis began to merge with her torso before disappearing entirely, forcing her arms to become legs and for her four legs to be below her stomach. She scratched and pulled at her clothes with her nails that were slowly rounding out and becoming dull, black claws

A loud bark escaped her lips which were pushing forward and being surrounded by a furry muzzle. She looked up to her tormenter in fear as her ears began to extend, losing their rigid shape as they became pointed and slid up the side of her head, pushing past hair that was receding to be replaced by fur. Her pants and panties finally came off to reveal a shaggy tail as her nose pressed back into her newly formed muzzle, moistening and turning black before becoming a round end to her face. She opened her mouth to pant, showing off her now pointed pearly whites and a flat tongue between dark jowls.

Satisfied with her work, Patriotica left the dog to sit and pant tiredly before heading back over to the living room to see if she could call for the next patient. She made it about one step out of the hallway before a shotgun blast to her back knocked her face down, and three heavy bodies pinned her to the floor.

Kyle looked up to his smiling girlfriend. "Nice shot." He said.

"Her hat! Rip it away! Don't let her touch your head!" called Jones. Mia dropped the gun and rushed to the splayed out Patriotica as Wes struggled to keep her arm down, Jones lay across her back with her other arm trapped below her stomach, and Kyle held her legs. Mia pulled and pulled on the brim of the hat despite the profanities and desperate acts of strugle being given by Patriotica. "It's not midnight yet you bitch! I'll go when it's the fifth!" the hat wearer had said.

Pop! It came off.

"Nooooo!" Screamed Patirotica. Before Mia backed away and the guys released her.

"Patriotica my ass." Jones said as they stood. "Get outta this country. In America, we die when we get shot!" Jones spat to her.

She stood up, brushed herself off and ,surprisingly, smiled. "Well, you guys got me beat. Maybe I'll see you next year. Happy fourth of July!"

A noticeably deep red color had spread across Patriotica's face. Everyone, including the three remaining party guests, who stepped out of the closet, watched as Patriotica backed out the wide open back door, her hair congregating above her head in a pyramid shape before hardening and turning red as well, pointing to the sky. Her face began to fade away once there wasn't a roof over her head, and her arms were pulled in. Her clothes fell away as her body became cylindrical. The seven people all stepped outside to watch as Patriotica was launched into the sky with a whistling sound, before exploding overhead in a brilliant, multi-colored fireworks display that spread out and sparkled for the whole town to see.

"Well, there was the firework show." Mia said, still clutching Patriotica's hat.

"That mean we can go home now?" Kyle asked, reaching his arm around Mia to grab her shoulder.

"Yeah, it does." Mia replied, before kissing his cheek.

Jones put in his own thoughts. "You three stay safe. Keep an eye on that hat too. I didn't do a good job with it, but maybe you will. Make sure no one ever puts it on. You hear?"

Wes turned his head to regard the three confused strangers. "You guys need to lay off the weed. It'll start to make you see shit y'know?" He said, before turning to walk off just before the rest of the triumphant victors of July.

The End
Happy late Independence Day