The bolt split the sky with a deafening crack.
Lightning slammed down on them, the impact shaking the earth beneath their feet. The blinding flash wrapped the trio in golden fire, and for a second the entire valley lit up like day.
Then it was over.
Smoke curled off the ground where they stood. Harley blinked, her hair crackling with static, eyes wide as she looked down at herself. The air around her shimmered faintly with residual energy. Maureen was beside her, breathing hard, her skin glowing with faint blue-white sparks that faded as quickly as they came.
John said after seeing their transformation. "It worked." He was also in his transformed form with the black suit.
Harley looked down at her hands, then at her reflection in the window of the old mansion. "Holy mozzarella," she whispered. "I look like I just stepped outta a superhero magazine!"
Her skin was flawless, her muscles toned and defined, and her boobs became slightly bigger. Her new suit fit like a second skin—black with gold trimming, the lightning emblem glowing faintly across her chest. A short, dark-red cape flowed behind her.
"I even got a freakin' cape," She jumped around in excitement.
Maureen's suit mirrored the design but gleamed with icy blue accents, her cape pure white. Her eyes glowed faintly with a blue glow. She flexed her fingers, frost forming in midair before dissolving.
"This feels…" Maureen looked down at her hands, turning them slowly. "Incredible. Like I could freeze a hurricane."
Harley spun in place, admiring herself. "And I could start one! Oh my god, look at us! We're like the glam edition of justice!" She stopped, eyes dropping to her chest, then blinked. "Hold up… did these just—"
"Harley," John said, voice firm but calm.
She ignored him, cupping her boobs like she was making a scientific observation. "They did! I swear they're bigger! Lightning boob job, who knew divine power came with upgrades?" She then pointed at Maureen. "Your's got big too and you got taller."
Maureen groaned, covering her face. "Please stop talking."
John sighed. "Not now, Harley."
She smirked at him. "Oh, come on, don't tell me you didn't notice two hot and tall girls with big boobies?"
He shot her a warning look. "Training. Now."
"Buzzkill," she muttered, but her grin didn't fade.
John stepped forward. "Get used to your new strength. Feel how it moves through you. This isn't just muscle, it's divine force. If you lose control, you could level this valley."
Maureen nodded seriously. "Got it."
Harley stretched her arms above her head, lightning crackling faintly along her forearms. "No pressure, right?"
"Plenty of pressure," John said, folding his arms. "You're going to learn to control it. Today."
Maureen gave a small smile. "Guess we're the lightning sisters now."
Harley winked. "More like Thunder and Frost, baby." She pointed at John. "And you, Mr. Broody, get ready, 'cause the girls just got an upgrade."
John's mouth curved slightly into a smirk. "We'll see about that. Now, before we start, there's something you both need to know."
Harley ran her hands over her tummy. "Please don't tell me there's a catch. I just got abs. Real ones."
Maureen raised a brow. "What kind of catch?"
John looked between them. "This power is bound to a single word."
He took a slow breath, then said the word himself. "Shazam."
The sky flashed, lightning struck him, and in an instant, he was back in his base form with simple clothes, no armor, no lightning aura. Harley and Maureen both jumped a little as the light faded.
John pointed at them. "Now, both of you. Try it."
Harley grinned and threw her hands in the air. "SHAZAM!"
A bolt came down like a cannon blast, striking her dead center. The explosion of light faded to reveal Harley in her regular clothes, hair frazzled and eyes wide. "Oh my god," she said, patting herself. "It's like a magical wardrobe change! My mascara didn't even smudge!" She looked down at her chest. "Ahhh! Why?"
"Stop sulking, I like you the way you are," John said very quickly.
"Really? You don't want to squeeze my big ones?" She asked with a bit of curiosity.
"I love all shapes and sizes. So, I will not comment on that." He said after clearing his throat. "Now, stop talking about boobs."
Maureen chuckled at their conversation. "Shazam," she said, and another bolt crashed down. Her costume vanished, replaced by her usual jeans and hoodie. She looked down at herself. 'Darn it! They got smaller. Ah! I don't want to say, but I think I get Harl.'
"That's… cool."
John nodded. "Good. Now say it again."
"Shazam!" they both said in unison.
Twin bolts slammed down from the clouds, the ground rumbling beneath their feet. When the light cleared, the girls stood in their divine forms again, energy rippling through the air.
Harley laughed, spinning in a circle. "This is insane! It's like the world's most dramatic costume change. I love it!"
"You need to understand what that means. The same word that gives you your power can take it away. Say it by accident, and you're done. You'll be human again in less than a second," He explained.
Harley's grin faltered. "So you're saying one wrong word and—zap!—I'm just regular ol' Harley again?"
"Exactly," John said. "Your power isn't permanent. It's conditional. The word gives you the power of the Gods, and the same word makes you mortal."
Maureen nodded slowly. "So we have to control not just the power, but our mouths too."
Harley snorted. "Yeah, good luck with that part."
John gave her a look. "I'm serious, Harley."
She raised both hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. No saying the magic word unless it's go time. Got it. I can keep my mouth shut."
Maureen side-eyed her. "You sure about that?"
"Hey!" Harley pointed a finger at her. "I can be responsible! …sometimes."
John sighed but smiled faintly. "Alright, next I'll teach you how to control lightning. If you can master it, you might be able to redirect the raw power of the Diving lightning like me and escape the zap even after saying the word."
He walked toward the SUV and popped open the trunk. Inside were three duffel bags. He hauled them out, dropped them in the dirt, and unzipped one. Inside were dozens of expired soda cans.
Harley tilted her head. "We havin' a picnic or a demolition derby?"
"Target practice," John said. He started lining them up along a few tree stumps and branches a short distance from the house. "If you're going to wield lightning, you need precision. Think of this as your first live test."
Harley grinned. "Oh, now we're talkin'. Nothing says hero training like blowing up soft drinks." She cracked her knuckles and twirled her fingers until little sparks danced between them. "So what's the plan, big guy?"
"Simple," John said, dusting his hands. "Hit the cans. Each strike should be clean. No random arcs and no explosions near the house."
Maureen shot Harley a sideways glance. "Up for a challenge?"
Harley turned with a smirk. "Oh, you're on, Bluebell. Hope you can handle losin' to a natural-born thunder queen."
Maureen raised an eyebrow. "Natural-born chaos, maybe."
John nodded once, clearly amused. "Good. I like the enthusiasm. But let's make it interesting."
Harley perked up. "Uh-oh, daddy lightning's about to drop rules."
He crossed his arms. "Winner gets one favor from me. Anything within my capabilities."
Both women froze.
'Should I ask if he likes me?' This was Maureen's first thought.
Harley's grin widened slowly, mischievous and dangerous all at once. "Anything?"
John gave her a warning look. "Within reason. And no, we are not going to rob five ATMs, commit fraud, surgically alter our faces, and run to rural Argentina to raise chaos-spawn hyenas, dogs, and cats. That entire thought, kill it now."
"You skip the babies part," Harley winked.
"Don't make me spank you, Harl." He gave her that look.
"Fine," She said before turning toward Maureen. "Alright, Frosty, prepare to lose. I already know what I'm askin' for."
Maureen sighed, brushing her hair back. "Should I be worried?"
"Only if you hate surprises." Harley cracked her knuckles.
John stepped back and gestured to the line of cans. "Alright, Harley first. Focus on the target. Channel your energy through your arms and shoot it."
"Got it, coach." She raised one hand, thumb and middle finger poised. A spark jumped, then a small bolt shot out, sizzling the air as it zipped toward the cans. It missed the first one but hit the second dead center, blasting it off the stump with a satisfying pop.
Harley threw her fist in the air. "Ha! Nailed it! I call that one the Sparkle Shot."
Maureen rolled her eyes. "One out of two. Impressive math."
"Alright, Maureen," John said. "Your turn."
Maureen took a deep breath, blue lightning forming around her arms. The air temperature dropped a few degrees as frost coated the grass near her feet. She raised her hand and released a single, clean bolt. It sliced through the air, hitting her can straight through the middle. It was a clean shot without any explosion. Well, considering her ice power and training she has done so far, it was like a walk in the park. She got an edge over Harley.
Harley's jaw dropped. "Okay, Elsa with a side of Terminator aim. Not bad."
Maureen smiled slightly. "You said we're keeping score?"
"Now it's personal," Harley said, summoning another charge. This time, three quick bolts fired in succession. Two hit dead-on, one grazed a branch and blew up a can of root beer in the air, raining fizzy foam over them.
Harley laughed. "Multitarget bonus! I should get extra points for style."
John chuckled. "You get points for effort. Maureen, your turn again."
Maureen exhaled, raised her hand, and fired a spread of smaller, rapid shots. Each can along her side detonated with soft cracks, smoke curling in neat lines.
Harley's mouth fell open. "Show-off."
John walked between them, hands clasped behind his back. "Alright. Both of you are improving. Harley, your control's rough but strong. Maureen, your aim's precise but conservative. Push more energy next time."
"Translation," Harley said, "Frosty's a sniper and I'm a storm."
Maureen smirked. "A loud one."
John tilted his head. "Last round. Winner takes the favor."
Both women stood side by side, lightning sparking brighter now. Harley cracked her neck and whispered, "You're goin' down, Snow Queen."
"Keep talking," Maureen said softly. "You'll miss again."
John put up the last batch of cans.
The girls took their shots.
End result: Maureen wins by 2 cans.
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