One Shot Story - Toao

New Year, New Career

“But, Professor...”
“I don’t want to hear it! You disgraced my class, and what I try and teach! Now, you’ll be fine within the next twenty-four hours – I’ve informed your professors, now scoot!”

The fairy flew off, glowing a faint blue, as Toao walked back towards his office. Having constructed all the cliché things a Mad Scientist is supposed to, he had become bored and unfulfilled. He was starting to plot controlling a small island, before the Mad Scientist Academy contacted him. They were impressed by his history of being mad, and being a scientist, so asked him to teach some classes at MSA - One class as himself, with another two as his feminine side. He was slightly worried at first about the position; however after talking to a few people, he decided it was a good idea after all. On the surface, Toao looked like your everyday Scottish Mad Scientist. Lab Coat, black shirt, kilt, boots and a slight crazed look on his face, however he was far from normal...well, more so since November. Whenever he loses his Y chromosome, it’s more than a simple gender switch. He undergoes a species switch as well – the gaining of this ability is not one to be told to the weak-hearted, as he learned the hard way. He had a couple of hours before his next class, so was hoping to sneak off for a quick nap – however, just before he got to his office, a student ran up to him

“Professor Onlé?”

Despite being denied a nap, he chuckled at the name he had chosen for his working here – his full, proper name was often mocked by friends, so he decided to give his students less ammunition.

“Yes, what is it....er...”
“Stuart, sir. I’m new here, and I wanted to ask you a quick question about your...discipline procedure?”
The Scotsman couldn’t help but chuckle at this “What prompted you to ask this, dare I ask?”
“Well...I overheard this glowing fairy, and...”
“Say no more – you’ve given me something to do, I can nap later. Come into my office, and we’ll have a nice chat, Stuart. Now, I’d best explain our fairy friend’s predicament...,”

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The class was getting restless – their new professor wasn’t here, and they didn’t want to be there. It was coming up for the five minute mark, before an obnoxious student stood up and yelled at his classmates

“Why the hell are we just sitting for some second-rate idiot who can’t show up on time? Let’s just go!”

He was already up and at the door before his classmates could lift their bags. Unfortunately, the moment he touched the door handle, two soft pops were heard, and there stood two men - One, who was in his late teens, the other in his fifties. The younger one was Toao, in his kilt, shirt and coat ensemble – the old man resembled Toao, only a bit thinner, bald and held a walking stick. When the old man spoke, it was with a rougher Scottish accent, more obvious than Toao’s subtle one.

“Hey! Whit are ye up tae, lad? Sit yer rear back doon before I kick it masel’!”
“You promised not to threaten them...”
“Well, you promised bloody cake, so we baith lied, okay?”
“Just...stand over there...and you! Go sit down before you volunteer to be my assistant for the next two weeks,”

Rubbing his temples, Toao sat down at his table, as the student ran to his seat, knowing full well that no-one wants to be a Mad Scientist’s Assistant.

“Right – because of someone...”
“I said I wis sorry, yah halfwit!”
“...We’ve started late. Anyway, I am Professor Toa Onlé – and he, is also Professor Toa Onlé, just from the future,”

Their face offered a variety of surprise and shock at the fact the same person from seperate timelines were standing in such a close proximity. The fact that Toao noted this, and proceeded to poke the back of his older self’s head – causing students to scream in terror, and one to leap out the window in fear.

“Can someone pull him back in?” Waiting until the dazed student was sat down; he continued “Right, now you are all probably wondering why we didn’t all experience something horrific, right? Well, the reason I risked pretty much the entire Universe is to show you the power of Mad Science. Now...”
“Keep quiet – It wis my machine, so I’ll explain it, okay?”
“Suit yourself, means I can take a nap...”

And nap he did, allowing his older self to talk utter nonsense about Mad Science. Toao’s plan was almost successful, if it wasn’t for the student who had earlier tried to flee the room, and lead a student revolt. Whispering to a student beside him, he grinned, rummaging around in his pocket.

“Hey, look at what I’ve got...”
His friend’s eyes opened in shock at the small pink orb in the rebel-without-a-clue’s palm. “You can’t be seriously thinking about doing what I think you’re gonna do...”
“What is it that I am gonna do, exactly?”
“Mess with Professor Onlé’s gender – as you have done with every Professor at least once,”
“You know, it sounds just as funny when someone else says it!” An evil smirk on his face “Their reactions are always priceless – you want in on this?”
“Hell no – it’s all you,”

Shaking his head, he waited for the older Toao to be distracted, thanking the maker that someone asked him a question. Seizing the opportunity, he lobbed the orb at Toao, enveloping him in pink smoke with a soft, yet loud pop – drawing the attention of the entire room. Looking around, holding something up to his ear, the older Toao pointed his walking stick at the offender

“Oi! Bad attitude and haircut! Stand yersel’ up now!”
“I didn’t do anything!”
“Bull, ye little liar – I hae proof that yah did it!”

The student promptly stood up though, when a mini-ninja poked his rear with a pointed stick, glaring at him. Looking desperately over at his friend for assistance, he found that he was frozen in fear – eyes darting from the smoke cloud that contained Toao and old Toao – worried he was in trouble too. He practically jumped when a new, unknown voice was heard.

“Relax, Finnegan – you did the right thing, so you can relax...Jones, on the other hand...”

The smoke cleared, revealing Toana – Toao’s female form. Pulling her deep red hair with blonde streaks back into a pony tail, her red, slitted eyes were attentive. Her clothes were unchanged, so she was grateful she could do her now rather loose Lab coat up to hide her new assets, so all attention was on what she was saying. She grinned, with a hint of evilness, showing off her pointed teeth – making the best usage out of a Sauroblood’s slightly scary appearance.

“...You have every right to be terrified,”
A rather meek boy raised his hand, trembling a little “Erm...Sir-Miss! What just happened to you...I mean, I know you’re now female but what I meant to say was...”
“Relax...I know what you mean. You see, students...you’ve been taught to think that science is the one true way, correct?”

Grinning slightly at the fact she was undoing years of work by her colleagues, she giggled slightly at the murmurs of agreement – her eyes firmly locked on Jones.

“Well, you have been misinformed a great deal. You see...there is a second, equally powerful force that balances out science. Just like Light and dark, Day and Night, Yin and Yang, Order and Chaos...there is Science and Magic...”
“What, you mean those silly little magicians that go Abracadabra?”

Jones looked around, hoping for laughter, but was surprised when he saw his classmates sitting there stone-faced, eyes darting from Jones to Toana as if watching a tennis match – all the while, Toana was slowly, but surely making her way towards him.

“Oh no...I’m talking about alchemy and potions, fireballs, altering the weather, even changing someone’s DNA – I am proof of someone who has had the latter happen with magic...”
“But, Miss...Couldn’t you also do the same with Science?”
“An excellent point! It is highly possible to do the same with science, however – Science has its shortcomings, as well as magic. To truly be a well-respected Mad Scientist, one must fully understand the power, and if you are lucky, harness both Science and Magic. You may not be as respected by purists who only use one or another, but in my classes, I shall be showing you how to truly appreciate both forces and how science is not the only answer...”
“I’m calling bull on that! You expect us to believe that magic really exists? It’s all tricks and illusions!”
“Stage magic is fake – true magic, my magic – that’s real,”

Jones was about to make another outburst before he realised that Toana was right beside him, holding up a faintly glowing hand – a pink aura surrounding it.

“Still think I’m bluffing? I really hope you do...”
“Yeah, I do. What are you gonna do about it?”
“This!”

The class watched in amazement as Toana poke Jones in the chest and stood back, looking content with herself. For a few seconds, nothing happened, and the class was a bit let down, until in the space of a few seconds, Jones shrunk down to a few inches in height, gained some wings and a sparkly dress, lost his Y chromosome, and began to glow a faint blue. A shocked silence, before nervous applause filled the air, Toana giving a little bow.

“And that’s the lesson for today, feel free to do some research, I hear there’s some good books in the Library!”

Fiddling with a small blue and pink pendant, Toana shifted back into Toao, causing the buttons to pop open. As Old-Toao returned to his timeline, Toao stepped out of the classroom, before Jones started her appeal...
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“...And that’s about when you heard Jones complaining, if I’m right?”
“Yeah, it was,”

Glancing up at a nearby clock, both teacher and Student cursed under their breath.

“Damn, looks like we both missed out on doing what we wanted,”
“Sorry for messing up your plans, sir...”
“Relax, Stuart – You’re in my class tomorrow, aren’t you?”
“Erm...yes sir...”
“Then use this to your advantage! Think on what I said, and hurry off to your next class,”

With a rushed thanks and goodbye, Stewart ran out of the office, leaving Toao to chuckle, playing with the pendant around his neck.

“This is certainly going to be an interesting job...”