Author's Note: In this world, people are more accepting of changes, and more quicker to dismiss them. These changes are still unexpected, though, but the contestants are willing to focus more on the money.
"Now that everyone has had a chance and opportunity to take part, it's time for the second round of the Transformex spelling bee!" The judge announced, clapping for the five contestants as she stood. "Now, for Round 2 of our competition! Children, are you ready?" The judge finished, looking at the contestants with a weird look in her eyes.
James, Ashley, Matt, Ben, and Veronica nodded at the judge, shifting uncomfortably due to their initial changes. James's arms were still in the position of a chicken's wings, beginning to become apparent to him. The feathers growing under his shirt remained the same, but while the others had gone up, James had discovered them. Still, James wanted to win, and while his body now had chicken feathers, he wasn't about to lose here.
Likewise, Ashley had recognized her own changes, and had dismissed them for the sake of the contest as well. Unlike James, however, she had quickly caught onto the reason for the changes, as the company sponsoring this was literally called Transformex. She didn't mind the extra weight on her body, and she could easily adjust to the hooves. Overall, she was excited to see what would come next.
Matt had discovered his own changes as well, but like James, hadn't uncovered the exact cause yet. It didn't occur to him that his now stiff and blackening feet as well as his largening and pinkening belly were related to the fact that he had spelled out the sound a dairy cow makes and had literally made the same sound. He was a bit concerned though, but he decided to stay in the contest.
Like the others, Ben had also discovered his changes, although he couldn't have cared less. While he didn't figure out as much as Ashley had, he reasoned that his now horse-like ears and his hoof-like hands were given to him thanks to the contest. Still, he brushed that all aside and braced himself for the next round, ready to win the contest.
Veronica, although giving a nod to the judge, was extremely wary of the contest now that she had discovered her changes. She now sported donkey-like ears, had hooves instead of her hands, and now had a small tail coming out of her behind, lined with brush like hair. She had figured out that her changes were because of the contest, like Ashley, but decided to stay in it, to see if her changes could be reversed.
"Great!" The judge said, giving the contestants one of her strange grins again, opening up the book once more as she sat down. "James, you'll be first again! Your first word is...."