The next morning, Paul almost screamed as she awoke, dismayed at the sight of her girlish eight year old body, her pink, girlish room, and her pink, extremely girlish pajamas that her mom had forced her to wear to bed. Full memory rushed back, and she gasped, "I haven't changed back.... Why?" Panicked renewed, she tossed aside her princess themed bedding, and rushed downstairs, where she guessed correctly, that her mom was waiting. Disturbingly, she didn't look dismayed at the sight of her new daughter.
"Mom? I haven't changed back. I'm still like this" Paul said, pulling at her pajamas.
"I know.... Belle" mom said calmly.
Paul had mixed emotions. "What?! How are you so calm, and why are you looking almost pleased? Plus I'm not Belle!"
"We've been over this, young lady. While you're a girl, you're Belle. What will people say if you started acting like... a boy?" mom said. "As for being 'calm', I saw you sleeping."
"Oh.."
"I need to get you ready" mom announced. "I'll give you three options."
"What about just going to your studio and changing me back?" Paul demanded.
Mom shook her head. "If we find it, Belle, I want to study it first. I doubt you, or despite what you may think, me, wants to make things worse. That thing is dangerous."
"Makes sense" Paul conceded.
"Option one. You come with me, but you'll have to stay with me all day. You will have to participate in my class, and you will be dressed for the part. You will be expected to act like Belle at all times"
Paul grimaced, knowing she had multiple leotards in her room, and knowing her mother's old fashioned mindset, she would be stuck in a pink dress all day. Not very appealing. "True, but I can help find this stupid medallion. Mom, do you think breaking it would undo this?"
"Maybe. Option two is sending you to school."
Paul frowned even more. Girls' school, in an uniform, as an eight year old girl. The only mercy is that it would be without her mom's presence. Still, not appealing. "What else?"
"You stay home, since you're not feeling yourself."
"Sounds better. What's the catch, though? You've been trying to make me laugh when there is something I won't like."
"You'd have to have a babysitter. I can't leave you here alone, Belle. "
Thirty minutes later, Paul/Belle found herself bathed and dressed, standing uncomfortable in...