"E-excuse me!" said the person. Perhaps pissed was too strong a word, her face was pulled up into an expression of courage but it was clearly fake. Her hair was long and golden, with black patches. She looked otherwise normal except with cat ears and a tail in calico colors. She wore a pretty tank top and modest shorts, and unlike most of the girls she had a pretty modest figure. Tabitha, smirking, turned to face her.
"You shouldn't do that! It.. It's like she said! We have lives!"
She was trembling in fear as she forced the words out. I had to admit that I was impressed how she was holding up considering the sudden shock she and everyone in the restaurant must have felt.
"Not anymore you don't. I wish you were all my loyal servants!"
The clamor suddenly died down dramatically. I felt a tug of sorts, as she didn't specify an exception in me even though I was her chosen lover. Suddenly, all thoughts of resisting her just began to fade. I wasn't exactly happy with her or what she had done, but it was like any possibility of betraying her to higher authority just began to melt away from my mind. It was an indescribable experience, but perhaps you'll know too when... no, let's not get ahead of myself in my story here. I'll explain soon.
"And you. Catgirl!" Tabitha pointed at the one who spoke up. The poor thing flinched.
"Y-yes?"
"I wish you were my pet! But you're still nothing special, so you'll answer to nothing!"
It was then I began to believe the ring may have had a sort of life of its own, and I'd later even come to believe it was only in my possession long enough to meet its true master in Tabitha. In any case, I suddenly felt a tingle and it granted a twist on Tabitha's wish.
"My name is Nothing..." the catgirl said, trying it out.
Tabitha laughed, surprised but pleased.
"For now and the rest of your life!"
---
Tabitha marched around the restaurant, giving orders to the various girls. Sometimes she'd do something as simple as just make them cuddle her, but at other times she'd have them work on more practical chores. She was making liberal use of her ring to create various materials for purposes I'd soon know. I stayed with Nothing during this time.
"So, what were you doing in a place like Hooters?" I tried to bring up casually, to take her mind off of the shocking event.
She rubbed her arm, somewhat embarrassed.
"A couple of coworkers dragged me here for lunch. I-I don't know why. They used to joke I was gay because I didn't like their bawdy sense of humor. I took them up because I like free food..."
She looked down and clutched her tail in both hands.
"Of course, now I'll never forget today as long as I live."
I rested hand on her shoulder.
"LISTEN UP!" shouted Tabitha's voice.
Everyone in the restaurant immediately turned towards the sound of her voice. She pointed her finger outward.
"Sisters, we're going to destroy mankind! Not because we hate it, but because it'll be fun!"
There was pregnant silence. I couldn't even begin to tell what most of the people must have thought.
"I tried to do it all in one fell swoop, but I found even my ring has its limits in this world. I can still have anything I want right here though. For instance, I wish everyone here has eternal youth and life!"
I felt a very strong shudder, and Nothing was even worse off. What was a life sentence was now something she might bear to the end of time itself. Tabitha was clearly pleased with the expressions on the faces of her victims.
"I will slowly turn this building, a once-monument of male chauvinism, into my castle where I will be queen of a world of beautiful femininity! And you...! All of you!"
Uh oh. I knew things were about to get worse. Sure enough, her smirk was back.
"Anyone you touch will become their ideal female form and everything that happened to you will transfer to them too! One will become two! Two will become four! Four will become eight! Eight will become sixteen!"
She waved her hand.
"I'll soon be giving orders to some of you to go out in the world. But first I have to celebrate my first victory with my love."
In a swift motion, Tabitha leaped over to me and pulled me into a deep and passionate kiss. It's in this moment that I suddenly realized that this ambitious woman who frightened myself and my new friend was also... my love. I leaned in and returned it, shivering in my body.