chapter 3

As Sarah began to explore the limits of her newfound powers she discovered they only worked while she was wearing her lucky skirt. Naturally, Sarah started wearing the skirt multiple times a week, taking great pains to keep the skirt clean and in good shape.

The days where she couldn't wear the skirt felt like a chore she had to get through, because the days she had her magic were so much better. By the end of the month, Sarah was getting ready for her day when she realized her outfit wasn't fitting quite the way she was used to. Of course this would happen while she was running late on a non-magic day. Frustrated, she picked up a second outfit, and then a third. All three still fit, but had become uncomfortably snug. Come to think of it, only her lucky skirt seemed to fit Sarah lately. Even when she wore that though, she recalled that her tops had also been tight for the last few days.

Inspecting herself in the mirror, Sarah noticed how her waistband appeared to be pinching into her stomach, which had a bit more thickness and elasticity than she had ever recalled it having before. Then recalling the previous month, Sarah remembered all the wonderful meals she had conjured with her magic: the pancakes, croissants, scones, whatever she desired. Not to mention all the late night meals she usually skipped. “Apparently conjured calories *do* count,” Sarah mused.

The next day, Sarah put on her lucky skirt again, which she noted fit perfectly despite the pudge she was still carrying around her middle. As if to confirm that fact, Sarah had to replace an uncomfortable button-down with a polo shirt and a sweater.

At lunch that day, Sarah admitted to her friend Cleo that her lucky skirt was the only thing that was still fitting well.

“Oh, we've all got our own fat dress, girl” Cleo reassured. “I'm honestly more shocked that you managed to get to your senior year without dealing with this before. You know I got my freshman fifteen (and then some) when I got here. Okay, I've got to see damage. Lift that sweater, girl.”

Amused, Sarah obliged her friend, and revealed her small tummy folds “They go away when I stand up,” she posited meekly.

“Girl, that's nothing. If you wanna trim back down, knowing you you'll do it in no time.”

“I know. I think I've just been eating a few more late night meals--”

“Oh they say that'll get you.”

“Yeah,” Sarah chuckled, “it doesn't look bad though, does it?" Sarah asked she posed with her hands on her hips.

“Damn no!” answered Cleo, “you know we love a curvy girl in this house!"

Still, Sarah considered that perhaps this was a good reminder to use her powers responsibility. Over the next few weeks, she was much more careful with her diet and making it a point to not use her magic to to shortcut her meals.

Soon enough, the rest of Sarah's wardrobe began to fit the way she remembered, except the lucky skirt. What's worse, is that as the skirt began to fit looser and looser, her magical abilities began to wane.

Confused, Sarah used her tape to measure her waist, and sure enough she was with half an inch of her usual measurements. The same measurements she had when she made the skirt! Determined to get to the bottom of this, Sarah compared her dress making patterns to her wardrobe and the dimensions always lined up-- except for the lucky skirt. Inexplicably, the lucky skirt was a fully size larger than the pattern she had originally used to make it.

Determined to keep her magic, Sarah pulled out her tools and went to work trying to alter the skirt. To her surprise, she was completely unable to cut the fabric with her shears. She was, however, able to carefully undo some of the seams. With this in mind, Sarah separated the yoke from her skirt. The remaining skirt was transformed into a slightly shorter skirt with a traditional waistband. Unfortunately, this meant the skirt was still too big (actually a bit larger than it had been with the yoke). The yoke, on the other hand, Sarah was able to incorporate into a half-bust corset that fit her current proportions perfectly and would theoretically be adjustable thanks to its lacing.

Then came the moment of truth: with just the new lucky skirt on, it still granted her powers, at more or less the same weakened level as it the loose-fitting skirt had before she began the alterations. Her new corset, to Sarah's relief, seemed to grant her a similar level of power to what she had a week ago. Still not her best, but it was more than enough.

Sarah appreciated the unintentional witchy vibes that the items created when worn together. This got her to thinking: whose estate did she buy the from? What kind of person were they, and why did they have this wonderful fabric? What if they had more?
All excellent questions, and Sarah really wanted to get to the bottom of all of them.