Ox's POV

            "So who's this friend Dustin's sending to help us?" I asked after finishing lunch.

            "Her name is Maya Royale and all he would say is that she would help us and that he trusts her completely." Lapis said.

"Should be here in a few minutes." She added, checking her watch.

My Papyrus dinged the way it did when I had message. Pulling it out, I typed in my code and said "Damian, Della" into the microphone built into it. It opened like a scroll and showed me the message from Dustin.

Welcome to the party. Will stop by later. Friendly in building. D

"She's here." I said, showing the twins Dustin's message.

Lapis smiled and finished putting away the remains of lunch while Lazuli drew one of Carli's pistols and stood in the bathroom doorway, out of immediate sight of the front door but with a clear line of fire.

I raised my eyebrow but didn't say anything. I imagine being suspicious of everyone was second nature for her after these last few months.

A series of knocks came from the other side of the door and a woman's voice said. "Hey, D sent me. I'm here to look at a fur rug."

Lapis snickered as she went to open the door while I facepalmed.

She unlocked the front door and let in a young blonde woman, dressed in a light blue tunic looking shirt and darker blue combat skirt. She had what looked like a trident slung over her shoulder and wore a steel gray belt with various pouches around her waist.

She took one look at me, and her bright blue eyes went wide. "Damn. He wasn't kidding. I saw in the Vytal Festival, but I didn't think you'd be this damn big."

She stuck out her hand. "I'm Maya. You must be the infamous Ox."

I gently shook her hand. "That I am. These are my teammates. Lapis is the redhead. Lazuli is one with the gun."

If she was disturbed by having a gun trained on her, she didn't let it show. "Pleasure to meet you all. Dustin and Flynt have told me a lot about you three. Said you're here looking for a kidnapped teammate."

She looked at each of us before ending on me. "They also said that they trust you with their lives. Which is enough for me. I'll do whatever I can to help."

"What can you do exactly?" Lazuli said, not quite rudely but not polite either. I gave her a look with my good eye and turned back to Maya.

Maya just smiled. "Well I can make the big guy here stand out less in a crowd."

Lapis chuckled. "Got some industrial strength hair trimmers in your belt or something?"

It was Maya's turn to chuckle. "Not quite. It'll be easier to show you. Ox, will you please stick out you hand?"

I looked at the twins for a minute, before sticking out my left hand, palm up, leaving ym right hand free in case I needed to grab Umbra.

Maya took my hand in both of hers and a series of blue sparks ran up my arm until they covered my body.

Then, everything flashed blue and I felt my aura drop by a large amount.

When the light was over, I heard Lazuli gasp and Lapis exclaim "Oh shit!"

I was just about to ask what they were reacting to when I saw my arm.

Instead of my normal black fur, I was looking at an arm of black skin, not quite the same shade as my fur, instead being close to TJ in color. I immediately ran into the bathroom and looked in the mirror.

I saw a human face stare back at me. A strong jaw with a black goatee. A nose that looked like it had been broken once or twice and two brown eyes above it. My horns were still there, and just as pronounced as before, only now they were coming out of a head of short, black hair.

I was still wearing my vest and jacket and when I looked down, I saw my hooves had been replaced with a large pair of black boots. I reached down and felt my arm, which still felt hairy.

"What the hell?' I muttered as I walked out of the bathroom.

Maya was smiling. "That's my semblance. I call it "Switch-up". It lets me create a perfect disguise of someone over their actual appearance. There are some things you need to know though. First, that's only an illusion. Anyone who touches you will still feel fur. Second, that illusion is linked to your aura, so when its depleted, you'll go back to looking like you. Third, your hooves will still make hoof prints, so you'll need to do something about that. I kept your horns so you would have a Faunus trait and so it wouldn't look weird when you account for them normally. This should help you blend in a little. I hope you don't mind that I made your face a little rugged, so you'd be less likely to be harassed by the Anti-Faunus crowd."

I shook my head. "This is perfect. Thank you."

She just grinned. "Anything for a friend of Dustin's."

             "How far back do you two go?" Lapis asked.

"Since we were kids. Me and him were thick as thieves. Siblings in all but blood. That didn't change when he went to Atlas and I went to private training. He's a pain in the ass but he's always been a good judge of character. So if there's anything else I can do, here's my scroll number."

As she walked to the door she turned back to us. "I hope you get your friend back." she said before departing.

Lapis stared at me. "Is it wrong that I miss the fur?"

"You're not alone." I said, still trying to process my new appearance.

She snickered and pulled out a scroll. "We're going to want pictures for later."

"We should plan on how to get into the next White Fang meeting. DMND said they were going to stop by to help here in an hour. We should get to it, not playing around" Lazuli said with edge in her voice.

I reached out and placed my hand on her shoulder. "I know you want to find Carli, but that doesn't mean you can snap at us."

She roughly brushed off my hand. "Somebody has to take this seriously while you two are goofing off. Carli could be getting tortured right now for all we know." she said aggressively.

I raised both hands in the air, palms out. "I know. Believe me, I know. But I also know that going full steam at all times is just going to make you tired and sloppy. And that won't help Carli, it'll just get you or someone else hurt or killed."

Lazuli looked like she was going to blast me, but instead released a long breath and nodded.

"Yeah damnit. You're right. I don't like it but you're right."

I placed both hands on her shoulders. "We will get her back. No matter what."

She looked at me and nodded. Then started to laugh.

"I'm sorry. I can't take you seriously with that face."

Lapis howled with laughter which I soon joined. Soon all three of us were laughing as if it was the only sane thing to do in the world.