The regionals were held in December, right before Christmas Break. In the two months leading up to it, Genesis trained hard with Ramona, Charlotte, Talia, and the rest of the cheerleaders. Over time, Genesis learned the routines that Ramona and Mrs. Wilson had planned out. Her nerves were amounting about the regionals, but she was doing pretty well in practice. It helped that Ramona had basically abandoned her old bitchy persona, and was now much more encouraging. Everyone on the squad appreciated the now-positive influence she was bringing.

Before Genesis knew it, December had come, and it was Friday the 22, the day before the regionals. Genesis and Ramona had one more cheer practice after school before going home, where their parents were waiting. Reginald and Paulette knew how hyped up their daughters were about the regionals, and they'd prepared a special dinner just for them. Paulette made her famous meat loaf, and Reginald made a huge pot of mashed potatoes. Genesis and Ramona deeply appreciated this.

"So are you excited about tomorrow?" Paulette asked as they started digging into their food.

"Of course!" said Ramona. "This is what I've been preparing for the whole school year. I've choreographed the best cheer routine this school has ever seen. Everyone knows it inside and out, and we're more than ready to perform it tomorrow. Right, Genesis?"

"Right," said Genesis.

"Awesome," Reginald said with a smile. "It's a little early to say this, but I'm proud of you. You've worked really hard, and you're doing really well. I know you'll do well at the regionals tomorrow."

"I just hope we win," said Ramona. "I've been dreaming of winning the regionals ever since I started cheerleading."

Paulette took a swig of water before speaking. "There was something else we wanted to tell you, too," she said.

"What is it?"

"Reginald and I...we're very glad to see that you've put aside your differences," said Paulette. "We're glad we're all becoming a happier family, but now we're gonna make it a little bigger."

"Bigger?" Genesis asked. "What do you mean?"

"I'm pregnant," said Paulette.

For a second, Genesis just stared at her stepmom like she was waiting to hear the punchline of a bad joke. Then she exclaimed "You're pregnant? You're having another baby?"

"Yes," Paulette said with a smile. "You and Ramona are gonna be big sisters!"

"Do you know the gender yet?" Ramona asked.

"No," said Paulette. "I'm only two months pregnant. But the baby's due in early June."

"Oh my gosh," said Genesis. The news of new life in the world was wholesome enough, but to think that now she'd have an actual, biological sibling-a half-sibling, no less-brought her even more joy.

Ramona looked at Genesis. "I can't believe this," she said. "You and I...we're gonna have an actual sister! One that's actually related to both of us by blood!"

"We thought you'd be happy about that," said Reginald.

"Well, we're gonna be great big sisters," said Genesis. "And that's a promise."

***

The next day was the cheer regionals. Genesis, Ramona, Charlotte, Talia, and the rest of the cheerleaders from Eastern Plains High all gathered early to do some warm-up exercises. Reginald and Paulette came to support their daughters, naturally, but there were some other people from school too, such as Modesty Lyn.

When the regionals officially started, the Eastern Plains High cheerleaders had to wait and watch while some of the other schools' cheer squads did their routines. As Genesis watched, she had to admit some of them were pretty impressive. So much that it made her doubt whether her squad would actually win. It wasn't the first time she'd had this feeling. When she was in elementary school as Gene, he would work really hard on his school projects in the hope that he'd get a good grade. However, when Gene got to school and saw what his classmates had whipped up, his project suddenly looked like a joke. This was kind of how Genesis felt watching the other cheer squads do their routines.

"Hey," Charlotte said when she saw the look on Genesis' face.

"What?"

"Don't worry about our competition. Just focus on doing the routine that we've practiced."

Genesis exhaled deeply. "You're right," she said.

Just then, one of the judges called "Next up is the Eastern Plains Tigers!"

"That's us!" Ramona squealed.

Genesis felt a rush of adrenaline as she took her pom-poms and went out into the performing area with the rest of her squad. They got into their starting positions and got ready. Ramona stood up front and faced the judges. "Hello, Metal Spider County," Ramona declared. "We are the Eastern Plains Tigers!" She raised her pom-poms, and the rest of the cheerleaders came up on either side of her and started dancing with their own pom-poms. They all jumped, kicked, and waved their arms in the routine they'd practiced for months-just like they'd planned.

After a bit of dancing, the cheerleaders all grouped together and formed a human trampoline to send Genesis flying into the air. When Genesis was launched upward, she waved her arms and legs out and cheered "Go tigers!" After she'd landed in the net of everyone else's arms, they all disbanded to do more cartwheels and dancing. It was a complex routine that lasted almost two and a half minutes. Then, when it was over, they formed up to create an even bigger pyramid than they had at the Homecoming football game. Genesis and Charlotte came on top of the pyramid to hold up Ramona, who held out and shook her pom-poms while bellowing "GO TIGERS!"

When they'd finished their routine, everyone in the stands-and even some of the judges-gave them a round of applause. "Amazing job, Eastern Plains Tigers," one of the judges said.

"Go, Ramona!" Modesty called from the stands.

"Thank you, everyone," said Ramona. "Thank you..."

***

It was another hour before the rest of the competing cheer squads had performed their routines. Once the last routine was completed, the judges took some time to do some voting. While the judges voted, the cheerleaders were allowed to go get lunch from any of the nearby food joints. Genesis, Ramona, and Charlotte ended up going to Starbucks on the corner to get their food.

While they ate, Ramona told Genesis and Charlotte "You both did great out there."

"Thanks," said Genesis. "You did really well too."

"Do you think the judges will pick us as their winners?" Charlotte asked.

"I hope so," said Ramona.

Just then, someone new entered the store. It was Cassy. "Hey guys," she said. "Victory party?"

"Victory? We haven't even won yet."

"You still did really well," said Cassy. "I was watching."

"Oh," said Genesis. "I...didn't even know you were gonna come."

Cassy shrugged. "I came because I was hoping to finally get to talk to you."

Genesis' heart dropped. Ever since Mirna's death, she'd been avoiding Cassy. Not that she was mad at her or anything, but she didn't even know what she'd say to her. "What is it?"

"You haven't asked me about...you know."

"Mirna?"

Cassy nodded.

"I know what happened to her," said Genesis. "I was there."

"Who's Mirna?" Charlotte asked.

"She's my boss," said Cassy. "She..." She trailed off when she looked at Charlotte. "You don't know, do you?"

"Know what?"

Genesis and Ramona exchanged glances. "News flash," said Ramona, "Genesis wasn't always Genesis."

"What?"

"I used to be a guy named Gene," said Genesis. "But Mirna's a witch, and she turned me into Genesis and did a mass memory-altering spell so everyone remembers me as a girl."

Charlotte's jaw dropped. "So that explains it," she said.

"Explains what?"

"This whole school year, you've been acting different. At first I didn't think it was a big deal, but now I understand."

"Yeah, it was hard to adjust to life as a girl," said Genesis.

"And that's why I wanted to talk to you," said Cassy. "It's my fault. I'm the one who told Mirna about you sexually harassing me, and-"

"No, it's not your fault," said Genesis. "It's my fault. And in hindsight, I think Mirna was right. I have learned a big lesson."

"But you can't be changed back now," said Cassy.

"I know," said Genesis.

"Hey, it's not so bad," said Ramona. "You've gotten pretty used to being a girl by now, haven't you?"

"Yeah, I kind of have," Genesis admitted.

"And I must say, you're a much better person than Gene ever was."

"Why are you talking about Gene like he's a completely different person from me?" Genesis asked.

Ramona shrugged. "Who knows? At this point, maybe he is."

Slowly, Genesis realized Ramona was right. After everything that happened...did her old life really matter anymore? She'd put her selfish, womanizing ways behind her, and she'd made a good friend in Charlotte. On top of that, she'd forged a much better relationship with her stepsister than ever before. Maybe this new life really was better for Genesis.

"Hey," said Charlotte. "You're a good girl, Genesis. You shouldn't be ashamed of that."

Genesis smiled. "You're right," she said. "You guys have been so good to me these last few months. I don't think I could've transitioned without you."

"It's what girls do," said Charlotte. "We help each other out."

***

After they were done at Starbucks, Genesis, Ramona, Charlotte, and Cassy went back to where the regionals were being judged. Genesis, Ramona, and Charlotte got back together with their squad to await the announcements of the winners.

"We've seen a lot of amazing performances today," the chief judge said to the assembled crowd. "But now we honor the top three performers. In third place, we have the Harvey Junior High Cobras." The crowd cheered as a cheerleader captain in a green and black uniform came up to get her trophy. "Then, in second place, we have the Rounded High Vikings." There was another loud cheer as a cheerleader captain dressed in white and gray came to get her trophy.

Everyone held their breath as the judge addressed the crowd again. "And now, in first place, we have..." He paused for dramatic effect. "The Easter Plains High Tigers!"

If there was cheering before, it was nothing compared to this. "We won!" Ramona exclaimed. "We won!"

"No way! We did it!" said Talia.

Genesis and Charlotte followed Ramona as she went up to get her trophy handed to her. "Congratulations, Eastern Plains Tigers," said the chief judge. "You're Ramona Dunby, yes?"

"Yes."

"Is there anything you'd like to say as I give you this trophy?"

Ramona gladly took the trophy and faced her squad. "I want to thank everyone who supported me in my journey to make it to regionals," she said. "My parents, and my friends, and my teachers. But most of all, I want to thank my squad. Every single one of them showed devotion and ability deserving of this trophy!"

Genesis, Charlotte, and the rest of the Eastern Plains cheerleaders cheered. But Ramona wasn't done yet. "Most of all, I wanted to thank my amazing sister Genesis. If she hadn't joined the squad, then we would never have been able to come to regionals. Let's give it up for Genesis!"

"Yay, Genesis!" said Charlotte. Before she knew it, all of her squadmates were chanting Genesis' name. "Genesis, Genesis, Genesis!"

Genesis felt an immense rush of affection for Ramona. She approached her and pulled her into a deep hug. "Oh, I love you, Ramona," she said.

"I love you too, Genesis," said Ramona.

It may have been the best moment of Genesis' life.

The End!

***

And so ends The Most Extreme Punishment. I might not have had a very consistent upload schedule for this story's chapters, but I'm glad I was able to finish it in the end. To those of you who've stuck with me through this journey...thank you so much. Like Ramona, I appreciate all of you. ;)

And, as always, please feel free to tell me what you thought of this story. If there's one thing I enjoy more than writing these serials, it's hearing what my readers think.