Dance, Dance, Dance

Full Moon

Chapter Thirteen - Dress Rehearsal

By Jo Dora Webster

How will Denise and her friends travel to the competition and do dress rehersal?

Chapter Thirteen - Dress Rehearsal

[Thursday Day Twelve of the Enchantment]

4:00 AM came very early but I was ready for it. I started the day with my prayers to Hera. Today was to be a travel day with the final rehearsal coming Thursday evening. I saw that Momma had left my suitcase by the door and from the weight of it, I knew that Momma had packed for me. I looked over to the recliner and there was Momma sleeping. I knew what kind of schedule we were under so I woke up Momma so she could get ready as well.

"Good Morning Momma!" I gave her a quick hug and her eyelids fluttered and opened.

"Kiddo, Good morning. Go ahead and get ready for the plane trips and I will go to my bedroom and do the same."

Momma went to her bedroom and I did my daily chores took a shower and got dressed. Due to the early morning flight, all the parents were individually bringing their children to the airport. Momma took us by a 24 hour fast food drive through to get breakfast. We arrived at the airport at 4:30AM breezed through security and were at the gate where we boarded at 5:00 AM for our Delta commuter flight from Lamur, GA (LMG) for Atlanta GA(ATL)

We arrived on Delta at 6:00 AM and had to travel the people mover to get from the Delta concourse to the Southwest Concourse. We fortunately had paid for Business Select so we were boarded A6 - A12 which gave us pretty much our pick of seats at the front of the plane. We filled up two consecutive rows plus Star sat behind us in a window seat. Our flight departed at 6:25 AM EDT and would arrive in Denver (DEN) at 7:35 AM MDT which would be a three hour and 10 minute flight.

Flying into Denver it was obvious that the Airport was no where near downtown Denver, where our hotel and the Colorado Convention Center which was hosting the competition was located. Momma had opted for us to ride the RTD A line train from the Airport to Denver Union Station. We boarded at 8:11 AM and arrived at Denver Union Station at 9:10 AM

We had two rooms reserved at the Hilton Denver Convention Center. Brittany had her two girls in one room and Momma, I , Kendra and Star were in the other one. We called two Lyfts to get us from Denver Union Station to the Hilton Denver Convention Center so we would not have to deal with our luggage on a bus. We stored our luggage with the Concierge at the hotel and were told our room would be ready at 1 PM MDT

We opted to eat breakfast again at the Hilton since it was time for another meal. The food at the Hotel was wonderful but expensive. We had heard that there were some fast food restaurants over at the 16th Street Mall that were more economical. The 16th Street Mall was a retail venue that stretched from Civic Center RTD Station to the Union Station Transportation Hub for both Amtrak and RTD (the region's transportation system). The 16th Street Mall had no traffic allowed except the RTD Mall Free Ride Busses which ran its entire length stoping at every corner. The Hilton Denver Convention Center Hotel was in easy walking distance to the Colorado Convention Center.

After we finished breakfast at 10 AM MDT we walked to the Convention Center and marveled at the huge 2 story tall big blue bear out front of the Convention Center. We were able to check in and get our competition badges a process that had us waiting with a lot of other teams who would be competing during the competition in different categories. Momma commented that the competition had a premium tier plan that came with a goodie bag and featured having our badges mailed to us so we didn't have to pick them in the long line at the competition plus fast access for re-entry to the competition using said badges. We would have to do some more fundraising but she wanted to get the premium badges for next year.

Our welcome kit contained a program and a map so we could go by the room where we were booked to do our Dress Rehearsal this evening . The convention center was a maze but with the help of the map we were able to find our way around. They also had a competition app for Android and iPhone which we installed on all our phones. The preliminary competitions were done in some of the larger convention rooms which had ceilings high enough for the acrobatics involved in some of the classifications. Fortunately our classification did not permit the mini trampolines which were needed for some of the acrobatics involved with some of the huge teams and and large tall pyramids. Our classification stressed dance and tumbling in addition to standard cheers.

In the program we found that in addition to the competition going on in different classifications, there were panels on different topics put on by cheerleaders and coaches for cheerleaders and coaches. As tempting as the panels were, everyone wanted to go to the dealer's room first. The dealer's room had booths which featured cheerleader outfits, cheerleader props, cheerleader choreography, cheerleader multimedia services, and so much more. There was a food court tailored to cheerleader needs which had salads, sandwiches and healthy foods and over to the side there was even a pizza stand to begin that celebration after the category's competition was done.

We found a panel that we all wanted to attend about new ideas for cheerleader fund raising. We all were interested in that because after the competition was the official start of fundraising season with only baseball going on in major sports and we did not cheer at all the games for baseball season so we concentrated on fundraising until football season so we had to make the time count. We left the convention center at 12:30 MDT and had to wait in a short line to have our badges' RFID polled by a iPad so that we would be ready to re-enter when we returned.

By the time we were finished at the Convention Center and had walked back to our Hotel it was almost check in time. We were assured that we could go ahead and check in and our key cards for the rooms would become active when the room was ready. We were pleasantly surprised when checking in that our luggage had already been delivered to our room. The room was already ready so we could go right in and get settled. Once we had our uniforms hung up and some other outfits it was time for us to get together and decide what to do until it was time to check back in to the competition when it was time for us to use the room there for our dress rehearsal this evening.

The Dooley's and Kendra Nestle opted to first go to the indoor Olympic sized pool and get some laps in and then later maybe sight see at the 16th street mall. Momma and I along with Star Lacon wanted to go back to the convention and attend some of the panels. We agreed to meet up at the Cheesecake Factory for Dinner and go together back to the competition for our time reserved for our dress rehearsal. It was 1:30 MDT by the time that the three of us had walked to the Colorado Convention Center and had made it through security for the competition. Momma looked at the schedule and found a session that was interesting to her, "Marketing to Corporate Sponsors". We all wanted to come along since if we could get corporate money for the cheerleaders that would make less money that we would have to fundraise.

I could not believe my eyes when we were walking to room 708 to get good seats for the panel. Walking up to us to meet us from the other direction was Dr Ariel!

Momma asked her, "It is a pleasant surprise to see you here, Jane. Now I see where you had to rush off to do?"

"May I borrow Denise for a while? I promise to get her back before the Dress Rehearsal."

"Denise, please go with Ms. Holt. Do you have your phone? You can check back in with me if things go longer than planned."

"I have my phone Momma. I'll see you and Star later. Good bye!"

I followed Ms. Holt into an empty room. When the door had closed I saw Dr. Ariel and a portal formed. Dr. Ariel and I stepped right through into Hera's Temple. We were greeted by Francine and Julie who had just gotten out of school and had come right over.

"Now I can speak freely. Ms. Holt was attending the competition as one of the vendors in the dealer's room. I had need of you from Hera but if I showed up in Denver it would cause too many questions. I got Jane to lead you into the empty room we found so that I could portal you back here. it was actually Hera who made the portal, I just communicated with her when we would need it. Denise you are special to Hera like a daughter. She is choosing to reveal herself to you to make it clear to you what her intentions are for you and to remember the encounter."

"I am over whelmed. I guess that Hera really is looking out for me to portal me back before the dress rehearsal and that I will be ready to perform. Of course I want to have this encounter with Hera. Hi Francine and Julie. I appear not to have time for chit chat but it is good to see you."

Francine said, "Good luck in whatever you are about to do." and Julie waved to me.

"Denise, go back to the inner sanctum of the shrine. Hera is waiting for you.", Dr. Ariel told me.

I went toward the inner sanctum and the doors opened in front of me of their own accord. I entered with reverence and curtseyed. I cast down my eyes and approached the pillow at the feet of the Goddess Hera. I kneeled prostrate at her feet.

Hera told me, "Rise, Denise and join me at my table where we can partake of its delicacies and talk Mother to daughter. Ever since you found out that I am real, you have reverenced me and worshiped me. Please join me."

I rose and saw Hera stretched her arm toward a table set for two beckoning to me to join her. I moved towards the table and taking my seat opposite Hera. The table was set with containers of nectar and ambrosia. My place was already helped with portions of the delicacies.

"Denise, I understand that you are concerned about the enchantment that Erida has given you. If you are transgender or get pregnant the enchantment will give you an identity death as it rewrites history as though you were female from the beginning of your life."

"Yes my Lady, I am concerned about losing myself. At the time I agreed to it, I was certain that I was not transgender and my transformation was solely to qualify to help out for the competition. Now I am not too sure since having the training wheels on the enchantment includes something to reinforce me being female. If it were possible lifting the consequences to my being transgender would be my greatest desire."

"I am willing to lift Erida's enchantment of you and place you under my own enchantment to leave you in this form, Denise. The consequences of you getting pregnant would be the same since I can do no harm to an unborn child who will always need their mother. However if you are transgender you would not have history rewritten to make you female from your birth but you will be permanently female at the end of the month of enchantment. By my rescue of you, Erida already knows that I am involved so I am willing to exchange her enchantment for mine at this time if you agree."

"My Lady, please if it be your will, break Erida's enchantment of me and substitute your own enchantment is my petition to you."

"Denise come kneel before me. Your petition is granted."

I knelt before Hera as she requested me to do. Hera laid her hands on my head. Erida's enchantment was no more as though a great burden had been lifted from me. Next I felt amazing as Hera filled me with her power. I felt some physical changes occur which rendered me in the image of Hera as though I were Hera's daughter. The changes were slight yet they greatly enhanced my beauty. I could see the changes in my mind's eye but I wanted a mirror too to see with my physical eyes. I was still Momma's daughter but now I was Hera's daughter too.

"Denise, rise as my daughter. I give you leave to return now. I must talk to you again once the enchantment has run it's course at the full moon. Denise go in my esteem."

I rose as I was instructed and saw a portal before me. I walked through it and back to an empty room except for Jane who was seated and busily working on her laptop in the Denver Convention Center.

"Welcome back, Denise. You were gone about two hours and its now 4:00 PM MDT. That must have been some encounter that you had!"

"It was an amazing encounter. Time must have flowed differently for me. For me it felt like 15 minutes at most. Do you think I will pass muster? Hera changed me. She removed Erida's enchantment from me and substituted her own and she kinda made me her daughter.

"We'll say you had a makeover and we worked on the routines. Come on, let's join the others. They should be walking by here soon."

"Ms. Holt, please lead on

We walked through the door and back into the competition hallway. We saw walking towards us was Momma and Star.

"There you are, Jane and Denise! Star and I have been looking for y'all. It's time to go to the Cheesecake Factory and meet the others. Jane, Where have you been with Denise?"

"We have been working on the routines and giving Denise a makeover. Do you like it?"

"That must be some makeup that they used. It looks like she isn't wearing any makeup and her skin is flawless. I hope you got a supply of the makeup they used and you learned the techniques, Denise, because you look stunning."

"They used an airbrush so what they used fit into my purse. All I need to get to duplicate it is a decent airbrush.

"We'll have to see about getting that when we get back to Georgia. Goodbye Jane and thanks for looking out for Denise. Let's go girls!"

We exited the competition and walked over to California Street then walked two blocks to end up on the 16th Street Mall. We caught the Mall Freeride bus and exited at Larimer Street and we were at our destination, The Cheesecake factory, where Britany and the other girls were waiting for us.

"Patricia, there you are and the rest of the team. Let's go snag a table. We're famished."

Of course, Brittany. Lead on. I made a reservation so they should be holding a table for us."

Brittany led our group to the reservation desk.

"Russell, Party of seven is here"

"Right this way" She led us to a table and we were seated. Of course we ordered and ate a fantastic supper which was topped off with a desert of cheesecake. Momma paid the bill for all of us and we left to go back to the Hotel to change into our outfits for dress rehearsal.

We must have been a sight walking back to the competition with Brittany dressed as Amy and the rest of us in our uniforms. Once inside we looked normal among the cheerleader teams who were similarly dressed.

We found the ballroom where we had booked rehearsal space easily using the map. Another team had just finished up and was departing as we entered. It seemed strange to have the ballroom so empty except for us but it wouldn't do to have another team looking on to steal routines from us.

With the empowerment by Hera, I was constantly aware of Her presence inside me. Because of this it was easy to petition Hera to bless our routine and to praise Her for all that She had done to help me.

We took our places in the ballroom stage area and begun our routine for the competition. We ran it all in the proper order and when it came to the About Face routine, both Chelsea and I executed it flawlessly. I had no flashbacks of PTSD as I was now empowered by Hera and my mind had been restored even better than my pre-trauma state. The rest of the routines went well too and soon we were giving up the space for another group coming in to practice their routine.

"Team that was a flawless practice so I have no notes for you except one. Denise you were awesome on the "About Face" Dance and Tumbling along with you too, Chelsea. I am so proud of you that you have found a way to overcome your PTSD. I believe with the way that you all executed our routines that we have a very good chance at winning the competition. We'll do it again just like that tomorrow evening. I would not change a thing."

We cheered for 'coach' and was rather boisterous leaving the ballroom. By the time we finished the panels had been closed for today so we went to the Bellco theater to watch the competition in another class different from ours. Finally after the winners had been announced the competition ended for the day and the seven of us went back to our hotel to change for bed.

Star, Kendra, Momma and I got into our nightgowns and got into the two queen sized beds. Kendra and Star shared and I shared with Momma. We chatted back and forth with Momma chiming in at times as we were all snuggled up. Finally the conversation ended as all of us went to sleep