“FIVE!”

Nikki set down her champagne glass, the beads of her outfit shifting slightly against her bare chest. A dazzling array of rainbow beads hung from her neck, crisscrossing around her breasts, hugging her body. Around her, party guests were counting down, some with drinks, some with party poppers, all preparing the celebrate the new year.

“FOUR!”

She picked up the party popper, not noticing the writing on the side, the plastic strangely warm in her hand.

“THREE!”

Nikki straightened up, lights dancing off the shimmering silver panties under her beaded skirt, her outfit designed to catch the attention of everyone at the party. So many people were looking her way, Nikki didn’t notice the eyes of the witch staring at her, the only person in the room not counting.

“TWO!”

She wound the brightly coloured string around her fingers, golden strands woven through, glittering.

“ONE!”

The count grew louder, Nikki grinning, blissfully unaware of what the new year would bring. Raising the popper above her, she braced to pull the string.

“HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

The cheer grew deafening, drowning out the music, a chorus of bursting poppers and tooting horns. Confetti and streamers filled the air, cascading down over the guests. It took Nikki a few moments to notice hers were different, the coloured paper replaced with a cascade of black and white feathers.

“What the…?” Nikki paused, looking up at the shower of feathers, the rest of the party continuing - oblivious - around her. The tumbling feathers spiralled through the air, seemingly drawn to her body, a pain of a pinprick as each settled against her skin. Yelping, Nikki shook herself, hands brushing down her arms, the feathers remaining stuck firmly to her body. Panic started to grip her as she reached for one, gripping it tightly and trying to pull it from her skin, feeling only sharp pain as the feather tugged back.

A few guests began to notice the odd behaviour, casting the occasional glance over at Nikki, giggling at her drunken dancing. All the while, Nikki could feel her body heating up, the sensation of pins and needles spreading across her skin, over her arms and back, reaching down her thighs. New feathers began to force their way from her skin, little more than hairs at first, but steadily growing longer, thicker. Soon, it was impossible to miss the covering of feathers growing over her body, pitch black around her thighs, silvery white across her arms and back.

Panicking, Nikki ran for the balcony, pushing her way through the crowd, stumbling as she went. Her legs seemed clumsy, unresponsive, muscles and bones aching under her skin. They stretched out, growing longer, drawing out thinner. Her feet slipped from her shoes, elongated toes spreading out as she ran barefoot across the litter of confetti.

She didn’t dare look down as her feet continued to transform, stretching out upwards, forcing her to run awkwardly on her changing toes. Her skin toughened, shining slightly, splitting apart into something like scales below her knee. Above, the covering of feathers grew dense, pushing out her loosening panties.

Partygoers watched her run, confused at the blur of beads and feathers, a few wondering if they’d drunk a few too many. For Nikki, the sensation of her body warping, her hips and torso shrinking narrower, was far too real to be some drunken hallucination.

Pushing the balcony doors, she caught sight of her changing hands, strangely lengthened fingers splaying out against the door, long feathers growing out from them. Her toes spread over the cold stone of the balcony, claw-like nails clicking against the hard surface. Cool air played across her body, chilling the bare skin across her front, making the growing feathers running down her arms wave around. She could feel each of them tugging at her, anchored in her skin, her arms flattening, lost amongst the growing feathers. She spread her arms out, flexing her changed fingers, staring at the wings they were becoming. Amongst the white, black feathers grew out, forming a solid fringe of black across the edge of her transformed wings.

Her chest heaved, pushing outwards as thick muscles grew beneath, anchoring her wings. Her new feathers framed her breasts, standing proud on her bare chest, her beaded bra hanging loosely around her narrower torso. Her heart beat faster inside her, apprehension and excitement welling up inside her, enraptured by the strange allure of her changing body. Below, her skirt slipped from her narrowed hips, silver panties following shortly afterwards, leaving herself bare except for the covering of short, black feathers. She stepped back, almost hopping on her new legs, her old clothes tumbling from her body. The beads around her neck clung tight, dancing about as she jumped back.

Grinning wide, relishing in giddy excitement from
her changing body, hopping up onto the railing of the balcony. Instinctively, her new toes clutches at her bare metal, hunching herself into a perch as the last of the changes took hold of her body. Her skin paled slightly, better matching the white feathers framing her body, a blush across her face deepening to orange around her eyes, the colouration of a secretary bird. Her hair drew out longer, paling almost to silver, behind her. Narrow tapering feathers emerged, stark black in contrast to her pale hair, framing her face.

Her changes complete, Nikki stared down at her body, relishing in the monstrous - but undeniably sexual - appeal. She looked back at the party, the crowd gathered to look at her, some with horror, many more with lust. There was no denying she was the centre of attention now. She longed to return, but first, she longed to stretch her wings.

Nikki turned, facing the dark, night sky, the street lights bright beneath her… and leapt. For a moment, she tumbled, air streaming past her, the lights drawing closer. Stretching out her arms, she caught the wind, feeling it press against her as she rose back into the air, gliding upwards.

New instincts took over, flapping her wings, powerful muscles carrying her upwards. Thoughts of the party fell from her mind as she flew through the night sky, weaving through exploding fireworks, heading towards the horizon…

Back at the party, forgotten and discarded amongst the confetti, a party popper gently rolled across the floor. Against a purple background, golden letters shone brightly: “Harpy New Year!”