Arnold's heart was pounding with excitement. This wasn't so bad after all. He hadn't wanted to make Tricia so powerful, but she actually liked him. She was on his side. And even though she had never been the object of his desire, he liked her. Now maybe things could be different.

And, she could protect him from Lila!

He nodded. "That's exactly it, Tricia. It seems to be that what I don't want to happen, happens. That's what Lila did. She kept saying more and more things that I didn't want, and I couldn't myself from thinking about them, and then somehow they all came true."

"That's incredible!" Tricia exclaimed. "What a weird power!"

Arnold shook his head sadly. "Yeah, it's just the kind of power nobody would want, and naturally I got it! You put this Popeye idea into my head. I didn't want you to get so strong, but I couldn't stop thinking about it, and it happened. But," he added quickly, "I'm not upset about it. I LIKE the idea. Really I do!"

Tricia put her arm around Arnold and effortlessly and happily lifted him off the ground, then held him horizontally while kissing him deeply. "There! How was that?" she asked when she released him. His dizzy smile told her what she wanted to know. "See how good my control is getting already. Oh Arnold, I've always loved you. And now I'm the girl you want, right? Now all you've got to do is make me as powerful as Lila, or more powerful. Then you'll have your dream girl, a girl who is in love with you AND is strong enough to protect you."

Arnold nodded happily. He closed his eyes and concentrated on all the superpowers he had unwittingly bestowed on Lila, willing them to Tricia. He opened his eyes and looked into hers. "Well?"

She shook her head. "I felt nothing. Nothing's different."

"I don't know. I ... it's not something I control, I guess."

Tricia bit her lip. "I don't get it. You give Lila superpowers, and all I get is spinach power." Her arms started trembling. "And you're ... you're getting heavy." Arnold started slipping. Tricia's knees buckled and they fell together onto the grass. Arnold sprawled over Tricia's legs.

"OWWW. You're heavy!" Tricia said, and then looked down at her once again flat chest. "Oh no! Look at me!"

"The spinach always wears off Popeye. That must have just happened to you!" Arnold said. "I've got to get you some spinach!"

"I HATE spinach!" Tricia said unhappily. "And what's the point, if it's just going to wear off after 15 minutes!" She rolled away from Arnold. "I can't believe you made Lila so much more powerful than me! It's like, you only help girls who hate you, instead of girls who want to love you!" She started to cry.

"No Tricia, that's not true! Please don't cry." Arnold said. He put his hand on her shoulder and tried to comfort her. At the same time, though he was thinking what she said just might be true. It occurred to him that now that he wanted to help Tricia, he couldn't. The only way he could make her as powerful as Lila was if he didn't want to. But that would only happen if she hated him. And he knew that he didn't want that.

"Get your hand off me! I never want to talk to you again!" Tricia said emotionally. She glared at him.

"But Tricia," Arnold said, his heart sinking. "I thought ...."

"Well, you thought wrong," she said, standing up. She looked at the blouse, stretched out of shape and now also covered with grass stains. "And look at this. You've ruined everything. I hate you Arnold. I HATE you!"

In a flash, Arnold realized what happened. It was exactly what he didn't want. And floating in the back of his mind now was another thing he didn't want, what Tricia had wanted, what he had wanted to give her before, but now, desperately DIDN'T want to do. He struggled not to let it come to the surface, not to take form, not to organise itself into thoughts, or words, or images. He thought about his homeroom teacher, the Yankees' losing streak, his most embarrassing moment in gym class, Tricia's crooked teeth and braces, which led him to remember the bit of spinach that had been caught in them. Yes, spinach, its magical power bestowing properties for Popeye. But no, not that. Not Popeye. No, the thought echoed. Not just Popeye. All the powers Lila has. And more. No! Arnold screamed inside. NOT THAT!! He looked at Tricia in fear. Not Tricia. Not now!

But it was starting already. Her mousy features were already softening into shimmering beauty. Her legs grew longer and sexier. Her waist pulled inward while her hips grew rounder. Her breasts pushed steadily outwards, bursting her narrow blouse, while her arms grew toned at first and then steadily more and more muscular, but not with ordinary muscle. Instead, muscle possessing the combined powers of Superman, the Hulk, Wonder Woman and the rest of the Justice League. She smiled down at him, a gleefully malevolent smile. "Arnold," she said, in a powerfully rich contralto, dripping with sensuality. "Do we have a little business together?"

"No ... Tricia ... please."

He scrambled to his feet to run, but she appeared in front of him he crashed into her body, steel hard beneath her amazing breasts. She caught him and held him against her chest. She snapped her finger and with Zantana's magical powers, a humble can of spinach appeared. She held it above her mouth. "I think you may enjoy this Arnold, but don't worry. If you don't, I surely will." She squeezed the can and a stream of spinach poured out into her waiting mouth. Trumpets sounded the Popeye theme. "Here they come, Arnold!" she taunted.

The spinach power poured into her chest. Her breasts lifted even further and expanded pushing into Arnold's chest like twin battering rams. WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

"Ugh, oooh" Arnold groaned.

"Not done yet, sweetie!" she teased, as her nipples began to stiffen and grow into diamond hard points.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" he cried. "You'll kill me!"

"I wouldn't dream of killing you. That would be too easy," she said, flaunting her incredible chest. "What I want is to make you feel bad. And now Arnold, am I not your true dream girl now? The girl you'll never, ever have! Because YOU can only have what you DON'T want! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" she laughed.