Chapter Twenty Eight: Festivities segment 2 -Patrick's Perspective-

"y'know, i just realised something."

(looks up) "what's that?"

(smiling) "i don't appear much anymore, do i?"

(having epiphany) "oh yeah..."

-Patrick.

-emperorwolf.

Patrick, along with Felicia and Malcom, the latter riding on his father's shoulder, materialised into the soft white snow outside of his parents' large three-storey home high up in the strells.
he, like his children, wore a large winter jacket.
he breathed deep, letting out a sigh that formed fog on his breath.
"always like coming here, air's always fresh."
Malcom shivered "t-too bad my f-fur's not as th-th-thick as yours..."
Felicia grinned "not our fault you're so tiny!"
Patrick chuckled "actually, i kind of am to blame for that..." he put his paw up to hug Malcom to his neck, making his son purr slightly at the appreciated wamth "... so i guess i should be the one to help, 'eh Malcom?"
Malcom shifted to get comfortable "mh, yep, good idea, dad..."

they started towards the large mudbrick home, and Patrick knocked on the door.
""Coming!"" came a female voice from the exterior intercom.

the door juddered but failed to open
""door mech's jammed again... Dammit Aeon you gotta fix that thing!""
""i will, i will...""
Patrick laughed "s'okay, mother, i'll let myself in."
as had become second nature to him, he mentally grabbed a thread and tugged, the world blurring and whooshing by, a warm atmosphere replacing the icy chill as his parents' livingroom came into view.

Aeon protested at the puff of snow Patrick had teleported in with "hey! the house is closed up for a reason!"
Felicia ran forward "grandpa!"
Aeon knelt and braced her in a hug "how've you been Fels?"

Malcom watched the exchange with a sadness inside his heart, something his father picked up on.
"Mal, you okay?"
he sighed "s'just a little sad... i can't be like that with grandpa... Felicia's lucky."
Patrick smiled a little "well, not like you're completely cut out."
before he could respond, Patrick lifted Verona into Malcom's view.
"Mallie, it's wonderful to see you!" she announced, moving onto her son's shoulder to hug her grandson, whose mood immediately lifted.
"likewise, grandma!"
suddenly, they were both lifted from Patrick's shoulder, making them flinch.
"'scuse me, but you know what i like to do during the festival." he reminded them, setting them down on the arm of a couch "so, if you don't mind..."

Patrick's features distorted, becoming more catlike and his body started to reduce in size. soon, he stood in feline form at Buki size. landing upon the arm of the couch with a small thump.
"ahh, much better! when you're a big dog, and a little cat at the same time... you kinda miss the simple things, the simple, little things."
Verona then hugged her son "it's always nice to see you, son"

Aeon prodded Malcom in the back to get him to turn around.
"Malcom, you know how i get you two each a gift each festival, right?"
the little black cat nodded "uh-huh, why?"
a big smile crossed Aeon's canine muzzle as he brought it closer to his grandson "come with me, i think you'll be pleased."
Felicia quickly came up from behind "me too, right?"
Aeon's smile broadened "we'll see."

with Malcom, Patrick, and Verona in paw, with Felicia following, Aeon took them to his workshop, where he usually undertook his job of repairing objects for Bukis and humans.
"now, i recently took up carpentry, it helps with any wooden items people bring in."
Patrick nodded "makes sense... but why're you telling us?"
Aeon gestured for Felicia to open the door as his paws were occupied holding the others "oh, it'll make sense soon."

it did.

in the middle of the room, amidst a veritable sea of assorted items ranging from sports cars to lounge furniture, was a beautifully constructed medieval castle made from actual stone and other authentic castle materials.
Aeon grinned down at his son and grandson "gobsmacked yet?"
Patrick stared, mouth agape "holy...! how'd you...? wow."
Malcom was completely speechless.
Felicia took one look at it and groaned "no fair..."

Aeon put them down on the open drawbridge "go ahead, take a look around inside."
Patrick and Malcom rushed inside, finding it furnished rather modernly, contrasting the medieval exterior.
"i figured the old castle-y interior wouldn't be very comfortable. so, do you like it, Malcom?"
"it's awesome, grandpa!"
Patrick gazed at the well-crafted, homely interior with a look of astonishment "how'd you even... it's just like a real house in here!"
Aeon laughed "of course! i built it from the bottom-up!"
Verona giggled outside "he spent a week making it, but he didn't do it on his own."
Aeon sighed, and his big black paw stroked down his wife's back "okay, i admit, Verona helped a lot. from size reference to actual construction assistance, you'd be surprised what she can do!"
Felicia giggled happily "too hard for you, grandpa?"
he smiled wryly "well, these big paws of mine are too clumsy to deal with the overly delicate parts."
Malcom's head popped out of the scond-floor tower window "it's still awesome. you built an entire castle, grandpa! that's nothing to sn..." Malcom's nose twitched "sn-aahh... ACHOO!!"
Aeon smiled "Gesundheit. i guess it's dusty in there?"
Malcom sniffled "a little, yeah... what's that word you said?"
"Gesundheit?"
Malcom nodded.
"it's from an earth language called 'German', it means 'health' and you say it after someone sneezes to wish them good health." the big black dog explained. "i know this since i was german when i was still human."
Patrick raised an eyebrow "you sound like the way Collin talks though, and he told me he came from 'America'... whatever that's supposed to be."
Aeon smiled "i adapted to american for the 'English' dialect, that's why my natural accent is nonexistant when i speak this language... does that make any sense?"
Patrick nodded "yeah, guess so."

after having explored the mini-castle/house, everyone returned to the living room to be in the warmth of the fireplace, where Felicia recieved her gift; a hand-written book full of Verona's best recipies.
although she'd been disapointed before, Felicia was overjoyed now.
"oh wow! how'd you put this together?"
the title read "A Lifetime's Gourmet and Sweets Collection" with a subtitle "flavour is the essence of happiness" and on the inside cover were the words written "knowledge of Verona Khyber transcribed by Aeon Khyber for Felicia Brittany Khyber, may our families' delicious secrets serve you well."
Verona winked with a smile "i gathered up the best recipies of my own, my mother's, my grandmother's, and hers before her, and put them all together... although i had to get your grandfather to write, it had to be your size after all!"
Aeon nuzzled her as she lay in his palm "she needed my help with your gift like i needed her help with your brother's gift."
Felicia looked over at her brother lying in front of the fireplace with their father "i feel like i was being selfish earlier, we both got things the other can't use... didn't we?"
Malcom glanced back at her "hey, if i get to share the treats from that thing, i'll use a... i dunno, a camera or something, so you can see inside the castle easier... deal?"
Felicia smiled broadly "deal, little-big brother."

Verona cleared her throat "since we're all here, why not indulge in page 259?"
Felicia flicked to page 259, and almost drooled.
displayed was a dark-chocolate pudding covered with cherry sauce and with whipped vanilla mouse surrounding it. it was labelled "Great grandma Agnes' paradise pudding"
she showed everyone the picture.
Patrick licked his lips "mmm... i remember Granny Agnes was really good with chocolate!"
Verona proudly stood in Aeon's palm, looking triumphant "it was my mother's specialty to work with chocolates, whereas my baking specialty is sauces and enhancing flavour naturally, not chemically!"
Felicia found that everything past page 400 was blank.
Aeon smiled "those last 600 pages are yours to fill, that book will one day hold the greatest treats anyone has ever tasted."
Verona hugged Aeon's fingers of his upturned paw "and, one day you'll give it to your own children, and our secrets will carry on."

Felicia smiled, and felt a tear roll down her cheek "i'll make sure you become famous in the family, grandma, people in the future will wish they could've known you."
"i'm very proud to hear that... now, i made a pudding earlier!" Verona exclaimed "so let's eat it!"

after enjoying the heavenly dessert, Malcom headed off to the greenhouse via teleportation, and sat in the mini glass pagoda of the gigantic zen garden.
he wanted to be alone with his thoughts.
he and his sister were born from a giant and a bi-sizer, so why hadn't they been gifted with the ability to change size like Ciril? why didn't they get access to the Size Trigger? he didn't think it was fair; his little sister wasn't exactly 'little', plus, she could swap between being a cat and being a dog, though she very rarely did, almost never, in fact.
he, on the other hand, was normal sized and could only use his father's teleportation ability. it felt substantially less amazing compared to what his sister had been given.
"even if it was just for one day..." he sighed "i wish i had Felicia's size."

"ah, there you are."

Malcom looked up to find his grandfather sitting down beside the pagoda, which confused him, as he'd never heard him come in.
"oh, hey there grandpa..." he responded absently "didn't hear you come in."
"i'm very stealthy."
"yeah, guess so..."
Aeon frowned "are you okay? you sound depressed."
Malcom looked away "it's nothing." he lied
Aeon shook his head "come now, you really think i believe that?"
Malcom groaned.
the big black dog leaned down to be closer "it's alright, c'mon, tell grandpa what's wrong."

"okay..." Malcom submitted "just... don't tell anyone."

he unloaded all of it, his annoyance at being a 'little' big brother, of his jealousy to size, and what some might call a bombshell.
"...and dad's always a big dog, he can be like me, but he only does on holidays, and he kept it pretty much secret from us until recently... well, from me at least."
"i see," Aeon nodded thoughtfully "you wish your dad would spend more time with you in his form that is the same size as you... instead, he uses his giant form always... is that it?"
Malcom grumbled "spot on... plus he won't teach me anything but the basics of the basics about this power..."
"that last one might be for your own good."
"yeah, but... it's not fair he--"

"Malcom..." came a quietly surprised voice from behind.

they turned to see Patrick with wide eyes.
"D-Dad, i--"
"did you mean all that, Malcom?" Patrick asked with a sombre expression.
his ears folded "i... i did."
Patrick walked over and hugged his son "i'm sorry, i didn't know you felt that way... why didn't you say anything before?"
Macom's nerves struck him, he wasn't sure whether it was a good idea or not to say why he hadn't.
"Malcom... please, why didn't you tell me?"
Malcom pushed his nerves aside and blurted it out.
"because you're scary!"

Patrick stared in shock "you... you're afraid of me?!" he released his son and stumbled back "my own son... afraid of me... why?"

Malcom sat on one of the seats edging the pagoda and fidgeted uncomfortably.
"well... you're always so big... and well, i'm a cat... you're usually a dog, dad..."
Patrick fell back into one of the seats facing opposite his son, shocked at this new revelation.
"this is... oh my god." he put his head in his paws "i'm so sorry, Malcom."

Aeon cringed "uhmmm.... should i leave you two?"
Patrick whimpered "dad, i don't know how to deal with this."
Aeon rubbed his muzzle in thought "hrmm... not sure i can really help you, son."
Patrick desperately looked up through the glass roof to his father "why not?"
Aeon shrugged "at the core i'm just a human that got turned into a big dog."
Patrick suddenly straightened up, as if something in his head just clicked.
"that's it! at my core i'm a little cat - big dog hybrid, and Malcom, your mother was a full-fledged Giki canine, so you're only one-quarter Buki cat... so, if you're three-quarters Giki dog, how come you're in the form of your less-abundant parts?"
both Aeon and Malcom went blank-faced.
the little cat scratched his head "good point, dad..." Malcom stood, looking thoughtful "i wonder if..."

Malcom raised his muzzle, and without warning, he unleashed a loud, distinct bark.
then a howl.
then a variety of other canine noises.

his anxieties about the earlier thoughts he had were far from his mind, Malcom could practically feel his inner canine almost bursting out from within.
"this is awesome!"

Aeon squinted "um... is it my imagination, or are his eyes glowing?"
Patrick looked over to see his son's eyes light up with a white glow.
"um, nope, you're definitely not seeing things... they're glowing."
Malcom jumped up and down excitably "they are?! cool!"
Patrick scratched his ear "wonder what it means?"

Malcom ran out from the Pagoda and smirked, looking ready to leap "something's telling me to do this."
suddenly he jumped up high, reaching up just beyond the tips of Aeon's ears and landed on his grandfather's head.
Aeon laughed "son, it's his hybrid genetics!"
Patrick craned his neck "so, what do we call it?"
Aeon rubbed his muzzle "well... what is it you call your size thing?"
Patrick wagged a finger "size and form... and i call it 'body switch'"
recalling the name of the size changing ability Ciril posessed, Malcom raised a paw to offer a suggestion "Hybrid Trigger?"

a moment of silence followed.

Patrick shrugged "sounds familiar, but okay, that works..."
Malcom landed beside his father, who threw an arm around him "... and i suppose i can flick my body switch to 'off' every once in a while, would that make you feel better, son?"

they hugged, Malcom's eyes ceasing to glow "it would. thanks, dad."

behind a large fern, watching the whole thing, were Felicia and Verona.
Felicia smiled and whispered "wow... Mal's got some pretty cool stuff."
her grandmother nodded "i wonder if you can do that?"
Malcom's eyes lit up again.
Felicia rolled her eyes "probably not, he got teleporting, and now this, i don't think i'll get it, too."
almost unnoticable was the subtle twitch of her brother's ear.
"Felicia?"
frowning, she revealed herself "how'd you know?"
he pointed at his ears "heard you. dunno how, but i heard you!"
Verona seemed to be analysing this "if it let you jump that high... maybe it enhances your senses...?"
Aeon nodded "seems like it would. lucky you, Malcom."

Malcom vanished with a pale blue vapourous flame, reappearing with said effect upon his sister's shoulder "makes teleporting easier, too. Fels, can you put grandma down, i wanna try something."
Verona willingly allowed herself to be put down, and all eyes went to Malcom.

"uh, Mal... what're you doing?" Felicia asked her brother with a hint of uncertainty, wringing her paws nervously as Malcom stretched out on her shoulder.
"relax sis, you're in good paws."
he counted down
"five... four..."
Felicia whimpered, she trusted her brother completely, but she didn't know what he was trying to do.
"uh... Malcom...?
"three... two..."
"Malcom...?"
"one..."
"Malcom!"
"zero!!"
they both vanished in a puff of pale blue fire.

Patrick and his parents looked around frantically, unable to see either of them anywhere.
"Malcom?! Felicia?!" Patrick cried out, trying to find his children.

"up here!"

they looked up to find the siblings on the roof, upside down.
Aeon's jaw dropped "how're you doing that?!"

they vanished in the flame again, reappearing in their original position.
Malcom looked up to his sister's face, now smiling back at him "you got any idea?"
"nope," she said with a twinkle in her eye "it's a mystery."

the two siblings smiled at eachother while their father and grandparents laughed, this was the start of a better bond between the small older brother and the big younger sister.
"Felicia," Malcom whispered "if you've got Hybrid powers, i'll help you find 'em."
"thanks," she whispered back "i'd like that..." then, with a wink, she added "big brother."
he chuckled in return "well, more like your little-big brother, just like you're my big-little sister."

they absently heard their grandmother suggest they have lunch, and Felicia stood, keeping her shoulder level so as not to dislodge her brother.

Aeon loosed a round of booming laughter "then let's eat, anyone for roast turkey?"

(Next Chapter: Benson's perspective)