Chapter 190

Mighty Morphing Pomeranians (Part 2)

It was the old Pomeranian stand-off.

Me staring down a Pomeranian who despite being normal dimensions for a Pomeranian, was nearly up to mid-thigh, at least while sitting down and having her head elevated.

Right now, however, Nagingah was not sitting down. In fact, now Nagingah and her fellow Guardians were staring down angrily at me, even going so far as to threaten my territory.

I must admit that at this point I was feeling hostile.

This was not a good look for Zero’s future girlfriend. At least not if he wanted me to give a glowing recommendation for this future pick. It was clear that from his speech at least that Zero thought he was punching up in weight class, as this was clearly a dragon princess, which was a big deal apparently. It turns out that while Zero might technically be royalty, his current status as an unaccepted bastard dragon makes him actually lower in the eyes of dragons. At least that was the impression I got from our conversation. So in addition to planning a wedding, avoiding a wedding night where I have to sleep with my freak of a best friend to avoid her breaking up a good relationship with my daughter. In addition to teaching classes and exploring the Arcanarus Tower to get a bachelor’s degree of all things, I now also need to both etch the core of this Pomeranian Princess, and then find Zero’s mother and all but force her to accept Zero as a good kid worthy of her blessing. You know simple things, should be done by Tuesday.

GRRR!

Just when I thought I would have to take on all four guardians alone, as I didn’t want Zero to feel conflicted with which side to take. I heard and then felt the appearance of not one but two Dire Phase wolves appeared. The largest and most pregnant of the two clearly cultivating power.

“You?” Nagingah asked, fear filling her words.

I had a hard time understanding if this was a Pomeranian’s natural fear of a larger pack animal, or if this was a reticent fear of the guardians against all Dire Phase wolves.

“How did the defilers survive? We cursed their kind long ago.” Flumberro hissed, drawing closer, but staying a good distance away from the two dire phase wolves that now stood on both sides of me.

“These defilers, as you call them, are my friends. They have been given free passage and sanctuary here. I will even be the godmother to their litter.”

Hiss.

The dragons all hissed at this, even Nagingah seemed to cower in fear. I don’t know what exactly caused the hissing, whether it was the fact that they had been given sanctuary to the same lands these Guardians were sworn to protect, or if it was the thought of a litter of puppies coming that should all be able to cultivate. Regardless, I used the momentary silence to continue talking.

“Just as the rest of you lot have. Though I have a half a mind to make it so you four are banished from these lands forever if you keep this up.” I state defiantly.

“You’d dare?” Nagingah hisses.

“I would, and remember that you all are the ones who dare defy the sanctuary of these lands with your constantly hostile actions.” I reply.

There seems to be a momentary pause.

These are my lands, well the lands that have been claimed by my guild. I can feel my Guild title that increases my Attributes and Skills going in full effect here.

Guild Title: Land Protectors: Your Guild’s Successful defense of your land will be proportional to a skill and attribute increase while defending your guild lands from any current or future threats. Current Skill and Attribute Bonus received while defending Guild Lands: + 100%.

There is a momentary pause, as I let my fully enhanced power course through my body. I sprout my wings and rise up to air, getting ready to perform aerial combat, at least I am prepared to defend myself in the air.

Mr. Kujo for his part chose that exact moment to disappear. I can feel him, slinking around and getting in position to bite the Pomeranian Princess from behind in one decisive strike.

There is a moment where tension is allowed to build up, before finally a voice of reason erupts.

“ENOUGH!”

Thunderclap.

As the voice cries out, the very heavens themselves seem to answer as we all turn to Zero.

Well, everyone but Ms. Kujo, Mr. Kujo and myself. The three of us are all still in position.

“I said enough!” Zero cries out again, this time elongating himself with that odd Trait of his that allows him to enlarge his size. This time he is much longer than he was previously, able to take up nearly three times more length than he did while battling the rock head creature.

“Look, I can see why you all feel threatened. You all lost. Let me repeat that, you all lost. As part of that, my friend here took it upon herself to make sure that not only were all of you allowed to live, but that you were allowed to stay on these lands that are most sacred to you. But you lost.” Zero begins.

At that, I nod happy with the fact that Zero finally showed some backbone and stood up to his crush.

“And you,” Zero says, rounding his large form on me. I don’t move to look at him, but he can tell that he has my full attention. “You need to calm down. Can’t you see that you are frightening them? That they see you as a bully and a trickster? That they aren’t prepared for some form of chicanery on your part.”

“Chicanery?” I ask, equal parts flabbergasted and impressed that these four would think that highly of me.

Judging by the look on their faces, it is clear that they all agree. Each slightly nodding their snouts in agreement at the comment.

“You all afraid of me?” I ask, pointing to myself as if that will help them find who is talking.

They all nod.

“I’m just a healer.” I state.

There is a moment of silence as everyone just stares at me dumbfounded.

Chuffing.

I pause, taking a moment to realize that the only sound is coming from my right, from the side where Ms. Kujo is standing. I look to make sure she is okay, and find her ribs all but bursting with movement as if she is coughing. For a moment I am frightened that she inhaled something that is causing her to look weak for the moment, especially in front of all of these potential enemies, when I realize. “You are laughing?”

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And like that the sounds of laughter ring out, from Zero, then from the Pomeranian who looks more relieved than anything while laughing.

“Oh you had us there.” Nagingah states, while laughing a little deeper. With this the other guardians also laugh.

“Wait, I frighten you?” I ask.

“You do realize that you are the one threat that Mallory said she would unleash upon any of these Guardians who dared to go back on their words of fealty, right?” Zero asks.

I pause, vaguely remembering something like that, but that was clearly a joke, right? I mean who would be frightened of me? I’m harmless. Well, mostly harmless, like that book.

“Huh.” I manage, not really agreeing or disagreeing, but at least acknowledging that I heard Zero.

“Yes, I must apologize for my actions. You offered what would be a great boon to me, and I couldn’t help but think that this was part of your long term plan of corruption.” Nagingah begins.

“Corruption?” I ask.

“Yes, draw us in, offer us power and abilities that are beyond expectation and then eventually demanding things from us for our continued access to our gifts.” Nagingah states.

“What? You honestly think I think that far ahead? Also, that I am such a mastermind that I would go create a temporary body for you that I forced your spirit in, knowing that you would come to me after you already bound yourself to my guild leader for what?” I ask.

Silence.

Apparently, they did not think this far ahead. Though I guess trusting necromancers was a foolish endeavor, and according to the system, that was exactly what I had partaken in by forcing this spirit into a non-standard host. Though I can see the logic, I feel I need to still set the record straight, so I continue.

“Also, you realize that if I really wanted to, when I forced your soul into the new body, I could have altered the core to do whatever I wanted?”

I was about to add the fact that copying the core over was a lot easier and less time consuming but didn’t think that being considered a lazy necromancer would help in this situation.

“I did not think of that.” Nagingah states, with a bit of contrition in her words.

With that I nod.

“Well, are you ready to get this over? I’ll let your fellow guardians watch if that puts you at ease. Though I will ask that they remain quiet during the procedure.” I state.

Nagingah for her part looks back towards her fellow guardians and then gives a head nod.

I pause, then turn to Zero.

At this moment I feel sort of betrayed by Zero, but at the same time I sort of get it. This is karma for my evil action. While it was a joke, I would not take it as a joke to have my own soul shoved into a different body. For a moment I think about being shoved into the body of Rob and shudder at the idea.

No, this was clearly a bad idea, and now that I have had more time to reflect I can see this as part of my penance.

“Will you be my nurse during this operation?” I ask.

“Right away.” Zero says, shrinking down to regular size and then pulling out a white doctor’s coat. At least I think it is white?

“What should I do?” Nagingah asks, a bit nervous at all the sudden attention on her.

“I need you to lie down on your back and hold completely still.” I state.

With that Nagingah rolls over, all four paws dangling in the air, her tail tucked over her privates in modesty or fear. For his part Zero moves in, grabbing the front right paw, and using his body to brace Nagingah’s body still.

Nodding to Zero, I move in, placing my hand right over the heart of Nagingah, and open my third eye.

Gasp.

I hear everyone gasp, well everyone but Zero and the Kujos.

Ms. Kujo for her part has taken to just lying down. While Mr. Kujo has interceded himself as a solitary bodyguard sitting down and staring up at the three Guardians who are all staring on at me in care and trepidation.

That is when I begin carving. The symbols are easy to find and to make. Especially as I have Zero right there as a sort of template to copy. His core has the Trait for increasing his size in there automatically. That is easy to note and copy.

The only difference is that I need to come up with the runes on Transmutation, Dragons, Natural Form, and Natural Size. I link those three together, with the conversion of power runes that Zero has and slowly over time begin carving that intricate design into Nagingah’s core.

The process isn’t easy, as her core is a lot stronger than most I have had to work on. While I did create and shatter Flumberro’s core, there is a stark difference between creating a core, destroying one, and lightly modifying a core to improve its overall efficacy. Still, this is a small price to pay for this opportunity, it’s not every day that you get the system to all but tell you to carve into someone’s core and try to give them powers that have to be both proportional and limited in some way.

In this case, the limitation will be the forever lack of portion of the core, while Nagingah is in her native form.

As I carve, I realize that the most important part of this is intent. The intent to transition, to have it take up a set amount of energy when in use and then no more. I also want the power of the Pomeranian to seemingly scale with the water princess, once she takes on her true form.

There is a give and a take, I find myself focusing deeply trying to write as small as possible, knowing that the more skill and precision I take in carving this design, the less overall power that will need to be held in reserve for Nagingah, while she is in her natural state. Well, when she is transformed into her previous natural state.

Fortunately, her soul and willpower kept her at the same exact size and shape. This is good, as it means she has not lost too much of herself in this process. Granted it has been less than a day since she died, Resurrected and then asked to be changed back from what I Resurrected her into, but anything is possible with such forced changes. At least, that is what I am gathering. Had Nagingah been slightly less strong willed she might not have survived this transition. Which is good, as had she been less strong willed, she might not have felt confident enough to forcefully demand to be changed back.

Everything is in place, then I just add a border that shows both permanence and cutting off this section of her core forever for performing this very task.

With the last lines of the border getting etched into her core, I feel something click into place both in her core, and in my mind.

Chime.

There is a nearly perfect note that I hear signifying that I have managed to do achieve the seemingly impossible. Not only did I make it so that Nagingah could transition into her natural body, it was mostly her ideal version of her body. The way her mind’s eye of today captured all her strength and prowess, removing a few of the skin rolls and scabs that I vaguely remember existing before the transformation.

Phew.

I let out my breath and take a step back and try to stand up slowly.

Fortunately, I am still weightless, so even if I do begin to pass out, I find myself just floating in the air.

Seeing that I am done, Zero already begins on the after part, the patient care portion of the whole procedure.

“How do you feel?” Zero asks, taking this moment to move in closely and hover his face right over top of Nagingah’s Pomeranian snout.

I nod to myself realizing that I will use this time to do my standing Meditations, while viewing Nagingah from a distance, while also taking a moment to replenish my exceedingly low mana reserves. Carving into a blindingly bright core of an extremely powerful guardian sent to be the final protector of the land is both blindingly bright, and time consuming.

Now that I am done, I find myself blinking away the bright colors before my third eye. Though obviously blinking does little to help my eyes, and seems to mostly be a reflex that can’t be avoided for me at this point. I almost wonder if there will be a true purpose for my blinking in the future, but stop myself as I see Zero gingerly helping Nagingah over and helping her to her feet.

“All right, now slowly, channel energy into your core, and try to find the new spot that has been taken up with carvings.” Zero begins.

I watch as power surges into the core, no measure of restraint or control, just empty one second and then a full flood of energy the next.

Whoosh!

And like that Nagingah not only found the new soul brand in her core, but managed to activate it.

“Okay, that works too.” Zero says, now sitting on top of the great water dragon’s snout.

“How did I? What is this?” Nagingah asks, then swirls her head around. A non-weightless Zero would have been thrown to his death at such a maneuver. Zero for his part just took to floating in air and stared at Nagingah, until she was done panicking.

“Okay, so you see and feel your body. Since we are here, we might as well trying moving about.”

“My paws? I mean, claws?” She says holding up her massive mitts into the air. Then having to reel back to support her trying to look at her claws without tilting her head too much nearly falls over.

Chuffing.

Seeing Nagingah look almost lost while inside her own skin, Ms. Kujo can’t help but laugh at the ridiculous situation.

As for me, I too find it funny, but not wanting to laugh at my patient’s hardship decide to give Zero a chance to be the hero here.

“You got this Zero?” I shout out.

Zero for his part just waves one claw in affirmation that he heard me, while never taking his eyes away from Nagingah.

Seeing that he is still focused on this new crush, I turn to Ms. Kujo, “well looks like our job here is done.”

With that I turn and find that Mr. and Ms. Kujo are both following me, a sign of unified power clearly evident in their posture.

“Do you think we should point out that this perfect princess that Zero has the hots for is literally called Nagging? Well nagging- AH!” I state, making sure to stress the last part of her name.

Chuffing.

This time both Mr. and Ms. Kujo both laugh at that.

“Yeah, best we let him learn that lesson on his own.” I agree.

***

(An hour later)

I have finally managed to get to a point where I can rest. I gave Ms. Kujo one more cultivation lesson and a quick check for helping me stand up to those guardians. Then give a quick lesson to Mr. Kujo as well, but still to no success. I figure the lack of success might be due to lack of proper motivation, seeing as Mr. Kujo likely isn’t as motivated to learn about cultivating to keep his feet from swelling as Ms. Kujo was.

As far as I can tell, it is nearing two AM, meaning I have about two solid hours before I will need to start getting ready to once again teach my early rising cultivation students. Prepared for how groggy I will be after just two hours of sleep, I prepare myself as I am nearly ready to finally relax and sleep for the first time since I rested in silky-soft Kujo fur.

It had been quiet for hours, and clearly nothing was burning and no major catastrophes were going to pop-up, which was why I finally allowed myself the chance to sit down and rest.

Of course, that is the exact moment that a frantic Zero flies in, apparently recognizes me and then darts right towards me.

“There you are.” Zero begins, nearly out of breath, then continues, “this is the real you right?”

“Of course, it is, who else would I be?” I ask.

“Well considering I just spent an hour trying to get your doppelganger of King De’Arcaneri to talk to me, only to realize he couldn’t see me the same way you can. I decided to look around and find the real you.” Zero states.

“Oh, so even you can’t tell the difference between my doppelgangers and me?” I ask, mildly surprised. Then I wonder if my choosing of the odd Blight-Healing Energy Aura, might actually do the job I wanted. Namely, making it so it is hard to distinguish me from my other doppelgangers.

“No, the fact that you somehow learned to make it so your doppelgangers can take on your forms doesn’t help matters either.”

“Huh.” I say, smiling to myself glad that I might be able to come up with a way to hide my actions in the future. Or at least make it harder to pin a crime on me versus one of my doppelgangers.

“Wait, I completely forgot what I have been trying to find you for, for this past hour.” Zero states, as frustration fills his voice.

“What is it that has a burr up your…” I begin, but find myself cut off.

“It is about the alterations you did to Nagingah’s core.” Zero begins.

“Is she okay?” I ask suddenly concerned.

“Yes, more than okay actually. She even wanted me to tell you thank you for making her appear in her ideal form.” Zero commented.

“Okay, so what is the problem?”

“Well the problem isn’t necessarily with her, but rather the others.”

“The others?”

“Yes, it seems that they too would like to undergo similar alterations to their cores, as they are all jealous of their older sister.” Zero says, a look of hope filling his face.

Groan.

And like that, I realize that any chance I have of sleeping will be lost if I do this and that the only time I really have time to do this would be now, otherwise it will have to wait until after my classes are over.

I pause, then realize I haven’t even asked the important question yet.

“Have you even gotten a date from all this effort I’ve been putting into this?” I ask.

“Well, about that…”