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Wish Granter

By: CalexTheNeko

Kickaha didn't usually go looking for trouble. Well... The coyote-fox wasn't constantly looking to cause trouble. Sometimes at least... The point was there were in fact moments where he was probably sort of maybe innocent... If only because he hadn't quite come up with the right idea yet. The important takeaway here right now was he wasn't up to anything right now! Kickaha was simply trying to scrounge up dinner! But dinner was being annoyingly uncooperative tonight.

Kickaha crept on all fours with his stomach and chest almost flat against the ground. His green cloak ran along the back of his body making him blend in with the grass as he moved. Gold eyes shined at full alertness as he slowly neared his future meal. The foxyote moved forward at a glacial pace.

It was a small grey mouse that Kickaha was stalking. Currently it's nose twitched as it dug through the grass looking for food. The mouse went perfectly still as if it sensed danger... But after a few moments resumed moving again when it hadn't noticed the foxyote. It sniffed the air then began to push its way through the grass going after something.

Kickaha picked up his speed slightly to keep up with the mouth. He was almost salivating as he could practically taste the nutritious rodent. Just a few more steps and he'd be in range. It looked like the mouse was about to leave the cover of the grass... Once that happened it would be difficult for the foxyote to stay in cover. Of course by that point it would be too late.

The mouse stepped out of the grass and onto the concrete sidewalk. Kickaha raised his hind legs into the air as he prepared to pounce and-

SPLASH!

Kickaha barely managed to avoid jumping from shock as a large splash of water suddenly flew over the grass landing next to him. He looked to the side for just a moment wondering where the water had come from. In that half second of distraction the mouse bolted. Spooked by whatever caused the splash of water it had decided to flee.

"Oh no you don't!" Kickaha sprung after the tiny mouse. However at this point the mouse already had a head start. It dove into a large crack in the sidewalk disappearing into the foundation beneath it. Kickaha tried to go after it. He shoved his left paw into the crack trying to reach for the mouse but it was already out of his reach. His meal was gone. The foxyote let out a groan. "I really need to stop eating fast food." He slowly stood up with a sigh. He had been so close... Just a few more seconds.

If it hadn't been for that sudden interruption...

Kickaha rose to his full height of three feet and turned to face back where the splash of water had come from. There was a chain link fence there and a large swimming pool just on the other side of it. It was the community pool. There were currently a number of people making use of it both human and talking animal. He could see one group of human kids near the edge of the pool by the fence. One of them gave a shout of 'cannonball!" before leaping into the pool sending a splash of water over the fence. Well... That explained where the water had come from.

"Well guess we should see who it is trying to make a big splash." Kickaha muttered to himself as he walked towards the fence. He wasn't quite sure what he was planning to do right now. On one paw... These kids had cost him his dinner! And that was a crime of the highest degree! Well... It was probably a crime of some kind of degree. The point was... Such deeds should not go unpunished! On the other hand... They were just kids and it's not like there had been any actual malice involved. Still! He couldn't just do nothing! That would be boring! The foxyote crouched behind a bush to stay out of sight while on the other end of the fence. He had to consider his options carefully.

As he listened he heard the kids talking to each other. Two more jumped into the pool but one of them had apparently decided to stay at the edge. He could hear the other kids calling him, encouraging him to jump in but he didn't.

"I- I can't!" The boy shouted back at them.

"Come on in!" One of the other kids shouted. "Don't be a chicken Conner! It's just water!"

"But... I don't know how to swim!" The boy who was apparently called Conner shouted.

"Stop being a wimp and just jump in!" A third kid called.

"B-b-but-" Connor protested.

Well... These seemed like a bunch of rather rude kids. Kickaha mused to himself on the topic. He had half a mind to turn them all into something that hated water right now just to teach them a lesson! Maybe kittens! Except... Kickaha looked up at the sky and shook his head. That would only be perceived as a reward with that person directing things. Perhaps! There was another direction he could take this! Yeeeeees. He tented his paws as he began to form an idea.

Kickaha waited until the kids had finished their swim and were preparing to leave the pool. As the law of narrative causality demanded the kid who had been bullied was forced to walk home on his own while the rest of the kids left as a group. Kickaha wasn't sure the exact reason why it always worked out that way... Something about everyone loving an underdog. (Ohhhh idea for later.) But it always worked out this way for some reason! Still once the kids had left the community pool he followed after the lone kid instead of the group. Upon seeing which route he was taking Kickaha jumped a wall and ran ahead of the kid. Then he waited for his moment.

As the kid called Conner came near Kickaha leaped up to the top of the wall. With a flick of his wrist there was a sudden updraft of wind that caused his cloak to bellow out behind him. He stood staring down at the child as he released sparks of light from his paws to give a minor spectacle of his magical powers.

"CONNOR!" Kickaha shouted in a booming magically augmented voice. "I HAVE COME FOR-" Kickaha slowly began to point at Conner. As he did the wind he was generating reacted to the movements of his paws. Suddenly his cloak was thrown up over his own face blinding the foxyote. He spun in place before plummeting from the wall and landing directly in front of Conner.

"Oh my gosh!" Conner shouted as he ran over to check on the foxyote who had just collided with the sidewalk. "Are you okay?"

"Uggggh, I'm fine." Kickaha muttered. "That didn't exactly go as I planned... Okay we need a quick do over." The foxyote picked himself up and brushed himself off. Now standing before Conner the foxyote was slightly shorter than the kid.

"A what?" Conner asked.

"Look don't ask questions, just walk back the way you came!" Kickaha waved his paws. "And then come back!"

"But why?" Conner raised an eyebrow and took a step back from the foxyote.

"Just do it!" Kickaha responded. "I promise it'll be worth it!"

"Look I should really be getting home..." Conner responded as he tried to step around Kickaha. "And my parents told me never to talk to strangers."

"A wise and practical policy." Kickaha nodded sagely. "But wise and practical won't really serve you well today! Now go ahead and head back that way and walk down the street again."

"But-" Conner objected.

"Look the sooner you do this, the sooner it will be over and you can go home." Kickaha explained impatiently. "So really it's your own fault if you get home late and your parents ground you now. But maybe if you hurry back down the street you can work this out!"

"Ok geez." Conner spoke as he walked back down the street away from Kickaha. When he got about halfway down he turned to look at the foxyote who gestured for him to go further. With a sigh Conner returned to the very start of the street as Kickaha leaped over the wall. Conner then strode back down the street watching the stone wall.

"CONNER!" Again Kickaha shouted in a booming voice as he leaped atop the wall. Again the wind began to blow to make his cloak flutter behind him. "I HAVE COME FOR-" Kickaha paused and the wind abruptly stopped blowing. "You know what? I'm not feeling it. You were right. The do over was a bad idea." With that Kickaha sat down atop the wall with his legs crossed.

"So am I free to go then?" Conner asked.

"Of course." Kickaha nodded.

"Well okay then-" Conner tried to walk away.

"But if you leave now!" Kickaha interrupted him. "You'll miss out on unlimited fantastic amazing show-stopping magical power!"

"I'm not buying it..." Conner responded.

"Look it's quite simple!" Kickaha stood up and leaped off the wall. As he did his brown and orange fur suddenly shifted, turned black and changed into a coat of feathers. He shrunk in size as his arms became wings. Soon he had taken the form of a crow and only the diamond shaped patch on his chest and the green cloak on his back hinted to his true identity. He flew in a circle around Conner before landing in front of him. "I've simply come to grant you a wish!" As he spoke he changed form again. He grew back to his normal size and as his fur grew back and returned to its normal colors. A moment later he was his normal foxyote self as if nothing had happened.

"A wish?" Conner seemed uneasy. "But why?"

"Why?" Kickaha tilted his head. "Why not? It'll be fun! Well at the very least it won't be boring."

"So what you're like some kind of genie?" Conner asked.

"Oh no! I'm nothing like a genie!" Kickaha held a paw up and smiled. "Genies have rules and are bound to grant your wish! They have to grant the wish exactly as you say!"

"Wait so you can just cheat and do something else?" Conner asked. "That doesn't sound like a good deal."

"My good man!" Kickaha moved his paw over his heart. "You wound me! I'm much more trustworthy than a genie!"

"But you said genies have to grant your wish..." Conner muttered.

"Exactly!" Kickaha responded. "They don't have a choice! You're the bossy master and they have to do what you say! So it's no wonder they'll do everything in their power to subvert your expectations! They'll grant you exactly what you wish for but never what you meant!"

"I um..." Conner thought for a moment. He had read a couple of those 'Be Careful What You Wish For' style stories. He got the idea of what Kickaha was getting at. "I suppose I understand that."

"Exactly!" Kickaha responded. "I on the other hand am under no obligation! I owe you absolutely nothing and am a slave to nothing more than my own whims! The complete lack of accountability makes me much more trustworthy!"

"I don't think that's how it works." Conner muttered.

"Maybe, but enough of that!" Kickaha smiled. "So now out with it! What's your wish?"

"Well..." Conner thought for a few moments. "I guess... It would be really nice to have like... A million dollars!"

"Nope!" Kickaha shook his head. "Denied."

"But you said you'd grant me a wish!" Conner insisted.

"I never said I would grant you any wish!" Kickaha responded. "That's boring! Pick something more interesting."

"But!" Conner looked at the foxyote in disbelief. "Ugggh fine. Then how about... I wish for infinity wishes with no conditions."

"And I wish I hadn't heard that one a million times." Kickaha responded.

"Wait you've granted a million wishes?" Conner asked.

"Not really." Kickaha shrugged. "This is kind of a rarity for me."

"Then how could you have already heard that a million-"

"Exactly." Kickaha responded.

"FINE!" Conner shouted. "Okay... Can I at least wish a new game?"

"Nope."

"A toy?"

"Nope."

"An 'A' on my vocabulary test."

"Absolutely not!" Kickaha looked taken aback. "That would be cheating! And I would never be party to that!"

"What can I wish for then!?" Conner asked.

"Oh I dunno!" Kickaha bent forward and tilted his head as he smiled. "Maybe there was... A problem you had very recently? With a few individuals at a local public establishment?"

"The kids from the pool?" Conner grinned. "So it's that kind of wish. Fine! In that case just give me a moment! Let me think of something terrible that can happen to each of them!"

"GEEZ KID!" Kickaha was genuinely taken back. "What the heck kind of magical trickster do you think I am!? I'm not here to help you get some kind of twisted revenge!"

"Wait did you say trickster?" Conner asked. "Isn't revenge the kind of thing tricksters should specialize in?"

"Yeah, the ones who are jerks do!" Kickaha responded. "Look I was offering to help you learn to swim! Just... Wow! You went right in that direction. Just... You should get that temper under control kid."

"But-" Conner tried to object then stopped as he realized something. "Wait if that's what you're here for... Then why didn't you just open with that? What was the point of the whole 'wish' thing!?"

"Because ceremony is important." Kickaha tusked. "Now then! As you have wished so it shall be! I shall use all of my fantastic magical powers to teach you to swim!" With that Kickaha leaped back up onto the wall in one fluid motion. "I shall meet you tomorrow morning at the community pool an hour before it opens! Don't worry, I'll get the door unlocked for you!"

"But I never even wished for that..." Conner muttered. However Kickaha had already leaped over the other side of wall and was gone. Conner waited for a few moments to see if he would come back. After being sure he was gone he started to walk away again.

"OH RIGHT!" Kickaha leaped back up onto the wall and called after Conner. "I forgot to mention my fee! Bring a mouse!"

"A mouse!?" Conner shouted back.

"Yeah! I can't do magic on an empty stomach!" Kickaha responded. "And it's the least you could do since your friends ruined my dinner tonight!" Then like that Kickaha was gone back beyond the wall again.

Conner waited for a few minutes again expecting the foxyote to return. He took a few steps away to check if he'd jump back. Kickaha showed no signs of returning this time. After a few more minutes Conner made the rest of the trip home.

The next morning Conner returned to the community pool. He found the door unlocked just as promised. He headed to the lockers first and changed into his swim trunks before heading out to the actual pool. He held a pair of swim goggles in one hand and a brown paper bag in the other.

"You've come!" Kickaha was waiting for him. He was lounging on an inflatable chair in the middle of the pool. Upon seeing Conner he paddled over to the side of the pool and climbed out. "And you brought my fee I see!"

"Um about that..." Conner surrendered the brown paper bag.

"Delicious and nutritious rodents!" Kickaha wagged his tail happily. "Just for me." He opened up the bag and peered inside. Abruptly his tail froze. He then pulled a bologna sandwich out of the bag. "What is this?"

"A sandwich." Conner responded. "Um... I didn't have any mice just laying around. Humans don't really eat those. But since you said it was supposed to be a snack I thought I could make you a sandwich instead!"

"But this doesn't have nearly the nutritional value as a delicious succulent rodent!" Kickaha whined. "Are you sure you don't maybe have a mouse hidden away in a secret pocket somewhere? Maybe one you were trying to hoard away for yourself later?"

"Of all the things wrong with that sentence...." Conner gestured down at himself. "I'm wearing swim trunks. Where would I even hide it? Now... Are you still going to teach me to swim?"

"I guess." Kickaha sagged his shoulders as he ate his sandwich in defeat. "I mean you technically didn't keep your side of the deal... But we are already here."

"So... How does this work?" Conner asked. "Do you just snap your fingers... And suddenly I know how to swim? Or is there like a puff of smoke?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" Kickaha responded. "I can't just magically impart a skill you have to develop upon you! That would just be silly!"

"But that's literally what you've been implying you would do..." Conner responded.

"Noooo!" Kickaha laughed. "Where would you get such a farfetched idea like that? No! I had a much more mundane solution in mind! I'll simply transform you into an animal that already knows how to swim!"

"WHAT!?" Conner jumped back away from Kickaha. "I never agreed to that!"

"But then why did you show up?" Kickaha grinned. "Come on, it'll be fun!"

"But I don't want to spend the rest of my life as an animal!" Conner was trying to back further away from Kickaha.

"Who said anything about spending the rest of your life that way?" Kickaha tilted his head. "I'm simply going to turn you into an animal that can swim... Then when you change back you'll retain that knowledge!"

"Wait but wouldn't that contradict the whole you can't magically give someone skills?" Conner stopped backing away just out of confusion trying to process this.

"Not at all!" Kickaha responded. "These are two entirely different things! Look it's like... Do you know how all werewolves are natural born hunters?"

"No I did not know this thing..." Conner responded.

"Well it is a thing!" Kickaha responded. "And werecats are naturally acrobatic! And weresquirrels are incredible climbers! Then of course there's the illusive wereredpanda! Who have... Um... Super human tongue sticking out adorably skills!"

"I'm not sure that last one is a thing..." Conner stared at the floor.

"The point I'm trying to make..." Kickaha spoke somewhat impatiently. "Is that every type of magical shapeshifter possesses abilities that border on superhuman that hints at to what their animal form is."

"So... You promise the transformation is temporary?" Conner asked. He wasn't quite following all of the logic but he was starting to learn the futility of arguing against it.

"Of course! Scout's honor!" Kickaha held his paw over his chest.

"You're a scout?" Conner seemed skeptical of that.

"Nope!" Kickaha gave a wolfish grin. "But I figured you'd be more comfortable with me swearing on a scout's honor than a trickster's!"

"I know I'm going to regret this..." Conner muttered. "Okay let's... Do this. Whatever this is."

"Right! Now then!" Kickaha put a paw to his chin. "What should we go with? Let's see... A fish? Hmmmm... No lungs though. A dolphin or a whale? Probably not enough room in the pool. Maybe something more terrestrial is needed. AHA! Got it!" Kickaha snapped his fingers.

Conner immediately began to change. Brown fur sprouted over his entire body. Meanwhile a long almost rudder-like tail extended from the base of his spine pushing his trunks down slightly. Whiskers sprouted from his cheeks as his face pushed out into a muzzle. His nose turned black and grew in size at the tip of his muzzle. Meanwhile his ears slowly raised to the top of his head becoming smaller and rounder. Then his hands and feet began to change. They took on a shape like animal paws with short claws on the tips of them. However unlike most paws these had a line of webbing running between his fingers and toes.

"Perfect!" Kickaha gave a shout. "You look good like this! I otter try doing this good deed thing more often!"

"I do?" Conner spoke slightly confused. The fact he could still speak was what was part of the confusion. There was also the fact he was still standing on two legs and still wearing his trunks. He looked at his paws marveling the changes and unsure how to react. "I thought you said you were turning me into an animal." He spoke at last.

"I did!" Kickaha responded.

"But why am I still standing on two legs?" As he spoke Conner began to slowly sway his tail getting a feel for how it worked.

"Now come now!" Kickaha looked insulted. "I'm an animal too and I walk on two legs! You shouldn't go assuming all animals are the same!"

"I guess... This isn't too bad..." Conner smiled as he slowly got used to how his body moved now. "And I guess I did always like otters when I saw them at the zoo. So now what?"

"I guess you otter jump into the pool!" Kickaha responded. "Best way to see if it worked."

"You made that same pun twice." Conner crossed his arms and stared at Kickaha.

"Well it didn't get a laugh the first time so I thought I'd try again." Kickaha replied matter-of-factly.

"Well hate to break it to you..." Conner said. "But I don't think that it's ever going to get a laugh."

"Well then I suppose you otter get used to hearing it!" Kickaha flashed a wide grin.

"I hate you. And I'm ready to go home now." Conner groaned and he walked to the side of the pool. He stared at his reflection in the water unsure of what to do. He had transformed physically... But did that mean he would actually know how to swim naturally now?

"Let me help!" Kickaha shoved Conner. Conner flailed wildly at this and grabbed Kickaha's cloak. Both foxyote and otter then fell into the pool with a big splash.

"ARRRRRRRRGH!" Conner surfaced first. He was treading water as he angrily looked around for the foxyote. "I could have drowned!"

Kickaha emerged second. He then spat a stream of water atop Conner's head and grinned at him. "I would have pulled you out before that happened!"

"You're a jerk!" Conner muttered and splashed water at Kickaha.

"GAH!" Kickaha yelped as he was hit. He didn't stop smiling though as he looked at the otter kid. "But you know... You otter take a look at yourself."

"Huh?" Conner paused and then realized he was treading water for the first time. "I'm... I'm swimming!" Conner began to paddle backwards testing himself. He then swam a quick lap surprised at how natural and easy it felt.

"Told ya!" Kickaha climbed out of the pool and looked back at the boy. "And with that your wish has been granted."

"I... I guess..." Conner said. "Wait how do I change back!?"

"Oh that!" Kickaha thought for a moment. "You otter be able to change back and forth at will now! You just gotta think about it! You're a real certified wereotter now! You shouldn't have any trouble changing forms."

"So I can change at any time?" Conner asked. He swished his tail in the water enjoying the feel of how easy it made it to change directions. "In that case... Maybe I'll stay this way for just a bit longer."

"Perhaps that would be for the best!" Kickaha responded. "After all you might want to get some practice in before your friends show up! I'm sure they'll be quite surprised when you can swim laps around them now."

"Quite." Conner grinned to himself. He could literally do that in his otter form. He wondered if he would be as fast when he returned to human form.

"Well I'm glad you're satisfied!" Kickaha turned and prepared to leave. "But consider this a lesson! You got lucky that I was generous this time! But you never know when you're going to meet a helpful magical trickster! You should seriously consider carrying a mouse around in your pocket for now on. Just in case."

"I'll keep that in mind..." Conner responded.

"One more thing!" Kickaha bent over the side of the pool and looked at him. "Come here for a moment."

Conner swam over to the side of the pool as asked. He looked up out of the water at Kickaha wondering what it was he wanted.

"BOOP!" Kickaha poked the tip of Conner's nose lightly with his paw.

"GAH!" Conner fell backwards.

"Sorry!" Kickaha gave a sheepish smile. "But a good friend of mine would have never forgiven me if I hadn't done that! It's best not to think about it too much! Enjoy your new abilities." With that Kickaha turned and left for real.

Meanwhile Conner was left in the pool. He still had at least half an hour before the pool opened. Lots of time to enjoy his new form and test just how well he could swim. Ah... But when it opened and his friends arrived. Then the real fun would begin.

The End