Something very peculiar had now happened to the wishing stone that belonged to Jon. It was now merged, to a statue of a giant sphinx lying in the park. But with that increased bulk, so came the ability to grant wishes without actually having to hold it. As a true Mythological being, the Old Sphinx was capable of filtering the wishes and listen to those wishes it deemed worthy or unworthy... 'Ice cream' boons were easily granted... just shifting reality here and there to allow for it.. most of it was just 'probability' wishes. A wish for love, a wish for wealth... nothing world changing could happen. It certainly didn't want to reveal its power so.. people just thought it was good luck.
The old sphinx's mind was as unmoved as the stone form that now made its body. It was almost.. godly like this. Though of course, not a true god, not by any stretch of the imagination. Guardianship was a natural aspect of their being. They took it 'very' seriously.
"The one wish I can never grant... to turn Jon back. Not until she has fulfilled her role." Right or Wrong didn't occupy that thought. This was simply what had to be. What was going to be.. what had been wished for, until the end of all her days. The stone was nestled into her hands, guarded for all eternity from any who might try to change the world again...
She was.. beautiful. In a rather strange way. Black fur and golden eyes on a humanoid form dressed like an Egyptian Queen. Yet clearly her face was an animal; a cat of all things. She was dressed in robes of a goddess with a circlet on her head, and white gown with a single shoulder strap. A symbol holding that part to the rest of the garment.
"Bast.." She spoke again. "Daughter of Ra, protector of Cats... The warrior.. the lustful... no introductions needed I am quite sure you understand now dear," she whispered into Jon's ear as she stepped barefoot to her. The voice made Jon's ears twitch and that cat part of her.. it.. it felt like it had to.. accept her... her.. this place as.. her territory.
Jon of course, was terrified. How.. how did this person with a 'cat head' get inside her house?! In fact.. how did this temple inside her house get inside her house! The area was.. shadowy and had odd hieroglyphics. Despite its ancient look, there was nothing ancient at all about it. It looked new and made recently. A strange sarcophagus filled the central chamber, and all this was simply impossibly huge to fit inside his room. So.. that had to mean this was another place, beyond a portal. A portal that was directly connected to his room.
The cat woman meowed a little. "I do love listening to mortal thoughts. There is still too much of that boy in you. Do not worry, I will teach you how to be a real priestess of Bastet".
Jon frowned a little and had not said a word. She was claiming to be some kind of Goddess, and the new sphinx wasn't really in the mood to deal with it. "I know there was another sphinx!" The horrible little creature forced her into this situation.
"Oh yes. Well she's now a bit 'stoned'," sighed bast. "In any case, I believe my new sphinx needs to be attired more appropriately." With a wave of her hand, Jon was suddenly cast in strange golden manacles on her lion paws. A strange robe of crimson was placed on her torso. Finally there was a collar around his neck- no- a necklace? Well.. that's marginally better. It looked.. elegant, despite the fact that her animal parts didn't really need any clothes.
"Hey- I don't need that!" Jon fumed.
Bast gave a loving smile. "I thought you would be pleased, that a goddess would take an interest in you, dear."
"I'm not your pet!" Jon screeched. "As soon as I get the stone, I'm wishing things back to normal. Even if I am stuck like this! I'm not letting a virus change humanity!"
"Tsk tsk tsk," Bast rolled her eyes. "Jon honey, you are not really thinking all too clearly. Have you actually paused to consider... -where- the 'virus' came from?"
An entire ten seconds went by before Jon responded. "The stone.. made it?"
Bast gave another giggle. "You made an incorrect assumption there. Suffice to say, the universe has a will... but not even a goddess knows how to make that will known. I could tell you exactly where the virus originated but you would not understand or comprehend... not yet anyway."
Jon's lion form bristled a little. What was she supposed to do? "Can you turn me back.. even if that stone no longer has the power to..."
Bast smiled again. "I can help you make 'another' stone..."
"... you can do that?" Jon asked warily. "This isn't going to involve.. people getting.. hurt would it?"
"It depends," said Bast. "The creation of the Stone exacted a price... your Grandfather knew that... for now however, let's just say the price of creating the stone is.. just a little bit of 'chaos'. That should be quite easy, given the state the world is in. Let things run their course... now will you be my priestess? Or will you honestly decline my help?"
Jon gave it a bit more thought. "I must be out of my mind... I'll be your priestess- but- I get to leave it whenever I want. If I don't agree with you I'm going to stop you." Jon hoped that would be enough to get him out of any 'weird' situation. Well- weirder.
"You're such a feisty feline Jon," Bast giggled. "I just love that in my worshippers." she then leaned back a little, floating in the air. "Well let's give you the first benefit of being my priestess.. a bit of precognition of the future... Tonight, both your little brother Mikey, and sister Zoe, will get the 'virus' as you call it. Nothing to do with me despite what you might think though!"
Jon sighed. "Right.. well.. I'm just going to go and figure all this stuff out. Mind if I just consider you a really weird dream?"
Bast giggled again. "I'll be seeing you later sweet kitten. Oh one more thing: Go to the Zoo. There's a lovely Lion that's absolutely dying to meet you. I have given him so many images of you he's just... really into you. I promise it will be the best sex you ever had. Consider it another reward." she winked.
Jon blanched. "I- don't- you -want- me to get screwed by a lion?!" The sphinx girl screamed. The image of that was going to haunt her.
"Well of course," Bast for the first time frowned in confusion. "I assure you he's quite virile and worthy."
"I'm not doing that!" Jon about this point turned to leave.
Bast sighed as her priestess left the temple. She went back to her sarcophagus. "Your body is quite unique Jon. There are not that many fish in the sea for you. However I will find the perfect mate for you... I like to take care of my priestesses and have an unbroken line, if I can."
Justin was excited.
He just heard that Matt had gone 'away', and that his cousin 'Molly' was staying. Apparently she was some kind of angel girl. "Oh come on! That old story? Give me a break!" He giggled a bit. He thought today was indeed the moment he would catch the virus. Though sometimes he wondered if it was a bit 'freaky'. Matt had certainly called him a freak. So what if he just wanted to broaden his horizons! Some people were actually not at all happy being human...
He slept naked, as he always did. He didn't want to be buried under a pile of clothes- or to break out of them when he changed. He even had his door slightly open, just in case. Everything was carefully planned. He dreamed of many possible forms. His favourite was of course, his dragonified persona. Soaring majestically over the skies with ferocious fiery wings. He was at one with the kind of raw power that came with it.. mythological transformations however, were rare. So very... very... rare. Jon was unique to look like a sphinx. Most were like David, or indeed anyone else. People with animal changed parts. He woke up from his dream, and swore he was a giant...Bright red wings covered him, which he folded. Scales of crimson and claws! He stared at them with no horror but blissful peace-
then he 'really' woke up. When he woke up he looked over his body in true reality. "Damn.. it." he mouthed. Nothing.. not a single thing had changed. It was seven in the morning, and time to get ready for school. "Another boring day, another boring body," he groaned. "Well... maybe someday."
