The shrillest screech ever made in the world woke Aiden from his usual midday nap with a start. It had come from the backyard and he could’ve sworn it was Mabel. But when he got outside all he saw was a small lizard like thing with wings struggling under a large white shirt, “Mabel?” The small thing let out a string of curses and he knew it was her. As he came closer he could see she had turned into a really small dragon, “Holy cow why are you so tiny!?”

“I didn’t want to be tiny!!” Mabel’s voice had become higher pitched, “I wanted to be a fucking giant dragon that breathes fire and terrorizes the night sky!” He snorted, “Don’t you laugh at me!”

“Hahaha! You look so cute and so SO tiny!” He picked her up, “I think this is perfect for you!” He held her close to his chest even though she was wiggling and waggling her way out of them.

“NO! I am terror! I am the night!”

“You are an adorable little dragon and I would keep you as my pet in a heartbeat.” He wagged his finger in front of her. So of course she tried to bite it. But even that wasn’t threatening enough for him, “SO cute…” She grumbled and dropped back onto the table. She awkwardly pulled the shirt off and turned back to normal, “So, what were you trying to do?"

Mabel suddenly became flustered and didn’t know what to say. She had planned for this to be a surprise after she purchased the shop, “Well, you see…” She held the shirt close to her chest, “After our talk about the shop I wanted to find a way to help you, and I thought soaking a shirt in a vat of camouflage and glamour would help you interact with the other townspeople.”

She handed him the shirt to look over and realized she had almost done it. She only needed to add in some more Octoleon scales and it would be perfect. But it worried him. It was a silly question at this point, but he wondered if she didn’t like the way he looked. She told him many times that, despite their first meeting, how he looked doesn’t bother her. However, the little nagging bug at the back of his head wouldn’t let go of the thought that she wanted to change him. It made him angry with her. I really thought she liked me… He thought with tears welling up in his eyes.

“I don’t need it.” He threw the shirt back her, “It was just a stupid dream. I didn’t mean anything by it.” He walked back into the house and Mabel chased after him.

“What do you mean it’s a stupid dream?” Mabel grabbed his arm. He pulled away roughly, “Aiden, you looked so happy talking about it the other day. Why do you suddenly think it’s stupid?”

“Because it is!” His yelling scared her. She had never heard him yell like that before, “I’m just a big scary monster to everyone! What makes you think a stupid potion will change that?! They’d still see me as some monster as soon as they find out who I am.”

“Aiden,” She reached for his hand but he snapped it away from her.

“You too.”

“No, I-” He wouldn’t even listen. He just stormed up to his room, Mabel following behind, and slammed the door in her face.