{C-9-A}

“Nice work finding the basilisk for me,” the pet shop owner says, as he pushes by you, reaches into the cave and grabs the petrified lizard. He slips on a pair of heavy gloves, puts on a pair of dark goggles, and then pulls a gem-encrusted wand out of his back pocket. He taps the stone lizard with the wand, and it is restored to its original flesh and blood form.

“What?” Neko-chan cries, but before he finishes, the pet shop owner has used the basilisk’s gaze to petrify him before placing the little lizard-like monster in a mirror-lined box he’s brought with him.

“Here you go,” the pet shop owner says, laughing as he hands you the now petrified Neko-chan. “For your troubles, you can take home this little stone kitten.”

After carefully locking away the basilisk in its mirrored box, the pet shop owner escorts you out of the pet shop, and you stare sadly at the stone kitten in your hand, as you wait for your mom to pick you up and take you home.

“I guess we failed to foil his plans, Neko-chan,” you say, not knowing if he can hear you or not, and wondering if some day you can come back and get your hands on that jeweled wand to unpetrify your friend.

When you get home, you place your statue of Neko-chan on your bookshelf. The next day you are surprised when you see the statue move a little. Soon, Neko-chan has returned to his natural self, yet unable to talk. You don’t care, as you are so happy to have him as a pet. You wonder how you will introduce him to your mom.

Destiny Discovered