Chapter 20: The Master and the Slave
Mephiles swam away and went into his son's room. he saw Mephic swimming around his room and looked up when his Master came in.
"I'm cleaning up my room," Mephic said. He didn't want Mephiles to be angry at him for something.
The sea dragon nodded and swam up to his son. "Tell me...do you like being a slave?"
"Not really..." Mephic bit his lower lip, turning his gaze from Mephiles.
Mephiles frowned. "Well, you are, whether you like it or not."
Mephic hesitated; he didn't want his father to hit him. "I know...it just frightens me sometimes, when you get angry with mother..." Mephic looked around for something else to clean up.
"Mephic...even though you are both slaves, you two are still my son and wife, and I care for you both very much." Mephic nodded, not daring to question the way his father chose to show it. He hesitated and turned away, tears filling his eyes. Mephiles noticed this. "What's wrong now?"
"It...it's just...if you care about us...why do you treat us so bad?"
Mephiles was taken aback by the question, needing to pause and think about it. Mephic waited patiently for his father to answer. "I want you to do the best you can," Mephiles finally said. "As for your mother, I suppose it's old habits."
The slave nodded hesitantly. "All right. What do you want me to do now, Master?"
"Finish cleaning," Mephiles told him.
"Fine. After that, what else?"
"I'm sure something will come up. I'll let you know once I decide."
Mephic hesitated and nodded, then swam out into the family room. His father nodded and swam back into the closet, looking at the coat. Stroking a hand down its arm, he sighed.
"Are you ever going to change back?" He asked. "You can resume working."
The coat did nothing. Sighing, Mephiles put it on. "It feels nice," he commented.
He nodded, zipping the coat up. It was nice, but Mephiles wondered if Sonic was going to stay like this or not. he would have to ask her if she changed back. Mephiles went and sat on the couch.
Mephic was cleaning and noticed the coat. "That's nice," he said. "Where did you get it?"
"Your mother turned into it."
"Why?"
"I'm not sure."
Mephic nodded and continued to clean. When he was done, he stretched. "Can I take a break?" he asked his father.
Mephiles looked around after looking at him. "Sure."
Mephic smiled and swam up to him. He looked at his father and then at the coat he was wearing.
"What is it now?" Mephiles asked.
"I just wanted to spend some time with you. Even though I am your slave, I still love you."
Mephiles gave his son a smile. "Did you have anything in mind?"
"Not really."
"Let's find something to do around the house, then." Mephic nodded and followed his father. Mephiles sighed and took off the coat, handing it to his son. "Want to wear it?"
Mephic took the coat and put it on, smiling at his father. "This is nice," he said. "I can see why mother became it. Did she turn into this permanently, or can she change back?"
"I assume she can change back. We'll just have to wait and see."
Mephic smiled and zipped the coat up. it was nice and comfy. Mephiles chuckled as he watched his son swim around with the coat on.
"Alright, that's enough," Mephiles growled. "Time to get back to work! Now!"
The slave hesitated and nodded, giving Mephiles the coat. "Yes, father."
Mephiles nodded and swam in his room, hanging the coat back up.
"So, is that form permanent or are you going to change back?" He asked it.
The coat still didn't do anything. Mephiles sighed, shaking his head, and closed the closet door. Was Sonic mad at him? He nodded. That had to be it. Thinking about it, it made sense.
The sea dragon lay on his bed and called for Mephic. The slave came in and saw him. "What is it, Master?" he asked.
"Are you done yet?"
"Not yet; still a few hours to go."
Mephiles nodded, still thinking about how Sonic hadn't returned to normal. "Do you think Sonic is angry with me?"
"Maybe. Or she just wants to be a coat."
"Get back to your cleaning." Mephiles waved Mephic away.
The slave bowed and did so. Mephiles sighed and relaxed for a while. He took off the coat and hung it in the closet. Laying down, Mephiles decided to take a nap. Maybe by then, Sonic would have changed back to normal. Mephic worked vigorously around the house for the next few hours. When he was finished he swam into his father's room.
"Father?" Mephic paused when he noticed Mephiles sleeping. He hesitated, wondering if he should wake his Master. Mephic sighed and opened the closet. "Mom?" he sad. "Are you going to change back to normal?"
The coat did nothing. Mephic sighed and looked back at his father. Now that he had nothing to do, he was quickly growing bored. He yawned and got into bed with his father, cuddling against him. Mephiles wrapped an arm around his son in his sleep. Mephic smiled and fell asleep also.