I grabbed the arctic fox and picked him up for a hug. He hung onto me around the neck like a child as he was still crying from what happened. I patted his head with one hand while holding him up with the other.
"Soft... I'm sorry. Frosty called me a dog and it got to me. I didn't really like how I was being treated and I let it all out on you. I'm sorry. I just hope you can forgive me." I told Soft as I sat him upright at the end of my bed.
I got down on one knee and put my hand under Soft's muzzle. He looked up at me with darkened eyes as his eye liner bled over his fur. His blue eyes glowed in that moment as we stared at each other.
"J.J.... Frosty was right." He told me. "I like you way more than Frosty. He told me he was afraid I would break up with him because of you and I am considering it. You apologize for everything, you let me bedazzle your cape, you hug me a ton, and you never leave my side. All Frosty does is play games all day and talk to me when he needs something. I would rather date and marry you."
"Umm... I'm a human though.... Plus, I created you so it would feel weird. Remember, I'm a human friend, not an arctic fox husband." I told Software.
"Not yet an arctic fox." He told me while putting emphasis on the 'yet'.
"What are you talking about?" I asked him.
"You created me right?" He asked.
"Yeah, you're my fursona." I told him.
"Well, it's time to test if you picked the right species." Software told me while liquid eye liner still ran down his face. "Come with me."
Me and Soft walked out of my room and up the other set of stairs and stopped in front of a room with 5 key holes. Software reached into the white fabric around the waist of his dress and pulled out a key chain. He unlocked each lock with separate keys on the key chain.
"What's behind here? Is it the ring of one's true self?" I asked.
"How did you know? Who snitched?" He asked me while whispering.
"I created you." I reminded him.
"Oh yeah! Anyway, I want you to go in here and stare at the ring. Hopefully you turn into an arctic fox and we can be together forever." Software said while putting his paws on the door handle.
"Wait..." I said as Soft stopped opening the door. "What happens if I turn into something else?" I asked.
"I guess... be a new addition to the family if it's being my brother or sister." Software told me while opening the door.
My mind was questioning all of this. I wasn't sure if I wanted to become Software's boyfriend and have Frosty hate me even more because of it. I also wasn't even sure if I wanted to become an animal.
"I don't know if I want to do this. I am going to give up my humanity in hopes that I become an arctic fox?" I asked Soft.
"Yes" He said as he pushed me into the room.
My eyes immediately laid sight on the glowing red ring as I started becoming vulnerable to it. I had to look away but I couldn't. The red glow and smoke seemed inviting and as if it was calling for my name. I walked closer as the ring lifted up in the air. It was so beautiful and something I wanted to have. I watched the ring as it hovered over my head and spun in circles over and over again. At that moment I lost control to everything. I could only watch as my body began to sprout fur and change shape. I couldn't do a thing. My body was shrinking and I was sprouting brown colored fur.
I looked down to see my body changing shape to match that of a female. Later on, I was fully transformed into some weird hybrid of a squirrel and mouse I think. I had rounded ears and a large tail that curled at the tip. Now I actually fit in my blue dress completely besides it being loose in some places. I looked down at my new paws in amazement. I am really an animal now. Also a female one for some odd reason. I opened up the door and looked at Soft.
"You ... are cute as heck." He said. "You're also a girl now. I guess you had more of a feminine personality than I thought but it really suits you. What animal are you?"
"I honestly.... Woah.... I sound different. Anyway, I think im a mouse squirrel. See the ears of a mouse and the tail of a squirrel." I explained to him.
"Either way you look super cute. What should we name you now that you're no longer a boy?" Software asked.
"I don't know. What do you think it should be?" I asked.
"Hmmm..... How about.... Jennifer?" He said.
"I don't know about that one." I told him.
"I think it's cute. Your nickname can be Jenni if you want it to." He told me.
I kept thinking about the nickname 'Jenni' in my head. It sounded short and cute. It kind of grew on me the more I thought about it.
"Let's go with Jenni. I like it." I told Software.
"Good. It's a cute name for a cute girl like you." He responded with.
"I am still not used to hearing that." I told him.
"It's fine. So do you want to be my sister and continue to live in the kingdom or do you want to be a new villager and move into a house with all the others." Software questioned me.
"I'm not sure.... Do I have to pay for my house and stuff?" I asked Software.
"Yes, you have to pay for housing, utilities, electricity, water..." Software mentioned before I cut him off.
"Guess you got a new sister. Jenni Wintergreen is officially moving in." I told him.
Software ran over and hugged my silky blue dress while repeatedly thanking me. I looked at him in the eyes and smiled. I hope I made the right decision in staying with Soft and being his 'sister'. Software then gave me a hug and then backed up.
"Never thought I would have a sister before but it's certainly something." He told me.
"Yeah, do you think we should tell Frosty? I don't think he would be as jealous of me if he sees me as a girl and as your sister." I questioned the arctic fox.
"I'll tell him you ran away but I found my long lost sister. Let's go and tell him!" Software said while grabbing my paw.
"Wait!" I told Soft while staying in the same spot. "I'm wearing the same blue dress. He will find it weird if I wear this in there."
"Good look out. I got a closet full of dresses. For you to wear. I will find something cute for you." Software said while walking down the stairs and into a room.
The room was two stories tall and had rolling ladders that extended all the way to the top of the racks. In the room was an orange colored mouse dressed in a suit who wore a monocle and an overall friendly look. He looked me up and down and then looked at Software.
"Who is this your majesty?" He asked.
"She is my sister sir. We are here to look for her a dress." Software responded with.
"Madame, it is nice to meet you. My name is Renolds and your name is?" He asked me while looking into my eyes.
"Jennifer but everyone calls me Jenni. It's nice to meet you sir." I told Renolds.
"Must I say, your dress right now is beautiful. It looks like something our king made for this one friend of his jay something..." Renolds told me.
I laughed at the comment and tried to bring attention to something else. "Software actually gave it to me but we are going to meet someone and I want something a little bigger and more colorful."
"Sure thing." He said before measuring my height, waist, and other parts of my body to determine a dress size. "Oh... I know a perfect dress for this."
The orange mouse then ran to the ladder and wheeled himself around the circular room. He climbed up the ladder and pulled out a dress that had a white base with blue, yellow, and pink splatters on it. He walked down and put the dress with its hanger in this machine. He typed in three numbers as the doors closed and reopened seconds later. The mouse then handed the dress to me.
"Try this on. It's already adjusted to your size Ms. Wintergreen." He said with a big smile on his face and a finger pointing to a wooden door.
I walked over to the door and walked into the room. It was a big dressing room. It didn't take me long to take my dress and necklace off and slide into the new dress I was handed. The sleeves were still short on this one but the bottom part of the dress was super inflated and actually covered my feet. I zipped up the dress and walked out of the dressing room. Software's eyes widened as a smile came across his face.
"You look so adorable Jenni!" Software told me when I walked out of the room.
"Thank you, I really like it... I forgot my other dress in the changing room. Hold on." I told Soft.
"I got it Ms. Wintergreen. Don't worry. Think of this as your new dress closet." Renolds told me.
"Oh okay. Thank you Renolds. I really appreciate it." I told the orange mouse.
"No problem, you look too beautiful to be doing work." He told me.
I blushed at the statement as Software grabbed my arm and led me to the staircase we were just at earlier in the day. We both walked up the stairs as I held my dress up with both my paws. We entered Frosty's room again where he still sat there and played games.
"Honey boo! I got someone I want you to meet." Software said in a happy tone.
"I already met J.J. today. What happened? Did he secretly bring kids along?" Frosty said sarcastically.
"No, I want you to meet my sister Jenni." Software said.
Frosty paused the game and turned around in his chair. "She looks nothing like you. Not even the same species."
"Well... This is actually J.J.. He wanted to become an animal and live with us so I let him use the ring and he turned into a female squirrel mouse hybrid. Isn't he, I mean she, adorable?" Software explained.
"Wait a second... So that's J.J.?" Frosty asked.
"Yup now in fluffy high definition color!" Software said as a joke.
"I... don't get it." Frosty said.
"It's a reference to the televisions of the old times like one-hundred plus years ago or something." Software told him.
"Squirrel boy thing, are you not going to avoid dating my boyfriend?" Frosty asked.
"Yes, me and Software are family now. Have him all to yourself." I told him.
"Good, I was worried about him leaving me for you paintball dress." Frosty told me once again.
"Why do you have to be rude to me? I literally am now a whole different species and gender from your boyfriend." I asked him.
"Oh, im sorry. Did I hurt the princess' feelings?" He said to me in a mocking tone.
"Use a spell or something. If you want him to be a better boyfriend to you then use your magic to make it happen.." I whispered to Soft.
"Good idea. Get him to turn around." Soft whispered back.
"What are you two talking about?" Frosty asked both of us.
"I was asking Software how far you've gotten in that game. I can't really tell from the pause menu." I told Frost while laughing.
He turned around and continued playing his game. Software's pink dress began to sparkle and flare up. A ball of glowing star shaped powder gathered in Soft's paws as he threw it at Frosty. It didn't even take a second before Frosty's attitude changed. He dropped his gaming controller, got up, and ran over to hug Software. He then let go of Soft and walked over to me.
"I'm sorry for what I said to you and I am sorry I made you mad. I hope you can forgive me." He told me as complete silence filled the room.
"Well... give me a hug and I'll consider it." I told the white and yellow arctic fox while laughing.
He picked me up and gave me a hug. Us three then left his room and talked for the rest of the night.