"Hephaustus!" Derrick looked toward the shout and saw a familiar-looking human approaching. It was male, young, very well muscled, and angry. The equitar shuffled uneasily, not liking the negative emotion. But he knew this human. It was one of the two that had started him off as a centaur! Derrick's memories were not gone, just filed away so that he had to struggle to access them.
The big centaur that had been working on him beamed. "Hello, Alex! Is he not magnificent? My best work yet!"
The young man snorted as he got close and looked Derrick over. "Yeah, he is a really magnificent beast of burden. Didn't you see how much work we put into his centaur form? He has divine blood!"
"Which I did not dilute a bit!" Hephaustus sounded proud rather than defensive. "He gave me permission to be creative - have you ever seen a more powerful, beautiful equine being? And he will stay this way! The Spa will get tremendous work from him that he will enjoy doing, and the guests will admire his beauty, year after year, centaury after century."
Derrick snuffled in Alex's direction, and then lipped at the young man's hair in a friendly manner. He remembered he liked this human. The human seemed annoyed at first, but then patted his muzzle and rubbed his neck. "But he is a dumb animal now!" The protest was not as angry.
"Not a dumb animal." Hephaustus snorted. "I could have made him into a complete animal, but he needs intelligence to follow orders, to understand and even enjoy his life."
Scowling Alex replied "How much intelligence? I bet he is not a whole lot better than a smart horse now. Does he even remember being Derrick?"
Derrick snorted and nudged Alex with his muzzle, then raised one of his muscular arms to stroke Alex's face the way the young man was rubbing his muzzle. Hephaustus grinned. "Derrick is still there, all the memories of his past. I made a few adjustments, added a few things to make is new life more comfortable. You know how modern humans get all fidgety and think manual labor is bad. I added knowledge and memories of working as a draft horse, made that kind of life pleasant. He is perfect - not only a powerful worker, but happy to be as he is."
It was true. Derrick was completely at ease for the first time that he could remember, content to stand here with the centaur and the human. Being an equitar was more than just natural, it felt right.
Alex frowned. "Look, if it was one of the other guests, I'd let it go. But this one got some of Apollo's fire. You have to at least make sure this is what he really wants. And I mean with a clear head, not the half-horse mentality you have given him."
This time it was the centaur who frowned. "I did nothing that he did not accept, or even ask for. You know I could not have made this change without his consent. And if I start to undo it, even partially, it could ruin this masterpiece!" He looked at Alex thoughtfully. "Though, if I had something else I wanted to try granted, I might be willing to reverse the mental changes, at least long enough for him to convince you this is what he wants."
Alex sighed. "The godling thing again? I am not going to let you turn me into one of your horses!"
"Not all the way!" Hephaustus protested. "Just a few parts. To see if my magic will work on a godling. Wouldn't it be fun to be literally hung like a horse? Or have a mane? Something different than your twin brother?"
Alex looked at the huge black equitar, thinking. "Nothing permanent? Just a test of what you can do?"
The centaur nodded. "Not permanent. Unless you end up liking the changes."
"OK. Do it. I agree." Alex held up a hand, which Hephaustus grabbed and squeezed. Agreement sealed, Hephaustus reached up to place a hand on Derrick's head, and willed the boy's human mentality to come forward. After a moment, Derrick blinked and twisted around to look at himself.
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