In the end, we all decided that we should hold off with any more feats of competition, deciding we really should wait until Liz has changed back.
For the rest of the day, Amanda, Maddi and I spent our time playing with Liz, swimming and, later on, going to the movies. Afterward, we have a sleep-over at Amanda's house, camping outside in the backyard so Liz doesn't feel left out.
Lying under the stars, listening to everyone sleep, I eventually get up to use the bathroom, still uncomfortable with the current change my body was going through. Exiting back out of the house, I am surprised to see that Liz was still awake, and currently at the moment investigating a series of bushes along the house.
Lying back down on my sleeping bag, I look up at the stars once again, thinking about the day that had just passed and how I regressed back to the age of twelve and one of my best friends became a dog.
After a bit, Liz plodded over and lying down, she quietly yipped, "I can still smell that you are awake. Can I talk to you about something?"
Rolling over, I raised myself up and propping my head on my hand, I asked what it was she wanted to talk about. Rolling over, exposing her underside, which I noticed had six teats running across her chest, Liz shifted about as itching some part of her back. Feet up in the air, I almost laughed at the position she was in. Instead, I reached out and scratched her tummy.
Growling gently with pleasure, Liz eventually flipped back over and standing up, she yipped at me, "Let's go for a walk."
Looking down at the white t-shirt I was wearing, the shorts, wondering where it was I put my sandals, I instead stood up and deciding to forgo the footwear, I told her quietly, "Okay...but only around the block."
Bounding back and forth, Liz took off for the edge of the property and the fence. Looking at Amanda and Maddi, I figured that they were such heavy sleepers they would never notice I had left.
Walking across the yard, I opened the back gate and stepped out into the overgrown alleyway. Liz, meanwhile darted about, sniffing at one thing after another, squatting down to piddle in a couple places. And when we finally reached the street, Liz calmed down a bit and together we walked.
As we walked around the block, Liz slowly explained that what she wanted was for me to make it so that she was permanently a dog and always had been...and that everyone had always known her as a dog named Duchess. Her reasoning for this was that ever since her transformation, she felt freer and that she finally belonged somewhere.
Unsure, I listened quietly, commenting every once and awhile, playing the devil's advocate. When we finally reached the spot we had started, I squatted down in front of Liz and asked, "What about your parents? And who would own you?"
Liz cocked her head to the side and then after a moment, she placed a paw on my knee and explained, "My parents probably don't even remember me and have most likely forgotten me when I originally made the wish...And as for who would own me...well I was kind of hoping it would be you, Stephanie," and then she lolled her tongue out and gave me a sort of doggy grin.
Sitting down, glad that I was using a tampon instead of one of those bulky pads that had been purchased earlier from the vending machine, I looked at Liz and then asked her, "You're sure this is what you want?"
Liz yipped and then asked, "Could you make the wish? I am not sure how I should put it into words."
Looking down at her, realising suddenly that she was indeed happier then I had ever seen, I closed my eyes and placing my hand inside the pocket of my shorts, I grasp the amulet and make the wish...failing to hear Liz add that she was immortal and only one and a half years old.
Satisfied, both Liz and I head back and lying down, I resume staring at the stars while Liz lay down next to me.
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In the morning, I hastily head for the bathroom, an idea forming in my head. As I use the bathroom, I fiddle with the amulet and after a bit, I wish that Amanda, Maddi and I have all been friends since we had met each other in kindergarten when we were five.
Finished, I exit the bathroom and wandering back outside, I posse to my friends, and Liz...whom I still can understand, even though Maddi and Amanda can not...an idea for the next competition.
As they gather round, I explain, "I have an idea. The next competition we engage in, we up the stakes a bit. We have already regressed back to the age of twelve...but how about this? Whoever wins chooses one person of the group and either regresses them back to a younger age or Progresses them forward...and to be fair, nothing younger than six and nothing older than thirty."
Looking at the other two, I wait for their answers.