Leon batted at the sparkles floating round his head in obvious confusion, then froze when he caught site of the golden-furred paws that were now his hands. He yelped, the sound a short growl, and jumped back to bang against the wall. He stared down at himself. The skinny teen was now a sleek, muscular lion-morph, obviously mature and powerful. Golden eyes stared from a head almost fully animal, and a tufted tail twitched behind him. Leon turned to see his reflection in a dresser mirror and then gave a short growl as he recoiled again. However, after a moment he moved closer and began to examine himself. "Holy crap!" The former boy's voice was deeper and rumbling, and even that startled the boy. He was probably the equivalent of 20 now, and his exotic, beautiful appearance would be powerfully attractive to both females and males. That included Leon himself, who stared at his reflection for another minute before he finally remembered the djinn.
He turned back to Alibaba, now looking amazed instead of scared. The djinn had given the boy a mental tweak as well, adding some of the dominant lion nature and a touch of confidence from added maturity. He was tired of smelling piss. "Does this form please you, my young master?"
"It's amazing!" Leon glance down at himself and back at the mirror, then looked back at Alibaba. "But I didn't wish for this. I mean, it's incredible, but I can't go out like this! People will think I am a freak."
"You are free to go anywhere you like and will find only admiration from your fellow humans. And fear not for your wishes. I have done this as a ... gift... to help you believe in my power and ability." Alibaba smiled, finding some amusement at calling this a gift. Leon was already more concerned about being able to be seen than the actual change itself. And in truth, the boy was no longer human. It would be easy to manipulate this one. "But since you find the form offensive, I will restore your former appearance." He raised a hand.
"No!" Leon's roar startled them both. "Sorry! I didn't mean.. please. Please don't change me back yet." The boy ran a paw-hand over his sleek golden fur and felt his muzzle. "So, I can really go out like this and no one will freak? They won't think I'm some weird lion and throw me in a cage or shoot me?"
More acceptance. Alibaba smiled again. "You will be admired, respected, and lusted after. Humans will see you as a unique and beautiful hybrid. Born lions will accept you, should you wish to try being a true beast. Go forth, my young master! I will come with you. This will be amus... interesting for me. I have not used my powers quite this way in millennia."
The djinn could see curiosity burning in the golden eyes. It took only a few moments for Leon to decide and head for the door. "I gotta try this! Maybe I've lost my mind, but it's a great delusion." He left the bedroom and looked around the rest of the small apartment. "Mom's still at work. And my little brother has baseball practice. No one here to see if this is real or..." He frowned, his gaze returning to a bookcase crowded with what appeared to be family photos. A frown wrinkled the lion's furry forehead and he moved closer to confirm what the djinn already knew.
The framed pictures were a mix of mostly three individuals at different ages, grouped and alone. A blonde-haired woman, plain but not unattractive, a brown-haired boy who looked about 12 in the most recent picture, and Leon - as a lion morph. From a shot of a humanoid lion cub in a crib, to what might be school portraits from elementary and junior high, to a recent group picture, the images chronicled the birth and growth of a lion morph, not a human.
"Oh, shit." Just then, there was a rattle of the door being unlocked, and it swung open to reveal...