Zuldana

It was a strange little shop, in an out of the way place. Zuldana's Wish shop, it was called. You weren't sure why you'd come there exactly, but it seemed right. Just as it seemed it seemed right that you went in and, somehow, felt right, too, that you saw her in front of you. She was a strange combination of rat and human. Strange and beautiful. Her fur was white, her hair was black and her black dress did everything to reveal impressive breasts and wide thighs.

"Welcome to Zuldana's Wish shop," the rat woman said, spreading her arms. And, for the first time, your attention was brought to the store all around you. All sorts of strange things lined the shelves, in a seemingly random arrangement, some you recognized, most you didn't. "I am Zuldana, of course, and you have a wish."

You were surprised, of course, by many things, but also by her words. You didn't have a wish, or at least, not the powerful sort she seemed to imply, and you said as much. "Everyone has a wish," she replied, "especially those who pass through these doors. Come."

Zuldana led you into the shop, down a corridor which you could have sworn would have put you into another building. She led you to where a large golden mirror was waiting. Placing a finger on it, she pulled it out all too easily. "Look into it," she told you. "It will reveal all."

You did as Zuldana said, stepping into the mirror and what you saw in it was her! Well, it looked like her, but it moved like you. "Oh, it's me you want? That's sweet, truly, but it's not quite right, is it?" Zuldana asked as she moved behind the mirror. With a small tap of one finger, she tilted it over, so that it started to fall on you.

You lifted your hands to catch the mirror, of course, reflexively, but when they touched the surface, rather than stopping it, they went through it, feeling different on the other side, changed. Your head was next and felt even stranger, stretching and pulling as fur covered it, fur which swiftly moved to the rest of your body as the mirror, passing over you, gave you large breasts, a thin waist, wide hips and a long tail, just like Zuldana, as well as covering you with a very revealing black dress, matching hers. In fact, you knew, without even looking, that you looked exactly like Zuldana. All except your feet. The mirror had stopped in mid-air just before hitting the ground, leaving your feet still unchanged. Maybe, if you had pulled the mirror up, passed through it the other way, you could have returned to yourself. Instead, you pulled them out, one at a time, feeling them turn into Zuldana's black-clawed feet.

Zuldana smirked as you placed your second foot back onto the ground. "The mirror never lies," she said. You knew that, of course. Knew she was right, that you had wanted just this, so strongly and so deeply that you never realized that you had wanted it. You knew a lot of things, in fact. Knowledge and memories filled your mind. Zuldana's memories. You were Zuldana. "Not quite," Zuldana said. "You're still you, your unique self is still there, but you're also one of us. Not the Zuldana, but a Zuldana. And, no, I can't read your mind, but I know what you're thinking, because I thought the same when I went through the mirror and when my predecessor said to me the same things that I am telling you now. And so, I know exactly what you plan on doing the moment I leave you alone. Don't worry, I did the same and more. It is... customary to close the shop for the day when a new owner is found. I think you know why. And now, I must go. Enjoy yourself, Zuldana. Enjoy your new life, I doubt that we will see each other again."

And so, she left. Left for the door, you knew, the door which only would open once for each of you, a door which would lead her to another place, another world, maybe, where she would open a shop of her own. This shop, of course, was yours now, a shop of wishes, where ironic punishments and delightful rewards were handed equally. And one day, when someone special would come to replace you. But not this day. This day, you would take that day of rest, just as Zuldana had suggested. With a gesture from you, the mirror lifted and righted itself, so that you could look at yourself as you let the revealing dress fall at your feet.

And far away, echoed through the corridors, Zuldana smiled as she heard the faint echoes of your first squeak of pleasure. She smiled, knowing that you would have a very good day indeed, the first day of a very enjoyable and very interesting life.