For  kitsunekit Birthday, thought I would try and make him a new setting for his zapper, but it ends up being a little more Meta than I planned. Still I think he had a fun day, and still managed to give him some surprises. Hope he has a wonderful birthday!

Many Guest Appearances!
 kitsunekit
 firr
 shadow2
 duncan
 kuma
 quinn
 alkali
 macroceli
 kingdead

Thumbnail art:  kitsunekit Gotta see that tool in action!
See source of it here

The Zapper of Narrative Importance
A side room of a large condo buzzed with the sound of hard drives spinning, computer fans cooling, and the click clack of paws on a keyboard. Frost was busy working on a new open source program for all zapper models to use. His painted tail twitched as he eliminated the last few bugs of this build, excited as he sent the code to the compiler. The grey and blue wolf had some software experience from his various odd jobs, but his creativity helped him think of the crazy ideas and how to stick them together.
He had called his friend Kit over to test it, since he had a very modular Zapper that he could upload the program to, and also a test subject if that Orange Fox was willing. He looked over the program one more time as he muted his music, needing the extra focus to make sure everything would go smoothly.
There was some borrowed code from other projects, but he always did his best to understand how they worked. Misunderstood code was the quickest way to end up no bigger than the electronic bits and bytes that traveled the motherboard. There was some reality altering algorithms, some performance enhancifiers, but most importantly his own created ‘Importance Modifier’. It was an algorithm he had stumbled onto to make data higher priority so it was given more resources, but Frost was now ready to test if there was a way to apply it to people as well.
The build had about 83% progress when the doorbell rang. Not needing to babysit the process, Frost headed over to his front door, quickly swing it open and seeing the blue shirted orange fox waiting outside.
"Did someone order a high-quality zapper?" Kit held up his NES style zapper gun with a bit of dramatic flair, it even glowing green a little from a recent full charging. To anyone else it might look like this Fox just wanted to play some NES games, but Frost knew about the mods installed, and the mayhem that thing was capable of, and he was about to make it worse…err…. better.
"Yeah, but it wasn't under 30 minutes, so is it free?" Frost added in, giving both of them a chuckle as they head to his room. He led his foxy friend to a large reclining chair next to his desk, and pointed out the docking station for the zapper on his desk, "Just slide that bad boy in there and we can give this a go."
Kit gave his favorite toy a smooch before placing it in the station "Take good care of her, or she will bite~" He warned, his wolf friend responding with a nervous nod. The Zapper synced to his computer, and a file system opened up. The installed systems were…heavily password protected and some displaying only indecipherable runic symbols.
"You will have to tell me where you get these programs sometime." Frost added in, looking for any open folders. He did find one labeled test but, knowing the things a verified program can do, he decided to stay away from the untested stuff, and just made his own Folder labeled 'Frost Project'.
With the destination in place, the upload began. "Alright, once it's done, that zapping mode should be under Frost_Project_V0.9"
Kit was just about to open up his maw and ask how long it would take, but a completion ding answered his question faster than he could get it out. "Looks like the zapper is just eager to give this a go as you are, but you have yet to fully explain what this will do."
Frost took the zapper off the dock, searching for the program on its display, "Well, I know you like making this big and small, but this is a little different. In a sense, the program will make them more and less important, which miiight come with size too? I mean, figuring those things out is the point of a test."
Frost found the file and loaded it up, the familiar green glow now turning blue, a personal flourish to tell the modes apart, "Also, I hard coded you as the target to prevent any chain event zaps, so even if this does turn you into a dragon, it won't turn all foxes into dragons" Frost spoke with a bit of experience, but that story best for another day.
Kit crossed his arms, "Well, I don't like being forced to be the guinea pig, but it is your work. Best you remain unaltered should you need to fix it if anything goes wrong." He then got a bit of a smirk, "My payment however will be.... after you finish your basic tests, we crank it to the highest setting and see if I become a really big deal"
Frost gulped at this offer, he had a few scenarios modeled but nothing that far. Still his math checked out… so it should be fine, "Yeah…sure, just promise when you get so huge and important, you remember the little guys along the way." Frost winked to him, holding up the zapper, "Just a quick trip down, but then all other tests will be up and up."
Kit nodded, closing his eyes though wincing slightly. Frost kept one eye open, and with a click of the trigger a beam of blue light traveled to the fox….
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BACKGORUND CHARACTER
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Frost looked over at his Lab assistants, a simple animal pen with a fox, a rabbit, and a skunk running around. He loved that his work let him play with animals, even if sometimes he used them for his experiments. Still he always made sure to watch their reactions strongly, and if they were ever in distress, he made sure to tend to their needs. Today's day of experiments was already under way, but it was easy to get lost watching them run around.
"You guys are so cute…almost made me forget what I was doing." Frost looked to his computer, seeing his notes on the zapper his was testing, and his schedule to try it out with the animals, "Oh right, I just downgraded…one of you. I think."
Frost remembered his code involved some reality altering, which meant heavy note taking and in reality proof ink.
“Um, do you guys remember who went first?” all the question got him was some confused head turns. While the pets were smart, he was the scientist, and figuring this out was his problem. "I really should have written down my first test subject, um…oh I know" Frost got a sudden idea and he head into the animal pen containing all the fluffy boys.
Each of the animals came over for a hug, showing others how loyal they were to the kind Scientist. Firr the skunk always the fastest, poofing up his tail to try and keep the others away. Luckily the other two knew this was all for show and he would not spray them, so they bound over just a little behind him. Poh the rabbit jumped into Frosts lap as he took a seat, and Kit the fox rubbed into his side.
After petting each of them once, Frost found the answer he was looking for. "Kit, you are so warm…bet you are the one I am looking for" Frost smiled, praising his own deduction. Changing reality is much like changing a lightbulb, the best way to tell if someone was the center of a change was how warm they were. Clearly, he had downgraded Kit, but still wasn't sure from what. Still he had his next target, and wrote some notes about his findings as he enjoyed a few more moments of fluff.
"Okay boys, we have a bit more science to do!" Frost slowly stood up as the animals backed away, Firr being lazy and heading to a corner, while Poh played with a toy. Kit stayed the closest to the edge of the pen closest to the desk, almost aware he would be needed soon.
Frost got back to his working area, double checked his notes one more time, and grabbed the zapper. He flipped the main mode from downgrade to upgrade, and looked over to his eager seeming target. "See you soon important fox" With another blue light the beam hit the fox ….
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SIDE CHARACTER
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Kit lounged back in the comfortable chair, "Anthro is waaay better, don't you think Frost?"
Frost looked over to his friend in the chair, not sure what he meant, "Um sure, one second" He looked over his notes, seeing the marks left by another universe, about the science lab and the test animals, "Oh wow…wait do you remember that place?"
Kit twisted his ears, biting his lip a little, "Mostly, it's always hard to remember stuff in feral form though. I just remember being another animal in your lab. Guess I was less important huh, not even the only animal you had to test on. But you did keep your word and got me back here."
Frost was a little embarrassed, "Sorry, my sloppy note taking got you a little nervous, but I always watch over my friends. Also, there is a failsafe to reset things after 10 minutes, I made sure to keep you safe."
Kit nodded, "Well let's see if we need those same safeties, with a bit of an upgrade" He raised his eyebrows, and Frost nodded with a smile, glad he was still willing to give this a go.
Frost wrote his notes about this reality, and put a star next to it to denote it as the original universe, with the note 'Probably' and took another shot at the fox with that special beam ….
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MAIN ADVERSARY
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Frost sat in the board room of his company, midway through the presentation of his new zapper technology. There were some of the higher ups in suits, Kuma the Bear, and Duncan the Green Kangaroo, but none got his heart beating faster than the CEO of it all, Von Zapper.
He looked down expecting to find the cue cards for what to say next, but all that was there were the notes of some other reality. They were not going to help him right now, "So as you can see…" He gulped, having to wing it, "The reality we are in now…is the one…we are in…now" He bit his lip at the absurdity, even hearing a pity laugh from one of the suits. But those were quickly silenced with a wave of the Fox's hand.
"You know what? Most would think you are crazy…but here, crazy is what I am looking for" The Fox took a seat in his chair, leaning back far in it, two high quality zappers on the desk in front of him, famously used on any of the inventor's ideas he doesn't like.
All of Frost's work had been building to this moment, so to hear him approving of the idea brought him the greatest relief. He felt as accomplished as any knight destroying an evil dragon, or hero clearing out a dark tower, at least until the next words out of the supervillain's maw, “Now how is this going to put us ahead of King Corp?”
Frost shivered, he used to work for Von Zappers main rival, something his boss always liked to loom over him as deadlines approached. King Corp was the darling of the public’s eye, but their office culture left much to be desired. Frost had been fired for his extreme ideas, and was lucky to find a place in VonZapper Inc. Despite most people calling him a villain, Frost knew VonZapper cared for his people, almost as much as he cared for his big ideas, but still!
“Well the next zap, up, if my calculations are correct, should make you even bigger, more important, control over a very large group. I am sure if while you are in that reality, you make some power moves, everyone will be looking up to us...to you for a while.”
VonZapper cracked his knuckles, “Well I am never one to leave a growth opportunity on the table, so hit me and let's see.” Some of the other board members seemed a little nervous, hands on their own zappers if anything went wrong, but what the boss said is what goes.
Frost had to use two hands to steady his aim, ready for the most important part of his presentation, as the zapper let out another blue light….
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PROTAGONIST
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Kit adjusted the strap on his party hat, looking out over his birthday celebration. He was happy his special day could give out such a large amount of joy, even if it came from some rather little guests. The entirety of the party was currently sitting rather nicely on his dinner table.
He knew the easiest way to entertain his rather long friend list was with a healthy bit of shrinking. Every guest got reduced to a good 6 inches tall after coming in through his front door, with complimentary paw ride to the main festivities over her. With only a few cupcakes, a single can of coke, and a leftover piece of pizza, he would now have enough supplies for three parties.
While he could go down and join them, Kit had the most fun lording over them with a smirk. It was his day to be in charge, and it was going to be clear for the rest of the festivities. Some of the previously larger guests were a little huffy to be mingling with the littles, but the tiny party games kept spirits high. Kit made sure to provide only the highest quality entertainment from barbie play sets, as well as some blocks for those wanting to really feel how small they have become.
He thought about setting up a chess board and playing some Sona chess, but he knew his pieces simply would not cooperate without some immobillity zaps, and he didn't want to interrupt the festivities just yet! While he mused over those thoughts, he did notice one area of the party that demanded his attention.
Kit found the source of the noise near the punch bowl, Alkaki the meerkat and Quinn the raccoon having a heated argument over their methods of size stability. At their size Kit could only hear the louder parts of the arguments, but they were making a scene, and decided the large host needed to step in. With a delicate and hefty pair of paws Kit reached carefully over the other party guests, and snatched up these two rowdy boys by their next scruff.
As they dangled gently, Kit gave them both a firm look, and spoke with a deep authority, "Now boys, while I always enjoy a good debate, today is for celebrating, not arguing." He moved them up even higher, the pair of them raised right next to one of his eyes, "You are both going to be good party guests, and apologize to each other, understand?"
While both of his guests are used to dealing with large companions, the reminder of it being Kits special day helped quickly put them in their place, nodding in agreement to the large vulpine.
"Sorry Kit" Alkaki stated
"Yeah sorry, I'll save the stories for later" Quinn smiled, the argument seeming much less important when they had the large important Fox watching over them today.
Kit was happy for their apology, but needed just a little more. He moved both of them back to the table, but kept his paws behind both of them, "Hug and make up, now" He instructed, his paws preventing them from escaping. They both tried to resist a moment, Kit feeling a meerkat tail back into his barrier. After that bump into the fox's paw pads, the pair seemed to accept their fate, and slowly embraced one another with a bit of Grumbles. Kit grinned and brought his paws together, making their embrace even tighter for just a few seconds, making sure not to press too hard. Once he let go, they quickly pulled apart, a little red from how their embrace became a little more intimidate than they planned, both scurrying back to the party.
Kit looked back to the festivities, and saw a familiar site standing on top of a pair of stacked blocks. Frost the wolf was waving to his large host, trying to get his attention. Frost had been the one to help set up the party, so Kit was curious what he had to share, leaning in to hear what he had to say a little better.
"Hey Kit, glad you are enjoying the party, and I think everyone here is too." Kit saw the little wolf pull out a spare zapper, "But I have a promise, a gift to share with you, just one more birthday zap, ready to try?"
Kit pondered his options, he couldn't imagine being any more important than the host of a big party like this, but the curiosity quickly lead his decision, "Well if you say there is more to try, I am game"
Frost could tell by the grin on his face that the Fox tail was swaying behind him, and was ready to give this last gift. He pointed the zapper up at the giant, loaded up a blue beam, and sent the shot out, it taking just a little while longer to reach its target....
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AUTHOR
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Huh?
Why did the story stop
Oh its continuing, but
All its saying is what I am thinking
Its not even my character saying it!
Did the zapper make me...
Umm...
Am I the Narrator of this story now?
I guess that is the most important person to a story
To a universe even
The one that controls the pen
Though I am a bit more used to drawing...
Okay Okay let's see what I can do
Umm
So Frost would be...ummm...
Somewhere
doing something...
Ohh but he should be a fox!
Yes, he did um...
a thing and it made him a Fox
uhh uhhhh
Ohh he is at a park yeah
He made a wish
To be a fox
Wait no, not just him
He wished everyone to be a fox!
The beeeest wish
Ohh and short foxes too
Except the ones that were already foxes
They get to be the tall ones
This is the best story
Saved!
Now erm, how do I get back...
Oh wait, Frost said it should only last ten minutes
Um...but how do I sense the flow of time here?
Let me try
The Ten Minutes Passed in a Flash
ohh ohh and then there was another blue Flash!....
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REVERTING TO NORMAL
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Fwrerst lioirk....Sorry reader, had to get my larger keyboard made for fox paws, not even sure why I have that smaller keyboard. Anyways, um...
Frost looked over to his tall fox friend sitting on the chair, "The timer just went off, a pretty high chance reality is back to normal, Yip" Frost said with his cute high-pitched voice. He looked over his notes, wanting to double check everything was good, but soon a large figure came up behind him.
The large pair of paws closed his notebook, and grinned down at him, "We can review things later, but how about we have some fun first. Let's go somewhere with lots of people, I want to see..." Kit trailed off, getting a grin.
Frost jumped out of his chair, finding his eyes around chest height to his big friend, just as things should be. "Ohh some fox watching? I might know a good place" Frost's big tail poofed up with excitement, "I juuuust need to grab my jacket from the living room" He said starting to head out of the room.
Kit leaned over to the desk, grabbing his zapper and flicking it back to familiar settings, it whirring up with a familiar green light. "Thanks for the fun adventure today" Kit whispered as he returned it to the hostler, thinking all the surprises were done for the day. He did think something was up with the way Frost's tail continued to stay poofed up as he headed out to the darkened living room.
"Let me find the light switch..." Frost called out in the darkness, standing on his toes to flip it...
"SUPRIZE" A loud series of barks and yips called out, Frost's living room was filled nearly to the brim with colorful fox shorties. All the curious characters Kit had run into throughout the universes were here to celebrate, and all of them quite vulpine and all about a foot under the birthday boy.
He looked out, seeing ones that were white, green, purple, brown, even one with a green jacket. Nice little fox boyfriend, shrinking foxes, growing foxes and also superhero foxes. They all were a wonderful little site, all cutely puffed up that their little surprise was a success.
Frost's tail swayed the most, "Heh totally got you, thought I had forgotten, didn't you? Just had to distract you with a little experiment while all the boys set up" Kit could see some of the step stools needed to set up everything, food, decorations and games set out for a fun party.
While the surprise was wonderful, Kit enjoyed the times with his friends the most, no matter their shape or size. He stretched out his arms a little bit, ready to give each and every one a good hug and lift off the ground, starting with the blue painted fox first that quickly found himself airborn.
"Thanks for the wonderful day, and an exciting night ahead." Kit set his friend down, wondering who to greet first, heading over to the fox, the fox, and no one can forget the fox....
THE END