Maximus had been waiting for this for a while. The last time they chrysalized wasn't fun, so it was mostly just them hyping themselves up to actually hunker down and do it.

And, of course, taking care of their piglet.

"There's food, water, and toys for you to play with while I'm gone," they said, rearranging everything around where they planned to chrysalize, having gathered up furs and mosses to make a soft bed, "I'll be back in around two weeks, alright?"

They'd mutated before, albeit due to Master Vargas doing it for them, but they'd heard stories of others growing mutations out of the blue for no discernable reason. Surely if they thought about it hard enough, they'd be able to mutate too.

@Porkchop

Porkchop huffed.

Well, he had to admit that sleeping in a rock for two weeks was tempting. Maybe he'd have done it himself, if the specific way one entered the rock wasn't so... off-putting. But there was no way he was getting over how he'd chrysalized last time anytime soon, and besides, you couldn't eat when you were asleep. Just thinking about how many sweet berries would have ripened and rotted or been picked off by birds was enough to deter Porkchop. This piglet believed in preventing food waste, thank you very much.

But he supposed Max could go nap if they wanted. They'd explained to him their reasons, which had made a lot of sense at the time, although it seemed less and less worth it as the time approached to actually go to sleep. "You sure?" Porkchop tried again, bumping his snout against one of Max's legs. "You're not purple, and that's good enough for me. But if you are sure--"

He puffed up his chest, prancing in a circle around the moss bed. "I'll take great care of everything while you're napping!! I'm going eat SO many berries, and grow so big and strong that you'll be shocked when you wake up! And then, no one will DARE to even THINK about beating us up!"

Porkchop sniffed, running back and throwing himself down to lay beside the moss bed. "There's no bananas growing here, though. Can you make some for me? Those are my favorite."

@Maximus

Max looked down at the child they'd adopted, expression soft. There was no expression of disdain or exhaustion from explaining, but they knew Porkchop would never understand their reasoning. Not really.

"I may not be purple but... I can't help but look at myself in my reflection and see his eyes on my face," they said softly, looking away, "I must admit that this is mostly selfish. I don't want to be a monster anymore, I want to feel like myself."

They looked on in amusement as Porkchop danced around the bed, so proud of his little piglet. Of course he'd protect them and take care of everything. They had no doubt in his abilities.

"I trust you," they said, lowering themselves to all fours in order to bump their soft nose against his head affectionately.

After a moment they sat on their haunches and prepared their magic, humming an affirmative at his request. Of course they'd summon his favorite bananas! There wouldn't be a day they wouldn't- or couldn't.

A small yellow fruit materialized in their hand, long and curved as a banana should be, albeit a little smaller than normal. But that was magic, misbehaving when you didn't want it to.

"Here you go," they said, "I'll make a couple, but you have to promise me not to pick fights. Not real ones, anyway, even I like to have a good scuffle now and again for fun. But no blood should be spilled if you can help it... and make some friends, Porkchop. I don't want you to only have me to talk to."

Concern laced their expression as they reached out to touch their son with a hand, ears falling. After a moment they turned to their familiar, who faithfully waited next to them, black eyes looking up at them with curiosity.

"Make sure he isn't lonely without me, would you?", Max asked the windhopper, petting his back affectionately, "Nibbles will play with you if you ask, just make sure you aren't too rough. He's a little more delicate than the hares around here."

@Porkchop

Porkchop twitched his snout. "Monsters are cool if I like them," he whispered to himself. Then, louder: "Fine. Sleep good. I'll have enough fun for both of us!" Porkchop grinned, closing his eyes as Maximus bumped his forehead. He wouldn't let Maximus' trust down!

The piglet's eyes lit up as Maximus summoned his favorite fruit for him. "Thank youuuu!" he squealed, in the manner an elementary class might chorus to a classmate who brought cupcakes. "Yeahyeah! Of course I promise! No more Deathmatches! I hated that anyway! Mm, and friends! I promise to make the best friends!"

Starting with... this one! Porkchop leaned down, nudging Nibbles playfully with his snout. "Heya, Nibbles," he laughed. "We're gonna be the best of friends! And make a bunch more bestest friends too!" He looked back up at Maximus, beaming. "See? We got this!"

@Maximus

Maximus summoned another banana, this one bigger. He set it down for the piglet and went to curl up in the nest they'd made, circling around once, twice, then sitting down.

"Alright... have fun, Porkchop," they said softly, offering one last loving nuzzle, "I love you."

Nibbles sniffed in Max's direction before turning to Porkchop, standing on his hind legs to sniff at the other before springing away and looking back at the piglet. He wanted to play!

"Go on," Max encouraged, setting his head down and yawning, "See you later, dears."

Nibbles hopped towards the mouth of the cave, looking back to make sure Porkchop was following. He stared at Max for a moment, nose twitching before turning away, unconcerned. They would be fine.

@Porkchop

Porkchop blinked and nuzzled Maximus back. "I know," he said simply, in the way only children could. And then: "I love you too."

He wiggled his curly tail at Max's have fun and grinned at Nibbles' antics. It was all the encouragement he needed to go scampering off into Pisces, tossing a "Yup!" over his shoulder and filled with so much enthusiasm he made little hops into the air as he ran. "C'mere, Nibbles! Race you to the-- whoa!" Porkchop faltered for a moment as a hoof slipped on the damp cave floor, barely staying balanced, but the whole thing only seemed to make him grin wider. "To the berry vines!" he laughed, with an oink somehow making its way into the laughter.

@Maximus

gore

Max watched them go, ears perked forward. They waited until Porkchop had disappeared fully before pressing knife-like claws against their own throat. It would be swift, but not painless. Max was used to pain, though.

They hesitated, their pulse throbbing against their fingers, reluctant to harm themselves even though they knew that it would be temporary, that this pain would be worth the transformation. They closed their eyes and breathed slow, ears pinning.

gore

In... out... in... out...

Maximus inhaled sharply and pressed their claws to their neck again, heart pounding in their ears. One cut was all it would take, then oblivion.

Finally they did it, one quick movement and then toxic green blood splattered beneath them. They choked and bleated in pain, but it had worked. As they lost consciousness their chrysalis rose around them, the stinging scent of their blood the only thing left as they were engulfed.

@Porkchop for vis, gm tagging

When Maximus awakens, they will find something changed with the Oilstone in their mouth: a jagged piece has sheared off and fallen away, and will be spat out when they emerge. This chunk is small, non-magical, and leaves a slightly smoother area in its wake.

Fracture - Gemstone fractures and may lose a piece of itself.

@Maximus