CHAPTER 7: Shadow Dragon
 Aaron's teacher, Miss Devalot, was not hard to convince when all was said and done. She was in full agreement with Sora, and indeed she felt that the way demis were made into cattle was wrong.
 She also knew it was perfectly legal, unfortunetly. She knew it was established that, because of their violent actions, they were given the Rights of the Conquered established by universal law. In the law it was stated that a vanquished race had rights only granted by the supreme leaders, and at present they were still trying just to rebuild the world. So it was safe, therefore, to establish that no actual rights had been established and they culd be treated legally in any way the fursons wanted. They were food, cattle, toys, slaves, pets, whatever word that was available at the time. As such however they could be bought and sold, not just according to buisness practices lke the pizza boy willingly was, but also as actual livestock. Which meant there was a standard rate.
 Hence the idea Sora had.
 "So, let me get this stright." The teacher said with a slight glasses adjustment, the massive green dragon looking at the two from her home under the school. As was expected her home was covered in jewels and gold, a sort of side effect from the dragon whose body literally converted waste material from eating into gold and precious stones.After cleaning it served as the perfect matress for adragon, nice and soft on a hard, scaly body. "You want a portion of my horde to buy his mom as your own, and in exchange I can eat him as much as I want until I am full? You do realize how much that might be?"
 Aaron stepped forward. "I'll do anything to have my mom back."
 Miss Devalot smiled. "Well I for one am glad to help. happy meals is a nice place mind you, and I do agree he treats his livestock well for the most part. But he is in the wrong here. To keep a mother and her son apart is like keeping a hotdog from the bun, or whipped cream from pie, or... dare I say it... meat from the grill."
 Sora and the dragon both shuddered at the prospect of raw beef. Ick.
 "I will sell a meal of this boy for two gemstones each time I eat him."
 Sora blinked. That would be... a FORTUNE! "Really?"
 "HOWEVER..." The dragon said, snorting a little flame. "Any change left from buying the girl must be returned to me."
 Sora nodded. "Agreed. Aaron..."
 "And one more thing." The dragon said, chuckling. "Since you like wearing dresses so much... the whole time your with me... you have to wear this."
 Aaron went wide eyed as a chest was opened, revealing a pink dress just his size, the boy blushing intesnsely. "Oh my..."
 "So we still have a deal?" The dragon asked, licking her chops.
 "Y---y---y-------y------yes." Aaron finally said, tkaing the poofy dress, making him look a bit like the princess of deer. Sora snickered a little at the sight.
 "Excellent. Now then, gt in the cage and we will fatten you up."
 Aaron did as he was told, climbing into the cage and letting it lock behind him as he sat there. He did not know how long it would take but he would do whatever it took.
 "Hang in there mom." He said to himself.
 *********
 Mina sighed. In her barn, she watched out at the night sky. She missed her son and the antics at school, and it showed in how she no longer wanted to be food anymore. What her owner had done had made what could have been a good situation into a bad one. It was clear usually it was as his staff was seen playing games with the other kids or reading them stories. Problem was that this time she was not seen as a kid or a person but as a simple bit of meat. She missed her son, and now she wanted him no matter what.
 And like many who do not see the forest for the trees all he saw was that she was not making money and wanting her "son". BAH! Why should he have her go to him! He ruined her, and now he risks losing his meal ticket, especially given the deal he was about to make. He sighed as he walked into her room in the barn.
 "Alright Mina. I am giving you one last chance. The leader of the town herself is going to be here and wants a fresh bunny for her larder. The deal is massive, about ten million in gold."
 "But... I'll...."
 "Oh no you don't." The pig said angrily. "Up until that stray Aaron showed up you have enjoyed this. You are NOT going to ruin this deal. So I will be frank. Either you will agree to be her new slave, or I will be forced to take drastic measures."
 Mina turned to him angrily. "Why are you doing this?! What do you have against me being with my son? What did he do to you?"
 The pig sighed. "When did it matter what he or you did? You are MINE. My bunny. My Demi. Mine. Mine. MINE. I own you. You belong to ME. And if you think some DNA test will change my mind think again. I don't care one iota for your history as a human. Humans are dead. Gone. EXTINCT. Demis are all that remain, a race of beings meant to be our food. And food you will be."
 Mina whimpered. "But... you were so nice to me before..."
 The pig sighed. "So... we are back to that again. I was nice to you because you seemed to accept your role like all the others. I thought I could avoid doing what I did to them to you."
 Mina blinked. But the pig continued.
 "I hope it will not be neccessary to show what wouldhappen if I am wrong."
 The pig walked out of the room and returned to the vidphone. In it was a rather high class looking bear, dressed in a white gown.
 "Forgive me, but it seems she does not want to see you." The pig said sadly. "But I hope the images I showed will convince you."
 The bear smiled. "More than. She will be a fine addition to my larder and an excellent ingredient for my honey cakes. Consider the offer of ten million agreed to. I will be by in three days to pick her up. See to it that by then she is fattened up, as I intend to serve her to my daughter. She just arrived from the colony ship, and now that most of the cleanup is done we can begin to reap the rewards of this world."
 The pig smiled, seeing dollar signs. Yes, anything she said.
 But... he had to convince his prized veal.
 *******
 Miss Devalot smiled as she flipped the boy pancake... sorry.. .PRINCESS pancake in the air, making her 12th meal. Already the boy was dizzy from being flipped so much but admittedly he was having a lot of fun. Best of all this plan would work. Already Sora was preparing everything fkr Mina and Aaron to stay permanently, and the value so far was at around 7 million. By the time dinner was over that would be a fraction of the total.
 Good thing to. Dragons were famous for being wealthy given how they made it naturally, and could break it down into its most pure format. As such dragon gold was highly sought after.... and rarely given as it
Was the bedding they slept on. Better still was it was the most pure in all the universe, and since dragons once lived all over it, it explained why gold and gemstones were the common precious metal.
 One last flip and the boy was on a plate, perfectly landing on his back. The dragon poured on skme syrup and added some fruit.
 "Ok Aaron, while I eat lets do that quiz." The dragon teacher said, carving her pamcake. "What is tye capital of the Argolian Spider Planet?"
 "Arachnea." The boy said.
 "Their major export?"
 "Silk and silicon."
 "And their primary currency?" *munch munch munch...*
 "Spinnercents." Aaron wiggled and giggled, very ticklish from the munching.
 The dragon meanwhile continued the testing as she ate, in the back of her mind liking the idea of the two being together. After all, up until now famikies were generally kept apart as it could be potentially painful or hard for them. But this was not the case this time. Mrs. Devalot knew these two needed to be together and was determined to see that happen. No matter what.
 Especially if it meant such a tasty feast. Each time Aaron was whipped up into a meal he tasted even more divine. Dragons are known for being gluttons but Miss Devalot knew she would likely want to eat Aaron until she burst and still would want more! She was even tempted to alter the deal and offer to buy Mina and Aaron at ten times their value.
 But... she knew two things, dwelling on them as she finished the boy off. One, the boy needed his mom back, and two.... both needed a new mom. And if it was a toss up between her or Sora.... no, anyone and Sora, the wolf would he the best choice. The dragon smiled as she planned her next meal with Aaron, pulling out a hotdog bun again.
 "I'm so glad he loves hotdogs."
 CHHAPTER 8: Echoes
 Two days later, the dragon was positively bloated. She had eaten the giggling and wiggling boy Sora now was holding almost non stop, and had gotten rather fat off of him. In all he had been eaten 52 times, all tue while taking tests and answering questions so he would not fall behind.
 "Oooooooooohhhhhhhhh..... so fulll, so marvelously full........ *URP!*" The teacher belched a little puff of smoke, Sora giggling.
 "That was.... fun!" Aaron said. "Being a hotdog was best though... it was really cozy."
 The dragon smiled. "Remind me to make it a staple them my boy. But first you two have a task. Jebb will not resist this many gems. Good luck and, when its over, come visit so I can make you a pie."
 Sora smiled. "And by that you mean a demi pot pie right?"
 "Of course. And why dont we share it." The dragon kissed Aaron and then suddenly snapped him up one last time, the boy eeping and giggling as he was chewed to bits. "Mmmmmmm... *gulp!*... even raw and untouched he is delicious! Maybe I should buy him."
 Sora gave a 'seriously' look, the teacher chuckling and handing over a big ruby as the final payment. In all the worth was immense, almost a billion. Sora knew even the pig could not resist that much. She went to Miss Devalots viddphone and made the call.
 ********
 "I will be by with payment, I promise you will find it more than substantial. "
 The pig shuddered. How had they raised so much so fast?! He knew the amount was real, he saw it himself. But... NO. He was not lettkng this demi have Mina. And it was more than the leader having first dibs. No, this was personal.
 No demi family reunions. Ever. He would not let this boy be happy, and he didnt care how much he was paying. Mina was the best tasting moneymaker of all, but more than that was his pride. Those humans destroyed his family. He would not let one be reformed.
 Thing was he didnt know why it bothered him to see one happy. Truth was he did love and take care of his demis.... but no, he knew what it was. They were cattle. And he loved them like pets. But they were not people to him. Far from it. They were just cattle, and for this boy to be fighting for a mother went against everything he believed in. All because he was n...
 Wait.
 That was the answer. He looked to a room he kept in his barn, then knew what to do. The leader would have his slave, and he knew just how to do it.
 ******
 "The wheels on the bus go round and round..."
 Sora and Aaron were singing happily. It had been a good hour since he was picked up from the home of his teacher, ajd today everything would be just wonderful. Aaron was already in a great mood, with that outfit from his first day on, right down to the sundae top beanie. Having been eaten now in so many ways was wonderful, while he felt like he had ruined himself for Sora (since so far she had not eaten him up), he also knew when he was her food he would be the best feast he could be.
 He even outlined what he and his mom would do. He would pretend to be in a cage and get big and fat, like a piggy. Then he would let Sora roast him slowly over a fire, either on a spit or in the oven, maybe with a big cake filled with his mom for dessert. He was so estatic about the idea he even made sure to save the page in the recipe book that had that in it.
 "We're here!" Sora said, pulling under an archway into a massive farm. The sign had a picture of a laughing mouse demi in a big burger, with "happy meals" in colorful lowercase letters over the arch. The yard was filled with playing kids and happy furson workers, giving an appearence that all was right here. All was happy.
 But Aaron knew better. The pig owner walked out of the barn, big and plump all over and wearing jean coveralls and a white shirt. He gave an unsettling look as he walked out.
 "Well, here we are." Sora said. Jebbidah, the pig, nodded, not acknowledging the demi who glared at him.
 "So you are. I believe we have buisness. You wish to purchase a veal for a permanent ownership. Well I will warn you the one you are interested in has an offer, and she is due any moment."
 "We will explain it to her." Sora said. "And I am sorry about things I said. From what I see you run a good establishment after all. I can imagine Mina is..."
 "Hi!"
 Everyone turned and saw Mina as she emerged... but something was already wrong. Her hair was in pigtails and she was all smiles, skipping out. Aaron blinked. He never knew his mom to skip...
 "Mom?" Aaron said.
 "No, I'm Mina silly! Wow your a cute demi, are we gonna be boyfriend and girlfriend?"
 Aaron blinked. "Mom.... it's me! Aaron! Please don't act this way... it scares me."
 "Oh sorry." She looked at Sora. And when she did, sora was in shock. Her eyes spoke it all. They were empty.... like... she had...
 No. No he couldn't have...
 "What. Did. You. Do." She said, looking at Jebb. He smiled smugly.
 "What? Ahhhhh.... you mean her attitude? Well it seemed she was a little distracted to be a good pet so... I had her retrained."
 Sora went wide eyed in shocked disbelief. "You erased her memories?!"
 Aaron ran to her and looked her in the eyes. "Mom! Please dont let it be true! Remember the park! The dress up! The homemade apple pie you gave me for supper!"
 Aaron began to cry.
 "Remember dad! Remember when he.... please remember! !!!"
 Mina stared blankly. "I'm sorry.... but I am just a little girl. I dont have kids. All I remember was being here so I must have been born here."
 Aarons lips quivered as he began to cry. "..... get me outta here. She's. ... she's gone."
 The pig smirked. "So sorry little one. But hey, she's happy now, so it is best to leave her be."
 "YOU SHUT UP!!!" Aaron screamed. "YOU ARE ALL ALIKE! YOU KILLED DAD AND NOW YOU TOOK MOM! FOR WHAT?! BECAUSE YOU WAJT US FOR FOOD!!" He turned to Sora.
 "Aaron..."
 "AND YOUR WORSE!" He screamed making her recoil. "YOU PRETEND TO BE MY MOM AND ALL THE WHILE WAIT UNTIL I SAY 'EAT ME' SO YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT!"
 Sora blinked. "That's not true! I love you!"
 "NONE OF YOU CAN LOVE! I HATE YOU!!!!!! I HATE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!" Aaron turned and ran, Sora watching then turning to Jebb who just stared.
 "Well, I hope your happy. You just destroyed a life and ruined a chance to be rich. You showed your stock and your staff your true colors and the lengths you would go to hurt a demi."
 She stared as he was silent for a moment. But what he said next was the coldest, nastiest thing in the world.
 "Eh you'll find a replacement pet. Besides, not like their anything but food anyway."
 Sora's jaw dropped. But he was not done.
 "Any race that kills its own people is nothing but savages and only good as food. Besides look at them now all happy and giggly little tidbits, reformable and loyal. Its their purpose in life. Why fight it?"
 
Sora was about to say more when she heard a voice behind her.
 "Ahh, Mr. Jebb. She is perfect! As agreed, ten million."
 Sora watched disgusted as the plump bear that was the leader of the town took the brainwiped, giggly girl in a big hug. Nearby a servent unloaded several gold bars, a mere fraction of what Sora had. The pig looked to the wolf.
 "Well, looks like I got all I wanted after all. A nice bit of wealth and I put that unprocessed stray in his place. You should remember this wolf: humans are dead and so is all their past. This is what they are now."
 He motioned to the 'herd,' the staff in shock over what happened while the demis mostly seemed.... unnoticing. They had after been trained to be happy silly little snacks. Sora now understood. Aaron was right, all her kind saw them as was food. Even the way she and Aaron raised money was in that line. She shook her head sadly.
 "No." She said. She remembered how they were at school. Classmates and friends, learning and loving. Kids were friends and adult fursons treated them not as pets but as their own. "We made them this way through our own greed for food. We hid that behind noble intentions and ideals but what we DID spoke volumes. We could have saved the humans and instead we just tried to secure some survivors. We are no better then they are."
 Jebb sighed and shook his head. "You speak like it matters. If he had been processed he would have remembered none of it. If he had his memories wiped would he seek a family? No, only to be food."
 Sora bit her lip. "That.... is why we will rot in hell." With that she left, the bear still there and having heard it all. She realised instantly what had happened, and who the child was to the boy shebsaw running away. Was this what memory wipes did? Was this act, meant to make them happy, really just making them... tame?
 She looked to the pig. "Ummm... why did you wipe her memory?"
 Jebb sighed. "Animals do not deserve families."
 The leader sigjed. "And which family did they kill of yours?"