"Wait!" Rivera's eyes widened. "Did you… just understand and respond to everything I said?"
Ethan squeaked in agreement.
"Woah…" Rivera stared in amazement. "Okay, if you really understand me, then squeak twice."
"Squeak! Squeak!" Ethan replied right away.
Her eyes sparkled. "Squeak three times!"
"Squeak, squeak, squeak!" he replied, confirming it.
Rivera sat forward, gasping in amazement. "Wait - can you also do math, too?"
Ethan let out a little squeak, which meant yes.
"Alright," Rivera said, grinning mischievously. "What's five times five? Squeak the answer if you know it."
WHAT THE HELL.
You've got to be kidding, Ethan thought, incredulous. You really want me to squeak twenty-five times?
Rivera sat expectant, waiting.
Ethan sighed inwardly. All right, then. Let's get this over with.
Then, with the gritty determination of a man trapped in fur, he began:
"Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak!"
He panted heavily, his ears a-twitch with fatigue. There! Twenty-five squeaks! Are you happy now?
Rivera's entire face lit up; she lifted Ethan into the air, spinning him around in pure delight.
"I knew it! You're not just a normal magical beast!" she laughed, hugging him tightly before pressing a soft kiss against his furry cheek.
Ethan froze. Oh my god, she kissed me. She actually kissed me!
His heart was racing. In the game, this moment was impossible… but here - here I actually get to experience it.
His rabbit cheek flushed red.
Rivera smiled, her eyes soft. "Now… what name should I give you?"
She tapped her chin thoughtfully. Even if he could understand her, she knew there was no real way for him to tell her what kind of name he wanted.
"Let's see…" she murmured. "You're a rabbit, and you're a boy… so you'll want something cool, right?"
Ethan squeaked excitedly. Exactly!
"Okay…" Rivera said, her face lighting up as she stared at him. "How about…
Ethan's ears perked up, his eyes shining with anticipation. This was it - the moment of truth.
"Candybunny!" Rivera declared proudly.
Instantly, a screen appeared before Ethan:
>Your master is naming you "Candybunny." Do you accept?
Ethan's excitement died on the spot. His expression darkened. Really? Candybunny? After all that buildup? Rivera… you've truly let me down.
He did not demur.
Rivera's smile faltered. "Oh… so you don't like Candybunny either, huh?"
Ethan knew he had to act fast-she needed help naming him before she came up with something even worse.
He scanned the room, his eyes landing on a bottle of black ink that stood on the table. He hopped over quickly and pointed at it, squeaking insistently.
Rivera tilted her head. "The ink?"
Ethan shook his head.
"The color… black?" she guessed.
He squeaked in agreement.
"So you want to be named Black, but you are not black, you're white," said Rivera, seemingly perplexed.
Ethan hopped away and placed himself so the light shone on the floor, making an outline of his figure. Then he pointed at it.
Rivera's eyes widened in understanding. "Shadow?"
Ethan squeaked.
"So you want to be called Blackshadow?" Rivera asked.
He squeaked again this time with pride. That's it! That's the name! It sounds cool, mysterious - perfect!
But Rivera frowned slightly. "Hmm… that name's a bit too scary. I don't think it suits you."
Ethan's ears drooped. C'mon, it's perfect!
"You need something friendlier… but still cool," she mused. Then, suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Okay - how about… Blitz!"
Ethan's ears shot straight up. His heart skipped a beat. Blitz?
Sleek, sharp, and powerful, it was simple. The name carried energy: confidence, strength.
He loved it.
A new screen appeared before him:
>Your master is naming you "Blitz." Do you accept?
Without hesitation, Ethan slammed his little paw onto the option marked "Accept".
[ACCEPTED!]
[Ding! Your name is now Blitz!]
And just like that, Ethan White was gone.
From that day forward, he was Blitz.