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Returning to World History class early Monday, Adam had found out right away that Rufus was out for two weeks with a broken collar bone. He'd recover, but until then he wouldn't be doing much. Even better, the other wolves pointedly avoided him. In one particularly amusing incident three of them had come around a blind corner from the opposite direction as Adam. When they saw him they turned around so fast they ended up tripping one another. Watching them struggle as they tried to stand back up while scrambling away from him like that was incredibly satisfying, but then he remember why they were so afraid of him and his mood quickly soured. Even so, things were really looking up, that was for sure.

Adam had also spent some time talking with Barry about their shared experience being small. It was a touchy subject for him, but it seemed like his friend was over it enough that he wasn't going to be permanently traumatized at least.

All things considered the time flew by and before he knew it the weekend had arrived.

**********

It was finally Saturday, and Barry sure let Adam know it by shaking him violently at five in the morning.

"Hey, easy there big guy. I was already awake."

"Isn't this so exciting! We're going to have so much fun today!"

"Uhm, you sound like I probably did when I was about five years old on Christmas morning."

"Yup! Not gonna lie. This feels like every Christmas all in one!"

"SHH! Quiet down before you wake up half the dorm. Besides, we have an hour before we meet the professor anyway."

Adam reached over to his nightstand and flipped the lamp on. Barry was standing over his bed with his paws together literally shaking with anticipation.

"If you're like this now then I don't even want to know how you'll act when you're actually big. You need to calm down Barry. Remember the whole point of this is so you can learn to control yourself."

"I will, I will. Trust me."

"I want to, but you're not exactly inspiring confidence right now."

Barry did calm down then and walked over to sit on his bed. "You're right, as usual. I just wish you could understand what this felt like. I can't believe you were twenty feet tall and actually hated it. Maybe the professor was right and we do need each other."

"I think he was. You know how you hate being small?"

"Uhm...yeah...let's not talk about that anymore."

"Sorry, but the point I was going to make is I actually enjoy it."

"Grr, now you're just messing with me."

Adam sat up, "no, I'm being totally serious. That's why I was being so mean to you right after I shrunk you. I didn't realize it at first, but I was having fun. It was hard for me to understand that you weren't. I just figured you enjoyed it too and just didn't want to admit it."

"Wow. How can you possibly like that? You're helpless at that size!"

"I've thought a lot about this over the last week and I think I get it now. Being helpless is kinda the point. If you can't do anything about anything anyway, then you don't have to bother worrying about it. You can just let it all go then and surrender. It's the only time I can truly relax Barry. Otherwise my brain is on overdrive trying to solve the world's problems. The only way to stop that is to make sure I'm so small there is no way I possibly can."

"But Adam, last time you did manage to fix us..."

"Yeah, I was still too big. Don't worry, I usually shrink myself three times now just to be sure..."

Barry smiled, "you really are certifiable you silly fox, but in a good way. How small do you get after that anyway?"

"Let's just say the reason I don't go any smaller is because I'd fall through the threading on my sheets. Found that out the hard way a couple nights ago."

Barry laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"You are. I can just picture you dangling by one claw literally hanging by a thread. It's hilarious."

"But, you hate being small. I don't get it."

"Yes, I personally hate being small. But other people being small amuses me for some reason. I just can't stand being helpless."

"Ok then, now what about the other way. What do you want to be so big for anyway? Help me understand it."

Barry sighed deeply, "the bigger I am the harder it is for anyone to hurt me. I think you were right. I am a coward."

"That's not true. I only said that because I was trying to distract you. I didn't really mean it."

"I know you didn't, but how else can you explain it? If not for you I'd have crawled under my covers and starved to death rather than try to help myself after I got shrunk. How am I not a coward?"

"You fought off an entire pack of wolves for someone you didn't even know."

"Yeah, because I knew I would probably win. But if I were your size I'd never have done that."

"I've got a lifetime of experience being small, you can't expect to handle it perfectly after just five minutes. You know what I did when I was even bigger than you were in the lab? I ran away from a bunch of the same wolves who had no chance of hurting me just as fast as I could."

"Why did you run?"

"Because I was afraid Barry. I was afraid of what I had done to them. I wasn't really running from them. I was running from myself. Having that kind of power terrifies me."

"It does?"

"Yes it really does. I don't know how to function at that size. I thought I was just playing with those two and I nearly killed them both. I have no idea how to handle being that strong. But you do Barry. Even after I threatened to shrink you down to nothing you still managed to exercise enough self control to not squeeze me hard enough to do any real damage."

"You call that self control? I could have killed you."

"Would you have gone through with it? I had no way to stop you. You could have kept your size if you had ended me there and had what you wanted most."

It took his friend a while to answer. "I....I couldn't do it fox. Part of me wanted to. I wanted to stay big so much, and I was so scared of being small again. But I remembered being in that briefcase. When I saw you open it and how huge you were compared to me I was sure I was going to die. But you didn't hurt me at all, instead you saved me. You were so nice about it too now that I think about it. So I was going to let you go, even if it meant you really did make me the...the... smallest bear ever."

His friend wasn't looking at him just then, but Adam could tell from his voice that he was on the verge of tears.

"Cowards don't act like that Barry. A true coward would have ended me rather than risk facing their worst fear. You didn't."

"But if I'm not a coward, then what else could it be? I've never really thought about this before now."

"Remember when it first happened? You weren't thinking about how safe you suddenly were. Instead you wanted to go eat a giant cheeseburger, have a party and make sure the wolves wouldn't bother me anymore. I don't know exactly why you want it, but it's not because of cowardice. That much I do know."

"I guess I'll have to figure it out on my own then. But I'm still really worried about today to be honest. I just don't want to let you down...again"

"You won't big guy. Even if it doesn't work out the first time, the way the professor talked no bear has ever managed this. Actually the last one went on a rampage and knocked down a few buildings if I heard right. So I'm not expecting you to get it perfect right off. That's why we're driving out to the middle of nowhere, so if something does go wrong then we don't have to worry about anything major being destroyed. Besides I still sometimes make stuff the wrong size after all, so you're not the only one who might make a mistake. We both need a lot more practice if his is going to work."

"Thanks buddy," Barry said and ruffled Adam's hair, "I'll do my best. Now I think it's time go find the professor."

**********

The three of them stood in a large clearing, surrounded on all sides by thick forest. There wasn't a man-made structure to be seen anywhere.

Professor, was it really necessary to drive a full two hours outside of the city?

"Certainly. We had to make sure nobody saw anything. We're not out here just to make sure nothing gets demolished after all."

"I guess. So what are we doing first anyway?"

"Do I get to be big now? I want to go first!" Barry interjected.

The professor turned towards him, "not yet Barry. Don't worry. You'll get your turn soon enough."

"Ok, so if not that then what?"

"You are going to run an obstacle course Adam."

"I fail to see how this helps me. I'm a fox, that's not exactly going to be hard."

"I made the course out of an ant farm," he replied, holding it up.

"Oh...yeah it all makes sense now. Uhm, there aren't any actual ants in it, are there?"

The professor set it on the ground, "if I told you that it would ruin the suspense. Get in."

"Hmm, alright. Just be sure nobody steps on the thing while I'm in there if that's not asking too much."

Adam jumped into the air and shrank himself. He was trying to be flashy and fall right into the small hole in the top of the course, but he ended up catching his head on the edge and flailing about in a wild spin as he disappeared inside.

"Hmm, he's getting pretty good at that actually. He just about stuck the landing," the professor said.

"Yeah, crazy fox told me he actually has fun being small," Barry replied.

"I don't doubt it. The last person with these powers was the exact opposite though. He just really liked being big..."

"Oh, I can totally get that," Barry interrupted.

"Well, he wasn't nearly as crazy about it as you seem to be. Which is a really good thing because if he was he'd have probably started growing and never stop until..."

"What do you mean?"

"Well let's just say that the first time he got a lot bigger than anyone has a right to be and leave it at that."

"You're holding out on me. How big are we talking? Thirty feet? Forty?"

"More..."

"MORE!? Can Adam do that? Just how big can he make someone anyway?"

"I don't know. We never tried going much over a hundred feet..."

"A hundred feet! That's like big enough to crush cars, and buildings, and..."

The professor held up a hand to stop him, "Barry?"

"Yeah?"

"You weren't actually planning to do any of that, right?"

"Uhm, of course not. Just trying to get a handle on that kind of size."

"Good bear. Adam should be finishing up soon," FLASH "Ah, here he is now."

Barry looked over at his friend who had just grown back to normal size and couldn't help but laugh at him because he was covered head to footpaw with thick mud.

"Really Vern? You filled half of the thing with water? You know I hate getting wet!"

"That's the point. You're supposed to be miserable. If you're not then it wouldn't be a very effective training regimen. Anyway, it's your turn next Barry."

"How is that even remotely fair professor? How is it that I get slathered with mud and Barry gets to have the time of his life?"

"Oh he's not going to like this next part one bit. I didn't say anything about him getting bigger. Oh no, we're still practicing small right now. Big comes later."

"But...but...please no. Not that. Anything but that again," Barry pleaded.

"You two are a team. Sometimes you might have to switch roles. Or both perform the same one. You need to learn how to be small Barry. I made you an obstacle course too. Don't worry. It's an easier one than Adam's was," with that the professor produced a wooden square that had slits cut into it. It seemed to be a maze of some sort and was about two feet wide on each side.

Adam walked over to Barry and whispered to him, "Alright I know how much you are dreading this, but just think, after you have finished it then you get to be super big just like you wanted. I'll be right here the whole time too making sure nothing happens to you. Just try to imagine that it's a normal sized maze and you'll be fine."

"You promise I get to be big after I do this?"

"Yup! I'll do it even if the professor tells me not to. And if he doesn't like it then it will be his turn to run this maze whether he wants to or not."

"You'd do that for me fox? I'd like to see you shrink him almost as much as being big."

"Of course I would. You're my best friend after all."

"Really? Alright, I'll do it!"

The two of them stepped up to the maze and Adam reached over and put his paw on his friend's back, "Good luck big guy. You got this," then he zapped him.

He watched as Barry made his way into the maze. He took a few wrong turns but the maze was so simple that it wouldn't take him very long to find his way out at this rate. Adam suspected the point of the exercise was getting Barry to agree to being shrunk in the first place.

"I'm impressed. How did you convince him to go through with it?"

"I promised him he'd get to be big no matter what."

"Oh really? I'm running the training program here. He's not getting to be big unless I say he is, and that isn't looking very likely to happen today."

Ya know, I was actually kinda hoping you'd say that." ZAP!

It took him a minute, but Adam found the professor, The grass made it more difficult than he had expected. When he did, he laid one of his forepaws pad side up on the ground as flat as possible beside him.

He didn't seem inclined to move on his own, "you can either climb up or I'm picking you up the hard way professor. Oh, sorry if my paws are still a little muddy. Couldn't be helped."

The professor didn't move, so Adam did as promised and lifted him up as carefully as possible. Next he carried him over and placed him at the end of the maze, but kept his paw over the exit for the moment so he couldn't leave.

Barry was just rounding the last corner, and when he saw what Adam had done he stopped, grabbed his belly and started laughing. It was loud enough that he could actually hear it, meanwhile the professor just stood there with his arms crossed.

Adam removed his paw from the exit and Barry was the first one out of the maze. He then laid his paw on the ground as he had with the professor. His friend didn't understand at first, but then he climbed up on his own.

After carrying him a short distance away, Adam zapped him back to full size.

"That was amazing! I can't believe you actually did it! Thank you so much!"

Adam looked his friend right in the eyes, "are you scared right now?"

"What? Actually I wasn't even thinking about that until you said something. That was fun!"

"I think your smallness training is complete then. My work here it done. Now I guess I need to find the professor and make him big again before he flunks me."

Finding him wasn't hard. The professor had the good sense not to have moved from the end of the maze. Once his powers had recharged, Adam zapped him back to normal size as well.

"Why did you do that to me?" He demanded immediately.

"Because you're training program totally sucks. It's artificially designed to be as abusive as possible to the participants without any legitimate end result being achieved. My version worked on a rewards based model and has proven far more effective. Just ask Barry."

The professor looked over at him, and Barry just nodded up and down like one of those bobble head dolls.

"I see. Your methods were totally outrageous, but I can't argue with the results. Normally I admire initiative in my students, but if you ever try anything like that again, failing my class will be the least of your problems."

"You seem pretty mad about being shrunk. Normally I'd tell you to lighten up, but I think I'll just be the bigger fox here and..."

Barry couldn't take anymore and burst out laughing.

"I demand to know what is so funny," the professor said.

Barry tried to answer, but it was hard with him laughing so much. Finally with a sharp intake of breath, "Adam said...you needed to Lighten...and and...how he was bigger in the same sentence right after bringing up you getting shrunk!"

The professor stood there for a moment. Then slowly smiled. "Maybe he's right. I have been a total buzz kill haven't I? I'm sorry Barry. I know first hand how much you hated that. I promise not to ask you to do it again unless I have a very good reason. Now, I think it's time for you to have some fun. Just try not to have too much fun, ok?"

"You mean...."

"Yes Barry, it's time for you to get big."

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Barry chanted.

"Adam, this may not be a good idea. He can barely contain himself. Maybe we shouldn't do this just now."

"It would break his heart if I didn't, and besides I made a promise."

Adam walked over to his friend, "you're going to love this. How big do you want to be? Pick any size and it's yours."

"Adam! What do you think you're doing!" The professor yelled.

"You mean it Adam? I can be as big as I want? You'd do that? But why?" Barry asked.

"Because it will make you happy you silly bear, why else? Now, tell me just how big of a bear I'm about to be looking at before I come to my senses."

"Alright...I want to be....300 feet tall! Can you do that?"

"I'm not sure, but I guess we're about to find out."

"Adam NO! He'll crush us and then take out the whole city! Maybe a bunch of other cities too before they stop him. They'll deploy nukes for sure. It will be a total unmitigated disaster for the country! Maybe even the whole world!"

"If you really think that professor then you better hop in that beat up old car of yours and get out of here fast, because I'm so doing it!"

"You must be completely out of your mind," The professor told him.

"No. You're wrong. I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life. This is the right thing to do. I know it." Adam said as he took several steps back. 'Now, get ready for the BIGGEST...BEAR...EVER!"

ZAAAAPPPP!!!

The flash was more intense than usual and blinded him for a second. When Adam could see again he looked up at Barry, who was now totally blocking the sun overhead, then looked for the end of his shadow in the distance. Once he found it he did some basic calculations and...oops"

"Uhm professor. I kinda overdid it. He's pushing a thousand feet at least."

"Oh no, you did great. You've made him just the right size. Wouldn't want there to be any chance of our survival after all. In fact, you should hit him again as soon as possible so he can stomp the whole city in one go once he gets done with us and save him some time."

"Very funny, but in the end it won't make any difference if he's a bit taller than I intended. You'll see."

"The only thing I expect to see is the afterlife in a few minutes, but I guess it's too late to do anything about that now."

The two of them watched in awe as Barry just stood there. Adam wasn't really sure what was going through his mind right then. Did he even know where he was anymore? Did he care at all about what happened to them? And if he did could he even still see them for it to matter?

It's all up to him now. I just have to have faith in my friend. He's got this.

Barry looked around, which took a lot longer at his current size than usual. Next he looked down at both of his forepaws which he had brought up to just above waist level. He opened and closed them a few times as if trying to gauge his power.

Then he lifted his right leg slightly until his heel came off of the ground and all of his weight rested on the ball of his footpaw. He repeated this action several times before he finally took a step. Normally such simple thing, yet now it took several seconds to complete. When he eventually put his footpaw down he flattened several trees at once. It was a terrifying sight to behold. The worst part was that Adam was powerless for another few minutes at least to do anything about it.

Too late for second thoughts. Might as well try and enjoy the show.

Then Barry looked down at them. Adam wasn't sure, but it seemed that just maybe he might be able to see them. But if he really could he gave no sign.

The next thing he did was to raise both of his arms up to head level. What is he doing?

Then Adam understood as his friend finished his pose. He was flexing his muscles. Of course he would do that in this situation.

Adam heard a shutter click and looked over at the professor standing with his back to Barry holding a camera up in front of his face.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm gathering valuable research data, obviously."

"Oh is that what they are calling selfies now?"

"Only when they include a shot of the largest living organism to ever exist on our planet. It's fascinating really. His bones should be breaking under a fraction of the weight. Yet he seems fine. I need to study this further...if I survive."

He does have a point, this should be physically impossible. Adam dismissed that thought for the moment and turned his attention back to his friend.

After he had finished his pose, Barry did something even more unexpected. He sat down. To be clear this process took him nearly a full minute, but his intentions were obvious long before then. First he bent at the knees. Next he placed a paw down beside himself to control his decent with a loud THUMP. Then on both sides, he extended his legs forward until the two onlookers were directly between his kneecaps.

When his rear end finally hit the ground the earth shock so violently that both Adam and the professor were thrown to the ground. As they stood back up, Adam saw that Barry was moving yet again. He was leaning forward. Not long after that his head was sitting directly over them, and now Adam was certain he saw them. I wonder what he's planning to do...kinda getting a bit nervous here.

It was then that Adam felt his power return. He raised a paw to shrink Barry back down to size, then stopped. No, I trust him. Besides, he must be having the time of his life up there. I don't have the heart to take that from him.

Then Adam heard it. Such a deep resonance that he might have mistaken it for thunder, but he knew better. Barry was talking to them.

"Thanks...little....buddy." And Adam saw then that Barry had the stupidest grin on his face that he'd ever seen in his life. He couldn't help but smile back up at him and wave.

Then his friend laid his head back, along with the rest of himself and promptly flattened the forest for hundreds of feet in every direction as he lay on it like a giant featherbed. Barry didn't move after that.

I wonder if he's planning to sleep like that?

"Amazing. He seems to be in total control of himself. It must be very difficult to move at that size, yet he has managed it perfectly. Even more intriguing he's not showing any desire to destroy anything. What damage he might have done seems to be purely incidental. I don't understand."

"That's your whole problem Professor. You don't get either one of us at all. All he ever wanted was to be big just for the sake of being big. I doubt he has any other reason for wanting it other than because he enjoys it," Adam sighed wistfully, "he must be so happy right now. I really envy him."

"Well I guess this means he passed the test anyway. I was right, he is exhibiting far better control than any other species would at that size. He'll be a great partner for you. So...how long did you plan to leave him like that anyway?"

Adam smiled, "for as long as I possibly can."

"If I didn't know better I'd say you were enjoying this as much as he is."

"Huh? Never really thought about it like that. But...uhm...I'm not goanna lie to you professor. I'm having a really hard time here not making him even bigger. This is just entirely too much fun for me to handle right now."

The professor's jaw fell open, "please don't."

"How does Planet Barry sound?"

"ADAM!"

"Relax. I wasn't going to actually do it. I know full well I'd end up hurting a lot of people if I did. Try to give me some credit here at least. But still, a fox can dream can't he?"