5 The Red

After hearing Monkey's explanation Garfield thought to himself, just what have I gotten myself into?

The first of many inconsistencies is the mix and mash of Marvel and DC concepts.

"Hey Monkey, I'm assuming you can read my mind considering your current form and a few of your comments but does the phrase DC or Marvel mean anything to you? Maybe Shonen Jump?"

"Nope, while I can see some of your memories, it is like looking at a Pay per-view channel that you didn't pay for. All squiggly and nearly impossible to make out." Monkey said as he picked his nose with his pinky finger.

"Sometimes you can make out a butt in the air or a head being squeezed by some smooth thighs, but you have no idea who won the WrestleMania headliner in the end."

Monkey smiled. "That is until someone who has seen the match tells you, then you can put the pieces together."

"So that's the reason you are spending all this time with me even knowing I'm not the Garfield that's been your two-legged shoulder ride all this time, also opening the memories in the blood of this body I have found myself in." I mumbled.

"Well, I did let drop the knowledge that The Red considered you a treasure trove of information, so you aren't exactly winning any intelligence awards for figuring that out." Monkey pointed out.

Taking the insult in stride, Gar decided to get some questions answered. "Since you and The Red are being so helpful, how about you tell me what you can do for me?"

"Ha ha, I have been answering all your questions so far so keep going. Then I can give you the basics on your ability to reach into the flow of The Red and change your shape." Monkey offered.

"Can you tell me about yourself and The Red?" Gar asked. Trying to get his mind working on some less obvious questions while getting some foundational knowledge.

"Well, Gar always called me Monkey like you are doing now. Not real imaginative but he was 4 when I went to him."

"Why did you go to him?" I asked

"Since he was born, he has had a connection to The Red and I'm sort of a construct it made to nurture that connection or if he was found to be unsuitable, I would close that connection." Stated Monkey.

"Wait, I thought it was the transfusion with M'gann's blood that gave him his green skin and shapeshifting powers?"

"The skin color yes, but his shape changing or 'Terrestrial Meta morphing' is a power from The Red. Very similar to the control the Martians have over their form. The Red's morphing ability has been granted to a few people in diverse ways. One group used bones found in this plane to make a necklace to give their champion limited access, some others must have extended contact with animals they wish to change into, and then there are the ones that can use it the same as Garfield with just will." Monkey says as he returns to his small monkey shape.

"In Garfield's case and now yours apparently, if we stick to the river analogy then with the Martin blood catalyst it's like a pipe leading directly to the middle of The Red flow, giving you access to the cleanest and most pure flow to facilitate the shape change you want."

"A few shifters unknowingly limit themselves to just one shape and in many cases that is more helpful because they get familiar with it and can use it to the fullest of its limits. Just because you take a shape it doesn't mean you understand it fully, much like the shape I was just in. You called it Super Saiyan 4 I believe, just because I looked that way doesn't mean I knew how to move or fight in that shape, much less use all the potential it had." Monkey tapped his chest.

"This is the shape I have spent the most time in so its most natural to me" Suddenly he turned into King Kong.

"This shape is very similar to the other, so it is very easy enough to move and even fight in but unless I spend a lot of time in this form ill have only instinct and my preconceived notions to move with it. Also, its size is being enlarged by a surplus of The Red and my ability to hold that much flow at one time." Returning to his normal shape and size he looks at me to gauge my understanding.

Thinking for a few minutes I asked "So once I can change my shape; its size will depend on the amount of flow I fill it with sort of like a balloon? But what if I want to make a form smaller?"

Smiling, Monkey replies. "In that case you are more using the flow to compress you from the outside like being in deep water. I recommend you just change to a shape that is inherently smaller and start there depending on just how small you are wanting to be. Changing from your normal size into the size of a flee requires the same amount of flow and will as changing into the giant gorilla I just changed into."

Taking a breath, Monkey continues. "Also keep in mind that the instinct of the animal you change into can affect your mind if you are not careful. So, you will have to keep a portion of your will on that as well."

Seeing me deep in thought, Monkey gives me time to work it out in my head.

"What about turning into different races? Say like a Kryptonian maybe?" I said with a hopeful look.

"Hmm well I guess you could, but what would be the purpose?"

Smiling, I said "In yellow sunlight they have enormous powers" I replied

Chuckling at me "But you will have to absorb the sunlight for a large amount of time before you can gain access to those powers. You do not know it yet, but the longer you hold a form that is not yours with help of The Red the more effort it takes. This is a cosmic entity you are in handling after all, not a simple stream of water."

"So, what happens if I allow the forms mind or instincts to affect me or even take over for a bit?" I ask

With a dead look in his eyes, he replies. "Then you will lose yourself! The lines begin to blur between your independent will and The Red. In the best case you will retain a portion of the shape you were in until you can solidify your self-image once again. Worst case you will either explode with the energy of The Red and kill everything nearby or go insane as your mind thinks it is every animal that is a part of The Red never to regain your individual self."

Hearing his tone, my whole-body shivers.

"That's enough questions for now, let's get started on your ability to shift." Monkey says trying to dispel the morbid atmosphere.

"Umm, before we do that I need to know if it will affect my body outside of this plane? You know I'm curious about how I got here also. Are we in my mind or are we in some Cosmic plane?"

"I did say no more questions but as those are relevant, I will allow it. From what I can tell, you have yet to fully disperse your conciseness into the mind of the body that holds the door to The Red you have entered. More like a possession right now, once you do you will have full control and your shifting will take place in the body."

"I thought you said my memories are like a scrambled channel to you?" I asked in surprise.

"Only the ones you brought with you, not the ones connected to this body that I assume is a clone from blood taken just after Miss Martian gave him the transfusion. I was able to align the two thought patterns, but I can't make out too much of the one pattern."

"You brought your whole consciousness into The Red witch is a very advanced ability that most never gain enough control to do. You were able to do it because you were not fully integrated with the brain of the clone yet, but it will prove much more difficult in the future so take advantage of it while you can."

Getting a serious look on his face, Monkey says "Now as far as how to change your shape you must focus your mind on The Red that is in your brain and pull on it while thinking about the shape you want."

"But as you are not currently in your body to feel that wall you just have to think hard about an animal and will yourself to take the shape. Because you are literally in The Red, you should be able to make a lot of progress fast."