Kubo's smile had begun to light up his face as his mother told him she wouldn't be going anywhere, a miracle on top of miracles - but it lit up his face fully as she transformed, and he almost automatically reached out to put his hand on her furry neck.

"Oh, this is your power here! That's a good one!"

He hadn't expected her to keep her full range of magic, but Monkey was a good form for her to have access to - strong and fast, with good senses and a coat for keeping warm, and big scary teeth, good for intimidating enemies on the battlefield. And she still had her hands, for swordfighting, which reminded Kubo -

He reached around to his belt, where the Sword Unbreakable hung, unimportant until now compared to all of the things they had to share with each other.

"I think you should have this more than I should," he said, taking the sword off his belt and, with about as much formality as he'd ever learned, presenting it to his mother. The handle was covered by a little scrap of cloth, the scabbard plain battered leather. "You might recognize the sword once it's drawn," he said, with a grin.