Of Love and Death.

The Future Chapter 12: The Masked Blader is my Favorite Character Pt. 3

     Okay then.

     People had defeated these bladers before. It was possible. The Masked Blader could do this. She was able to battle. She knew that. She was smart and able to come up with a strategy. So all that she had to do was stand up and do it. Okay. Okay. OKAY! Stop panicking, the mysterious blader reprimanded herself. Forcing every motion, she managed to stand up. Shakily, but still. The Masked Blader was up.

    One step and then another, and then all six bladers stood around the stadium ready to battle. Five of them sneered at the sixth, who was still shaking in her mask. But also standing as strong as possible.

     The Masked Blader sighed, and tried to force her nerves down. It's okay, we can do this. I won't lose you Minerva, she whispered to her partner. Although she was really just reassuring herself. As she thought the words, it sunk in what the stakes really were. If she didn't lose this battle, she was going to lose her partner. The bey that she'd been with since before she even turned ten.

     That couldn't happen. It would snap the Masked Blader in half if it did. Calm down, A voice whispered in her head. Then then world changed. It had happened before of course. Minerva brought the Masked Blader into the strange space that was made up of their bond often. Normally it was comforting. Today it was terrifying. What if this was the last time that she ever talked with the bey?

    As the ancient temple came into view, the Masked Blader's throat clenched up. She took in all of the details like it was the last time. The gray stone pillars, intricately carved with grapes and owls. The walls that were decorated with tile scenes of a glorious owl defeating enemies. The way the light seemed to fall in from the windows that didn't actually led to an outside. There was no outside to this place. Not to mention the shadows lay in the corners.

     And, of course, the bey. Minerva. The bey that the Masked Blader had seen in a dream, and then created on paper, and then, finally, met. Tall and proud, she was a warrior. The white owl gazed kindly down at her partner from underneath her gleaming golden and silver helmet. Hovering just behind the bey were Minerva's weapons. Medusa's shield and the owl's elegant spear.

     "Minerva," The Masked Blader choked out. Her vision blurred as tears pooled in the bottom of her eyes. Reaching up, she brushed them away, but not quick enough. Before a moment had passed she was fully sobbing. "I-I'm sorry. I made a mistake and now-now I might lose you!" She sniffled.

     There was a pause, and then there was a slight pressure on the Masked Blader's back. She looked up, and there was Minerva, trying to comfort the mysterious blader with her wing. The bey had shrunk to be the same size as her partner. A moment passed, and then the blader hugged her partner. What if this was the last time they spoke? She wasn't going to try to lose, but what if she did?

     "You won't lose me," The bey promised. Although, the Masked Blader could hear the fear in her voice. Feel it too. Not to mention how she could feel the owl-like creature's beasts tears as well.

     Both of them made a decision. It wasn't a decision that they'd realized they were making, but it was a decision nonetheless. It came from battle upon battle of something unconscious happening to them, and never realizing it. As a matter of fact, once they made the decision, she didn't even realize she had made it. It had happened, and she had come back to the real world.

     How it happened was...perhaps comforting is the correct word. It was calm. Much calmer than if it had happened unnaturally. It was like how one jumps into a warm ocean. Not jarring like cold water, but nice. An easy transition from one place to another. From one person to another.

     It was like letting go. Because, at the end of the day, the only way that this was even possible was because it was supposed to happen. Just like how only your favorite food will be your favorite food. Unless your favorite food changes. Which is a bad example, as this decision was not the sort of decision that is possible to change. As irreversible as picking your starter pokemon. The new games came out. It's on my mind, okay?

     Nevertheless it happened. In the span of a single moment, a blader and her partner decided that they didn't want to fear being split up. Being broken apart from each other. So they made it so that it couldn't happen. So that it was impossible to be separated.

     With a single choice, blader and bey become one.

     Forever.

So...this is now out?

Since I won't be posting another chapter until after, happy Thanksgiving to anyone who celebrates it!

I'll share one of the things I'm thankful for. Everyone who reads this thing! Even if you all are a bunch of strangers, I'm glad I "met" you. Thank you for being here! (I really do mean it.)

Sincerely, Grayvere.