Of Love and Death.

The Present Chapter 16: I Promise Pt. 4

Free slid open the door to the deck. He was greeted by darkness and the chirping of bugs. The night was heavy, wreathing all around his shoulders. It was comforting. No sphere of total blackness. But close to home. A question that he often had surfaced again. Would the Forces ever go back? Return to the Orbs? They were still out there, still existed. Just sat abandoned. With Dark and Light essentially gone, and life throughout the universe, there wasn't anything pulling his kind back to where they'd lived so long.

Not that Free was exactly mad. He still got to see plenty of his old...friends wasn't quite the right word. People he knew, how about that. Maybe after all this chaos with Cold he'd go back, take a little peek and see what the Shadow's Orb was like. That would be fun. Maybe he'd drag Zac with him or something.

Behind Free, the door slid open again. He turned and saw Honcho stepping out, in his pajamas no less. The old member of BC Sol looked half asleep. "Dude, you need to be stealthier," Honcho grumbled, rubbing his eyes. Nevertheless, the blond haired blader joined Free at the railing.

The most Free could do to answer that was shrug. "Thank you for letting me stay with you by the way," he said politely. At that, Honcho grumbled. But goodnaturedly. The other blader didn't really mind Free's noise. Besides, the shadow had been quiet. Chances were Honcho had already been up. 

Chuckling, Free let himself lapse into silence. For a little while, this was how he and Honcho remained. Both lost in their thoughts. Unfortunately for Free, however, he could tell his companion was dying to ask a question. Well, whatever. If Honcho didn't speak up, there would be silence. And that was great.

But, it looked like Honcho had gotten up the courage. "Hey, um, Free?" Free turned and looked at his old teammate. He looked sheepish, and a bit embarrassed. "I was wondering." Yes, Free had known Honcho was wondering. But what was the question? "You, you're one of those Shadow people, right?" A nod. That was all that took. Great, question over. Then Honcho kept talking and Free's hopes were crushed. "Are you like all shapeshifters? How do you appear human? I get Shu and Valt, and also Nightfell. But shouldn't the rest of you be strange eldritch creatures."

Oh that. Free laughed. Alright, not the worst question Honcho could have come up with. In a simple motion, the shadow unbelted his green gauntlet, letting it fall to the ground. There wasn't really any feeling. Any internal stimulus to let Free know what was happening. Really, he just got a little bit taller, able to look Honcho in the eyes. Now Talent stood there in all his glory.

Bending now, Talent picked up his gauntlet. "Form has the ability to channel his power into objects, not just people. So while he'd be perfectly capable of permanently turning us all into humans, that wouldn't be very useful. Instead, we have these various accessories that make us human when we switch. I think for Zac it's his gloves, Venice has this pendant, and so does Fubuki I believe," he explained. "I could probably just transform myself using his power, but this is easier."

There was understanding covering Honcho's face now. "And that's why Cold doesn't look human," he realized. Ah, maybe Talent hadn't given his friend enough credit. That was a quick connection for him to make.

Talent slipped the gauntlet back on, not wanting anyone to see him like this. He'd been called a demon quite enough. No need for some human to wander outside and get a friend from some half-deer creature. Thankfully, Honcho had already lapsed back into not talking. Instead, he was humming a tune that sounded vaguely familiar. Like something Free had heard a long time ago. Not that he could place it, mind you.

So tomorrow was the battle. Everyone had figured out what the stakes were. Free didn't need to be there when Cold had approached Shu and Valt to know. His friends were literally battling for their lives. But, it wasn't like they would just roll over if they lost. He knew that much. And they'd have a whole truckload of people backing them up. Just hopefully Cold would have the sense not to expose the Forces on international TV.