The Enderlox Trilogy III: Seto's Triumph

T H R E E: Transforming

***MITCH'S POV***

I freak out when I see him. I can't believe it's Jerome. I can't help but think that maybe Seto teleported him somewhere and brought this guy back in his place. Maybe it's a stupid, crazy prank. But when I hear his voice I know it's Jerome. It reassures me to know I'm not having a nightmare where my best friend disappears and is replaced by a doppelganger in human form. Just good to know it's real life and not some weird hallucination. Honestly, it's weird, but it's a good weird.

It's weird to see Jerome like this, as a human. It makes me sad to know that he didn't like being a Bacca so much that he wanted to change, but at the same time it feels good to know he has his priorities in order.

Jerome looks really cool as a human, I'll admit. I don't know, he just looks exactly the way I pictured him to look. Though I think I would have expected his hair to have been darker, what with the color of his fur and all, he still looked like Jerome, with the large nose, the permanent smile, the cute eyes, and the slimmed-down body. He looks really good in the suit. It fits him unbelievably well, maybe Seto magically made it a couple sizes smaller. The hat is the finishing touch. It brings the whole thing together. It makes me realize that it really is my Jerome under there.

All of these thoughts about Jerome's new appearance make me wonder why he wanted to be human. Ashley comes to mind as a probable reason. I'm the only person Jerome told about Ashley. The way he felt about her. The way he probably still feels about her. He said he never thought he'd tell anybody, but one day right before the mission, a few days after he met her, he sat down and told me everything about his feelings for her. I don't know why, but it hurt me a bit to see how devoted Jerome was to Ashley. I kept reminding myself that Ashley and Ty were most definitely in love, and Jerome would never have a chance, but why did I wish that on him? It makes no sense.

I barely pay attention to anything Seto says about the whole end of the world and the Archangel thing. Whatever, my mind is too filled with thoughts of Jerome and the change he just made. He sits there looking at me for comfort and I try my best to give it to him. I really do. He's my best friend and whatever he decides to do I'll support it.

Seto interrupts my thoughts again.

"Let's go get the team," he says, but I don't really hear him. Jerome has to pull me up off of the rock I'm sitting on, yanking my red and black jacket with the same strength he once had. Just more proof that he's really Jerome.

I force myself up and Ty and Ashley start communicating with the Ender Dragon like it's totally normal. For a little while, the three chat, though I only get the things that my dragon-demon friends speak. Then Ashley asks Ty, "When can I go back to normal?" Ty doesn't respond, looking at her with a sad and unknowing expression. Ashley suddenly shudders and I realize the dragon has spoken in their minds. Ty and the dragon have an awkward conversation for the next few minutes and then Ty relays the information back to us.

"NightShroud says he can teleport us into town, and then back here and then to the base of the mountain so we can see Max."

We all nod and agree and then the dragon teleports us into town.

***JEROME'S POV***

I'm really worried about what the townspeople are going to think of me. I hope they don't think the real Jerome is gone and has been replaced by someone else. What if the people don't believe it's really me? If they do, will they think I look better? I don't know what to expect but the unexpected. There's not a big chance of there being a positive outcome, but I'll just have to hope for the best.

Seto turns to me and gives me a look of either confusion or reassurance, I can't really tell. I'm hoping its the latter. He mouths the words how are you feeling? I give him a little nod and smile, even though my emotions are most certainly mixed.