Fade

Chapter 2: A Funeral and A Leaving

"Umbra was an amazing Shadow for the decade or so she was our Shadow. All of us have at least one moment where she helped us in some way," Sille broke down into tears as she spoke.

Shade watched and shed a few tears, though she shed less than all of her siblings, though Sille and Azazel were definitely shedding more than Illusion since they had been raised by the late Shadow—or Umbra as she would now be called. As Sille ended the funeral, Shade watched as some of Umbra's ashes were scattered onto a strange rocklike object.

Looking over at Illusion in confusion, her sister answered quietly, "Ever since the first Shadow, ashes have been strewn atop this rock. It's called the "Petrambra."

Shade nodded quietly and looked up at Sille, who was beginning to speak again to the gathered mass of Shadows. From her spot in the royalty box, she could tell that this place was packed. As she'd walked in, there had been countless Shadows standing there, trying to get in. Some Shadows couldn't make it since the Forsaken was a pretty big place and they were busy with their own funerals for the dead soldiers among them.

"So, since my younger sister, Shade, the Heresumbra, is too young to take up the duties of being the Shadow, I will do them for her until she is old enough. You don't need to call me 'Shadow', since I don't truly deserve the title, but you can call me that if you want. Now, please try to go back to normal. I know that it will be difficult to fill the holes that my aunt and your friends and family left in all of us, but we will attempt to heal together." Sille stepped down from the stage in the middle of the Shadow Show Arena where the funeral had been held. This was where most funerals for Shadows who held the title of the Shadow were since there were often so many Shadows who wanted to go and pay their respects.

Shade lept out of the box and floated down before running over to Sille. "So, when do Azazel and I leave for the plan thing...?" Shade said.

"You'll leave soon. In a day or two maybe? Gotta give the humans and Shadmin a little time to settle," Sille replied.

"What about our father? Isn't he with them?" Illusion asked, she and Azazel having followed Shade.

"Yeah, he's with them. All depressed since our mom died probably. Sad nobody put him out of his misery."

"So Azazel and I will be our human selves and go pretend we've changed sides?"

"Yeah, they might not trust you though. You might have to prove yourselves. Don't worry, you can always sneak here and Illusion and I can help you."

"What are you two gonna do?" Azazel asked. "While we're out doing the important stuff."

"I'm going to be the Shadow. Illusion will help me. We'll be running this place while you two go destroy. And when you come back, if you come back, Shade will take my place as Shadow, and I will step down."

Something told Shade that Sille did not intend to step down, but that was a future problem, so she didn't think too much about it for now.

"What if we just left now and spied on them for a bit?" Azazel smirked at the idea.

Shade was a little uneasy about it.

"Ooh, good idea 'Zazel!" Sille sounded excited. "Now remember, when you talk to them, say that I kicked you out because you were crying about our mother or some shit like that."

"Okay, then. Let's go and begin our spying adventure, sis'," Azazel smiled and put his arm around her's. "I'll help you get to Terra since you haven't done it this way yourself before. I've done it once, I think."

"Very reassuring, Azazel," Shade smiled.

"Alright then. Bye Illusion. Bye Sille. Also," Azazel smirked, "There's a surprise for you in your room, Sille."

"Another prank?" Sille said, trying not to smile at her younger brother.

"Maybe. You know, for old times sake," Azazel smiled then looked back at Shade. "Let's go."

Dark surrounded the two of them and Shade saw flesh pouring out of both of them. Soon, Shade was Fern, and Azazel was his human self and they were in Terra, in the woods behind the orphanage.

"So that's human Azazel. What's your name?" Fern looked him up and down. While she looked a little like a mini Kaye, he was black. She assumed that that had something to do with Sombra being a Shadow.

"Eli," he replied. "And you're...?"

"Fern."

"Alright, so where's the Shadmin and her girlfriend?"

"Don't know," Fern breathed. "They're bound to come nearby at some point, so let's just hide back here and watch the rest of the town until we see them."

"Alright, I can do that," Eli looked around at the town. "This place is so weird. It's all—like, colorful."

"Yeah, Forsaken was a little weird to me at f—oh my god it's them." Fern pointed across the street at the strawberry blonde hair of Liyah and light brown hair of Raine. "Follow them!"

The two eleven-year-olds started running towards the teens, trying not to be seen.

"Okay, so we're gonna get a DVD player, a movie, and a pizza?" Fern could hear Liyah asking.

"Yeah, can we get the first Harry Potter movie? I remember Alia saying that she snuck out and saw it and loved it. I think she stole the book two, but who knows what the fuck she's even stolen by this point," Raine smiled at Liyah, and Fern could see that the two were holding hands.

"What are those things?" Azazel asked.

"DVD players play DVDs. A movie is just like a story but in video form, often on DVDs, and pizza is a human food. Now shut the hell up, act normal, and follow them with me."

The twins followed them until finally, they had all the things they needed.

"Back to Orlumen?" Liyah asked.

Raine nodded and light began to surround them. Panicked and confused, Fern grabbed Eli's arm and ran at the two teens, dragging him along and eventually touching Raine's arm and also becoming encompassed by the light.