Boo's Ability

--Sky's Perspective--

---February 16th, 2446---

[60:51:01]

I woke up to the new number in my left eye, and slowly pushed myself out of the bed.

It was... comfortable, oddly. It reminded me of the same bed I had in The First Trial and caused memories to resurface as I processed it all. So many memories shot through my head, and all led back to Avie.

Everybody was dead asleep around me in the beds surrounding me. I first looked to Dani to make sure she was comfortable, then Faith, then everybody else. I chuckled, knowing my priorities were... in an interesting order.

I knew better than to leave this group home and reveal myself to Cole, but I still wanted to go out to visit Illya. I decided to stay in and stare at the ceiling for some time.

"You're up early." I heard Boo, yawning as she rustled within her quilted blanket.

"I guess so. Somebody has to keep watch." I told her.

"Hm... I guess you probably had an interesting life on that Isle. I would like to hear about it." She said. I looked up, thinking whether or not I should give her the full details... and then proceeded to tell her.

…

…

…

"So, those White Stone guys... they had our abilities before they all died?" She asked, staring at the White Stone in her left hand.

"That's right. You would've liked Talion, he was quite the man." I told her.

"Sure I would've. I think that if I woke up on that beach with you, then I wouldn't like anybody you used to know. After all, they're dead for a reason, aren't they?" Boo asked me, putting one hand on her hip and looking at me. When she stood a couple of steps away from me and looked down at me while I sat on my bed, I felt like I was being scolded.

"I guess they are dead for a reason. Do you think they were weak?" I asked her again, to follow up on her previous point.

"Maybe not weak. Just... unlucky. Your friends... that Domin, Red, Ullr, Cody, and Robby. Do you miss them?" She asked me. I shook my head, adding 'Xavier' and 'Drake' to those names.

"Of course I do. However, coping with death is an interesting thing. I'll never see them again, and I have to process that thought. It was my actions that got each and every one of them killed, and here I am, with no strength, and feeling sorry for myself day in and day out." I told Boo.

"I don't know what to think about what I've lost either. Without Mitra and Myth, my childhood has died. I've wondered several times if I could've been strong enough to save them, but when I remember your power, I feel... not as helpless. It wasn't your fault, but if somebody as strong as you couldn't save them, then I didn't stand a chance." Boo told me.

Her sorry attempt at making me feel better was not working. In fact, it only made me feel worse.

"It was just unlucky. You're faster than most people, Boo, you shouldn't look down on yourself like that. I don't think I can keep up with your speed." I said to her, consoling her behavior.

"That reminds me. Your lifespan is being reduced, and you're okay with it. You really don't want to give me back my ability?" She asked me.

"Not while Cole is alive. If I don't have it and he attacks, then I can't protect everybody. It's like you said. Sure, we might have different powers, but I'm the strongest. That's quite the large burden to bare." I explained to Boo.

"Hm, I see. I don't care, let me have it." She held out her hand.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple... Do you really want it? Here, I'll give it to you." I said. I grabbed onto her hand and pushed golden strands into her body.

Boo instantly flinched in pain as I attempted to put what I thought was her ability back into her body.

When I first became a Deity and housed the powers of my friends, one thing I felt was a certain tingle in my left hand whenever I would use it. That was still true currently. I knew I had nerves that were still alive in my left arm because I could feel that tingle when I transferred my strands to Boo, but I still couldn't move it.

That is currently my only hope for Avie and her livelihood. It all depends on that tingle.

After about thirty seconds of Boo covering her mouth so as to not leak out any noise and wake anybody up, she let go harshly and held onto her knees while panting.

"That's your ability in its rawest form. Golden Strands. Can you process it and recreate it?" I asked her.

"No... hell no I can't... it felt like my brain was melting... but, that was really my ability? Why does it feel... different?" She asked.

"Well, probably because this isn't The First Trial. That was a fake world with fake rules to the physics and reality itself. That's why I could use your abilities without limits in The First Trial. Now, it would probably knock time off of your lifespan as well. That's why I didn't want to give it back to you." I explained to her.

"Sure, but I'm still glad you gave it back. Will you return Shike's and the others?" She asked, looking at her white stone.

"No. Not until we all need to fight together, and if they want to." I said, but Boo scoffed a little too loudly.

"If they would? Come on, you're these people's God. Anything you do is idolized by the many, and patronized by the few. I believe that even in this city full of hatred for you, there is a group of people who appreciate the work you've done this far. Between you and I, would you kill us all if we wronged you?" Boo asked me. Her tone shifted, and I looked at her with sincere eyes.

"No." I said.