Recap: How did my best friend die?

Chapter 6

Shmee's past

The sun was shining, horribly bright. The sad slave lifted an arm and covered his face. A whip cracked and he went back to picking weeds. A siren sounded in the distance and he looked up. An elegant car pulled up and a woman stepped out. She wore a floor length dress and a feather boa. All around him, slaves looked up, staring at her. She looked around, stony faced. The slaves' master walked up to her and asked her question. Her voice answered and rang across the fields. "Yes. I come the city and I was looking for a handsome young man, has to be strong."

All around the sad slave, men started flexing while the women went back to work. The slave sighed and went back to work. I'll never escape.

"What about that one?"

He looked up quickly. The woman stood before him, hands on her hips. "Yes…this one has a handsome face…. I'll take it!"

His master stared. "But ma'am…that ones a mute! Cant talk, then how can he work for a high upper class woman like yourself?"

"No talking means no answering back. Like I said, I'll take him." The master sighed. "All right." He grabbed the slave and pulled him away. The others sighed and went back to work. The woman looked at him. She had bright blue eyes. "Don't you worry hon. All I need is some companionship and a helper."

If you wanted companionship, get a dog. The sad slave thought. He was pulled roughly into the master's house and pushed in a cage.

"Okay ma'am, sign here and that'll be 1000 watchers for the mute. Thank you."

The slave stared at her. She really wanted him! He was free! From the others at least. Out of the sun. The cage was pushed out of the room and attached to the car. The woman looked at him. "I'll call you…. Darkness, but your nickname shall be Shmee."

Shmee was 11 years old.

Three years later.

"My, my Shmee! You've grown!" Shmee looked up at the woman, now known as Mary. It was true, he was no longer 4, 11, and his face wasn't as round. He was taller, five, three to be exact, and was slimmer. He looked back down and placed the china teacup on the table in front of his mistress. She looked at him thoughtfully. "You need knew clothes Shmee, those are a bit small." He looked down at himself. Gone was the dirty loincloth and in its place was a pair of pants and a pair of black boots. He could see his ankles. He could also see his wrists. Shmee sighed and nodded. Mary smiled. "Good! We leave in a few moments!"

Shmee flinched. He hated the shops. Women always looked at him, sometimes in wonder, sometimes in anger, but always one or the other. They walked up and asked why he was so dark and then why didn't he answer. He stuck close to Mary as she picked out new clothes for him. The city wasn't big, just big enough to have everything from the ghettos to the grand bazaar. His hands tightened around the handles of the bags he was holding. He looked at his mistress. She was looking at a pale blue shirt. She held it up to him. "OOH! I like it! Okay Shmee, this is the last thing, then were going home."

He nodded and followed as she went to pay. He looked around. On the wall was a piece of paper. He frowned and tugged it from the wall. Good thing Mary taught me to read. The paper was a warning:

AS ORDER OF THE QUEEN,

ALL THOSE WHO ARE FOUND WITH SLAVES AND DO NOT RELENQUISH THEM WILL BE EXICUTED. THOSE WHO SET THEIR SLAVES FREE WILL BE FINED 10000 WATCHERS. IF YOU WISH TO RELINQUISH YOUR SLAVE, REPORT TO the palace ON THE SIXTH OF JULY.

Shmee stared. This paper meant he could be free. He was still looking at it when Mary came over. "Okay Shmee, ready! What are you looking at?" She took the paper and gasped. "OH! Well I obviously don't want to go to jail, so I'll set you free."

Shmee stared. I'm free? He allowed himself a smile. "Come along Shmee!"

He nodded and followed still smiling.

July 6

Shmee stared. From their hotel window he could see the palace. He never thought it would be so beautiful. He was dressed in his best and It was raining. He turned and looked at Mary. She was putting on layer of powder after layer. He cocked his head. She glanced at him. "You want to know why I'm putting so much makeup on, huh? Well, we are meeting the Queen and her family, and I want to make a good impression." Shmee nodded and turned to the door as it opened. A person in a suit of armor stepped in. "Ahem, Lady Mary and Darkness, you are the only one here, so as a form of gratitude, you only have to pay 1000 watchers."

Mary smiled. "Oh, thank you!"

She handed over the money. "We'll take your friend to the palace to see what he can do."

Darkness smiled sweetly at his mistress and waved as he walked out. The person in the armor sighed. "Man! I hate this job!" The person reached up and pulled off their helmet. Long hair flowed down her back. She smiled. "Hi! I'm Rozhe! What's your name?"

Darkness stared into her dark red eyes.

"I'm Darkness."

Roz gasped and sat up. Her pajamas were soaked with sweat. She rubbed her arms. "It's been fourteen years since I meet Darkness. Why am I remembering this?" Eclipse walked in.

"Why are you awake?"

Roz looked up at Eclipse. Eclipse was wrapped in her robe (a skeleton) and was holding a sleepy Pepito's hand.

"I wanted to see you in your awesome robe."

"Seriously?"

"No. I had that dream again."

"He died ten years ago, Roz!

"I know! But, it keeps finding me."

"That's because he's a stupid bugger!"

"Don't call him a stupid bugger!"

"But he is a stupid bugger!"

"Yes, but he's my stupid bugger!"

Eclipse rolled her eyes and sat across from Roz. "What was once a dream is know a nightmare, huh?"

"Yes."

Nyasha came in, holding a dragon incense burner. She walked around the room, waving the burner until she sat down next to Roz. "That was the Theban way of getting rid of bad dreams. I used to have eight of these burning every night for two months straight when Moon Glimmer died because Eclipse couldn't stop seeing it."

"How ironic, being killed by the one thing that worshipped you: dragons."

Eclipse looked at Pepito. He had crawled into her lap and fallen asleep again. "Life is hard when you're the son of the Dragon god."

Shmee stared at the picture. He was 17 and Roz was too. Eclipse, Nyasha and Kumori was 16 and Kygri was 14. Moon Glimmer was 16 too. In fact this picture was taken on his birthday. Shmee felt a tear and brushed it away. His best friend, died because of a stupid fight between them. He remembered.

"Just because you're a year older doesn't mean you can tell me how to live!"

"I'm not telling you how to live Moon! I'm explaining to you-"

"Explaining what, Shmee? Explaining how to use my powers?! HAH! What makes you think you know them better than I do!"

"I DON'T! That's why I want to know about magic! I don't have magic! I was STRIPED CLEAN OF ANY POWERS WHEN I WAS BORN!"

"I'm sorry…I forgot…"

"Yeah… yeah you forgot big time."

Shmee sighed. These books can help me or destroy me. I hope they will help.

He turned another page. A younger Roz stared back at him. He touched the page. I forgot, how beautiful she was… Something caught his eye. Dark gold eyes….

An older man stared at Roz, almost hungrily, and he had dark gold eyes…. Shmee's mouth opened. That's…. my old master!

Johnny looked at the paper in front of him. Drawn on it was a portrait of a young man. He had dark skin, hair and eyes. A scratch was on his cheek. He frowned. "Maybe Eclipse will know who this is."
The next morning.

Johnny sat up. He was sleeping a lot these days. He stumbled to the windows. The sun was shining fiercely and it was hot. He opened the front door. "Maybe I should uncover the windows."

He wandered in the kitchen. Squee sat there eating cereal and Shmee was on a chair next to him. There were three photo albums on the table.

"Hey, Squeegee! Where'd you get these?"

"They were on my bedroom floor."

Johnny pulled on over. Written on It was "Eclipse's memories".

"Squee, these are from our neighbors!"

"I know. I was going to give them back when I finished my cereal."

"We'll go together."

Kumori looked up when Eclipse walked in. Eclipse rubbed her stomach and stretched. "What time is it?"

"About ten."

"AT NIGHT?"

"NO, STUPID! In the morning!"

"Oh. Well you know how I am when I wake up and haven't eaten yet! What's for breakfast?"

"It's your day to cook."

"Pancakes it is." Eclipse pulled out the pancake mix when the doorbell rang. She went to the hallway and looked out. " I wonder who that is."

"I'LL GET IT!!!!!!!!!" Eclipse leaped back when Kygri ran past. She crashed into the door and pushed before realizing to pull. She flung it open. "HI!"

Johnny rang the doorbell and waited. Squee was talking quietly to Shmee. The two jumped at the sound of a body hitting the door. After another few seconds, Kygri flung it open. "HI!"

Johnny looked at her.

"Hey. Umm… Squee found these photo albums in his room… so umm…. Here."

Kygri looked at him, her eyes searching his. Finally she nodded and smiled. "I believe you! We were wondering why we felt a pure soul was in the house, I mean whoops."

She clapped a hand to her mouth and turned to Eclipse. Johnny raised an eyebrow at Eclipse's appearance.

Her hair was messed up and everywhere. Her clothes were a short skirt and t-shirt tied up in the back. She was pulling her hair up in a ponytail and had the hair tie in her mouth. She stared in shock at Kygri.

Kygri fluttered her eyelashes at Eclipse and skipped into the kitchen. Squee smiled at Eclipse, oblivious to the comment, "C'mon Squee. I think we caught them at a bad time."

Eclipse finally smiled and walked over to the pair, pulling her hair into a ponytail. "Good morning! Ignore her, she hasn't eaten breakfast."

Squee smiled. "What are you eating for breakfast Miss Eclipse lady?"

"Umm…strawberry pancakes."

Johnny pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. "Oh yeah. Would you know who this is?" He handed the drawing to Eclipse. She stared.

"That's Darkness, Roz's old boyfriend. He died ten years ago."

"Oh. Oh! I don't know how I drew that, it just happened."

"It's okay."

Johnny smiled slightly. Roz yawned and walked up behind Eclipse. "Yadem! That means Good morning."

Eclipse quickly shoved the picture down her shirt. "Mornin'! I was just starting to make my strawberry pancakes!"

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"That piece of paper you just shoved down your shirt." Roz pointed with a large black sword. Johnny stared. It was like Eclipse's only less feminine. This was a blade that Johnny can see, spearing people. In fact, the black blade had scratches and some dried substance on it that could be blood. When Squee saw it, he freaked out.

"SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeee………" Thunk.

"AGH! HE FAINTED!"

Eclipse stared and started to laugh. "That's funny!" She stepped over and scooped him up. "Come on. I know what'll perk him up."

Roz grinned. "Eclipse's famous strawberry pancakes! Nyasha! Eclipse's making Strawberry pancakes!"

"FOR REAL?! What the occasion? Death of someone she hates, or birth of a new sister?"

"No reason! She's just making them."

Nyasha came flying down the stairs. She ran into the kitchen and plopped at the table. "Food!"

Eclipse rolled her eyes. She carried Squee into the Kitchen and put him in a chair. Johnny sat next to him. Kumori was making a bird out of the newspaper and Kygri was reading the funnies. Nyasha was drumming her fingers waiting. Roz came in and stretched. She plopped next to Johnny.

"What made him faint?"

"You." Roz looked at herself. Blood stained jeans and a just as bad shirt.

"Oops."

Johnny turned to Eclipse. She was grabbing the things for the pancake mix. She then went to the pantry and came back carrying a basket and a small bottle. Johnny stood and walked over. In the basket were fresh strawberries and the bottle was pure vanilla extract. Eclipse smiled at him and started.

She grabbed a blender and plugged it in. She dropped in strawberries and then some extract. She blended it until it was a thick liquid. She poured it into a bowl and mixed everything else. She then chopped up ten more strawberries and dumped it into the mix. Within a few minutes, they were done.

Johnny looked at Squee. Squee groaned and opened his eyes. "What smells good?"

"My famous strawberry pancakes, kiddo."

Squee looked up at Eclipse. She smiled and put the plate in the middle of the table. Everyone reached in and grabbed one. Johnny popped a piece in his mouth.

"WOW! These are really good!"

"Hence, my famous strawberry pancakes. The ingredients: pancake mix, strawberries, vanilla extract and the pleasure of cooking for someone a.k.a love."

Shmee stared from Squee's side. Strawberry pancakes? I haven't had those in years. And is that chocolate milk Squee's gulping down? He glanced at Roz. She was eating calmly, but his extra super fuzzy vision helped him to see her hand was shaking. She finished and stood. "I better change."

She turned and left. Shmee glanced at Eclipse. She was sitting on the counter, eating as well. Every once and a while she glanced at Squee. Eclipse looked at her plate then got up and washed it. Squee got out of the chair and went up to Eclipse. He tugged on her pants and handed her his empty plate. She took it and ruffled his hair saying, "Go and finish your milk, hon." Shmee smiled to himself. Maybe having four younger siblings payed off for Eclipse. She would be a good mom. Squee grabbed him from the chair and ran to Roz who was changed into a red t-shirt and black pants. "Do you have vidieo games?"

Roz grinned. "Sure we do, kiddo! But finish your milk first. It helps grow strong bones! Huh, know I sound like a Nesquick commercial." She scratched her head and walked over to Eclipse. Yep. Roz and Eclipse can make good mothers. Why am I thinking this? I'm dead for crying out loud.

"What was that, Shmee?"

Nothing Squee. Finish your milk.

WOOT! I like milk! Ecpecially chocolate milk!

Eclipse: NOw I know why I'm reterded in the morning. Its her fault!

Roz: Nah! That's just you!

Eclipse: pulls out Ciel veszélyes geliefde My blade is hungry.

Roz:D. Gotta run!