Okay, I know this story's been completed for weeks now, but I decided to add a little Epilouge/Extra chappie. Sorta like the Hasbro Studio shorts for LPS and MLP.
So enjoy, and like what I was doing, I recommend reading the first part while listening to the song Find a Way from MLP FiM Magical Mystery Cure.
OH AND I SERIOUSLY MEAN AGAPE NOT EROS
"Checkmate, I win again," Zane told Cole, a grin on his face.
Cole stared at the chess board stubbornly. He shook his head and picked up one of his pawns, gazing over it. "I don't get it, how did you win?" He paused, "Again..."
Zane picked up the black King piece and showed it to Cole. "The goal of the game is not to let your opponent get your King. I cornered your King, thus letting him move nowhere as I have successfully won the game. There was nothing your other pieces could do, and nothing your King could do." Cole squinted and eyed the board.
"I think I get it... But I'm still not quite sure." Before Zane could explain anymore for the fifth time, Pixal loomed over the pieces, turning her head to Zane's.
"There is someone out front who would like to speak to you, Zane," she told him.
"What about me?" Cole asked out of curiosity, his eyes wide in the question. Pixal shook her head. "Oh... Okay," Cole looked down to the ground, feeling a little empty hearted.
Just because the others had seen a change in him, doesn't mean everyone else in the village tagged along.
So, Cole took the time that flew by to stay hidden in the booth. To the villagers, it seemed like a crime for Cole to just waltz in there. If he ever needed to go in or get through, Zane came with, trying his best to assure everyone that Cole was indeed safe to be around.
Cole turned his attention to the front of the booth, his eyes settling on Zane and the stranger at the counter. He had slick black hair, and a pair of round glasses propped on his face. He was wearing a black turtle neck with a very coat over it, he matched that with a pair of grey khakis. The man seemed to be in a wheelchair... Cole had never saw him before in his life.
"Is something wrong, Cole?"
Cole had forgotten Pixal was even there. "Oh, umm, no. I'm fine," he lied and reached over to gather up the pieces back in the bag. He rushed himself, hoping to get away as soon as possible. He didn't want Pixal, or anyone in fact, asking him anymore questions. "I have to put these away..." He said again, walking away with the board and bag in his hands.
Once he was a few feet away, he let out a sigh of relief and opened the door to his not to crowded room. After Lloyd heard Cole was staying with Zane and Pixal, he and Kai got to work building him a room to stay in. Zane and Pixal had their own beds in the booth, for when before Cole even came. Dumping the things onto the ground, Cole plumped onto his bed.
Dust hadn't come to visit him anymore after his best friend's death, Cole frowned at the thought, so he had nothing better to do than help Zane and Pixal around the shop. Other than staying indoors. The once crazy purple eyed sorcerer must've felt bad about what he did and decided to stay away from him.
"Hey, Cole!" A voice whispered from beneath him.
Oh, right.
Lloyd also had Kai install a small secret passageway in the back. Cole rolled over and poked his head out from the side of the bed, meeting Lloyd's eyes. Cole helped him up.
"What - what are you doing here?" Cole stuttered. He just wanted to be alone for now.
"Wanted to stop by and give you this," Lloyd said, handing him a small box. "But, while I'm here, I might just stay a little longer." He grinned.
Cole bit his lower lip. "Well, I wanted to be alone for a little while..." He said softly, setting the box on a table by the other side of the bed.
"Why? Is something wrong?"
Cole didn't answer.
"You haven't came out for a while now... Come on, Cole... Why don't you have dinner with over at my place with Kai and Nya?"
He still kept silent.
Lloyd gazed downwards. "I guess I'll leave you then," he said sadly and headed out from the front of the booth, but stopping to greet Zane, Pixal, and the stranger at the front.
Cole hung his head down and lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He didn't feel like opening the present right now. He didn't feel like going to that dinner. He didn't feel like asking Zane about the man he was talking to. He didn't feel like doing anything.
Just then, there was a soft knock on the door. Cole turned his head and blinked, was that Jay? No, it couldn't be. He was... Gone. He blinked again.
It was just Zane.
Stupid imagination... Cole growled in his thoughts. You led me to believe I could get away from Dust. You caused all this from the beginning...
Cole turned his head to continue staring up at the ceiling.
"Brother, are you feeling alright?" Zane questioned Cole with worry in his eyes. "You were fine a few days before. Is there something wrong, Cole?"
He didn't reply again.
Zane walked forward, sitting on the bed by Cole. "Tell me, Cole. You must let your feelings out."
Cole rolled over to his side. "I just want to be alone right now, Zane."
"I understand, but Lloyd told me you didn't look very well."
Cole turned around, sitting up. "I'm fine, okay? Just leave me alone!" He cried, glaring intensely at Zane.
"I... Understand..." The droid stood up and began towards the door. He kept his back to Cole.
"Zane, I'm sorry! I just -" before he could finish, Zane was already out the door. Cole's problems were just growing worse. He reached over for Jay's wrench and clutched it close to his chest.
Outside, Pixal looked at Zane with eyes filled with worry.
Zane shook his head glumly.
"What do I do, Jay?" Cole whispered, staring out of his circular window. It was raining outside. He looked at the wrench, saddened.
"You can start, by saying 'hi'," a deep voice said from behind him. Cole turned around, his eyes widening.
"Why didn't you come before?"
Dust picked up Lloyd's little gift and handed it to Cole.
"Like I said during that dinner, after what I did to your life, I made my decision never to come back... But you really need Jay, don't you?"
Cole shook his head. "It's not just that. The whole village still hates me."
"Wipe that frown off your face. You have friends that like you just the way you are. So what if the rest of the village doesn't like you? You've got great friends and a great family." Dust stretched an arm out to Cole, handing him the gift. "Never forget that."
"Cole, you in there?" He heard Kai's voice ask through the wooden door.
"Uh, just a minute!" Cole looked back at Dust, then the gift. He took it and stared at it.
"Its your choice, Cole." Dust clicked his fingers and disappeared out of sight.
Cole set down the gift and stood up, still holding the wrench, and opened the door. "Hey, Kai."
"You feeling better? You definatly look like it," Kai smirked. His gaze settled on the wrench. "Its been two weeks since you know, and your still holding that thing?"
Cole raised a brow. "And that's supposed to mean?"
"It means you can't get over the fact that he's gone," Kai paused then continued, "and that you care."
Cole was stunned. "Are you saying...? Cause I'm not."
"No, no, no. You care for him in... What's the right word... The agape way. See what I mean?"
"Oh. Could've said that before cause you were sounding a bit... Well, what you were saying was beginning to get weird."
"I'm known for that. So are you coming to the dinner tonight over at Lloyd's place? Zane and Pixal are going. They said they were going to close the shop early if you were coming. If not, you were to take over."
Cole thought about it. He was feeling up to the invite now. "Sure." Kai grinned ear to ear. "By any chance, did Zane ever tell you who he was talking to up there?"
Kai shrugged. Then said, "I think his name was Cyrus... Cyrus Borg. Said Jay came over once. He stopped by to ask Zane a few questions. Why?"
"Just curious. Never seen him before in my life."
Kai elbowed Cole playfully. "That's what you get by living locked up with a evil dude all your life." They both laughed.
Once Kai left, Cole fell back in bed. What to do next to pass time until the "big" dinner? His eyes drifted over to the box and a smirk crept up his face. Cole picked back up the box and began to unwrap it carefully.
He wondered what was inside.
After removing the green ribbon, he lifted the lid.
It was a book... And a pen?
He lifted them out of the box.
The pages were blank.
Noticing there was a note slipped in between the pages, he took it out and read it.
To, Cole: to write your own story
- Lloyd
He started with:
I miss you, Jay...
