Becoming Fae
Shadows in the Dark

“So, being able to command the shadows means that you can use them to hide yourself,” Dad explained after lunch. “It’s not invisibility, but in the right conditions, it’s near enough. You aren’t a dark fairy, so you won’t blend in naturally, so you’ll have to actually focus on doing it.”

“Can I just bend the light in order to make myself invisible?” I asked him.

“There are some light fairies that can, but I’m not a light fairy,” he smirked at me. “You’ve been controlling the shadows for some time, however now you need to focus on doing it on purpose. It’s not incredibly difficult, once you get the idea of it.”

“And what is the idea of it?” I asked him.

“Using your mind to tell them what you want. They’re incredibly limited in what they can do, but a dark fairy doesn’t need much help when assassinating a target,” Dad answered.

“Can we not call it that?” I grimaced. “It makes me feel like I should be hiding in a book depository or sneaking up on someone at an opera or something.”

“Call it what you want,” he shrugged. “Now, think about the shadows. Since you can control them already, you’ll know when you connect with them because they’ll wait for your command.”

I frowned but did as I was told. It took a while before I noticed that some of the shadows were... I guess you can say facing me, though they had no faces. Or bodies. Or anything, really.

“Now, have them cloak your body. You can still be seen, but it’ll be harder to do so in low light,” Dad explained.

I tried and the shadows slipped away from me, and I growled, starting over again.

And again.

And... again.

“This isn’t working,” I huffed in frustration. “And I’m getting a headache.”

“You’re forgetting that shadows aren’t exactly living beings, They’re just copies. They don’t think, they just exist,” he explained. “The fact that you see them laying over objects you can’t see by aura means that you’re already using them.”

“But I’m not even trying,” I growled.

“Think of it like... cloth,” he tried to explain. “You can lay a cloth over something and see the shape of it. You can also use the cloth to make clothes. A shadow is just a material to be used and then reused endlessly.”

“So... sewing. I suck at sewing,” I said flatly.

“Gluing. You’re gluing the shadows together to make them into what you need them to be,” he nodded eagerly. “Try again.”

I sighed and tried again, watching as the shadows moved around, sticking together and shifting around until I had a Fae shaped shadow suit standing before me.

“Um... That’s... not what I meant, but... Good-good job,” Dad stuttered, and I tilted my head.

“What is it now?” I groaned.

“Nothing, but... I don’t know of anyone that can make a perfect replica of themselves made of just shadows,” he said slowly, passing his hand through it. “It’s... remarkable.”

I made it wave and jump around before I frowned as an idea began to form in my head.

“Do you think I could add color to it? Maybe make it thicker, so it looks like an actual me and not shadow me?” I asked Dad, letting the image of my shadow self fade. “It would be kind of useful to have a copy of myself to use as another distraction if I need it.”

“You’re already in the area of ‘unheard of’, Fae,” he said softly, coming over to put his hands on my shoulders. “I suppose, if you wanted to be technical, you could. A shadow is only possible because of light, after all. I don’t know how you would be able to do it, but I’m not even sure how you were able to make the copy of yourself so visible and lifelike in the first place. I’d say it was almost like an illusion, but it wasn’t.”

“Wait,” I held up a hand, getting excited. “I could use illusion instead of light!”

“It takes a long time to master illusions, though,” Dad frowned.

“So? I’ve already done some freakishly advanced things, why not this too?” I beamed. “I can use the shadow me to lead the rest of Wrath’s army on a wild goose chase while I slip my behind onto the Throne.”

“Look, illusions are tricky. They take a lot of different elements to pull off if you weren’t born to them like Ben is,” he shook his head. “I don’t want to sound like I’m trying to be cruel or hurt you, but you’re only barely able to use the basic elements individually. Yes, you’ve done some incredibly advanced things, but that’s not because you’re trying to. It’s instinct and not wholly reliable.”

“But it could be done, right?”

“In theory?” he said and paused for a long while. “You do have unusually strong command of the shadows and it would be significantly less bothersome to use an illusion for your features than for your whole being. Technically, I suppose it could be done. Illusions take a lot of concentration, though.”

“If Ben can focus long enough to make them, I can,” I snorted.

“Ben is a fox. They are born with the ability to create illusions. You aren’t. There’s a reason why so few species in the Sidhe can use them, Fae,” he said. “But you do make a point. You have done some freakishly advanced things since coming here.”

“Thanks?” I tilted my head a little bit, making him laugh. “You know, there’s cartoons where ninjas or magicians use shadows to fight with.”

“That’s not how that works, but nice imagination,” he said, ruffling my hair. “It would be useful, if it were possible, though.”

-----

I pinched my eyebrows as I focused really hard on what I wanted to happen. It’s been a week since Dad came to visit and preparations for battle have turned the tunnels into a hive of activity. When I wasn’t with Netiri, learning how to make a deeper connection with my spirit self to better control my magic, I was with Immail, learning to make my own weapons from whatever material or mineral there was around me. Or with Ben, trying to learn how to use illusions along with the shadows. Or with Naz and Rollie, learning how to use different weapons. Or with Harmon, learning how to use my wings like a Celestial in battle, turning them into an asset instead of a hindrance.

We’d already started the dirty tactics against Envy’s army, and it had slowed them significantly, buying us some time, but we could all feel the pinch of tension as that time inevitably dwindled away. There’s only so much we can do in such a short amount of time, and we knew it all hinged on me succeeding in getting to the Throne and staying alive after I claim it until the Legions arrive.

“It’s wavy, but it’s not bad,” Ben commented, and I grunted as I let the illusion fade along with the shadow me.

“I could hold it for a minute or two, but it’s too obvious, isn’t it?” I asked him.

“Yeah, it’s pretty obvious,” he admitted, and I huffed. “You’re doing remarkably well, though, Fae. For someone who isn’t born to use illusions, you’re picking it up quickly.”

“Not quick enough,” I groaned.

“Holding an illusion steady is something even foxes struggle with at first. It’s safe to say that even though yours are wavy, it’s still a lot better than what I was able to do when I first Awakened,” he said. “I think your lessons with Netiri are helping, at least. It seemed a little more stable.”

“You’re just trying to make me feel better,” I accused, and his aura flashed with emotion, making me snort. “Busted.”

I hadn’t quite learned which colors meant what emotion, but the reddish pink was absolutely embarrassment, and the blue-green-orange was annoyance or frustration.

“I don’t like your ability to see my emotions. Walking lie detector, I swear,” he muttered, and I grinned at the faint flash of yellowish orange, meaning he wasn’t telling the whole truth. Just the part he believed the most.

“I’m enjoying it,” I laughed. “Speaking of... How’s Ava?”

He flashed bright, blushy pink and I roared with laughter, earning a scowl. His stalker fox was crushing hard on Ben, but Ben was secretly attracted to her, too. It was so funny watching him trying to hide it now that I could literally see it like a neon sign.

“Stop picking on Ben,” Mal laughed as he came over with Glitter skipping ahead of him. “Gluttony and Greed have agreed to prepare for the march on the castle. They agreed to follow your general completely.”

“Former lord of the demons demoted to a general,” I scoffed and shook my head. “How insulting.”

“It was his idea,” Mal chuckled.

“Your wonderful Highness!” Glitter greeted me with a deep bow and nothing but adoration around him. “The hounds are nearly finished being fitted with harnesses and the imps are most excited to be useful during the fight for freedom.”

“As if you weren’t incredibly helpful already,” I shook my head.

“Some of us wish to do more,” he nodded vigorously.

“Fae!”

I turned to replace a mix of colors that I knew belonged to Heather. Interesting enough, her aura was kind of like a lava lamp with a bit of glitter in it. Chimeras were strange people.

“Heather,” I nodded at her. “Something happened.”

“The war is going to happen sooner than you think,” she panted, out of breath from running to catch up with me.

“We’re able to adjust a little bit,” Mal shrugged.

“No! I mean it’s going to happen in like, three days! If it happens then, we’ll all die in here,” she grabbed my shoulders and gave me a small shake. “You have to act first.”

“Alright,” I nodded to her and held her elbows. “Glitter, let the others know. I leave tonight for the Demon Lands.”