"AAAAAAHH!!...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
The scream was deafening, making Jason's head numb from shock as it origionated from behind him, and even worse he recognized the voice. In that moment his heart stopped beating, the world seemed to slow down around him, and panic finally set into the deepest parts of his soul.
Chris and Jason had been best friends for almost as long as they can remember. Jason had lived in an orphanage since he was one year old, and never being adopted led to him developing a rather antisocial personality and never playing with the other kids in town. That finally changed when he was six years old, and Chris also joined the orphanage. Origionally Jason ignored him like everyone else, expecting him to quickly get adopted by a new family and leave him alone; however one day at the town park, while he was sitting on the swings, he heard:
"Why do you always sit alone out here?"
Jumping in shock he turned to the voice and saw Chris looking at him with a slightly tillted head.
"Umm... Uh... wh.. wha. what's it to you?!" He yelled back.
"You just look so lonely, so I... I thought we can me friends!" Chris returned happily, before continuing in a slightly subued tone; "and I don't really know anyone else here...PLEASE BE MY FRIEND!"
Before long they were never seen apart, always doing everything together, even after Chris became adopted a few years later, it got to the point that when Jason started bulking-up after puberty hit, and Chris started looking more an more androgenous, others started thingking they were boyfriend and girlfriend. While Chris found it very humiliating, and couldn't wait for his muscles to start bulking up, Jason became very protective of him, making sure that his weaker best friend wouldn't get picked on by other boys who knew Chris was a boy.
Which is why when Jason saw the world shatter, and that tantalizing, yet terrifying, woman and man appeared his first priority was protect his only true friend from harm, and why that scream shattered his world in a way the surrounding space-storm never could.
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Turning around Jason saw his best friend, his only true friend being swallowed by the chaotic space behind him, and, in a panic, managed to pull him into his arms before he was swallowed. Looking into each other's eyes, Jason knew Chris would never make it, and made an instant decision. Turning to the woman, who had seemed so ethereal to him earlier, he shouted:
"HELP!! Save him... Please... please" he yelled, before he felt an immense pressure seem to settle on his shoulders, as his courage fled hime in the face of this seemingly fathomless woman that had just muredered a man before his very eyes. He could only lower is head in the face of her glare, talking softer, and softer, until he once again saw Chris's unconcius, face, and realized that this was his only chance. Only a myrical could save Chris now, and this woman seemed to have created the space storm around him, something completely beyond his understanding.
"This is all Your Fault! Save him NOW!!!" The pressure instantly magnified, causing Jason physical pain, yet even so he kept his eyes firmly locked with the woman's, before:
"He he ha ha ha ha ha..." She started laughing with pure mirth, almost hypnotising Jason with its beauty before he could control himself, until she finally calmed down and mumbled "how many yaers has it been..." trailing off into incomprehensibleness. Coming closer she lifted her right hand up where a green glow emerge and wrapped around Chris's body, lifting him in the air, and stopping the seemingly endless gush of his lifeblood from pouring out.
"Very well mortal! I shall save your lover's life, and even improve her potential, before I send you two to a higher realm than this piece of dust you live upon, repaying my Karma to you. However, in order to gain my help you must first prove your determination, and pass my test, however be warned if you fail, both you and your lover shall perish." She stated, with a slight smirk upon her lips.
"Fine! I'll do it! But just so you know, Chris is a boy." he replied.
"Of course I know; however, this Nine Yin Samsara Pill is the only pill I have that could possibly heal an injury of that level without destroying a mortal's body. Unfortunately this pill only helps women; however, because he is a mortal with no way to resist its affects it will overpower his very being and recreate it as a twelve year ol female, with a very strong Yin constitutuion. Do you still wish to continue?"
"Yes!" was the immediate answer, "even if he... she hates me later it would be worth it if she lives."
"Very Well, until you have finished your trial I shall keep you lover with me, you have one year to complete the fourth stage." She waved her hand and blackness filled his vision. When he could see again he was in a room filled with strange, glowing symbols, lying on top of an altar in the center of the room.