It's the Thought That Counts

By Zatarra L. Vulpe

He drew the strings of his hoodie a little tighter, smiling as he arranged the fist-sized censer and bowl together. The lights were dimmed, his outline and shadow mixing. In a soft flick the fire was lit, below the bowl. He chanted low, syllabic, with extended pauses and small sounds that hadn't had context in centuries. There were a few man-shapes in the darkness, beyond a ring of stones, eyes catching the firelight. Slowly he drew his hand back. The chipped obsidian bled the firelight into a deep crimson. His muscles tensed, his voice rose, the dagger fell.

The wrapper split evenly.

"Okay guys, you can turn on the lights now!"

The vanilla walls flashed to brilliance, sets of recessed incandescent bulbs gave them a carnation tint. The little chocolate bar fell into the bowl neatly, the chocolate slumping slightly. The guy kneeling before the coffee table drew his hood back and gave a little smile to the other three in the room. His brown hair stuck out in tufts, naturally. He drew up his pants and stood, swallowed by his own clothes. The curtains were drawn back, jagged skyscrapers and lights from offices dotting the horizon, a gentle glow rising from the streets.

"So we can eat now, right Adam?"

He nodded, giggling with glee. "Of course guys! Let's enjoy something nice and warm."

There were four of them, each just noticeably taller than Adam. A wider man with dark hair and a full beard gave a grunt, scratching just below a little flat heart monitor line. 'Sorry, you must have bored me to death.'

"'Bout time."

"Sorry for the wait Phil, do you like soft or hard shell?"

"Hard."

A girl with two tone blue and white hair rolled her eyes and shoved Phil out of the way, grabbing a plate and walking over to the coffee table, admiring the steaming plates of tortillas and seasoned chicken. She was careful to keep any from getting on her fingerless fishnet gloves.

"Christ Mare."

"Christ yourself Phil! Thanks for making all of this for us Adam."

"Oh it's no problem, enjoy all you like! I've got a few more plates too if we need any, speaking of which..."

As Adam wandered into the kitchen, a cocoa skinned guy with close kept bleached hair and a pair of thin glasses followed him. His voice was a soft baritone, his movements gentle as his hand rest on Adam's right shoulder.

"Hey, need any help?"

"Oh, thanks Sean, yes please, just look out for the beans you like."

Sean gave a little laugh and lofted a few plates. His free hand ruffled Adam's hair.

"Don't you worry, I'll be fine man."

Adam lowered his head slightly, a thick blush playing over his cheeks as Sean strolled out of the kitchen. A plate of guacamole nearly fell out of his hands. He stumbled and managed to hold the plate before grabbing another one, turning around and smoothly placing them beside his little altar, resting on a small replica ziggurat similar to those in carefully arranged Mayan ruins.

"Why do you do this crap? It's not even an actual religion."

Adam looked to Phil and gave a little shrug. "It's what I believe."

"That's not an excuse. I mean you can't seriously believe this has some kind of effect."

"Oh, I know it does."

"How?"

"I have faith."

"Oh boy, you have faith."

Adam gives a little nod and passes a plate and a soft tortilla to Sean. Mare is already taking a little bite out of her own hard shell. The three of them sat on the couch beside one another, giving a little giggle as Mare ended up inadvertently tickling Adam. Phil gave another sigh.

"Are you enjoying your taco, Phil?"

"Yeah, it's okay, but that's not it."

"Oh... Well, I'm sorry, did you need something else?"

"Yeah, a real explanation for this fetishism of yours."

Adam glanced to the melting chocolate bar, the flame still flickering over the little black bowl.

"It's faith. I can explain it to you if you want."

"Faith, you keep saying that but I'm not sure you know what it means."

Mare gave Phil a disgusted look.

"What? I'm calling this insanity out."

Sean sighed. "Man, really, is it that big a deal?"

"Yeah, I dunno why I have to be party to a sacrifice of perfectly good milk chocolate."

"You don't have to Phil, it's okay, really, I won't make you do anything that offends you. The sacrifice is mostly symbolic anyway."

"Kind of too late, isn't it?"

"Hey, Adam asked you beforehand, alright? You didn't even have to be in the room."

"Yeah, and get guilted for not joining in the cult ritual?"

Mare made a groan. "Jesus! You're so twisted! Adam said it was fine, you didn't have to do anything."

Phil crossed his arms and stared into the shattered remains of his meal for a moment. "Well... Alright, fine, what is this weird cult you've got?"

Adam smiled brightly. "It's simple really: tonight is a day seen hundreds of years in advance, a day when a calendar accurate to the day ends. Some say it's the apocalypse, that we'll see the end of life as we know it, perhaps even the end of humanity itself. Others say nothing will happen that really life will just go on as it always has."

"So what do you believe?"

"A little of both."

Phil snorted. "Get out."

"I think it will be a time of great change, a time when sentient and sapient will shall bring something that changes the way we live, the way all things live, but allow life to carry on. I think we'll all become something new, heralded by a great rainbow winged serpent with golden scales visible in all the skies."

"Oh boy, and we'll all hold hands and drink the special cool-aid."

Adam gave a little giggle. "If that's what you want, sure!"

"You're simply incredible. Just... Whatever."

"That's alright, you have your own beliefs, I understand."

"'Beliefs,' not 'disorders.'"

Mare gave a shrug. "Oh yeah, none of those out of you."

Sean sat up, grabbing another tortilla. "Guys, girl, can we just enjoy tonight? Rainbow serpents or not, it's still a nice get together, right? I mean it's been a while since I've seen you guys."

Adam gave a little nod, his eyes lingering on Sean's glasses. "Yeah! That's mostly why I called you guys over here, I've been so busy with exams and stuff."

Phil grunted, grabbing another hard shell. "Yeah, okay, but can we at least watch something? It's way too quiet in here."

Mare gasped, "Oh yeah! I just got a few DVD's from a friend. She likes to do zombie flick kind of stuff, but she has these weird romance plots going on in the middle."

Sean breaks into a smirk, "That sounds pretty cool actually, that sound good generous host?"

Adam nodded, "Wow, that does sound good, though it doesn't have too many jump scares does it?"

Mare giggled as she drew a little jewel case out of a pocket. "Oh come on ya baby, it's not that bad."

The movie was all the sort of splatter they'd been promised: from the first few minutes there were more than a few realistic decapitations with not so realistic fountains of arterial spray. Mare was doing her best to only give little commentaries. She knew most of the actors and actresses, how they'd managed to set up the blood packets, even what the angle of the shot was supposed to be called. Phil was laughing until his belly shook, making fun of the same effects. Adam was holding Sean's hand tightly, leaning close to him. Sean didn't seem to mind, even whispered little comforts to his friend, letting him know things were okay even as the love scenes started up. They were almost silent, understated, the living dead literally fading into the background. Adam felt that way, like the world was drawing away from himself and his friend, like he could hear their heart beats in synchronicity. As the heroine's lips drew closer to her lover's, Adam couldn't help but feel his own drawing close, toward something warm.

All too soon the movie was over. Mare laughed as she switched out DVDs. Phil was going into detail about what the movie really represented. Adam found himself still holding Sean's hand...

"Uh, hey, you doing okay?"

Adam blinked, his hand behind his head. "Oh, me? Yeah, no problem, just a little hungry again is all."

Sean smiled. "Here, how about I get you something? I'll be right back."

"Oh no you don't have to-"

Sean gave him a little wink. "Trust me."

Adam felt like his insides were melting, he even felt a little flutter in his abdomen. "O-okay."

Sean stood and walked into the kitchen. It was about this point that Adam realized he still had a good deal of food literally right under his nose, but his cheeks were too warm, his eyelids lowered slightly. The next movie started, this time it was looking like a ghost story, but Adam could barely pay attention, his mind stuck on the occasional clink in the kitchen. He tried not to hug himself a little, a gentle hum escaping his lips while the other two in the room kept their own arguments going. They seemed to grow distant, the room darkening a bit as there was a close up on a phantasmal actress.

And then that faded from sight.

Adam blinked. There was no sound, no light. Adam reached out, or tried to, and couldn't see his own hand. His brow furrowed, or he imagined it did, did it still exist? What time is it? He would have gasped. Had it come to pass? Was this the end? Was he wrong?

He heard a deep, chanting voice, similar to the language he'd muttered in earlier in the night. My child.

Adam's eyes turned about in the blackness. He 'blinked.' His vision was filled with light. He saw a small face, but it was close, a square, stone statue head... But it moved. It was similar to those he'd seen on temples of the Aztec and Inca, many he'd used in his own worship. It was strange, fleshy, colors swirling gently, flowing like liquid. It stuck mostly to primaries, with yellow eyebrows, blue lips, red flesh, and eyes that were all three.

"You... You're..."

I am, my child.

"So... I..."

Yes, my dear child. I have returned to this world as many within humanity have foreseen, though none quite so clearly as you.

Adam felt a smile drawing along his face. He felt as though he were in the warm sunlight, as though he were flying. He felt tears in his eyes, but everything was so clear, as he'd always thought it had been.

"Th-thank you."

The head was soft, slow, giving a gentle nod of understanding as its large, round, exaggerated eyes opened.

I may yet thank you, my child, for I may find no one more suitable to be my herald.

Adam felt such a shock run through him, of what he could feel. "M-me?"

Of course. None have known of me to such extent as you have. The coming age would be well served with one as pure and devoted to bring the light of dawn to all the world.

"B-but I'm not... I'm just..."

You are worthy, my child. You may not think it, but I see it within you.

Adam couldn't contain himself, his eyes were running with his tears, his body racked in sobs. "I... I... I cannot th-thank you enough for such an honor. But I... I am selfish... I..."

You are not selfish, child. Love is never a selfish thing. You will have time for him even as you will have time to be my herald. The coming world shall be far different from your own, and yet life shall go on for all. But to explain is not to be, and this is a thing best understood by being. I ask this of you my child: will you take on the mantle as my herald? Will you act as my embodiment to the end of one era and the beginning of another? Will you be change?

Adam felt himself nodding automatically. "Y-yes."

The head's eyes seemed to grow soft.Very good, let us let the being begin.

Adam started to feel feverish. He shut his eyes, but could still see a golden light through the lids. When his eyes opened again he saw his arm. Golden scales were starting at his fingertips, covering his hands like gloves. He gasped as his nails sharpened to points, giving him pearlescent claws. His arms felt small, slim, but as he knelt to the ground, they easily supported his weight. His legs ached slightly, he felt them drawing together, their forms coated along the calves and heels in golden scales, the front in pearl scutes. He couldn't draw them apart, but soon he could move them as one, his tail extending behind him as it flowed evenly into his hips. He soon righted himself. The muscles easily adapted into their new shapes. He curled them into a golden circle as the scutes seemed to slowly spread along his chest and abdomen. He felt them rise over his throat, to his chin as it extended. His hair furled out, long tufts becoming a prismatic mane of feathers. His nose followed his chin, forming a short muzzle coated in shining, reflective aurum below his large eyes. Those bulged slightly, now bearing vertical slits for pupils, but they were the same soft green. His muzzle fell open as fangs would unfold from his mouth. His shoulder blades pushed against his bright scales. He gave a gentle moan as new muscles drew away from his back, golden scales giving way to more rainbow feathers. His wings grew seemingly infinitely, at least twice the span of his longer body. The light played along the tips. They changed as they moved, through the spectrum and back again. Adam sighed. His nerves knew only afterglow.

Yes, you are ready my herald. Return to the world, bring the word of my return, and begin the new age.

Adam's body glowed in the gentle light of the TV screen. He blinked. His golden scales and great wings remained, but he was curled on the couch beside Sean, who simply stared at him.

"A-Adam?"

Phil practically screamed, leaping out of the chair and hiding behind it, panting heavily. Mare felt the hair rising on her body as she subconsciously edged away.

Adam's voice was soft, friendly. "Yes, Sean. I'm sorry if I frightened you, but... I've been chosen. The new age is coming, I am it's herald."

The three of them stared at the winged snake, light seeming to subtly emanate from his body.

"But... You're..."

"Yes, this is the form that has been given to me. I'm sorry if it frightens you, I can change it if you like."

Sean looked him up and down, the way the snake's head drooped slightly. Sean raised a hand and placed it on the slightly warm scales of his shoulder. "No, I know you're you, no matter what shape you are."

Adam's muzzle raised, he smiled, his eyes growing wet as he drew Sean into a gentle hug. Sean slowly rubbed his back, just between his wings. "Thank you, my...my..."

"My love." Sean finished.

Such light, such warm tears from his eyes, like molten gold. His muzzle rubbed gently against Sean's cheek, the scales warm and smooth. He drew back with the ease of his new shape. "Dearest... As much as it pains me, I must leave for now. The new age is dawning, I must be in the skies, but I will return when the day is clear. Don't worry, all will be well, you shall soon understand what is coming."

Sean seemed a little uncertain, but he simply nodded, ruffling some of the great serpent's head feathers. Adam lowered his head and felt heat rising to his cheeks, giving a little, soft 'murr.' Mare couldn't help but giggle. Sean spoke. "Go ahead honey, I'll wait for you right here."

Adam gave a nod. In the next moment he was at the far window of his apartment. He drew it open in a smooth motion and curled his wings. He spread them as he hung out of the window, several stories above the pavement. They spread, then flapped. The air seemed to cradle him as he rose into the sky. His light grew. The sky was slowly lit, the clouds lined with gold. The sky itself seemed to brighten as his form grew. He was longer than a bus, then a plane, then one of the many sky scrapers themselves. He was so bright, it was as though day had come. Soon the sun rose upon the land, and it was eclipsed by his brilliance. The colors changed, growing more intense, outlines seemed to mix, and in short order the world began its metamorphosis.

It was the buildings first. Some remained as they were, while others were removed entirely, and still others became something strange, more natural. Some unfurled like great trees onto the skyline, others rose like mountains, but each had enough space without shifting the others. Banks and insurance buildings and hospitals vanished overnight, but coffee shops and malls became grand plazas and meeting-homes where people would stay simply to enjoy each other's company. Many shops disappeared, for there was simply no need for them. Streets would curl and stretch, widen and grow softer, enough for travel by foot. Many cars simply vanished, many others became like small homes unto themselves. The landscape was forever changed, cities and towns such a chaotic mix, but somehow still in harmony.

Another thing people noticed quickly was a lack of money. It had simply vanished. But many noticed they didn't have need for it: nature was plentiful, capable of naturally sustaining their people and their devices, what of them remained. New devices came into place, each of them intuitive, and allowed so many cameramen, programmers, researchers, and others to continue on much as they had before. However, most simply didn't need to. If it was thought, it was done, simply as that. Those that desired health had health, those that wanted entertainment saw entertainment, those who wanted warmth were warm, those who wanted cold were cold, and all without the need of technology. It was simply a matter of will.

This, of course, leaves the life of the land. Animals and plants lived in relative peace, continuing on as many of them had, but they realized the change, realized they no longer needed to consume one another, and they didn't. There was no starvation, no lack of community or presence amongst the flora and fauna of the earth, which developed in bright colors and many shapes and sizes. Some grew into the shapes of men, others remained as they were, and many took a form between, and often one would become the other as they desired.

Humanity was a similar case. Once it was realized that will was all one needed to have what one wanted, humanity started 'perfecting' itself, into shapes similar to their famous, idealized forms seen in many stars and models. But this quickly bored the majority of people. After all, one could be anything, right? Soon humanity was not merely one species. Every shape that a person had ever desired was represented in this new group of beings. Some took the shape of animals or plants, others of objects, many somewhere in the middle, and others still stranger things. Each could transition from one shape to another at a mere thought, with new rules to govern their form written as they saw fit. In the new light, tensions over perceived traits vanished, for it was not the body that governed one's shape, but the mind.

Once the new sun had risen over the changed lands, the great creature that had been simply Adam returned to where his apartment had been. It was larger, with lavish windows of jade and great stone columns to support it. Adam flew into his old room, which grew to a much greater size, covered in gold and in great Mayan motifs, torches on the soft, green walls and great couches before a wall that was pitch black, slightly reflective. Adam admired the place, fairly certain his friends had made this in his absence. He chuckled at them, until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

When his head turned he saw milky white eyes, a cheek ripped open, with dried, blackened blood along exposed teeth. A hand missing several fingers reached out for him and there was a deep, moaning sound emanating from it's throat. It had stained, frayed blue and white hair, skin the color of tanned leather. Adam screamed and practically sprung away from the zombie, shivering slightly as he curled into the couch.

Then the zombie pointed and laughed in Mare's voice.

"I knew it! Look at the big scared bird!"

Adam gave a sigh. "Goodness, you got me good!"

The zombie smiled. Adam couldn't restrain a giggle at the sight. "I know right? This is so awesome! I mean no make-up or anything, this is the best Adam!"

Adam smiled. "I know and I'm glad you enjoy it, dear friend."

The wall lit up in a moment. On the large screen was what seemed to be a woman reminiscent of those in Anime: a shock of pink hair, with large, shiny eyes. She almost seemed to be giving a little begging face, her eyes watering a little. "A-Adam-san, can you ever forgive me?"

Adam blinked for a moment, but then smiled warmly. "Of course Phil."

The face in the wall lit up with stars and hearts and a warm smile, hatched, red blush playing across her cheeks. "Th-thank you, I'm sorry I was so grumpy before, but now everything is so much better!"

Adam couldn't help but chuckle. "That's fine, don't worry about it, just enjoy yourself."

She nodded, the screen flickering as it showed her in the center of a group of boys, each of them in a similar uniform, herself giggling with a few girl friends as the scene was 'animated' along the screen. She looked out toward her friends outside of the screen. "You guys can join if you want, though I hope you like magical girls."

Adam giggled even as he felt a set of arms encircling his waist, drawing his body, tail and all, onto a thick couch cushion. Adam turned his head, seeing a soft, lupine muzzle resting on his shoulder, tender brown eyes meeting his. He felt so small in that moment, despite his greater length, sinking into the fur of the large, muscular beast behind him. He was well proportioned, wearing only a pair of shorts. His pelt was deep brown, like cocoa. Adam nearly gasped.

"Hello honey."

Adam smiled, turning and wrapping his scaly arms around the large wolf as well as he could. The wolf held him close, easily containing Adam's body in his own. They heard a soft, high pitched 'Awwww!' from the TV screen. Their muzzles met, warmth exchanging between them. It was so right, as Adam had always imagined.

"Hey love birds, we're missing the show!"

Mare shambled over next to them and took a seat. Adam and Sean turned toward the screen as their pink haired friend waved a bejeweled staff toward what looked like a few goblins on screen. The zombie, the wolf, and the golden serpent cheered on their friend the anime-girl as the world spun on, and on, and on.