Challenge [273]: About Turn
Challenge: [273] Road to Damascus
Title: About Turn
Word Count: 502
Notes: Does it count if it's a revelation based on the wrong reasons? Oh, Keyblade Wars and your ability to attract drama.
“Come on.”
She looks up at him. Even in the weak light of the dying fire, he can see she’s frowning in confusion. “What?”
“Come on.” he repeats, holding out a hand to help her up. “We have to leave whilst it’s quiet, before the next wave starts up again. Their camp’s out to the east- if we head quickly, we should make it by morning.”
“Out east?” He can almost feel the surge of realisation as it takes her over, and she adds, “The army of light?” She gives a snort and carries on, voice tinged with laughing disbelief, “You’re defecting, aren’t you?”
He drops to one knee beside her, face set and serious. He doesn’t say yes. There’s no point. “You know as well as I do that we’re outnumbered now- even more so after that last battle. We’ve got no chance as things stand. We need to join the other side.”
“And what?” Her mouth stretches in a wide, thin smile. “Without us, the forces of darkness would be even more outnumbered. If it’s as dire as you say, switching sides right now could tip the balance even quicker.”
“Exactly.” He stands again. “Let’s put an end to this as soon as possible. As my sister, I’m asking you to come with me.”
She shrugs. “And if I refuse?”
“Then I’ll go alone.”
Her smile stretches further and he thinks of her face in battle as she lunges forward with her Keyblade. Always so fearless. “Of course you will. You do know, don’t you, that they’ve outnumbered us before. And we them, too, several times.”
He shakes his head impatiently. “This is different.”
Her laughter’s so loud he wonders if she’s trying to wake the others with it, but no one comes. “No, it isn’t. It’s never any different.” She waves a hand at him dismissively. “Go, if you must. I’ll stay. But you know you won’t see the end of this war. Neither will I- nor will anyone else, here or there.”
He doesn’t rise to it, just tips his head to her in acknowledgement and turns on his heel. He’s tried, he tells himself, and no one can fault him on that.
He’s barely gone ten steps before he hears her voice one last time. “You do realise, brother, that the chances of you being able to wield the light through all that treachery and selfishness are incredibly slim?” She laughs again as if it’s the funniest thing she’s ever heard. “Why, with an attitude like yours, you might just be the most direct channel to the darkness our side has ever had!”
He doesn’t reply, just keeps on walking, looking straight ahead. She may well be right, but maybe she’s not. After all, if there’s one thing this war has shown him, it’s that there’s one sole thing he values more than the power given to him by darkness: his life.
And if keeping it means renouncing everything he’s ever said and done, so be it.
Title: About Turn
Word Count: 502
Notes: Does it count if it's a revelation based on the wrong reasons? Oh, Keyblade Wars and your ability to attract drama.
“Come on.”
She looks up at him. Even in the weak light of the dying fire, he can see she’s frowning in confusion. “What?”
“Come on.” he repeats, holding out a hand to help her up. “We have to leave whilst it’s quiet, before the next wave starts up again. Their camp’s out to the east- if we head quickly, we should make it by morning.”
“Out east?” He can almost feel the surge of realisation as it takes her over, and she adds, “The army of light?” She gives a snort and carries on, voice tinged with laughing disbelief, “You’re defecting, aren’t you?”
He drops to one knee beside her, face set and serious. He doesn’t say yes. There’s no point. “You know as well as I do that we’re outnumbered now- even more so after that last battle. We’ve got no chance as things stand. We need to join the other side.”
“And what?” Her mouth stretches in a wide, thin smile. “Without us, the forces of darkness would be even more outnumbered. If it’s as dire as you say, switching sides right now could tip the balance even quicker.”
“Exactly.” He stands again. “Let’s put an end to this as soon as possible. As my sister, I’m asking you to come with me.”
She shrugs. “And if I refuse?”
“Then I’ll go alone.”
Her smile stretches further and he thinks of her face in battle as she lunges forward with her Keyblade. Always so fearless. “Of course you will. You do know, don’t you, that they’ve outnumbered us before. And we them, too, several times.”
He shakes his head impatiently. “This is different.”
Her laughter’s so loud he wonders if she’s trying to wake the others with it, but no one comes. “No, it isn’t. It’s never any different.” She waves a hand at him dismissively. “Go, if you must. I’ll stay. But you know you won’t see the end of this war. Neither will I- nor will anyone else, here or there.”
He doesn’t rise to it, just tips his head to her in acknowledgement and turns on his heel. He’s tried, he tells himself, and no one can fault him on that.
He’s barely gone ten steps before he hears her voice one last time. “You do realise, brother, that the chances of you being able to wield the light through all that treachery and selfishness are incredibly slim?” She laughs again as if it’s the funniest thing she’s ever heard. “Why, with an attitude like yours, you might just be the most direct channel to the darkness our side has ever had!”
He doesn’t reply, just keeps on walking, looking straight ahead. She may well be right, but maybe she’s not. After all, if there’s one thing this war has shown him, it’s that there’s one sole thing he values more than the power given to him by darkness: his life.
And if keeping it means renouncing everything he’s ever said and done, so be it.