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Sora stood frozen, her hair blowing in the wind, as her eyes were locked with Arins. She felt her eyes begin to sting as they pricked with tears.
”…Arin…?” Her voice cracked. Her friend was here. Her best friend, and she should be happy. But she’s not. Because he’s not on her team anymore. He’s on Ras’ team.
”Sora.” His voice. First spintitzu master. His voice. It was so dull. Not his previous, always chipper, tone. It sounded like he hated her. It hurt. So fucking bad.
“What are you… why are you with Ras?” She took a step forward, but stopped after seeing Arin tighten his grip on the blade in his hand.
”Because, he’s helped me more than any of you.” Arin let out a low growl, his eyes narrowing as his brown hair got ruffled in the wind. “I learnt spinjitzu from his ways of training. And I learnt that you lied to me from him.” He griped the blade tighter, almost to the point that Sora thought it would snap.
Sora flicked her tail behind her. “I’m… I’m so sorry, Arin..” She whispered, “I wanted to tell you - b-but you were so fucking happy that - fuck… i didn’t want you get upset…” A tear slipped down her cheek.
”You should’ve told me.” Arin took a step forward, causing Sora to take a step back.
”I’m so sorry.. i didn’t want to hurt you.. i didn’t want you to leave me.” She felt her voice crack, as she gripped her prosthetic arm. “You were one of my best friends… one of my first real friends…”
Arin rolled his eyes, “How can I believe anything you say? The only person I can trust is Ras.” He twirled his blade, “He’s even helping me find my parents! Something Lloyd has failed to do time and time again!” He slammed his food on the ground.
“Arin.. you know he’s trying..”
”Whenever something comes up, he pushes aside his promise!” Arin yelled, “All I want is my parents.”
Sora sucked in a breath, “I know you do… b-but..”
”No buts!” Arin took another step closer to Sora, his eyes narrowed. “I’m sick of being pushed around! Ras is actually treating me like I’m worth shit!”
“What- what? Arin! We care about you!” Sora walked closer to Arin, “I’ve known you since the start of the merge…” Her eyes softened.
Arin griped his blade as Sora approached.
”I-I may not know how you feel.. b-but I want you to know that you aren’t alone..” She reached out a hand only for Arin to flinch away from it, making her quickly retract her hand.
“Whatever Ras has told you, or promised you about finding your parents, he’s lying.” Sora narrowed her eyes as she talked about Ras.
”What?!” Arin took a step back, “H-he’s not lying about anything!” He was defending Ras. Even after everything. Even… even after the shit he did to imperium. “How would you know hes lying!?”
“Arin! He practically imprisoned my home realm! He hunted fucking dragons!” Sora was hurt.. whatever things Ras was promising Arin… she’d make sure he’d know the truth.
”..he’s changed..” Arin growled slightly.
”Bullshit!” Sora felt more tears drop down her face. “He helped take everyone’s powers at the tournament of the sources!” She didn’t like yelling at her loved ones.. not like this…
”Y-you don’t know what you’re talking about!” Arin glared at her, making Sora’s tail lash back and forth.
”He’s lying to you!”
”No, he isn’t!”
Arin felt his anger rising. Sora felt more tears falling down her face.
”Arin! Please, you are my best friend… d-do you really believe Ras over me…?” Her voice wavered, her eyes sparkling with tears.
”I do believe him more than you…” Sora felt her heart stop. He really did. More tears. She couldn’t stop them.
”I… I can’t believe you!” She clenched her hands, as her eyes glowed pink. Arin clenched his teeth, and without thinking… he brought the knife up and pierced it straight through Sora’s chest.
Sora froze as an awful pain shot the her body. Her limbs started shaking uncontrollably as she looked down and saw the hilt of the blade sticking out of her chest, red slowly forming around it. She looked back up at Arin as her vision started to blur, her mind swimming.
Arin stared at her, his eyes wide. He took a shaky step back.
Sora choked up blood as she staggered to the side. She looked around as she saw indistinguishable figures getting closer. She casted Arin one last look before collapsing to the floor.
Everything hurt.
She coughed up more blood, her eyes stinging with tears as her vision got more and more blurry with each passing second.
She felt someone tug on her arm and roll her over, lifting her head up as blood dripped down her chin. She looked up and saw… Nya..? It was hard to tell, but she could make out Nya’s blue outfit and black hair. She was saying something, but Sora couldn’t hear.
She looked back over at Arin who was frozen his shock, and she could just about see tears prick his eyes.
She looked back at where the blade was still embedded in her. …how deep was it..? Fuck, Sora could barely keep her eyes open. More blood leaked from her mouth.
Her hearing was slowly coming back, but it was drifting in and out of focus.
”-ra, can you hear me?!” Nya had panic in her voice. That was reasonable… Sora was bleeding out in her arms.
”mmm.. hurts..” She whispered out as she flinched in pain. Wow… getting stabbed sure hurt… Sora was tired.
”I-I know! It’ll be alright! Just keep your eyes open, okay?!” Nya grabbed her prosthetic hand, or rather paw, and gave it a gentle squeeze.
”I’m tired…” Sora mumbled out, her words slurred with delirium and pain.
Nya’s eyes widened even more. “I- I know! But keep your eyes open and on me, you’ll be fine!” She smiled, but Sora knew that wasn’t true. That she’ll be fine, and Nya’s smile.
She gazed over at the others who were doing things.. Sora couldn’t really tell. Then she glanced at Arin- where was Arin? Now that she looked around more… Ras and his followers were gone too..
”Where’s Arin..?” She asked, her voice quiet and almost inaudible.
”S-somewhere! But don’t worry about him right now, just worry about staying awake!” Nya instructed.
”N-no.. Arin.. he’s with Ras.. have to.. f-find him..” She tried to move but started to hack and cough up blood. The pain was getting to be too much.
”D-don’t move! You’ll get better and than we’ll find Arin…” Nya fought back tears.
Sora knew that wasn’t true.
She wasn’t going to get better.
”Nya… I’m going to die, aren’t I..?” She muttered, she looked back at her surroundings. Huh.. she was on Zanth… she looked back at her chest which was banged up with the blade removed.. huh when did that happen..?
”N-no! You aren’t!” Nya instantly shut down the idea of Sora dying.
Sora felt her vision start to blank, her mind swimming again.
“Sora.. k-keep talking to me, okay?”
Weird request… but she doesn’t see why not..
”I should’ve told Arin the truth… t-than maybe…” Her voice trailed off.
”T-than maybe?! Come one.. keep talking..” Nya was almost pleading.
”M-maybe he wouldn’t have stabbed me…” Her mind and thoughts were swimming. It was hard to think.
Nya hummed in response, telling Sora to keep going.
”You know.. maybe i deserve.. t-this..” She inhaled sharply. It was hard to keep talking… everything hurt.. she looked at her surroundings again.. where was she? She was… on something soft… a bed… she was back at the monastery…
”S-Sora.. you definitely don’t deserve this… no one does..” Nya was still here.
Her vision gradually got duller and blurrier. “B-but… hff… f-friends don’t lie to each… other…” she couldn’t do this. It hurt. Her eyelids grew heavy as tears dripped down her cheeks. “Nya.. when.. uhn.. w-when you find Arin.. t-tell him I’m sorry.. t-tell him I don’t blame him..”
”Sora.. y-you can tell him yourself! When you get better..” Nya smiled softly, but it faltered as she saw Sora’s eyes slowly close, and her limbs drop to the bed.
”Sora…?” She whispered. “S-Sora..?!” Panic is starting to set in, as her eyes pricked with tears. She started to shake her. “C-come on!”
But all her attempts were futile…