Disclaimer: TOS is not mine... TT
Sacrifice
zakipoe79
Lloyd thrust abruptly, throwing the frivolous traitor off guard. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly. So this is the end. This is how the great Zelos Wilder of Tethe'alla would finally die. He was too weak to stand much longer, and he had run out of the energy to attack, or even cast spells. So many people had tried to kill him in the past. It was really surprising when the Pope didn't get to finish him off… him or his men. That or the woman he thought of as a second Mother. Zelos lost count of all the times he had been betrayed. Now it was him who had betrayed them. Of course he would have been killed. Why did he even bother trying to fool himself? Isn't that what had happened to Vharley? What had happened to Seles' Mother? The Pope? He looked up when the blow didn't come. 'Don't tell me Lloyds not going to kill me? What is this? Some kind of sick idea of mercy?' He was about to voice his opinion, when he looked up to see the back of a purple kimono. "Sh- Sheena?" The words caught in his throat when he saw crimson slide down her leg. "N-no…" Zelos' breath quickened. Not another person. Not someone dear to him.
He could feel his panic like a physical thing. He could hear the young idealist's voice. "Wh-why? Sheena? He- he's a traitor!" He was shaking. "Sheena!" The ninja shook her head. "He… of all people deserves to live." Zelos wanted to don his cruelty like a mask. He wished that he could slip back into that numbing warmth of illusion, but… "Sheena? Why?" His voice came out hoarse, barely audible. Lloyd pulled his sword from her chest, and stumbled to the ground. Zelos dropped as well, Behind Lloyd, his comrades, Zelos' former comrades- both unconscious, and standing, lay, some staring in shock at the unusual action the successor had taken. Could it be called betrayal? They had used that word so often in the past. Could this fit here?
He crawled over to her, almost afraid that this was some sort of trick. Why in the name of Martel, would she protect him? The man she had so often claimed hatred of? She turned to him; Her eyes betrayed her pain, and amusement. "You know..? For the life of me… I can't say why." Blood stained the corner of her lips. He wanted to ask Raine to heal her, but he had already knocked her out. He wanted to beg Lloyd to help her, but he knew that they didn't have anymore potions to spare.
"I heard of the Chosen as a young girl… I was surprised, to say in the least when I met him…" She began, and Lloyd cut her off. "Do-don't speak! We- we can find someone to help you…" Zelos wondered: If the ninja hadn't intervened, would that have been him on the ground, with Lloyd over him? Begging him to live? "Sorry, Lloyd." She whispered. "Zelos… I heard… everything… I'm sorry for… never seeing the truth…" The Chosen's eyes widened. The truth? How did she… "Truth?" She smiled. "Yup, I never really realized how… alike we were…." Zelos suddenly rushed forwards, and Lloyd tensed, his hand going for his right sword. The red-head wrapped his arms around the dying woman. "I…" She put her hand to his lips. "I know." She shut her eyes, and leaned into him, tears trailing softly down her cheeks. "Same here…"
Lloyd looked confused. "Wha?" He whispered. Lloyd could be so dense sometimes. Zelos leaned down, and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. "Forgive me…" Lloyd wasn't sure who said it, but as they made that final exchange, Sheena's hand slipped from his face, and her body grew limp. Zelos reached out one trembling hand, and closed her eyes. "Goodbye… Sheena…"
He noticed then that he was crying. If he hadn't betrayed them, if he hadn't been so vain, so blind, then would she have lived? If he hadn't, could they have been together? He wondered, absently, if Lloyd would kill him now that she had finally gone. He wondered if he would still follow the path he had chosen. Lloyd stood up, and turned away from Zelos. "I… think we should all rest." Zelos could feel his eyes widen in shock. "Come on." Lloyd helped Zelos to his feet, and Zelos carried Sheena's body to his Reheard, While Lloyd prodded the others, and got them into their own. They drove her to Mizuho, hoping that they would never have to witness the last moments of a friend, or a love, again.