you are just a little boy
small, naïve, innocent, ignorant
[ ignorance is bliss ]
you don't know it back then, too submerged in your fantasy games
but when he comes
and draws back the veil hiding the truth
that is when you start to fall
{ and there is more than one way to fall }
.
you are just a little boy
but no, this time you are a little boy with a hero
a hero to worship, to idolize, to trust
he is perfect in your eyes
so perfect, saving you and your sister - like your favourite game brought to life
[ later on, you will laugh bitterly at how foolish you are ]
you now know the truth,
you now know the secret world
but you are still so, very ignorant
of the emotions coursing through you
{ because your feelings run deeper than just hero-worship }
.
still just a little boy
but you have taken a step back
you are now a little boy without a sister
such unfamiliar feelings! abandonment, betrayal, disappointment
( unfamiliar? can't remember... )
but at least you still have your hero
he will not fail you, you think
he will protect your sister, won't let her die, the sister who left you alone
[ oh how wrong you are ]
.
step back! step back!
oh gods
she's dead
d.e.a.d
this time it's real
this time she really did leave you alone
( there is no coming back )
and even worse
he let you down
he failed you
oh gods
no no no no no
this can't be real
just a dream
just a nightmare, not real, reject it!
still a hero, still a sister, no death, no quests...
no reality
[ just a little boy? ]
.
s
p
i
r
a
l
.
d
o
w
n
.
no sister who died
no hero who failed you
no games to hide behind
just darkness
and a king, a king with a way
to turn all the wrongs to rights
and him - why is he coming after you?
hate! hate! hate!
no more love - just hate!
wait... no more...?
{ just keep falling
fall
into the abyss }
.
the next time you see him
after the labyrinth, after the king, after your conversation with your sister
you think you start to realise
there is a fine line between love and hate
and maybe... maybe you crossed that line...
( somewhere in the labyrinth )
damn you aphrodite
[ all grown up now ]
so you leave
but deep in your heart you know you can't let him go that easily
so you seek help
{ for him }
.
you want to help him
but you also want to help yourself
you should have known better than to trust your father
that almost makes you laugh - aren't you supposed to trust your family?
[ hero who failed you, sister who abandoned you, father who tricked you ]
so you break him out
and witness once more the reason you made him your hero
so beautiful - dancing blade, golden dust, father at sword-point
the hero is back
{ and you crash into ground }
.
for him
this is all for him
you brave the darkness and argue with your father, risk his ire
you succeed, you walk through the evil army, coolness unflappable
and you think, this is all for him
an army of the dead, three immortal beings, one stygian iron sword
all swinging, all fighting, all bleeding
all for him
.
you walk through the giant doors to the throne room
you think about the prophecy, about how the hero is supposed to get his soul reaped by a cursed blade
but the hero is not your hero
and you are relieved
there he is! in all his bloody glory
still alive, still alive
[ and that is the best thing that has ever happened to you ]
.
you still try to deny it
even after you admit it
because even though you have already fallen and crashed
you still have that tiny piece of string connected to the surface, to your old, ignorant self
[ still haven't grown up after all ]
you don't want to face the consequences
manhattan be damned - this is a whole different battlefield
so you leave again
.
and then he's gone
.
inspired by mcfuz's checkmate
(go read it)
