Title: Shades of Grey
Author: Magicallioness
Rating: starts of at K+, but will definitely be going up, probably all the way to M
Warning(s): no beta. Spoilers ahead. Do not read if you haven't beaten/watched the latest game yet and do not want to know how it ends.
Beta: none
Word count: 1.196
Disclaimer: Anything belonging to the PoP universe belongs Ubisoft and their partners, not me. Anything that's not theirs is mine, unless stated otherwise. I'm just playing around here, not making money, so please don't sue.
Author's note: I've never written a PoP fic before, even though I've played SoT, WW and TT. And with good reason: I find Prince fiendishly difficult to write. The ending of the latest game however, left me with no choice ;). Hope I did okay, let me know what you think.
Summary: Arhiman's prison has been weakened once again, his four chosen re-released upon the world. The second destruction of the Tree of Light and the fight in the temple have caused the structure to collapse, leaving darkness and corruption free to spread across the land, with no fertile grounds to stop it. Now Elika and her prince have to find another way to stop the god of darkness, or face the corruption of the entire world. Picks up right after the ending of the game.
Chapter Summary: "Anywhere but there," it is meant to be half a joke, but the look on her face as she watches the total destruction of her kingdom stills the light undertone in his voice. The realization that it's his destruction of her kingdom chills his blood.
Part ONE Twilight
Chapter 1 Why?
Why? The question keeps plaguing him as he tracks into the dessert, Elika held securely in his arms. Why had he undone all they had accomplished, why had he set Arhiman free? Well, technically he wasn't free yet, but the temple had collapsed, there were no longer fertile grounds to feed power to Arhiman's prison, and he himself had cut open the Tree of Light; it was only a matter of time before the God of Darkness would pay the world a visit. Was she really worth all that?
Her question hadn't been accusatory, nor angry, but he wished it had been. Anything was better than the pain and betrayal that had shone through her voice. She didn't want to be brought back; she'd done her duty, died for her kingdom, for the safety of the world, and he had gone and thrown it all away in mere moments, thoughtlessly undoing her sacrifice. Why? He really didn't know.
All he knew were the ice-cold fingers that closed around his throat as he watched her reaching out to that tree, the ethereal light surrounding her quickly seeping into it. All he knew was the nauseating shock that spurred his legs into motion at her whispered apology, even though he'd realized he was too late. All he knew was the gaping emptiness and despair clawing at his chest as he watched her fall, limp and lifeless to the lush and green temple floor.
He glances at her resting form, her chest rising and falling gently with every breath, her skin warm and living as he holds her against his chest, and he knows he's made the right decision. She wasn't supposed to die; she's too good, too pure to lie rotting in a grave. They will find another way to defeat Arhiman, one that requires a price he is willing to pay.
She stirs lightly before opening soft brown eyes, still hazy with sleep. A slight panic creeps across her face as her vision meets unfamiliar surroundings, but it melts away as soon as her eyes land on him. He looks down at her, glad his presence eases her mind, but still without anything to say: no answers to her question, no comment on their situation and certainly no witty remarks about her position. The silence stretches between them as she holds her tongue as well, studying his face instead, trying to peer into blue depths that he has long since closed off. A flash of emotion passes through her eyes as he refuses her entrance, but it is gone so quickly, he can't recognize it for what it is.
"You can put me down now," she says as she turns her head away. And he does, experiencing a distinct feeling of loss as she steps away from him and looks around. She's still unsteady on her feet, but pushes a hand out to ward him off as he steps up to steady her. It stings.
"Where are we going?" she asks, turning around to face him. He shrugs, before pointing behind them at the blackness seeping out of what used to be the Ahura temple. Now it's just a ruin, its remains a blackened corpse against a darkening sky, spewing foul blood out of every opening. Corruption creeps across the land like a moving entity of thick, dark oil, slinging out long tendrils to grab at anything that's living or green.
"Anywhere but there," it is meant to be half a joke, but the look on her face as she watches the total destruction of her kingdom stills the light undertone in his voice. The realization that it's his destruction of her kingdom chills his blood. And as she drops to her knees and slams her fists into the desert sand, he doesn't have the strength or the words to comfort her; there is only suffocating guilt gripping at his throat as he wonders how he can ever make this right.
They stay like that for minutes: she with her head bowed, silent tears dripping into the sand, he staring into nothingness, fists clenched but arms unmoving through a powerlessness of his own making. For them, the world has come to a grinding halt: they failed, Arhiman is coming, the lands will be plunged into eternal darkness and life as they know it will come to an end. But time is ruthless and even though the very ground has been swept from under their feet, it keeps on moving, and with every passing minute the corruption closes in. Finally, Elika raises her head, and pulls herself to her feet.
"Hey, where are you going?" he wants to know as he scrambles after her. She keeps going, doesn't slow down to allow him to catch up.
"I'm going to find a way to stop Arhiman," she bites out, her tone harsh and unforgiving. But he's not fazed, and pulls her around when his long strides have helped him to reach her.
"How?" he wants to help, he needs to help, but he's afraid she won't let him after what he's done. He wouldn't blame her if she didn't. He also doesn't blame her for the outburst in answer to his question.
"I don't know! You've destroyed the last bit of my empire, the only way to keep Arhiman imprisoned that was left, I am the last of my people and I have no idea how to stop a god from destroying the world!" the tears never fall, but he sees them glistening over hazel brown irises, hears them in her voice. And without thinking he reaches out and pulls her lithe form against his chest, a comforting hand on her back.
"Don't worry princess, we'll find a way," he tells her, throwing their fates together once again. But she pushes away, fury now ablaze in her eyes.
"We? We?! You can go find your donkey and go back home, your work here is done, remember?" he swears she's punched him in the stomach, but her hands are still pushing against his chest and haven't moved. He drops his own hands from her shoulders, letting them fall limply at his sides.
"Do you really think so little of me? Do you actually believe I would set an evil god loose upon this world and leave you to deal with it?" she looks up at him sharply, her pushing hands frozen in place against his chest. "This is my mess, my responsibility and if I didn't think I need you and your magic to fix it, I would be doing this alone. I understand you don't want me anywhere near you after what I've done, I know you don't want my help, but I'm not leaving you to sort this out on your own."
She pulls her hands away from his chest, but her look is no less piercing, nor does it become any friendlier when she nods.
"I guess I don't have a choice then," and with that last blow to his stomach, she turns and starts walking.