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Too High A Cost
Prequel -
It was an ironic moment, these two Planeswalkers were best known for wearing their emotions on their sleeves, but in this moment of finality, where death, defeat and victory loomed over them both, nothing could be discerned. They each may well have been marble statues frozen in time.
His Pride was finally at his side. The cost, every single one of his comrades, fallen to their enemies. Despite his best efforts of strengthening the valiant warriors he had aligned himself with, his allies were the ones to pay the ultimate price. Such warriors knew well in advance that their deaths were not in vain. Instead, they had achieved this one moment and victory was left to him alone. The dead would never truly know the outcome, but they had trusted him. Lucky for them all, he alone was the one that inspired their hope, and their sacrifices. Now the only thing left to achieve was the defeat his one remaining foe in this terrible battle. This knowledge would change anyone, but an even greater change took place within him. He would never be the same, he would be better. Now suddenly he had more than just his courage and his concept of right and wrong, good and bad.
The only noises left on this rank and decaying battlefield were the calming growls of his Pride. Whether they, his Pride, the most powerful part of him, would be enough, was known only to those who could see the difference from the steam rising from the decimated bodies of the dead and the vapors that were mixing with the mist of the pre-dawn. In these final moments before the sun would rise over the battlefield, the light was greater than that of the pitched blackness of night, yet the sun still refused to be seen until this battle was over. No white mana remained to be called upon, his foe's dark abilities had seen to that, over the course of the battle she had altered the scene to swampland, steaming with rank black mana, as for as the eye could see. The blood of his allies and foes, mixed deeply into his white coat was a perfect match to that of the colors beginning to illuminate on the horizon.
Unfortunately, in that same moment and for the first time that entire night, the veil of her wickedness had been lifted. He cast his vision across the field littered with blood, bones, weapons and into his enemies eyes. A terrible blast of red hatred released from Liliana's eyes straight into his. From this evil power came his ultimate choice, and he could feel the corruption building quickly, burning deep into the marrow of his bones. In an instant he had to choose to either allow his Pride to burn to ashes or let his heart explode in his chest. What Liliana did not know was just how easy the choice was for him. Liliana knew as well as he that if his Pride was lost, he would be as well. What she did not know, and her only mistake, was hidden in her deepest secret. The secret that Liliana herself could only conceive survival and never sacrifice. Ajani, had been gambling on using this knowledge to his advantage, for he however cared only for his life if it brought victory!
So Ajani accepted the curse and opened his lifeforce, releasing the wave of pain that would consume him completely. Within the affliction that brought him to his death, there was also great comfort. For Ajani's final vision was that of his Pride, his army of ferocious feline warriors, swarming Liliana and tearing her black dress and pure white flesh to shreds. What Ajani did not have time to perceive, because there are only so many moments, was where the sudden ray of sunlight was coming from.