AN: If you listen to"Oogway's Ascension" from Kung Fu Panda with the second half of this chapter...*sniff sniff* TT_TT
...or is it just me?
When Sora woke up, she found that she ached in places she'd never ached before. She gasped when she discovered that she was locked inside some sort of glass tube. It was about ten feet tall and there was a lid at the very top. She felt like she was in some sort of test tube.
"Sora!"
Sora looked around to see who had called her name. Julia was trapped in her own tube and they were a few feet apart from each other. Julia was struggling to break out of the tube; she was punching and kicking with all her might.
"Julia, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. It seems like we're bring held hostage."
Sora's mind whirled and she placed her hands on the glass. They seemed quite thick and reminded her of the glass tanks at the aquarium.
Sora heard footsteps and her eyes lit up when she saw Hwoarang emerging from the door. Sora and Julia shouted his name in unison.
"Sora! Julia! Don't worry, I'll get you out of there!"
Sora's heart pounded excitedly when Hwoarang ran up to her tube and began looking around for a way to open it.
"Hwoarang, I'm so glad you found me!"
Hwoarang flashed a quick smile.
"Me, too, Sora."
He stopped when he heard a noise and he whirled around, fists up in defensive mode.
Heihachi calmly strode into the room, carefully eyeing the three people across from him.
"I see you have found the hostages."
"Is this the fruit of your poor sportsmanship, old man? Let them go. They don't have anything to do with our fight."
"Oh, you don't understand, Hwoarang. This is my reward to you-your prize, if you choose to think of it that way."
Sora felt the blood draining from her face. She didn't like what Heihachi was implying.
"What are you talking about, old man? I'm leaving with both of them!"
Heihachi held a finger up and shook it at Hwoarang.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You're too naive, Hwoarang. You see, your prize is a choice: your former lover...or your friend."
Hwoarang dropped his fists and they hung loosely by his side. His shoulders slumped,
"You're kidding me."
"I never kid. You must make your decision...now."
Heihachi snapped his fingers and suddenly, a loud whooshing sound was heard.
Sora screamed when water began to spout from the bottom of the tube. She pounded on the tube and screamed for Hwoarang. Julia was doing the same. Hwoarang whirled around and cursed as he searched for something-anything-that would be strong enough to break through the glass.
The water was up to Sora's knees now. Heihachi tossed something towards Hwoarang; it was a key.
"That key opens both tanks. Oh, but be careful; once you open one, the other will be condemned to die."
Hwoarang stared at the key, pain evident in his eyes. He looked at Sora, then to Julia, and then back at Sora.
She smiled at him, her eyes full of hope. Hwoarang thought back to the times he spent with her. He thought of the sound of her laugh and the way her lips curved into a sly smile when she was hiding something from him. He thought of the way her hand fit perfectly into his and he remembered the night they spent together and how happy he was with her.
Then he turned to look at Julia...and all those feelings came flooding back like a typhoon.
Sora gasped when Hwoarang finally moved; it seemed like he'd been standing there for forever. Her smile faded when he ran to Julia's tank an inserted the key into the control panel without hesitation. Her tank burst open and Hwoarang easily caught her body in the outflow of the water.
"I see you've made your choice. Now, say goodbye to your friend."
"No!"
Hwoarang ran to Sora's tank and began pounding on it as hard as he could. The water was now at her neck and Sora was gasping for air while trying to stay afloat. Hwoarang met Sora's gaze and instantly knew that he'd made the wrong choice. Her eyes were filled with hurt and tears flowed from her eyes. Her heart was threatening to explode and a sob escaped from her throat.
"I...I thought…"
"Sora!"
Hwoarang cried out when the water quickly filled the tank; Sora was now fully submerged in the water. The building began to shake and Julia quickly grabbed Hwoarang's arm, pulling him away.
"Heihachi's going to blow up the building! We have to go now!"
"No, I-"
Sora's lungs hurt and already, she could tell her vision was fading. She could faintly make out the retreating forms of Hwoarang and Julia. She sighed to herself and gave in to the lack of air.
Is this what betrayal feels like? Sora wondered to herself.
She still had so many regrets, but at least Hwoarang would be happy.
Sora hoped to meet Hwoarang again in another lifetime.
The End.