Friendship Letters
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on June 13, 2023
Attraversare la Linea
Crossing the Line
Warning: Blood | Death | Fear -- Do not read if you are squeamish to dark themes
[Quick note, this chapter is in 3rd Person. It will remain this way from here on out.]
The ground was clear. The remaining speckles of blood scattered across the fallen leaves and branches. A broken gauntlet lay beside a magical artifact that shimmered with an evaporating energy. Two mares lay entangled with each other on the dirt, one with her thestral wings pressed back against a fallen tree. The other laying on her lap, eyes scanning the sky above.
"I'm sorry."
Camille's ears twitched as she caught her breath, looking down at the mare. The one that'd been her enemy for a long time now. The mare that was dragging her further and further down into the darkness. Over time she'd learned this mare, Breeze, had fallen into the clutches of a wicked witch. A curse placed upon her. One that just couldn't be broken, and even with her enchanted gauntlets, Camille couldn't break a curse. They were designed to disenchant, not solve.
Life was cruel.
"You don't have to be sorry..." Camille moaned out as she sat up more, cradling the other mare's head in her hooves. "I couldn't break the curse, and I can't figure out how. I know this isn't you, I've seen you and know you're not...evil."
"That's not why I'm sorry."
"Huh..?"
"I'm sorry because...because I can't fight it. I can't hold on any longer. God Huntress...Camille...please... I don't want to hurt anyone else. I can't...I just can't! I-" She trailed off, her eyes glistening with pain as the blood seeping from her wound dripped to the ground again. And again.
"What I am...what I need to ask you, it's not...her. I need this. It hurts so much staring on from the background, bu-"
"No. I..you can't ask me what you're about to ask me, Breeze. I can help you. My mother could track down this witch! I...I think she could..." Even Rosa had her limits.
"Just give me more time, I can lock you up again, and go-" A hoof pressed against her lips, and she lowered her ears. Sadness filled her chest, and every limb felt ready to collapse, even in this position.
"I swear it's not her...but...I need this. I'm scared, Huntress. I'm afraid of the monster I will become. If you, if we, if it's done now, we can end it. End the circle of pain and suffering..."
"But I don't...I can't kill! I was trained to incapacitate, not...not this."
"Camille..." Her hoof rested on the thestral's cheek as she offered a little smile. "...You won't be killing me. You'll be setting me free. Everything you've done...everything...I'll remember when I'm moved on... I-"
She twitched in Camille's hooves. Time was close. Her breathing became rapid as she let out a sob. "I won't lie. I'm afraid. But I'm more afraid I'll hurt you. Please-please hurry. I-I..."
"I can't!"
"You have to. And...they'll chase you. You know they will...but I..."
Camille was at war with herself internally. This was a line her parents told her to never cross. It lead to an emptiness that never went away. A loss of self, and a loss of soul that will never come back. But, at the same time, Breeze was right. The unicorn, whether herself or under the curses influence never lied.
Tears fell down Camille's cheeks as she looked into the unicorn's eyes once more. The depth she looked was something her mom said wouldn't come to her naturally...but it did. She could see it. The pain, the fear, the love, the hate. The darkness stuck in the back like a white well and a black end. "I-"
The hoof brushed over her cheek once more as the mare weakly leaned up, whispering into Camille's ear, "I'm ready. I know you're afraid, but...I'm ready..."
Camille slowly sat up, wrapping her hooves around the mare, one resting as caring as it could around her jaw and cheek. "Camille...I..." Her voice began wavering, changing from the sweet voice to that starch, scratchy voice of her. "I hate, I love, I hate...hate... I love you." Camille, through it all, was sobbing heavily, her body trembling. She heard the last part, and couldn't hold herself together. A voice, her mothers, spoke to her from a not so distant past; "We are but ponies, Camille. We are but living, daughter. We are but strong, together. The day will come. It always does. You must be strong, and you must be ready to do the thing you most regret. Don't close your heart to it, let it in..." Camille let out a primal scream. The last remaining birds flew from the trees in a loud flutter. The last words she heard, barely, were "thank you." "Camille?" The gryphon stood there, watching on in shock. "I'm...I'm so sorry... but, you know what comes next..." Camille gently placed Breeze to rest on the ground, carefully flicking her tail and sending leaves and flowers across her features. "You'll hunt me," she said, head down so her mane covered her face. "You have to. I know it's not personal. But I can't stop now. I have a fight to win. I need you to hurt me, and quickly. Make it look real. Do it..." "For Breeze." "For Breeze."
Camille trudged through the mud, the lights of town loomed over the hill. The calls in the distance echoed off the distant walls. Camille pushed on towards the town. "I am strong enough. Through kinship we strive... Together we survive... Low light we make... For hindsight we forsake..." Il cacciatore di dei ti aspetta.
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