Love Only Leads To Pain

Lily's eyes flickered open.

Her limp body was lying face down on the battlegrounds. Her rusted armor smudged with the blood of those she had slaughtered as well as her own.

Lily looked around, trying to spot him, only to find hundreds of dead bodies splattered with blood across the battlefield. She couldn't see him, much to her dismay.

Why am I still looking for him?

He broke my heart.

She tried to stand up, only to fall back down on again. Lily grunted in pain.

Did you think you're strong? Did you think you're "special"? You're just another worthless, pathetic idiot who was lucky enough to be even given a chance at life.

Hearing his voice in her head, slowly, with the help of her sword, she stood up.

"And here I thought you left."

Lily turned to face the Queen. She was looking at her in a way which would've made the old Lily shiver.

But she wasn't the old Lily.

Gone was the pure, innocent, naive girl. She had been replaced with a cunning and fearless woman with eyes as cold as ice, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as night.

Lily glared at the Queen, shooting daggers at the Queen with her eyes.

The Queen let out a cynical laugh, her eyes betraying no emotion.

Heartless as she is Evil.

Lily staggered towards the Queen, and she gripped the hilt of her sword hard. The Queen noticed this, yet she made no sign of intention to move.

"My, my. It's like looking in a mirror" The Queen grinned, revealing her blood covered teeth.

Lily didn't say anything. She kept limping towards the Queen, with only one thing on her mind.

"I suppose you want revenge."

Lily didn't stop. She was 20 meters away from the Queen.

"You know we're twins right?"

10 meters.

"With a magical bond between us."

3 meters.

"Meaning if you kill me, you too, will die."

So close.

"He left you, didn't he?"

Lily stopped in her tracks. She was an arm's length away from the Queen, an arm's length away from victory.

The Queen's expression remained calm, "Kill me."

Lily eyes narrowed at the Queen; just when she thought she figured the Queen out, a puzzle piece was still out of place.

"Kill me," The Queen repeated.

Lily raised her sword, aiming at the Queen's chest.

The Queen smiled at her. Why is she smiling? Lily's head filled with confusion and doubt.

Lily took a good look in the Queen's red eyes. Unexpectedly, there was no hatred, no anger, no revenge.

Instead, in the deepest, darkest hidden corner, she saw a heartbroken, lonely soul crying.

Lily felt her eyes water, her cheeks redden, and her lips tremble.

Lily hasn't cried since...

Since...

Her sword dropped to the ground with a clang. Lily's knees fell to the floor, and she buried her face in her bloodied palms and cried.

Crying has never felt this good.

"Ca...Carlos," Lily croaked.

The Queen didn't flinch when Lily said his name aloud. She too had once upon a time ago felt that excitement, that adventure, that pleasure.

That pain.

Hesitantly, she took a step forward, knelt down and hugged the heartbroken girl.

Lily felt a leather material wrapping around her and peeked through her dainty fingers.

The Pure Queen, Evil enough to have brought Destruction to the Land, Selfish enough to kill her own father for the Throne, Heartless enough to enslave all those who took stepped forth in the Kingdom, Cruel enough to curse all those who disobeyed her Wishes, shed a single tear.

"I don't want to feel this pain any longer," Lily managed to choke out.

The Queen gave her a sad smile, "Me neither, honey. Me neither".

They let go of each other, a silent message passed through their eyes. Lily reached for her nearly forgotten sword, as the Queen took out her spear.

They both held their weapons high, aiming for the other's chest.

No more mistakes.

No more turnbacks.

No more regrets.

Their swords plunged right into one another's hearts.

Lily gasped at the sudden, sharp pain before it turned numb. She felt her warm blood trickle down her chest and spine.

This is where it all ends, huh? Lily thought with a sad smile.

Looking back at all the adventures and battles that all lead up to this moment, it made her feel like crying once more.

To think, it started out as a feeling, which then led to small step outside of her mother's shop.

Which then led to Carlos.

Carlos.

"Hi."

His cold gaze.

"I'll call you, Lily Pad. My Lily Pad.'

His infuriating scowl.

"Come closer."

His distant words.

"Are you okay?"

His ignorance.

"Promise."

His empty promises.

"I love you."

His deceitful lies.

Lily gazed into the Queen's red eyes once more, both thinking the same thing as they took their last breath.

Perhaps things weren't supposed to end like this, and that everyone should've lived a happily ever after.

But no matter how much they believe in love, reality comes crashing down, and all that's left is the flame of hope in the hearts of the innocent. 

They too will face the punishment for putting their faith in love.

Now that, as ugly as it is, is the truth behind love.

Stupid, heart-wrenching pain.