The Armor She Wears

The Final Breath

She remembered Fitz carrying her through stone hallways, his eyes never leaving hers. The strange elf beside him was fascinated by her and kept asking her dozens of questions. Sophie tried to block out the thoughts around her, but her mind could not ignore the cries of the prisoners.
"We have to save Keefe!" She begged.
But Fitz held her tight and as much as she struggled, he was too strong. The feeling of helplessness had become very common to Sophie and in the hallway she felt herself go under. What ever the Neverseen had done to her mind had taken its toll. She didn't have the impenetrable mind she used have, all she had now was the shards held together by the one will to stay alive long enough to save Keefe.
As soon as they had gotten far enough into the hideout, the strange elf whipped out a leap crystal and disappeared into it.
Sophie looked at Fitz and said, "Please, I have to save him"
"I'm so sorry Sophie, but we can't"
Fitz threw her into the light and the shards of her mind fell to the ground.
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Sophie wasn't sure when she woke, but she didn't care either. Everything had been so different since she left. Food was tasteless and the effort to speak made her exhausted. Mr. Forkle and the strange elf known as Kaila had tried everything to fix her mind, but the irony was that the one elf that could fix broken minds was broken.
Fitz visited often, but Sophie couldn't bear to look at him after he had left Keefe to die in the Neverseen hideout. Kaila had told her about the flow and kept her informed about the war.
Sophie wished she could be back on the battlefield where things were easy. You knew your enemies from your friends and kept it that way.
But Kaila's world was strange and hard to grasp. The first time Sophie spoke, she asked "Why was I made this way?"
No one answered her question, they were too busy worrying over her. But Sophie felt they avoided it for a reason, and for what reason Sophie could not say.
The one thing Sophie could do with ease was walk. Walking was easy, you just move your feet and keep your head up. All Sophie did was walk in the forest, listening to the birds and thinking about Keefe. She had tried before to reach out to him, but even a broken Moonlark's mind couldn't do that.
It was a crisp spring morning when Sophie first heard about the war coming to an end. She was sitting by one of the small streams and playing with rainbow fish when Fitz ran up to her.
"Sophie! The war!" He rushed you next to her.
Sophie ignored him and giggled at greedy fish trying to swim into her palm.
Fitz let out a sigh and sat down, "Is this how it will always be? Between us?"
Sophie whispered to herself, "Between us, between us"
Fitz's shoulders slumped and he informed her in a monotone voice, "The Neverseen have grown scared. They have surrendered and the war is over. I just thought you would want to know"
Sophie looked Fitz dead in the eyes and said, "Know. Want to know"
He smiled and helped her up onto the nearby tree stump.
Fitz was quiet for a while before saying, "I really miss him. I want so much to go back and save him. I don't even have hope anymore that he is still alive. It's been five months Sophie, five months. He was my best friend"
Fitz's voice cracked and he turned away so Sophie wouldn't see him cry. She placed her hand on his shoulder and said, "Miss him. Sophie miss him"
"I know. Come one, we should get going"
Fitz wiped away the tears and took Sophie's hand, guiding her back to the village.
The villagers always rejoiced and took Sophie's hand whenever she returned. They usually guided her back to her hut, but this time they started to walk her up the mountain. Mr. Forkle and Kaila were waiting at the top smiling and Biana was with them. Fitz was crying and joined them, hiding his tears behind his sister.
Sophie had a confused face and said, "Sophie confused"
Mr. Forkle took Sophie's hand and centered her at the top of the mountain, "The project Moonlark was created to end the upcoming war. You have grown so much as a person, but your powers grow strong and you can't control them. People are scared Sophie"
Sophie smiled, "Sophie help"
Kaila stepped in, "Yes, that's why we are here. You have served your purpose Sophie and now we are ready to help you finish it. It won't hurt, I promise"
Sophie dropped Mr. Forkle's hand and Kaila placed hers on Sophie's forehead and whispered, "It's going to be okay"
Warm light melted around her and Sophie surveyed the group. Fitz was crying into Biana's shoulder and gave Sophie a wounded look. Biana had a kind smile and tears pricked the edges of her beautiful teal eyes. Mr. Forkle did not drop Sophie's gaze for second and watched as the life slowly trickled out of her. He watched as she fell to the ground. He watched as she breathed her last breath.
Sophie gave one last smile and then let her mind carry her off into the light.