#zarbie

STRIFE!!!!

They did not fight equally.

Aludra was prepared to do anything to get to the top, even step on her best friend. The dream had promised her Eridan. There would be no more unrequited love for her to write sad poetry about.

She would have him!!

Everyone else could die.

They did not fight each other. Aludra fought Zarbie, and Zarbie fought herself.

It began with a quiet lecture that no one heard because the audience was chanting “do something!!”.

But when Zarbie started backing up, Aludra stepped forward and raised her voice with her argument.

“Ar7 Thou ups7T b7caus7 iT’s Tru7? K77p d7nying iT. Thou’LL di7 b7caus7 of iT. Thou’LL di7 b7caus7 you’r7 so focuss7d on ~Th7 On7~ ThaT wh7n h7 d7ni7s Thou, Thou’LL hav7 no back-up To sav7 Thou.”

[Are you upset because it’s true? Keep denying it. You’ll die because of it. You’ll die because you’re so focussed on ~The One~ that when he denies you, you’ll have no back-up to save you.]

Zarbie’s usually relaxed manner had been thrown out of the window. “YOU are chasing just one!! Don’t talk about me like I’m the only one who’s lonely!”

This was her best friend. She was hurting Zarbie. She was hurting herself.

These things being said might have well torn them apart permanently.

Aludra dismissed her worry. Nothing mattered but winning the match right now. She leaned forward and whispered lies that hurt to speak.

“7ridan is a paTh7Tic coward ThaT faLLs in Lov7 with anyon7 ThaT Looks aT him. Anyon7 couLd hav7 him, buT nobody wanTs him. So I’m Taking him To us7 him dry.”

[Eridan is a pathetic coward that falls in love with anyone that looks at him. Anyone could have him, but nobody wants him. So I’m taking him to use him dry.]

Horrified at her own image being stripped away and the possibility that Aludra might have been thinking only of herself this whole time, Zarbie stepped back again. She felt the edge of the arena.

Aludra gave her a swift push.

Zarbie took it as if the strongest troll on Alternia had used their full strength.

Aludra looked down once Zarbie had landed and forced a smile.

“ApoLogi7s. I jusT had To g7t Thou ouT.” She reached out to help her friend back up.

[Apologies. I just had to get you out.]

But Zarbie’s faith was broken. She hit the hand away and got up on her own.

“I can no longer trust anything you say~”

Aludra won the match, but both the girls had been defeated.

From “friends.” to “friends...?”

TOLIKI VS LOU/ES