Sue

"I just want the killing to end. Thats all." Mashira echoed into his head. Pictures of a teddy bear, torn, shredded, and burnt, a puppy laying its own pool of blood unmoving, and a little girl clenched tightly to the little dog with blood streaming from her face flashed in seconds repeatedly in his mind. "I just want the killing to end" he spoke aloud. Tears were streaming from the corners of his eyes.1

He arose to his feet, conscience once more, and swore he'd attain peace in Athedonia if it was the last thing he did. He raised his sword towards Matrox and vowed,"If its the last thing I do I swear with my dying breath I'll bring the people of Athedonia peace so they dont have to suffer the pain and torture of that little girl and her dog." By now Mashira was enraged and screaming. His anger had taken the best of him.2

"You shall be the final victim of my sword and then there will be no more." Pausing he sneered at Matrox. "There will be no more killing, no more fighting, and only peace shall be heard throughout these lands. THIS ENDS HERE MATROX!!!" Mashira threw himself at Matrox. Their swords could be heard miles around. The clangs and clashes sounded like two titans in heaven fighting.3

"It's pointless to try and stop me Mashira. You know I'll slay you and rest your head upon a spear in the town center to prove my point dont you?" Matrox reassured himself. "I will win, and that is THAT!" he shouted while rushing in for a final blow at Mashira.4

Mashira, whom was tired from fighting Matrox's army, threw his sword through the heart of Matrox and let him lay dead. While Matrox was deciphering what had happened Mashira walked up to him and started a small conversation. Just to pass the time of his death.5

"Matrox, until you have buried as many people by hand as I have- until you've seen as much blood as I have, until you've LOVED as much as I have- you will never defeat me." Mashira explained.6

"Do you remember when you had taken over the colony of Sarevetna? Do you remember when your empire crumbled there? Do you remember how many civilians and how many of your own men lost their lives? I can recall one life in perticular." Mashira's face looked as though he had been crying for hours. Tears had completely covered his face and soaked it. His face was so red you'd almost think he blew an entire blood vein.7

"Her name was Sue. Do you remember that name? Doesn't ring a bell does it? Her puppy of four months had wandered away from her and come to see me. She was terrified of me because I looked so much bigger and meaner. But I had her overcome that. It was as though we were in love. We ran around for an hour or so and played with her puppy Libby. The dog was such a great dog. She was amazing and so full of life." Mashira had to pause and stare at Matrox. "Full of the life you took."8

"Sue was an amazing young girl. She was beautiful in every way. She was blonde haired, and her eyes were so amazingly green it was almost unreal. She was a true angel amongst man. We played all day and right when I thought I had found happiness it was taken from me. By who you may ask? YOU, THATS WHO!" Mashira was emotionally enraged.9

"Your men came driving by and began shooting the place up. All because of me so many people had to die. Once your men came I'd never be the same. As soon as I ended their lives I went searching for her. I called her name and heard nothing. I screamed at the top of my lungs for Libby, faithful Libby, to come and find me. But again all I heard was the crackling of fire." Mashira grabbed a dagger and thrust it into Matrox's hand, which had been trying to grab a gun, and stared at him.10

"I found her though. I found her after I found the teddy bear she was holding. Mr. Snuggles. She thought of him as her protector. I found him burnt and torn. I found her puppy next." Mashira was biting his lip in tears now. He had to hold back from killing Matrox right then and there.11

"Libby was shot in the head, heart, and hind leg. She was laying in a pool of her own blood. She wasn't breathing nor was she moving. It was all thanks to your men too. They had to kill her. A puppy of a few months, not even beginning her life and already you took it from her. And Sue, Sue was found all right! SHE WAS FOUND CLENCHED TO LIBBY! HER EYES WERE STILL OPEN WITH THE LOOK OF FRIGHT ON THEM WHILE BLOOD RAN FROM THE WOUNDS ON HER ARMS AND CHEST!" Mashira couldn't contain himself.12

"Have you ever buried any of your men? WITH YOUR BARE HANDS?" Mashira asked with hate in his eyes. "I can remember the taste of dirt in my mouth and the feeling of it in my fingertips as I dug a grave. For the longest time I thought it was my own. I dug 'til I couldn't see above the line of earth all around me. When I finished I picked myself up out of that hole and I lowered her in. Perhaps the only girl for me in the world, and I was burying her. I placed her on the ground and I gave her Mr. Snuggles. I set him in her underarm. As for Libby, I placed her stomach on Sue's. I closed her eyes and before I finished burying her I wiped the blood and dirt from her forhead and I gave her a kiss and told her I would miss her. I told her I loved her, and just like that the hole was filled in. I placed a cross in the park at her grave that reads,"Sue and Libby- R.I.P." and then I was told to fight again. I couldn't take it. And now I'm here. Good bye Matrox" Mashira stood up and thrust a hidden dagger into his own heart.13

"The art of war...Isn't it beautiful?" and with those words Mashira lay amongst the living no more. Matrox replied to him though. "No. It isn't" and his eyes closed and he was no more...14