I never believed I was destined for anything great. I was just a child who wasn't supposed to live past my earliest years. Someone else was already lined up to take my place and all I needed to do was live out my existence until life deemed me obsolete, but she stayed by my side no matter what our family said. Eventually, I exceeded their expectations and I was recognized for my powers. It was believed that I would be the one to survive, but I supposed that wasn't in the cards for either of us. Tragedy after tragedy befell us and we were both left broken, though with you at my side, things eventually became stable… Still, I suppose after all that I've done, it would be a far cry to ask for forgiveness that I do not even seek.

You and I, we've shared many memories together, some sweet and others far more bitter. I strayed so very far from the path that I had chosen and you took its place for so very long… but it is clear that I was wrong to question my faith in my inner guidance. Our victories, your suffering, the indignation that followed me and those that chastised you for keeping me at your side – this was not the path I sought and it should not be what defines yours. Of that, I am certain.

In the beginning, I felt like it was always there, pulling me ever closer to you… but I wonder when it was that I become unable to see the Light… It was gradual, but I felt its warmth fading ever more and more as we went on. I sincerely hoped every time that it was just something temporary and I felt that, even if it was just a little, my faith in it was restored every time I was at your side. I felt less hopeless, but somehow, I realized that I was draining your Light and if I remained, I would sully the goodness within you.

The more I understood this, I was suddenly unable to feel it. Even at your side, everything became so cold and dark. It was only when we were apart that I could see it and it shined brighter and brighter the further I went. That's when I knew. The Light: it's something that doesn't want me and it never has… but that's fine. It truly is.

I'm so sorry that things have ended this way, but I can't turn back now and time only moves forward. I know that you will hate me for all that I have done and I'm prepared for the consequences. You will pursue me without hesitation because that is who you are and that is also fine, but you will never succeed in achieving what you desire. I can't let you.

By the time you read this, I will have done something so horrible that I cannot possibly ask for you to look past it. I can only ask that you pass the same judgment as you would any other lost soul… This world is full of burdens and I can only walk the most certain path to completing my final burden. We are pawns in someone else's game and I find myself in a position where I can no longer allow things to continue as they have. Whether you come to understand me or not does not matter.

I would apologize, but it's not in me to lie to you or even give you false hope. You gave me the chance to rethink this once already, and I have found myself back where I started – only, this time I am more certain than I have ever been. Despite our efforts, we are two souls who were never meant to stand together.

This is my path, Ruby. It is as I have chosen.

ooOOoo

AN: Hey guys! This marks the beginning of Lightforge's REDUX. I've posted the first few chapters to gauge what you guys think. My goal with this is to clean up the story and portray it in a more organized fashion. I have changed some details to better fit the story and reset the pacing. You'll find that some things happen faster and other things happen more slowly.

One of my main issues what that I just felt that the characters were fairly bland or just didn't have enough build up between each other to establish the relationships they had or were just too far out there. I wanted the characters to be more organic and genuine. I also wanted to answer some questions that remained almost 30 chapters into the story.

I admit that Lightforge started as just a past time, but it became something that I really enjoyed building and I really want to do it the justice it deserves. So, I'd like you guys to let me know if you feel this version has potential. If not, I'll try to backtrack through the original and fix as much as I can.