Requiem for a grieving child [Chapter XIX]

[Miracle]

While the shadow warrior moved slowly to the right, Miracle moved slowly to the left. The two circling each other now as they still had plenty of space in-between the other. Neither one attacking as now this relentless back and forth battle between them has turned into a waiting game. Which one of them would break first?

[Jehanne]

The intense heat from the eternal burning flames of damnation was unlike anything Jehanne had ever encountered before. It was everything she imagined hell to be and then some. Despite this the Knight in Training knew she had to press forward, no matter what kind of hardship stood in front of her. Jehanne's blade sliced through the demons that got in her way, looking for any signs of the High Priestess and then she saw it. A surge of holy energy up ahead. She ran as fast as she could go, breaking through more demons that tried to stop her from getting to Miracle. When she reached the site of the battle she came to a screeching halt as her eyes looked from Noob Saibot to the High Priestess.

"Miracle!"

[Garrus Vakarian]

The scythe he wielded during the earlier parts of their battle back on Kari materialized in his hands and just as Jehanne came into view of the battle, she found the shadow warrior charge head on towards the High Priestess with his weapon at the ready, the power of the Netherrealm god Shinnok radiating off of his figure as he quickly closed in to end this battle with Yahweh's favorite child once and for all.

[Miracle]

Jehanne's cries fell on deaf ears as Miracle's mind was cut off from anything else aside the task right in front of her. The elimination of Noob Saibot, the murderer of her best friend Solomon. While greatly weakened before, even though Miracle did not understand why, she channeled all the holy energy she had remaining and headed for a collision course straight into her enemy. The moment the two collided a surge of holy and unholy energies exploded into the air, being seen from the far corners of the realm as the ground beneath their feet shook like a great earthquake from the devastating blow. Smoke and debris covering the area around Noob and Miracle leaving Jehanne blind to the happenings going on at the center of where the opposing forces crashed into each other.

[Jehanne]

"MIRACLE!"

Jehanne ran into the direction of the energies that reached up to the skies of the Netherrealm, only being halted for a brief moment by the earthquake as she was determined to reach the High Priestess. Making her way through smoke and debris as her hands reached out to find Miracle, dropping down to her knees and crawling about in a blind search. As she got closer to the central point of where the energy was unleashed the smoke began to clear and her hands grabbed onto the High Priestess pulling her towards her as she spoke.

"Miracle, can you hear me? Miracle?"

[Garrus Vakarian]

The smoke cleared and the haunting ghostly white eyes of the shadow warrior came into view as Noob Saibot stood tall over Miracle's beaten body. Looking down towards Jehanne who now held the High Priestess in her arms, his eyes narrowing over to the Knight in Training as he spoke harshly in the child's direction. They were both mere children when compared to him.

Noob Saibot
It's over!

Those words drilled themselves into Jehanne's skull as she dreaded to think what this meant. Was the High Priestess finally defeated after overcoming so many challenges in the past? Was this where it all ended for her shinning light? Just before any of those questions had the chance to be answered...

Blood spewed from Noob's chest as he staggered backwards screaming in agony. His blank eyes showing signs of genuine shock as he had no idea what had happened. He fell to his knees, eyes still fixated on Miracle as he screamed.

Noob Saibot
What have you done!?

Before falling face first into the ground. The wraith; Noob Saibot was defeated and Solomon's death was avenged. There would be no resurrection this time. But to what cost for Miracle?

[Miracle]

Miracle's eyes were closed and there were bruises across her face and arms as her weapons had fallen to her side. The sight of it alone was enough to make a person's heart sink as she wasn't moving or showing any signs of life. Noob's chest blew open as the surge of holy energy from the previous blast wasn't just trying to overpower him. It was removing the empowerment from Shinnok allowing the earlier failed purification ritual to finish as it never truly left his body. It was only halted within it by Shinnok's power. A power that was finally cast out. Noob was finished but Miracle's own state was still unknown.

And she wasn't moving.

[Jehanne]

"What!?"

Jehanne looked straight up into those ghostly white eyes in horror and disbelief. This couldn't be. It couldn't! The Knight in Training shook Miracle desperately wanting to look into those violet eyes of the High Priestess again. Wanting to hear her voice and see her smile now more than ever. Her anger growing for the shadow warrior as she looked back up towards him. Just as she did blood spewed from his chest and painted the ground by her and the priestess. Noob was dying and it was the most satisfying sight she has ever witnessed. She wished she could slow down time just so she could savor every waking moment but it was soon gone. And his corpse was the only thing that remained of his memory. At last that bastard who killed her mentor was dead. He was finally dead!

Jehanne looked back down to Miracle. Tears starting to fill up her eyes as she dreaded the thought of losing her. Aircano needed its High Priestess now more than ever. What would they do without her? Would they even be able to hold with her dead? Jehanne wasn't much for praying but she was already begging Yahweh to bring her back any way he could. Even if it meant she had to exchange her own soul for hers. What what Jehanne next to Miracle's own life? Nothing. That's what. Jehanne ran a hand over her arm and pressed her fingers up to her pulse.

"Please be alive. Please! We need you."

[Miracle]

Jehanne would feel a pulse from beneath her two fingers just under the child's wrist. Albeit weak but still there was life in the High Priestess yet as a light moan escaped her lips and she opened her eyes. Vision returning to her as she saw Jehanne knelt over her, by her side as always with tears in her eyes.

"Jehanne... Why do you look so sad?"

[Jehanne]

A smile formed through the tears falling down the Knight in Training's cheeks as she felt a pulse and saw the High Priestess' eyes open, her voice sounding immediately afterwards and it was a sight even better than seeing Noob Saibot finally destroyed.

"Miracle!"

Jehanne embraced her as tears of sorrow quickly transformed into tears of joy at the sight of seeing Miracle was alive and well. But they weren't out of the woods yet. They still had to get out of the Netherrealm and return to Kari where the rest of Aircano were no doubt worried sick of their High Priestess whether it was a sin to worry or not.

"Can you walk?"

[Miracle]

"Can you walk?"

Miracle shook her head ever so slightly.

"I am afraid that last attack took everything out of me. Please, Jehanne. Take me home."

She could sense it even now that the influence the Netherrealm had over Aircano was gone and the demon forces were retreating from Kari. They had finally won this battle but the war was still to be decided. For now Miracle wished to return to Aircano, return to her home to rebuild and blessed to the one who delivered their holy land away from the evil one. Blessed to them.

[Jehanne]

"As you wish, my lady."

Jehanne picked Miracle off of the ground and held her in a bridal carry as she turned around and headed back in the direction in which she came.

"You'll be back home before you know it."

The Knight in Training marched on through the grounds of the Netherrealm with purpose as she saw the portal up ahead.

"I promise."

Continuing onward until there was nothing left but the portal's light flashing into their eyes.