A Prophecy

There is no mistaking that voice, she would recognize it anywhere. It belongs to the person who was there when she got second place at her track competition. It belongs to the person she's looked up to for years. All her thoughts and emotions are locked in on this familiar voice.

Could it be?

Mila is it really you?

The scene before her has been hidden, she can't see the girl she wanted to save, she can't hear the snakes pleading with her. It is just Juno in the desolate darkness clinging to the hope that she is not actually alone.

Clinging to the hope that her big sister is actually waiting for her somewhere in the vast darkness, she just can't see her yet.

She can only hear her voice say, "Will you turn around and face me?"

She wants to but...

There's doubt in her heart.

Mila?

Is it really you?

There's fear.

//I'm scared that it isn't you.//

"No... No! You're not supposed to be here.. you... AGHH ..... you promised."

That voice...

<<Juno listen to us! It isn't her! This isn't your sister!>>

She heard it.

The darkness, the fog in her mind, it's clear now. She blinks and looks at the reality in front of her.

The Immortal Snakes are the first thing she sees, they surround her in concern, trying to bring her back.

When they notice her eyes clear up, do they back off in relief.

<<Thank the Goddess we didn't lose you too.>>

"I..."

A scream that could tear apart the heavens themselves forces Juno to look past herself.

Eve is not hiding her pain. It has reached a point of no return. She is on the verge of tearing herself apart.

The stench of blood is sickening.

And yet, it's something that has become familiar.

That's more sickening.

She reacts, she finally reacts, "No!"

Juno tries to go to her side again but of course, that hand is still on her shoulder, holding her back.

"I won't face a monster."

The grip tightens but it doesn't hurt as much as seeing her beloved in pain, right in front of her.

"I'm your sister. Aren't you happy to have me here beside you? Don't you want to see me?"

"I don't want to see you."

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm not, I want to save her first."

The grip vanishes as soon as she says those words.

But instead of leaving, a woman materializes right in front of Juno, blocking her sight.

The perfect image of her big sister.

Almost.

While this monster wears her face, the coldness in the eyes give her away.

This isn't Mila.

Still the shock of seeing 'Mila' leaves Juno momentarily speechless.

'Mila' sneers, "You are no fun... oh but you do seem taken back."

"..."

Noodles attempts to bite at her face, <<Get back you beast!>>

'Mila' steps back from its attack at an incredible speed, "Watch it!"

The Immortal Snakes aren't discouraged and prepare to attack again, anything to keep Juno safe.

The monster realizing this, vanishes immediately.

Only to reappear at a far distance, behind Eve.

When did Eve move farther from Juno?

Was it when she was in that trance?

It doesn't matter, she has to get closer!

Juno tries to move forward to get to her side, but the monster is faster.

'Mila' smiles as she manifests a dense barrier formed out of fog. This fog hugs her body in a suffocating way. It's enough to block her, she can't get through!

But it isn't enough to block out the voices, she can still hear them clearly.

"How rude. Oh Eve, didn't you say you could handle it? You said you could get her to leave but I come back to this?"

Eve doesn't respond, words are beyond her at this point.

There is just pain.

"If you left with her, you would break our oath. And then what? You and Juno get a backlash."

"No..."

"I'm very disappointed in you so why don't you hurry up already?"

Juno can't take it anymore and screams, "Get away from her! Let me through!!"

"Hm? What was that?"

"You, you, when I get through, I'm, I'm going to rip your face right off!"

"Juno I didn't know you could be so violent. You've grown up." Her mocking voice is even more unsettling when it's Mila's voice, "You know, I worked so hard for this face, I thought you would appreciate it."

But whether pity or boredom, does the monster disperse some of the fog.

Juno still can't break through but she notices two things.

The monster has changed her appearance...

To a familiar cloaked figure.

The one that haunted her dreams.

But more importantly, Eve isn't screaming anymore she just stands there in a daze, as if she's accepted her fate.

She locks eyes with her.

She doesn't say anything but Juno knows she's trying to reassure her.

Even at this point.

Juno's words die in her throat, she doesn't know what to say, she wants to reassure her too but she knows that she can't.

The monster speaks again but this time the voice is more airy, completely different from Mila, "Actually, I'm not here to fight you or your Immortal Snakes. I'm just going to take this girl here and be on my way!"

"I WON'T LET YOU!"

//I don't know if I can stop you but as long as I'm still standing here I refuse to let go.//

The Immortal Snakes all hiss.

<<As if we'll let you have your way!>>

"No, I've learned from my mistakes. Really! I'm not messing with you guys ever again! After that backlash, it was so hard to reform..."

<<You killed Noa and you caused our downfall. We will end you!>>

The monster laughs, "Really? Look at the situation you're in. Both of us are in no state to fight one another. You know this. Or do you want Juno to die as well?"

<<You horrid beast!>>

"I won't go into the details but... Eve and I made an oath, for Juno's safety and my wish. If you fight me, we will all suffer a backlash. So just wait, someday I'll face you again. And I'm going to win this time."

Noodles is speechless at the monster's confidence.

But Juno is just more distraught, "Is that true.. Eve!?"

Eve doesn't react, she just keeps staring intently at her, she doesn't want to forget Juno's existence.

"Ah. So lucky to have so many people looking out for you... Well! It's time to go."

Even with her broken heart, she refuses to give up and tries to break through again.

No matter how useless.

But before the monster could lay her hands on Eve, she says coldly, "Do not touch me."

The air has gotten hotter and her voice has become colder.

She's still suffering but no one seemed to notice that at some point, Eve has obtained a new understanding, a new meaning.

A powerful wave of light and heat, her energy has changed and some it manifests out from her hands as she pushes the monster away, without actually touching her.

She sends the monster crashing into one of the nearby trees.

The monster makes a pitiful sound, "Ouch."

Even after everything, everyone present is stunned.

<<This isn't good.>>

<Do not worry, I don't think she will do anything to us.>

Juno asks, "Eve?"

//Is this really you?//

Eve looks at her once again, her voice is less cold, "I haven't given up. Trust me okay?"

The sincerity in her voice, the steadiness, she nods even if she still doesn't completely understand.

"I trust you."

The monster picks herself up after being carelessly thrown aside and actually coughs, from pain or awkwardness, no one can tell, "I get it! You won't leave... You can't leave. Hehe. But I'll be leaving first... I think you should leave too Juno, unless you want to turn into ash."

The Oracle turns to the monster and retorts, "Go. Unless you want to turn into ash."

The monster does a gesture of surrender and vanishes into the night.

Juno stands there not knowing what to expect, but somehow she has the feeling something will end.

Eve breathes in deeply, her last breath as herself, "Listen carefully."

A powerful, captivating voice:

Strong hands will guide you,

A gentle smile will greet your sorrows,

Her eyes will pierce your soul,

Head East,

The truth you don't want to hear will make itself heard,

It always does.

"Do you get it?"

Juno doesn't get it!

How could she possibly?

She doesn't want to get it.

She doesn't want to say goodbye.

<<I understand, thank you for everything. Will you ascend now?>>

"No."

<<I see.>>

"You need to go now. Please don't look at what is about to happen."

Her heart wants to say no but what she says instead is, "Will I see you again?"

"That depends."

"On what...?"

"Fate."

The silence mocks them.

"This is too cruel."

"I know."

"But... I will see you again. I'll make sure of it."

The Oracle smiles but it vanishes as soon as it appears, a little happiness, a little hope isn't always so bad.

The cold voice returns, "Leave now. I can't hold back anymore."

Eve closes her eyes and for a moment, she looks completely at peace.

She puts her hand over her chest.

Juno does what Eve asked and finally closes her eyes.

There is nothing to see, there is nothing to describe with her eyes closed to the world. But Juno knows, she just knows, that when she opens her eyes, Eve's heart is gone.

So she faints instead.

And she isn't wrong, in order to be reborn you must die.

Eve has given up what has hurt her the most.

Her heart.

With her own hand she swiftly rips it out and crushes it.

Only the Immortal Snakes witness everything.

They're the only ones who could.

As soon as her heart is gone a burst of divine light consumes her entire body.

An explosion of light, consuming the darkness of the night.

Juno, who has fainted, is ignorant to this phenomenon, the birth of an Immortal!

-

<<The mental strain of everything, how will she cope?>>

<We are heading east now?>

<Of course! The Oracle said so, they were a great ally to Lady Medusa in the past, we can trust this prophecy.>

<<We cannot go back to that school. We will follow the Oracle's last words as a human.>>

<Or the Oracle's first words as a Goddess?>

<<It doesn't matter. I'm also concerned about the strain we are putting Juno through, being part of her is one thing, but temporarily controlling her body is another.>>

Yes, the gorgon girl that runs through the woods, away from the blinding light at lightning speed, is not actually Juno.

Juno is completely unconscious.

Nodö'Racaarreasta is guiding her body, doing its best to protect her.

<How long can we keep this up? Our magic is still shaky and unreliable, since we just recently returned too...>

<<A day and half at most but we need to find help. We need to keep protecting Juno as best as we can!>>

<Her wounds are slowly healing by the time she wakes up she shouldn't feel too terrible.>

<But mentally? Yikes.>

<It's not too late to get her memories removed too right?>

<Shut up! That's not even funny!>

<<Heading east, please My Lady guide us as well.>>

<Wait, if we run into monsters will we be able to hold them off!?>

<If it's a wild animal then yes, if it's something enchanted and dangerous...>

<<Have mercy... We are in no state to fight now...>>

<Ugh! I hate being weak, when I see that shapeshifting bastard of a monster again I'm going to rip her eyeballs out!>

<<Let's just keep running.>>

They continue to run away, with only one direction as their guide.

They run towards the prophecy, Juno's journey is just beginning!