Two months. It had been two months since he almost lost Oracle. Two months and they had finally captured every stray Necron unit left. Two months of fighting in forests, of uprooting forces in cities and mining towns. Two months of fighting men who had nothing to lose.

Two months and this could finally be over. Now it was time to say their goodbyes. Mirage stood in the black uniform set aside for mourning. Every Rogue did, matching the somber mood.

Mirage wasn't sure if he was ready to speak in front of them, not when his own grief was running wild. He didn't have a choice however, he was their General.

A light breeze shifted the branches of the pines around them, the scent of pine needles drifting through the air. It did little to help the grief welling up inside him, threatening to spill forward.

Mirage looked down at the tan Warrior Shroud he held in his hands, the silk soft against his skin. An intricate fox head was woven into the fabric, made by Elijah's family.

They had given it to him, saying that it was his place to lay it over his casket. That he was the one Elijah had trusted with his life, that he was the one who had protected him.

He looked over at where Oracle stood, her eyes glassy. In her hands she held Moonshine's Shroud, a beautiful golden crescent moon stitched upon a white background rippling in the breeze.

She looked over at him, giving him a small nod. Everyone present turned to Mirage as he began to speak.

"We are all here to say goodbye to those who gave their lives for this fight." He said, his voice ringing through the clear afternoon air. "Today we say goodbye to those we lost, to the brothers and sisters, friends and family, guardians and caretakers that are no longer with us. But we say goodbye knowing that this isn't the end. We will see them again, even if it is painful to let them go now."

His voice caught in his throat and he took a deep breath, forging onward even as his sadness grew with every word he spoke.

"Join me in a moment of silence to honor of those who gave their lives for our safety."

With those words the clearing grew still, the only sounds wind through the trees, Warrior Shrouds of every color waving in the wind. Together they stood in silence, recalling memories of those they loved.

Then, one by one, each family laid their warrior's Shroud across their casket, saying soft goodbyes to those they loved. Mirage draped Elijah's over his, pausing with a hand resting on the Shroud.

Around him Elijah's family joined him, his mother, father and his young sister. His grandparents and others Mirage didn't recognize stood around them, silent.

He closed his eyes, silent tears falling as he remembered being with Elijah, of shared laughs and serious moments. Of comforting one a other, of being as close to Elijah as a brother.

Of losing him sooner than he should have. Mirage opened his eyes as he felt a hand on his arm, looking over at Elijah's father.

Elijah was a spitting image of him from his warm brown eyes and dark hair to the way he held himself. He gave Mirage a small nod, and in that moment of silence Mirage knew he understood that he had done all he could to save his son.

"Was he brave?" He asked softly, gazing at his Warrior Shroud.

"Yes," said Mirage, "he never left a soldier behind, tried his hardest to save every man... he saved my life," Mirage answered him, "he was loyal until the end."

He nodded, closing his eyes briefly.

"I know our boy would never allow anyone to be left behind. I know he would try to save everyone, even if they can't be saved."

Mirage was silent, knowing that in the end Elijah valued the lives of the men in his charge over his own. That in the end he had given his life for the person he trusted more than anyone else.

Mirage looked over at where Oracle stood with Moonshine's family, speaking softly with who he guessed to be her mother. They shared a tight embrace, sharing their grief.

Everyone here had been touched by war, every family grieving someone they had lost, a husband, a wife, a daughter, a son, a sister, a brother.

Everyone had lost someone. Everyone shared their grief as one in this moment.

"Thank you," said Elijah's father from beside him.

Mirage paused for a second, unsure of what he was thanking him for.

"For what?" He asked softly. "I didn't save him."

"No," he answered, "but you were there when it mattered the most. You made sure we could say goodbye to our son."

Mirage's breath caught in his throat as he gazed at the Shroud, his eyes burning. He missed him with all his being, wished he was still here. Somewhere deep inside him, however, he knew he was. Elijah was here, even if it didn't feel like he was.

Mirage exchanged one last look as Elijah's father moved away from him, sharing an understanding nod. He waited until no one was left in the clearing, until it was only him and Oracle.

In that moment he realized just how many good people had lost their lives. Hundreds and hundreds of Shrouds waved in the wind, fabric of every color painting the clearing.

Eventually these men and women would be buried here with their Shrouds, their graves marked to remember them. For those they couldn't identify there would be a ceremony to place the Shrouds of the Unknown on the memorial at the center of the gravesite.

Mirage glanced over as Oracle walked up beside him, looking out at the Warrior Shrouds.

"It still hurts just as much saying goodbye now," she said quietly.

Mirage didn't say anything at first, thinking about his own pain, the grief Elijah's family felt.

"It does hurt like hell," he said at last, "it hurts because we cared for them."

He looked at Oracle, looking deep into her eyes.

"We still have each other, and that is all I need."

Oracle smiled slightly, taking his hand.

"Always," she said.

"Always and forever."

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The war is done, the planet is safe. It's all coming to a close now. Thanks for sticking around, only a chapter or two left!

~Nightfury107