Blood came up as Kara coughed, the hoarse noise leaving her lips as she doubled over, a blinding pain in her side. The crimson veins faded from her face, and the blue returned to her eyes as unshed tears began to form; both of pain, and sorrow. She stumbled backwards, all feeling in her muscles had gone, and she stopped, the charred coat of arms on her chest rising and falling as she attempted to steady her ragged breaths. But to no avail. The color of deep red trickled down her side as she fell to a knee; her head was bent, and her dirtied hair fell past her face, and for a moment in what seemed to be a long time, she lay still, the wind lifting up the burnt and torn cape that hung from her back.
The kryptonian lifted her head, her cheeks already stained with fallen tears.
"I… I understand," she said, slowly nodding her head. "I would've done th... the same."
Alex saw her sister weakening, and dropped the glowing green sword, rushing to her side, just as Kara had lost balance, catching her in her arms as she fell.
"No, you wouldn't have," Alex said in a near whisper, cradling her younger sibling's head against her chest, "You would have found a way. You always did. But me, I-"
The elder Danvers sister fell short as she felt a hand on her cheek, and on Kara's face was a smile, tarnished by sorrow, but never lacked that brightness that she always had.
"You did what you had to," she murmured, "It was the right thing, Alex."
"You know that's not true."
"It is. I had to be stopped. I already… all of those people…"
"Shh," Alex hugged Kara tighter, the sound of sirens echoing in the distance, "Don't think about that. You're going to be okay. All of this, it's going to be okay."
Kara's smile faltered. "You know that's not true."
"No, I believe it's true. Just hold on, Kara. Just hold on."
Alex looked to the smoke-laden horizon, where the sun had just begun to rise, casting a light upon the destroyed National City.
"Look, Kara," Alex whispered, gently shaking her sister, "Look."
The kryptonian didn't respond.
"Kara?"
The younger Danvers' eyes had fallen shut, and the arm that was once holding Alex's cheek had fallen limp.
"No, no, no, just hold on, Kara," Alex muttered, scooping her sister up in both arms, standing up, and heading back out amid the debris. "Just hold on. Hold on."