Ruler kicked off of the opposing Saber's chest, bouncing back several feet to catch her breath. The fiery hellscape behind her crackled, reminding her that there was no retreating from this battle. On a not-too distant hill crouched her Master, trying to find weaknesses in the Saber to relay telepathically to his last standing servant. The Counter Guardian, EMIYA, had been forced into retreat not even a minute ago, leaving Jeanne as the bulwark between her Master and death.
Scrutinising the face of her enemy, she realized the Saber was whispering something to herself.
"Ruler, use your Phantasm now!"
From the panicked telepathic command, it seemed her Master had come to the same conclusion she had. Planting her flagstaff in front, careful not to let her fingers slip from both her own blood and that of previous enemy servants, she began her aria.
"Oh flag of mine, protect our comrades!"
"Luminosite Eternelle!"
In the nick of time. The Saber's mutterings had crescendoed into a shout.
"Mumyou, Sandanzuki!"
Bursting forward, her opponent struck thrice. Thrice, Jeanne's flag moved impossibly fast, deflecting all three blows.
Then, for the next three seconds, she could not feel or see. She was sure the enemy was striking her. Could she survive it?
Jeanne's vision cleared, allowing her enough time to duck under a swing at her neck. As she did so, she took note of her new injuries. Five smaller cuts were littered around her abdomen, and four more were placed on her left arm, rendering it practically useless. Some of them were closing from her Noble Phantasm, but it wouldn't be enough. "Master, can you heal me? I'm not sure I'll be able to put her to rest if you can't." With a sideswipe at the Saber, she forced space between them again.
"Just a few more seconds...Please, hold out, Ruler!" Came the reply.
Smiling slightly, she gave a short nod. "I'll use this, then." Calling upon the powers gifted to her by God, and enhanced by the Throne of Heroes, Jeanne forced lethargy into the limbs of her enemy, and charged.
She used the precious few seconds granted by her Judgement to try and disable the Saber's sword arm, but while a few of her strikes landed, none were enough to accomplish it. At nearly the exact time her Judgement faded from the limbs of her enemy, she felt a wave of prana wash over her, sealing some of her more serious wounds.
With a quick thrust, the battle was ended. Using her newfound energy, she dashed forward and drove the end of her flagstaff into the surprised Saber's chest. Clutching at the flag, Okita fell to her knees, mumbling, "I...can't...die...yet…"
Golden dust evaporated into the dawning sky. The fires were finally dying down. Jeanne returned to her Master, cleaning her flagstaff on grass as she passed. "Master, may we stay a moment? Please?"
A little confused, her Master acquiesced. Facing towards the rising sun, she kneeled, leaning her flag against her side. In contrast of the heat of the sun upon her face, she could feel a breeze beginning to pick up. Breathing in the scent of the grass, she began her prayer.
"Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth, as it is in Heaven.
"Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
"For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory Forever.
"Amen."
Rising, she gave a beaming smile to the man nearby.
"Let us go home, Master."
Author's Note: Was inspired by some in-game happenings, so here this is!