New Beginnings

Prologue (Bloody Endings)

Batman was kneeling down next to Wonder Woman. He held her unconscious body in one arm. The other arm was loose at the socket. It had broken, scratch that, the monster had broken it. Around them was nothing but debris. That's all that was left of the once great city of Metropolis. There was still so much fire burning everything in sight. And worse for the lungs, so much pitch black smoke.

Batman took off his mask. There was no need for it anymore, everyone knew who he was. There were no longer any secret identities. The people had made sure of that.

The fire was closing in. With the little energy he had left, he picked up Wonder Woman with his good arm and carried her into what remained of the Hall of Justice. Looking through the broken walls, Batman could see the Watchtower in a crater that once was the city's main park. It had been nuked out of orbit, killing all the members on board. Among the ones not onboard were the original seven (Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, and the Flash).

Wonder Woman moaned. She was slowly regaining consciousness. Once she was fully awake, she tried to get up but stopped at the full realization of her pain. It seemed, to her, that most of her ribs were fractured and some even broken. She looked up to see Batman was holding her.

"Sshh," he said to her, "rest, you need it."

That was the last thing on her mind, rest. "Where's Superman?" she asked.

Batman didn't answer right away. He waited. "He's still fighting it." He sighed in pain. "None of this was supposed to happen. We were heroes." He wasn't really talking to Wonder Woman but rather to himself.

"It's not your fault, Bruce," she said quietly.

He looked at her. His name sounded so beautiful coming from her voice. "I know. I mean who was to know the people were to turn on us. Eliminate us!" He was remembering all the fallen heroes. The only ones left were Diana, Clark, and him. This was per se had been going on for a few months now. Heroes were slowly disappearing until only the original seven were left. The government created a monster with all their combined abilities to kill them. It proved to be stronger than anything they had ever encountered. Having all their powers, but none of their weaknesses. And worse it was intelligent, it learned, and adapted.

Diana looked Bruce in his eyes that to her never looked so hopeless, broken, and for the first time held tears. The world was slipping from their hands with every passing moment. Bruce was taking this the hardest and she felt his pain. "I love you," she confessed.

Bruce for moment, only a moment, had a twinkle in his blue eyes. He grabbed Diana's hand and brought it up to his cheek. "I love you too." Her hand felt so warm to him. It heated him in places where not even the extreme heat of the flames around them could.

There love was always impossible. Bruce had married Seline Kyle and Diana married Steve Trevor. Even in their situation, though, they always found some time to be together. Of course they were never found together romantically, but as friends.

Batman's com link went off in his ear. "Superman to Batman," Superman said over the statically link. "Do you read me?"
Batman put his finger to his ear. "Yes I read you. What is your message?"
Over the link he heard loud screams and punches. Superman panting through the link said, "I…I don't…. think I can… do this any longer—

A yell was heard and then the link died. "Superman! Superman!" Batman yelled into the communicator. When there was no answer, Batman broke the machine in his hand. In his mind, Batman knew the link wasn't the only thing that had died.

Wonder Woman looked at him with concerned eyes. She understood what had happened. Her eyes were tearing but she refused to breakout into a complete sobbing mess.

Bruce looked at her. He was examining her injuries. He knew what they had to do and wanted to make sure her injuries weren't severe enough to hold her back. "We have to go now Diana." He said it hollowly. What he really wanted to tell her was to forget everything and run away together to the end of the world. They could have it all once they renounce their hero lives. Nothing would stop them from starting over and taking on the world together, but sadly he knew that now that would just be a dream.

"I know," Diana said reassuringly. Bruce stood up and offered her his hand to help her get to her feet. Diana grabbed it gently and then tugged him down into a kiss. For a moment everything seemed to be still. The passion in the kiss was to die for. It was sweet, strong, and above all lasting. When the kiss finally broke they just looked each other in the eyes.

Once again Bruce offered Diana his hand. This time she took it to get to her feet. They, however, did not let go of each other. Instead, Diana intertwined her fingers with Bruce's. She pulled him into a hug and whispered into his ear, "This is it, isn't it?"

Bruce using his soft voice answered, "Yes, it's the end." He could feel Diana crying into his shoulder. He started caressing her hair, for the first time feeling sympathy for another human being. He looked straight ahead to the Daily Planet building. It was the only structure still standing. In the distance, he saw the monster. Then in a matter of seconds, he used all his strength to push Diana out of the way.

Diana landed on her back and just barely managed to see the Daily Planet collapsing on Bruce. She couldn't cry she was out of tears. All she felt was her heart sinking into her stomach. She felt like her stomach acid eating away the soft tissue of her broken heart. And that was the worst feeling she had ever felt. Diana turned to see the monster. It stood just a few feet from her. It was over ten feet tall, had charcoal skin, bat like wings, and piercing red eyes.

She jumped for it and it was over. The only thing she could see was blood, her blood. Everything was red, bloody, and warm. Then everything went black and she was reunited with her friends. They never looked happier, because in the end their deaths only led to a better place. She grabbed Bruce's hand and together with the rest of their friends, they walked into the light.