EMERALD WINGS
CHAPTER 4
SEPARATE ILLUSION
Disclaimer: I do not own any DC/DCAU etc character in this fanfiction.
Though it appeared to be no more eventful than the birth of any child on Earth, news of the birth of John Stewart reached further than the boundaries of his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. On the distant planet Maltus, one of the immortal Guardians of the Universe told the Ancient Reader in the Tower of Talo that the Opener of Doors had been born.
Green Lantern Mosaic#171
From the Book of Oa
The Centre of the Universe
The Planet of Oa
"We, who are the Guardians of the Universe, must come together once more for the fate of the Universe is at hand"
The Guardians now surrounded the now purified power battery, and all were bathed in its Emerald glow.
The one of the Guardian's floated to the top of the battery, not fully entering the light but hovering just in front of it and all the others gave him their full attention. He was the wisest and oldest of the race and he was greatly respected.
"The Opener of Doors" he intoned "Awakens"
A murmur arose among the Guardians as the implications of that statement sank in.
"On a Far Distant Planet, the Cycle Begins" he finished.
"As it was Prophesized by the Oracle of Time" another said.
"But who is he" a young Guardian asked although, it was a young Guardian asked although, although he was millennia old he was still considered young.
"You know him… Even though he has not come into his full power he has already saved the Universe" The Ancient One said.
"the Glow"
"To stand in the Centre of that Power where not even the strongest of us can go"
"The Opener of Doors is John Stewart"
Another murmur among the Guardians began….
"Prophecy, Destiny, Fate… words to free one to a higher consciousness or words to bind one to in an inescapable doom."
"In the case of John Stewart, which do they fall under?"
"That we do not know young one. It is being decided as we speak in this council"
"In all this we must not forget the Thrice Gifted One. One of our Own witnessed the Beginning of the Universe and he along with his issue will witness the End."
"We must needs wait…we who have waited since the Beginning. Salvation, destruction, entropy, life, death, we took it all upon ourselves when we learned to manipulate the Glow. To combat evil and create an orderly universe is out goal and after all this time it is still not accomplished. So I am eager to see the Doors that will be opened if they are for us" The Ancient One said.
"Why wouldn't they be for us…The Guardians of the Universe" Another said.
"Self appointed Guardians of the Universe. You must never forget that. We are powerful but there are forces out there that will ignore us. They are not as tangible as the Glow, they simply ARE!" The Ancient One replied.
"For now we wait…" a Guardian said
"For now we wait…" The others joined in
"For now we wait…" The Ancient One said
And all together they said
"FOR THE DOORS TO OPEN…."
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Edge of Space Sector 2814
Unknown Planet
"You can't be serious" John said in a disbelieving
The look on her face told him she was. He just couldn't understand why his eyes still glowed green even with his Ring out of power. In the past every time it would lose power his eyes would revert to normal but now it was different. The curious thing he had realized a long time ago was that he was the only Lantern with Glowing Green eyes. He had known Green Lanterns who had served much longer than him but they did not have eyes like his. It made him unique among the Lantern Corps.
Secretly he was always glad when he reverted back to normal but now it seemed that he wasn't reverting back to normal.
"How long will it take for backup to arrive?" she asked wanting to get his mind off the topic.
"If there is a Green Lantern in the area then it shouldn't take more than three hours. The destruction of the ship will send a signal of its last location to the Watch tower and they will probably send someone here." He informed her in his analytical voice.
Shayera, spread her wings and stretched her arms working out any kinks and she saw John tracing the lines of her body. Catching himself he quickly looked away.
"Shayera" he said. "Can you fly up and scan for any fresh bodies of water"
She hesitated for a bit but then she answered by flapping her wings and rising into the sky.
Shayera launched herself into the air and once she had gained a suitable altitude she scanned her surroundings. The planet was very beautiful and very similar to Earth. The forest they were in spread for miles all around them, but far to the east Shayera saw a large body of water.
She slowly floated back down to John. She could see that he was still worried about her revelation and she knew she had to wait until he resolved it within himself.
"There's a lake to the east of here but other than that there's nothing but trees." She told him.
"Are my eyes still…" he did not finish his question but he was staring directly at her.
Looking directly into his eyes she was taken back to a different time, a different place where those eyes looked into hers with warmth and love.
She shook her head, not wanting to walk down that path again…
"Yes John" she said simply but then she noticed that he had removed his ring. She could understand what he wanted to achieve but she could see that it did not make a difference.
He was silent for a while and Shayera was beginning to get worried. She moved closer to him and placed her hand on his shoulder to offer reassurance.
She felt him tense for a second but then he relaxed.
He moved his hand to cover hers and he smiled at her.
"I always felt this would happen" he confessed. Shayera was silent waiting for him. "I've been using this power for so long that now it is apart of me."
"What do you mean John?" she asked
"Every time I used the ring I would feel myself falling deeper and deeper into the Source. It took tremendous effort to pull back from that power." He informed her.
"Why can't you do that now?"
"I think that this time it's not letting me go that easily."
"What do you mean?"
"The Ring taps into the Glow provided by our recharge batteries and those receive power from the Lantern Power battery on Oa. Through the ring we Green Lanterns are able to use the power. In the beginning I could always tell the difference, when I did not have the ring and even when my eyes Glowed I could always feel it. But now…"
"But now what?"
"I can't feel the difference. The ring is out of power but I can still feel the Glow on the edge of my consciousness…"
"Did you ever inform the Guardians?"
"No, I haven't told anyone about this…"
"Not even Mari?" she could not hide her surprise.
"No, you're the only one."
Shayera removed her hand and stepped back from John.
"
Shayera removed her hand and stepped back from John.
"You're doing it again John" she accused.
"Doing what?"
"Pulling me back in. Giving me hope that things are finally changing for us…" her tone had softened but she was still in a volatile state.
"Shayera…" he said as he approached her with his hand outstretched.
"Don't touch me" she screamed at him. "I couldn't bear your touch right now John."
"Why?"
"Because…it hurts. I'm beginning to think you like to see me suffer."
"No Shayera, I've never wanted anything but the best for you"
"If the feeling I get from watching you and Mari is good for me then I could do without your concern."
"What can I do to make fix things?"
Shayera was silent for awhile thinking of what could make her feel even the slightest bit better and then it came to her…
"Tell me about our son…about Rex?"
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John knew that she would ask him one day and even though he had thought about how he would start and what he would say, he found that it paled to the reality of the situation. No preparation could have helped him right now.
He had been a coward about this for too long but now he would be a man and tell her everything she wanted to know.
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After their talk, Shayera had wanted to be alone with her thoughts. She had absorbed all that John had to say and it was a lot more real than the analytical account she had received from Batman.
John was closer to the source and he had seen things far differently but it still wasn't the same.
She yearned to see that man, to see her son. Warhawk… Rex Stewart. Did it mean that she and John had been married, that they had been together…?
Was that future still even possible? That apocalyptic world where her son was alone…
So many questions and not enough answers…
She flew towards the lake to
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John was beginning to get worried about Shayera. He began to make his way towards the lake sensing that she was there.
As he came closer he was able to see the wide lake and he was able to see something else.
On the edge of the lake he saw Shayera's clothes discarded on the floor along with her mace.
He looked towards the lake in time to see the surface breached…
Wings fully spread wide and water slowly dripping down her naked body, silhouetted by the planets Sun.
The sight took his breath away…
She slowly lowered herself not bothering to hide her nakedness…
He found himself approaching her, discarding the Lantern suit and joining her in her nakedness
John took her in his arms and after so long the two kissed…
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With every thrust he was losing himself in this woman, burying himself as deep as he could within her core. Their eyes were locked were locked with each other, as they connected at the most deepest primal level. He increased his pace and she matched his thrust, her hands were gripping his shoulders, her nails digging into flesh.
Their lips locked and their tongues matched the dance their bodies were performing. Exploring, touching and feeling each other.
He knew that this woman owned his heart for all eternity, through everything it had always been about her. He had tried to deny it not wanting to let destiny control his life, but deep down he had known…
In this place, with this woman Destiny and Fate did not matter. It was just her and him. A man and a woman…
She could feel him inside her, filling her to completion. She was taking him in completely within her, never wanting to let him go. She had never stopped loving him and their time apart had only served to drive that home. She wrapped her hands around him forcing him even deeper, he thrust in and she felt her inner walls squeeze and hold him in place.
She screamed his name as she reached her orgasm, breathing deeply she lost herself in the waves of pleasure washing over her. She could still feel him inside of her and her mind was blown away as he pulled out and then thrust back in again.
She would have never believed that she could go higher, but with every thrust he was lifting her beyond everything.
Right now the past did not matter and not even the future. All that mattered was him and her. Right now together, finally joined together after what seemed like an eternity…
The two lovers were on an uninhabited paradise world free from having the weight of the world on their shoulders, free from everything.
They had finally let it all go…
He quickened his pace, his breath coming hot and fast. She matched his thrust, her breath coming in gasps. Their passionate kisses conveyed everything that the other was feeling. They were lost in each other…
But they were not so lost that they did not feel…
John finally let his self control go and he fully tapped into the power of the Glow, the Source of Power of the Guardians. After resisting it for so long he finally let it all go…
Shayera could feel the Nth power flowing in her veins, the hidden legacy of her bloodline. Mastery over the greatest element in the Universe was in her very blood and she finally accepted it…
A Green Aura appeared around John and a Silver Aura appeared around Shayera. The two powers joined and fused climbing higher with the feelings and emotions John and Shayera were experiencing. John's eyes glowed an emerald, green while Shayera's eyes glowed sparkling silver.
The aura's danced an ancient dance, fusing and flowing together, forming something new.
John thrust into Shayera giving her all he had to give…
Shayera met John's thrust accepting him completely…
At that moment the new aura focused… within Shayera….
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Shayera lay on John's chest, both were spent from their rigorous lovemaking. Her emotions were going haywire.
She had come to the lake, wanting to be alone with her thoughts and it had been a spur of the moment decision to skinny deep in the lake. She had needed it though, because as soon as she dove into the cool water she felt cleansed.
That feeling was gone now…
She closed her eyes to rest because she felt that when they both awoke, things would be very different…
Twilight came while they slept and Shayera's dreams were warm and inviting. She dreamed of a home, a loving husband and a beautiful child. Even in her sleep she felt herself being drawn closer to something warm. She sighed in her sleep and snuggled into the warmth.
"Shayera" a voice whispered in her ear.
"Shayera" the voice said, more insistent this time.
She slowly opened her eyes and she immediately noted that it was night time but she found it odd that it was not cold.
She also became aware of hers and John's nudity but with what they had just shared she was far from embarrassed. She did not look up at him instead she rested her face on his chest and she closed her eyes.
"Where do we go from here?" she asked not wanting to beat around the bush.
"I… don't know Shayera. I'm still with Mari and…" He never got to finish because Shayera abruptly stood up and her eyes glowed a dangerous silver.
"No it's not like that" he countered, trying to explain.
"Than what is it? Please, tell me John! Tell what it's like then!" she had turned away from him and she went to gather her clothes.
"Shayera, I love you, isn't that enough for now."
She froze when he said that.
It felt as if her heart was shattering to pieces and for the first time in her life she did not know what to do. She had always valued action over words, and it was ironic that it was words that finally defeated her. She was completely and utterly defeated.
She began to operate on auto pilot, gathering her underwear she slipped it on and then her pants, followed by her yellow top. She held out her hand and expelled some of her power Nth metal mace that was on the floor floated into her hand.
"It's not enough John" she said her voice hoarse with unshed tears. "Goodbye my love" she whispered as she flexed her wings and took to the skies.
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John saw her soaring higher into the sky and then to his shock he saw bolts of blue energy crackle around her person until they became a full blown aura of power. Soon a silver liquid surrounded her form and it then resolved itself into a sort of armor, covering even her wings.
The finality of her goodbye hit him and his world seemed to crash all around him.
His mind went into panic mode but he still had the thought to put on his Ring. He tried to call the power of the Glow but the chaotic state on his mind caused him to lose his concentration and the hold he had on the Glow.
Despair deeper than any he had ever felt overcame him…
She was leaving for good and he feared he would never see her again.
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The Javelin entered the atmosphere of the planet without any complications and the scans of the planet had revealed that it had an environment similar to Earth and so they were one and all relieved that their comrades were safe.
Vixen had insisted on going on the retrieval mission due to the fact that her boyfriend and his ex were stranded together somewhere.
The Retrieval Team consisted of herself, the Martian Manhunter and the Flash. The Flash and J'onn had gone to man the Watch Tower after John and Shayera were called out and she had gone to surprise him, only to find out that he was on a mission. When the Javelin they had used stopped sending a locator signal they immediately prepared to travel to the last area were the signal originated from. On the way they had picked up John's distress signal and they had more information about Sinestro and the planet John and Shayera had gone too.
She knew of the deep feelings between the two and there was something else between them that she did not know or understand. She had noticed the difference after she had recovered from the attack by the Shadow Thief. John and Shayera would share looks that were unfathomable to anyone except them. She never questioned him on that, not wanting to hear the truth…
Right now though she focused her thoughts on finding her love and making sure he stayed hers.
"I have located John, by a Lake but I am unable to sense Shayera. John's thoughts are a bit chaotic and I can sense some distress in them." J'onn informed them.
He then began to guide the ship towards the location. As they approached J'onn engaged the landing gear and set the ship down.
Vixen immediately took of the seat belt and rushed to the hanger. When it lowered she saw John waiting and without a second glance at her he hurried into the ship and exchanged words with J'onn.
Even as he passed her she had sensed the awesome power radiating from him. She was pleasantly surprised not to see Shayera but that all changed when she saw the hanger close and the ships engine ignite.
She went back inside to find John already strapped in.
"Sweetheart" she said
"Mari!" he exclaimed as his glowing green eyes met hers and it was like he was seeing her for the first time.
"What's wrong?"
"It's Shayera, she's left the planet and I don't know where she's gone" She could clearly hear the distress in his voice and she wondered what had happened.
"Relax GL, I'm sure we'll find her." Flash said.
"It's a big Universe and she already has a head start" J'onn said in a clear analytical voice. He guided the ship from the planet and he set the scanners to maximum.
"What I don't understand are her new powers. Where did she get them and why did they appear only now?" Flash asked a question on everybody's mind.
John did not supply an answer and it was clear that one was not forthcoming…
Mari was beginning to get worried, whatever had happened between the two had certainly shaken him up and she hoped it did not match her worst nightmares.
Remembering something that would cheer him up she moved to a panel pressed it. It opened up to reveal John's Lantern Battery.
"Honey, I think you need this" she said as she offered it to him.
He hesitated for a bit but he then took the battery.
In Brightest Day,
In Blackest Night,
No Evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil's might
Beware My Power
Green Lantern Light
John whispered and the ship was bathed in the Green Power of the Glow.
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I'll find you Shayera and I'll make things right.
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One Month Later
Space Sector 2418
Detroit, Michigan
"Hurry up, man, get the money in the car and lets get outta here!"
"I'm working as fast as I can. This trucks hard to open."
"You gotta hurry man!"
"Do you guys know who lives just around that corner?" a deep voice asked the pair of robbers who had overturned a cash in-transit car.
"Shut up and get the hell out here, before I waste you." The robber screamed shakily pointing his gun at the man who had interrupted him.
He was a tall man, with a broad chest and brown skin. His face was clean shaven and he had short hair that was trimmed on the sides with a lot more left on the top. He was wearing a black trench coat and he had black sunglasses on.
"You should watch where you point that thing, someone could get hurt." He said in a patronizing voice.
"Someone could get hurt huh… I'm thinking that someone is you" He pulled the trigger and to his shock the man simply raised his hand and caught it.
He saw him squeeze his hand tight and then when he opened it there was only metal dust and gunpowder in his hand.
His shock was soon replaced by fear because in the centre of the sunglasses he saw a light. A deep green light that made him regret all the evil things he had done.
Luckily for him a swift blow was applied to the back of his neck and unconsciousness claimed him. The same treatment was given to his partner.
Vixen had hurried to dispatch the criminals before they faced John's wrath. His power had grown exponentially and those who stood in his way found themselves praying they had done right.
"I had it covered" he grated out between clenched teeth.
"You were going to hurt these men John, so I had to step in"
"Just forget it" he said as he walked to the apartment.
He didn't even power up, yet he caught that bullet. I'm scared of what you are becoming John and I fear that I cannot save you. There is only one…
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Space Sector 1840
Third Moon of Thaynos
Congratulations Ms Hol. You're pregnant…
"Thank you doctor…"
AN: It's been awhile and that's because I did not have any inspiration. I have recently seen The Once and Future Thing, Ancient History and Destroyer in that order, up until that point I had never seen a Justice League Unlimited episode so I did not have current data to base some story ideas on. Thanks to seeing those episodes, I am once again inspired and you can expect to see more.
Pairings are John and Shayera off course and some Batman and Wonder Woman.
Hit that review button.
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1 This information was obtained from the Book of Oa http://glcorps.