DISCLAIMERS/NOTES
1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.
2. As always, I'll point out this was written over a decade ago, when, here in the UK, Season 2 of the JL cartoon had yet to air. So Hawkgirl had not been revealed as a spy, and the massive, every-hero-in-the-DCU roster of Unlimited wasn't a factor. My timeline picks up after the Season 1 finale, "The Savage Time". All my Wayback Wednesday stories are numbered chronologically, if you get stuck.
3. There are aspects of these stories that, in hindsight, I would change. However, I have kept them as I originally wrote them for history's sake. Not laziness.
PART 7
The room burst with light and energy.
The Mahunter was flown back with the shock wave, and crashed against the wall.
At the heart of the light, a figure knelt down, looking at its hand…
It got to his feet, and held up its arm.
"Now… I AM the power!"
The energy become stronger, and the light shone brighter. Even the Manhunter had to cover his eyes from the blinding illumination.
Then, slowly, the light faded… and the figure became clearer.
As the Manhunter got to his feet, the figure lowered its arm, and stood boldly before him.
John Stewart stood there, transformed. He was all emerald green, seemingly lit from within his body. A cape flowed behind him, and his eyes flashed with green fire. He was no longer Human… he was now more.
He stared at the robot. "No one escapes the Emerald Knight."
The Manhunter approached him, holding his staff infront of him. "Give me the ring… or suffer my wrath." His staff sparked with electricity.
The Knight remained unfazed. The Manhunter got within feet of him, and frowned. "Very well." He then thrust his staff into Lantern's stomach, and sent thousands of volts of electricity through him.
The Knight stood there, unmoving.
The Manhunter's eyes widened.
The Knight looked at him. "I am now the power of the Guardians incarnate… you cannot hurt me." He then swung his arm out, and slapped the Manhunter with the back of his hand. The robot flew through the air, and smashed against the wall again.
He slowly got to his feet, his body beginning to spark. "We… will not… be defeated…"
"If you choose evil," the Knight said, raising his arm, "you've already lost." He then fired a massive energy blast at the Manhunter. It hit him in the chest, and the robot instantly exploded in a ball of flame.
The Knight stood there, as the Manhunter's remains around him. He looked at his hand…
The power ring was part of him now… its power channelling through him…
He heard the sounds of battle from outside, and his eyes glowed. He then lifted himself off the ground, and glided towards the ceiling…
Outside, Kyle knocked away another Manhunter. "I don't know how much longer we can hold on… where's John?"
There was a rumbling from above…
The three Lanterns looked up at the sky, and the rumbling grew louder. The Manhunters followed their gaze, and the Great Hall began to shake. Suddenly, the roof burst apart in a massive explosion, and debris flew everywhere. The Lanterns created shields around them, while some of the robots were destroyed by the falling wreckage.
From the smoking remains of the Hall… a figure rose…
Everyone's eyes widened.
The Knight flew into the air, arms raised. His entire body crackled with energy, and his ring shone brightly.
Tomar stood open-mouthed. "John…?"
The Knight looked around, and saw the hundreds of Manhunters in the area. "You cannot pass," he said evenly. He then shot his arms up, and an energy wave vibrated through the air.
The wave resonated for thousands of yards, and hit the Lanterns and the Manhunters. It passed through the Lanterns, but hit the Manhunters with immeasurable strength. The impact made the robots burst apart, and within seconds, the entire army was obliterated.
The Knight slowly glided down to the ground, as the other Lanterns looked at the carnage around them. When the Knight had landed on the ground, they looked at him. "John… is that you…?" Kyle asked warily.
"I am not John Stewart anymore," the Knight said. "I am the Emerald Knight."
The Lanterns walked upto him. "What happened?" Kilowog asked.
"I took possession of the ring," the Knight said. "I am now the power itself. Everything the Guardians were… I am know."
Kyle was about to speak, when he heard footsteps approaching fast. Shayera bounded across the battlefield, arms outstretched. "JOHN!" she yelled.
She ran into the Knight, and hugged him enthusiastically. "You're OK! I was so worried!" She held him tight, and her eyes watered. "I don't care what's happened to you… you're still here!" She was silent for a few moments, then frowned. She backed away, and looked at his emotionless face. "Why aren't you hugging me back?"
The Knight looked at her passively. "Why would I?"
Shayera stared at her husband, a tear trickling down her face…
/
John and Lucy walked out of the theatre, arm-in-arm. Lucy looked up at him and grinned. "What did you think?"
John looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "It was… different."
"You hated it, didn't you?"
He sighed. "I'm sorry."
Lucy put her hand on his shoulder. "It's OK… I thought it was trash, too. Worst movie I've ever seen."
John smiled. "I'll make it up to you. I promise."
They stopped in the street and she turned to face him. "John, don't be silly. Seeing a bad movie isn't the end of the world. Now, why don't we just go home, and… snuggle."
John looked at her. He loved her so much. She was so kind, so fun-loving… she made him feel better whenever he was around her.
Perhaps… tonight he could…
They continued on down the street, and passed an alleyway. John was about to speak, when he heard movement to the side.
Suddenly, a gun shot out of the alleyway, and a voice called to them. "This way, or the lady gets whacked."
Lucy's eyes widened. "John…"
John looked into the alleyway, and saw a small man with a hat and cigarette. "Come on," he said, "don't make any trouble… just come here…"
John and Lucy silently slipped into the alleyway, and the man backed them against a wall. He pointed his gun in Lucy's face. "Hand over the purse, lady."
Lucy made no effort to comply with his demand. "In your dreams, jerk…"
"Oh, I see, a wisegal," the man said. "Maybe some lead will change your mind…" He pulled the trigger, and the gun fired…
Lucy froze as the bullet shot towards her…
But it never hit her.
A hand put itself infront of her face, stopping the bullet in its tracks. The man's jaw dropped. "What the…?"
John looked at the bullet in his hand, and flicked it to the ground. "It's one thing to threaten a woman," he said, "but to fire at the woman I love…" He slowly went towards the man.
The man backed away, holding his gun infront of him. "Back off, man… or I'll kill you…"
"You can try," John said. He's body then began to change, and his shape altered. His skin colour changed, and his clothes morphed into something different.
The man, and Lucy, stood there, open-mouthed…
J'onn J'onzz looked at the man. "Go on then," he said. "Try."
The man stood there, too shocked to move.
J'onn grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him to him. His eyes then flashed yellow, and after a few seconds, the man went limp, losing consciousness.
J'onn dumped the man on the floor, and sighed.
He heard heavy breathing behind him.
He slowly turned around…
Lucy stared at him, her face white. "John… what…"
J'onn sighed. "Lucy… I have to tell you something…"
TO BE CONTINUED
