Hello, all my loyal readers. We have come to it at last. The final battle with Ilan and his Zealots.
I hope you guys are excited for this chapter. I'm excited to write it.
Before I get further into this, let's just take a moment to recognize something. THE AVENGERS 4 TRAILER IS OUT! I won't spoil anything for anyone who hasn't seen it, but it's awesome! I cant wait for this movie! And I cant wait to write my Avengers 4 story, though I can guarantee it'll be much different than the movie.
After this chapter, I'll wrap up this story in the next chapter, then I'll get to the epilogue.
Well. Here we go.
Popo: Team Flash will learn about the Infinity Stones. Whether from Strange and Wong, or from Barry, you'll have to wait and see.
Chapter 10- Battle for Earth-1
Barry sighs as he looks at his friends and allies. Cisco, Caitlin, Clint, Wally, and Nyssa are all ready for battle, and staring at him, Strange, and Wong.
"Alright, guys. This is it. Ilan is going to make his final move here. If he destroys this Sanctum, then the barrier holding back Dormammu will fail, and this Earth is doomed. We have to win. There is no room for failure," Barry says.
"Great speech," Caitlin says.
Strange steps forward. "Expect no mercy from Ilan or his Zealots, and don't show them any. Try to avoid collateral damage, but do whatever you need to do to stop them. And whatever you do, do not let allow them to enter the Sanctum. If they can do that, it will be almost impossible to stop them," he says.
Everyone nods. Barry grins as his mask activates. "Let's go out there and stop them," he says.
Everyone nods. Clint snaps his bow out to full length, twirling it in his hand. Nyssa grips her sword tightly. Cisco clenches his fists. Wally pulls his cowl up. And Caitlin smiles a bit as she turns into Killer Frost.
Barry grins more. "Now, let's go kick some a**!"
(Several minutes later, outside the Sanctum)
Barry and Strange stand outside the front of the Sanctum, waiting. They know Ilan and his Zealots are here in Tokyo. It's only a matter of time before they arrive at the Sanctum.
"Nervous?" Strange asks.
"A little, I'll admit. I don't think you ever get confident or brave enough to be above fear. A little fear can be a good thing. It keeps you on your toes. Makes you stay cautious," Barry replies. Strange nods in reply.
Right then, Barry notices some people approaching. He jerks his head, and Strange looks in that direction. Sure enough, Ilan is striding towards them, with at least 12 others following him.
They stop about 20 yards away. For a moment, the two sides just stare each other down. Finally, Ilan speaks up.
"I have to give you credit for that rescue, Strange. I did not expect you to recruit the daughter of the Demon's Head. Nor do I pretend to understand how you got her to agree to help you in the first place, given what I know of Ra's al Ghul," Ilan says.
"I didn't even have to. She chose to help me on her own," Strange says.
Ilan chuckles. "Well, that surprises me. But it matters little. You're going to lose today, Strange," he says.
Strange takes a step forward, conjures shields around his fists, and assumes a battle stance, while Barry settles into a slight crouch. "I doubt that, Ilan. Because we're not alone," Strange says.
An instant later, space seems to warp, and an opening to the Mirror Dimension opens just yards away, and from out of it leap Clint and Nyssa, both of whom loose arrows, which drive right into the backs of two Zealots, both of whom collapse instantly.
Ilan and his Zealots whip around as Caitlin and Constantine step out of the Mirror Dimension, followed by Wong, who closes the opening.
Constantine chuckles a bit right as Caitlin unleashes a blizzard on Ilan and the Zealots. Ilan conjures a shield to block it, but he can't block the sudden drop in temperature. The Zealots shiver as the temperature temporarily drops below freezing.
Strange and Barry both look at each other and nod. Barry says over comms, "Wally." An instant later, Wally races out of the Sanctum. He knocks two of the Zealots flying before grabbing one and and running him right into the side of a building. The Zealot throws Wally away with a burst of energy, and the two start fighting fiercely. At almost the same time, a breach opens, and Jesse and Cisco leap out.
The two Zealots Wally knocked flying quickly get back to their feet, and they join the other eight still alive in attacking Wong, Constantine, Caitlin, Clint, Cisco, Jesse, and Nyssa.
As the battle begins to spread across the street, Ilan slowly walks towards Strange and Barry. "You will not win this time, Strange! Your pathetic friends cannot stand against me and my followers! You will all die! I will see the Sanctum destroyed! And this world will become Dormammu's!"
A fierce look comes over his face as he finishes. As he finishes, his hands begin to glow, and he slams them against the ground. A wave of energy surges out and knocks Barry and Strange off their feet.
Conjuring a Space Shard, Ilan races towards them. But, Barry is less dazed than Ilan realizes. As he gets close, Barry raises his hand and fires his repulsor, hitting Ilan in the chest. Ilan flies back. Barry gets up and races over, grabbing Ilan by the leg and spinning him around before throwing him into a wall.
Ilan slowly stands, glaring with increased hate. "Good move. Now you pay," he says before conjuring multiple Space Shards and throwing them at Barry. Barry dodges most of them, but one successfully nicks his cheek.
Strange regains his feet and conjures an energy sword. He rushes at Ilan, who conjures two more Space Shards and strikes back at Strange.
Across the street, Nyssa is fighting side by side with Clint. Four sorcerers are attacking them fiercely with Space Shards and energy whips. The two are desperately trying to fend off the attacks while trying to get in attacks of their own. But being outnumbered, they can't find an adequate opening to strike back.
Then, one Zealot unleashes a surge of energy tendrils that strike Nyssa and send her flying back into a wall. The responsible Zealot races towards her, a Space Shard springing into existence.
Nyssa tries to regain her bearings, and sees the Zealot racing at her. She reaches for her fallen sword, but before she can even grab it, an arrow suddenly drives through the Zealot's eye, and he instantly falls dead.
Nyssa feels surprised, as Clint is currently trying to desperately avoid attacks from now three Zealots. Then, a woman drops down in front of her, dressed in a combat outfit, and armed with a bow and arrows, and a sword. Then, she turns around, and Nyssa recognizes her.
"Sister?" she asks in shock.
Talia al Ghul looks down at her younger sister. "It has been very long, sister. But, we can catch up later. We must defend the Sanctum," she says.
Talia reaches a hand out. After a moment, Nyssa takes it, and Talia helps her to her feet. Together, they grip their swords, then race to return to the fight.
As they do, Clint clashes his bow-staff with a Space Shard wielded by one Zealot, a blonde middle aged woman. The two other two Zealots prepare to come around and hit him from the side. Then, out of nowhere, Nyssa and Talia race up to his side, slashing at the Zealots and forcing them onto the defensive.
Further down the street, Wally dodges an attack by the Zealot he's been facing and races in, delivering a powerful speed punch to the face that also sends the Zealot into the wall. He smiles triumphantly before turning to look for another opponent.
He glances down the road. Clint, Nyssa, and Talia are dueling fiercely with their three Zealots. Caitlin is facing down two Zealots. Cisco is engaging with another Zealot. Wong is fighting a fourth. And Jesse is fighting the last one.
Right as Wally notices this, Jesse races in for a speed punch. The Zealot responds by conjuring a shield. Jesse runs right into it and deflects off of it. The Zealot then conjures a Space Shard, and as Jesse flies over him, he reaches out and slashes, opening a large gash on her leg.
Fear grips Wally. Despite their breakup, he still holds feelings for her. Desperate to save her, he races right at the Zealot. He reaches him as the Zealot is about to stab Jesse with the Space Shard. He body slams the Zealot so hard that he goes flying headfirst into the side of a nearby building, where he collapses, lifeless.
Wally races up to Jesse. "Jesse! Jesse! Are you okay?" he asks frantically.
Jesse groans as she clutches at her leg. "It hurts so bad," she says in pain. She then looks up at him and says, "Go. You have to help."
Wally looks her in the eyes and says, "They can handle it. You're more important to me right now." Then, before he realizes what he's doing, he leans down and kisses her.
Jesse is stunned. Then, as Wally starts to feel he made a mistake, she grabs him and pulls him closer, returning the kiss.
When they separate, they stare at each other for a few moments before Jesse says, "I'm sorry, Wally. I never should've broken up with you."
"Its okay. We can talk about this later. Right now, I need to get you out of here," Wally says before he picks Jesse up in his arms and races her into the Sanctum.
Cisco dodges aside as his opponent slashes at him with a Space Shard. He opens a breach behind him and jumps back into it. It quickly closes, before another one opens behind the Zealot and Cisco jumps through it, shooting a vibe blast that knocks tumbling across the street.
As the Zealot stops rolling across the pavement, Cisco realizes something. He sees that the Zealot has no Sling Ring. And a plan comes to mind.
Cisco stands still, rather relaxed. His opponent regains his feet. He conjures two Space Shards and races right at him.
Cisco grins as he steps back and opens a breach behind him, as if he's going to retreat. Determined not to let Cisco get away, the Zealot races at him as fast as he can.
Then, right as he lunges at Cisco, Space Shards extended, Cisco opens a breach in front of him, and the Zealot goes through it.
On the other side, the Zealot tumbles out onto a ruined street. He stands up, and realizes how eerily quiet it is. He quickly turns around, and leaps towards the breach. But, it closes before he can get to it.
Back on Earth-1, Cisco smirks. "Dont just rush into things," he advises his now absent opponent, wishing the man could hear him on Earth-15.
Wong blocks a slash from his opponent with an energy shield, then strikes at his opponent with the Wand of Watoomb. The Zealot goes flying.
Wong stalks towards his enemy. The Zealot conjures two Space Shards and throws them at Wong, who easily deflects them using the Wand.
The Zealot conjures an energy whip and lashes it out at Wong. Wong manages to deflect it twice before it manages to lash him across the chest, knocking him flying back into a wall.
The Zealot smirks as he conjures another Space Shard and throws it. Wong quickly conjures a whip and lashes it around the Shard, using the whip to throw it back at it's caster. The shard drives right into the Zealots chest, and he collapses.
Wong breathes a sigh of relief, taking a moment to catch his breath after that fierce fight.
Caitlin unleashes a blast of icy wind out, forcing her two opponents back. She then propels herself up into the air on an ice track, zooming around behind one of her opponents. Before he can even react, she sends a volley of very sharp icicles into his back.
Angered, the second Zealot conjures a barrier right in her path. Caitlin immediately cuts off the ice path and drops to the ground to avoid the barrier. She unleashes an icy blast. The Zealot only just manages to dodge it.
The Zealot conjures a Space Shard. Caitlin responds by conjuring an ice blade, and the two attack each other.
For a minute, the two are dueling. Then, Caitlin clashes her ice blade against the Zealot's Space Shard. Then, as they're struggling against each other, Caitlin reaches down, getting her other hand under the Zealot's guard, and looses an icy blast right into his stomach.
The Zealot goes flying back, hitting a lamppost as he goes. Dazed, he tries to regain his feet. That is, until a vibe blast hits him in the head and knocks him flying. This time, he doesn't get up, but just lies unconscious on the street.
Caitlin looks over at Cisco, who has seemingly appeared out of nowhere. "What took you so long?" she asks.
Cisco smiles. "I was a little busy. Sorry I didnt leave him all for you," he says. Caitlin smiles.
Constantine ducks under a strike by his opponent. Deciding this way isn't working, he goes back to his strategy when he led Oliver and Laurel to rescue Sara's soul.
He dodges a strike from the Zealot, then raises his hand and begins to chant. The Zealot attempts to strike at him, hut he dodges, while continuing to chant.
Finally, he reaches the end of his incantation, and the Zealot is immobilized. Constantine then conjures some dark flames in his hands, and throws them at the Zealot. The Zealot screams in pain, then is silenced by a second volley of flames.
Clint growls as he clashes his bow against his opponent's Space Shard. He tries to kick her in the leg, but she jumps back to avoid it.
Beside him, Nyssa is dueling fiercely with her enemy, sword on Space Shard. Her enemy is a rather skilled duelist, but is not used to fighting this fiercely for this long. Nyssa slowly starts gaining a greater advantage.
A few yards away, Talia is also dueling a Zealot with her sword. This Zealot is even less experienced, and finds ot near impossible to keep up with Talia. Soon, they clash their weapons together. Talia forces their weapons down, then leaps up, somersaults over the Zealot, and removes his head with her sword.
Just a few moments later, Nyssa slashes at her opponent. He blocks her attack with a Space Shard, but she draws a knife from her belt and stabs it into his side. The Zealot howls and lowers his Space Shard, giving Nyssa the chance to stab him in the stomach.
Just moments later, Clint swipes his bow at his opponent. She manages to block his strike with a Space Shard. Clint rotates his bow slightly and forces his opponent's Space Shard up slightly. Then, fast as a viper, he reaches back, grabs an arrow out of his quiver, then stabs it under her Space Shard and drives it right through her chest. She gasps sharply, then goes limp. Clint releases the arrow, and she collapses.
Clint looks around before focusing on Nyssa and Talia. Gesturing to Talia, he asks Nyssa, "Who's your friend?"
"My sister," she says, glancing harshly at Talia. Clint raises an eyebrow, sensing some tension/drama there.
"We can discuss this later," Nyssa says. Clint nods tersely.
Barry flies back into a building. He groans as he tries to regain his bearings.
Back where he had been thrown from, Strange is still fighting fiercely with Ilan. Ilan strikes at him with a Space Shard, but Strange blocks it with a shield. He then conjures a whip and lashes it around Ilan's leg, throwing him through the air. Ilan rights himself and manages to land on his feet, conjuring Space Shards to throw at Strange. Strange opens a portal with his sling ring, and the Shards go sailing through.
Barry regains his feet, and races towards Ilan. Ilan conjures a shield, but Barry races around him, firing his repulsors. Ilan blocks most of them, but one blast catches him in the side. Ilan glares at Barry with hate. He slams his hands against the ground, and a storm of energy tendrils surge out, whipping around. Several knock Barry off his feet.
Before Barry can recover himself, he feels an energy whip wrap around his leg. Then, he is whipped back, landing at Ilan's feet. Ilan reaches down and grabs Barry by the throat.
As he grips tightly, Ilan growls, "You will never beat me, Flash."
Barry glares back at him, his mind racing through his options. Then, he remembers Shuri telling about the features of his suit. And one he hasn't used yet.
Barry glances down. Sure enough, lines on his suit are glowing red. Barry clenches his fist, then manages to slam it down on the ground. All the kinetic energy built up in the suit bursts out, and the shock wave throws Ilan off of Barry and back into a wall. Hard.
Ilan shakes his head, trying to recover from the attack. Then, Barry races up, grabs him, and runs him across the street, throwing him into another building. Then, Strange conjures a whip and lashes it at Ilan, sending him flying several yards further down the street.
Ilan gets to his feet as Barry and Strange close in on him. He screams in anger, then unleashes multiple tendrils of red energy, which knock Strange and Barry flying back.
Looking around, Ilan sees his other followers have been defeated. He returns his gaze to Strange and Barry. "You will never beat me, Strange! You will never catch me! You may have beaten my followers. But I will simply find another Earth, and carry out my plan there! You failed, Strange!"
Ilan whips around and begins opening a portal with his Sling Ring. Strange feels fear take him, fearing that he will get away. And so, he pulls out his greatest weapon again. He crosses his arms, then spreads them, opening the Eye of Agamotto. He thrusts out his palm, and casts the spell. And Ilan goes still, frozen in time.
Strange grunts as he strains to maintain hold. "I can't hold him for long!" he shouts.
His warning is heard by everyone. And down the street, Nyssa, Talia, and Clint all draw arrows from their quivers. But, before they can shoot, they hear a noise behind them, and an icicle plunges into Ilan's chest.
Everyone looks surprised as they turn to Caitlin. Caitlin looks at everyone before saying, "He was too dangerous to be left alive. I couldn't let him put anyone else in danger. So I ended it."
Everyone looks at her for a few moments before Clint smiles. "Good job, kid," he says. Caitlin turns to him and smiles.
The entire team looks around at each other. Finally, Barry breaks the silence and says, "Well, guys. That was a full day's work."
And with that, I'll end the chapter.
I hope this chapter wasn't disappointing. I know some parts of the fight werent too descriptive. But, I think that sometimes, vagueness in certain descriptions leaves it free for the reader to imagine what it would look like for themselves.
I hope you like Talia showing up. I dont totally like what they did with her in Arrow Season 5, and in my MACU, most of Season 5 didn't happen, so I decided to bring her in here. I also hope you dont mind I had Wally and Jesse start to come back together. They will rekindle their romance.
It took me a long time to think of how I wanted Ilan to meet his end. I came up with a number of possible scenarios, and even juggled with the possibility of introducing Wonder Woman so she could kill Ilan. But, in the end I decided to have Caitlin deal the final blow. A chance for her to unleash her inner Killer Frost, but prove she has control.
Well, this story is almost done. Next chapter will wrap things up.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. As always, please review, and stay tuned!