Chapter 11-A Devil Doing What's Right
"Well that was fun," said Dante finding himself along with Lady, Nero, and Trish back on the Invisible Jet letting his wounds heal along with everyone else except John Stewart having gone to the Watchtower to heal there while taking Batman with him.
"It could be worse," said Nero, as he polished his revolver, and spun it around before he holstered it.
"How?" said Lady, as she looked at them with mild curiosity, and wanted to know what Nero was thinking?
"Those Amazons could have tried to kill us," said Dante letting a chuckle leave his mouth with Nero following since that did seem pretty funny.
"Killed you two maybe, but not us," said Trish smirking at the two male half-devils, who seemed to think about it before shrugging, and went back to relaxing until the next battle came.
"The question is how do we get Nightwing back?" said Cyborg, as he wished they had an answer to the situation, and rubbed the back of his still skin covered head.
"With Raven gone to the secret location given to her by Nightwing, it will be difficult to convince him to not use Hera's Scepter, and betray Mundus," said Jason Blood, as he was in deep thought about the situation, and wondered where Nightwing had told Raven to go through their bond.
"Even if we could find a trail leading to Raven, Nightwing has been all over the world, he has just as many secrets as Raven does, and probably has just as many hiding spots," said Cyborg, as he sighed while his computerized brain began working on finding the best places that Raven could go to hide that only Nightwing knew of.
"Friend Diana, what do you think we should do?" said Starfire, as she was two rows of seating behind Diana, and wanted to hear the Amazon's opinion on this.
"While I do not condone Nightwing's betrayal on a deal that is most likely false, I cannot blame him either since I have seen that his fears for losing Raven are somewhat valid, and respect him for the fact he would do whatever it took to protect the one he loves most. I would do the same if it happened to my Amazon Sisters," said Diana, as she had remembered what happened with Faust, and how she had to do what needed to be done to save her sisters.
"You did once actually," said Superman's voice on the screen smiling at her and she in turn smiled back.
Unlike Bruce, she could always count on the Man of Steel to give her a warm smile, and bring some sort of comfort after a hard fought battle.
"Hi Kal. Nightwing unfortunately got away with Hera's Scepter, my Amazon Sisters left for Themyscira to report what happened to my Mother, and were currently out of leads," said Diana seeing understanding eyes and that of concern since she had her fair share of battle wounds from what he could see.
"Batman filled us in while John was getting patched up. He's speaking to Dr. Fate right now, but for some reason he's not telling me, and I think he knows that if I find out we will both disapprove," said Superman since both of them had on several occasions been known to disapprove of Batman's methods since they were so cloak and dagger.
"It probably has something to do with Nightwing and trying to remove the demonic blood that his cousin gave him," said Diana knowing that had been Batman's main objective in regards to his family.
"Not that surprising really. Bruce has always had problems with the supernatural on some subconscious level, but has always been able to keep it under control up until now, and I think this thing with Nightwing now being half demonic is getting to him inside. It's just how Batman is Diana and is just the kind of thing we have to tolerate at the moment," said Superman seeing Diana's eyes fill with sorrow and the Man of Steel had to fight the wince that wanted to come to his face.
"I agree. Do you think you can talk to some of the other magic based superheroes in the League to track down Raven? With her being pregnant, Raven's energy signature must be giving off some kind of pulse, and should be detected if they searched hard enough," said Diana knowing that if they could find Raven, then they had some kind of chance to get Nightwing to switch back, and help defeat Mundus.
"I talk to them. You should head back to the Watchtower to get patched up. When you're ready, you along with the Titans can attack the Hive Academy's HQ, and can try to take back Hera's Scepter," said Superman since finding the scepter's magic signature would not be difficult and could track its location to Nightwing.
"We may not have that kind of time," said Diana, as she was thinking the same thing, but the time they needed to rest wasn't in their favor, and the sooner they launched an attack on the Hive Academy HQ the sooner they could get Hera's Scepter back from the hands of Mundus.
"Are you sure you can attack now given your injuries?" said Superman, as he didn't want any of them to die because they were not at full strength, and taken down when their foes prayed on their injuries.
"Hopefully, we'll get them by surprise, and use it to our advantage in taking them down soon after," said Diana, as she secretly felt her heart thumping faster at his concern, and wondered if Bruce would have felt the same way.
Knowing Batman, he would have ended the communication, and prepared for battle on his end without telling her.
"All the same, I'm contacting Titans East, and sending them to back you up since they are currently closer to your destination then you are. They'll contact you and coordinate their efforts in storming the place to keep a large portion of your opposition at bay," said Superman since he'd feel better if Diana had some fresh backup should things go bad with her plan.
"Thanks Kal. Diana out," said Diana, as she ended the transmission, and went back to fully flying the ship.
"So...," said Dante having listened to the conversation with somewhat keen interest.
"So what exactly?" said Diana trying to ignore the chuckle that left Dante and Nero's lips.
"So when are you two going to get married?" said Dante smiling at seeing Diana blush and he then laughed at seeing her scowl soon after he started laughed at her crimson facial reaction.
"Were not like that. Kal is my friend," said Diana though if one had some keen hearing they would detect a sense of sorrow in that voice of hers.
"Right and I'm not one of the twin sons of Sparda. You may not admit it, but it's written all over your face, and by the tone of voice you have when speaking to Superman. I have seen that kind of smile before with my own Mother when she told me and my brother Vergil about our old man. You have that same smile my Mother had when she described Father to us and how he was honorable to a fault. I see a lot of my own Father's qualities that my Mother told us about in the big man," said Dante, as he saw Diana trying to deny these feelings about the Man of Steel, and everyone on the Invisible Jet saw what Dante saw.
"But he's with another," said Diana trying to use Lois as a means to get them to rethink the idea of her and Superman being together.
"Oh, you mean that whole thing with that Lois Lane chick that he's rumored to be seeing right? Oh please! Lois's selfish, egotistical, thinks about her own career while not caring if she's stepping over other people, and between us I think she abuses the whole 'save me Superman!' thing," said Nero earning him a few chuckles from the Titans, Trish, Lady, and Dante since it was pretty funny to them.
'I can't argue with that, no matter how much I want to,' thought Diana, as she wondered if Kal had ever thought of her beyond that of friendship, and if he had a chance to leave Lois...would he?
Deciding to think about this later and her "relationship" with Bruce, Diana piloted the Invisible Jet to head towards the Hive Academy HQ.
(Themyscira-At the Moment)
"We failed you my Queen, "said Phillipus kneeling before Hippolyta, as did the other Amazons, and saw that the woman that ruled over Themyscira since its founding was not very happy.
"So Hera's Scepter is in the hands of this demonic entity named Mundus. What of this fallen hero named Nightwing?" said Hippolyta having heard the report from both her trusted General Phillipus and Artemis though the latter spoke hatefully about this half-demon warrior that bested her in combat.
"Yes. He is apparently the nephew of a very powerful demon on his Mother's side of the family and was given his demon blood through his cousin. The demon's name is Sparda," said Phillipus seeing out of the corner of her eye that Artemis was seething with barely controlled rage.
Being bested by a male was one thing. Being bested by a half-demon male was another thing all together for a Bana Amazon.
"Sparda. I do not know this demon per say, but I imagine several of the Gods have, and would have much to say on him if they could. What of this Nightwing's cousin?" said Hippolyta, as she needed to know where this fallen hero's relative aligned himself with, and if he needed to be removed?
"He was fighting Nightwing my Queen along with the help of another half-demon that looked to be his brother or another relative," said Phillipus, as she had seen the battle between the 3 half-devils, and was awed by their fight.
"Could it be a trick? Some way to fool everyone of their involvement in this?" said Hippolyta, as she was thinking about what to do with these knew developments.
"No my Queen. They were with Princess Diana on the Invisible Jet and the battle the two half-demons had with Nightwing was not something to be taken lightly. They fought him, as if they were his mortal enemies, and Nightwing had returned it fully with everything he had," said Phillipus, as the other Amazons could testify to the swordsmanship skills these half-demons possessed.
"No doubt their demon blood had a hand in that," said Hippolyta, as demons related to each other tended to fight in such a way, and fight like how Phillipus described it.
"There is more Queen Hippolyta. The reason that this fallen hero has joined Mundus is because of a female half-demon named Raven. She is...caring his child," said Artemis, as she spat out the last word like it was evil, and wished she could kill Nightwing after he had handed her a humiliating defeat like he did with her other Bana sisters.
"So he's serving Mundus to be with her in some way?" said Hippolyta wondering what Artemis was getting at and motioned for her to continue.
"Yes. If we were to capture this half-demon woman, we could use her to have Nightwing return Hera's Scepter before it can be used, and prevent the Gods from having to step in," said Artemis, as she smiles while keeping her face low enough not to be seen, and away from the eyes of Hippolyta.
"My Queen, there could be a significant downside to this plan, as Nightwing will become angered, and possibly unleash his demonic rage upon us many of our sisters would die," said Phillipus, as she had seen his skills with, and without the sword he used.
Nightwing was not to be taken lightly if angered.
"Both of you have good point, but none of you can act on them now, as your teams are injured, and so are you. Go to the Healing Isle and get your wounds taken care of while I consult the Oracle for guidance," said Hippolyta seeing her Amazons Sisters had indeed been in a fierce battle at the Temple of Hades.
When her Amazon Sisters left, Hippolyta looked out the window of her room, and gazed out into the sea beyond the island wondering what to make of this new development. This half-demon woman named Raven was a key person in this battle to save the world, but at the same time so was Nightwing, and this news of him being related to a powerful demon named Sparda. She had heard that name before somewhere, Hippolyta was sure of it, and while she couldn't remember off the top of her royal head what she remembered, it was something to look into.
Heading to the Oracle, Hippolyta made a mental note to ask Menalippe to help look into this information regarding the demon Sparda, and why it seemed to hold some relevance to this situation in Man's World.
(The Far East-True Master's Home)
"So that's what happened to my student," said Chui-Hui, as she sipped her tea, and let Raven have some from her tea kettle.
"Yes. Ever since he was forced to serve Mundus, I have sensed his grief, his regret in betraying the Titans like this, but at the same time I sense his resolved to make things right, and determination to come back to me. He loves me Chui-Hui. I know it," said Raven holding her cup gently in her hands while smiling fondly into the tea.
"To serve a cruel master in an effort to protect the ones he loves so much from harm is someone that you must hold onto for as long as you can my dear. If given the chance, I will help you give birth to the child here in this place, and see to it the child is protected from those that would try to hurt you both," said Chui-Hui, as she had experience with brining children into this world, and felt she was more then up to the task of bringing Raven's child into it too.
"Thank you Chui-Hui. I am honored," said Raven, as she bowed her head, and took a sip of her tea.
"After you're done your tea, I want you to go rest in the spare bedroom I have, and I will have my warriors get things ready for the long Months ahead," said Chui-Hui, as she rose from her seat, and headed out the door to find her Guardians.
'Nightwing, please be safe,' thought Raven, as she put her arms around her belly feeling the slowly growing being inside her womb, and sensed her child was all right despite all the stress she herself was under.
Whatever deity out there, Raven hoped would here her prayers, and keep her love alive.
(Hive Academy HQ)
The transport landed without delay, as Nightwing got out of it, and headed for Brother Blood's office knowing the psychic cyborg was waiting for him with Hera's Scepter. Some of his strength had returned during that time, which was fortunate since Nightwing felt his body had become completely spent at the moment he entered the transport out of Greece, and needed a long nap before returning to this place.
Heading towards the Headmaster's office, Nightwing was beginning to have second thoughts about handing this magical artifact over to Brother Blood, and that of Mundus himself. Even if he had no idea what it was needed for, Nightwing knew it was something evil, and would bring destruction to all life in the world. Raven would never forgive him for that and there child no less would hate him as well for brining untold suffering upon everything that was pure.
'But if I don't do this, then all that I love now will be lost, and Raven will be gone from this world along with our child,' thought Nightwing, as images of them together in his mind flooded his senses, and the child they would have together.
How could he try to protect them when all he was doing was betraying them?
Clutching Hera's Scepter in his hands, Nightwing walked calculatingly towards Brother Blood's office, his breathing steady, his muscles tense, and his mind focused for what it was that awaited him beyond the man's doors. Nightwing's only hope was that no matter what happened, no matter the outcome, and no matter how Mundus's wrath was...Raven would live to give birth to there child that would one day grow up to take his place in this world as one of its many heroes.
(Invisible Jet)
"Were near the Hive Academy right now. Just give the signal and we'll attack to create a diversion away from you guys," said Speedy with his team in the background on his Titan communicator to Wonder Woman and she nodded to him in agreement.
It had taken some quick flying, but after dropping Cyborg off to let him fix his metal body, the Invisible Jet took off, and headed for the Hive Academy HQ. They had easily made contact with Titans East, who were already near the area, and were ready to take down Brother Blood.
"We will. Make sure you make a lot of noise when you begin the fight. With most of the Hive Academy's students along with Hive robots fighting you, we will sneak in from the roof on a higher level, and take down anyone that gets in our way," said Diana, as she had seen the blueprints of the Hive Academy HQ, and saw where the Headmaster's office was.
That would be there entry point.
"Right! Speedy out," said Speedy before ending the communication
(Hive Academy HQ)
When Nightwing entered the room, he found Brother Blood waiting for him, as expected since he was told everything, and saw the cyborg psycho smiling at him. Nightwing of course wanted nothing more, then to slice this foolish mortal in half, and show the Hive Headmaster just how insignificant his life was.
"Welcome Nightwing. I see you were successful in getting Hera's Scepter. Perhaps you should consider being a villain rather then a lowly hero like your fellow Titans?" said Brother Blood before Nightwing forcefully handed him the scepter.
"Yeah whatever. Where's the portal so Mundus can see what I got him?" said Nightwing finding that the portal was not in the room like before.
"I had to close it. We have to head to the roof where I'm going to reopen the portal so we can show the results of your well earned victory over the Justice League and the Titans," said Brother Blood before walking out of the room and Nightwing right behind him since he would need to report to the Emperor immediately upon his return.
"You'll have to excuse me if I not jumping with joy," said Nightwing sarcastically, as they went up the elevator lift, and onto the roof section of the Academy where the writing along with the ruins that make up the portal had been set up after the transport left.
"It will make little difference if you do that or not since Mundus is going to be pleased with getting the item he needs for his plans," said Brother Blood before began the means to activate the somewhat large portal allowing the shadowy three eyed form of Mundus to appear.
"Brother Blood, I see you have in your possession Hera's Scepter, and thus it means Nightwing was successful in retrieving it before his former friends tried to stop him," said Mundus seeing Nightwing tense at that since he still considered them his friends and hoped they could understand what he was doing was for the right reasons.
"Yes I was. Now since I've done what you asked, why do you even need this? It opens a portal to Mount Olympus and to Themyscira the home of the Amazons," said Nightwing wondering if Mundus will tell or simply kill him now that it's over.
"I am well aware of such things that the scepter can do my servant. However, it is not just a key to making a portal to those two locations, and given the right influence can open a portal to other places. Portals to other realms can be opened depending on the scepter's holder, allowing a realm of their choice to opened provided that they have the blessing of that deity, or God that rules the chosen realm," said Mundus having learned of this particular loophole that would allow him to complete his plans to take over the human realm.
"Wait! You want to open a large enough portal to the demon realm. You want to create a portal to let out an army of demons to take over the Earth," said Nightwing looking at Brother Blood, who didn't seem to mind the idea, and the fallen hero had a feeling that Mundus had promised the villain immunity against the demonic hordes that were itching to get here when they arrived.
"Very good Nightwing. It seems your intelligence level is almost as high as your level of fighting. However, the key for my plan to work now is you Nightwing, and requires the demonic energy from your Devil Bringer," said Mundus seeing Nightwing tense at that and sensed the reluctance to do so when looking at his right arm.
'I'm the key to the end of the world as we know it. Was this what it felt like for you when you were the key for Trigon to enter this world Raven? Was the burden this big for you like it is for me right now?' thought Nightwing, as he tightened his hand into a fist, and the leather glove like part of his costume could be heard stretching in the process.
"Why do you look so down Nightwing? You shouldn't be since what you are about to do will help remove the stain of your uncle's betrayal to his demon brethren from well over 2000 years ago," said Brother Blood wondering why Nightwing was having such impact from his consciousness?
"What my uncle did was right then and it's right now to keep demons in their own realm!" said Nightwing before drawing his sword and pointing it at Brother Blood.
"So you have chosen the human race over the demonic one that would call you family? The same human race that your teacher is from, who even now is trying to find a way to purge the very demonic blood in your body from it, and make you human again. The very humans that would hunt down the woman you love and kill your unborn child with her!" said Mundus getting infuriated by Nightwing's insubordination and was not going to lose his chance to have a portal connect to the demon realm that only Hera's Scepter could close.
A scepter Mundus's servant had in his possession at the moment.
"No one will get to Raven or our child. Not you, not the Justice League, and certainly not a horde of demons you intend to unleash upon the world," said Nightwing before the sound of an explosion was heard from the ground floor of the Academy and the alarms inside the complex blared indicating they had intruders.
Seeing his chance, Nightwing moved swiftly, and cut the robotic hand of Brother Blood that held the scepter before performing a low sweep kick that knocked the villain off his feet. The robotic hand that got sent flying into the air while still holding onto the scepter was still their spinning before Nightwing jumped up to get it and landed near the roofs edge.
Prying the robotic hand off the scepter, Nightwing sheathed his sword before looking over the roof edge, and saw it was a pretty steep fall if he went down that road. As he looked back a Brother Blood, who was now back to his feet, the man looked pretty upset at the moment, and Mundus was...well angered doesn't seem to be the right definition for whatever could be described burning in those three eyes of his.
"You are just as traitorous as Sparda was 2000 years ago!" said Mundus angrily, as he shot a blast of energy at Nightwing, who barely dodge it, as it grazed his ribs causing them to be burned, and found himself engaging a rather angry Brother Blood.
"You'll pay for taking my hand boy!" said Brother Blood fighting Nightwing with his own martial arts fighting style.
"I don't see what the problem. It makes you look more appealing. Now all you need is to attach a mechanical claw and you'll look like the older brother of that villain from that Inspector Gadget show," said Nightwing trying to fight of Blood, but in his current state it wasn't easy, and Mundus's energy attacks weren't helping.
Nightwing blocked a kick, dodged a punch, leaped back near a corner ledge, and after pushing back Brother Blood when he moved into the kill dodged another blast of energy from Mundus. It wasn't easy since the injuries he had already sustained in Greece were not fully healed yet and the injuries from Mundus grazing hit on his ribs wasn't sitting so well either.
"You are weakened. You cannot hope to fight the two of us off and live to tell the tale Nightwing. I will be merciful though and give you this onechance to serve me by using Hera's Scepter to open the portal to the demonic realm. If you don't Raven will die and so will your child!" said Mundus before he began to attack Nightwing's mind sending a variety of images of Raven with child in pain at the hands of those that Nightwing wished to protect making him scream out in pain from the attack.
"Do what he commands Nightwing. Would the end result of such actions that Mundus desires be so bad for you or your future family? You will be praised as hero to the demon world, you will honored by all that serve Mundus, and will no doubt be given your own private army of demons with your future castle that would provide further protection for them," said Brother Blood seeing Nightwing pound his fist into the floor creating a small crater with his Devil Bringer activated.
Had the scepter been in his hand, it would have been crushed in his grip, and would have been useless.
'I don't know what to do. I know that Mundus gives only false promises and that this is one of those times, but...the images are so real. What do I do!?' thought Nightwing letting his demonic hand cover his head while gripping the scepter in his left hand tightly too.
"Don't give in Nightwing," said Raven calling out to him through their bond, as she felt his pain from where she was, and needed to call out to him.
'Raven?!' thought Nightwing trying to block out the images plaguing his mind.
"Listen to me and don't do what they want. So long as you don't give in, those images will not come to pass, and we can still be together. Don't make the same mistake I did with my Father," said Raven, as she felt the connection weakening, and Mundus trying to block her out like before.
'She's right. If I give in now, I'll fail Raven, our child, and the world. I won't give in. I can't give in!' thought Nightwing, as he slowly got up from the ground, and glared at Mundus along with Brother Blood before flipping them off with his Devil Bringer hand.
"Still you defy me? Then DIE!" said Mundus in a furious rage hitting Nightwing dead on in the chest with demonic energy that went right through him causing the half-devil to fall back over the ledge after he dropped Hera's Scepter on the roof.
'Raven, I'm sorry. I did the right thing, but I made you pay for it in the end, and now our child will grow up without a Father,' thought Nightwing, as he fell off the roof, and down to the ground.
His last thoughts were of Raven and the child he would never know.
(A/N: YAY! I updated. Took me all day writing this, but I got it done, and I'm pretty happy with it. Please review since I'm not getting as many as I would like. Until next time...PEACE!!!)