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Let Us CeReal Light...

In the near year since she had accepted the hand of the albino stranger, she had found herself whisked off to the middle of the middle east. Adjusting her hijab, she managed to hide her few stray strands of blonde hair. The training grounds were filled with men and women learning the ancient ways and she pursed her lips.

This was not what she had wanted, she wanted to get her son back. She felt the need to state this to Shbh'abyad as she stalked through his training grounds. The men scrambled out of her, despite her inferior status to them they did respect her because of Dusan. Throwing open the doors to his war room she walked past his advisors and glowered at him as she came to stand at his seat.

"You have lied to me," she stated.

"Dr. Haywood," Dusan's calm tone infuriated her as he waved off his guards and council before standing. Shelia folded her arms as she glared up at him, he removed his glasses, so she had a look at his pink eyes. "I have not lied to you, Shelia."

"It has nearly been a year, and we are no closer to getting my son away from that monster!" she shrieked as she stepped towards him. "I have kept up my end of our bargain, I have been treating your albinism, checking for cancer, keeping your skin healthy, keeping you healthy, though you don't appear to need my constant check-ups!"

Dusan's thin lips curled upwards a bit then as she jabbed her finger into his chest.

"I want my son, here, now," she hissed.

Dusan caught her hand when she moved to jab him again, she moved to slap him only to find her back pressed into his chest, and a knife pressed under her jaw. "This is a slow process, our opponent is just as formidable as us, and just as cunning, to cut them down we must obliterate their foundation. To do that, it will take time, but in the end you will have your son," Dusan said as he threw her aside.

Shelia grunted slamming onto the ground as she rolled over.

"I have sent Mara to Bana-Mighdall to collect the scarab for our allies, you will travel to Colorado," Dusan said.

"You sent her for a scarab!?" Shelia shrieked.

"It is not any ordinary scarab," Dusan stated.

"And what is this!? Some magical scarab like in Aladdin to lead someone to a Cave of Wonders!?" Shelia snarled.

"Not quite. See, there was a time when the known world was ruled by magic. Not One Thousand and One Nights, but something more biblical, more historical. Other than Egypt, no nation ever possessed such power, it was said to be the power of God Himself, a union which cemented the known world in magic. The scarab is what our allies seek, the scarab to lead only the true to nowhere, the birth place of magic's end."

"What?"

"I do not expect you to understand all this Shelia, doctor of medicine you are, but the mystic arts are not your forte. However, I will elaborate.

"Long ago there was a union, of a King to a Queen, King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, the magic which they sired together would rewrite the old ways of magic. However, after King Solomon died, the Queen vanished, it is said she entrusted the key to her tomb to the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall; which was a scarab which can only lead the true to the one place where she rest; the place which is nowhere and everywhere. Our allies want this scarab, so I have agreed to have Mara go and collect it for them, in exchange they will be aligning their mystic art abilities with us. We will need this, in the war to come, my sister is no doubt cultivating her own sorcerers and will not hesitate to use them.

"We need alliances because to do this we will need to be invincible."

"And who is this mystic ally?' she sneered.

"The Church of Blood."

"They're nothing but a bunch of satanic worshipers."

"With the largest cult of mystic abilities."

She conceded to that point because even she knew that the cult; while radicle and crazed, were actually of some power. "And why do I need to go to Colorado?"

"You are going to have a lovely chat with an old acquaintance of yours," he said menacingly.

"What?"

"We will need his particular abilities in the coming tides of this war," Dusan stated.

"I don't know anyone in Colorado." She snapped as she pushed herself to her feet.

"Willis Todd."

Her blood froze at the name of her son's father. "He's dead."

"So everyone would like to think, but the most dangerous meta-human is very much alive, and very well. His death was faked by the US Federal Government as they moved him to Colorado supermax prison and turned him into an informant. However, the Solitary, continues to move the vast empire of his creation through fronts like Black Mask, Penguin, and A.R.G.U.S., his particular ability is what we are after," Dusan said coldly.

"Willis isn't a meta-human," she stated.

"Oh he so much more," Dusan smiled. "And you will go to him, and bring him to our point of view."

"And if he doesn't?"

"You can promise him the one thing he wants the most, the very thing you want; your son."

"Jason is mine…" she started.

"And he will still be yours, however, we need Solitary to continue to match the Bat's and the League so we can move forward with our plans as Leviathan," Dusan said.

Shelia frowned but nodded her head reluctantly.

"That's a good girl, I will have the plane ready," he promised patting her cheek before he walked away.

Shelia's hands quivered as she stood there furiously trying not to scream in her fury at this. She didn't want to wait any longer! She wanted her son here now!

Talia walked through LexCorp, her skirt felt a little too tight but she ignored it as she walked to the door of Luthor's office. Luthor was out today and she knew that as she walked straight for his desk. Her fingers slid over the old wood and she paused feeling the button she was looking for. Hesitantly she pressed it as she stepped back.

Nearly a year of working for Lex Luthor and she was no closer to finding out what her father's dealings wih this man were than before. However, the mention of Light a year earlier was concerning and it had her focus.

The panel in the wall gasped as it slid open and Talia stared up at the open door as she walked for it, gently she pushed it in and watched it slid to the right before she walked in. there were six plasma screens in an elegant arch around her, labeled 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7. There were elaborate machines everywhere, and as she walked forward she touched a light board which had everything becoming a three dimensional map of the world. She stared at the major cities:

Metropolis, Washington D.C., Gotham, New York City, Boston, Montreal, Poseidonis, Reykjavik, Casablanca, Lisbon, Madrid, Dublin, London, Paris, Tripoli, Rome, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Tahran, New Deli, Mumbai, Nairobi, Jerusalem, Cape Town, Bangkok, Jakarta, Bali, Singapore, Darwin, Hong Kong, Beijing, Sydney, Wellington, Triton, Thierna Na Oge, Hy, -Brasil, Honolulu, Lima, Mexico City, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, Central City, Key Stone, Chicago, New Orleans, Miami.

Talia frowned at the cities and she knew their meanings, cities of highest population, military importance, national importance. Not all were world powers, but enough were vital to the world. She knew the significance of all these, strike points for the world. Invasion points, she knew that. Standing upright she walked away from the map as she looked at the technology.

"I always knew you would see the Light," a voice said behind her, which had Talia turning to him.

"What is this?" Talia asked.

"This is Light," Luthor said as he walked into the room.

"And what are you intending to do with Light?" she asked.

"Well, that depends on you now," Luthor said.

"What are you're objectives?"

"We have many, your father was a great visionary for our cause, since his death we have been awaiting your arrival."

"My father was never with anyone but himself," Talia stated.

"The man was a visionary. He saw what was coming since the Invasion, he saw the world for what is was and what it should be. Not everyone has seen the Light yet, but your father had, and he saw that it was a glorious future awaiting us."

"And what did he see in the light?"

"Everything, the order to come. The invasion was the fist step, Cadmus a tool, us a weapon, me the order, we have formed alliances, and we are making our moves, setting strategic holds on this world, so when the time comes it will be ours for the taking, to command and teach it the right way."

"The League would never stand for that," she stated sharply.

"The League of Assassins follows it's leader, and the Demon's Head is you, Talia al Ghul."

"So, what do I gain following the Light?" she asked.

"Your child," he said.

"I can take Damian anytime I please." Talia stated sharply.

"I wasn't thinking of your son," Luthor whispered and she frowned.

"The only other child I had I lost."

"Your father wanted you to think that," Luthor said in a soft whisper to her ear as he walked around her. Talia stiffened as her hand fell to her womb where her child had once resided before she and Bruce had lost everything in that tent that bloody night in the desert. Her father had come, but even he said it was too late, there was nothing to be done to save her child. Her first child. "The truth was he took that child, raised it in a tube, and raised her in the League of Assassins. The disgraced daughter of the Demon Head's favored daughter," Luthor said as he slapped the photos before her on the table.

Talia's breath hitched at the surveillance photo of a girl, her eyes were there, Bruce's mother's mouth, the eyebrows were Bruce's, that was her nose, her cheek bones, her mother's ears, Thomas's forehead, Talia saw it. That was her child, who was sitting on a motorcycle with a glare on her face as she spoke to a hooded figure, who was obviously male with a half a head on the girl and an easy two hundred extra pounds.

"This isn't possible," Talia said. She could still feel her uterus giving, and feel the blood between her legs as she screamed for her father to do something. There'd been a surgery and she had lost her first child. Hers and B's first child.

"I provided him the technology," Luthor chuckled as he walked by her. "It was a simple matter, extract the placenta and the fetus, and from there we raised it in a tube, Ra's took it as his own. She never died, Talia."

"I can find her."

"True, you can. However, I do not come here with just an offer to give you your lost child, I come here to give you incentive. Joining the Light will bring your resources to eliminate your brother, making his faction of the League of Assassins fall under your control, again. Joining the Light ensures your place as a head in the new world order, and the world can use more women like you Talia. We will secure both your children when the time comes, and in exchange, your Assassins will be in key places when we come to take the world," he said as he touched her cheek.

"And what is the new world order?"

"I'm glad you asked, my dear," Luthor chuckled taking her hand in his as his lips brushed her knuckles. "I'm glad you can see the Light."

Dick rolled over to see his fiancée; that was a kicker to think, sleeping soundly. Her flaming hair was at a low ember right now, as her tangerine skin glowed gold in the morning light. A smile had his lips twitching as he pulled himself over her, kissing the junction between her neck and shoulder. Kori purred a bit as she nuzzled her pillow.

"Good morning," he whispered in her ear as his teeth grazed over the lobe.

"Dick," she breathed.

"I'm going to go call B, tell him the good news," he said as he rolled off her and stood. He winced at the cold floor, but Kori waved him off as she turned into her pillow once more. Chuckling he started his normal stretches as he grabbed up a discarded pair of pants and walked out of their room. The staff was still asleep; which was fine with him as he made his way down to the kitchen for a bowl of cereal.

The communication line rang twice before B's haggard face answered, Dick smiled.

"Hey B," Dick said.

"Congratulations," B smiled at him slightly.

"Selina told you didn't she?"

"Yes," his foster father nodded.

"Well, there goes the element of surprise." Dick muttered.

"It was a hard day," B shrugged.

"How are thing over there?"

"Donna's the new queen, Diana is a general, tonight we will be lighting the shrouds of the fallen," Bruce said tiredly.

Dick just stared at the video for a moment as his mind scrambled to think of the implications of that. "How… How close?"

"Close."

"What?"

"Raven and the Amazons stopped it," Bruce said. "Circe is dead, as is the God of Chaos, Set."

"Oh. I… you could've called, I would've come to help," Dick started uncertainly.

"There is nothing you could have done," Bruce stated firmly. "There was really nothing anyone could do," he sighed.

"I'm sorry." Dick looked at his cereal now because he honestly didn't know what to say or do. This wasn't part of his and B's relationship; the unknown and not knowing what to say or do. They were partners, they were father and son, they were equals in many aspects, however, right now, Dick was feeling woefully out of his element. Something he didn't normally feel.

"Are you… are you happy?" Bruce's voice was halted, stiff, awkward and Dick smiled. The more awkward B was at a conversation the easier it was to see that he cared. When B was smooth that was when Dick got worried.

"I am, I'm really happy, and I'm amazed she said yes." Dick admitted. He had hoped she would, but hearing her say yes, and believing she wouldn't were two different things. Since she had said yes… there was this euphoric giddiness which was filling his heart.

"I'm glad for you Dick," Bruce said.

"Even though she's an alien?"

"Not as thrilled about that," Bruce omitted tensely. "But I'm learning."

"Good," Dick decided. He got it, since having Mar'i he really got the worries B went through in regards to them, but… he was a grown ass man and he was going to marry the woman he loved. He just wanted B to approve of Kori.

"I will see you at home," Bruce decided.

"See you then too."

"Jay will be staying with us," Bruce stated and hung up. Dick sat there and then he smiled a bit; at least Jason coming home would be a good thing; he knew that. The kids adored Jason, and with Jason there he could spring his great news on his family without having to do it twenty zillion times. Seriously, when the hell did he get so much family?

Dick sighed as he finished his cereal and turned when he heard the soft padding of feet behind him, he turned to see his shit straining against Kori's bosom, and her lacy knickers being a white contrast to her chocolate skin of the image inducer as the wild flames looked like a mass of ebony curls.

"You were gone," she yawned as she stretched, his shirt's top two buttons popped under the strain; not that he minded.

"Calling B, getting breakfast," he smiled turning a bit as she walked towards him.

"Mmm…" she nodded. "Anything new?"

"Prevented the end of the world, saved the world, you know, the usual," Dick shrugged as he slid his arm around her hip and she bent over to kiss him. God he loved this woman.

"I want to call Selina, check in on Mar'i," Kori said as she started pulling her hair up as she walked to the fridge. Dick smiled as he enjoyed watching his shirt break under the pressure of Kori.

"Yeah, you hungry?"

"I was thinking to make pancakes," she decided.

"Or cereal is good, you know; you can never go wrong with cereal!" he pleaded. Kori peered at him through thick lashes, her eyes flashing pure green and he smiled nervously.

"If I did not know better I would say you do not like my cooking Richard," she growled.

"I like not going to the ER with food poisoning."

"Weak human biology," she dismissed.

"Not all of us have nine stomachs!" he defended.

"Wuss."

"Where'd you hear that one!?"

"Jason."

"Of course."

"Jason eats my cooking."

"Jason isn't here, and can you please not talk about my brother when you're practically naked!?"

"Why? Are you jealous, friend Dick!?" she giggled.

"No!"

The look she gave him as she turned to the fridge, then she bent over.

"Okay, maybe a little! Will you stop it! Or we're never going to finish breakfast!" Dick snapped.

Kori laughed as she turned to him and leaned over the counter with a sly smile on her lips.

"I'm yours Dick Grayson, and only yours. I would never agree to marry a man weaker than I," she assured him.

"That's not reassuring Kori," he chuckled as he leaned over and kissed her.

Duke decided that this wasn't so crazy, the place wasn't off it's rocker. He was sure of that. Sitting here this morning eating breakfast he doubted anything abnormal would happen today beyond some Bat training and Selina talking to a lawyer about him living here his school papers so he'd be enrolled in Gotham Academy. Thus far he had not been treated as a charity case; despite living in a total nut house.

BOOM!

"GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE GREMLIN!"

"YOU IMBECILE!"

"BOYS!" Selina's voice sliced through the yelling and rough house. "You can do that when your father's home, not now."

"Miss Kyle, that is not a way to discourage them," Alfred's crisp tone cut in.

"I'm not discouraging, only saying to keep the feud alive when B's around," Selina said as she walked in. One of the babies was strapped to her back, another toddled in as another floated along on a leash hook and Alfred appeared with the fourth one.

"Ain't you people ever heard of birth control?" Duke asked.

"Well, I have, B is still working on adoption impulses," Selina said.

"Miss Harper is Mister Harper's daughter," Alfred defended.

"I'm just saying it's a lot of kids you have running around here."

"B has a habit of adopting strays," Selina said.

"I am not an adoption or a stray!" Damian shrieked.

"No, you're the reason for birth control," Tim snickered.

"No knife throwing at your brother before noon," Selina said plucking the knife from Damian's hand. "Have an apple."

Damian glowered at the apple in his hand then.

"And you stop antagonizing the kid," Selina tugged on Tim's ear as she walked by.

"Morning mom," Cass said appearing gracefully.

"Show off," Damian muttered.

"Duke, you and I do need to finish the paperwork at the lawyer's office." Selina said as she started the bottles.

"I have the Cave ready for Master B's and Master Jason's return," Alfred said.

"Great, I'll call Harley and Ivy since they'll be here to pick up Raven," Selina said.

"You guys make this sound normal?" Duke said which had all eyes on him.

"It is little brother," Cass said as she sat beside him.

"This is the weirdest family I have ever met," Duke decided.

"Welcome to Wonderland Alice, we have ice cream sundaes every Monday and TGIF's every Thursday, keeps things lively," Selina chuckled as she ruffled his hair. Mar'i giggled as she floated up to the counter, Duke caught her before she gave out of her flying and she held his shoulder as she scanned the room from her new perch.

"You're so the Cheshire Cat then," Tim decided.

"I can live with that, eat something with the coffee," Selina ordered.

"I offer tea parties at four o'clock on the dot," Alfred said primely as he smiled a bit at Lian who was squealing in delight.

"Jay!?" Terry screamed.

"Not yet duck," Tim said.

"You people are mad," Duke said.

"You just notice?" Damian asked, a dangerous smile turning up his lips.

"No, just observing."

"Yo!" a new voice joined the group and Duke turned seeing Cass's best friend joining them.

"Stephanie!" Cass launched herself at Steph, the blonde collapsed under the attack.

"And now the madhouse is complete. Barbara said she'd be by to babysit while I took Duke to the lawyer's," Selina said.

"What about Al?" Tim asked.

"I have errands and a lunch with my daughter," Alfred said.

"Julia's in town?" Tim sputtered.

"Yes, and she has agreed to dinner with the family, after we have cleaned up. Dinner will be at eighteen hundred sharp, none of you will be late, and I will be making something special," Alfred decided as he pulled the bottles.

"Going all out aren't we, Al!?" Stephanie said slyly shimmying up to the kitchen island beside him.

"You will all be on your best behavior," Alfred responded primly.

"Naturally Al," Selina agreed.

"Whatcha lookin' at pretty girl?" Duke asked as Mar'i clambered to his head for better purchase, her fingers were tightly holding onto his dreads.

Mar'i said nothing as she seemed to focus on whatever had her attention. Duke managed to take another bite of his cereal.

"Who's Raven?" Duke asked.

"Jason's wife!" Damian piped up.

"Not yet." Cass and Tim chimed in.

"They will be when I'm done."

"Not if Roy marries Jay first," Stephanie giggled.

"That's disgusting and degrading, and how did I not see that possibility!?" Damian shrieked.

"To answer your question, Raven is an inter-dimensional demon who's sheer power outclasses most magic users, and she's a member of the Titans; has been since she was twelve, she is the adoptive little sister of Cyborg, and now, the adoptive daughter of Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy. She's a total bad ass and pretty much family, also she's Jay's best friend," Tim informed him.

"Toast with he coffee baby bird," Selina said pulling the mug of coffee from Tim and shoving toast at him.

"Hey!"

"Food, then caffeine."

"Cool," Duke said uncertainly.

"Here, feed Terry," Selina said shoving the toddler at Damian who pulled a face as he walked to the table to do that.

"Selina, have you seen my study books?"

"Harley said they were at the Sirens from your guys' study session with Rae," Selina answered.

"How is this normal?" Duke muttered.

"It's a big family, and here's Mar'i's bottle, make sure she doesn't inhale it," Selina said as she took his spoon and handed him a bottle.

"I wasn't done eating!?" he sputtered.

"Daddy!?" Lian shouted.

"Not yes Miss," Alfred answered as he grabbed a bottle.

"Dude, you're a Bat, we live communally," Stephanie giggled.

"That's disturbing on so many levels," Duke decided.

"At least we live here, Steph's the moocher." Tim grumbled.

"Spoiler Alert: Absolutely, and B hasn't kicked me out yet!" Stephanie cackled.

"Dance today," Cass said to Stephanie.

"Then shopping, then Studying with Tammy, I know, I know," Stephanie sighed.

"Not such a freeloader now are you Fat-Girl?" Damian sneered.

"Watch it Gremlin, I can kick your ass!"

"Mar'i we're in a madhouse," Duke decided.

"Correction, the nuthouse, sounds more intimidating," Selina mused as she fed Helena.

Ryand'r looked up as he walked the gardens when he heard the soaring incoming of one of his his father's bastards streaking down to him. She landed in a streak of green as she knelt down and her flaming hair fanned out around her, her green energy suit emanated of her status as she stood now.

"My Prince," she greeted, her features were soft and fierce and he smiled at the bastard.

"Alisand'r," he greeted the Green Lantern.

"It has been a while My Prince," she said as she let the energy suit dissolve from green for her to be dressed in the lavender robes of Tamaran.

"Not so long," he countered.

"I have come because there is a problem, My Prince," Alisand'r said.

"There is no problem." he dismissed, he would be the next ruler of Tamaran, his sisters had abdicated their rights to his thrown a while ago. And Karras was no true threat.

"Karras has gone to Earth seeking out Koriand'r," Alisand'r stated. Now Ryand'r slowed as he looked over his shoulder at her.

"My sisters, have both renounced claims to my throne, and Karras is from the South, he has no hopes to truly rule Tamaran," Ryand'r stated.

"You are not wrong. According to the Earth Lanterns your sister will marry the Earthling, Nightwing," Alisand'r said.

"Then there is no hopes for Karras to get my sister." Ryand'r shrugged her worries off as superficial.

"My Prince, your sister and the earthling, have had a child," Alisand'r said softly, now he froze.

"What?" he said as he slowly turned on her, Alisand'r's head was bowed as she looked submissive, and he could feel his flames licking hotly at his ears as his own temper built at this news. "That is not possible. Both Komand'r and Koriand'r are barren, the experiments done on them…"

"Left them unable to bear true children of Tamaran, however, it appears that she can and has sired a child with the earthling. She was pregnant when she abdicated the throne, so she has not renounced the child's claim on the throne," Alisand'r said.

Ryand'r snarled at this news as he turned to the palace. He would solve this, he would not give up the throne that he had been raised for just because some usurper thought he should have the throne. No. This was his world, his throne, his planet, and his sisters would not threaten that.

"Sire!" Alisand'r shouted as she flew over him to land in front of him.

"Out of my way," he warned.

"Koriand'r is protected by the Gem," Alisand'r stated.

Ryand'r slowed then, as his temper cooled and the prophecy of old was recalled. All Tamaraneans learned the prophecy of the end, and he looked at Alisand'r who trembled a bit.

"Alisand'r, go, return to the Corps, tell nothing of this to anyone, your first loyalty is to the Royal Family of Tamaran," he reminded her softly.

"Yes sire," Alisand'r nodded as the green energy wrapped around her body and she walked past him before she took to the skies. Ryand'r waited before he turned from the palace and flew for the old temples.

It was always said that they would need to sever the Gem from this universe to save it. In doing this he would be a savior to his people, and ensure his claim to the throne was undisputed. And Kori's spawn would bare no claim on his thrown, now or ever. This was his world, these were his people.

He paused as he walked into the temple, a priestess was there, she turned to smile at him.

"My Prince, X'hal smiles upon you," she greeted with a slight bow.

"And to you as well, I will need to see the vaults," he said as he walked to her.

"Sire?"

"The vaults, the time has come for the prophecy to be fulfilled," he said.

"I…"

"The Destroyer of Worlds is Among Us," he stated.

The priestess stood tall then and nodded. "This way My Prince," she said. They walked into the black corridor, their hair illuminating the way. The further down they went the carvings started.

"The prophecy is as old as our people, handed down to us by X'hal herself," the priestess stated. Carvings of birds stained black with four red eyes started appearing, the carvings were graceful, beautiful even, however, they showed the flames as the Conqueror of World emerged, and a girl beside him, her four eyes glowing red. "Ddrez, Ruler of the Five Under Realms, would sire a daughter, only one, and she would be the Destroyer of Worlds. X'hal forsaw this, and we were given a weapon," the priestess said as they walked to a set of red gem doors.

The priestess's fire burned brighter now, her energy focused as the door's ancient gears sounded themselves open. Slowly the doors rolled aside and he found himself staring at golden armor, with bronzed weapons.

"People of the skies had it, the people of Tamaran forged it, and it goes to our champion to slay the Destroyer of Worlds," the priestess said.

"What is it?"

"It is Nth Metal sire, magic resistant, magic disruption, and a gift from the people of Thanagar," she said. "Sire, if I may, how do you know the Destroyer of Worlds is here?" she asked.

"I don't," he answered as he grabbed the armor. "But I will be killing her if she gets in my way," he growled as he walked out. His sister's brat was his biggest problem, the biggest threat to his rule. He couldn't stand that, and he would not allow anyone to get in his way. This was his throne, his world, his people, he would fight to keep it.

He was a Tamaranean, war is what they did best.

That's all for now folks!

Enjoy I've Got the Umbrella!