Chapter 21
Metropolis
Downtown
Thursday
Jon and Chris-Darkseid clashed together. The hard impact throwing the other backwards. Darkseid was the first to recover. He wasted no time taking control of the fight as he super sped over towards Jon who was pushing himself to his feet, but only to be shoved back down by Darkseid's foot. The Dark Lord now with the powers of a Kryptonian pulled Jon to his feet. "Foolish boy!" Darkseid hissed. "Do you really think you can stop me? Not even Zod could stop me. How do you expect to defeat me?"
Jon briefly glanced over to Zod who looked half near dead, but he could still see some movement. Not to he was expecting any help as far as he was concerned Zod cared for no one but himself. He could only depend upon himself until the twins returned from the Fortress of Solitude. He looked into his brothers eyes knowing he was staring into the darken soul of Darkseid. "Because I can do the one thing he couldn't do," Jon answered his voice full of confidence. "I can get through to my brother. I know how he thinks. I know the type of person he is. And it's not this!"
"Do you now?" questioned Darkseid taunting the young man he had in his hold as a chilling smile appeared on his face. "Are you sure you know him as well as you think you do? You've seen with your own eyes the type of man his father is. Has there never been a time that you've seen your brother with that sort of anger, that sort of rage?"
Jon knew what Darkseid was trying to do. He was trying to him to doubt himself. To doubt his brother. Yes he had seen moments where Chris had a temper, but he never had lost control of it. "He is nothing like Zod!" he declared. "Our parents made sure of it!"
"Yes," taunted Darkseid pleasingly. "Mommy and daddy, sure did. Didn't they?" He laughed as he shoved Jon up against a wall. Darkseid with his hands clasped behind his back walked back and fourth. His eyes never leaving Jon. "They took him into their home. Spent every waking moment with him. Drying every tear and easing every nightmare away. While you their first born who had been their precious miracle was tossed aside. And when the new babies arrived you were nothing more then a second thought."
Jon could feel the anger boiling up inside him. He clutched his fist together. 'Howdarehesaythat!' He took a step forward getting right into his face. "It wasn't like that!" he exclaimed.
"Really?" questioned Darkseid looking deep into the very soul of Jon. "So it's not true that you resented your brother. That you envied him. That you never once wished that your parents hadn't welcomed him into their home?" Darkseid knew exactly what he was doing. He could easily have taken over Jon if he wanted, but why take a half Kryptonian when he had a full blood one right for the picking. When the young son of Kal-El didn't answer Darkseid got the answer he knew he would. He laughed mockingly into Jon's disgusted face. "That's what I thought."
Jon hated to admit it, but as much as he loved his brother there had always been a part of himself that had envied him. Chris had always been stronger and more powerful. He needed more attention, especially those first couple of weeks. Chris had been pledged by nightmares night after night one so frightening that he nearly destroyed the joint kitchen-dining-living area of the apartment. It had taken his parent a little more then three hours to calm Chris down. After that his parents had sent him to stay with Oliver and Chloe, while they helped Chris work out his problems. It had taken almost three weeks.
He knew his parents had only done it out of concern for his safety, but at the time it didn't feel like it. After those three weeks and he went back home things seemed to go back to normal. Other than the fact that he now shared a room with an older brother. Not that he minded. He liked Chris, but at the same time he wished things could just go back to when it was just the three of them. That especially became true when the twins were born.
They ended up moving into a condo that offered more space for their growing family. He hadn't minded the move much, but he would miss the old place. And for a while things seemed to be going great. He was starting school and the twins were growing, but then Chris's powers starting developing more and the twins started talking. Not that there had been anything wrong with that, but he couldn't help but feel jealous when neither one of his parents made it to a handful of his little league games.
Not that it had been their fault. They would be there if they could, but things always seemed to come up. Between his father Superman duties and the Daily Planet along with raising a family, things kept him pretty busy. Then there was his mother who had her hand full juggling twins and working wasn't always able to make it to his games. So even while he understood why they couldn't be there he couldn't help, but feel jealous when they were their for the others accomplishments.
Chris had been right. He had acted out and intentionally gotten into trouble, just so he could have their attention. Not that he didn't have their attention while growing up. They had always been their for the important things. Studying for a big test. Learning to drive a car. His first date. Graduating from high-school. He just for whatever reason wanted more. Somehow he let the jealousy of when he had been a young boy carry through him all those years.
"You're right," Jon admitted. "I was jealous of him. I'm not afraid to admit that, because I was wrong to ever feel that way." He could feel his heart racing as he faced Darkseid. He would not be defeated by the darkness before him. He would not be defeated by words and acquisitions. There was nothing to fear from them. Not as long as he admitted his failings. "I thought I had to be like Chris, but the truth was all I ever needed was to stay true to myself. Powers or no powers my parents would love me either way..."
Darkseid was displeased to say the least by Jon's new declaration. "So sorry to hear that!" he exclaimed as his eyes turned to a pitch black. "Now I'm going to have to kill you." With a quick wave of his hand Darkseid lifted Jon up above the ground and then began choking him.
Jon struggled to free himself, but all he could do was kick his feet and squirm as he gasped for a breath. He could feel Darksied power of telekinesis strangling him to death. The Dark Lords laughter rang in his ears.
"Foolish boy. You should have joined me when you had the chance!"
Jon was close to falling out of conciseness when he saw a dark figure coming towards them. He locked on the figures eyes. Her eyes were memorizing. Filled with power. "Sierra..."
"Your precious gem is not here to save you and once I'm finished here she'll never have existed!" declared Darkseid.
"You might want to check that crystalball again!" exclaimed Zatanna as she flung Darkseid towards a car with her own power of telekinesis breaking his hold on Jon.
Zatanna rushed to Jon's side who was kneeling over trying to catch his breath. She had no idea how long Darkseid had held him in that position, but she could sense that Jon was waring thin. He looked exhausted, not surprisingly given who he has been fighting. "You going to be okay?"
Jon looked up at her. He had to do a double take. It wasn't Sierra who had come to his rescue. No, Sierra was still in the future, his present or at least would be if they all lived to see tomorrow. "Yeah. I'll be fine," he answered as he started to stand up, but his knees gave away and he dropped down.
"If this is fine. I hate to know what bad is," she answered. She was about to help him up when she heard footsteps coming towards them. She turned around and saw Darkseid coming towards them. She was about to use her magic on him when Jon informed her of what was going on.
"You need to be careful. My brother is trapped inside him, both of them." Jon didn't know exactly how they were going to free both Chris's from Darkseid hold or how to separate all three. "He just knew they needed to becareful. Two lives depended upon it.
Zatanna turned to Darkseid who was possessing Chris's body. He was laughing. His eyes on her as if he were mocking her. "What the hell are you laughing at?" she demanded to know as she stood up to face him.
"You don't remember do you?" he questioned.
"Remember what?"
"Do you know who I am?"
"You're Darkseid. You crave upon evil and lost souls."
"Yes lost souls..." he hissed. "Lost souls like yourself."
"If you think I'm going to like you take control of me. You have another thing coming." She would not become some puppet to some darkness bent on destroying the earth.
"No," he replied. "Your father made sure of that."
"My father?" he heart skipped a beat. "What are you talking about?"
Darkseid cunningly glared into Zatanna's eyes. "I'm talking about the night your father died. You were gravely ill. He tried everything to save you, but no doctor could." He smirked. "But as you can see he did find a way to save you."
Zatanna felt sick to her stomach. She didn't remember much about that night her father died, only that for some reason she felt like it had been her fault. She had been deaths door when she woke up in the middle of the night. She didn't feel sick, but at the same time something felt horribly wrong. She had rushed to her fathers room. He was lying on the floor. She rushed to him and tried to wake him, but she couldn't.
"He asked you to heal me..."
"Yes," he exclaimed amused by the disgusted look on her face. "Nothing pained him more than to see his precious daughter in pain. And it wasn't easy convincing him to say yes. I had to come back six times, before he agreed to the terms."
Zatanna could not believe her father would agree to any terms with anyone evil as Darkseid. It just wasn't who her father was, but at the same time she knew that her father would have done anything for her. Evening if that meant going against everything he believed in. "What did he give you?" she asked even though she was afraid of the answer she would receive. "Was it his soul!"
"No," he shook his head. "Nothing like that. I just wanted him out of the way. So I told him I would save his daughter, but in exchange he had to die," he laughed enjoying everything second of her agonizing pain. Nothing pleased him more.
Zatanna wanted to rip that smile right off his face. She wanted to tear him to pieces. She had come to terms with her fathers death years ago when she had wanted to restore his life in exchange for hers, but Clark and Chloe convinced her not too. Now in just one moment Darkseid brought it all back to her. She knew the truth of her fathers death."Zatanna," she heard Jon say as he gripped her shoulder. "You can't let him win. Your father wouldn't want that."
Herfather. No! Jon was right, her father wouldn't want this. She couldn't let Darkseid get the best of her. She would not let her fathers death be in vein. He had given his life to her for a reason. She couldn't let him down. Then something occurred to her. Why would a being as powerful as Darkseid want one mortal man out of the way? Darkseid had to make six attempts before her father would agree to his terms. Why go to all the trouble after the first three no's. Then something hit her. Darksied had been around since the dawn of time. He's fought many battles and faced many who opposed him some of which who have defeated him, but he always managed to come back. Was it possible her father knew how to send Darkseid away for good?
"He knew what it would take to defeat you," she declared looking into the Dark Lords eyes. "He knew how to kill you..."
Space
Thursday
Though Clark was tired he didn't let that stop himself from what he had set to do. With Conner still at his other side he could see the sun getting closer and closer. He could feel the suns rays shine down upon him restoring his strength.
Then he felt Doomsday begin to struggle...
Clark's heart raced rapidly. He knew if Doomsday broke free they may not have another chance. This was their chance. Their only chance. He eyed Conner, no words needed be said. Conner knew what they had to do. The two Kryptonian brothers increased their speed. Conner flew higher and faster then he had ever had before. He knew it was dangerous, but he wasn't about to let Clark do this alone. He had lost him once already he would not lose him again.
With the sun fully in their view the two brother shoved Doomsday like a rocket right into the sun. Together they watched as the might beast became in gulped in the sun. Breathing heavily from having one of the hardest flights of his life Clark turned to Conner.
"You better brace yourself. He's going to have more power then he's ever had before."
"Remind me why we did this again," said Conner as he made himself ready for Doomsday's impending attacked. His heart was racing and he was scared out of his mind. But he trusted Clark knew what he was doing. This had to work.
There was a loud roar. Two red eyes shined right in the sun. It was Doomsday and is was furious. The might thorny beast leashed out of the sun onto the two Kryptonians who has flung him towards it. His body was glowing brightly. He first punched Conner towards the moon.
"Conner!" exclaimed Clark. Not a second later he felt the impact of Doomsday's fist connect with his face. I t felt like every bone in his face had shattered. Clark spit out a mouth full of blood as the beast came in with another punch. This time getting him in the gut. The force of the punch sent him towards the moon where he rolling on the moons dusty rocky surface near Conner who was slowly pushing himself to his feet. They would have no time to gather themselves as Doomsday now stood before them fully intending to kill them both.
"I don't know how much more I can take," exclaimed Conner. "His punches were tough before, but now..."
"Just a little longer," answered Clark breathlessly. His eyes on Doomsday who continued to glow brighter and brighter. He knew this had been a huge risk. It was a fifty-fifty shot that he was right and for everyone's sake he prayed that he was right.
Doomsday rushed towards them quicker then light. His new found power made him quicker. He scooped Clark up above the ground holding him by the neck and pressed his foot on top of Conner's chest preventing the young hero from aiding his brother.
Clark's feet dangled in the air as he tried to free himself. He could see that Conner was in agonizing pain from the weight of Doomsday being pressed upon him. Clark gripped his hands around Doomsday trying to pull the fingers away from his neck, but it was like they had been both glued and nailed to the very skin of his neck. He could hear Doomsday continuing saying 'DIE KRYPTONIAN DIE!'
Just when Clark had truly believed he had made a terrible happened something amazing began to happen. Bright blinding lights began to shoot out of Doomsday. The beast quickly dropped Clark and stumbled backwards grabbing its head screaming in agony.
Conner helped Clark to his feet. The two watched in amazement. They almost couldn't believe it. "It's working!" Conner exclaimed.
Doomsday contained to glow bright and brighter more blinding light shot right out of him. Soon both Clark and Conner had to turn their heads away from the empowering streaks of lights. They heard Doomsday roar once more before there was a loud explosion. The impact of the explosion forced them back.
Moments later the two picked themselves up dusting themselves off. Once the smoke cleared all that was left of the might beast who had come very close to killing them both was a pile of large thorny rocks.
"We did it," Conner exclaimed as he turned to Clark. "He's gone."
Clark found himself with mixed emotions. He didn't want to have to take a life, but Doomsday had left him with little choice. He could not have the mighty beast killing innocent people just for the enjoyment of it. Doomsday had to be stopped so he couldn't hurt anyone again. "Let's go home..." Clark announced. "We're not done yet!"
-..-
Metropolis
Downtown
Thursday
Zatanna knew that had to be the reason why Darkseid would want her father dead and why he was had been so persistent with her father. John Zatara knew what would keep Darkseid away for good. He knew what would lock him away from ever being able to lurk in the shadows hunting for lost souls.
"You would have to ask him that," answered the Dark Lord of darkness a coy smile appeared on his face. "...Oh that right, I killed him."
Zatanna clenched her fists together as she stared into the eyes of her fathers murderer. Her father had traded his knowledge of defeating Darkseid along with his own life for hers. The last thing her father would want was for her to feel guilty. She would not feel guilty for the sacrifice her father had made. He had taught her most of all she knew, not for a few magic side shows, but for the very thing she has been doing for the last several years. Ridding the world of evil.
"You may have taken my fathers life, but I promise you. You will not have mine!" she declared. Her eyes began to glow a bright blue.
Darkseid laughed. "Do you really think your magics can compare to mine?" he exclaimed. "Who do you think started magic?"
Jon could feel his heart racing. While he knew that Zatanna was both determined and had powerful magics. It did not compare to Darkseid's power. "Zatanna you need to get out of here. Let me handle this."
"No," she shook her head. "He killed my father. I wont let him get away with it."
"He wont!" he exclaimed. "I promise you, but you have to let me do this on my own."
"This is a team effort. I'm not leaving!" she announced.
Jon could hear Darkseid laughing. His taunting voice echoing in his mind. Darkseid knew all to well why he didn't want her there. "NO! You have to go!" he shouted.
"Why don't I make it easy for you boy!" announced Darkseid.
Jon and Zatanna eyes fell onto Darkseid who was welding a gold dagger in his hands. Jon's eyes lit up. The dagger was made out of gold kryptonite. Jon had little time to react as Darkseid threw the dagger towards Zatanna.
"No! I wont let you kill her!" Jon jumped in front of Zatanna shielding her from the dagger knowing full well that the dagger could kill him. He didn't care. He would let her die. "Forgiveme..." He closed his eyes waiting for death to come.
Fortress of Solitude
Arctic
Thursday
"It looks a lot different then it does back at home," announced the boy as he looked around. It appeared smaller than the one back at home. The one back at home was bigger and had more rooms.
"Probably haven't done all the upgrades yet," she answered. The girl started towards the ice crystals console as if this was something she has done before. Before her hand touched one of the crystals a voice emerged around them.
"WelcomeRyanandEllaKent..."