Chapter Twenty-Nine - The Last Standing
Honey felt a warm presence close to her. Maybe death was not so bad, she thought. But soon she began to hear the voices of her friends, and opened her eyes. She realized that she was in the arms of a very muscular man. The man in question was tall, light-skinned, with long, dark hair, wearing golden armor. Honey was not blushing, but she blushed at the beauty of that being. With a smile, he set her back to the floor.
Looking around, she saw that they were no longer in Metropolis. They was in the tower, along with the other heroes. Grateful that she was still alive, she had a sore feeling in her chest that her father was not among those present.
"What happened?" Flash asked, holding his head. His head throbbed, and there was a buzz in his ear.
Everyone felt the strange change, and they did not have much memory of what happened, just felt the strange energy taking over the city. It was not long before they realized they were back in the tower, as was the mysterious presence between them. The heroes, even wounded and tired, stood in a fighting position. The mysterious man, however, raised his hands in a sign of peace.
"I am..."
"Eros." Diana replied by the figure, bowing as a sign of reverence. She continued. "Also one of the primordial gods. I imagine you came to our aid."
"Correct, Princess Amazon."
"Eros?" Honey asked. "Like Cupid?"
"I'm not Cupid. I am the order, born of chaos. I came to restore balance in this world."
"All help is welcome." Superman said. "We are at a disadvantage and ..."
"Guys ..." Kira called, next to one of the tower's windows.
The heroes approached, trying to discover the concern of the Martian girl. A crowd soon formed around the window, and they watched with horror as the earth was swallowed up by the cloud of fire. Then a new wave of energy shook the tower. Computers and other equipment exploded, and they stayed in the dark.
The stars faded and the planets disappeared, leaving an emptiness outside. Time was running out, and they knew. Superman walked away from the window and turned to Eros, still standing in the same place.
"Can you stop him?"
"I don't." He paused. Then, looked at Rex and John. "But they can."
Everyone turned to John and Rex. The boys almost fight a few days ago, and now the fate of the world was in their hands?
"What?" The boys asked at the same time. "Why us?"
"None of you should be born. Your mother, John, and your father, Rex, followed separate ways. You were an anomaly that restarted time and awakened Chaos from the gap between worlds."
Eros showed them a different reality, where Shayera and John Stewart were a couple, and they had a son. Then, he showed them the new reality, where John Stewart was married to Mari, and they had Rex. Then Shayera with Wally and John.
"He's so handsome, Shay." John listened to his parents. He was not sure if it was real, or just his mind preaching a play. "Do you believe we've created something so beautiful together?"
She laughed, staring at her son.
"Yes ..."
John reached for his parents' image, but it disappeared between his fingers. He swallowed, regaining his composure. He was afraid his reality would never happen, but he had to keep his fears to himself, at least until the end of the battle.
"So our parents are guilty?" Rex questioned.
"Your parents made their choices, and no one can blame them. You are all important, just because you are here and now."
Silence was present. John stared at Lily and Martha beside him, then Flash ahead, and Shayera in the crowd. This was his family and friends. He would give his life for them if he had to. And if the world were to end, all the people he loved would cease to exist. If he had to, he would give his own existence for the good of others.
"What do I do?"
"I'm not going to let my son handle that thing alone." Shayera intruded. "I won't risk him."
"If everything goes as planned, they'll be fine. Both will return home alive, and the world will return to balance."
"All right, I'll go." John said.
"If John goes, I won't be left behind." Even he was afraid, the old rivalry spoke louder about Rex. It was an ideal time to prove himself better than John. If he saved the world, he would get all fame.
"We all go." It was Batman. "We won't cross our arms as the world falls apart beneath us."
None of them would. The fear and the doubts were insignificant compared to the sense of duty they had in the chest. They were heroes, and they would fight to the end, even if it cost their lives.
"Where are we going?" Someone asked.
"Metropolis." Eros asked. "Where it all began, it's over."
"But Metropolis is gone." It was Honey. "Our computers don't detect anything down there."
"Magic goes beyond what your equipment can measure. Metropolis is still there. There is still hope ..."
Everyone agreed. There was still hope ...
Oh, Interlude is almost over! The next chapters will be in two or three parts, and it's the moment I've waited to write. The final duel between the league of justice and a god older than time itself.
Soon, "The Long Song".
Gratitude!
