Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or DC Comics
"Talking!"
'Thinking!'
"Demon!"
Walking Nightmare
Kushina sits down on a bench to watch her grandchild have fun at the fair on the pier. Himawari drags her older brother around, making him carry all the stuff animals that Naruto won for her. She is so prim and proper. Treating everyone as equals and being respectful all at the same time. Hinata has taught her daughter to be a lady. Boruto though isn't the same. Yeah, he was taught to be respectful, but because with him being the Heir to the League of Assassins he has to show that he can lead without his emotions getting in the way. Then there are Lucy and Rose, and while they're still babies she knows that they'll both take after their mothers more than anything else.
'What I wouldn't give to see them all grow up,' though Kushina.
Then everything slows down with Didi appearing next to Kushina. The redhead doesn't jump or yells out. She met Didi when she died all those years ago. She knows this is Death taking a form that people can understand.
"I always loved the fair," stated Didi, "There are so many people! The smell of all the greasy food! The prizes! All of it!"
Smiling at the scene playing in front of her, "I know what you mean," Kushina has to agree with Didi because this reminds her so much of the festivals that Themyscira would have throughout the year for different events, "Though Themyscira wouldn't have anything like this back on the island,"
"Those Amazons were always sticks in the mud," Didi makes a face, "I think that is how the saying goes. So! What do you think being alive once more is like?"
"I have to say I like it!" Kushina gives Death a huge smile, "I get to see my son! There are a few things that he didn't do, but there is nothing I can do about it now," the redhead Amazon loses her smile, "There is still that regret in the back of my mind about dying on him. He needed me the most,"
"There was nothing that you've could of done that could of changed that. Death comes to all of us. There is no running," what Didi said was true that death comes for everyone. Everyone has to die even those that claim to be immortal.
"I know, but it is still there. Are you here for me once again?" Kushina asked because she really does want to go just yet.
"No, not just yet," Didi looks over to Naruto and she couldn't help but smile as he won Himawari another prize stuff animal, "I wanted to come and see my friend. There is so much that have change with Naruto being here."
Kushina looks at Didi a little strangely. She doesn't know what Death met by that; though given who she is the redhead doesn't think anyone is suppose too.
"Death, can I ask you something?" Kushina bites her lip as this thought has been playing in the back of her mind for sometime now.
"Sure go ahead,"
"What would of happened if I didn't die that day? Would of this been different?" this has always pledged the redhead ever since she died. Would of things been different? That being what if.
"I don't know," says Didi for she truly doesn't know, "That is one thing about life; there is no set plan for everyone. I will say this though; fate does work in some ways so that there can be some form of peace." And with those Didi disappears just as quickly as she came.
Kushina takes those words to her heart. The meaning behind them. She doesn't let those words bring her down and jump up to her feet. She goes over and spends time with her son and her grandchildren. She's not going to let the fear of death hang over her head. Too many people use that fear of death to hold them back, but not her. Not this Amazon.
-Peruvian Jungle-
Hawkamn swings his mace with blood flying off from it as he stares at this spinning gate made of his and Kendra's past lives, "That's why I've never been able to find the bones of out other bodies the curse claimed. Hath-Set's been gathering them all; using them for this,"
Lady Blackhawk walks over to the gate placing her hand on it, "It's warm, vibrating with some kind of internal energy. And it looks like each bone's been absorbed into the surface, like a pieces of a puzzle," the feeling that she is feeling is warm and comfortable like a soft bed that you just want to sleep in, "It's gateway. A door. But to where?"
"When I came with you both; this isn't what I was expecting to see," confessed Shayera though given her being a hero on Earth for as long she has there are somethings she'd seen that no one would believe.
The crystal on the Claw of Horus glows brighter and strong as though it is reacting to the gate, "I don't know, but the Claw of Horus sure as hell wants in, and I think I know why,"
"I'm all ears," stated Hawkwoman for Carter knows how that weapon works best.
"What're the two things missing from this gate?"
"Khufu and Chay-Ara's bones," this time it was Lady Blackhawk who said this. She doesn't know how she knows it, but those two are a part of the gate.
"Exactly!"
"Carter… Let's destroy this… thing… This aberation. If Hath-Set is somewhere on the other side maybe we can trap him there; locking it from this end. Keep him away from us forever," Lady Blackhawk throws this idea out there because it sounds like a great idea.
"We will kill Hath-Set before he kills use this time. It's that simple," Carter becomes blind by his own rage to somehow end this curse.
"Simple is us obliterating this gate, Carter. Wiping it all away and getting on with your lives," Shayera can see what Kendra is getting at. Destroy the gate and be done with Hath-Set. There might not be a way back to Earth if the gate is destroyed.
"A life spend looking over my shoulder is not a life I want to lead, Shayera, Kendra," when Carter gained his memories of all his past lives the fear of Hath-Set coming and killing him came with them. He'd been looking over his shoulder since.
"I want us to walk away while we have the chance," Kendra doesn't have that feeling that Carter does. She doesn't have the fear of death like he does.
"We are not giving up now; not when we're so close to finally putting an end to this once and for all," Hawkman wants to end Hath-Set so he can live his life without the man coming to kill him.
"If that's your finally decision then I'll stand by it just as I've always stood by you." said Kendra.
While this went on Shayera watched these talk about destroying the gate or killing Hath-Set so they can live without a mad man coming for them. She can agree with both choices. Though if Shayera was Kendra she would of fought to destroy the gate instead of giving into what Carter was saying, but with her being new to this she can also see giving into it as well. She has to wonder if those memories of all those past lives play some form of agreeing with Carter without doubting him. This kind of made Shayera wonder about her love life. But before those thoughts could fully set in she banish them.
"So, this crystallized bone of the Star Sapphire gave me that's now attached to the Claw is so kind of key?" Shayera points to the Claw of Horus as she asks this question.
"Probably a piece of Chay-Ara and Khufu's original bodies seeking to reconnect to the whole," Hawkman says as it would make sense for a piece of their original selves to come together.
"That's why the Claw drew us here and that's why it's glowing so much," Kendra stated as the Claw gives the same glow as the gate does too.
"It still wants to follow Hath-Set and our first bones through the gate,"
"But if Hath-Set's here and so close, it doesn't make sense that he wouldn't take the opportunity to try to kill us and resume the curse," Lady Blackhawk says because he searched and hunted them down at every chance he had. So it would make sense for him to repeat the past by killing them.
"Well, there's only one way to find out. Let's go ask him," growled out Carter.
"If this gateway allows us to step through," Kendra doesn't know if they'll be able to do anything at all if the gate wouldn't let them pass.
"I don't think we have to worry about that, Kendra. I have a feeling we're predestined for an all access pass."
All three of them walk through the gate. Energy surges and Shayera flies back out crashing into the ground. Groaning as the pain was something she doesn't want to feel again. Hawkwoman looks out to find out that she was the only one thrown back. She quickly runs tot he gate only for it to shock her and throws her back again.
"Damn it!" she throws her mace to the ground, "It won't let me go through with them!" touching her ear piece to connect with the Watch Tower, "This Hawkwoman, and I need some Leaguers beamed down to me position. And make sure to bring a science team to get some readings."
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The pain. That would be putting it mildly. There is no word to the amount of pain both Hawkman and Lady Blackhawk are feeling right now. Their first deaths by Hath-Set. The second time they were killed when they both were forced to take their own lives. During the Roman era with them both dying together. A knight wearing black armor killing them both. Being hanged during the Revolutionary War in America. Being filled full of arrows during the Civil War in America. Being shot at as they were pirates at one point. And dying in a shot out in the Old West. All those memories like the bones of their past lives won't let them forget.
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Carter and Kendra walk out on the other side in a little of a daze. They both agreed on the pain was something that either don't want to experience every again.
"We're through to the other side, are you okay?" Carter ask both Shayera and Kendra not knowing Shayera didn't making it through.
"My God…" those memories were something else. Having them come back is one thing; its another for them to come back that violently, "That was horrible. To feel all that pain inflicted on us again and again,"
"What the hell…"
"Guess we're not in Peru anymore. Or Kansas for that matter," said Kendra.
Before them is a lush jungle that hasn't been touched, showing that there might not be life wherever they are. Or life hasn't evolve to the point where large building are needed. But what stands out the most are the large floating islands floating in the skies up above.
Kendra looks around to get a better look at the location when she notices someone missing, "Hawkwoman?"
"What?" Carter looks around to find that Shayera isn't with them, "The gate might of not let her through like it did with us,"
"I hope she's alright,"
"Shayera is strong. She wouldn't be done in by something like that. She's one of the founding members of the Justice League after all."
-Georgetown-
Boston Brand teleports into a dark room with a white haired woman who is peaceful sleeping. With him teleporting around the former Deadman wasn't had the time to shave for he's gaining a five o'clock shadow.
"You thought I was grumpy before I died, Ring, now I'm actually getting tired…" he looks around to see the sleeping woman, "Oh, come on! What am I doing in a girl's bedroom?" Boston tries leans over to get a better look at the sleeping woman, "Who is she? She smells… She smells like lilacs."
What Boston doesn't know that this woman is Dawn Granger, Aka Dove. And that she is in fact awake. When Boston was teleported into the room it woke her up. The white haired woman didn't move for she wanted to see if he was going to do something to her. Now that he smelled her it showed he was a little too close for her comfort. So acting quickly she turned over and gave Boston a nasty punch to the face.
"You can see me?" Boston ask with him rubbing his chin.
"Of course I can see you. Who the hell are you?" Dawn demands
"My name's Boston Brand,"
"Deadman?" she knew he was brought back to life, but didn't know what happened to him after the Blackest Night ended.
"Yeah. Who the hell are you?"
A white light comes out of Dawn's body, transforming her into her costume, "Dove! You… used to be an invisible spirit who possessed people to interact with the living," she never worked with Deadman before, but she did hear how Batman from time to time would work with the dead hero.
"Sure, that was my old M.O. New one to be determined. Uh… Why are you staring at me?" Boston had a woman stare at him in such a long time it was a little unsuddening.
"Doctor Fate described you once as a pale wrinkled corpse, but no one really knew what you looked like. I would've gotten a glimpse in Coast City when everyone cam back, but I was too busy trying to calm down Hawk," Dove explained this for Hawk gained a nasty bloodlust.
"Seems like a full time job. After his previous life journey, I was surprised a Red Ring didn't go for Hank Hall instead of-" while Boston was talking he brought up his hand that has the White Ring on it.
"A White Ring? You're still wearing one?" Dove knows that when the Blackest Night ended all the White Rings disappeared. So seeing one after that event shocked her a little.
"ME and no one else apparently and until it brought me to you, I was as invisible alive as I was dead,"
"The Justice League have been looking for you. They wanted to offer you the same thing they did Hawk,"
"Which was what?"
"Documentation so you can officially be back among the living." said Dove.
That was one thing the Justice League was good about. With as many heroes dying and coming back it did cause some mayhem in paperwork for those who weren't part of the Justice League. The public knows that heroes die all the time because the news always cover it because when a hero dies it always is caused by a big fight. The Justice League always made up so way for the heroes to say that they were in the hospital or something on the line with them healing; when in fact they were truly dead. It would give the public a breather.
"What if I don't want to be?" Boston been dead for so many decades he doesn't see the point of showing and saying that he is alive.
But before Dove could say anything else Hawk bursts through the door attacking Boston.
"HAWK! STOP IT!" she quickly grabs Hawk's arm stopping him.
"I felt you chance, Dove. I knew you were in trouble so icame to give trouble-"
"I'm not in trouble. That's Deadman!"
Hawk turns to look at Boston who he was holding by the throat, "This… is Deadman?" he heard of Deadman before, but never met him. He turns back to Dove, "What the hell's he doing in your bedroom at three in the morning?" it doesn't look good for Boston from Hawk's view on how things are going.
"Time doesn't mean much to me. Hasn't since I died, really. Or even when I cam back," the former Deadman tries to explain. Being dead time doesn't have any meaning as a spirit the little things don't have the joy like they once had.
"What are you talking about? Make sense!" demands Hawk.
"I'll try if you don't throw me into any more walls," Hawk lets go of him, "Days after you and I came back with the others, I picked up a dead baby bird. And this White Ring started glowing. It brought the bird back to life then it jerked me across the universe on a field trip to visit the recently resurrected. It even brought me to Star City where I played like some kind of super Johnny Appleseed," Boston explains his trip to Hawk and Dove.
"That forest that grew overnight… That was you?" Dove asked.
The whole entire whole tried looking into that. At first Poison Ivy was thought to have grown that, but when Batman said she was nowhere near that it started to bring in more questions than answers.
"That was me. Or I guess the White Ring," the White Ring has some strange powers that even Boston doesn't know. And he is wearing the damn thing.
"Why? I mean, all of it. What's it mean?" Dove asks
"I think it has to do with the reason we've been brought back. The White Ring said it a few times. Help me live,"
"Help who live?"
"Who cares?" Hawk says, "Let's stop looking at the forest and start looking at the trees,"
"What's that mean?"
"It means I got something for you and that White Ring to do." Hawk wants to try something for if the White Ring could bring back a dead bird, and then make a forest grow overnight. What's stopping it from bring back more people?
-Silver City, New Mexico-
"C'mon, Jackson! Everyone going to look at it," called out Jackson's girlfriend
"I still don't get why the whole town cares about a White Lantern," said Jackson for he doesn't get why everyone keeps going to the hole and take pictures of the thing.
Jackson just want to stay home and out of this heat. For the last few days the heat has just been getting worse and worse.
"Because no one can lift it up! And no one knows where it came from or what it's here for! Been getting so hot lately! And if it gets any hotter tonight, I'm going to melt,"
"You know I don't swim, Maria," Jackson says as they get closer to the locate swimming hole.
"Who said that's all we were going to do?" Maria fires back for she has other things in mind.
"I don't know how to,"
"I'll teach you!" her shirt hits Jackson's face, "I'm a good teacher!"
Maria leaps off the boulder, but she doesn't see what Jackson saw. He quickly grabs her arm and pulls her in.
"I got you!"
Maria is shocked to see what's right in front of her, "What happened? I was here yesterday,"
"You were here? With who?"
"There was water. There was a lot of water," in front of them is a dried up pond with several dried up fish, "Where'd it all go, Jackson?"
-Bermuda Triangle-
The coast guard sails through the dark waters searching for the plane that went down a few hours ago. A searchlight shines at the remains of the plane that's still floating in the waters.
"What the hell happened?" asked one of the coast guard because from what they see from the plane remains is that it was attacked.
"Tower lost contact early tonight, Captain. Looks like the plane was torn apart,"
"I see someone!"
The searchlight is shined onto the pilot and passenger as dead. But what makes the coast guard nerves is how their remains look. They are nothing but husks that's been out in the desert for weeks.
"What's wrong with them?"
"They're badly dehydrated."
Lightning sparks out of the waters a few yards away from the coast guard's ship.
"Captain, something's in the water!"
The water explodes with soldiers wearing gear that is made for underwater combat, wielding weapons made out of harden water. A woman wearing a red catsuit with golden leggings and golden gauntlets, while wearing a golden crown with long flowing red hair is leading the charge.
"Kill them! Kill them all!" commands the woman.
-Pittsburgh University-
Ronnie has been spending all his free time at his frat house partying and drink to his heart how. You know the saying goes find the bottom of a bottle to drink your worries away. And that's what Ronnie has been doing. That's where we find Ronnie with him passed out on his bed from drinking a little too much.
"Hey. Ronnie," hearing the voice causes Ronnie to turn over, "Wake up," Ronnie slowly opens his eyes, "I need to ask you something," standing right in front of him is Gehenna Hewitt made out of table salt is standing there, "Do you remember my name yet?" she grabs Ronnie's throat, "Say it!"
"Let go!" screamed out Ronnie for now he's fully awake.
Gehenna bursts covering everything in Ronnie's room with salt.
"Gehenna…" he slowly sits up. He looks at his salt covered hands for the nightmares have been getting worst. This is the first time it felt so real.
"Hey, Ronnie?" said Ronnie's friend with him coming into Ronnie's room, "Keg's calling your name," he stops to look around as he saw all the salt, "Whoa! What's with all the salt, dude?"
-Georgetown-
"I don't know if this is a good idea," says Boston as Hawk leads him and Dove through the graveyard.
"Deadm's right, Hawk. We should speak to Green Lantern or Superman," Dove said as she agrees with Deadman as what Hawk wants to do is a bad idea.
"So they can what? Stop us?" counters Hawk, "Am I the only superhero with a pair anymore?"
"I have no idea what this White Ring can really do, Hawk," and that's true what Boston said. He doesn't know the full extent of what the White Ring can do.
"It can grow a forest in a dead zone and make a dead bird breathe again. It can bring back life. So do it, Deadman," they come to a stop in front of Donald Hall's grave, "A Black Ring couldn't bring back my brother. Let's see if a White Ring can."
-Coney Island-
Kushina watches as Naruto put all the kids to sleep for the night. The whole day has been a blast for the redhead. She had so much fun that she doesn't remember the last time she had so much fun like this. Naruto used his skills that he learned over the years to keep winning at the games with Boruto trying to beat his father. It brings a smile to the Amazon's face as father and son made a little contest to see who has the better aim. Himawari tried her hand at the strong arm, but couldn't lift the sludge hammer though Harley stepped in and easily dinged the bell like it was nothing which caused the weight to fly off.
Bud and Lou watched over Lucy and Rose as they made themselves the babies protectors. At first Kushina didn't trust a pair of hyenas to protect the two babies, but she was proven wrong when they didn't move an inch. In fact, Harley went out of her way to make sure that Bub and Lou won't do a thing to the two babies. The two hyenas even go as far as to sleep outside the babies rooms. It just shows how far Bud and Lou are willing to go to protect their mother's offspring.
"Now then!" this caused everyone to look at Kushina, "Quiet, right?" said woman nods, "Out of all the women that Naruto has slept with; why are you the only one who hadn't had his child? Why haven't you given me a grandbaby, yet?"
Quiet knew this would come up eventually. That's why she tried to be quiet all day. Quiet knows that Talia, Hinata, and Harley wondered why out of the women that Naruto slept with she was the only one that didn't have a child with him. Someone who knew him longer than anyone else.
"I don't have the right to have any of Naruto's children," stated Quiet with her rubbing her throat.
"Why is that?" Kushina wants to know. She has to know why this woman in front of her would say such a thing.
"Because… I can't have children," said Quiet with her dropping the bombshell, "It was a few years ago when Tsunade was running tests on me. She discovered that I can't have children because of how my powers work,"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Quiet turned to face Naruto, "I've been your best friend for years," Quiet can tell that by not telling Naruto it hurt him as she couldn't come forth with this secret.
"Because I didn't want you to know, Naruto. I've seen how you are with Boruto and Himawari. I didn't have it in my heart to tell you; the man that I love that I couldn't have his children,"
Naruto makes his way over to his longest friend, takes her hands into his, "That wouldn't of changed anything, Tixij," Naruto says Quiet's true name, "I love you because I know you will be there for me. I wished you would of told me so that I could have been there for you,"
"Thank you…" whispered out Quiet as she hugs the man she has fallen in love with.
"AH!" Harley couldn't keep it together as tears are running down her face, "Quiet!" she runs over and hugs the woman, "You may not be able to have children, but that doesn't mean you can't be a mommy! Our babies are your babies!"
"Really, Quiet," Talia made her way over to the semi mute woman, "You know that we would have been there for you if you just said something. We know that if something were to happen to us; we know that you'll be there to take care our children as if they were your own."
What Talia said was true. Everyone there knows that if something were to happen to them they know that Quiet would take up mantle of mother for the children. She may not be able to have children naturally, but that doesn't mean she can't be a mother.
-Off the Bermuda Triangle-
Out in the middle of the ocean is an oil rig that caught on fire. Several ships arrived to put the fires out. Aquaman and Mera were in the area at the time so they came to help. This isn't the first time Aquaman helped stop a fire out in the middle of the ocean. The blonde laughs to himself as there is a fire right in the middle of the ocean; surrounded by water. But with the fires raging above the water's surface he knows that in order to stop it the oil must be stopped at the source that happens to be five thousand feet below the surface. It would normally take weeks that could withstand the pressure to fix the leak, but they didn't have Aquaman.
Both Aquaman and Mera swim through the thick oil that is spilling out of the broken pipe. Dead fish float to the surface as they swim pass them. Swimming through oil isn't anything new to Aquman. While Mera had helped her husband in the past she always had some difficulty swimming through oil from oil leaks.
"The owners of this rig might be begging someone to clean up their reckless mess, but they won't like out shutting down all their wells," stated Mera for she hates it when those from the surface drill into the ocean and cause all this mess.
"Too bad they're done drilling offshore. This fuel has done more damage than good to the world. It's perpetuated war, greed, and corruption," said Aquaman as Atlantis uses a natural energy source that doesn't harm the environment. The King of Atlantis has to wonder why those on the surface haven't found a source that doesn't harm the environment yet, "They don't like us shutting them down, they can take it up with me!" Arthur quickly stops as a spear made out of harden water sails pass him, "Did you see that? It looked like one of your water constructs,"
"Arthur, we need to leave right," her husband was hit by a torrent of water, "Now!"
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Aquaman comes flying out of the water. He continues till he hits and crashes into the burning rig. It's a good thing that he'd spent sometime fighting villains on the surface, or otherwise the heat from the raging fires would be causing him problems now.
"King of Atlantis!" the woman in red is standing before Arthur along with all her soldiers as they all are wielding harden water weapons, "You will die on your knees!"
-Georgetown-
Boston stares at Donald Hill's grave. While the former Deadman never met the previous Dove, he did heard about him. Boston doesn't know if this will work, or if this is even a good idea.
"This could change things. If it works… I mean… I'm not sure this is a good idea, Dove," says Boston for he says what he is thinking.
"I've felt a connection to this power, I spoke to it, as soon as the Black Lanterns rose from their graves," Dove says to Boston as she somehow gained a connection to the White Light during the Blackest Night, "I'm not sure how I'm connected to it or why, but I think Hank's brother might be too. The Black Rings couldn't resurrect and use his body,"
"Think of it this way, Deadman, the White Ring brought back you and me, right?" Hawk says
"Yeah,"
"So between all three of us; who deserves a second chance more?"
Hawk believes out of all the people that were brought back he shouldn't of been one of them. His brother, Donald Hill, on the other hand should have been. Donald didn't even want to be a hero. He only followed his brother so nothing bad would happen to him. If anyone had the right to be resurrected and be able to hang up the cape, its Donald Hill.
Looking down at the White Ring, "All right," Boston kneels down in front of the grave, "Here goes nothing."
White light starts to come out of Boston's body. The white energy takes the form of the White Lantern Corps' symbol. The light becomes to bright for anyone to see.
"Boston… What are you doing?"
-Off the Bermuda Triangle-
Aquaman leans out of the way as the woman in red thrusts a harden water sword at the King of Atlantis.
"I don't know who sent you to try to stop us from fixing this screw up!" he kicks one of the soldiers away as two more soldiers come running in, "But you'll tell me!" striking another soldier from taking him from behind, "TALK!"
"We weren't sent here by surface dwellers, half-breed!" said the woman in red as she cuts through Aquaman's armor.
One of the larger soldiers came out of nowhere and his hands wrapping around Aquaman's neck, "We are finally free!"
"Hold his neck out, Guana," ordered the woman in red, "This kill is mine, and mine alone!" she formed her two harden water swords into one massive harden water sword.
"SIREN! RELEASE HIM!" Mera created two hammerhead sharks out of water and commands them to tackle the now named Siren and Guana.
"MERA!" shouted out Siren.
Mera rushes over to her husband and helps him up, "Arthur, we need to leave!"
"Not until we find out who they are," counters Arthur
"We can't stay. They won't be along for long," she said with haste.
"But!"
"You haven't told him, have you?" Siren said as she commands the water around her to spin.
"Come on!" Mera and Arthur dive into the ocean as the rig explodes.
-Hawkworld-
"Wherever we are having wings is obviously going to be a big plus," stated Hawkman from how the floating island are too high for anyone to climb the normal way.
"Yes, I guess so," Lady Blackhawk agrees with Carter.
Spreading out his wings, "There're dozens of land masses, but only one seems to be inhabited," on the largest floating island are building off in the distance, "We're strangers in a strange land. We need to scout this area, Sandra. Gather intel about this place before-"
"What we saw back there; when we went through the gate," the images of all those deaths are still fresh in Sandra's mind, "Remembering our past lives is one thing, Carter, but I just felt like I experienced all of our deaths again right to the core of my soul," Carter takes Sandra's hands into his trying to calm her down, "I could even hear Hath-Set laughing and smell his putrid breath as he whispered in my ear,"
"What did the bastard say?"
"Without love there is no life," it must be some sick humor as Hath-Set was in love with Chay-Ara, but she couldn't return his love.
"We're going to get him, Sandra. We're on his heels and we're going to make Hath pay for what he's done to us. I promise,"
"But that's not going to end this curse, Carter."
Sandra takes Carter by surprised by kissing him. Carter was surprised by the kiss at first since the two of them haven't a long time in this life time to get to know each other. But he brings Sandra closer to deepen the kiss. As they are kissing black lines start to appear around Carter's mouth. They end the kiss with black liquid connecting their lips.
Touching the black liquid to see what it is, "What is this?"
"During the Blackest Night I was killed," confessed Carter, "I was brought back to life, but I don't know what this means. I have to wonder if somehow the Black Lantern is still-"
Carter didn't get to finish for they're attack by a group of cat people. The one leading the charge is a black panther. Hawkman hits one of the cat people while two others tackle him to the ground. Lady Blackhawk hits one of the cat people in the face, but just like Carter was taken to the ground. Roaring and tries to take Carter's face off, if only he didn't catch the cat person's jaws inches away from his face. He takes a claw to the face that forces his helmet off.
"Stop this! Can any of you understand me?" Sandra yells out as she tries to hold back the black panther. Her helmet was knocked off some time during the fight.
One of the cat people was grabbed by bird person and thrown. Another bird person comes diving down, grabs the black panther by the head, and dig the talons into the black panther's eyes. A flock of bird people attack all the cat people.
"Looks like we're stuck in the middle of a war!" Carter can see where this is going. From how the cat people are dressed he guess they aren't that advance in technology. So that can only mean war tribes.
"Whose side should we be on?" Sandra asks as she stands up.
"Right now, we're on our-"
One of the bird people grab Sandra by the hair and takes to the skies, "CARTER!"
"SANDRA!"
Sandra hits the bird person with her mace, "Get you damn dirty claws off me!"
Carter took to the skies with him aim at the bird person holding onto Sandra, "Let her go right-" because his attention was on something else a group of bird people tackle Carter which forced him to come crashing down to the ground.
Sandra was thrown into a cage made out of energy that's sitting on a floating boat that has two other cat people in it like the black panther. The boat sets sail taking them to the largest floating island.
"Where are they taking her?!" demands Carter as he's fighting the bird people, "SANDRA!"
-Georgetown-
"Don Hall of Earth will not rise!"
Boston is thrown back in pain as the White Light rejects him.
"BOSTON!?" yelled out Dove as she along with Hawk weren't expecting to see the former Deadman fly back as the White Light didn't bring back Donald Hall.
"I… I saw him…" says Boston as he rolls onto his knees with smoke coming off of his body.
"WHAT? You saw who? Don? My brother?" Hawk marches over to the former Deadman and grabs him.
"Will you stop dragging me around?" Boston is kind of getting tired or being dragged all over the place against his will. It is getting old, really quickly.
"Why didn't you bring Don back?" demands Hawk.
"He said don't worry about him anymore. He said he's okay. He said he's at peace," the former Deadman would know about ghosts and spirits finding peace. For when a spirit finds peace they can rest in the afterlife without any worry, and wait for their family and loved ones to arrive. Or, they could be reborn and have another try at life once more.
Hawk lets go of Boston and turns away, "Sure he did," not buying it for a second.
"I heard him," Boston knows a spirit talking to him for sure.
"That's bullshit!" Hawk is still not buying it. He needs hard cold facts to know if his brother would of said something like that.
"Maybe he can't bring back people who are at peace," says Dove for it would make sense that people are rest don't want to come back to a cruel world.
"Yeah, yeah! I get it, Dove. everyone's resting in peace around here!" again he's still not buying even if Dove is trying to help. There are people out in the world that are killed and can't be at rest for how they were killed.
"No, Hawk, not everyone." Boston walks over to Holly Granger's grave. The second Hawk of Hawk and Dove.
"Not my Sister," Dawn says for she doesn't want her sister to come back. She was killed during the Blackest Night by Hank when he was a Black Lantern. When she died Holly quickly came back as a Black Lantern. It was during this time when Dawn showed her powers awaking and putting both Hank and Holly to rest.
Boston kneels down in front of the grave and place his hand down on the ground. A white light shines out of the White Ring.
"Boston… You shouldn't be doing this!"
-Hawkworld-
Groaning with the sound of a waterfall crashing not to far away. Carter slowly sits up with pain flaring throughout his entire body. Fighting and killing all these bird people took so much out of Hawkman that he passed out from all the fighting. It his wings were real then most likely the pain would be worst.
"What… the…"
"About time you woke up," said a cat man as he is devouring one of the bird people.
"Who are you? Where the hell am I?" Carter asks for he doesn't remember passing out near a waterfall during the fight. Though given how he was focus on staying alive it wouldn't surprised him if he ended up here while fighting.
"Welcome to Hawkworld, human. Hope you last longer than your mate," said the cat man as he uses a feather to pick between his teeth.
-Somewhere in the Atlantic-
Aquaman chases after his wife with them coming out of the oil cloud in the ocean. If Arthur was paying attention he would of notice all the dead fish floating in the oil cloud.
"Mera, stop!"
"Not until I know we haven't been followed," stated Mera for she wants to get away from Siren and her soldiers as fast as possible.
"We have to go back and clean this mess up whether they're in our way or not," Arthur finally catches up to his wife, "Who were they, Mera? Did they appear while I was dead and buried? Are they Atlanteans?"
Arthur grabbed Mera's arm when he was talking to her. But it was when Arthur asked if they were Atlanteans was when Mera gave Arthur a look that could kill. But the redhead quickly brought her emotions under control.
"They had weapons made of Hard Water. Like your constructs. Are they from your world?"
Mera looks away from Arthur, "I knew this day would come. And that this fairy tale would end,"
"What are you talking about?" Arthur is having a hard time understanding what Mera was going on about. From the sound of it, Mera knew this would come.
"Arthur…" Mera look back at her husband, "I was sent here to kill you."
-Big Hendy Park, California-
A bright sunny day. A perfect day for a date in Big Hendy Park. That's what Henry decided to do with his girlfriend April. Everything is going smooth as silk. Resting against a large rock that is sitting near a small pond.
But something hiding in the trees up above in the shade. Taking in the scent of the woman. Growing hungry just by the smell.
"Her life smells so wonderful!" says the creature, "Her youthfulness simply intoxicating!: drool escapes the creature's mouth, "All the psychological and physical experiences she has yet to encounter can be mine! I want them! I need them!" the creature sticks her head out revealing the creature is in fact a Green Martial with two sets of mouth.
"Enough! You have more important things to think about," says the second mouth, "This may be your last cycle before it passes away forever. J'onzz is back among the living, and he is the last one. Do you really think now is the time to disappear; submerge yourself inside their meat again?" the Green Martian leaps down from the tree.
"But I am still so empty! All those years of loneliness. A lie of the mind to remain sane," she lands in the small pond scaring the couple.
"Oh my God!" says April as she turns from reading her book.
"What the hell?!" cried out Henry.
"How is the time you must rise and do what the core of your being demands; you must be fulfilled!" the Green Martial's arm whips around taking Henry's head off from his shoulders.
"And I will be. But if I can't have these lives at this moment, then I'll simply take them," the same arm moves around like a snake and takes April's head off.
"Since your last submersion there's been the appearance of another. Someone who may capture his attention; his affections. Before we do,"
"That won't happen,"
"How can you be so sure?" the second mouth moved to the Green Martian's ribs on the left side.
The Green Martian is like J'onn J'ozz if he were to take his Martian form. But there are some key differences. One being the second jaw, black markings that look like tribal tattoos, the right arm is disfigured, a second left arm that is more of a crab claw.
"How can you be so sure?" the second mouth asks the head.
"Because I'll pay her a visit." the Green Martian transforms into water, leaving the murder.
-Denver, Colorado-
J'onn made his way to Professor Erdel's laboratory. The Last Martian can see that nature has taken the building. Trees are growing all over the place. The Last Martian guess that after the explosion no one came back here to take care of it. J'onn floats through one of the holes in the roof to see that the inside is just like the outside.
"There must be some further evidence here to help confirm my suspicion of the killer's identity before I," J'onn then pauses as the plant life begins to wither and die, "All the overgrown green retreats at my touch," he touches a tree and watches as it turns tan and the once green leaves become brown, "Everyting in this lab that I come in contact with is dying."
J'onn doesn't know what to make of this. He came here to find evidence about the killer that is running around, but now this is happening. Something is happening that is causing all of this. And the Last Martian doesn't know what to make of it.
-Coney Island-
Pancakes flip through the air, eggs cook in a pan, and bacon fry in a large pan. When Naruto woke up this morning he decided to make breakfast for everyone. The one eyed blonde remembers that Ivy won't eat any of this so he went out of his way to get her some fruit. Having a breakfast with everyone here is so rare that Naruto makes sure that everything is going smoothly. The blonde wished that Jack would be here, but he's in Alaska with Rose and Wintergreen. Now that the blonde thought about it Jack has been spending a lot of time with Rose. He has to wonder if something is happening between the two.
Everything is finished with the food being set at the table. All he has to do is wait for the kids to wake up. That is when Tsunade walked through the door.
"Granny?" it's rare for Tsunade to never Japan. He has to wonder why she's here, "Granny, what are you doing here?"
"I remember you telling me that your mother came back to life," said Tsunade with her crossing her arms underneath her bust, "I want to met her."
That's when Naruto remembers that Tsunade never did get a chance to say goodbye to her son, Minato, before he left to go on a fishing trip. Knowing that Kushina, the Amazon that had her way with her son is now back to life. The old Yakuza now has a chance to met the woman that may or may not have killed her only son.
"I take it you want to talk with me?" says Kushina as she is now standing behind Tsunade.
Tsunade turns around to get a better look at the Amazon. Just like Diana and Donna, Kushina is beautiful with long flowing red hair that go pass her knees, purple eyes that look like gems, and white skin that makes snow green with envy.
"Hello!" Kushina says, "I'm Kushina Uzumaki! Are you Tsunade?"
Tsunade tilts her head to the side. She wasn't expecting the Amazon to know her, "Did Minato tell you about me?"
"Yes, we talked for a few days before everything happened," the redhead rubs her arm and looks away, "I was hard knowing what would come afterwards, but Minato smiled till the end,"
Tsunade can tell that Kushina didn't kill her son, "What else did he say?" this maybe her only chance to finally learn Minato's last moments.
"He talked about how his mother was overprotecting, but cared and loved him very much," one of Tsunade's eyebrows twitches at how Minato described her, "Minato had only regret and that was saying sorry,"
"Sorry? For what?" yeah, there were something the mother and son didn't agree with, but it never got out of hand. So the busty blonde has to wonder why her son would say sorry for, "Why would he be sorry for?"
"Because he couldn't have children," that made Tsunade's heart stop. That was one thing Minato wanted more than anything in life. It that was to have a family. When he learned that he couldn't have any children it just about ruined him. The look of lose in his eyes just broke her heart.
"I have to ask, how could Minato got you pregnant if he couldn't have any children?" that was another thing that has been in the back of Tsunade's mind for years since she'd met her grandson.
"Oh, that? The Amazons made a potion that are forced the fishermen to drink that make them hard, and have the ability to have children if they don't have it. When Minato learned that he would be able to have a child he cried,"
Tsunade closed her eyes. She can understand why Minato would cry with the information of learning that he would be able to have a child.
"What all did you two talk about?"
"Well… We talked about how if he were to have a son, Minato wanted to name his son Naruto. So when I found out that I was going to have a son I named him Naruto of course. Minato told me that he wanted to travel the world for a bit before going to collage. I think the place he was going to go to was a place called Tokyo U?"
"Minato was accepted in Tokyo University in his last year during high school. But before he went, that idiot wanted to see more of the world. I couldn't fault him for that because I would of done the same thing. But growing up in Okinawa for years and seeing fishermen coming and going; he wanted to see what it was like," Tsunade pauses for a second before she asked the one question that she has to know, "H- How did he die?"
Kushina blushes for Minato was killed shortly after they had sex. The thought of Minato and her together makes her cheeks burn hotly, "I don't fully know. I just couldn't bring myself to go anywhere near where the men were being held at. The thought of Minato dying shortly after knowing he left behind a child just brought my to tears."
Naruto goes over to his mother and hugs her. Naruto never knew how his father died, neath did Kushina because the pain was too much.
Tsunade bites her lip. The pain is still there, but some of it has been lifted from her shoulders. Knowing that her son at least met a woman that he showed some interest in. Raising her grandson for the first five years before giving her life to make sure he survived warms her heart. Minato wouldn't of chosen a woman who wouldn't do that. The busty blonde can say that if Kushina wasn't an Amazon and met Minato; she knows deep down in her heart that they would of gotten married and would of have a loving family. Naruto being the oldest with the possibility of more coming on the way. The only thing Tsunade wishes with all her might was that her son would be here for this.
-Georgetown-
"I think you broke it," says Hawk nothing is happening to Holly Granger's grave.
"I didn't break it," says Boston as he is waiting for the light to come out of the White Ring.
"It's not glowing anymore," fired back Hawk.
"Maybe if you shut up for one second, I can get it to. I'm trying to concentrate. Like a Green Lantern!"
"A Green Lantern? You're no Green Lantern, buddy,"
Dawn kneels down next to Boston, "You say it's been teleporting you around the world?"
"The universe," seeing stars up close was a sight to be seen, "And when it took me on a tour of Qward to get some quality face time with the Anti-Monitor it reminded me I was alive again; and the point was I'm suppose to stay alive,"
"Or the point is you need to embrace life again. What did you enjoy when you were living and breathing?"
"It's been so long," the White Ring starts to shine, "I don't remember,"
"There has to be something. You were an aerialist, right"
"For a paycheck,"
"What about… someone special?"
"He loved cheese burgers!"
"He loved cheese burgers?" says Hawk for he is making sure that he heard that right, "What the hell does that have to do with any of this?"
The light blinds everyone with Holly Granger rising out of the grave. But she isn't alive. No, she is in fact a Black Lantern.
"You should have left me alone!" shouted Holly with her tackling Boston to the ground, "Give me that Ring! Take me to the Lantern!"
"Holly?"
"NO! GET OFF!"
"Despite what others have said. Dead isn't dead!"
A white energy construct of Donald Hall takes form with him shinning a bright light. Holly's body didn't hold up as it fades away.
"What happened? Where'd Dove's sister go?" demands Hawk
"Holly's grave isn't disturbed," what Dove said was true. It was like the ground never was bothered. It was like she never became back as a Black Lantern like she did just a few seconds ago.
"Because she didn't really rise, Dawn. I think it was just…"
"A warning!"
Hawk grabs Boston's wrist, "A warning about what? Trying to raise the dead? That's exactly what you did when you brought me and Deadman back, Ring! Why? Why not my brother? Why not Dawn's sister? TELL US SOMETHING, DAMMIT!"
"Eat a cheese burger!"
Everyone just blinks and stares at the White Ring. No one was expecting the Ring to say something like that. The three of them think of the same thing; this is a strange Ring.
"Uh… what?"
Boston's stomach growls, "What's wrong with me now?"
Hawk shacks Boston for that was a stupid thing to say, "You're hungry, genius,"
"Uh, Boston, have you eaten since you've been back?" Dawn asks for a man that's been dead for several decades could easily forget to eat.
"Actually, beyond being led around by this Ring; I haven't done much of anything." teleporting around against your will, will make you do that.
-Arthur's Note-
With this story getting closer to finishing I decided to put all my focus on it. That means Heathens has been put on hold for the time being. Just like before I would love to see this story to become a reading with the Justice League. PM me if you want to do it.
