A/N: Well, this didn't turn out the way I expected. I didn't see that connection until I wrote it and was like, "WHAT?! NO! ...I approve." And went with it.

Twisted Truths and Connections

The moment the Justice League reappeared in the real world, the battle started. Green Lantern caught sight of the Shadow Thief first and blasted him with his ring of power. Shadow Thief dodged and melted into a shadow on the wall.

"Diana," Superman said, "take Ares back to Olympus. We've got it covered here."

Wonder Woman nodded and used the shoes Hermes gave her to travel back to Themiscyra. Superman waited until Wonder Woman was gone before speaking. "We should take this outside to avoid damage to private property."

"Since when did you care about that sort of thing?" Flash asked.

Superman never had the chance to respond before Shadow Thief grew from his shadow and attacked. Flash was there instantly and punched the solid shadow, tossing him back into the wall.

"Nice shot," Lantern called, sending another blast of glowing green power at the villain who simply disappeared back into the shadows only to reappear in front of Batman.

"So, the Justice League finally gets involved, hm?" it hissed, dodging Batman's punch. "About time. I was getting bored waiting for the Shadow Court to come out and play again."

"You know them?" Batman demanded.

Shadow Thief vanished reforming behind J'onn, grabbing his cloak and yanking him off balance. "But of course," Shadow Thief said, vanishing again. "They use the same power I do; a different brand perhaps. But mine is far superior to theirs." He melted away again. "Which brings to mind," he rose in front of Superman, "thank you for taking that Trap of Kaiba's for me. Saved my life back there," he said, ducking when Superman grabbed for him.

"Saved you?" Superman said.

"Indeed," Shadow Thief hissed, unseen by the Justice League, but still heard. "If that Trap had activated on me, it would've killed me dead. And I've got so much yet to do, isn't that right Green Lantern?"

"I beg your pardon?" Lantern demanded. J'onn landed next to his friend and reached out with his telepathy hoping to track the Shadow Thief's movements.

"Oh yes, that's right, you don't remember," the hissing voice continued. "Pity that. I'm sure Set remembers. Hard thing to forget after all, war.

"What are you talking about?" Lantern demanded, confused by all this.

Shadow Thief rose from the floor. "Then how about a parley? Since the Shadow Court didn't show, they missed their chance. Too bad really, their little friend isn't doing too well. He probably doesn't have more than two or three days before he drops dead."

"Marik, you mean?" J'onn asked. He saw into Shadow Thief's mind and gasped at what he saw. Marik was curled in a ball on the floor of a dark room and shivering. His eyes were vicious and showed determination, a strong will to escape, to live. But it seemed his body was not in good shape. J'onn's golden eyes narrowed. "What have you done with him?"

"Nothing," Shadow Thief answered. "We didn't have to do anything. The Pharaoh put Marik in the state he's in."

Flash tensed. "The Penalty Game."

"Yes," Shadow Thief hissed. "I see they told you about the different types of Shadow Games. So, interested in a parlay or not?"

"If we say no?" Green Lantern asked.

Shadow Thief actually looked offended. "Would you? Why Lantern, you wound me. Wouldn't you like to know why my benefactor is interested in this city?"

"Arrow's not here," J'onn said.

"His loss then. All we want is a simple trade," Shadow Thief said. "Give us what we want, and we'll leave, no questions asked."

Superman stepped forward. "Why should we trust you?"

"Why do you trust the Shadow Court?" Shadow Thief asked. "They speak in riddles, answer questions without actually answering them, and keep secrets that you know are dangerous. They are a variable, and unknown. I am a known villain."

Flash hesitated. "Guys, he does have a point."

"Your friend is quick," Shadow Thief praised. "Although, considering who he is, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."

Superman looked at Batman who narrowed his eyes. "Fine," he said to Shadow Thief. "What do you want?"

"We're not agreeing to anything yet," Green Lantern said, glaring at Batman.

"Right," Superman said quickly. "We just want to know what you want. We'll decide then."

Shadow Thief bowed. "But of course." He stood straight and said simply. "Give us the one called Set."

"The Egyptian god of chaos?" Superman said.

Shadow Thief cackled. "So you at least know of him."

"Met him," Batman corrected.

"So you know he's Seto Kaiba. Good." Shadow Thief made a show of thinking. "My benefactor wants Set kept under lock and key to prevent him from causing any more mayhem than he already has."

"So, what?" Green Lantern demanded. "You killed innocent people to get his attention and you want to keep him under lock and key? It seems to me like it should be the other way around."

Shadow Thief waved a hand. "No, no, the deaths were a tragedy but they were caused by the humans themselves tapping into their latent Shadows powers far to early. It drove them insane. My benefactor merely used those incidents to his advantage."

"I assume your benefactor is Ahkenadin," J'onn said gravely.

Shadow Thief turned to the Martian Manhunter surprised. "So they told you that much, did they? I'm impressed. That's not a name they talk about willingly."

"Why not?"

Shadow Thief shrugged. "You're asking the wrong person. I'm just a simple thief with Shadow powers."

"And yet you serve Ahkenadin," Superman pointed out.

"I don't serve anyone," Shadow Thief said fiercely. "I'm working with him because we have goals that happen to overlap. He's helping me and I'm helping him. When our goals no longer match, we'll part ways."

"Temporary allies, then," Flash said.

"Something like that, yes." Shadow Thief slithered closer. "So, do we have a deal? Set for Marik?"

"And information," Batman said firmly.

Shadow Thief shrugged. "I can't answer much, but if you come to the meet, Ahkenadin will be there. He can answer all your questions."

"Why are you doing this?" Superman asked.

"Because wants Seth gone," J'onn said. "He needs the Regent for something."

"Seth? Ah yes, Set's Greek name. It's true, though," Shadow Thief said casually. "I do need him; Set, that is."

"That's where your goal coincides with Ahkenadin's," Green Lantern said.

Shadow Thief nodded. "Yes. We agreed that after Set's capture, I would get what I wanted from him, then turn him over to Ahkenadin to be neutralized."

"Killed?" Flashed demanded.

"We don't do killing," Superman said firmly. "That's not how we work."

"Bad choice of words," Shadow Thief groaned, scratching his nonexistent hair. "By 'neutralized' I meant locked away so he doesn't cause any more chaos than he already has. Chaos isn't fun, guys. Not even for villains. Even we have some sort of order."

"And Ahkenadin can do this," Green Lantern said.

"He can," Shadow Thief said. "He did so once before when Set went overboard in the past. Killed his own lover, tried to destroy the world, and ended up killing his best friend when the guy tried to stop him."

"Best friend?" Flash said, morbidly curious.

"And relative," Shadow Thief confirmed.

"And Ahkenadin," Batman pressed. "How does he fit into all this?"

"He was Set's father," Shadow Thief said.

Green Lantern gasped. "Father?"

Shadow Thief nodded. "Ahkenadin didn't act on Set's insanity at first out of familial love. But when Set went too far, he acted. Cost him life last I heard. So you can see how he feels responsible for his son's madness."

"And he wants to do the same thing now," Flash said. He sighed gustily. "This is so friggin' complicated."

"So," Shadow Thief said. "Do we have a deal? Set for Marik and any information we can give you?"

Batman and Superman looked at each other and their comrades. J'onn however did not. "I do not believe you are telling us the whole truth," J'onn said.

"Well," Shadow Thief said, "I can't tell you everything at once. I have to have something to trade."

"J'onn?" Green Lantern asked.

The Martian shook his head. "I disagree with this. When I met Seth, when I touched his mind, I saw no evil in it. Just sadness, guilt, and loneliness. It did not feel like insanity."

Batman hesitated. "We'll do the meet," he said to Shadow Thief. "But we want the information before we do any trading."

Shadow Thief considered a moment. "Fine by me. I'll talk to Ahkenadin, but I doubt he'll have a problem with it. Oh, and bring Hawkgirl along, if you would."

Green Lantern's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

The villain waved his arms defensively. "She's good with her head. Thinks first, acts later. That's a good thing to have at a negotiation."

"Can't argue with that," Flash said.

"Right then. See? That wasn't so hard," Shadow Thief said, snickering. "How about we hold the meet somewhere nice and open, like the park downtown. It's in plain view, no hiding spots, and open in case things...don't work out."

"Fine by me," Superman said.

"Well then, nice talking to you." With that, Shadow Thief vanished.

"My Lady of the Hunt," Diana called. "I ask thee for assistance."

Diana bowed her head in respect when she heard the rustle of cloth. She heard Artemis gasp.

"Ares!"

"I ask you to hear me before you judge, my goddess," Diana said, kneeling before the divine woman. "My fellow comrades-at-arms were in the middle of a Shadow Game when Ares possessed one of the Shadow Court and forced him to attack us."

"What?" Artemis's voice was breathless with shock. "Why would... Who was intended target?"

"Myself and Shayera Hol of Thanagaria," Diana replied.

Artemis hissed. "He would attack one of my chosen. And after being specifically commanded to wait."

Diana felt the tiny hairs on the back of her neck rise from the weight and intensity Artemis's ire. "My goddess," she began.

"Peace Artemis," a new voice said.

Diana instinctually raised her head and leapt to her goddess' defense. She paused when she beheld the newcomer. He appeared young but his sun gold eyes were old, older even than Artemis's doe brown. A cloud of soft white hair haloed his face. He wore white robes trimmed with turquoise and deep sky blue and sat astride a white, spirited stallion with a fiery mane. He gazed calmly at the two women.

Something in the Amazon Princess told her this was no Olympian but one of the older generation, a Titan. The only Titan she knew of who had an appearance like the sun on a clear day and kept horses as spirited and fiery-maned as the one this man sat astride was, "Helios," she whispered.

Sun gold eyes met hers for a moment and she felt stripped bare, all her secrets laid out before him and she trembled. But his eyes never strayed from hers, nor did he seem to realize his affect on her. He even smiled softly to her before gazing back at the goddess of the hunt When spoken to.

"Helios, what are you doing here?" Artemis demanded. "You know no men are allowed to step foot in this place."

"Then it is good my feet remain in the air," Helios said, smiling benignly. "I was sent here by Zeus to inform you Ares had gone missing." His eyes dropped to the unmoving god of war lying prone on the floor. "But it seems you have already both received the message and retrieved our errant Olympian."

"I have," Artemis said. "I have also learned Ares attacked one of mine."

Helios's eyes widened. "He..." The sun god stared at Diana. "He attacked you?"

"Myself and the Thanagaran Shayera Hol," Diana felt compelled to answer.

Helios closed his eyes and it was as if the sun's light filtering through the columns of the temple of Artemis dimmed. "I see. May I ask how this happened?"

"He possessed a member of the Shadow Court and filled him with the rage of battle," Diana said. "Granted the man desired to attack me for my," she hesitated, "my failure to control my tongue, but the actual attack itself was fueled by Ares."

Helios stiffened. "You mean he deliberately entangled himself with another pantheon?" he asked, looking to Artemis for confirmation.

Artemis nodded. "The Egyptian, yes." Earthen eyes studied Diana who felt intense pride and adoration for the goddess before her bloom within her heart. "Diana," Artemis said. "Which of the Court did Ares use?"

"The one called Seto Kaiba," Diana said. Artemis remained unmoved, waiting for her to continue. "He is the one we believe to be Set, or Seth."

"Set!" Artemis gasped. Her brown eyes dropped to Ares still lying prone on the floor. "Of all the gods to pick."

"But, that cannot be," Helios murmured. "Seth would never allow himself to be possessed in such a way again."

Diana turned to Helios, surprised by his words. Brilliant sun gold eyes were large and pained. "My lord?" she asked.

"Speak, Amazon," he commanded firmly. "This person you call Seth, is he tall? Did he have brown hair? And his eyes, were they blue?"

Diana blinked in surprise. "Y...yes. He is perhaps six feet tall as my friends would say, with brown hair and blue eyes."

Helios seemed to wilted, the sunlight outside paling to a sickly glow. "Oh Ares, what have you done?"

"Helios," Artemis said. "You act as if you know Seth personally."

The god of the sun wavered before his shoulders drooped in defeat. "I did, although we never met face to face," he said softly. "I observed him on my daily treks through the sky, but I learned what I know of him through one of my worshippers who knew him well."

"One of yours met him?" Artemis demanded.

Helios nodded. "Yes. Heliopolis was known for its sun worship. Even though it was Ra-Horahkty and the Dark Ones the natives worshipped, they at least acknowledged and respected me because of the Greek influence and trade along the Nile."

"Why have you not spoken of this? Why keep this a secret?" Artemis demanded. "Zeus should know of-"

"It did not concern him then or, until Ares' involvement, now," Helios countered defensively. "It was my worshipper who was involved with Seth, not one of his. My cult has always been small Artemis," Helios said, his stallion prancing in agitation beneath him. "Particularly after the Greeks began confusing me with and sometimes completely replacing me with your brother, Apollo. I cannot afford to be anything but protective of those who call themselves mine."

"What happened to him, lord Helios?" Diana asked, breaking up the burgeoning argument. "Your worshipper?" she clarified when Helios turned to her in confusion.

Helios lowered his eyes and again, the sunlight outside dimmed as if shaded by a cloud. "She," Helios corrected. "She found herself in Heliopolis-of-old due to unfortunate circumstances. While there, she found love, and death."

"He killed her?" Artemis asked.

Helios lifted his eyes, the solar fire burning brightly within them. "I never said that. She was murdered but not by him. I did not interfere then, despite her prayers for me to do so because it would involve intruding on another pantheon. I lost her that day. Her soul never made it Hades, it remained with Seth and his pantheon." He sighed heavily with regret. "That is something I will forever regret. If I had acted as she wished me to, then things may not have ended as they had."

Artemis's eyes saddened. "I understand."

"You loved her," Diana asked.

"No," Helios answered quickly. "No, not like that. I was impressed at her loyalty to me and thought highly of her, but I did not love her. That honor belonged to Seth and Seth only." He lifted his head, eyes still heavy with guilt and age. "She gave up her chance to rest in Hades to stay with Seth forever in a form that was and was not her own." Sun gold eyes lifted. "She no longer answers to our pantheon but to Seth's."

"Can that even be done?" Diana asked. "Switching pantheons?"

"It happens all the time with converts," Artemis said. "It is why we are so protective of our worshippers. The Dark Ones were unique in that they never demanded worship or tribute of any kind. They merely existed and were worshipped because of it."

"And the new pantheon?" Diana asked. "How did that come about? Surely the gods and goddesses existed in some way."

"They did," Helios replied. "Set, Isis, Osiris, Atum, and others existed and were deified later by those who heard their tales and looked upon them in awe. It's entirely possible one of the new pantheon started the myths themselves."

"This deification," Artemis continued, "made the former mortals immortal and enhanced their chances of rebirth. However, even through the cycle of reincarnation, the likelihood of a group who once knew each other being reborn and then meeting again at the same time and place is astronomically rare."

"But it has been known to happen," Helios said.

"And if it does," Artemis said, shrugging, "great things happen. They can be good or they can be terrible; but either way great things will happen."

She glanced down at Ares who was finally beginning to stir as the affects of the Sword of Sealing began to wear off. "In the meantime, go back and join your comrades. Should you require my assistance, I will honor my vow to offer you aid."

"As will I," Helios said. "I wish to see if this is the Seth I once saw through my worshipper's eyes."

"And if he is?" Artemis asked the Titan. "What will you do?"

"I will do what I failed to do before," Helios said. "Aid him."

He turned his horse to leave when Diana found the courage to speak up and ask the question that burned her throat. "My lord Helios," she called. The sun god paused and turned his golden gaze to her. "Your worshipper," Dian said, bowing her head respectfully, "if I may ask, what was her name?"

Helios held her gaze steadily for several moments before turning away. "Kisara," he said. "Her name was Kisara."

Without another word, he kicked his stallion and rode away, flaming light licking his sides and the horse's flanks like the sun's mighty corona.