Nightwing looked up, gasping. He saw his teammates strewn across the ground like trash, beaten down by ShadowMist's brutality.
He saw a ring of fire explode as a crater rocked him. He saw and heard Moontail cry, he struggled to get up as ShadowMist descended leisurely.
"Oh it's alright child! I'll end your suffering!" She grinned evilly.
"Leave her alone!" Nightwing yelled, forcing himself to stand.
"Oh please, go take a nap or something," ShadowMist rolled her eyes.
She flipped her hand, sending a chunk of earth right into Nightwing. He collapsed as he heard bones snap.
"Is that better?" ShadowMist asked as she twisted Juna's arm.
Amid her screams, Aqualad woke up and willed himself to stand. He hadn't used anything but water bearers his entire life, but he had to learn soon. Gasping from the pain, he pulled a wave of the ocean up and over ShadowMist screaming.
"Stop hurting her!"
ShadowMist smirked, setting a flaming whip over Aqualad, slamming him to the ground. As he tried to rise, ShadowMist snarled.
"Don't bother fish boy, you have nothing!" With a kick, she forced the island to rise, the water receding away quickly.
"No!" Superboy yelled, running at her.
ShadowMist kicked again, sending chunks of earth up and over Superboy, burying him. She whipped around as Tigress rose.
"You never quit do you?"
"Never!" Tigress growled and fell, grabbing at her neck.
ShadowMist smiled as a tendril of smoke and shadows choked Tigress.
"Go away!" Miss Martian screamed.
She began to engage and stepped back as fire crawled up her leg. It was slow and painful. ShadowMist laughed as she held all the heroes down single handedly. Flash roared as he leaped at her.
"Stop it!" He was knocked away by two whips of the smoke and fell as a fire encircled him.
"That handles that!" ShadowMist preened, hoisting up Moontail.
She was broken and bloody, beaten down and defeated. Blood trickled rom her, with a slight glow to it, ShadowMist laughed.
"You are finished! You will never win! You will die!"
Suddenly Moontail's lifeless form strengthened. Her eyes flashed open, defiant, angry and powerful. She wrapped her legs around ShadowMist's torso and arched back.
Pulling with all her weight, she slammed herself and ShadowMist into the ground. She used her good arm to punch ShadowMist off of her and leaped at her. Moontail grabbed her by her hair, keeping her from dissipating. She whipped her around and kneed her in the stomach.
ShadowMist, shocked by the sudden life in her enemy's body, fought back. She focused her concentration on Moontail. With her attention diverted, the fires shrunk and the tendrils vanished. The earth loosened and the Team broke free. They saw a spectacle, one they wouldn't have believed if they didn't see it for themselves.
Obviously greatly injured, but ignoring her injuries, Moontail fought with everything she had. Her claws out, throwing trees, rocks and discarded weaponry, Moontail was back with a vengeance. She teleported around ShadowMist, fighting in an incredible fury, delivering hard attacks that shocked and weakened ShadowMist considerably. Her eyes lit up with a fire that was inhuman and the blood that dripped, glowed brighter.
ShadowMist, meanwhile used fire to singe what was left of Moontail's uniform and the earth to pummel the heroine. She flew and changed her form, whipping shadowy snakes around Moontail. Blood dripped from her as well; Moontail finally hitting her and her face was contorted into an animalistic rage.
The Team gasped as they felt a familiar, yet alien click in their minds. A telepathic link had been established.
"Don't!" Moontail yelled, seeing them about to leap into action.
"What?" Flash asked, seeing how vicious the fight had become.
"Let us in!" Aqualad begged, as Moontail forced them away by a telekinetic shield.
"I can't!" She pleaded.
"You can't do this by yourself!" Miss Martian cried, trying to hack her psyche.
"Damnit don't do this!" Superboy roared, fighting the shield.
"We need to get in! We need to stop her!" Tigress yelled.
"Please," Moontail's voice softened, "I have to finish it."
"Juna…" Nightwing whispered, seeing the tears and the pain through the blood and determination.
"Você permanecerá sempre em meu curacao…"
"No!" Nightwing shouted aloud.
It happened so fast and yet so slow at the same time. The Team watched in horror as Juna kept her promise and saved all the realms.
She grabbed ShadowMist around the neck, flipped her over and grabbed ShadowMist by the shoulders. ShadowMist flew up a few feet, snarling in anger like a rabid animal. Juna knocked ShadowMist's legs apart and stared straight at ShadowMist. Both women spoke, to each other, delivering their final say.
"You will die, you will lose everything!"
"It's worth it if I stop you!"
"You can't!" ShadowMist roared in her ear.
"I can," Juan bit back, "You want to know why?"
"Why?"
"Because I'm a hero!"
Juna dived deep into her soul where the last reserves of her power were. She grabbed hold of the small sliver of the Godslight the Guardians had given her. She held on tight to the energy that she had been given and closed her eyes. She may not have been perfect, but she was a hero.
The Guardians had seen her goodness and strength. Delaney had seen her willingness and defiance. The heroes of the other realm saw her expertise and leadership. The heroes here had seen her beauty and power. She had seen herself, raw, unchallenged, beautiful and honest in her own destiny.
The power exploded, expanding and erupting in a powerful burst of light, energy, power and strength.
The team shielded their eyes from the blast, falling onto the ground as the air whipped them back. They looked up as the dust cleared and the light faded.
They were gone.
Nightwing ran to the spot where the two had hovered a second before. Nothing was there. Only blood drips that glistened in the moonlight and a large scorch mark were all that remained. Tears welled up behind his torn mask. The world closed around him and he could hear nothing, feel nothing. His hand hovered over the scorch mark and shook with fear, anger and agony.
ShadowMist was defeated.
The world was safe.
But it had been at a cost.
Juna. Was. Gone.