I was making my way to the DEO when I passed a billboard with the news blaring. I stopped and listened in, "It is now time to announce the winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize. This person is heroic in his own right, even if he doesn't have superpowers. I am proud to introduce this year's winner, Lex Luthor."
"What?" I asked myself completely dumbfounded.
The screen followed Lex as he walked onto the stage. He accepted the award and stood at the podium with a speech, "We live in dangerous times. Earth is a dangerous place. I suppose that's why people love superheroes so much. The power, the chutzpah of someone who can fly faster than a speeding bullet. But that's what makes this so special. I don't have any powers. I can't leap tall buildings in a single bound, but I have dedicated my life to fighting on the side of humanity, and to be recognized for that is more than I can put into words, so I will just say I stand with mankind."
"I'm gonna throw up." I muttered
Everyone around me was cheering for Lex and I was surprised. He used to be enemy #1 and now he was the city's favorite. What the hell did he do? I looked from the screen and noticed a blur of red run past me. I would recognize that blur anywhere, but why was Barry on my earth? I began to run toward the direction Barry went when I bumped into someone. I turned to apologize and that's when I noticed J'onn standing there.
"J'onn?" I asked as I ran up to him and hugged him tight. When I pulled back I let it all out, "Please tell me you know what is going on. Kara doesn't remember the crisis and Lex is suddenly getting a Nobel Peace Prize. Am I going crazy?"
J'onn shook his head, "You're not going crazy. It all happened. The crisis, the battle, all of it. Lex getting a prize must be part of his next evil plan. I heard he's the new boss of the DEO as well."
"You're kidding?!" I exclaimed
"No, I wish I was. Sadly, this new world has some kinks." J'onn sighed
"If it all happened, why are we the only two that remember?" I asked with crossed arms, "Kara thinks we escaped Remus last night and that it ended with us going back to her apartment. She has no idea what actually happened. What...I told her..."
I went silent for a moment and actually held back tears. The second I finally tell Kara I love her and the damn cosmic universe makes her forget. J'onn had understood how I felt for Kara so he placed a hand on my shoulder, "We only remember because we're Paragons. We helped Oliver restart the universe and this is the result. I suspect there will be more such changes that are yet to reveal themselves, but we will figure this out. I promise you."
"How are we going to do that when we are the only ones to truly know what happened?" I asked
"I think I can fix that." J'onn said as I perked up instantly, "The Paragons will remember, but our other friends won't remember a single detail. I think I can use my psychic abilities to link my consciousness with them long enough to reveal what truly happened."
"Will it bring back everything?" I asked
J'onn nodded with confidence, "I believe it should. We just need to find everyone."
"Before I bumped into you, I saw Barry run past." I admitted
"You go find Barry and Kara. I will find everyone else. I will contact you with the meeting place. Hold out till then." J'onn said, flying off into the sky.
I quickly got myself together and ran in the direction I saw Barry go in. I got to the pier just as Barry apprehended a girl with a very large staff that had caused a lightning storm, awesome actually. I got closer just as Kara appeared. She began talking to the girl when Barry cuffed her. I kept my distance until the two started talking.
"Sorry, she's one of mine." Barry said
"Well, what's she doing on my Earth?" Kara asked
"Your Earth? This is my Earth." Barry questioned
I was about to come out from behind the car when an older gentleman approached the two, "Supergirl, Flash, I just love it when you guys team up. Would you sign this for me please?"
Barry took the photo and the sharpie, "Oh, sure, um...you know both of us? And it's normal to see us together?"
"Well, normally you'd also have Green Arrow and a Legend or two. Last year, even Batwoman joined in. Make that out to Marv. M-A-R-V. " Marv exclaimed
"Marv, as far as you know, how long have Supergirl and I and all the rest of us been working together on this Earth?" Barry asked
"Uh, since forever."
Marv took the photo from Barry and ran off in excitement. Kara and Barry looked at one another with complete confusion and that was my cue. I left my hiding spot and approached the two heroes, "I can help with your confusion."
"Carly...are you okay?" Kara asked, still reeling from when I left her apartment.
"I'm fine, but that doesn't matter right now." I said turning my attention to Barry, "It all happened, Barry. The crisis, the battle, Oliver. It all happened."
Barry almost started crying again when he remembered what Oliver had done. I stepped forward and squeezed his arm to give him some comfort. Kara looked from Barry and back to me with utmost confusion, "What are you talking about? What Crisis? What battle? And what happened to Oliver?"
"J'onn will be able to squash your confusion when we meet up with the others. He will help you remember."
We arrived at the Arrow's secret base to find many of the others already waiting. Sara ran over and hugged Barry tight. She nodded at Kara and I and we did the same to her. The three of us were met with Diggle, Cisco, Caitlin, Ray, Batwoman, and a few of Oliver's friends.
"It's true, we live on the same earth." Barry exclaimed with surprise, "Our Earths must have merged when we helped Oliver reboot the universe. I can't believe it."
"Everything is now on this earth." Sara said pulling up a global map, "I had Felicity check and it's true. The DEO, CatCo, all of National City is on this Earth now. Even Argo's up there."
"We did it. We saved everyone." I said with joy.
Diggle stepped forward and shook his head, "Not everyone. Oliver. He didn't make it."
"Maybe this was the only way." Sara reluctantly said with a grimace, "Maybe his sacrifice made all of this possible. Him for us."
The silence of grief descended upon the room, except Kara. She was the only one who had no idea what actually happened. She talked to the group, "What happened? I keep hearing that our earths merged. As far as I know this earth has been this way the entire time and I don't remember a crisis occurring. Can someone please tell me what the hell is happening?"
"I can help you with that." J'onn appeared with a reluctant figure behind him. We all looked and noticed Nash standing there. I actually growled at the sight of him and I was prepared to attack him, but Barry grabbed my hand and pulled me back.
"Why are you here?" Barry asked with gritted teeth.
"I'm here to warn you. You see this?" Nash said, pointing to his blinking gauntlet, "This gauntlet is primed to detect antimatter of which there has been a massive surge in the Star City area. Something bad is going to happen. It's just the beginning."
"Are you sure that thing still works?" Sara asked with crossed arms.
Nash scoffed at her doubt, "Yeah, it's working. I built it myself. It's infallible. It is picking up high traces of anti-matter. If my calculations are correct, it's starting all over again."
The words hit home with most people in that room. Oliver died for this new world and we weren't about to let that sacrifice be in vain. Barry, Batwoman, and J'onn went to gather the troops while the rest of us stayed here to figure out what the hell we were gonna do. Before J'onn left, he connected with Kara to show her what had really happened.
He showed her everything and it took a big enough toll on her that she passed out. Even for a Kryptonian, learning about all of the tragedy can be a lot to handle. J'onn showed himself out as I sat down next to Kara. She always looked so peaceful when she slept. No worries in the world and she deserved that, but I knew when she woke up all the bad would come rushing back in.
I gently kissed her forehead and headed into the main room. When I arrived, they were discussing our next move. Nash went to the front of the group with a sigh, "According to the surge of antimatter energy I'm reading something big is going down. The readings are off the charts and only one person can cause that type of reading.
"The Anti-Monitor is alive…" I said as I entered the room.
"That would explain why that shadow thing attacked Barry and I when we went out for some air." Sara explained with realization, "Those attacks were probably just the first wave. Assassins sent to pick us off in pairs. To make the Anti-Monitor's win even more satisfying."
"Wait, you were attacked?" I asked with surprise
"Yeah, she's not the only one." Ray said stepping forward, "Before they left, Kate told me she had been bombarded on the way here."
"It's going after Paragons." Cisco pointed out.
Then that realization hit everyone in the room, but I was first to vocally address it, "Ryan…"
He didn't have the powers to defend himself against these demons. If too many got to him, they'd kill him. I decided that I had to save him. Ryan risked his life for me and I wasn't about to let these dementor-like things hurt him and his family. Everyone knew what I was planning to do and Ray was actually the one to step in front of me.
"Don't even think about it." Ray warned
"I have to." I insisted with just as much conviction. "He has no way to defend himself if too many of them attack. You are all needed here to find a way to defeat the Anti-Monitor for good. I need to do this. Let me help."
"Then I'm coming with you." Ray insisted
"Ray, no." I said, placing a hand on his shoulder, "You are an amazing friend and I truly appreciate that you care so much, but let me do this. I will get Ryan out of danger and bring him here. His brain combined with everyone else's will help in finding a way to beat this guy. Trust me, I can handle this."
"She's right, Ray." Sara chimed in with crossed arms, "We need as much help as we can get here. Carly is strong and I think she can handle a few demons."
Ray wasn't happy about it, but he stepped aside and let me walk past. Sara sent me Ryan's location with Felicity's tech and I was off. I tracked Ryan's location to an apartment downtown only a 10 minute walk from the base, but for me it would only take 5.
I was a floor down when I heard glass shattering. I used my speed to appear at his door. I tried to open the door, but it was locked from the inside. I heard a female scream as I wrapped my hand around the knob and turned until the lock inside the door snapped. I walked in to see Ryan's wife unconscious on the kitchen floor.
I checked her pulse and she was fine, just unconscious. I got up and noticed movement down the hall. I came into the room to see Ryan hiding in the corner with his baby girl in his arms. The ghost demon thing was slowly inching closer to him. I appeared behind the demon and used my sharpened nails to shred it into nothing.
Ryan looked from the demon to meet eyes with me, relief spreading throughout his body. He stood up and approached me, "Thanks for saving my ass."
"Just repaying the favor." I said as I scanned him over for injuries, "You should be fine and your daughter even better. Your wife on the other hand is unconscious on your kitchen floor, but she is breathing and there are no other complications."
"Thank God." Ryan sighed with relief and then the worry returned, "I thought those things were gone now that Oliver killed the Anti-Monitor."
"Oliver's sacrifice didn't kill the Anti-Monitor. It made a whole new multiverse with some changes, but the Anti-Monitor is still alive. That is why we need your help. We need to figure out a way to defeat him for good this time. Your brain would be of great use." I explained
"What about my family?" Ryan asked
"I will call J'onn and he will get them to a safe place, I promise. We need your assistance. Please, Ryan." I pretty much begged
He looked like he might say no, but he eventually caved. I called J'onn shortly after and he escorted Ryan's wife and child to a safer location. I on the other hand took Ryan back to the base only to return to a fight between everyone.
"Well, let's just throw him into the sun and let the bastard burn." Mick suggested
Nash slowly turned to look at Mick with such annoyance it looked like he sucked on a lemon, "Oh yeah, let's throw him in the sun and cause an antimatter explosion that obliterates the solar system. You know what, maybe let's not do that."
"At least he's trying to offer up a solution instead of being the cause of the problem." Diggle retorted
"That's the solution? Blow up the solar system?" Nash exclaimed with the belief he was superior, "The Anti-Monitor is made of antimatter, and, like its opposite, it can neither be created nor destroyed. It can only change form and move from place to place."
"So what if we do just that?" Ryan asked as the group finally noticed we had entered the room, "What if we could set off a chain reaction that will destabilize his form? Compressing his molecules so he's essentially shrinking for eternity."
"Is that kind of reaction even possible?" Sara asked
"Sure it is. I did it a bunch of times by accident when I was developing my ATOM exosuit. Essentially, we'd be sending him to the microverse. He would continuously shrink and never stop shrinking. In theory, it could work if we got to STAR labs."
"Geek team, get on it. Mick, go with 'em, keep 'em safe. The rest of us, we'll need to hold back this incoming army." Sara ordered
The geek team comprising of Nash, Ray, Ryan and now Mick headed out to Star labs. The others went to get their gear for battle as J'onn had just returned with Kate and Barry. Plus a few friends including Black Lightning, Nia, and Brainy.
"Hey, this can work, Sara. I know it can." I said optimistically
"That's what we thought back at the Dawn of Time. Here we are back at square one. It's what Oliver gave up his life to create. We have to protect it. If we're gonna go down, we go down fighting."
Sara went off to get everything ready and I headed for the bathroom. I entered the school-type facility and sprayed cold water up at my face. I sat there for a moment just feeling the water drip off my skin. I took some paper towels and dried my eyes.
"Carly…"
Her voice made my heart stop beating. I removed the towels from my face to see Kara standing behind me in the mirror. I turned around and I forgot how to speak. I could tell by the look on her face that she remembered, she remembered everything.
"Kara…"
Before I could say anything more she pulled me in for a very tight hug and cried into my shoulder, "I'm so sorry. I put so much weight on your shoulders switching places with you. I must have put you through so much grief. You went through so much pain because of me. You must hate me..."
I pulled back from the hug and cupped her face with both my hands, "You couldn't imagine what losing you felt like. I hurt within my core, but I took that pain to do something good. I knew ending this crisis meant I would get you back. I would have you back in my arms. You did what you thought was right and if it were reversed, I would've done the same thing. Nothing you do will ever make me hate you."
"J'onn showed me everything. He showed me how broken you were after I had sacrificed myself for you. I made you lose hope when I had only hoped to bring you more. You starved for months because you thought I would be disappointed. You almost died because of me."
"No, Kara. That is not your fault." I said shaking my head, "You did what you thought was best. At first, it hurt...so much. I couldn't even breathe knowing that if I didn't succeed I would never see your pretty ocean blue eyes again. I starved myself because I didn't want to take strength from the real heroes, but Ryan actually, made me realize that I am just as much a hero as the rest of them. Getting through this crisis made me realize that."
"I'm so sorry." Kara cried
"Don't be. I understand."
I pushed a stray hair from her face and wiped a tear from her cheek. I looked into those ocean blue eyes and for the first time I saw vulnerability. Kara had been sad in the past, but this was something different. She was so broken that for once I was the strong one. I smiled to reassure her I was fine, but she still looked worried.
I decided the best course of action was to distract her, so I pulled her face in close and I kissed her. The second our lips met Kara's body loosened like the world fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. Her hands rose to my back as she clung to me with her soft touch. I pulled her closer to me until there was no space left between us, so close I could feel her heartbeat against my chest.
I would have gone on forever, but I knew a battle was about to start and Kara had to be ready. I reluctantly pulled back just far enough so our foreheads were still touching, "You did what you had to do. I'm not angry and I never will be. We need to prepare for the final battle against the Anti-Monitor. We need Supergirl, Kara. Are you ready to save the world?"
"Always."
Everyone who wasn't apart of the geek squad went to the Pier where the strongest antimatter reading had come from. When we arrived it was completely silent, eerily silent. We looked around just as the Anti-Monitor appeared before us.
He looked at each one of us with disgust, "Paragons, the universal safeguard meant to thwart me. It is time to meet your end! I am destiny incarnate, inexorable and inescapable. You are nothing. Insects fated to be crushed beneath my heel without a moment's thought. Fighting is useless. Surrender."
Sara was the one to step forward, "Not today. Not ever. Oliver died so that we could continue to fight. He sacrificed everything for this new world, and we will not fail him. We will not fail this world. For Oliver."
Each of us in unison yelled for Oliver as loud as we could. The Anti-Monitor looked annoyed, but unafraid. He believed he could win, that we had no chance, but he didn't know us well enough, "The age of heroes ends now!"
He screamed as he grew in size. When I mean grow, I mean he grew, like to the size of a skyscraper. We all looked up at him with shock and concern. I was the first to voice this concern, "Guys, we're gonna need a bigger bomb."
"Sky team, with me." Superman announced as J'onn and Kara followed him into the sky. They were flying around the Anti-Monitor, acting like mosquitoes on a humid day.
That is the moment his ghost demon minions appeared above us. Everyone began fending them off while the sky team continued to distract the Anti-Monitor. While he was distracted, Sara used her bluetooth to contact the geek squad, "Ray, how's that shrink bomb coming?"
"Well, we could really use some fast hands." Ray said
Sara looked over at Barry and he understood. He went to the geek squad as we continued to destroy the dementor things. While I was fighting I looked up to see one of the Anti-Monitor's hands heading straight for Kara, so I yelled, "Supergirl, look out!"
She looked down at me and noticed the hand. She maneuvered out of the way just in time, but Superman wasn't so lucky. The Anti-Monitor's other hand caught Clark and began squeezing. Luckily, Barry and Ray had just arrived.
Barry appeared beside Sara and I with the news, "Bomb's ready. Ray's running it to the sky team."
Ray flew up and found his way to Kara. He noticed Clark's predicament and used his tech to shrink him. When that was no longer a worry he handed the bomb to Kara with only one order, "Throw it like a girl."
"Always."
Kara grasped the bomb in her hand and threw it with as much strength behind it as she could manage. The bomb spun through the air and slammed into the chest plate of the Anti-Monitor. The second it made contact the Anti-Monitor began to shrink. He screamed as he tried to pull the device off of his armor. We all watched as he shrunk and shrunk until he was gone.
"We did it. We did it!" I yelled as the group cheered. Everyone began to hug one another with joy.
Kara was the first to point out an issue, "Wait, but where's Kal?"
"I'm right here." Superman squeaked as we all squinted to see a very small superman. He looked so tiny you could barely see the colors on his suit.
Ray apologized and returned Clark to his original size. The world was saved once again and there was something that had to be done. Black Lighting, Sara, Kara, Superman, Barry, Batwoman, J'onn, and I went to an old warehouse of STAR Labs. Oliver deserved a true funeral and so we gave it to him. Barry set up one of Oliver's suits on a mannequin within a glass case and an eternal flame, unlit for now, sat in front of it.
We all stood side by side and gave our thanks to Oliver. I was the first to step forward. I wasn't close with Oliver as I am with Barry, but in the end he believed in me and that meant a lot, "Thanks for saving us, Oliver. The world has hope again. I have hope again. We'll never forget you."
I stepped back as Barry stepped forward. He tried to keep a straight face, but it was obvious he was in pain. Oliver was one of his best friends and losing him hurt more than he would ever admit, "Thanks for believing in me even when I didn't. You had this way of bringing out the very best in all of us. I'm gonna miss you, man."
When he stepped back, Sara took his place. She had lost a lot in her life and losing Oliver was something she never thought she would have to go through, "I've lost a lot of people that I love. But I never imagined my life without you in it. You were always there for me. And now...Ollie, you changed my fate for the better. Thank you."
The others said a few words and then there was a moment of silence for Oliver. When the moment of silence was over, Kara stepped forward and used her laser vision to light the eternal flame. Then Barry had a surprise.
"What's this surprise?" Black Lightning asked with curiosity, "And why'd you choose a condemned building?"
"No, this is not a condemned building." Barry said as he motioned us to follow him, "No, listen, this is an old STAR Labs Research Facility that nobody uses, and what's even better, no one knows it exists."
"Good for you." Sara commented
"No, good for us. I figure we could all use this to gather if anything ever happens again. That way we can have a place to meet and plan our next move." Barry said with excitement.
"Why do we even need it? I mean, how often does the world almost come to an end?" Black Lightning asked as looked around at everyone who went silent. That's when he realized it happened a lot, "Oh, it's like that."
"All right, listen, I haven't even shown you guys the best part yet. You ready?" Barry asked the group.
When everyone nodded, his smile went from ear to ear. In front of us was some object underneath a giant tarp. Barry grabbed the tarp and pulled to reveal a table underneath. The group oohed and awed as they noticed the special decals on the chairs. Superman, Back Lightning, Kara, Barry, Batwoman, J'onn, and Sara had their own chair, including one dedicated to Oliver.
While the heroes were checking out the table, I was watching how excited they all were. Kara was almost giddy and it made me smile. J'onn walked from the table and came to stand next to me, "I brought you something. I think you should go check it out."
I looked at him with confusion, but he shooed me to go outside. I caved and went out the main doors. At first I didn't see anything other than a field, that is until I noticed a figure standing at the bottom of the stairs. The sight of her made me instantly burst into tears as I ran down the stairs and hugged her so tight I thought I might break her.
She pulled back from the hug just as emotional as I was, "J'onn showed me what happened. Are you okay?"
"I'm better now." I said hugging her again, "I didn't realize how close we've gotten until I felt you die. It was like part of me was missing. It was hard to even think clearly."
Deirdre also teared up as she apologized, "I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough. If I was faster and made it to one of those ships, there could've been a chance I got to you. I'm so sorry you had feel such loss. I'm so sorry."
"I'm the one who should be apologizing. If I had just answered your damn call, I might've gotten to you in time. I could've saved you. I'm so sorry I failed you."
"Are you kidding me?" Deirdre asked with shock, "You have not failed me or anyone else. You brought me back to Cillian, escaped my father who is now out of our lives, and you saved the bloody multiverse. You're a hero, Carly. Don't you ever forget it."
"I'm so glad you're back." I said with a small smile.
"I'm not the only one here to see you."
I pulled back from her confused as I turned around to see Superman from Earth-96 standing there. Deirdre left to give us some alone time as I approached Clark. He smiled and actually gave me a hug. When we separated, I had questions.
"How are you here?" I asked
"J'onn came to get me. Thought we should get a proper goodbye." Clark said
"I want to thank you." I said truthfully, "If it weren't for you, I would've never gotten the courage to tell Kara my true feelings. For that, I will always be grateful."
Clark laughed with a big smile, "You would've told her in time. I was just the nudge to roll things along. You both clearly loved each other, but were both so blind to it. One of you just had to say the words and everything would fit into place."
"Maybe one day, Kara and I will be as happy as your Kara and Carly." I hoped
"You will. I know you will." Clark said as he leaned against the railing of the stairs, "I can see the love you two share. We're all a little weird, and life's a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."
"Did you just quote Dr. Seuss?" I asked with a laugh
"Maybe, but that's not the point." Clark said with the same kind of laugh, "You two are in love and from what it looks like, your in love on multiple earths. If any couple were fated to be together, I would say you two would win. You two deserve happiness and I can see how happy you two make each other. My Kara and Carly were just the same. They had the love everyone around them wish they had and I know it will be the same for you two."
"I wish we didn't have to say goodbye."
"Neither do I, but I have a world that needs my protection. This earth already has a Superman and two is just too much. I need to regain what life I had before the gassing. I need to find my happiness again and I can't do that here." Clark admitted
"I'm going to miss you."
"Don't think of this as a goodbye, just a see you later. If you ever need me, just come by my earth. I will gladly aid you in whatever you may need." Clark reassured as he walked off toward the field, "I'm always here if you need me. I hope you and Kara have many years of happiness together. You deserve it."
Then Superman shot into the sky and vanished. For now, everything was good. The multiverse might be different, but we still saved everyone. I finally had Kara and that made even the worst situation less awful. Plus, Lex might be planning a evil plot and when it comes time I will help Kara stop him, but for today I just wanted to be happy. Just for one day.