Chapter 74)
The aftermath, with an entire group of women joining each other. The Legends, the JSA, The Avengers, Team Flash, Team Arrow, among others. It had been a very large group. Kara, Lena, Alex, and Gwen looked after Earth 38, pretty much relieved they did not have any trouble with it, although it had been close.
"So, this is it, the goodbye," Sara concluded.
"Well, we'll get together again sometime," Alex said. "And hopefully before the next big crisis which destroys us all."
"Hopefully," Karen agreed. "I mean, let's try and keep in touch sometime, for reasons other than the universe being ripped apart."
Everyone pretty much chortled in amusement at this statement. Shuri just smiled and looked over all of them.
"It was a pleasure working with all of you," Shuri said. "And I hope that next time it will be under better circumstances."
"Yeah, I hear you there," Zari said. "Guess, it's back to business as usual for the Legends."
"All of your male friends are in the process of being restored back to their places in the time stream and their dimensnion as we speak," the Beyonder said.
Most of the group just jumped up, a bit miffed at the fact that the Beyonder turned up. Once again, the entity did not trigger any of their danger senses.
"Good to know, and I guess...um, what's going on with me?" Grace asked. "And Nora? Because we technically got restored in the time stream after being wiped out."
"And I was brought back to life," Laurel said.
"For your assistance, you have been given a second chance," the Beyonder said. "I suggest you don't squander it."
Oh, well that made perfect sense. Nora just shrugged and Caitlin put a hand on her shoulder.
"Ready to make the most of it, kid?" Caitlin asked.
"Well, I have to," Nora said.
Mia leaned back and Felicity walked over to her. Mother and daughter eyed each other for a good long moment before Felicity broke the ice by speaking.
"So, that's it for you, back to the future?" Felicity asked. "And you can't give me a hint of what's to come. Am I going to even remember you when I return back?"
"Well, we'll meet again in a couple of years," Mia said. "And I guess at a certain point in the future, I'll remember this. I trust you'll be discreet and won't give me any spoilers what happened."
"Hey, I'm not that person," Felicity said. "I'm not going to tell you that Snape killed Dumbledore or something?"
"Wait, Snape kills Dumbledore?" Mia asked.
Felicity opened her mouth and Mia laughed at the expression on her mother's face. Felicity relaxed when she realized Mia was just pulling her leg, in every sense of the world. Everyone looked around at each other.
"So, no home to go to," Xara said.
"I know," Alexandra said.
"Come with us," Alex said. "You too Flamebird."
The three displaced women, their planets destroyed by the Anti-Beyonder just smiled. They had been invited home and they would not squander their second chance. Some of the names were the same, some weren't, some of the faces were the same. To be honest, Alexandra and Xara were kind of relieved for the second chance and not being on an Earth where they had expectations of being the best. That just relieved them somewhat.
"It's time," The Beyonder commented. "Good luck to you all."
The implication they might need it with the chances.
"So, if you need anything, just try and get in touch," Sara said.
"Yes," Natasha said.
"We'll all try and stay in touch," Daisy said. "At least until the next Crisis. Which hopefully will be a while out."
A beam of light engulfed all of them and they had been all displaced to their universe with several beams shooting them across the universe. In a blink of an eye, everything just changed.
In Star Labs, Caitlin and Nora appeared in a blink of an eye. Out of the corner of said eye, Iris walked around the corner, drinking a cup of coffee.
"Sorry about that, had to slip out for a cup of coffee," Iris said. "But, you handled that meta gang just fine, didn't you?"
"Yeah," Nora said. "I guess you could say that."
Caitlin realized that from Iris's perspective, no time had passed since their little adventure. That was extremely interesting in so many different ways. A blink of an eye and Barry appeared and looked around a few seconds later.
"So, you had your own adventure?" Caitlin asked.
"One could say that," Barry said.
"Is there...something going on that I should know?" Iris asked. "Did you break the timeline again?"
"It wasn't me this time!" Barry defensively said. "It was...well this is one of those long story things. But, according to the Beyonder, you were a huge part of this, weren't you, Nora?"
"Yeah, you could say that," Nora said.
"Beyonder?" Iris asked.
"I'll explain everything," Barry said. "Got to take a breath. But, I'll tell you one thing. If I ever saw that smart ass raccoon ever again, it would be too soon. And don't get me started on Deadpool. He's quite a strange guy."
Nora and Caitlin exchanged a smile. Barry had his own little adventure while they were off dealing with their thing. And the others likely again.
"Sorry, I just really, really hate racoons," Barry said.
"Tell me all about it later," Iris said.
Outside of the DEO headquarters, at the landing pad, Alura's ship had been restored. Astra joined Kara and Alura as they walked off to the ship.
"So, Kara told me about your little adventure," Astra said.
"I wish I could have done more to help, or been more involved," Alura said. "But, I guess, you're the fighter in this family and I'm a scientist."
Astra surveyed her sister with a soft smile. That was pretty much Alura in a nutshell. She always pushed herself down with the burdens of high expectations. Alura always had to be the best and anything less than her best would be entirely frustrating. Astra fondly smiled at the thought of everything that Alura must have accomplished, and likely it did not live up to her expectations.
"Kara told me you helped out a lot," Astra said. "So, you're heading back to Argo?"
"Yes," Alura said. "I've been away, well only for a few hours at this point, but it seemed like a long time. It's my place, just like Kara's is here on Earth. Being the protector it needs. And if it wasn't for Kara none of us will be here to have this conversation."
"Well, I only had a small part."
"Small stones create big waves," Astra said.
"I have something for you," Alura told Astra.
Alura pressed the memory stones into Astra's hand. Astra just broke out into a smile when she locked her eyes on the stones. Precious memories of some of the lost battles of Krypton, military achievements and in a few cases, tragedies. Astra sighed and threw her arms around Alura to hug her.
"I hate being sentimental," Astra said. "But, keep in touch."
"I'll be back," Alura said. "And if things ever calm down on Earth, I know, Kara will come back for a visit. And maybe, just maybe, you'll be in a place where you'll return as well, Astra."
Astra just shifted back with a small smile. They'll both see about that. For right now, it was time for her to go. Alura made her way to the ship.
"Next time we get together, hopefully we won't get sucked into a multi-dimensional crisis," Alura said. "Goodbye, my daughter, and I've never been more proud of you."
Kara and Alura hugged and Alura stepped onto the ship to head off into space. Kara wondered if she could even begin to unpack everything that happened. Or even appreciate just how close they had been to the annihilation of the entire mulit-verse.
"Okay?" Astra asked.
"I'm fine," Kara said.
"I know what you're thinking, but you were sent to Earth for a great purpose," Astra said. "I know it was originally to protect Kal-El, but that didn't occur. You've forged your own path, and you've done great things."
Yeah, great things. Kara hoped to do even better things. Not just as Supergirl, but as Kara Danvers. The entire world just flooded with unlimited possibilities.
After all that happened, Gwen Stacy needed a nice relaxing soak in the bathtub. She got out and dried herself off. Only seeing the image of Julia Carpenter in the mirror.
"Is there a problem?" Gwen asked.
"Just to tell you the Anti-Monitor has been defeated, but to give you a warning, there will always be new challenges, dangers which are going to come around any corner. The worlds will always reach new ends and new beginnings, and soon new challenges will rise up. Challenges which will be personal for you and your position on the web."
"The web?" Gwen asked.
"There are more warriors chosen by the web, gifted the abilities of the spider, than you could ever known Gwendolyn Stacy. But, today, savor your triumph. For new battles will rise. But, it's not what I've seen in the future, but what I've experienced in the now to know that you will triumph. Because of the strength of character, and that of your friends."
Gwen honestly had nothing more to say, because Madame Webb disappeared. She thought Julia could be a bit less cryptic now that they slept together, but perhaps it was a bit too much to go for.
Well, after that, Gwen needed a bit of drink. Thankfully, she was meeting Lena, Alex, and Kara. Gwen did not need precognitive powers to know how that meeting would go.
Thankfully, time had been such where Lena's trip to Argo was the only time she spent away. The time spent on Battle World was not counted. Perhaps only occurring between two ticks of a clock. The people of this Earth, were barely scarely aware just how close they had come.
Sam held down the fort at L-Corp just well enough, and with help from Diana and Carol, made sure things did not fall apart too much. Now, Lena would be ready to reclaim her responsibilities and the great power which came across with them.
Alex, Kara, and Gwen stepped into Lena's office. Lena poured them all a glass of vintage wine. In this case, they all deserved to share a drink of what happened.
"I've been saving this bottle for a special occasion," Lena said. "And give what happened today, I think you can agree, it's warranted."
"Yes," Alex said. "In some twisted way, I'll miss the world that the Beyonder created for us."
"We'll see them all real soon," Gwen commented.
"How are our guests holding up?" Lena asked.
"About as well as could be expected," Kara commented. "They have a lot to mentally deal with before they recover."
"And we can finally breathe, until the next crisis," Alex concluded.
They all smiled and drank to their success. All things considered, it was good to be home. They might not relax for long, given another problem could always pop up. However, they would enjoy the few moments of downtime before they went there.
"To our success," Alex said.
"And the bonds which had been created through adversity," Lena said. "And friends we will see again and with any luck, under better circumstances."
"Cheers," Kara said with a big grin.
The four women drank, with knowing smiles at what was to come soon enough. The sun set on the old day and on this adventure, but a new day was around the corner.
The Shameless Smut Concludes This Story.