Chapter 5
I saw death, I saw it in his wildest form. I will never forget that night, I used to think of myself as a chosen one, well today I will be thrown back in reality.
Zed walked slowly, his mask wasn't on his face, "Fiona, bow to your Master." he said coldly. And she screamed.
Sid was awoken by the sudden sound. Her body was ready to fight as soon as she recognised Fiona's voice. Still only wearing her Twelve is Midnight pajamas. She jumped and kicked Zed, but he didn't move, unaffected. "Go back to sleep, child, or else you'll learn why we are called 'Galaxy Slayer'." Zed said. Sid took a moment to register what she just heard, and her mouth opened wide, enable to breathe. "You-you're…" But she was cut off by her father bursting into the room with a broom. He tried to attack Zed, letting out a war cry, but as his homemade weapon hit Zed, well, turns out it was just a Shadow, the silhouette evaporating. Zed kicked Stanley on his back, and as the father stood up, Zed stabbed him right in the lungs. "DAD !" screamed Sid, she shot a web at Zed, but he grabbed it, drawing Sidney at him. His fist connected with her face, a Shadow then kicked her butt and another one kicked her in her guts like she was a soccer ball. Zed grabbed her by her throat, knocking her out by slamming her face on the wall. He slowly turned his right arm into his three spikes blade. "STOP ! Stop." said Fiona. "I-I'll come with you, just let her leave."
Zed presented his hand to her and she held it, crying softly. "I'm sorry." and they disappeared. Fiona opened her eyes to see a welcoming living room. "Rest for now, we'll talk later." and he disappeared again.
Sidney was sitting on her bed, dressed in her pink and white suit of Spider-Girl, but her hair was let loose, her breathing slow, as she stared at the mask that she held in her hand. She put it on, taking a big breath. She opened her window and jumped. She immediately shouted a web, balancing herself not too high to the road, as she let herself slide on it for a moment. she then shouted another one, this time taking altitude. As she was above the buildings of the city, she let go of the web, flying high in the sky. She was a shadow in the night sky of Great Lake city, she landed Spidey style on a rooftop, in the outskirts of the city, looking at the horizon. Lincoln was clad in his red suit, putting a hand on Sid's shoulder. "We have to go." She nodded, and the two of them jumped from the rooftop.
Katherine Mulligan was luckily able to fly above Royald Woods. Her cameraman was filming a completely destroyed northside of Royal Woods. "Late this afternoon, a violent attack had struck the north of the city, so far 4 districts had been erased from the whole picture." she turned herself and couldn't hold on tears, the dam being broken. "I'm-I'm sorry, I can't…" she said, the cameraman just filmed the remains of the districts. "What the fuck ! What is…" John couldn't finish his sentence as Marvel flew through the chopper. The pilot tried to take back the control, but it was useless. Katherine coughed, crawling out of what remains of the chopper. John was dead from a free fall. She took the camera, but a foot was on it. Katherine looked up, smiling weakly, "Captain Marvel what a…" but she was cut off by Lori, "It's just Marvel now, flashnews Ms Mulligan, this city belongs to my father, Zed." and she kicked Katherine's face. She took the camera, "I hope you can hear this. Royal Woods, this city has been granted Harmony. Don't try hope, only the worthy will survive." and she crushed the camera.
Sid and Lincoln were with Lincoln's friends in school, as the news of the 'invasion' hadn't spread yet. "It's weird, there's so many missing kids today. Or is it normal for your school?" asked Sid, Clyde put a finger under his chin, thinking about it, "Wait a minute, even your sisters didn't come today !" said Clyde, and as it was written, Lucy appeared from nowhere, scaring them, even Sid. "Luce? What happened to you ?" said horrified Lincoln. "You shall address me as Raven, the name that my Master gave me." Raven said. Lincoln was wide-eyed, shocked by how her sister had grown, the power that her raspy voice had and her wings. Clyde was speechless, and hid behind Sid, the girl just gazed at Raven, asking her, "Who's your master ?" Raven smiled a little, "Zed." That name made Sid shivered, hoping for the impossibility of Raven talking about another Zed, but quickly forgot it. "As for your question Sidney, let me enlighten you. As we speak, Lori has already sealed off the city." Clyde was livide, "What about Lori ? Lori and Leni are missing, where are they!" shouted Lincoln, grabbing Raven's arms. The sorceress just smiled. "Hi Linky !" said a sweet voice.
Zed was calmly walking towards the Loud house's door. Lisa's drones activated themselves, attacking Zed. The ninja just threw shurikens at them, still walking. He then took a letter, and knocked on the door. But nobody answered the door, he was about to leave, when a police car stopped in front of the house. A tall african-american man, a bit overweight, made his way to the door, escorting Luan, clad in her mime was different, instead of the white, the stripes were yellow. As she stood next to him, Zed saw the shape of her lower back, a blade was hidden there. Zed nodded to the officer, and walked down the street, observing from afar. Rita let the cop and her daughter come in, she looked at Zed, waiting for a moment, she hoped.
She hoped that Zed would just come, saying 'Honey, I'm home.'All of her children would come down, greeting him as their dad… But this was just a dreamy thought. " I'll be the consequences of your choice." He said. She had prayed that he would have said that he would take the others too, forming a large family instead. She couldn't blame him though. She now knew that Zed felt offended by her comment about Lynn being the father of his biological two princesses. So, with sadness in her eyes, she just closed the door.
"Here we are, Earth !" Said Jinx. The crew of the Morning Star was looking at it, as they slowly approached the american ground. "We're too late." Said Yasuo, phone device in his hand. "Zed has already unleashed his hatred on a place called Royal Woods." Ziggs came with his computer, connecting to the city's network. "Wow, looks like he's almost done, he already controls the city." said the mad scientist. And the crew talked amongst themselves. Only Sona and Malphite didn't participate. The woman silently walked away, the giant on her toes. "What will you do?" he said gently, although his voice was as deep as the abyss. "We have to be there before them, I have to take the chance to talk to him!" she said, looking at Malphite, her eyes filled with doubt, fear, sadness. "But you're scared right? What if I come with you ?" asked the gentle soldier. "I'll appreciate that." Malphite smiled, and they moved towards the pods.
Luna opened her eyes slowly, and immediately, she screamed of pain. There was this fire within her, burning her core, her eyes. She tried to be strong at first, closing her eyes, gritting her teeths. But suddenly, she opened them again, and purple beams were shot by them. Luna gasped, and as she let out a cry, her hands threw balls of purple energy. She slowly raised them, looking at them in shock. "I-I'm…I'm a monster."
"I feel so cool !" said Lynn as she just ran and jumped around the mess of a house she shares with the rest of the family. At the moment that she woke up, she had puked, then she felt as if her blood was boiling, but Lisa had come in, made her drink a red sticky thing, and boom, here she is now. Running faster, jumping higher, being stronger. Calming down, she walked in front of Luna's room, and came in. "Lunes? You're alright?" The rocker didn't respond right away, still in a dazed state. Lynn came closer to her sister, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Lynn…" Luna said, her voice barely audible. "What-what happened to me ?" Lisa came in, a notepad in her hand, "You were successfully fused with Leni's DNA, which contained a healthy type of pure." Lynn and Luna looked at her, Lisa sighed, "Unknown Cosmic Energy. It is like a substitute to the Ora that Zed possesses." Lisa then looked through the window, there was a black SUV waiting outside, a woman in front of it, looking at the house, her brown skin wrapped in a CIA suit made her look intimidating. "Agent Ortega… Look, I'll let you get used to your new body, but please, don't take too long, war is coming for us ." And the little scientist got out. The two remaining sisters looked at each other, before looking outside, only now seeing the desolation in the horizon.
"Back in the cell…" said Luna, a lone tear dropping from her eye. "Hey, at least I'm here now," said Mr Coconut, standing by himself. "And don't cry girl, close those eyes." Luna did that, her ears and nose. A creepy smile came to her face, giggling as she opened her eyes slowly. " I smelled it, I heard it ! Lady Death unleashed War on this town ! And I want to be a part of it." she dramatically, being a comedian. Although Coconut had a feeling that she just had been honest, just using complicated words. But hey, she isn't Lucy's sister for nothing. And he joined Luna in her laugh.
At the same moment.
It was like time had been slowed, as Lincoln felt himself falling on the ground in slow-motion, as he finally hit the ground, he just at the time to put a hand on his sore jaw, before Leni gave him a powerful kick in the guts. "Why ?" Lincoln simply said, spitting blood. Leni sighed, then put her two hands on her head, letting her fingers slide on her hair, she let them rest on the back of her neck as she responded to her brother. " I don't have time for this. Just kneel down already, join us." said Lucy, she glanced at Leni, saying tears trapped in her eyes. "Leni is about to break," she thought. "Star ? Zed called for you." she sighed. Leni just nodded, before leaving. "Now, where were we ?" teased Lucy. She raised her hand, surrounding Lincoln in black energy, smiling. Sid had enough, so she just threw a web at Raven, caught by surprise, the witch couldn't dodge Spider-Girl's punch in her jaw. Lucy fell on the ground, but as she rested on her knee, her smile came back, as Persephone came from behind, a stolen black katana from a house two blocks away, in her right hand. She slashed, aiming for Sid's throat, and she almost succeeded, if it wasn't for Clyde firing a blue beam from a silver iron gauntlet. Soon enough, CLyde was fully armored in a kid version of the MARK III Ironsuit. "Nice colors." said Lincoln, "Yeah, gold and red is better on me than blue." chuckled Clyde, smiling under the helmet, but the smile disappeared as Raven threw Clyde in a wall, using her magic. Persephone came back, the blade of her katana leaving a cut on Sid's arms, before she kicked the girl in her gut. "We have to evacuate the school, or else we might seriously armed our friends or even worse." said Clyde, blasting off a door as Raven jumped out of his reach. "You're right, here's the plan, me and Sid will distract them as you make sure that everyone is out of the way, then come back,and we retreat." Clyde nodded, taking his leave, flying through the corridors. Raven chuckled, "Lincoln, so predictable. Don't you find it odd that you're the only one we harmed ?" she teased. Lincoln didn't get what she meant, Lucy smiled, putting her hands behind her back, she stood tall, proud. With a nod, she ordered Persephone to follow her, and the two former gothic friends walked past a shocked Lincoln. Sid was as confused as her white haired friend, hanging upside down, holding a web thread. "What just happened ?" she finally asked. "Lucy !" Shouted Lincoln. He's sister giggled a sinister laugh, making realized that she had changed. It was like his eyes were only opening now. He saw how much she had literally grown, as she was taller than him now. . A black cloak had replaced the black and white shirt and pants, her hair was longer and now a dark blue and no longer covered her vibrant violet-blue eyes. Her thin fingers were terminated by claws. His eyes widened as he finally heard her voice properly, a raspy more mature voice. "I bet you like what you see. This, dear Lincoln, is the result of Harmony. Everyone worthy enough will taste it too. You can be one of the chosen one dear." she chuckled, before whispering, "Join us… join me." Lincoln had a tear dropping off his eye. "But who are you ?" he choked, Lucy smiled. "I am Raven." Spreading her wings as she said it, displaying her black leotard. And she flies off, taking Persephone with her.
Kids were fighting each other, and sadly, some fell on the ground, unconscious for those who were lucky, and dead for the others. Clyde lost his breath as he came into this horrible scene. He flew in, saving as much as he could. It's at the moment that he tried to save a teacher that he recognized as Ms Bethstead, a short thin blond woman, that he saw her. Emma was crying, surrounded by three girls, armed with knives and rocks. He let out a battle cry, and shot at the girls, took Emma bridal style, and took off. As he was high enough, he disabled the mask, showing his face. "Clyde ?" Emma whispered, her voice weak. "It is me. But you can call me Iron Boy too." he said, trying to sound confident. But tears fell down as Emma hugged him so tight, repeating thank you. "Let's get outta here." And Clyde flew away from the school.
"Look Mistress, what do we do ?" asked Persephone, her voice still weak, unsure. Raven registered that and so an idea came to her. "Kill them all, there's not a single soul worthy here, they're all just animals." Persephone nodded, gazing in the eyes of Lucy, she saw a strength, an endless power. It made her walk, a kid jumped, trying to kick her, but she cut his leg, before beheading him. She then cut in half two girls strangling each other. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten kids were killed, stabbed one by one. A couple of minutes later, there was only a girl remaining, it was Christina. Lincoln arrived at the moment. Persephone was slowly walking towards the brunette. Christina was begging, crying to have her life spared. But the eyes of Persephone were glassy, like she wasn't here anymore. Lincoln ran. Persephone raised the blade. Sid threw a web. The web was cut down by Persephone, sighing. She raised her sword again. Lincoln jumped, the blade fell down….
Sid let out an animal cry, as Christina's head rolled down. Lincoln finally catched Persephone but it was too late. He punched her face, took her sword, and tried to behead his sister, taking her by surprise. But a blade made out of what was like liquid gold protected a smiling Raven. It was in fact Ora, as Zed was standing there. He kicked Lincoln away, as a shadow punched Sid. He switched places with the shadow, kickink Sid, and as Spider-Girl stood up, he grabbed her by her neck. "What did we tell you ?" he asked, as his left hand changed into his signature three blades slowly going through her belly. He then let her lie on the ground half dead. Lincoln ran, but Zed kicked him in the throat, making the boy fall on the ground, trying to catch his breath. "You're pathetic. We will spare your life only this time, take it as a chance to be worthy." But before Zed walked away, he said one last thing. "But I'll personally hope that you'll take upon Raven's offer."
Later that day, Sid, Lincoln Clyde and Emma were reunited at Clyde's place. Emma was trying to rest inClyde's room, while the 3 young heroes were glued to Clyde's TV, re-watching footage of the deadly battles that had occurred at school. "It makes no-sense. How did Raven do this ?" asked Sid, her frustration growing. Clyde restarted the video again, while Lincoln was looking outside, thinking. Then it hit him. "Raven didn't. She has nothing to do with this… thing. There's another thing going on."
"No, there is not." said weakly Emma. She was still very tired, but not as shocked as when Clyde had saved her. She gave Lincoln a hard look, an accusing one. "Your sister did this." snapped Emma, although she was more sad and scared than angry. "I saw her, her long blonde hair with orange strands. Her eyes were shining green. The same green as the energy balls like lasers in her hands. She just said something like how she had to make...make…" The eyes of Emma widened as it struck her. "Make Linky see the consequences… You..She was talking about you ! It's because of you ! That all this happened !" she barked, the tiredness in her body now gone. "Now, no need to…" tried Clyde, but she ignored him, hissing "You have all their blood in your hands Lincoln." and she walked away, after locking gaze with Clyde. Sid seated down, hugging herself. Clyde put a hand on Lincoln's shoulder, patting it. "You can't save them all." he said, clearly out of better things to say. But then, before leaving, he looked one last time at his best friend. "We're just kids, I'm not saying that what Emma said his, justified, no, what I'm saying is… you just made your first step as a leader. And leaders tend to fall deeper than the others. But you're not alone buddy. I'll follow you, Captain." And he left, smiling, joining Emma.
Clyde seated next to her on his bed, he put an arm around her and she let her head fall on him, crying on his shirt. Clyde said nothing, his eyes on his armor.
"I failed as a hero today." confessed Lincoln, laying on the ground. Sid layed next to him, as she said, "Clyde is right tho, we're just kids, what are we thinking !" She said, "Maybe we should take a step-back, this is just too big for us." she finally admitted. But somehow, it felt wrong to say that, to acknowledge that. Sid came closer to him, and put her hand on his torso. "No, we have to fight back. We are Heroes, this blood on my hands will be my motivation, I'll fight for freedom." he declared.
Luan was standing in front of the little window in Lincoln's room, now being her cell. Then there was a box that appeared, it was made of what looks like, well, cosmos. Then in a night blue smoke, where the box was, now a joker, with a face that looks more like a demon than a human, with a crown that looks like a set of bull's horn downwards, were there, his entire being was made in the same 'spacey matter' as Luan called it, colored in the same colors as the cosmos, night blue, almost purple. "Hello dear, it's been a long time." Luan smiled a little, "Yes it is." the being put his hands on each of Luan's shoulders, looking at her like a hawk would look at his prey. "Do you remember me ?" he simply asked, and Luan responded like a puppet. "Yes, Shaco." And as the room became dark, only the white iris of the purple eyed monster was shining in the dark, as it laughed, smoothly.
Howard and Harold came into the house, just to see a bandaged Sid slipping in the couch, they chose to let her rest, as they kept walking, Howard stopped to see what Clyde was doing in his room. Clyde was working hard to improve his armor, the look on his face made Howard step back, a worried face was all he could do.
Lincoln was standing on the roof of a building at the city center. He was watching over people walking, like a herd towards the city mall.
Lori took a seat next to Leni, on a bed. They were resting at a deserted hotel. Leni and her sister choosed the penthouse at the top, and they were now next to a pool, with a direct view of the city. Only under a half of the city were still populated, meaning that the Harmony wasn't brought there yet. "What a nice evening. All quiet and peaceful." said Leni, Lori looked at her, uneasy. "Leni, about the school…" Leni's smile dropped. "Lori…" The oldest blonde looked away for a moment, "Star…" Leni didn't let her finish. "I tried Lori, like dad did. But they laughed at me like I was acting 'crazier' than usual." Star sobbed. And then as I showed them who I truly was, they began to do this…"
Leni was watching them all laugh as she tried to explain HArmony to them. She then dropped the white coat that she had, and let loose her hair. As she levitated, her hair gently waving, people stated that she was a goddess, a hero… "I am Starfire, daughter of Zed, the Galaxy Slayer. And today, you were chosen, only the worthy will survive." she stated, trying to imitate her father. "Those who do, will become my knights." And that how the fight broken in, then as time passed, it was just pure fight to death, but unknown to her, Raven, or more like Raven soul self, was there too, and she was the one making the desire for a blood match grow within them." Emma arrived, and seeing the slaughter, she looked at Leni, who just said, "This would maybe make Linky understand." and Emma ran off, not hearing "That he needs to be a hero with us. Only can unite people." and Star flew away, crying softly.
Zed was meditating in his room, still at the house of Ms DiMartino. Carol came in, and just layed next to him. "Goodnight, my love." Zed looked at her, and after a while, layed down too, kissing her forehead. "If Rita can't enjoy Harmony, it is her loss, you Carol, we'll be by our side, guiding this new world that we're helping evolve." Zed then stood up, and looked at the night sky. "And this time, there would be no mercy."
As she heard this, Fiona let herself fall on the ground, silently crying, a hand on her mouth.