Hello, again!

Definitely a short chapter, but this is to close up the 'raid' of Apokolips. The mess isn't quite over once they return, however, but that's better suited to be a single chapter by itself. Help indicate moving on from Darkseid's attempt on Kara.

Don't own Harry Potter or anything from DC Comics/Studios. Or anywhere else for that matter.

For Whom the Bell Tolls, Part 2

XXBatman, before he joins Superman and MorganaXX

Two Apokoliptian guards walked into the room to a whimper and smoke coming from the beast's closed maw.

One asked "What's wrong with the beast?"

"Must be something he ate." the other responded.

They found out when it moved forward some, catching them off guard and forcing them to fall to the ground.

When it stopped, it's jaw was pushed opened, revealing an unscathed Batman that promptly said "Take off your armor. Now."

XXWonder Woman, Barda, and LilyXX

Lily backed away nervously as she felt potent magical energy rise from Wonder Woman. "Barda, I suggest you back away as well. Now."

Barda, thankfully being unnerved enough by her reaction to listen properly, obeyed while asking "Any idea what is going on?"

"Three words: Daughter of Zeus." Lily answered just as Wonder Woman looked up with pure pale-blue eyes and shot forward, punching clean through the chest of the one restraining Steve and catching the rest off guard, "Try and get them to safety! I'll try and calm her down!"

Barda nodded as the Amazon Princess just narrowly missed another of the Furies and quickly ran over to Steve and Vanessa, who were slowly waking up. "Take it easy, you two. It's going to be a bit before we can get to a hospital room."

"D...Di..." Steve tried to talk as the ground shook.

"She's...preoccupied...at the moment."

Lily, in the meantime, was stuck with an enraged demi-goddess Amazon Princess who was starting to crackle with power. "Diana, get a hold of yourself!"

Wonder Woman simply growled out "They kept Steve here all this time, Lily!"

"But that's-!" Lily had to grunt as she stopped a hammer fist from Wonder Woman, "But that's no reason for you to lose yourself like this! You're a warrior princess, dammit! Also, how will Steve think should he see you like this!"

That actually managed to get Wonder Woman to calm down just enough to take a stance, but the raw power was still there.

She glared at the oldest of their opponents. "Know this, bitch: try anything like this again, and no one will stop me again from killing you."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Unless someone else gets to her first."

Wonder Woman ignored that as the pair returned to Barda and her bracelets, putting them back on a slumping some from the sudden restraining of her power. She held her head as Lily stabilized her. "That...was intense."

"Indeed." Lily agreed before picking up Vanessa and putting the girl on her back as Barda did the same with Steve, "At any rate, we need to move. The sooner we get back to Earth, the better."

XXSuperman and Morgana, after Batman's arrivalXX

Morgana raised an eyebrow as Batman walked over. "Your end is done?"

Batman only minutely nodded as he addressed Darkseid. "Even you must realize the folly of being a king without a kingdom."

Darkseid growled "And what exactly could a pitiful life form like yourself do?"

"Your armory. The hellspores." Batman said, actually getting a reaction from Darkseid, "They've been activated."

That got Darkseid's attention immediately. "Impossible. The arming code is encrypted."

"I broke the code and reprogrammed them."

Morgana asked, a bit curious, "What was the code, exactly?"

"Omega Lambda 7-X-L-9." Batman recited, stopping any doubts Darkseid had. He then refocused on the alien tyrant, "One hellspore can turn an entire planet into a fire pit. What will happen to Apokolips when 500 go off simultaneously?"

The number made Morgana blink. "...Seriously? 500 of the bloody things? Didn't know you had it in you, Bats."

"You dare?! You d-?!" Darkseid roared as he moved towards Batman's voice, only to be backhanded away by Morgana.

"Not so tough now that Apokolips is the one being threatened, now are you?" Morgana sneered wind billowing some.

Batman finally said his ultimatum. "Forswear Kara Zor-El, and only then will I disarm the hellspores."

Darkseid growled, only to feel Morgana's magic rise up again alongside the remaining pain in his eyes. He was ruthless and capable, and stupidity was detrimental to either one. He knew he wasn't in a position of power. "Had the Kryptonian or the Amazon taken that gamble, they would have lost. They do not have the strength of character to destroy an entire planet to achieve success. But neither of you are they. You humans kill your own kind to win battles. Take the girl. I will make no move against her or the others she handed over."

Morgana narrowed her eyes. She?

"We'll hold you to that." Lily's voice called out as she, Wonder Woman, and Barda walked in, carrying Steve and Vanessa, before roughly tossing the old woman that commanded the Furies at Darkseid.

He did nothing to react to the collision except to say "Disarm the hellspores. Leave Apokolips."

He needed time to recover.

I will say one thing about Darkseid: he will regret making Morgana an enemy far more than he already has.

Until next time. Please let me know what you think.