Welcome back to Injustice Gods Among Us 2. Last time, Brainiac explained his dastardly plans for Earth and began his invasion. Spyro and Cynder were just barely able to transport out of there, but not being able to get Green Arrow and Black Canary with them. After transporting out, they apparently had made their way to Superman's containment. The Man of Steel warned them they'd need his help to stop Brainiac, but Lex Luthor and a surprise ally in the form of Batman disagreed, with Lex deigning Superman a last resort. So, what's the plan? Read on to discover...

(Our scene opens not where we left it, but on the field of battle, where Spyro and Cynder, aided by Lex Luthor are trying to fight off Brainiac's invading forces. And the fight isn't going well.)

Spyro: There's too many of them!

Lex Luthor: If we fall here, it's been an honor serving with both of you.

Cynder: We're not out yet, so until we are, we fight on!

(But alas, Cynder's never say die attitude isn't going to help the fact that the group is outnumbered by a factor of around 7 to 1. But then, a scarlet blur dashes across the stage, taking out Brainiac's androids before stopping and revealing himself to be an old friend and ally in the last fight)

Spyro and Cynder: Flash?

Flash: At your service.

Lex Luthor: Barry? What the heck are you doing here? Surely you know using your powers is putting your pardon at risk.

Flash: I really don't think now's the time for nit-picking, considering aliens are invading.

Spyro: Given the circumstances, I'm inclined to agree.

Lex Luthor: (Chuckles) I couldn't agree more.

Cynder: Then let's get to work.

(But just as they get into the fight, moving from location to location, we see Deadshot is perched on a nearby building, and has just loaded a shot. And just as Flash runs by, he fires it, hitting Flash in the knee, and within seconds, Captain Cold arrives to freeze his knee solid, as if to prevent it from healing)

Captain Cold: Even super-healing doesn't work at absolute zero, Flash.

Flash: Cold, for God's sake, look around!

Captain Cold: I know, crazy day huh. Kinda like the day Superman went bonkers, and you went right along with him.

(At this point, Spyro and Cynder enter the scene)

Spyro: Take out your vengeance on Flash later. There're innocent people who need help here!

Captain Cold: Innocent?! I think your forgetting these are the same people who cheered on as Superman executed my friends, and my SISTER.

Flash: Damn it, Cold! Have you lost it!? I thought the Rogues didn't hurt innocent people!

Captain Cold: The Rogues are dead.

Cynder: (Stepping up to the fight) I honestly expected better from you, Captain. Given what I'd heard about you last time I was here.

Captain Cold: The world's changed a lot in the last five years.

Cynder: Let's see just how much you've really changed.

Cynder's Log

Most people don't know this about me, but I honestly like the Rogues. Probably one of the best groups of villains around. At least as regards the ones you'd arguably like to sit down and have a beer with or something. And as it is, I kind of understand Cold's cynicism. But that doesn't mean I'm going easy on him. And just like that, he's down.

Cynder: It's just a shame you've let everyone down.

(At this point, Captain Cold gets up and tries to attack Cynder again, but Lex Luthor intervenes)

Lex Luthor: Snart, stand down.

Captain Cold: (Now slightly laughing) I was wondering when you were going to get involved, Lex.

Lex Luthor: If I thought there was any benefit in pulling you out earlier, I would've.

Spyro: Wait. Cold's a spy?

Flash: Somehow I knew the old Rogues spirit didn't die.

Captain Cold: Let's just say it had a near death experience. Contemplation over my sister's grave was the only thing that saved it.

Lex Luthor: And that's when I reached back out.

Cynder: Wait, reached back out?

Lex Luthor: Snart and I go way back.

Captain Cold: You're looking at a pair of Legion of Doom alums.

Spyro: Reunions aside, we really need to get back to defending the city.

(As Spyro says that, the cocking of guns can be heard as Deadshot enters the scene)

Deadshot: So Snart was the mole in the operation.

Captain Cold: (To Lex Luthor sarcastically) So much for secrecy.

Deadshot: Really shouldn't be messing with a telepathic gorilla.

Captain Cold: Because of course he read my mind.

Deadshot: Now I've got to terminate you. Really not what I'd like to be doing, I was actually starting to like you.

(With that, Deadshot fires two shots from his wrist guns, but Flash manages to snatch the bullets from midair and hold Deadshot back)

Flash: What is going on with you, Lawton?! I thought you'd be the first to start fighting this sort of thing!

Deadshot: You think I'm choosing this?! Grodd's got his hairy finger on the button that'll detonate my head. Old Suicide Squad nano-bomb. So like it or not, I have to be doing Grodd's dirty work.

(His motivation revealed, Deadshot stabs Flash in the shoulder, by stabbing himself through the shoulder. But before Flash can step up to fight, Spyro gets involved)

Spyro: Hold back, Barry. I've got this guy.

Flash: Be careful, Deadshot's a master marksman.

Spyro: (As Electricity courses through him) I've got a plan.

Spyro's Log

I'll be honest, I have no idea if this is going to work. I'm not sure I can reach the nano-bomb without frying Deadshot's brain. But for the sake of all, I have to try. Just got to get past his guns.

(And now Spyro and Deadshot begin their fight. Spyro is deft at dodging Deadshot's bullets, but ultimately, Spyro gets Deadshot in exactly the grip he wants, and delivers a narrow electric shock straight through his head, disabling the nano-bomb)

Spyro: That should do it.

Cynder: Spyro, are you crazy?! You could've just fried his brain!

Lex Luthor: Hold on a second.

(With that Lex Luthor pulls up something on his Warsuit's internal computer, revealing an EM scan of Deadshot)

Lex Luthor: The nano-bomb's been disabled!

Deadshot: What?

Spyro: You're free from Grodd. So I suggest you use this freedom to do some good.

Deadshot: (As this sinks in) Gladly. (Reloads his wrist guns) Now let's go kick some alien ass.

Captain Cold: Couldn't agree more.

?: Not while I'm around.

(And with that, what looks like a second speedster enters the scene, rounding up almost everyone, save Flash, Spyro, and Cynder, before stopping to reveal the Reverse Flash)

Reverse Flash: (Looking at Flash) Grodd always said you couldn't resist a crisis.

Flash: Thawne?! But how?! You aren't supposed to be here!

Reverse Flash: And miss the return of Barry Allen? Please.

(With that the two speedsters start a brawl at a lightning pace, leaving Metropolis behind, but allowing Lex Luthor, Captain Cold, and Deadshot to get back up)

Lex Luthor: Go after them. We'll handle things here.

Cynder: You sure you can handle it?

Lex Luthor: The rest of the League is nearby.

(With that, Spyro and Cynder take flight from Metropolis, trying to catch up with the speedsters, only find them brawling in Gotham City, near the old Monarch Theatre.)

Reverse Flash: I came back quite a ways to hurt you, Barry. But this timeline's all screwed up.

Flash: Then go back to your own time!

Reverse Flash: You think I haven't tried?! You and your Regime buddies killed an ancestor of mine, now I'm stuck in a temporal paradox! My home may be lost to me, but at least it means I can hurt you FOREVER!

(Just as Reverse Flash is about to get another punch in, Spyro and Cynder swoop in)

Spyro: Any issue you have with Barry, you can take up with us.

Reverse Flash: (Laughing) Gladly.

(Now the three way battle begins, but before anyone can actually see what happened, Reverse Flash is down and running away.)

Flash: I'm not sure I can take another reunion.

(Just as Flash says anything, what looks like a blood portal opens in the background, allowing a giant figure to step through, wearing a red glowing ring)

Atrocitus: Perhaps you can take just one more.

(Just like that, everyone turns around, revealing Atrocitus to them)

Cynder: Who's this guy?

Flash: I think the Lanterns called him Atrocitus. Leader of the Red Lantern Corps.

Atrocitus: Thankfully for you, it's not me you're going to deal with. It's him.

(With that, Atrocitus steps out of the way, letting a red blur fly through the portal, revealing Hal Jordan, now a Red Lantern)

Flash: What the...? HAL?!

Spyro: Sheesh, first he's Yellow, now Red?

Cynder: And admittedly, neither look good on him.

Atrocitus: I will leave you to claim your vengeance.

(Atrocitus steps back into the portal from whence he came, leaving Hal Jordan there to face our heroes)

Hal Jordan: This will be sweet.

Flash: Hal? What are you doing?!

Hal Jordan: What's it look like? Taking my deserved revenge on all of you.

Flash: Revenge? What are you talking about?

Hal Jordan: (Pointing out Spyro) Ever since he showed up, I've been the laughing stock of the superhero community!

Spyro: I'd say that was too good for you at the time, seeing as you weren't a hero.

Hal Jordan: The Guardians rejected me, Carol abandoned me, my "friends" all hate me. And now, now's the time I end this once and for all. (Powering up his Red Ring) By getting rid of the root of it!

Spyro: Killing me won't do anything. Maybe this fight will knock some sense into you.

(Now Spyro begins brawling Hal Jordan, and sure enough he does get hit in the head several times. Probably has a concussion, but Spyro doesn't seem too concerned about that, right now)

Spyro: Feeling better?

(Once Hal Jordan gets back up, the rage that was controlling him seems to fade, and the calm man he was seems to return)

Hal Jordan: Wha... what happened? All I remember is a red light, and then it's a blank.

Cynder: Looks like this Atrocitus character managed to take control of you for a minute there. Thankfully that blow to the head managed to get you back.

Hal Jordan: (Looking down at his Red Lantern uniform) You've got to be kidding me. First Yellow, now Red? Two of the most dangerous lights in the Emotional Spectrum and I walked willingly into them. (Sighs) What kind of a hero am I?

Flash: A flawed one. Trust me, all day I've been reminded of how we both failed to be heroes. But the path to redemption is going to be a long one. (Extends his hand) It's better if we're on it together.

(Hesitantly, Hal Jordan reaches out his hand and takes Flash's)

Spyro: Now that we've got the traffic light here, we really need to get back to the fight.

Cynder: Here's hoping Lex has a plan. Back to Metropolis we go.

(And with that, the four head out, ending our story for today)

And that looks like a good spot to end for now. Don't worry, the confrontation with Batman will happen in the next chapter, before anything in Chapter 5, as will anything regarding the Catwoman and Harley Quinn escape from Gorilla City. Believe it or not, Red Lantern Hal Jordan was one of the first things I thought of while working on this story. One of those subtle differences that happened because the dragons got involved instead of an alternate Justice League. Like Captain Cold not losing the spirit of the Rogues, or rather getting it back after contemplation. So, what happens next, now that the invasion is on? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!