Welcome back to Injustice Dragons Among Us 2. Well, this is it. Today, we begin our series of endings. And with it, I announce the results of the poll. As of this going live, the poll actually ended in a tie between the Neutral and Insurgency endings, but Neutral held the lead for quite a long time. So because of that, our technical winner will be the Neutral Ending. So let's not waste a minute, it's time to wrap up this story. Let's go!
(Our story resumes exactly as we left it. Batman, Lex Luthor, and Superman at a stand-off, and our two dragons off to the sidelines, trying to figure out who to side with)
Superman: This madness has to end, Bruce!
Batman: Not if it means another avoidable loss of life.
Lex Luthor: Bruce how can you be so blind? Brainiac has committed so many atrocities across the universe, he's irredeemable. But Clark, this ship is built to run off of his mind. We must keep Brainiac alive at least long enough to restore the cities he's collected. Allow us at least that, and then Brainiac can face justice for his crimes.
Superman: Keeping him alive denies justice to all those who have suffered because of him!
Batman: True justice cannot be achieved by murder!
(At this point, Spyro and Cynder have had enough of waiting and step into the fray, joining Lex Luthor's side)
Spyro: Bruce, Clark, listen to yourselves! This is the exact sort of feuding that destroyed your friendship to begin with!
Cynder: (To Batman) Bruce, Clark has a point. Brainiac will never reform, he has made that much evident to all of us. If Brainiac were tried in a court of law, he'd almost certainly be getting the death penalty. A legal method to prescribe his demise.
Spyro: (To Superman) Clark, you may be right about Cyborg's ability to hack Brainiac's ship eventually giving us a means to restore the cities. But Brainiac is the originator of the technology. His mind is the mainframe on which it operates. Without him, Vic may be able to do it, but it may take decades to replicate the technology necessary. Having Brianiac alive so we can study him will cut that time down. It may still take years, but it will take far less time if we can study a living Brainiac.
(Neither Batman nor Superman appear to be backing down, but after a moment, Supergirl gets in on this, hoping to wear down the facade of Superman)
Supergirl: Kal, please. Spyro and Cynder are right. Killing Brainiac now won't help us.
(While this is happening, joins as well, turning to Batman)
Flash: Bruce, you need to hear reason. I wouldn't be advocating this if I didn't believe it was right.
Cynder: If there was ever a time you two needed to act together, it's now.
(After a few moments of this, it appears both Superman and Batman's facades are wearing down. Superman lets down his facade of strength, and Batman drops the Gold Kryptonite dagger)
Superman: They're right, Bruce. The world is in peril, and we're up here fighting amongst ourselves. What kind of heroes have we become?
Batman: (Realizing it) We're not heroes, Clark. Not anymore. We let our squabbles come before the needs of those who we should've been protecting. If we'd worked together this whole time, so many of our friends might still be alive.
(In this moment, Batman and Superman actually shake hands, finally seeing eye to eye for the first time in probably a decade.)
Lex Luthor: Then it's agreed? (Looks to Superman) We'll keep Brainiac alive until we can find a way to restore the cities? (Looks to Batman) And then he'll face the death penalty for what he's done?
Batman and Superman: Agreed.
(Seeing a full truce has been reached, most of the heroes let out a sigh of relief, knowing the war is over. But not all of them. Wonder Woman and Robin refuse to stand down.)
Wonder Woman: Unbelievable. Kal, I thought you were better than this!
Cyborg: (Having seen the truth) Enough, Diana. Even after all this time, you can't realize we went too far?
Wonder Woman: We went as far as was necessary to bring this world to order. And now you'd just throw it all away?!
Superman: We were wrong, Diana. I saw that years ago. What will it take for you to realize this?!
(Now Wonder Woman is clearly angered by Superman's supposed weakness and runs in to try and stab him, but seeing what is going on, someone jumps into the way and takes her sword to the abdomen. Only after the stabbing do we see, it's Lex Luthor who Wonder Woman has just removed her sword from.)
Superman: (As Lex Luthor hits the ground) LEX!
(In this moment, the first true peacemaker of this story hits the ground, almost certainly dead from the wound he's been dealt. Everyone gathers around him, as if trying to revive him, but nothing can be done.)
Lex Luthor: (Seeing Superman and Batman working together again) You have no idea how much this sight means to me.
Superman: Hang on, Lex. We're going to save you.
Lex Luthor: It's too late, Clark. But... at least I get to go out with the impossible accomplished. (Stops Batman from performing CPR) Let me go out on this. Let this memory be my last...
(And just like that, Lex Luthor expires from his wound, leaving the world with one less hero, as Superman and Supergirl alike shed a tear for their mutual friend. But behind this moment, it's clear that Spyro and Cynder are the most pissed off about this)
Wonder Woman: (Wiping the blood off her sword, then looking to Spyro and Cynder) Now for you two.
(Wonder Woman attempts the approach, but Spyro just hits her with a beam of Aether, throwing her across the room)
Spyro: MURDERER!
Robin: Sometimes a life needs to be taken to achieve the greater good.
Cynder: What good comes from killing the one person trying to maintain peace?!
Wonder Woman: The only lasting peace this world has had was under the Regime. Luthor threatened to put that to an end.
Spyro: This was never about peace to you. This was about power.
Cynder: Power corrupts after all. And aside from Superman, who has more power than Wonder Woman?
(Now the two dragons make their move to take out Wonder Woman, but Robin gets in the way.)
Robin: You want Diana? You'll have to go through me.
Spyro and Cynder: (Looking at each other, then back to Robin) Gladly.
(Now the battle begins. Robin manages to hold the two dragons at bay for a moment with his sword, but then Spyro and Cynder manage to overwhelm him, knocking the Bat-Brat to the ground)
Spyro: Now, as we were saying...
(Robin gets back up and tries to stab Spyro, but before he can, Spyro releases a stream of fire, melting Robin's sword while Cynder sneaks into her shadow, before coming out of his and drag him into the floor through his shadow before re-emerging from her own)
Cynder: That should hold you.
(Realizing she's next, Wonder Woman stands ready to fight to the death as the two dragons approach her)
Wonder Woman: If this is what it takes to restore order to the world, then you will fall.
Spyro: The only person who's falling here is you.
(Now the final battle is on. Wonder Woman holds a clear combat advantage, but Spyro and Cynder are far more powerful than the Amazon could ever be, and she is on the mat within moments)
Cynder: Stay down, Wonder Woman.
(But contrary to Cynder's advice, Wonder Woman will not stand down, and in fact gets up to continue fighting. But as she does, she's met with a powerful assault by literally every other hero in the fight. Flash, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Blue Beetle, Firestorm, Red Hood, Atom, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Catwoman, Cyborg, and Batgirl, before eventually facing Supergirl, Superman, and Batman, in addition to Spyro and Cynder once again. But even then, she tries to get back in the game and take out Spyro and Cynder, even managing to slash Spyro's eye as well as getting a few rounds off on the others. But even she can't fight forever, and just as she's in a warrior's rage, something changes about her demeanor. Her eyes go wide, a look of doom spreads across her face, and she collapses to the ground, catching everyone off-guard)
Spyro: What's going on?
Supergirl: Let me take a look. (Uses her x-ray vision) She's having a heart attack!
(Even though Wonder Woman is their enemy, Spyro and Cynder still rush in upon hearing of her myocardial infarction, still ready to save her. But she waves a sword in their direction, holding them back)
Wonder Woman: (Weakly) I'll not take your sympathy. If I must die for what's right, then I w...
(But she doesn't get to finish that sentence, as her heart gives out, finally ridding the world of an evil Wonder Woman. Alas, we don't linger very long, as soon we transition to the Fortress of Solitude, where Superman stands before Spyro, Cynder, Supergirl, and Batman, back in his prison jumpsuit.)
Cynder: Are you sure you want to do this, Clark?
Superman: This is the only way forward. The world doesn't need Superman anymore. (Looking to Supergirl) Not when Supergirl is doing perfectly.
Spyro: And you're sure about going with him, Bruce?
Batman: Batman isn't the symbol he used to be. I'm not the hero Gotham needs or deserves anymore. Lucius and Jason are.
Cynder: Alright then, we're going forward with it.
(With that, Cynder pushes a button on a nearby control panel, bathing Superman in golden light, a beam refracted through Batman's Gold Kryptonite dagger, stripping Superman of his powers. As this is going on, Spyro supervises at Batman hands his utility belt over to Spyro.)
Cynder: (Looks at the monitor) That's all of it. You're officially depowered, Clark.
Spyro: And Bruce is officially disarmed.
Superman: Then, I'd say it's time.
Batman: Agreed.
Cynder: (To Supergirl) This is your last chance to say anything to them.
Supergirl: I'm going to miss you, Kal.
Superman: And I'm going to miss you, Kara. But, this is what's best for the world, after everything it's been through. The House of El is in your hands now. (Embraces her) Do it.
(With this instruction, Supergirl rejoins Spyro and Cynder, before hitting a button on the control panel, opening a black portal behind Batman and Superman, an opening to the Phantom Zone)
Superman: You ready Bruce?
Batman: Ready.
(And with that, the two step through the portal, before Supergirl closes it behind them, forever sealing away Batman and Superman.)
Supergirl: (Punching in new coordinates) Now, let's get you two back home.
(And before they know it, a portal back to the Dragon Realms opens up, allowing Spyro and Cynder to return home)
Spyro: You ready?
Cynder: Always.
(And with that, the two start walking towards the portal, before quickly turning around)
Spyro: If it ever gets too tough out there, you know where to find us.
Supergirl: Don't worry. I do.
(And with this assurance made, Spyro and Cynder run back through the portal, heading back to their world, as Supergirl closes the portal behind them, ending our tale)
And that wraps up the Neutral Ending. To be honest, I personally consider this the canon ending to this story. But, since the option exists to side with either Superman or Batman as well, they have to be included too. So, which ending takes second place? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!