Chapter 12-Nightwing's Pain and Shadogun's Furry

(A/N: WARNING! WARNING! Were coming down to the wire so things are going to get nuts!)

For as long as he could Nightwing, spent as much time with his friends as he could with them enjoying all the good times that they were having. Unfortunately like all of the good things in life it had to end sometime as his little "vacation" came to an end. "I'll see you guys later when I get back from this. Oh and Raven...don't forget I need you along with Cyborg to take care of that...little problem we discussed involving the tower," said a very happily smiling yet serious Nightwing before he had to leave for the Brotherhood of Evil HQ.

"It will be taken care of before the day is out," said Raven smiling with equal happiness, which didn't really surprise anyone since she had been with Nightwing it seemed she had done a 180 spin with the way she acted.

Nightwing could only nod before his Shadowkahn came and took him away to the dark world of the shadows to be sent back to the Brotherhood of Evil's HQ. When he arrived he found himself on a snowy and wind blowing landing pad used for the choppers where he found Slade waiting for him though apparently he was unaffected by the weather. Welcome back Nightwing the Brotherhood members are waiting for you in the secret conference room and I have to escort you their so you can give your own report. I trust your time away from here gave you time to...relax yourself from the stress we have put you under since you've been here," said Slade through the small blizzard that seemed to consume them.

"Yes, but let's get inside it is not healthy for us to be out here exposed like this to that of the harsh elements of bitter winds and cold snow," said Nightwing as he walked with a nodding in agreement Slade into the mountain reinforced complex.

They were instantly blasted with heat from within the complex that melted the snow into water, and then the water into steam that left their uniforms as they walked. "I spoke to the members of the Brotherhood and they were not very happy with the loss of Terra, but I convinced them that it was not your fault since you were fatigued and her powers were fresh...as was her rage when she thought you were me," said Slade as his voice seemed to have an air of disappointment in it.

"I don't know what's more surprising right now to me Slade. You actually being slightly disappointed about Terra or the fact you defended me for my actions in front of the top members of the Brotherhood?" said Nightwing actually sounding somewhat surprised by Slade's actions.

"I do what is in the best interest of me Nightwing and right now you being aliveas well as just staying apart of the Brotherhood of Evil is in my best interest," said Slade calmly as they made their way through the corridors to the conference room where the top member of the Brotherhood were waiting for him as the two both entered the room, which the door behind them shut immediately after entering.

Unbeknownst to Slade, who completely trusted Nightwing was loyal to him after all the master of shadow had done, was that several Shadowkahn were every once in a while as they secretly came out creeping along the walls. They were never seen though except as brief shadowy blurs as they went and disabled the security network. They then went to disable theexternal turret defense network and reprogrammed the robot troops through the system network controlling cluster spread through out the mountain to shut down the moment the complex was under attack and self-destruct seconds later. The human part of the mountain personnel that were scientists as well as a significant amount of them that were troops were secretly as well as silently subdued by the Shadowkahn. The human staff of the mountain was transported away through the shadows so no mortal life could be harmed in the attack. Finally they went to the communications room and sent a secret encrypted message to the Watchtower telling them everything was all set for the plan. 'Master we have done all that you have asked of us,' thought one of the Shadowkahn mentally to its master who smiled inside as he started addressing about the 'death' of Terra and how he stared into her eyes as she begged for mercy...and crushed her beneath his feet with sheer unremorseful joy.

Clearly from their expressions he knew they were impressed by his ruthlessness as well as the fact that he had been quick to track down Terra and that he 'killed' her with the same ruthlessness he described to them. "Your report has been most enjoyable Nightwing and it is clear that you have a great deal of weight here with the Brotherhood. Who knows you maybe a new member here on the council?" said General Immortus with a smile on his face.

"Indeed General Immortus. However, that will be discussed later in the future as for right now we must focus on the destruction of the Justice League...as well as the two Titans Towers that are the power bases for the heroes all over the world," said Madame Rouge as she waited to see what Nightwing's expression would be at the mere mention of the two Titans Towers.

Nightwing however, just remained calm and gave a small of smirk of a smile as if he welcomed the chance to fight them all. What is there to talk about? I go in I kill who I can with my Shadowkahn, I destroy all three power bases that would be considered to them to be refuge for those so called heroes, and then I hunt the rest before they can create a counter attack against my assault," said Nightwing trying to sound as if he didn't give a damn about his friends when he really did.

'Nightwing were in position get ready,' said J'onn telepathically to Nightwing's mind to give him the heads up of the attack.

"Well that would be the case if you were actually LOYAL to us," said Monsieur Mallah who pulled out a high voltage static gun and before Nightwing could react was hit with over 100,000 volts of electricity.

"What is the meaning of this?" said Slade angrily as he saw his apprentice on the floor badly injured as well as burned from the attack.

"If you had paid more attention to your apprentice Slade, you wouldn't have been so blinded or clouded in judgment for that matter over the fact that after scanning the results of the data we discovered a patterned loop. It was repeating itself too much to be a mere coincidence so we checked even further and discovered more was out of place as we dug deeper into the deception. Nightwing has been playing on your hopes for an apprentice to cloud your judgment to maneuver himself so the Justice League can attack us. We have been monitoring Nightwing long after he left after you told us about Terra escaping Slade and we discovered that for some time Nightwing was with the Titans and some time up in the Watchtower with the Justice League," said General Immortus smiling is cruel old like smile at Nightwing, who was breathing heavily from the attack made by the talking over grown Gorilla.

Slade looked at Nightwing then back to the Brotherhood members before him and was shocked that his apprentice had been able to do this to him without him realizing it. "I see. What are we going to do with him now that we know he's the enemy?" said Slade as he gave Nightwing a kick to the gut causing the boy to roll over several time till he was on his back.

"Take him back to the room he was in before and keep him restrained till we deal with the Justice League and give him consistent shocks with the helmet. As for his friends in the tower? Do what you have to do Slade" said General Immortus seriously.

"Of course," said Slade picking up Nightwing and putting him on his back he carried the fallen warrior to the room.

"Slade..." said Nightwing, but that was all he could get as Slade entered the room and dumped Nightwing on the table…HARD before activating the metal braces restraints on all four limbs of the young warriors body.

"Shut up Nightwing! I'm extremely angry with you! Though at the same time I'm very proud at your ability to deceive even me," said Slade whose voice went from angry to something more calm as he put the shock helmet on Nightwing despite the armored one Nightwing wore and then cranked up the voltage on the controls.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" screamed Nightwing as the voltage ran through his body attacking every nerve in his body so badly that not even he could tolerate.

"This is the price of your betrayal Nightwing and unlike this time the shocking from the helmet won't stop like it did before. You are going to be like this till I come back after taking care of your allies that are about to attack. You may have disabled most of our defenses my boy, but that doesn't mean there are secrets within this mountain that we aren't prepared to use. There are thosewith powers and abilities within this mountain that are on our side that will push your friends back regardless of the defense or not," said Slade as he turned once to see Nightwing in pain before he left the room with two of his robots coming in to monitor Nightwing so he didn't try to do something to escape.

(Titans Tower)

It had been several hours after Raven had just finished taking care of the "problems" in the tower and was meditating in her room when she felt something that she thought she would never hear again. Nightwing's scream within her mind only this time it was louder, stronger, and filled with more pain. It was then she saw little flash images of Nightwing in sheer pain and torture screaming as his body went through incomprehensible pain. Then she saw something happening in her vision where the pain became a loud roar of a sound that was of demonic beast and consumer in shadows as the symbol of the Shadow King appeared in front of her before coming alive and charging towards her "Nightwing! NIGHTWING STOP!" yelled Raven at the end as she broke free from the vision and fell on her face as she realized things were not going to go as everyone planned they would.

"Raven what's wrong?" said Cyborg as he along with the others came into her room after hearing her yelling and now seeing her shaking like there was no tomorrow.

"Nightwing...Nightwing is in trouble...and...and...I have foreseen that Shadogun is not exactly happy with this situation. We have to go to the Brotherhood of Evil's base and save him before Shadogun takes matters into his own hands and if he does...Trigon's version of the end of the world will look like a picnic compared to what Shadogun could create," said Raven with a look on her face saying this was no laughing matter as they went to the roof to the T-ship to get to their destination.

(Outside the Colorado Mountains-AKA The Brotherhood of Evil's HQ)

A little over a hundred superheroes whose powers were either magical or supernaturally based approached the mountainside with caution as they moved ever closer to their goal. Fate had been given command of this operation after he had sensed something wrong coming from within the mountain in regards to Nightwing. Etrigan, after recovering from near fatal injuries was the ground commander to lead the ground units into the complex. When Etrigan got near their spot near a heavy steel covered door it was then he stopped and felt something he hadn't felt since he sensed the Shadow King's return. Fear. There was something happening in the complex and from what he felt it was neither enemy or friend, but darkness tat had not been felt since...HIM! "Etrigan to Fate do you feel what I feel in the mountain complex?" said Etrigan through his ear piece.

"Yes Etrigan I do sense it as well. In fact everyone around me who can sense magic here is shivering from fear of this power that is raging inside the complex. It's almost like a storm that has not been unleashed into the world since...," said Fate, but Etrigan finished the sentence.

"The Shadow King," said Etrigan making everyone around him shiver from the mere mention of the name.

"Yes. Whatever is happening in there is far from healthy for us and for them so me must act quickly. Begin the operation," said Fate in a commanding voice.

(At that moment inside the mountain)

Nightwing was in sheer pain when the attacks going into his body started and the fact he was already seriously injured was making it even worse. His rage over his enemies was driving him mad as the pain fed his rage to untold heights. He struggled against the metal restraints as Slade's robot toys were watching him carefully. The two metal drones were to move in on him the very moment he got one of his limbs free. "SLAAAAADE! I'M GOING TO KILL YOOOOOOOOUUUUUU! SLAAAADE!" screamed Nightwing with all his lung could produce as his body took more and more punishment with each passing second.

As he continued to struggle an explosion could be faintly heard outside the room and in the next instant the sound of explosions were riddling the complex. The attack had begun on the complex and he was stuck in here getting his brain and body fried. 'FOOL! YOU THINK YOUR SCREAMING AND YELLING WILL GET YOU ANYWHERE? YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR POWER! LET ME SHOW YOU!' yelled an angry Shadogun inside Nightwing's mind as the dark spirit took complete control of the badly injured body of Nightwing and calling forth his full power.

Nightwing's body was now generating an intense amount of shadow energy that made the whole room if not the entire mountain fortress quake from its strength. Shadogun had ripped through the restraints like they were wet tissue paper. Before the two robot guards could even react Shadogun took the torturous helmet that was shocking the shared body and threw it at them. The impact caused the two to explode as the helmet was still giving off a deadly electrical current frying one robots and destroying the second one in the first explosion. Shadogun smiled as he was now in complete control of the body that had been instantly healing and walked of the room after he destroyed the computer by turning his arm into a living shadow like whip. He walked like nothing was wrong when in truth the attack on the mountain fortress was completely was wrong for everyone else as he saw the Hive 5 trying to push back Steel, Booster Gold, Zatanna, and Green Arrow. When they all saw him everyone could immediately tell something was off with him as he was now producing dark and shadowy like lightning energy around his body. "Nightwing?" said Green Arrow hoping it was him.

"Not Nightwing. I am Shadogun: The Shadow King," said Shadogun his red masked eyes glowing ever so slightly.

"Shadogun?" said Mammoth confused as were the rest of the Hive 5 by this new turn of events.

"That's right you big hairy idiot. I...HAVE...RETURNED!" said Shadogun who without another word or even moving sent a wave of shadow energy at all of them. That attack easily consumed the entire hallway like water as Shadogun flooded the entire mountain complex with shadow energy. It had taken Hive 5 as well as other villansalong withevery single member of the Justice League that was in the mountain through the corridors and out of the mountain fortress.

By this point Raven and the other Titans including Terra had just arrived by Fate's side who he greeted their unexpected arrival. It was then both he and Raven felt the full force that was Shadogun's full power coming to the surface out of Nightwing's body. The huge force of the impact to both of their magic senses was the equivalent of them getting hit in the stomach with a big sledgehammer. "Raven, Fate are you both all right?" said Cyborg as he caught Raven before hitting the ground as Fate was caught by Starfire.

It was the same thing with all and every magic sensitive type of superhero member of the League around the mountain. Immediately over half the mountain area that was facing the Justice League and the Titans from Jump City was consumed in shadow before nearly exploding entirely in to nothingness. The only part of the mountain fortress that still was somewhat existing along the mountain region was the landing area for the attack and the transport choppers. It was there that Shadogun, a bound in shadow energy Slade, and bound in shadow energy members of the Brotherhood of Evil lay on their knees behind him. "Now THAT is how you get the job done!" said Shadogun who turned towards the mountain and decided he needed to fix it.

It was shortly after recovering from the initial wave of immense power that had been released from Nightwing's body that Raven, Fate, and all the other magic sensitive type heroes got up from the snowy ground. "What in the darkest pit of hell was that?" said Etrigan as he got his head out of the snow.

"Look!" said Beast Boy as the mountain side that was destroyed was consumed by the shadows and then it was normal again as if it was never gone.

"That is not possible," said Raven knowing that to recreate something like the side of a mountain took way too much energy even for Nightwing...unless the person inside his body wasn't Nightwing, but rather Shadogun.

Almost immediately Raven took off for where she was sensing the source of the shadow energy followed by Fate, Etrigan, and the other Titans who wanted to know just what had happened. It was very interesting to say the least to see Nightwing as they made their way over to their savior who was responsible for preventing a long out right battle. "Hello Fate, Raven, Etrigan, and all the rest if you thatcame here. Surprised to see me alive much less victorious in my endeavors?" said Shadogun in a deep dark voice as he started walking only a few steps before stopping as the groupwalked or floated over the rest of the way.

"Were all very surprised by this Nightwing, though I suppose I should call you Shadogun shouldn't I...Shadow King?" said Fate who fired a blast of magical energy at Shadogun, who knocked it away with the back of his hand.

"Shadogun? Where's Nightwing? I want to speak to him," said Raven whose voice went from surprise to serious instantly.

Shadogun looked at them for a moment and could only laugh behind his Shinobi helmet as hestartedlaughing Nightwing's head off. 'Why should I? Why should I give up my control to this body right now at this momentin time? Especially...since I must do what my successor is not yet ready to do," said Shadogun as he took out his sword from his sheathe on his back as he turned to face Slade and the Brotherhood of Evil's members who realized what Shadogun meant.

"Don't! Please Shadogun let the Justice League take care of them," said Raven floating over to him before he could strike down Slade.

"Let the League handle them you say? Where was the League when Nightwing had been captured? I'll tell you where they were my dear Raven. They were sitting on their ass in their space station all the while Nightwing was being tortured by Slade. They didn't even bother to lift a finger to even try and search for him after he had spoken to Fate. Instead his surrogate father demands obedience and loyalty from him when he knows nothing of those two words. I have been more of a father to Nightwing then Batman ever could be to him and if I had to I would have done everything over the same way again. However, you do have a point none the less my dear Raven. It would be wrong for me to kill them here," said Shadogun as he put the sword away at the end of his speaking.

"Thank you Shadogun," said Raven hoping that Shadogun would relinquish control back to Nightwing.

"Don't thank me yet. Just because I spared them the sword doesn't mean I'm not going to kill them in a more painful way," said Shadogun as a shadow portal appeared below his enemies and tentacles appeared wrapping them all up as they now dangle in the air.

"Shadogun stop I can help you. I can give you resources, contacts, and anything else you need to get your apocalypse off the ground," said Slade who got shocked with shadow energy for speaking.

"This coming from the man who shocked and tortured Nightwing continuously as well as drugged, poisoned, and tried to have manipulated into serving under you as an apprentice. I don't need your help in creating an apocalypse Slade, but I would rather not create one as I rather like this world and would like keep it intact for my successor to live in. You however, along with the members of the Brotherhood of Evil will not be as fortunate as I will feed your souls to my shadows that live on the other side," said Shadogun as the tentacles bean to descend again back to their home.

"No! Shadogun you must stop for the good of Nightwing's soul you must not do this," said Fate who found himself restrained by two Shadowkahn who seemed to appear out of nowhere and placed blade to his throat.

"For the good Nightwing's soul you say? By getting rid of Slade and the Brotherhood I am healing the boy's soul. Besides...the shadows are telling me what they want and who am I to deny my world what it wants after giving so much to this one," said Shadogun as he smiled at his now squirming victims.

"Wait! What are the shadows saying?" said Raven curiously.

"The shadows speak to me about these five souls as well as all yoursand what they want from you all. You asked me what the shadows are saying...isn't that right Raven? The shadows say, 'ALL OF YOUR SOULS BELONG TO US!'" said Shadogun as he raised his hands and gave them all a thumb's down sending them all to the shadow world as they screamed in defiance that fell on depth ears.