Chapter 13-Home: Conflict of Interest
Raven, Fate, Etrigan, and the other Titans along with several other superheroes found themselves in a world they had never seen before. It was as dark as a place could get before seeing was practically impossible. "WELCOME...TO SHADOW WORLD!" yelled Shadogun as giant flying serpents flew through the air around a dark blood red sky.
"Whoa! This place makes Raven's mind look like her Happy minds side," said Beast Boy who saw the creatures everywhere around him and the others.
"Indeed. However, that's not the reason I brought you all here," said Shadogun who felt more power coursing through his veins after being back home for seemed like forever.
"Then why did you bring us here Shadogun?" said Fate who felt his magic's strength slowly being sapped from the realm of shadows.
"Why to see Slade and the Brotherhood of Evil what else?" said Shadogun as the said people mentioned appeared to the left of him hanging by shadow tentacles over a pool of dark liquid.
What is that stuff?" said Terra who partially wished to a degree she was still a statue and not seeing all these dark things around her.
"That a pool of shadow energy in liquid form. Only someone with shadow blood that one has by being born in this world can survive its acidic touch. When I give the signal those tentacles will drop them into the pool and they will die. Slowly, painfully, and their very screams will music to this mortal bodies ears," said Shadogun who couldn't help, but start laughing.
"Nightwing will stop you! He does not wish them to be killed this way. It goes against everything he believes in and you know it," said Etrigan who could feel his demonic powers growing slightly from this world of shadows.
"Nightwing can't do SQUAT! Especially against me you ignorant fool of a demon. I am going to end the pain that has been inflicted on his very soul by these beings...whether he wants me to or not," said Shadogun who raised his hand and gave the signal to the five shadow tentacles.
"NO!" said Fate as the tentacles obeyed Shadogun's command and released their captives from their grasp into the pool of the dark shadow energy. Before Fate, Etrigan, and any of the other Titans or superheroes could possibly do anything they were stopped by a legion of Shadowkahn that had just appeared out of nowhere. The next thing they all heard next was the sounds of the horrible screams that came from Slade and the four members of the Brotherhood of Evil as they slowly died from the acidic contents of the shadowy pool of energy.
"Ah music to my ears, but now that's done I have to now take care of all of you since you obviously don't want me around anymore," said Shadogun as he turned to face them all.
"DIE!" said Etrigan hoping his attack would catch Shadogun's attention enough for Fate and the others to come up with a plan.
"YOU'RE TRYING MY PAITENCE DEMON!" yelled Shadogun who knocked the blast of hellfire right back at Etrigan who went sailing into a giant boulder.
Fate summoned what energy he could, but found the more the tried the more his body faltered causing him to involuntarily go into kneeling position as he gasped for breath. Cyborg tried to hit Shadogun with his duel sonic cannons the attacks seemed to go right through the shadow master. Terra summoned rocks to send at Shadogun, but the dark warrior sent dark energy in the form of lightning into her crippling her from using her powers. "Terra!" said Beast Boy as the changeling rushed over to Terra and scooped her up in his arms.
Shadogun could only smile as none of the beings he brought with him back to his one true home could match him. One by one they were restrained by his Shadowkahn and bound with shadow energy as it seemed all would be well. It was then that he frowned as Raven appeared and floated before him with an emotionless face mask as she now stood face to face with Shadogun. "Release your hold over Nightwing or you will be forced to deal with me," said Raven whose voice was sounding like she was telling Shadogun and not asking.
"You maybe the daughter of Trigon Raven, but I am the very thing that gives your father nightmares...even when he's awake. You want to free him from my grasp, then fight me for that privilege...if you can?" said Shadogun as he went into a lethal looking fighting stance in Nightwing's body.
"I will do what I must to save the person I love," said Raven all that she could summon of her powers and began her assault on the master of shadows.
Like Etrigan her powers increased slightly because she had demon blood running through her body that came from her father's side of the family. She sent wave after wave of dark energy at Shadogun only for him to doge it with ease. Like the others with demonic blood he had received the increase in power, but much more since this place was his home. "Is this all you've got Raven? What would Nightwing think of you fighting like this? I would imagine that knowing you can't even hurt me much less touch me he would be extremely disappointed in you," said Shadogun getting Raven angry beyond all things considered natural making her attacks nearly wild yet none the less just as viscous.
"GIVE HIM BACK! NOW!" yelled Raven as she now had four glowing red eyes and had fangs coming out of her teeth as she let the dark energy that was her birthright fly out of her.
One of her dark energy whips made contact around Nightwing's possessed body only to find herself being pulled in by the strength Shadogun possessed. Through Nightwing's body she was now found herself with her arms behind her back. She was no longer facing him and her powers had become neutralized through the binds of the shadow energy as he wrapped around her wrists. "You are in no position to make demands Raven and you never will...ever...again," said Shadogun as he took out his sword and held it to her pale throat.
Raven waited for the moment when Shadogun would strike and wished she could have done more to protect Nightwing from such darkness. To treat him as he treated her with all that and more, but strangely enough as she waited for the final blow it did not come. "What's wrong Shadogun? Lost your nerve?" said Raven as she opened her eyes only to find that the blade of the sword was no longer at her throat nor was Shadogun holding her in place to strike her down.
Raven turned and saw Shadogun struggling with Nightwing's body as Nightwing himself struggled to gain control back into his body. "Give me back my body!" said the voice of Nightwing as he tried to fight off the shadowy spirit that resided in his body.
"You want it? Far be it from me to not grant you such a request...my son!" said Shadogun as the body now moved rapidly as something was now happening once more to the body of Nightwing.
Raven stared in horror as Nightwing's body split in two revealing Nightwing in the form he took when he stopped being Robin. Shadogun was in the Shinobi like attire that Raven had become accustomed to when Nightwing had upgraded his Nightwing outfit with his dark sword in hand. "He split Nightwing's body in two?" said Cyborg not believing what he just saw as well as the others.
"There we go. Was that so hard? Now you have your half your body and I have the other half that is now mine. However, I refuse to have someone else here have shadow blood running through their vein except me. This means that one of us must die and the other will continue to be the ruler of the Shadow World," said Shadogun as he readied his dark sword that ignited in shadow energy.
"You've been planning this all along didn't you Shadogun? You planned on me wanting to embrace my powers and the thirst for knowledge. You wanted me to feed on the very darkness of shadows knowing it would eventually make you strong enough to finally take control and then allow yourself to split the body into two. You never wanted a successor you wanted a means to have a body to use as you see fit. You wanted to have temporary control over my body when I was at the Watchtower so you could see what it was like to control it. Right?" said Nightwing as he got out his bo-staff and consumed it in shadow energy ready for battle.
"Almost my dear boy for I did want a successor to take my place just not in the ways you were led to believe. If I am to have a successor he must prove to be become my successor by in truth...killing his teacher and predecessor to take the throne. You are my successor Nightwing and that has never change, but should you fail to kill me and I kill you I will have o choice, but...to start all over again. Do you want that?" said Shadogun in a serious voice that had no hint of deception in it.
"No child should have to be your successor, but if I must I will so no other child will be forced to go through such hardships," said Nightwing as he readied for battle.
"Don't sound so righteous my successor for I can sense that even though you speak of good intentions...deep down you want my power for yourself!" said Shadogun as they both ran at each other to strike their opposing enemy down.
"Shut up!" said Nightwing as the clash of shadow energies could be seen and heard as they were released with massive power tremendous with each attack by each of the two warriors.
They each matched the other as they both parried, thrusted, dodged, deflected, and swung their weapons at each other. It wasn't till Shadogun cut Nightwing's face on the side of his left cheek did the two back away from each other. "Did I forget to mention that my shadow powers when in this sword can cancel out ones ability to heal wounds it creates? Every wound, cut, and lethal attack that I connect with you will not heal as it naturally should so I suggest you be careful when I go on the offensive," said Shadogun who was smiling behind his Shinobi helmeted mask.
"Doesn't that apply both ways Shadogun with my bo-staff if it's covered in the same type of shadow energy like your sword?" said Nightwing giving his own smile.
"Very noticeable of you Nightwing I can see when I chose my successor I chose wisely in deciding who would carry on the legacy of the Shadow King. But enough of this little talk we must fight to see who lives and who dies," said Shadogun as they both continued their assault on each other as the others watched knowing that this could go either way.
"Be careful what you wish for," said Nightwing as he returned the cut that Shadogun had given him with a solid thrust and a damaging blow to the left side of the ribs with the deadly shadow energy covered bo-staff.
Unfortunately, Nightwing left himself wide open to a mean high kick to the face. This forced Nightwing to back away from Shadogun after landing on his feet with his bo-staff spinning into a new fighting stance. "Not bad Nightwing. You're the only real person I know who has ever fully fought me and hurt me so badly. Very impressive I'll give you that. However...," said Shadogun whose eyes seemed to glow red with mischievousness written all over them making Nightwing cautious and curious.
"However, what?" said Nightwing as he held his ground and spit out the blood that now was in his mouth from the kick Shadogun had delivered to him.
"However, it will take more then an attack like that to put me down my successor as you know from our meditation sessions that takes us here. The knowledge as well as the dark history I have taught you should be enough proof of that," said Shadogun as he suddenly disappeared with such deadly speed not even Nightwing saw it coming.
"What the hell?" said Nightwing only to move out the way of Shadogun's sword out of instinct and his own mental and physical reflexes.
Nightwing delivered a viscous spin kick to Shadogun's armored face sending the Shadow King stumbling back slightly, but not enough for Nightwing to take advantage of it to unleash another assault. "Not bad Nightwing that kick of yours actually hurt me. The last time you did that in our training sessions it only registered to me as a small and minor slap to the face," said Shadogun who was pleased despite the attack.
"I aim to please and please to aim," said Nightwing as he spun his bo-staff as he charged at Shadogun who in turn charged with his sword ready in hand to strike.
They both came at each other at nearly impossible speeds that would have made the Flash jealous if he were there to see it. Then came multiple loud "BANGS" as well as multiple "SLASHES" as the two warriors of shadow now had their backs to each other in almost complete and utter silence save for the two breathing. Everyone held there breaths as they were now on opposite sides of where they once were. "Indeed you are right that you in fact do aim to please my son. However,...their can be only one true King of the Shadow World," said Shadogun as Nightwing's wounds opened over his back, sides, legs, arms, and the entire front part of his body opened with shadow blood spilling out of everyone.
"NIGHTWING!" screamed Raven as her love was now on both his knees covered in his own shadowy blood.
"That is why I'm glad it was you who will succeed...me...my...son," said Shadogun as his wounds opened up, which were twice as bad as Nightwing's were.
"Shadogun?" said Nightwing who turned just enough to see the now former and mighty Shadow King fall over flat on his face dead. Shadogun's body then surprisingly became nothing, but shadowy dust that flew away into an unexpected wind.
"Nightwing!" said Raven as she ran over to him with her shadow energy binds no longer holding her or the others down as his body fell to the floor.
"Rae...Raven...I...need," said Nightwing, but found his mouth was having a difficult time speaking as Raven turned his body over so his back was on her lap.
"Don't speak Nightwing we need to get you into a regeneration tank and..." said Raven, but stopped when Nightwing slowly shook his head.
"No! Throw me...into the...shadow pool. It can...heal...me and...restore my...strength," said Nightwing pointing to the very same liquid Slade and the Brotherhood of Evil died in.
Raven nodded and levitated Nightwing's body gently with her powers over to the shadow pool only to find Etrigan knocking her down causing Nightwing's body to fall just a few inches from the rim of the shadow pool. "You fool! I will never let you revive the son of the Shadow King regardless if he is a hero or not," said Etrigan as he walked over to a nearly incapacitated Nightwing who tried to crawl closer to the rim of the pool to fall in, but found an intense weight of pressure on his back from Etrigan's foot.
"Etrigan..." said Nightwing only to find more pressure added to his back by Etrigan as the demon prevented him from moving as he summoned hellfire into his hands ready to slay his enemy as he had done others.
"This is the end for you Prince of Shadows! Now you can join your predecessor as I seal your fate as you sealed his," said Etrigan as he was about to strike only to be stopped by none other then Raven.
"Don't you dare touch him!" said Raven as she became more demonic then before and threw Etrigan off Nightwing with her powers.
"Thanks...Rae," said Nightwing seeing his one and only chance pulled himself to the rim of the shadow pool and fell in sinking into the black liquid that was now healing the wounds that plagued his body.
"You fool! What have you done? You've just given new found strength into the Prince of Darkness and he will destroy us all!" said Etrigan who was clearly angry at Raven and showed off his demon hatred.
"Nightwing isn't like that and you saw how he defeated Shadogun and stopped him from killing me. Your own paranoia is your own worst enemy and you know it," said Raven as she sent her black energy at Etrigan who countered her attack with hellfire.
"Foolish girl your love him blinds you to the truth and I know from experience what it means to be blinded by love and not seeing the truth," said Etrigan who was now slowly overpowering Raven's energy with his hellfire.
Eventually Raven was blasted back from the amount of hellfire Etrigan produced and was now at the demon's mercy as Etrigan now stood over her ready to deliver the final blow. The attack never came as a presence of overwhelming power caught both their attentions as well as everyone else's as a familiar dark figure made his way out of the shadowy pool of liquid that fell of his dark outfit. "Nightwing!" said Raven relieved he was still alive and breathing.
Nightwing cricked his neck left and right and had a very serious look on his face focused solely on Etrigan. He then released a low, but menacing growl towards the demon from the fiery pits of hell. "Don't you ever touch her again demon. Your fight is with me and me alone or have you forgotten what it means to fight warrior to warrior you mindless fool?" said Nightwing whose muscles seemed to expand behind his uniform slightly, but noticeably as he walked towards Etrigan who readied for an attack with hellfire.
"Bring it on Shadow Prince!" said Etrigan as he readied himself for an attack from the now restored Nightwing.
"It's already brought Etrigan and this time...I'm sending back to hell where you belong. Brace yourself," said Nightwing as he got into a martial arts fighting stance that no one not even Raven had seen him use.
"DIE!" yelled Etrigan as he charged at Nightwing who stayed where he was still in his martial arts stance.
Almost immediately as Etrigan was about to make contact on Nightwing with his hellfire enclosed claws Nightwing struck. Moving like so fast he created shadowy afterimages of himself as he unleashed punch after punch and kick after kick. Each of his attacks was as devastating as the last as the mighty demon that was Etrigan was easily and gradually pushed back after Nightwing delivered a spinning jump kick. "This fighting style I'm currently kicking your ass with Etrigan is known simply as the Shadow Illusion Fighting Style that Shadogun developed and taught me during our mediations and training together while he was in my head. It's the ultimate fighting style and only someone from this plain of existence can know, learn it, and teach it to another," said Nightwing as Etrigan now had bruises all over his body, blood running down his mouth and temple, and though it wasn't noticeable Nightwing was sure Etrigan had at lead broken fourteen different bone in five places.
"I must...kill you," said Etrigan who was clearly not going to win this fight with his usual way of fighting people.
Nightwing shook his head. "It's the Shadow World it does this to demons and only those with half of demon blood in their body can control such irrational concepts. An example of that would be Raven over here, but I'll digress. I think its time we leave this place and get on solid ground," said Nightwing as the rightful heir to Shadogun's power summoned it and teleported himself and the other Shadogun had brought to the Shadow World back to the earthly plain where the others were waiting for them in the Colorado Mountains where they were before only to be scooped up in the shadows as well where they found that they had been sent back to the Watchtower.
"So you can use all of Shadogun's power?" said Raven walking up next to him as the other superheroes around them were surprised as well as shocked.
"I can if I want to, but only under extreme conditions and even then it maybe considered bad for my health in the future so I think I'll keep everything as they are," said Nightwing turning Raven as he saw Etrigan begin taken to the infirmary out of the corner of his eye.
"That's good because I kinda like you the way you are now," said a smiling Raven as she leaned in to give Nightwing a kiss on the lips, which Nightwing took without hesitation.
"I'm sorry to break up your moment Nightwing, but I'm afraid there is one more piece of business you're not going to like," said Fate as he approached the two beings of darkness.
"The Founding members want to speak with me?" said Nightwing knowing this wasn't far off and had seen it coming the moment Shadogun had first spoken to them when he first arrived.
All Fate could do was nod as Nightwing sighed and walked to the conference room where the "Original Seven" awaited them. "Take a seat," said Superman in a neutral voice as he motioned to the chair in front of him.