Disclaimer: I do not won the characters, no profit is being made from this undertaking and copyright infringement is not intended.

Chapter Eighteen

Immortal

The late night was still and eerily quiet, the streets vacant except for the shadows cast by the lonely lights of the posts that lined the path, no hurried footsteps were to be heard, no blaring horns. It was the very picture of irony since the world was supposed to celebrate the last few minutes of the year to welcome another one in revelry, in colorful festivities, in the sparkle of fireworks that would decorate the dark sky. But tonight, unlike the years before, the roads were abandoned, save for the occasional alert patrol guards roaming the area for vandals, for violators of the prescribed curfew.

A few hours later, just before dawn, before the sun arose to welcome the very first day of the year, came the sound of a loud horn, signaling the start of a different kind of event as people were violently woken up from the sanctity of their homes and were herded forcefully into a large football stadium, amidst the throng of reporters and cameras, to serve as the window to show the entire world what was going to historically take place. A few moments later, hundreds of uniformed men in black overalls teleported to the stage at the center of the arena, spreading themselves in a wide circle while another batch arrived to form a perimeter outside the stadium.

Almost everyone that gathered was unaware of the purpose of this assembly and confusion reigned. But when a very familiar face appeared on the center stage as Kal-El teleported, reporters jostled for the best position, camera lights flashed everywhere to capture the moment. His face immediately filled every wide screen installed around the arena, his eyes seeming to burn through with a fierce intensity.

His gaze spanned the large space before him, addressing the crowd with his eyes that underscored the fact that he was indeed of superior physique and intellect and they were mere inferior beings. And after quite a time has passed, when everything stilled for a moment, he finally opened his lips, speaking confidently to the large crowd with a very commanding tone.

"I welcome each and every one of you today, and the rest of the world that is now watching." The underlying menacing tone belied the greeting, which was more of a mockery, that he offered. "This year will be the start of another great change…"

More than a dozen enlarged images of his face projected to the screens around the arena looked back at him as he stared into the lens of one of the cameras. "Are you aware just how many…threats from natural disasters, alien invasions…even delusions of grandeur about world domination from its own inhabitants this planet suffers from every day? Every month? Every year? See these soldiers in black? They are products of these so-called delusions your government has plotted. Only I was able to thwart their plans in time."

There was an evident presence of sarcasm in the grin he projected. "You, all of you…have no idea, don't you?" He shook his head and clicked his tongue. "Because you are all busy living your lives, wasting your existence, complaining, whining about the small things…when there are, trust me, bigger things to worry about."

Then a stern expression washed over his face. "I am tired of saving your sorry lives everyday." He scanned the wide area, passing his glance at the numerous faces. "It is time to separate the strong from the weak. It is time to create a race that will not be threatened by disasters, invaders---"

He had not even finished his second sentence when a brave man yelled among the crowd. "Dictator!"

A very brief silence followed, as if afraid of the fate of the person who dared accuse the man they knew as Superman. But instead of cowering into their shells, a fire was lit up from inside and braver voices followed and a number of curses from other people escaped their angry lips.

He allowed the moment to pass, letting the people berate, criticize, admonish and hurl obscenities at him as he walked around the stage before assuming an unaffected pose. "Dictator?" His voice leered while a brow rose. Then his lips curved into a very sinister grin. "I haven't even started yet."

"The league will stop you." Someone shouted again and the crowd agreed in unison.

And they were really starting to get on his nerves.

For a while, his eyes glowed red and he directed the rage at one of the wide screens that suddenly burst into flames, the buzz and crackle of electric sparks flying off in different directions resounding in the night before the large rectangular frame came crashing down on the bleachers, tumbling down on the field, injuring a number of spectators who had the misfortune of standing in the path of the debris.

Then the blue of his eyes returned as he was able to release the momentary attack of wrath. Looking at the fear in the eyes of the faces before him, he and exploded into a fit of mirth. It was a very evil laugh, the kind that hushed everyone into quiet submission once more.

"The league? Where is the rest of your…precious league anyway? Hiding somewhere?" He asked in a very sarcastic tone. "Well…I have one member of your so-called Justice League with me right now. Let's ask her what her plans are, shall we?"

A sudden, blinding flash of light materialized a few feet away from where he stood and people stared wide eyed to later gasp in surprise and shock when they saw who suddenly appeared beside him. Before all of them, Wonder Woman stood, her arms spread-eagled, both her hands and feet bound by titanium on a crucifix like position at the very center of the stage.

"Behold!" He walked to Diana and with his left hand raised her chin to face the crowd. "One of the strongest superheroes the world has ever known. Look at her now."

The once angry and fuming crowd was now reduced to murmurs and stifled cries of fear and desperation at the sight of their last chance for victory against this oppressor who now stood captive in front of their worried faces.

"Is she the savior you pathetic mortals were hoping for?" His loud voice echoed around the still arena as he faced the crowd once more. "Well…I am very sorry to disappoint all of you, as well as the rest of the world, because right now, she has her hands tied, literally and figuratively."

"You bastard!" J'onn spat out in Diana's angry voice.

He turned back to her and gazed long and deep into her eyes. "Names…you should know by now that names don't hurt me," he spoke in a tone that only she was meant to hear. But the sight of her could still stir up emotions that he was trying to bury deep inside and this made him offer her a last chance to escape the fate he had planned. "Diana…I am going to say this one last time." He studied her stoic face for a sad but fleeting moment before opening his mouth once more to speak. "My offer still stands. Join me."

J'onn pretended to consider. "I'll join you." Then Diana's lips curved into an annoying grin. "I'll join you in hell!"

Another angry red line suddenly shot out from his eyes to burn the skin of Diana's right shoulder but J'onn did not flinch at the stinging pain but remained looking at him with eyes filled with nothing but loathing and disgust. He quickly turned away before he hurt her even more.

"Galatea!"

From the night sky the golden bird appeared, clothed in flames, with wide wings spread out in flight. Then it dissolved into a streak of fire to descend majestically at the center of the arena, eliciting a gasp of fear and wonder from the people. Then the flames calmed as the creature metamorphosed into a female silhouette that walked slowly and threateningly close to where Diana's form was restrained.

From within the crowd, a pair of blue eyes watched in fear at the sight of the creature he once heard of from a very dear friend and this man in hiding knew very well the purpose of why the bird was summoned.

"To those of you who are familiar with the Bird of Fire, you may know that it is not a creature of destruction." Kal-El lectured for a while, pointing to the still and faceless form covered in fluid-like flames a few feet away. "But it all depends on why it was summoned. And who had the authority to call upon its powers."

The blue eyes icily stared with an eerie coldness at the nameless crowd. "And to demonstrate the extent of its potentials, I will give you a live demonstration of what happens to anyone who dare oppose me now."

No! J'onn in Diana's form heard the mind's voice of protest.

The man from the crowd closed his eyes and gathered what remained of his drained strength.

"Stop this, impostor!"

A loud shout interrupted the tense atmosphere. Kal-El suddenly stilled at the sound of the very familiar voice and searched the crowd for a face.

"Who dares call me that?" he shouted back in anger.

And from the silent group of people, a heavy cloak fell silently on the ground.

"I dare." A man clothed in blue and a red cape stepped out from hiding.

For another time, the crowd gasped in awe and confusion. All eyes stared in question, looking at the serious countenances of two very strikingly similar men, one was standing in glory at the center stage and the other amongst them, in the throng of spectators.

He, the one called Kal-El, tried to conceal the unwelcome surprise and the accompanying feeling of anger and instead searched the crowd for more familiar faces. And right as he initially suspected, few feet away from where the real Superman stood John Stewart and the Flash while other members of the league were slowly revealing themselves around the stadium.

An ironic smile appeared on his face.

I should have known better than to trust him.

"The world is no longer under your deception, whoever you are." Superman's voice echoed as he shouted. "Give it up."

Another very sinister laugh reverberated at almost the same intensity. "May I remind you that…" He looked at his left where Diana was still bound. "I have the utmost advantage."

Diana's head turned to look at him while a leering smile played on her lips. "Actually…I can get out anytime I wanted." Then the female form metamorphosed back to being the Martian. "I just wanted to have an exclusive ringside ticket to seeing you humiliate yourself in front of the whole world."

"No!" He was being fooled all along and Kal-El screamed in anger, the walls of the stadium vibrating with the force while J'onn freed himself effortlessly from of the restraints. "Galatea! Destroy them! Destroy them all!"

In his haste for revenge, to defeat the real Man of Steel, he flew swiftly to the other without noticing that his ally did not move an inch from where it stood while the uniformed soldiers attacked the rest of the leaguers. Superman braced for the attack but it was not enough as they came crashing through the benches, the seats, the bleachers, creating a gaping hole on one of the wide screens placed at the higher part of the sports ground. Pandemonium broke out as the people screamed and struggled to run out from the stadium, as far from the fight as possible, to protect themselves from the chaos that now reigned inside the arena.

Outside, Batman could hear the commotion and the ensuing battle, the sound of clashing metal, the crushing of stone, the echoes of screams of the frightened civilians that were caught in the crossfire.

"That was the last group of prisoners." A similar voice spoke through his commlink.

"How about you?"

"I…have my own plans."

He knew exactly what that meant. "Thank you." It had to be said.

"No…thank you. For allowing me the briefest of moments to…feel." A brief and tense pause followed before the clone spoke again. "Be true to her."

He took a deep breath. "I will."

After making careful instructions to the last group of the freed members of the league, they came out from hiding and joined the battle. And a few moments later, everyone stilled when a very loud explosion was heard from a distance, a yellow orange fire spread out of the night sky, illuminating briefly the dominant darkness. When the last remnants of the flames flickered away, the large spacecraft that loomed over from its position in the sky was nowhere to be seen. Then, after a few more seconds, the smaller satellites that orbited close to the earth lit up like fireworks as they exploded to be totally consumed by the flames.

Once again, Bruce said a silent gratitude to the man he knew as himself.

"No!"

Kal-El screamed once more when his eyes momentarily caught a glimpse of the fireworks, at the betrayal, and the earth almost shook once more at the intensity of his anger. Then he directed all the hate, all the pent up hostility to the very same person his life was taken from. And the battle raged on, Meta against Meta, superhuman strength versus rage and anger, over the air, on land, against the solid chunk of rock of the mountains. Across the vast space of the earth's atmosphere they hurled each other, trading strong blows, rocking the very foundations of the structures that lined the streets.

A cloud of dust gathered, smoke from destruction tinted the once clear presence of the air while the battle raged everywhere, the other leaguers facing off with the stronger group of Kryptonian soldiers.

But through it all, the unspoken question on most of the minds was…where was Diana?

J'onn…Batman tried to communicate through all the destruction. Where is she?

And J'onn had no answer for him, for Superman, for the rest of their friends. Time would be the one to tell them. And in a few minutes, everything would unravel.

Then, the first few rays of the morning sun peeked from the distant horizon, the bright yellow light radiating slowly in contrast with the outgoing darkness.

And even through the sound of destruction, a wonderful song, an enchanting melody floated all throughout.

All of a sudden, everyone seemed to be enchanted by the haunting beauty of the music as the fighting ceased to a halt and all the eyes and ears sought for the source of this soothing sound. Then all faces were cast heavenward as they gazed high above to gaze at the Phoenix as it offered a song to the waking sun. The Bird of Fire floated over everything else before spreading its wide and golden wings, sharing the warmth of the fire everywhere, enveloping everything in its fiery embrace, extending to as far as it could reach.

And for the briefest of moments, all of the earth was embraced by this elegant golden fire.

Then, as quickly as it started, the flames' touch withdrew, returning slowly to the source.

And as everyone else awoke from the trance, from the majestic experience, Kal-El and the rest of the clones were nowhere to be found. Confused eyes stared at one another in question at what had just transpired.

Then the Bird of Fire spoke in a female voice. "The soulless lives are now banished from this world and the sanctity of creation is now restored." The bird remained hovering in the air. "Everything was as before."

Everyone knew the voice.

And Superman did not want to accept the dreaded truth.

The emotionless voice continued. "But in order to bring about this order, a life was sacrificed."

No, Diana…no…J'onn could hear and feel the anguish and sorrow in Superman's thoughts while the flames that covered the form slowly died.

The bare feet first appeared, as the fire was extinguished upwards, soon revealing the legs, the thighs and a torso covered in fine, white silk toga. Then the beautiful face appeared, her beautiful raven tresses dancing with the wind as the last of the fire disappeared in the tips of her fingers.

The tiara and the bracelets were missing, but Diana looked still as regal as the Princess that she was, glowing from the inside.

"Her body was the vessel in which I was given a human form." Diana's lips moved as the Phoenix spoke. "And now that I live again, in respect, I must return her body to her family where her loved ones will mourn her departure from this world."

A soft breeze kissed the ground as the bird flew away.

And what followed was a deathly silence.

For a while, no one moved as they stared at the retreating form of the friend who was not with them anymore, the radiating light slowly disappearing into the early morning sky.

"Diana." Superman finally found his voice. But his call was unheard as her form disappeared from their view.

Flash stood beside him. "Does that mean the Princess is..?"

"She's…gone." John's hand went to the slumped shoulder of his friend.

Wally dropped on his knees and felt the sudden aching of his tired and battled body that was slowly settling in as the adrenaline level dropped to normal, feeling the weight of defeat at their moment of triumph

They might have won the war, the earth was taken back from the sinister grip of the hands of the enemy. But not single one of them felt like rejoicing. Because they have won but they have lost just the same.

They lost Diana.

And with that sad thought, Superman flew away.

"Let him be." J'onn's voice pre-empted John's attempt to pursue their friend. "We all need to grieve."

In one area of the arena that was still shrouded in the last of the darkness a man stood with his head bowed, staring at the torn gloves, the angry red cuts on the sore flesh of his hand. His tired and bruised body attempted to walk away from the arena but a few steps were all he could manage before he slumped on the nearby torn wall, disturbing the dust that settled quietly on the ground.

This can't be true, he shook his head in denial.

Batman…Bruce…

J'onn found the thoughts of a man in pain. The Martian felt the hurt his teammate was suffering from at the very moment. He knew all about the sorrow, knew everything that happened when Diana opened her mind to him, that he could feel his heart being torn apart himself.

Why did she do it? He almost cried out.

Because she had to.

No.

Before she…left, she wanted you to know, J'onn paused. She never meant to cause anyone pain.

Bruce banged his aching head against the stone wall. But she did, she caused us all this pain.

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

The blue of the morning sky and the white, pure feathery clouds combined colors to obscure his vision as he flew fast and as far away as possible from the remains of the battle, to nowhere in particular, circling the earth very swiftly in a pointless attempt to escape the dreaded reality, too fast that he almost took time once more with him in his remorse.

Stop, Kal-El.

The voice of reason summoned him and, waking up from a terrible trance, he finally slowed down, calming his tumultuous emotions from within. Finding a peaceful and secluded spot below, he planted his feet atop the rocky peak of a towering mountain. There he stood and gazed at the serene green forest below that was lightly misted with a thin coat of fog, roaming his eyes all over the tranquil scene that contradicted the earlier war that was waged a distance away while allowing himself the few moments to catch his breath.

Then he sighed. And it was a very sad and lonely sound.

I'm so tired of being here…suppressed by all my childish fears…and if you have to leave, I wish that you would just leave. Your presence still lingers here, and it won't leave me alone…

All by himself, he thought of his life. And found out that there were so many things he wanted to do.

He wanted so very much to come home to the love and comforting arms of his parents and embrace them like he used to. He wanted to feel his father's affectionate tap on the shoulder and his mother's very warm smile to reassure him that everything would be all right.

He wanted to sit idly at the white fence and just watch time pass by while smelling the fresh scent of his mother's cooking all around the farm.

He wanted to play football just like in high school.

He wanted to watch the movies and eat all the buttery popcorn he wanted until his stomach hurt.

He wanted to turn back the time when his eyes were first blessed with the image of her face.

If she could see me now, she'll tease that I was still the reluctant hero she knew once. He ruefully smiled at the thought.

He remembered telling Diana enthusiastically that, someday, he would take her to the movies because she had complained that she had never been inside a movie theater before. He could still recall the way her lips curved into a wide smile, the excitement that filled her bright blue eyes that radiated all over her beautiful face, the eagerness when she requested that they wait to see Episode Three.

He had planned on seeing a romantic comedy but Wally had introduced her to the exciting and fictional world of a galaxy far away and she wanted to watch the culmination on the wide screen. So it was settled. Put on a convincing disguise, order large buckets of greasy popcorn and witness the unveiling of one of the most popular villains ever to be created from imagination. Like the fate of the world did not rely on both their shoulders.

But, unfortunately, because of the pressing schedule they had, that day never came.

And it never would because she was not here anymore.

She was gone.

Forever.

There was a painful tug on his chest as he took a very deep breath. The pain of realization was almost unbearable, that his eyes would never see her beautiful face again, he would never have the privilege of fighting bravely by her side once more, that the blue skies would seem too wide and empty now without her flying beside him.

He would no longer hear the soothing voice that shared small talk with him after a very busy and painful day at work, no eyes that would challenge him to compare who had the more number of bruises, cuts, scrapes. And there will be no more smile that somehow showed him that the world was worth the sacrifice.

Did she ever know how much he cherished her friendship?

What kind of a friend was he when he left her during the time she needed his friendship the most, when she needed him to understand?

He remembered only too well that the last time he saw her was when she was lost, when there were tears in her eyes.

"Diana…I'm sorry." He whispered at no one while a tear escaped to lonely trail down his sad face.

Then he let it out, a loud scream that tore through the peaceful forest, that awakened the birds and the animals, that caused the ground to tremble with its tearing agony.

But he would not say goodbye.

Not yet.

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

The speeding wheels of the Batmobile came to a grinding halt, creating an angry, crying sound and a faint mist of smoke as the rubber created a friction against the ground, screeching against the floor, disturbing the eerie stillness of the cave. Climbing immediately out of the vehicle, the torn cape swirling behind him, he ignored the persistent sting of his injuries and the sore feeling all over his body and dragged his tired feet out of the dark cave, not breaking a stride, his feet kicking against anything that blocked his path.

Once his determined strides led him to the manor, his steady gait gave way to a slight limp as exhaustion slowly took its toll but he stubbornly fought against the fatigue and his eyes stared blankly ahead, not bothering to stop for anything, even for Alfred whose concerned voice was muted by the incessant ringing in his ears.

But still his tired body managed to climb the stairs and once in the safe confines of his bedroom, he locked the door and momentarily braced his broad back against the sturdy wood as if someone might break in. For a while he stood motionless, catching his breath but not yet letting reality set in as he removed the ruined mask.

Upon sight of the large bed, he stared at it blankly, his unfeeling gaze passing over the silk sheets and the pillows before he limped to the right side and gingerly sat on the mattress. Turning slightly and looking down on his left, his vacant eyes stared at the clean white silk sheet that covered the pillow that was quietly laid next to the headboard, searching for something and noticed something missing. The soft indentation of her head that marked the cushion a few nights ago was nowhere to be traced or found. So was her lovely scent.

Standing up slowly, he hobbled his way to the cabinet a few feet away. Steady arms opened a drawer and the sight of fine chiffon fabric greeted his eyes. Bloodstained fingers lifted the delicate fabric from its peaceful position on the drawer and for a while he stared at it as some of his blood tainted the sheet. Then ever so slowly, he lifted the soft and flowing cloth to his face, feeling the gossamer texture, inhaling the very familiar scent.

These wounds don't seem to heal, this pain is just too real…there's just too much that time can not erase…

He could still remember exactly how beautiful and radiant she looked that night.

Then it came rushing all at once, flooding his mind and the veins in his head ached, his heart seemed to want to free itself from his chest at the onslaught of the heartbreaking truth that he could not withhold from himself any longer.

All she wanted was to save the world. But she fell in love in the process.

And they all punished her for loving a mortal.

And he hated her because she let him go once, when he would have gladly given up everything for her, even if he knew, deep inside, that she was only doing what was right.

And she carried the weight of his hate and anger until her death.

She's dead.

"No!"

He finally let out a scream of pain at the admission of the truth that he wanted to deny with his own voice that burst from him while his hand gripped at the fabric so very tightly. Then he felt all the ache of every cut, every bruise as exhaustion settled in and his tired knees gave way, making him fall kneeling to the carpeted floor. Defeated, he let his shoulders slump and he finally let his emotions take over, letting the tears fall freely, all the while embracing the fabric that served as the last remembrance of her.

If he could only hold her once more…

Just to tell her he was sorry…

And that…he loved her still.

But he could not…

Ever again.