Nyxly stared at Lex unconvinced. "You're the key to my success?" she asked doubtfully.
"That's right," Lex said confidently. "I'm going to help you get the All-Stone."
"Right? A man dressed as a fancy banker is going to help me collect the remaining totems," she mocked. "Thanks for the assist but I'm good," she said pointing her gauntlet at him.
"Trust your feelings. I am the answer to your dreams," Lex said to her.
Nyxly hesitated and lowered her hand. "Good," Lex said pleased. "We can be great friends."
"I'm not into friends," Nyxly shot down.
"You have one friend, me," Lex insisted. "If you don't form the All-Stone the right way, it could be a grave mistake...as in fatal," he warned. "I will make you succeed in a way that will make you invincible."
Nyxly raised her gauntlet back at Lex. "I know exactly what you are, Lex Luthor. I have dealt with men like you my whole existence, arrogant, narcissistic, manipulative. I can assure you, we are not and never will be friends."
"But I am friends with Supergirl. So long as I am in your sights, you can hold me hostage. She'll never make a move against you so long as I am at your side," Lex said.
"Fair enough," Nyxly smiled.
Nia looked at Kara positively distressed. "I can't believe it. The Daily Planet will never be the same without you."
"I didn't quit. I just decided not to go to work today," Kara said nonchalantly. "With Nyxly out there, I need to stay focused. She's the biggest threat I have ever faced. It's OP bullshit if you ask me," Kara said lacking all self-awareness.
"You listen to yourself?" Nia asked amazed.
"I want to draw the bitch out and catch her off guard," Kara said determinedly.
"Yeah, how?" Hank asked skeptically.
"We have a plan," Brainiac 5 said vaguely.
There was a long awkward silence. "Ahem," Kara said to him.
"I don't care to elaborate further," Brainiac 5 admitted. "Nia, Lena, Kelly, come with me to the lab," he said taking them out of the scene.
Alex then entered the Tower rather hurriedly. "I'm so glad you're here. Is Kelly around?"
"Literally right around the corner within earshot," Kara pointed out. "Sup?"
"Oh, I don't know, this came in," she said showing off an engagement ring.
Kara eyed the ring in the box. "It's cubic zirconium," she detected with her eyes.
"That's bullshit...right?" Alex asked now unsure of herself.
"It's the thought that counts," Hank smirked.
"It is a diamond, right?" Alex asked now freaking out.
"Confirm it with Barney in the lab. Oh, wait, Kelly's in the lab," Kara frowned.
"You two are fucking with me. Do you have any idea how much this cost?" Alex asked pissed off.
"How did you pay for it without a job?" Kara wondered.
"I feel like I'm forgetting something," Hank considered.
"The engagement party...is tomorrow night," Alex reminded him.
"I kind of feel like we should put that off until we've taken out a dangerous fifth-dimensional being that can wipe out the universe," Kara said wisely.
"Yeah, well, the anniversary of when I knew I loved Kelly is more important," Alex insisted.
"Oh, I love that story. Should I tell it?" Kara asked.
"I only care for interesting stories," Hank burned.
Kara and Hank gave each other high fives. "The fuck is wrong with you two?" Alex scolded.
"Why would you have an engagement party at an alien gay bar?" Kara asked already knowing her plans.
"It's just a bar. Only people like you categorize it as such," Alex glared.
"Okay...why have it at some lame-ass bar then? Why not...Dorsia? I can get you two a table," Kara said confidently.
"Because it was at Al's bar that Kelly and I agreed that Hans Gruber was the greatest villain of all time," Alex pointed out.
"First of all, that's wrong. Second, that's so lame," Kara critiqued.
"Even for Martian tradition, an engagement party at a bar is not very creative," Hank said.
"Well, I'm going to set it up to look nice with rose petals on the table and a lot of candles," Alex said imaginatively.
"You'll violate the fire code," Kara predicted.
"I don't give a shit. Esme and I will be bringing over the supplies there to Al's now so that it's easier to set up tomorrow," Alex informed them.
"Using your adopted kid as slave labor already, I see. I'm proud of you, Alex," Kara said sincerely.
"Shouldn't you be certain it's not already booked before you do that? Maybe make a phone call?" Hank suggested.
"Al's booked? He's never booked," Alex said dismissively.
"Well, okay then," Kara said wide-eyed.
"I won't be gone long," Alex assured them.
"Take as long as you need," Kara replied. "Go, get out of here," she shooed her away.
Alex joyfully went over to the elevator. "Call me when you're ready to trap Nyxly," she said as she left.
Putting priorities in order, Alex took Esme to the alien gay bar. "Alright, Esme, look at this. This is Al's. This is home to the best karaoke night in the galaxy. You're going to love it...when you turn 21 and gay," Alex said awkwardly.
"As long as they have mozzarella sticks," Esme said cheerfully.
"Oh...shit," Alex said not sure they had those. "Hey, Al," Alex said as he came out to see her.
"What you got going with all this stuff? Is that a little kid in my bar?" Al wondered.
"Some supplies for tomorrow night. I have kind of a romantic evening planned out," Alex said.
"Oh, Alex, I wish you had called ahead. We're booked for a private event," Al said.
"You're booked? What the fuck? This place has never been booked. This is some bullshit," Alex raged.
"Holy shit," Al said taken aback.
"If I knew you could have been booked, I would have done so," Alex said pissed off.
"If you want to make it another night, I can easily...," Al said defensively.
"No, no, no, fuck no. This was supposed to be my special night. It has to be this night. Don't you believe in love, mother-fucker?" Alex asked angrily.
"Wow, that makes me feel like an asshole. What I do believe is honoring my word. I made a booking with another party and my honor compels me to uphold that agreement," Al said reasonably.
"Who's the other party?" Alex demanded.
"I can't say," Al dodged.
"Don't make me squeeze it out of you," Alex threatened.
"Look, she said if I told, she would cut off my dick and shove it up my ass," Al frowned.
"That BITCH!" Alex shouted dismayed.
At the Tower, the Super-Friend's regrouped. "At some point, we should talk," Alex said angrily to Kara.
"Of course," Kara said realizing she had been busted.
"How is this plan supposed to work?" Mon asked skeptically.
"We've deduced the next totem Nyxly will go after is the love totem," Kara said.
"Using some BS magic, I'm going to mimic the love totem's energy signature thus making a fake totem which will be indistinguishable from the real one," Lena said.
"Nyxly will come for the totem to a secure location of our choosing," Brainiac 5 said.
"Where we will be staked out the moment Nyxly shows her face," Nia added.
"What if she doesn't show?" Mon asked.
"She'll show," Kara said confidently.
"Well, good luck with that," Mon said walking off.
"What? You're going to be there," Kara ordered.
"I don't do stakeouts, I invite my opponent to come to me. I'll be there the moment I sense there's an actual fight," Mon said and then left the room.
"Such an asshole," Kara shook her head dismayed.
Alex confronted Kara away from Kelly. "Did you book Al's bar on my anniversary?" she accused softly.
"Did I do WHAT?" Kara asked obnoxiously with Kelly giving her a WTF look across the room.
"We'll talk later after we take down Nyxly," Alex hissed.
"There is no we. You, Kelly, and Esme are staying here," Kara ordered.
"That's bullshit. I have a stake in this," Alex said angrily.
"You want me to treat this like it's not a game? Fine. Then, I'm playing this as if it were a real mission," Kara told her off.
That night, Nyxly teleported herself in the middle of a forest and sensed the fake love totem in a tree. "A little too convenient but alright," she said as she took it out of the tree and held it in her hand.
"Immobulus," Lena said from the trees, a spell that restricted Nyxly's movements.
"Finite Incantatem," Nyxly countered freeing herself. "Periculum," she said as she fired flares into the forest to find Lena. "Homenum Revelio," she said and immediately Lena glowed brightly in the forest.
Nyxly was about to take her out when she was hit with J'onn's telepathy. Kara fired on her gauntlet with her heat vision to no effect. Nia wrapped an energy cable around her leg to trip her up. Nyxly flipped in the air avoiding beams from Kara, Nia, and Brainiac 5's plasma rifle.
"Expelliarmus," Lena fired at Nyxly with her wand forcing her to drop her gauntlet. "Accio," Lena said summoning the gauntlet towards her.
"I don't think so, bitch," Nyxly said as went to retake the gauntlet. "Kryptonite bombardo," she said as she blasted them all back with a Kryptonite explosion. Nyxly placed the fake totem into her gauntlet upon recovering it. Immediately, she was hit with negative magic that lit her on fire. Upon seeing Nyxly distracted in pain, Lena made her move.
"Protego," Lena said as she shielded herself. "Stupify," Lena said as she fired on Nyxly briefly stunning her. "Sectumsempra!" she said as she blasted Nyxly creating severe lacerations and hemorrhaging all over her body. Nyxly cried out in pain bleeding profusely from cuts all over her face. Lena kept up her advance with her wand pointed forward. "Crucio!" Lena said as she fired a red beam into her causing severe internal pain throughout her body.
Nyxly merely laughed at her as her wounds instantly healed. "You have to mean it, Lena," she mocked. "A fake totem? You'll pay for that," she said regaining her bearings and ready to fight.
A sudden flash of light blinded everyone on the battlefield. When the light faded, the Super-Friends were all gone.
The next morning, Nyxly waltzed into the Luthor mansion pissed off. "Your sister created a fake totem and actually managed to hurt me. How could she fool my own gauntlet?" she demanded of Lex as he calmly got himself some orange juice and vodka in his study.
"You rely too much on magic and not on technology. I can look into it," Lex said.
"Just because you're here at a very convenient moment doesn't mean...wait...what the fuck?" she said of a small flying drone in the room. "What the fuck is that? Is that a surveillance drone?"
"Yeah," Lex said nonchalantly.
"So, you knew I was in trouble and did nothing?" Nyxly accused.
"I'm getting mixed signals from you. Do you want my help or not?" Lex asked confused.
"You claim to be on my side, but I'm no closer to getting the last three totems," Nyxly pointed out. "So, get the fuck out."
"Uhmm...this is my home...so no," Lex objected.
"Fine," Nyxly said and then teleported away.
At the Tower basement, Kara got off the solar bed free of the Kryptonite exposure. "That hurt like a bitch," she said.
"Thank God you're still alive," Lena said gratefully.
"I know, right?" Kara agreed. "Your decoy totem caught fire. Sup with that?"
"I'm not ready with this shit. I can wound her but I can't kill her...yet," Lena admitted. "I don't have control over it. That's what happened to my mother and people got hurt."
"I know how you feel," Kara said sincerely.
"I think maybe I shouldn't be involved in magic. Someone could get hurt," Lena said defeated.
"Magic is the only edge we have against this creature. I can't incinerate her with my eyes or punch a hole through her gut like all the others. I need you on this team alive and functional," Kara said seriously.
"What if I hurt you or one of the others?" Lena asked.
"Fuck it," Kara said simply.
"Well, okay then," Lena said encouraged.
At the Daily Planet, Kara walked with Cat to her office. "Everything is on you. I want a full expose on her nefarious plan before anyone else gets wind of it," Cat demanded.
"Only after I kill her ass. She can read the papers like anyone else," Kara said reasonably.
"Is Lex involved?" Cat asked.
"He is," Kara confirmed.
"So, we can run with that, right?" Cat asked.
"We can't," Kara said flatly.
"Why the fuck not, Kara? He betrayed you...again. He's gone back to his evil ways," Cat pointed out.
"It's complicated," Kara said vaguely.
"I need this story to get back on top," Cat insisted.
"You will be," Kara assured her.
"Fine, you have the end of today," Cat ordered.
"You're fucking high if you think I'll meet that deadline," Kara rolled her eyes.
"I'll run the story on Lex Luthor with or without your proof," Cat threatened.
"You got balls, lady," Kara said admiringly.
"Balls of steel. Now, get out of my office and save the world," she ordered.
Kara entered the Tower lost in thought and met up with Alex and Kelly. "How are you?" Alex asked concernedly seeing her face.
"I'll be fine once I complete my Daily Planet deadline," Kara said putting priorities in order. "Where's Nia?"
"Trying to dream Nyxly's next location," Alex said.
Kara rolled her eyes at that. "How is Lex involved in this?" Kelly asked.
"There's nothing on the Internet connecting them," J'onn said.
"Barney, call up the Vindicators and get their asses down here," Kara ordered.
"That could disrupt the space/time continuum," Brainiac 5 warned.
"And...I don't give a shit. Do it," Kara said.
"I must take time to meditate to reach a new level of power," Hank said walking off.
"Yeah, you go do that," Kara said dismissively.
"We'll go on patrol," Alex said of herself and Kelly.
"You're staying here or I'll have Lena petrify you," Kara threatened Alex.
"Well, I can go out and do some good," Kelly said leaving.
"Have fun," Kara said unconcernedly.
Alex glared at Kara. "You booked Al's bar, didn't you?" she accused.
"I don't know what the fuck you're talking about," Kara denied.
"I know you fucking did it. Every other bar and restaurant I can think of has also been booked up. It must have cost you millions," Alex said.
"Actually...it's more likely I had you two blacklisted. It's a lot cheaper," Kara said obviously.
"This is my anniversary," Alex told her off.
"Your anniversary is when you actually ask Kelly the question and she says yes. Until then, you got no anniversary," Kara said dismissively.
"Is that how it was between you and Lex in Midvale?" Alex asked striking a nerve.
"Don't go there," Kara warned.
"We're only working together out of convenience. There's no way in hell I'm going to live in your future empire being told what to do my whole life," Alex said angrily.
"I know you're in love and a new mom, but you're being fucking stupid, right now. We are at war. You've thrown all of your tactical knowledge and experience out the window. You're acting like a stupid teenager. Now, I am the older sister. I am the commander. I'm the one with the plans inside the plans. I call the shots around here," Kara pointed at her.
"Now, I'd rather hang out with Hank than deal any further with your bullshit," Kara said and then went downstairs.
Alex merely sighed feeling conflicted and angry.
Kara found Hank meditating on a couch. "I know I can't enter your meditation but know that I will be beside you the whole time."
Hank closed his eyes and found himself on Mars. This time, he didn't run away like a total coward but, instead, fought like a badass against the White Martians. As he did, the objects around the room began floating away. Kara could feel the violent energy emitting from Hank onto her own psyche. Hank grunted and then screamed in rage as he saw himself battling the White Martians to the death.
"Okay, I've assessed the situation...and I'm going to leave now," Kara said feeling uncomfortable in the room as Hank glowed red.
At the Luthor mansion, Lex was in his study reading a book. "What are you doing?" Nyxly asked crossly.
"Research," Lex said vaguely. "You should try it sometime."
Nyxly summoned several books off his bookcase to slam into his face. "That was childish," Lex critiqued as he felt his face.
"Do you have anything useful for me?" Nyxly asked losing patience.
"Tale of an Object Infused with Love. Maybe it's the love totem," Lex said showing her the book.
"Ines de Castro, the Corpse bride of Portugal. The grave of famous lovers in Portugal," Nyxly identified. She then used her gauntlet to sense for it there. "Well done, Luthor," she said pleased upon confirming it.
At the same time, Nia had a convenient dream of where the love totem was on the Tower balcony. "It's Lisbon, Portugal," she said to Kara, Brainiac 5, Hank, and Mon.
"Well...no shit," Kara smirked. "The four of us, let's move," she said.
Kara, Brainiac 5, J'onn, and Mon flew over to a church in Portgual where Nyxly was. Upon entering the church, they found the love totem on a memorial. "Is that it?" Kara asked Brainiac 5.
"It is," he confirmed.
"Well, that was easy," Kara said pleased as she took the love totem, a pink flower-looking stone object.
Nyxly suddenly teleported into the church in front of them. "Oh, you didn't think I'd let you just come in and take such a pretty bauble, did you?" she mocked.
"For a moment there, yeah, I kind of did," Kara said dryly.
"Want to know what it feels like to be fucked in a church?" Nyxly asked.
"I repel you in the name of Christ," Kara said showing a cross in front of her.
"Really? Do you?" Nyxly mocked not taking her seriously.
Kara advanced on her with the cross. "That's a mighty big cross you got there," Nyxly said backing away. "The question is, do you have faith?"
"Get back!" Kara said to her as she cornered her.
"Not the cross, Kara, not the cross," Nyxly said uncomfortably.
Kara smiled as she continued her advance. Nyxly suddenly grabbed the wooden cross, lit it on fire, and grabbed Kara by the throat. Mon instantly appeared at Nyxly's side and threw a bowl of holy water in her face. "Fuck!" Nyxly released Kara and backed away with her face and hair smoking. J'onn rose from the floor and attempted to tap into her mind.
Several explosions of black smoke appeared inside the church. The black smoke swirled around Nyxly freeing her of Kara, Mon, and J'onn, and then materialized as witches. The witches took Mon, Hank, and Brainiac 5 hostage with wands at their throats. "Did you actually believe, were you naive enough to really think you stood a chance against us?" Nyxly mocked.
"Now, I'll make this simple. Hand over the love totem or watch your friends die," Nyxly ordered.
"Don't give it to her. I can take anything they can give me," Mon said confidently.
"I've been waiting a long time to feel true love in my hand," Kara said regretfully.
"I know," Nyxly said condescendingly as she took the totem out of Kara's hand.
The witches suddenly released their hostages and pointed their wands at their necks. In several flashes of green light, they were all dead. J'onn then advanced on Nyxly. Spooked by his telepathic abilities, she teleported away with the love totem.
At the Luthor mansion, Lex practiced on the piano. Nyxly teleported inside the study with mixed feelings. "Now, I only need the destiny totem. Where is it?" Nyxly asked ungratefully.
"Are you asking for my help?" Lex mocked.
"Will you help me or not?" Nyxly asked.
"It would be my honor," Lex said sincerely.
"We're still never going to be friends, you and I. This is strictly business," Nyxly told him.
"Of course," Lex smiled.
Hank contemplated his rage on the balcony of the Tower. Kara walked up to him concernedly. "Had I stayed and fought like a badass, I would have been killed for sure. My cowardice has led me to this moment, saving this world, this universe yet again," Hank mused.
"St. Peter denied Christ three times but started the Christian Church. Had he told the truth, he would have been killed on the spot. I don't know what to tell you. Things just work out in mysterious ways," Kara said.
"Do we make a deal with Nyxly to live another day or do we fight to the death?" Hank asked her.
"I'm still working that out," Kara admitted.
"Now that Lex is involved, are your feelings clear?" Hank asked her.
"You know that they are," Kara replied.
A determined Alex dialed Dorsia from her cell phone at the tower. If Kara could get a reservation, why couldn't she? "Dorsia," the bored receptionist answered.
"Hi, I know it's late but is it possible to reserve a table for two tomorrow at 8 or 8:30, perhaps?" Alex asked.
The receptionist chuckled and then laughed for a good thirty seconds before Alex hung up defeated.
Kara entered the lab and found Lena pondering on spells. "You got the spell ready yet?" Kara asked.
"Well...no," Lena admitted. "It's not like I can practice it."
"I saw it in action today. It's fucking brutal," Kara pressed.
"You're asking me to die," Lena said seriously.
"I know I am. And if the time comes, I need you to have the strength to pull the trigger," Kara said.
"And what if I fail and get myself killed?" Lena asked.
"Then, we think of another way," Kara said dismissively.
"The truth is, I'm scared of death. I've done a lot of fucked up things, just unimaginably fucked up things," Lena recalled.
"So have I. Every time I face Nyxly, I face the possibility of death. We have no choice in this," Kara said seriously. "If Nyxly dies, her mission is over. If we die, our families can continue where we left off."
"Alright, then," Lena agreed.
In the PI office adjacent to the tower, Alex read a book frustrated. Mon came in and gave her a look. "I thought you would be prepping for your engagement party," he said confused.
"You here to mock me?" Alex asked pissed off.
"Not at the moment," Mon said sincerely.
"Maybe Kara is right that this isn't the right moment with Nyxly and Lex out there," Alex said thoughtfully.
"Well...no shit," Mon agreed.
"You know, Kelly was engaged before. I was engaged before. And the last time, I proposed it was totally spontaneous. I just jumped in there with no planning and it just felt right. But that relationship...just ended," Alex said sadly.
"With no reason at all," Mon said sympathetically.
"No, I mean, there was a reason. You know there was. You know what? Fuck you, Mon," Alex said scornfully.
"What you and Kelly have is...strong...," Mon struggled to say.
"You're trying too hard," Alex rolled her eyes.
"Kara was into that proposal and marriage nonsense. I knew Kara was mine the first time I bed her. You don't need a ring or a party to make Kelly yours. Just take her, here, in this tower. With all this going on, you can't know if there will be a tomorrow. You may not get another chance. So, do it now," Mon advised.
Alex went to the basement level and found Esme fast asleep in one of the bedroom quarters. She then found Kelly in black lingerie waiting for her in the center room of the basement. "Wow, is this for real?" Alex asked, her heart racing.
"Alex, I wanted to surprise you tonight because it's the anniversary of the first time I realized I loved you. I love everything about you, your passion, your compassion, the way you fight for the people you love. But you never let it harden you. The way you make space for me to be the truest version of myself. You are more than my love. You are my perfect match. And when I am with you, my soul feels complete," Kelly said sincerely.
"There's so much love I feel for you, and it will never go away. And I know it because I feel it. It's the truest love. Earlier today, I was so anxious because I convinced myself that if you and I didn't have the perfect proposal, that our future would be doomed. And thinking about it, that sounds absolutely ridiculous," Alex said sincerely.
Kelly nodded in agreement. "From the moment that we first met, you and I have been surrounded by chaos from blackouts to black holes. We fought monsters. I mean, God, we even loved each other through the end of the universe. And not even that could tear us apart. Kelly Olsen...I love you with every fiber of my being. You are the person I want to spend the rest of my life with," Alex said to her.
"Will you marry me?" they both said together.
"Yes," they both said together and then kissed passionately.
"Come on, let's get those clothes off you," Kelly said joyfully as they went to one of the bedroom quarters.
At the mansion, Nyxly gave Lex a curious look. "Tell me the truth, what do you want from me?" she asked.
"You want the truth?" Lex asked rhetorically.
"Yeah," Nyxly confirmed.
"The truth is I wish to survive. I know you will eventually form the All-Stone and defeat the Super-Friends. It is your destiny. When everyone else perishes, I want to be saved," Lex said.
"So, you don't really give a fuck about humanity?" Nyxly quizzed.
"I hate everyone. From a very young age, I knew I would move through this world alone, riding that solitary high-speed train towards progress and greatness all by myself. But now you are here, this radiant powerful being vibrating with your brilliance. I never thought anyone could match my ambition, my genius, but then I met you. In all the timelines, dimensions, universes, you were the only one that could match me. Do I sound...insane to you?" Lex asked.
"I know you're playing me...but you're right," Nyxly smiled amused. "No one has ever complimented me like that until now. If what you say is what you truly believe, and you really are here to save your own skin, to help me succeed, well, then I don't see why we can't be friends," Nyxly smiled.
At the Tower, Kara, Mon, Hank, and Nia were getting drunk as fuck. "Where's Alex and Kelly?" Hank asked.
"They won't be joining us," Kara said knowingly.
"Why not?" Mon asked playing dumb.
"Mon, shut the fuck up," Kara scolded.
Brainiac 5 and Nia had a conversation on the balcony about their relationship. "For an anniversary present, do you want a motorcycle?" Brainiac 5 asked.
"Sure," Nia rolled her eyes.
"What's bothering you?" Brainiac 5 asked sensing something was wrong.
Nia was about to say something profound but then switched topics. "What Lex is doing...is irrational. Why has he betrayed us like this?"
"One can get lost in the psyche of Lex Luthor," Brainiac 5 warned.
"Something changed him. We need to know more. What if what happened to him could happen to one of us?" Nia asked concernedly.
"Lex wasn't a part of our team. He did his own thing. We are together, as a team, under the same roof," Brainiac 5 assured her.
Lena then entered through the Tower elevator. "Couldn't help but notice the basement level is locked out."
"No more magic or science stuff. It's time to party," Kara said giving her a champagne glass.
"Exactly what are we celebrating?" Lena wondered.
"Your mastery of the spell that will end this war," Kara told her.
Author's Notes: Lex Luthor's sudden love for Nyxly is horrible character development and it's not even a ruse like Season 4. It's just plain bad. Alex and Kelly are perfectly okay compromising the mission, their own personal safety, and that of their daughter for an engagement party while Nyxly is on the loose. As per usual, the Super Friends fight in a solid line rather than outflank their opponent from the side and are so close to one another a grenade could take them all out. The Super-Friends do not attack the Luthor mansion to take out Lex when they have the chance to do so. In the bar fight, there should have been follow-through on Lex being put down. The Super Friends consistently drop an opponent and then don't make certain that the opponent is killed or out of action. None of the weaker Super-Friends should be allowed to leave the Tower. The miscommunication with Alex and Kelly is portrayed as adorable but it comes off, to me, as just dumb.