Edited by Tanuki
AN: Going back into the main stuff and all that. You know the drill by now. May 30th will never end, and even if it does, at this point we all know no one will truly forget it. Unless…
FEEDBACK:
Gamelover41592: Yes indeedy~
Collectort005: You may have a point, but I think despite the issues the PTs have in terms of a strong moral code, it makes sense when you remember they are just kids. Kids that were constantly pushed down by people like the JL. They only work with villains because everyone else shuns them and rejects their messaging. I feel villains is a strong term for people like Croc or Iwai, both are very different and have situations that force them into crime. I will give you people like Talia and Crow, and maybe White Rabbit too. All have no real belief in what the PTs are doing, even refusing to truly change their belief structure, and might also truly deserve punishment. But that will be dealt with in the future.
But with everything else in actual canon, I mean every villain is arrested, or further dealt with. The problem with freedom and rebellion, the main themes of the game, is that it can be very messy in practice. The same can be obviously said about the chaos the group represents as a whole. You can't shake an entire society's foundation without something breaking as a result. I think that will be the PTs main issue alongside Batman and Batmite in the story, and the issue they faced in canon as well.
Zach: Welcome to the fic, friend! Sadly, while I like Static Shock, he will not be appearing to Futaba to save her. I mean I might add him in later, but I already feel I'm threatening to make this fic over bloated with how many characters are in it. But I'll think about it…
Dakota Bruder: I honestly can't say. While I could think about it, I would spend too much time doing so that I wouldn't be able to focus on the fic at hand. I'll leave all that up to you guys to imagine for now.
Also any shadow mask designs would basically be what the mirrors wear.
Enjoy~
NANANANANANANANANANA
Kingdom of Hell
"NYAAAA!" Mona screamed as he was flown through the portal.
The vast fiery expanses of hell replaced the cramped hallways of the Watchtower.
"TOO HIGH, TOO HIGH!" Mona screamed.
The succubus carrying him dived down through the deep depths of the nine circles. The drop made Mona's stomach nauseous.
They arrived at the great palace that held Satanael's throne.
"We have arrived." The succubus dropped the cat.
"Ughhh…" Swirls overtook Mona's face. He shook his head to regain his focus.
"T-Thanks. What's the status?" Mona asked into his comm.
"Mona! I was kicked out of the Watchtower's systems! We're blind in there! Cyborg totally destroyed the virus! We're back to square one!" Oracle yelled.
"WHAT?! So then where is everybody?!" Mona screamed.
"Everyone's comms are still up. We can find them, but there must be a reason that they're completely still. Joker answers sometimes, only Constantine is up and moving. I don't know what the hell he is doing!" Oracle shrieked.
"Call it a smoke break. What's the situation?" Constantine chimed in.
"We're pulling out! Operation Reel in is a go! Find everyone and get them the hell out of there!" Oracle shouted.
A big portal opened, revealing elites stepping through with Violet, Terra, White Rabbit, Antiope, as well as multiple Phantom Stars in tow. All were completely out cold and beaten brutally.
"Hanger B shipping is all but wiped out. Here's the Lord's sluts." The elite hissed.
"That's not a good sign...Oracle, focus on the data. I'll make sure everyone gets out." Mona said as he walked up to Violet and pulled out her phone. He managed to use his paws to unlock it.
"Send the locations to Sumire's phone." Mona said.
"On it." Oracle chimed.
Multiple red dots appeared on the map of the Watchtower that everyone had on their phones.
"This is Mona running Operation Reel in. What's happening out there!" Mona called.
Another portal opened. Elites rushed in firing guns behind them to cover the group dragging Uriel in.
"The Galley is heavily protected. The children are all being held captive, Beelzebub is working on freeing them…" Uriel panted in pain as he was dragged reluctantly by demons to a healer.
"Constantine!" Mona called.
"On my way." John responded simply.
"The fools and their toys are no match for me. The Trickster's little lackeys will be returned soon enough." Trigon hissed.
Mona sighed at Trigon's ego, but was interrupted by another portal. Catwoman and Beast Boy were dragged in.
Mona's ears folded back in worry.
"Where is Panther?! She was on the lower floors of A!" Mona snapped.
"We can't get to the bitch. Bastard in the Power Annex hid her somewhere. We can't get close, thousands have fallen for one slut." A demon hissed with venom.
"DON'T YOU DARE CALL HER THAT!" Mona roared.
"The Demon Lord must be truly crazy to risk so much for such an insignificant piece of meat." The demon didn't back down, not afraid of the Trickster's "pet".
Mona drew his sword and blasted the demon off his feet in anger.
"We keep fighting until everyone is safe. Your forces fall only to be restored in the depths of this place, learn your place!" Mona hissed.
Mona panted in anger.
"Lavenza, Michael, find everyone else in meta containment and get them out of there. I'm going for Lady Ann." Mona huffed.
"You don't stand a chance against that bloke, Firestorm. Wake up the others and get the Galley cleared. I'll get your little princess." Constantine chided.
"Don't underestimate me!" Mona hissed.
"I ain't sticking around here longer than necessary. Do it. NOW!" Constantine demanded.
Mona gritted his teeth but logic won out. Constantine could probably pop in, grab Ann, and pop back out while Firestorm is distracted by their numbers.
"Fine. William!" Mona summoned his persona. He walked up to the beaten members of his team and healed them as much as he could.
"*GASP* Ugh… Not again. Can't a girl get some sleep?" White Rabbit groaned.
"Mona...What is going on?" Violet asked.
"I'm getting tired of all this." Terra huffed.
"Get used to it. We're getting everyone else out of there. Everybody get ready." Mona said.
"Where….Right. He didn't come, did he?" Beast Boy said solemnly.
"Afraid not kid." Catwoman retorted.
"Open the portal!" Mona ordered.
Mona looked at the six people he would be in charge of. Uriel was told to stay back and contact them if any others popped in while they were gone.
This is it. The final stretch. Mona sighed and hoped against all the odds, they would come out on top. The interaction with Booster Gold and his little machine is still fresh in his mind.
"We get out of this. Future bot says so." Mona tried to comfort himself. But that didn't calm the nerves he was getting.
"Everyone who can hear this, pull out now! Operation Reel In is in full effect! Get out of there, NOW!" Mona ordered.
NANANANANANANANANANA
Recreational Facilities
Aquaman rushed through the halls of lower Hangar B. Thousands upon thousands of demons rushed at him as he cut through them like butter. He was furiously working his way through them all when a bigger elite managed to land a hit.
Aquaman gritted his teeth as he tore through the floors, he came to a stop in the halls of Hangar C shipping.
"Disgusting creatures." He hissed as he returned the elite's lucky hit by stabbing through its torso with his trident, and using its mass to slam the surrounding hordes into paste.
Aquaman stood alone surrounded by the dead bodies of his enemies.
"I see my worry was for nothing then?" A familiar voice called.
Aquaman turned to see...his wife.
"Mera...my sweet. I can explain-"
Mera slapped her husband hard across the face with all her might.
"YOU HAVE A DEVICE THAT CAN CALL ME ACROSS THE GALAXY! USE THE BLOODY THING!" Mera hissed.
To that Aquaman cringed as he rubbed his cheek.
"Ah...I lost sight of it a while back. Apologies, I was so lost in battle that I-"
"Don't try to pull that one again, Arthur. You are a father and a king, try to give the responsibility needed for both roles." Mera said sternly.
Arthur was silent at that. Mera took out her comm to call Oracle.
"This is Mera reporting in. I've found my idiot husband, and cleared the C shipping yard of the disgusting monsters that swarmed it. Awaiting orders." Mera huffed.
"Report to the Monitor Womb to assist Manhunter. His last reports showed the girl Lavenza was assisting the demons in trying to take him out. Hurry!"
"Lavenza?" Mera asked.
"I'll explain later, love. Just know even the fool, Constantine had troubles with her." Aquaman said as he cleaned his trident of blood.
Mera threw a mighty ice blast upwards, the spell freezing hundreds of demons that were coming after them from the upper floors. They shattered to pieces around them and Mera quickly sealed off the hole her husband made in his battle.
"*Sigh* Fine. Let's go." Mera flipped her hair.
Aquaman walked off, only to receive a glare from his wife.
"Do try to keep up, darling." Mera scoffed as she looked back with a hand on her hip.
NANANANANANANANANANA
Outer Space
Sataneal floated as he oversaw the attack on the little vessel they called the 'Watchtower'. For a name like that, they were blind to the plight of the people on the planet they protect. Truly, they could not have been as deaf to the world's suffering as he has been in the past. Millennia of corruption and sin building on top of itself could not stand. For even he had a breaking point of what he could allow the mortal world to get away with.
His ward was that breaking point. As his hordes crawled all over, destroying the metal built on lies, he scowled. Truly, it is those who seek the path of true righteousness, shall be portrayed as the monsters of the future.
True justice is cold, but fair. True redemption is made from the blood of the one who sinned. True fairness can necessitate the destruction of the current order. And this plane is in dire need of a new order.
He can see it in the angels who reluctantly saved the civilians in the tower. The corruption and stillness in Messiah's actions until this point. In their sleep and stillness, the wicked run out of control.
The Lords of Order forget what true order needs in order to thrive. What true justice must do to discipline sinners, and Sataneal will show them. He'll show them all.
The demons and angels rush in every opening they could find to save his wards. This will be over quickly.
At least that is what he thought.
A tickle, a miniscule point on the side, turned to many all over his body.
"ENEMY SHIPS! DESTROY THEM!" An elite demon hissed.
Thousands of tiny ships flew in his sight, little lines of light blasted in the blackness of space. Effective against the ferals and a few elite guards. Nothing against him.
His only worry was the possibility of mortal men inside such vessels.
But that worry was quickly put to rest by Gabriel.
"Manless attackers, plants have more sentience. No need to fear loss of life on their side." Gabriel looked at the attackers.
"Good. Destroy them." Sataneal ordered his men.
Gabriel drew her long sword.
"I sense their coming too, my dear. More are coming to fight us." Satanael bellowed.
"Then you know they are no older than your ward. They must not die." Gabriel sterly said.
"Of course, WE ARE LEAVING!" Satanael roared to his men.
A giant blinding symbol appeared in the darkness. The portal instantly cut hundreds of demons in half. From it appeared the most worrying outcome.
"YOU SHALL FALL THIS DAY! YOUR FATE IS INESCAPABLE!" Doctor Fate roared.
The Lord of Order instantly was attacked by thousands of demons. The sorcerer's spell's were brutal and fiere in their accuracy and power. Bless attacks were blasted from all sides of the hero, followed by a powerful pulse of powerful almighty power.
BOOM!
The blast instantly killed thousands of demons, and many angels with them.
"YOUR CHAOS ENDS NOW! YOUR SINS WILL BE MET WITH A SWIFT DEATH! ORDER WILL BE RESTORED!" Doctor Fate roared.
"Satanael, the children…" Gabriel pushed.
"Deal with them. Nabu must be dealt with." Satanael said.
Gabriel huffed but rushed off. Leaving Satanael with Fate rushing through space towards him.
Sataneal sighed, pulled out his gun, and glared at the man. Could he not see what he was trying to accomplish?
Truly, Nabu's ego has grown exponentially in this universe compared to his, the power he has here corrupts his judgement. Sataneal will set such foolishness straight.
NANANANANANANANANANA
Outer Space
Blue Beetle flew through the army of demons and angels, his systems auto targeting everything around him.
"WE CAN'T KEEP THIS UP!" Jamie screamed.
"Scanning tower. Only unknown lifeforms and multiple heroes were detected. No signs of civilians." The Scarab said.
"What?! Then where the hell are they?!" Jamie yelled.
"Unknown"
"DAMMIT!" Jamie roared as he weaved through the hundreds of attackers.
"HALT!" A feminine figure appeared in front of him out of nowhere. Her glowing figure
making Jamie shield his eyes.
"The hell?"
"My child, this is no place for a young man to fall. Please retreat. I cannot in good faith allow you to continue." Gabriel pleaded.
"WHERE ARE THE CIVILIANS! THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT LIVES DON'T JUST DISAPPEAR!" Jamie hissed.
"Safe I assure you. Please, you must trust my words and turn back. I could not stand to see a child fall on this day." Gabriel tried.
"Subject is non hostile in stance, yet has weapons drawn. Calculating threat level." Scarab said.
As if reading the alien's mind, Gabriel put away her blade, and spread her arms open in an almost invitation.
"The demons will attack without cause. Me and my kin are not like them. You are noble in your worry for innocent lives. But naive in the battle taking place. Do not side with those who seek to use your power for the further corruption of this planet." Gabriel soothed.
Jamie didn't know what to do at this point, the Scarab's calculations weren't helping at all. The young man took a look at the war going on around them.
"You're right. I don't know why this is happening. Wonder Woman's imprisonment can't be true though. It just can't, and I don't know whether or not to trust any of you! All I know is that at any moment you could invade the world. Turn around and attack the planet. I'm sorry but I can't risk you not telling the truth. Stand down and take me to where the hostages are. Stop destroying the only people keeping the world safe." Blue Beetle said.
"Mmm...I'm afraid I cannot do that. The Trickster was very precise in different outcomes, but you are an uncertainty he did not calculate. If you come with us, maybe we could show you our plan."
"Possible ambush and/or trap has fifty percent probability. Unadvised." The Scarab said.
"Guess I'm going to have to decline then. Can't make decisions without knowing the whole picture." Jamie said.
"I wonder if you ever will. Surrounded by those who wish to destroy us." Gabriel said as she powered up.
Jamie did the same. Only going by the battle he is seeing, he comes to the conclusion he'll help the heroes who inspired him.
"I will do what I must to protect the Trickster. Forgive me, child. I'll do my best not to injure you." Gabriel said, solemnly.
The two rushed at each other, Blue Beetle dodging the magical blasts she fired. She was just as graceful, if not more so, avoiding his energy blasts.
Gabriel offered a tear for what she was about to do to the child. Perhaps once she won this bout she'll take him to the Trickster, and have him explain everything once the dust settles. But for now, she must ensure the success of the plan.
NANANANANANANANANANANANA
All around the battlefield, Steel's drones soared through the skies. Once entering the atmosphere, unloading all their weaponry on the field of demons. The tight formations that Joker thought up were being broken apart from the hail of energy shots being blasted throughout the vacuum of space.
With them, Shazam was destroying the immense numbers of demons and angels around him. Lighting crackled around the hero's body as he rushed towards the Watchtower. He needed answers for Wonder Woman's arrest. But the wisdom of Solomon told him to focus on clearing the battlefield first.
And the most important part of the Watchtower to protect was Hangar A, as it was the main source of the life support systems.
With that, the hero flew through one of the many openings made by the demons. He landed in the ruins of the shipping yard, immediately opening fire on the surrounding army.
"Where is everybody? What happened to the workers?" Shazam asked.
BOOM!
A drone crashed into the shipping yard, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Shazam was about to check for people, but immediately a dozen of robots with incapacitators sprang out of the drone and opened fire.
"Right. Steel's toys." Shazam realized.
The hero burst through the halls, flying through the bodies of the damned.
"This is Shazam reporting in. I'm making my way to the Power Annex. Anyone still awake?" he asked.
"This is Oracle. Firestorm should be still fighting off the demons from destroying the fusion cell. But it is probably best for someone to back him up."
"Got it." Shazam chimed.
He shot out a barrage of intense lighting, the magic exploding the demons around him.
"COME GET SOME!" Shazam roared at them all.
NANANANANANANANANA `
Repair Bay
Trigon roared as he slammed a giant robot into Hawkgirl. The force sending her smashing into the far wall. Power Girl was fast to blast him with her heat vision but the ex demon lord shrugged it off as he blasted the area with his mighty curse magic.
Steel and Huntress were swept off their feet from the blast. Huntress took the hit particularly hard as her leg broke from the bad landing.
"AHH!" Huntress cried out in pain.
"Hang on!" Steel shouted.
As Power Girl pummeled the demon with her bare fist, Steel charged up the kinetic force in his hammer. He took off towards the two and roared as the hammer impacted against Trigon's torso.
BOOM!
The demon cried out in pain as he tumbled through the wreckage of the Repair Bay. As he regained himself he slammed his fist on the ground in anger.
"IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN THAT!" He roared.
He was about to attack, but Hawkgirl whooshed in with her mace delivering a critical blow against the giant's head. The impact sent him back to the floor, but undefeated.
"This is pathetic! Satanael may have defeated me, but compared to him, YOU ARE NOTHING!" Trigon roared.
He blasted the heroes away as he roared out a mighty breath of fire. He summoned thousands more demons to kill off these heroes and get the pathetic lackeys the Trickster sent in before him.
He was beneath these vermin! A master of his realm!
BOOM!
Hundreds of Steel's drones blasted into the Bay. His hordes were quickly being picked off, but the pawns bought him time to regain himself. Dark energy pooled around the giant as he regained his strength. He did not need all of his limbs to turn these pathetic mortals into pools of blood.
He rushed Power Girl and Hawkgirl delivering an almighty attack that sent shockwaves throughout the entire tower. He swatted Steel towards his swarm of elites, letting them rip him apart. Using one hand he began crushing the air out of the women.
"Boy, was I not clear in my instructions?" A voice boomed in Trigon's head.
"*Growls* Let me feed on their souls in peace, old man." Trigon hissed.
"The last time I left you to your devices, a woman's mind was broken. I won't let you do that to others."
"You fucking soft bastard. Where is the lord who ripped me limb from limb? This pathetic use of mercy is pointless." Trigon chimed back
"I rip the rest of them off if you kill a single soul in this battle."
Trigon hissed, staring down the whores in his hand with as much venom he could muster. What was Satanael's end goal with all this nonsense? The giant huffed. It wouldn't matter when he managed to take back the throne.
He threw the two heroes through the flooring of the Repair Bay with all his might. They'd be alive, mostly.
He stomped over to Steel trying to fight off his elite guards. He charged up a powerful almighty attack, eager to return the favor for the hammer he took to the chest.
"Get the children back to me. Now…" Satanael growled.
"Of course~. Your Majesty~" Trigon spat.
BOOM!
"AHHHHHHHHH!" Steel screamed in pain as his armor was ripped apart by Trigon's attack.
He'll live in intense pain. Trigon ripped the man apart, through his years he knew this mortal could live through worse.
"Get the mortals and retreat. We're done here." Trigon hissed.
Trigon released the hunk of metal that was Steel. The hero lasted harshly onto the ground, a mere head connected to his torso. His limbs spread around the Repair Bay.
Steel gritted his teeth in pain, error messages annoying him to no end. Questions rattled through his head, the demon went easy and he knew it.
He watched helplessly as the demons went through the wreckage and pulled out each and every enemy they've defeated. Steel narrowed his eyes, any other time they'd be left for dead by the demon. Just how close is Satanael to these people?
Trigon finished his work by picking up Killer Croc and throwing him into the portal. Huntress struggled to shoot arrows at the demon but it was no use. Trigon, the kids, everything disappeared. If the wreckage of Steel's bots weren't there, it would be like nothing happened.
"*pants* He...just left?" Huntress asked.
"RAAH!" Power Girl roared as she burst into a furious rage. Hawkgirl was right behind her.
"WHAT HAPPENED!? WHERE IS HE?!" Hawkgirl hissed.
"He's gone...Retreated." Huntress said.
"WHAT?! Trigon broke into this place, had it completely overrun, and just LEFT?!" Power Girl yelled.
"Satanael, he must be afraid of him. A lot to just leave without finishing the job. Question is why didn't the demon lord want that to happen?" Steel heaved.
"Steel! Oh my god! Hang on, I'll get you to Med Bay!" Power Girl shrieked at the sight of her friend.
"I'll be fine. The nanites...just need a minute to come back. Definitely will feel this in the morning." Steel groaned.
"This is Hawkgirl reporting! All enemies have disappeared. We have two heroes down, but Trigon is gone."
"U-understood. I don't get it, why would they just leave? They are coming in all over the Watchtower, Cyborg isn't responding, and they could easily get by them and take out the life systems. Why aren't they?" Oracle asked.
"The kids…" Steel gritted out in pain.
"What do you mean, Steel?" Huntress asked as Hawkgirl helped her up.
"Trigon isn't in charge anymore. The kids are." Steel realized.
"The file said as much. Satanael was on the throne, while Trigon sulked when I went there. I guess I just couldn't believe it." Hawkgirl scowled.
"WHAT?!" Power Girl screamed.
"Donna's report said they had control of Trigon. Or at least Satanael does. He must have put the kids above Trigon's position. The bastard must really been beaten to a pulp if he yields to someone else." Hawkgirl said.
"Ripped limb from limb." Steel repeated Trigon's words.
"Trigon conquered multiple realms. He got close to this one many times. How powerful does the new guy have to be if he bows to him?" Power Girl asked.
"And why is the new guy so protective of the kids and their followers?" Huntress added.
Hawkgirl crossed her arms and gripped them tightly in anger.
"Batman...said the leader could summon gods that could control lesser ones. It can't be." she hissed.
"No, there's no way. Who can that kid summon such a threat?" Power Girl shook her head.
"How can kids get as powerful as the Titans? The answer is always different, but that's just how the world works. Joker is smart. He used the Titans to map this place out for sure. Someone had to plan all of this out. Someone had to calculate everything that might happen, and ways to get out. Someone had to make sure they actually won. Because they're fucked if they lose, isn't that right, Hawkgirl?" Steel asked.
Hawkgirl gave him an ice cold glare.
"The one in charge changes nothing, Steel. The kids declared war on the entire world, and attacked this place, they didn't need to do that to please whoever has them by the throats." Hawkgirl growled.
"Wait, there's someone above Joker?! Above Satanael?! JUST WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!" Power Girl roared.
"You don't need to know, right now! Right now, we need to get any Phantom Thief in bars and demand answers!" Hawkgirl yelled.
"Then you'll sacrifice them. And for what?" Steel chided.
"No, they'll live. If nothing else, than to prove to the world they're wrong about their little broadcast." Hawkgirl spat.
The woman took off out of the room.
"Hey, we're not done here!" Power Girl yelled as she continued to help Steel up.
"Go after her, Kara. Save whoever you can ." Steel said.
"What? I-I…*groans* Fine. Helen, watch after him!" Power Girl huffed and raised after Hawkgirl.
"Steel, just what is going on?! Batman couldn't have done something as stupid as arresting Wonder Woman right? Please tell me the Phantom Thieves aren't here to truly rescue her..." Huntress said.
Steel stayed quiet for a while.
"I...I can't. If they aren't here to kill us, then that only leaves what you said." Steel admitted.
"Did he do it or not?" Huntress pressed.
"Yeah...he did." Steel answered.
Huntress clenched her brow in frustration. She's going to have a long talk about this with Bruce when this is all over.
NANANANANANANANANANANANANA
Galley
Beelzebub cackled as his army charged at the three heroes. He had to admit, the one with the ring was immensely powerful. But the fly smiled in glee, as he saw the Green Lantern struggle in pain. The man barely could barely stand, his whole body seeming to be held up by whatever magic he possessed. The other two would fall easily after the ring wearer falls.
But it would not stay that way…
SMASH!
From above a giant fist smashed down onto the demon's army. A man retracted it back to its original size as he dropped down into the chaos.
"PAT! Boy am I glad to see you!" Green Arrow huffed as he pulled an arrow out of a demon's corpse.
"They want the kids! Don't let them get to them!" Black Canary yelled.
"Got it! All right ya giant fly, time for you to get swatted!" Plastic Man smirked.
Beelzebub was then hit brutally by Plastic Man who morphed into a giant fly swatter.
"AHHH! You'll pay for that with your blood, mortal! DON'T LET UP ON THEM MAGGOTS! " The fly hissed to his minions.
Plastic Man was quick to play keep away with the hordes of demons with Black Canary and Green Arrow. They all were making sure not a single one of the demons got to Lantern.
Green Lantern gritted his teeth as he tried to swallow the immense pain in his ribs. He knew he couldn't hold on for much longer, his ring's power was running low and if it ran out of juice…
"*groans* I don't have much left in me. We have to get the kids out of here." Green Lantern hissed in pain.
"Hold on John! We'll try to-"
Black Canary was interrupted by a massive portal opening, immediately after massive winds rushed out and attacked them.
"LET GO OF MY FRIENDS! TAKE EM' OUT!" Mona roared.
"Shit!" Green Arrow cursed as he turned his arrows towards them. The last thing they needed right now was reinforcements.
White Rabbit was quick to pounce on Arrow, kicking the bow away from Mona and Violet as they rushed forwards. Terra was quick to use White's distractive move set to assist in taking the hero out.
"Didn't we already take you down?!" Arrow grunted as he focused on defense.
"Call it a second wind." White smirked.
Black Canary was about to use her scream to buy Arrow some time, but a whip was quickly wrapped around her neck, making the woman choke.
"Long time no see, Dinah. Shame it wasn't on better terms." Catwoman offered.
Canary growled and wrapped the whip around her legs, the sudden move allowed her to brutally punch Selina and free herself.
"Yeah, real shame." Canary said sarcastically. The woman traded blows with Catwoman until interrupted with a mighty sword slash that Canary had to dodge.
"You have no king to protect you know, dear." Antiope glared.
"Focus all forces on this vermin." Beelzebub hissed as he tried to land a hit on the annoying Plastic Man.
"I won't let you through!" The man declared. The hordes of demons all swarmed in on the powerful man. Despite their efforts, the elastic hero wiped the floor with them. He quickly became the metaphorical wall between the Phantom Thieves and Green Lantern.
"Dammit, we don't have time for this!" Mona hissed.
"Leave it to me!" Beast Boy quickly threw himself at Plastic Man. The boy employed a distraction tactic of turning into various animals in quick order. In all forms , trying to land a hit. Beast Boy finally managed to land a hit in his gorilla form, allowing for Beelzebub to follow up with a mighty curse attack.
"AAAHH!" Plastic Man was thrown back into the hordes of demons as Beast Boy and the fly quickly followed.
"GO!" The fly hissed.
Mona and Violet quickly charged at Green Lantern, Violet quickly performing a Brave Step spell on the two of them as Mona opened the fight with a miracle punch.
"UGH! You'll have to do more than that!" Green Lantern hissed. The shield held strong, but it took a lot of strength of will to do so.
"LET'S DANCE ELLA!" Violet yelled as she channeled her persona. She quickly and gracefully delivered a vorpal blade attack. Her rapier slashed brutal white lines of force on the shield.
"AHH! Dammit...I gotta hold on. I refuse to lose." Green Lantern hissed. His shield grew tentacles that tried to attack the two thieves. The hero gritted his teeth in focus, not letting the intense pain in his ribs get to him.
"He's getting tired! One good hit and he's done!" Mona declared.
"Understood, Mona-senpai!" Violet nodded.
They both charged at the hero, Green Lantern attempting to take them out to no avail. He knew he was running out of time, but there was nowhere to retreat. The only option was to stand his ground.
"AHHHHH!"
Both Phantom Thieves were taken by surprise by brutal strikes from a mace. They both cried out in pain but recovered from the attack to see the Hawkgirl standing in front of them with a vicious look of rage.
"Stay away from him, you bastards." Hawkgirl hissed out venomously.
In the fight around them, Power Girl was rushing through the hordes of demons. She charged into Beelzebub and proceeded to pummel the fly into oblivion. Plastic Man took the opportunity to wrap his arms around Beast Boy. The hero tried to struggle out of the hold, turning into snakes and tiny animals but Plastic Man was just as adaptive.
Black Canary wasn't having as much luck. Selina has fought her and with her before, the latter being done very reluctantly. Catwoman was quick to use Antiope's brutal attacks as a distraction, delivering a fierce kick to the torso. Antiope used the sparse seconds to deliver a critical takedown, using her strength to slam Canary into the ground and knock the hero out with a kick to the head.
"Dinah!" Arrow cried.
White Rabbit used the distraction to knee Arrow in the gut and steal his bow from his hand.
"Oh no~! Guess I've won~." White practically sang in a tease.
White and Terra finished him off. While Arrow was an expert martial artist, without his bow he had to go on a more defensive move set. That was his undoing, as White finally knocked him out with a kick to the face.
White Rabbit panted out in exertion.
"Now, the others." Terra sighed.
Catwoman sweated as Power Girl and Hawkgirl both roared in fury trying to take out their enemies.
"Yay…" White sighed sarcastically.
"We're being overrun! Lavenza! Change of plans!" Mona yelled.
NANANANANANANANA
Monitor Womb
Lavenza rushed past Manhunter's attack. She was struggling to take the hero down. Even with her fire, Manhunter kept fighting.
She had to get past him to get to Joker, but any attempts to take him down were met with a counter. Even as she tried to buy time to open a velvet door, Manhunter was right behind her to block her attempts.
"You will not escape me, child. Surrender, and stop this madness." Manhunter said calmly.
"You are strong, sir. But I lack time to truly battle you! Now...GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Lavenza shouted as she blasted an almighty attack at the alien.
J'onn took the hit, but quickly recovered as his hardened skin he formed for the battle protected him.
"You will not win, child. Now STAND DOWN!"
Manhunter used his telekinesis to pick up the girl and throw her into a wall. He flew fast at her and put a hand right on her head.
"Stand down!"
Martian Manhunter concentrated his mind on a strong telepathic assault.
"AHHH!" Lavenza cried in pain.
J'onn hated doing this attack on other beings, especially going so all out with it. But he knew the girl was resistant to psychic powers. He had to be careful, if he did it too harshly he'd cause a mental shutdown.
The girl clutched his arm, trying in vain to get the hand off her head. J'onn swallowed his disgust at himself looking at the young girl's tears slowly falling.
"Trickster….."
J'onn gritted his teeth as the memories of the girl rammed into his own. Due to the invasive nature of his attack, powerful memories of the victim always channeled into his mind.
"A prisoner of fate to a future that has been sealed in advance….rule over...power...why did I say that…? SHUT UP INMATE!...We now proceed to the execution of your sentence….Caroline...Justine...Our duty is not to kill...Help...Trickster...please… We were captive just like you… once one...I beg of you...please save us… Yaldabaoth...Your lies will work no longer now that my sight has been restored...Only you can leave this prison...I will always await you in that room….Trickster…"
J'onn struggled to hold onto the girl's mind as the rollercoaster of emotions rocked him. The velvet attendant started to glow bright blue as her body fought against the assault of the mind. This allowed her to overcome the pain and charge up the most powerful spell she could.
"Get….OFF!" Lavenza blasted J'onn away with an almighty attack.
J'onn was thrown back, distracted by the onslaught of memories. He gripped his head in pain as his mind processed the invasive process. The guilt was overwhelming, the fact that he was submitting these people to continue their cycle of imprisonment...it was too much to bear…
Lavenza however, didn't hold back in attacking the hero. Her anger got to her from the pain induced by the mental assault. Fire roared out of her hands and hit the Martian point blank.
"AHHH!" Manhunter cried out.
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT MARTIAN!" She hissed.
In her battle lust she failed to see the reinforcements coming towards her. Aquaman and Mera charged her with their control of water. The pressure of the blast threw her off her feet and into a wall.
Lavenza tried to get up, but a foot stomped on her body. The strength of it knocked the wind out of her. A trident was immediately threatening to stab into her small throat.
"Don't move." Aquaman growled.
"J'onn are you alright?" Mera asked as she checked on the kneeling alien.
J'onn was gripping his head still, the blaring static consuming his mind as he tried to deduce the one behind all of this from the girl's memories. The telepath knew their situation was bad, that their captivity and torment must be immense...This was beyond his imagination.
"Call off your forces, girl. Bring me to your leader and we might be merciful." Aquaman growled.
Lavenza responded with a severe psychic attack. As Aquaman cried out in pain, she quickly blasted him off of her with an almighty spell. Aquaman stabbed his trident into the floor to halt his motion. He scowled at the petite little thing that managed to push past his resistance to magic.
"Constantine didn't lie for once, eh? Surrender now, you're out numbered with no way out." Aquaman gritted out.
Mera was quick to take a battle stance by her husband's side. Lavenza panted but was quick to try and fight her way out. She couldn't risk more fellow magic users to be able to track her down. Constantine made sure to tell her just where they went wrong, and she won't make that mistake again.
"I will not kneel, I will not falter. My Trickster must be free, they all must be free…" Lavenza panted out.
The king and queen of Atlantis responded by rushing at her with their tridents. Both use their knowledge of magic to try and figure out a proper way to deal with this enemy.
J'onn, still on his knees, clenched his fists. The memories of the recent months played over and over in his mind. The slaughter the demon has done, the torment. The blood spilled in the strange blue prison...
Is this what Wonder Woman saw in their pain? Their suffering? No...she quit for less. Why didn't he? Why did he let this atrocity occur to mere children? What hope would they convey by leaving such people to die?
"AHHH!" Lavenza cried out as Mera managed to land a hit on her. The girl was strong, but she was tiring, desperate to be free. Sweat wass on her brow, as well as blood and bruises.
"The demon must be defeated, but can I swallow the guilt of imprisoning this girl more than she already has been. Can I look myself in the mirror and say justice was done? Or say that the League is moral in doing so?"
"No…" J'onn gritted out. No he could not.
J'onn got up and walked toward the two Atlanteans. Both were brutally battling the girl for her submission, and the long battle with him must have drained her at least somewhat.
"You're slowing, child. Stop this nonsense before you faint." Mera suggested.
"Mighty as you are, my wife offers you mercy. You'd better accept." Aquaman huffed.
Lavenza gripped her stomach and glared the two down. She refused to surrender.
Aquaman and Mera were about to finish her off, but J'onn stopped them by putting his hands on their shoulders.
"Let her go…" J'onn said firmly.
"J'onn? What are you talking about? They've destroyed this entire place, kidnaped thousands, and spoke blasphemy of our good name!" Mera spat.
"I've seen it all...I've seen everything...and I can't stand for this...I couldn't live with myself if I did… LEt her go Arthur, MEra...please." J'onn pleaded.
"The demon is right in our grasp, fool! It will come for them, and we will take it out!" Aquaman grounded out.
"Diana was right to not want to do this. The demon, strong as he may be...isn't worth sacrificing your morals. And if you've seen what I have seen...you'd agree." Manhunter explained.
"We all agreed such action was necessary. Do you think I enjoy doing this to such a small thing? It must be done, for the good of the world. They must tell us how to find who is behind all this! And then maybe we'll discuss their innocence in trial." Aquaman argued.
"They're dead the moment they enter that cell." Manhunter said gravely.
"What?" Mera asked, shocked.
"Nonsense, we have master magicians, the best security, and will not let such things occur!" Aquaman argued.
Lavenza started to try and back away and flee. Only to be met with Aquaman throwing his trident inches from her face.
"Don't test me, child." The king gritted out.
"Arthur, they did all of this, yes. But if they managed to summon all of these numbers, what do you think the demon is capable of?! I know enough, I've seen her knowledge! We don't need her!" J'onn pleaded.
"Don't tell them anything, fool! If you're so invasive in my memories, you know the punishment for failing to keep our secrets!" Lavenza chided.
"Little one, you must still answer for your crimes. Order and peace must be protected, and your path risks the destruction of both. That is certain, through all the mysteries surrounding you and your kin." Aquaman told her firmly.
The king walked towards her, channeling all his power to the forefront to finish her off.
"And if you don't surrender, I'm afraid I must do what must be done for the people on Earth." Aquaman's eyes glowed a bright gold.
"My love, I know not of the situation at hand. But, if both J'onn and Diana set it fit to show them mercy, should we not at least try and listen to them?" Mera gripped her husband's arm.
"They've destroyed our stronghold, declared war on everything we stand for, rushed past all our defenses...and you want me to just let them walk away?" Aquaman growled.
"I'm asking for the father in you to see perspective, not the general." Mera said.
"The whole world will demand for our heads. Don't you see?" Aquaman hissed.
J'onn grabbed Aquaman's shoulder, and walked past the couple who were talking. He sped up to the girl grabbing her stomach in pain, the one he fought just an hour ago.
"Run, little Lavenza. While you have a chance." J'onn called into the girl's mind.
"T-that voice...How are you-"
"GO!"
Lavenza nodded and rushed off into the long halls.
"SHE'S GETTING AWAY!" Aquaman yelled and was about to run after her, but J'onn raised his arm to block the hero's pursuits.
"Dammit, J'onn! This is not the way to deal with them! We have to stop them!" Aquaman gritted out.
"It isn't, trust me." J'onn calmly said.
J'onn knew he would be chastised by the other founders, but he didn't care. If they can't see the reasoning behind his actions then he didn't belong here in the first place.
NANANANANANANANANANANANA
Galley
"HAA! Dammit! Stay still, you rodent!" Hawkgirl hissed as she tried to land a hit on Mona.
"Maybe you should be faster, amateur!" Mona smirked as he slid under the flying woman's attack and launched himself up at her, landing several swipes at the back with his sword. With a final blow he blasted tornado-like winds at her back.
Hawkgirl took the hit hard, unable to stabilize herself with her wings. She crashed down onto the floor and hissed in pain. She scowled at the creature in front of her.
"Just what the hell are you, anyway? Some freak scientist get too eager with some stray?" She insulted.
"Hmph. Wouldn't you like to know?" Mona dodged as Hawkgirl tried to swipe at him with her metal wings.
Meanwhile, Plastic Man was still struggling to contain Beast Boy. White Rabbit and Terra tried to distract him with various attacks.
"Ladies, please surrender and-"
BAM!
White managed to land a right hook right in the hero's face interrupting him. The hero's neck extended from the force.
"I've heard enough of that to last a lifetime." White huffed
Plastic Man reeled back his head and tried to headbutt her. White dodged and stomped his head into the ground. Terra meanwhile was trying to free Beast Boy from the hero's hold.
"Come on, guys. Just give it up…" Plastic Man tried.
"Wow, count on ol' rubber boy to persuade us, eh?" White retorted.
Beast Boy finally managed to break free and turn into a gorilla, smashing the stretched man everywhere he could.
Power Girl rushed him and slammed the green boy into the ground.
"Sorry Beastie…" Power Girl made sure to add a little extra power as she punched the boy in the chest, and face. From years of being a Titan with him in another dimension she knew just how to take him out easily.
Power Girl flew towards Terra and White Rabbit and started to take them out. Plastic Man assisted her as Catwoman and Antiope joined in to get their allies out of there.
"Mona, I hate to be a downer, but how are were suppose to take on a Krytionian without the special green rocks?" Catwoman sweated.
"Requesting assistance! Operation Wing! WOAH! WATCH IT!" Mona shrieked.
"You are not getting out of this! I refuse to let it happen!" Hawkgirl hissed.
"Dammit, we went in too recklessly. Violet, get the others so we can leave!" Mona yelled.
"I'll do my best!" Violet jumped out of the way as Green Lantern tried to take her out.
"I kinda feel bad about all this. But orders are orders." Power Girl swatted White Rabbit like a fly and she was out cold. Catwoman tried evasive maneuvering but the hero froze her feet in place with her freeze breath.
"FOR DIANA!" Antiope roared as she rushed at the hero.
Plastic Man came in and punched her away with a giant fist, all the while trapping Terra into a makeshift cell he made with his other hand.
"Shit, do you read me?! Reinforcements now!" Mona hissed into his comm.
Hawkgirl smirked as she finally managed to hit the tiny creature with her mace.
"AHHH!" Mona cried as he tumbled onto the floor.
Hawkgirl scoffed as she grounded her heel into the monster's body.
"Oops. I hit ya a little too hard, little guy?" Hawkgirl smirked.
"AH! Where is everybody...don't tell me after all this they'd just bail…" Mona groaned.
"Aw~ You look cute when you're sad. Give it up." Hawkgirl ordered.
"Mona-senpai!" Violet cried.
Green Lantern grunted as he held his ribs. Blood trickled down all over his torso. The edges of his vision were blackening, his ring running on fumes.
"Any...day now people…" Green Lantern groaned.
Power Girl flew to Violet and shot at her with her heat vision. Violet did her best to dodge, but Power Girl's speed simply outdid her's.
"Time to fold, kid. Don't make this harder than it has to be. Power Girl kicked the girl in the back, dropping her to her ground.
Violet tried to roll and recover, blasting her rifle at the hero. The bullets bounced off Power Girl's body like it was nothing.
Panicking, the girl sent out a heavy bless attack that hit the hero point blank.
"AHH! You little…"
Power Girl slammed the girl's face into the ground, freezing her entire body in ice.
"Ah...Mona...I'm so sorry." Violet gasped in pain.
"We're clear. Just gotta make sure no more demons get in here." Plastic Man said.
"Thank God." Green Lantern dropped the shield and sat gently down on one of the few surviving lunch tables, gripping his ribs in pain.
"Power Girl, take this...thing off my hands. I'm going to check on John." Hawkgirl ordered.
"You won't get anything out of me.." Mona hissed.
"That's what they all say, sweetie~. I'm sure Batman will spend as much time as he needs getting intel out of all of you. He's very imaginative when it comes to questioning." Hawkgirl ground her heel even more into Mona's back.
"Shayera. Stop it. We're in no position to gloat. Neither of us won today." John said sternly.
"I know that John. But I'll make damn sure these fools lose just a touch more."
"Jeez, Shay. Turn down the sadism a couple notches. These are still just kids." Power Girl gripped Mona's chest and pushed down lightly, more than enough to immobilize him.
"Anyone you +has the gall to attempt all this deserves a proper punishment. These fools obviously mean business. I'm tired of pretending they don't because of how young they are." Hawkgirl growled.
"Ughhh….Let me go!" Mona tried to struggle.
"It's over little guy, don't make me press down any harder, I might break something." Power Girl warned.
"The demons are all focusing in on your location. Be ready!" Oracle warned.
"I think I'm about out of juice…" Green Lantern groaned. Hawkgirl was quick to check on his injuries.
"I'd say so...But at least we captured some of them. It's only a matter of tracking them down." Hawkgirl said softly as she worried over his bloodied body.
"We aren't finished yet, we went all this way for one person. What do you think we'd do for more?" Mona huffed.
"You destroyed all of this, went through all of this effort, just to free Wonder Woman? Can respect the commitment at least., but you guys flew a bit close to the sun." Power Girl admitted.
"I concur." A voice spoke.
Power Girl gasped, but before she could react Michael made himself known to these mere mortals, and slashed the hero with his sword made of righteous fire.
"AHHH!" Power Girl cried in pain.
"NOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS!" Michael ordered as he threw Power Girl away, taking Mona out of her grasp.
Hundreds of angels appeared out of nowhere, catching the League by surprise. All in the galley that weren't on the angels' side found swords drawn at their necks.
"All this effort for one mere mortal is idiotic. The Trickster must truly be insane to think this siege wouldn't make enemies of the whole planet. Yield." Michael huffed as he drew his sword to Power Girl's throat. The surprise attack struck her down and made her bleed heavily from the back.
"YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS! WE WILL FIND YOU. WE WILL BEAT YOU!" Hawkgirl hissed.
"What took you so long?!" Mona hissed as Michael opened a portal to the safety of Hell.
"As much as the fear of the demon lord runs through the ferals, the hate for my kin is tenfold. It is to be expected, those animals lost their mind to sin long ago." Michael threw the cat into the portal.
His troops more carefully took the other children into the portals. The League could do nothing but keep their hands raised as their own wounded were now being taken hostage.
"What exactly is Heaven's end goal in all of this?! Why are you helping them instead of us?!" Hawkgirl growled.
"Shay...don't." Lantern whispered as the swords dug just a bit deeper into his skin.
"My lord's plan is beyond your understanding girl. Don't question his methods of peace. If he has not answered your prayers, then it is clear you aren't worthy of such help." Michael hissed.
"That's the last of them, sir." A female angel saluted to Michael.
"Good. I tire of all this nonsense. Sweep the entire battlefield and clear it of the feral wicked. The battle is all but won." Michael ordered.
Just like that, all of the angels disappeared into nothingness. Michael raised his sword off of Power Girl's throat and disappeared just as fast.
"GODDAMMIT!" Hawkgirl crushed a lunch table with her mace in anger.
"We really just lost didn't we?" Plastic Man asked stupidly.
"Ugh….I hate magic so fucking much." Power Girl gritted out as she continued to lay down, so as not to feel the intense pain from her wound.
Green Lantern stayed silent, as much as the battle today made him respect and even slightly fear just how powerful the Phantom Thieves are. It only increased the fear of the demon in control of everything tenfold.
If they were really capable of all of this...He should count them all lucky it's Batman they were all truly after. Because if it was the League as a whole, this would have been more than an over dramatic rescue mission.
It would have been a full-scale takeover, one that could even make Darksied raise an eyebrow in approval.
And that's why, He asked Hawkgirl to find a bottle of the strongest alcohol she could. To both numb the pain of his intense injury, and to numb to the anxiety the fallout of all this would surely cause.
NANANANANANANANANANA
Power Annex
Firestorm roared as he took on the hundreds upon hundreds of demons. They just wouldn't stop coming, but what they had in numbers, they lacked in power. Even the elites that charged at him fell quickly to his power over the periodic table. What's a lackey to a man who could create the blast of an atomic bomb in his hands.
BOOM!
To make things even easier, Shazam crashed in.
"Sorry I'm late, these things just never stop. Figured you could use the help." Shazam said.
"Meh, these guys are nothing! I could do this all day. But the main thing is keeping them away from the fusion cell. They're like moths to a flame to the thing." Firestorm huffed.
Shazam channeled the might of Zues and electrified the entire horde in front of him to ashes.
"Where are they all coming from!?" Shazam asked.
"Beats me. Just keep hitting them until they give up!" Firestorm shouted.
"Oi...That's the best ya got huh?" a voice yelled out from the heavens.
"Who said that?" Firestorm asked.
"Look up mate." Constantine blasted Firestorm down with a powerful almighty attack; the force slamming him down into the ground, letting the demons swarm him.
Firestorm roared as he incinerated them all to atoms. But Constantine was quick to blast him to the far wall with a strong wind spell.
"Who are you?!" Shazam asked as he rushed towards the man.
"Figures the League wouldn't let a mere child in on my existence. Never was a real role model." Constantine puffed out a wall of smoke.
"HUH?! How do you know that? Show yourself coward!" Shazam hissed as he rushed into the smoke using his super speed to try and catch the man.
"It's all over your face kid. That and if there's any magic users out there, I make damn sure I know about them. Makes it easier to bring them down if necessary." Constantine ripped the lid off a box to reveal the unconscious Panther.
"Shit! Don't let him take her! We need her for questioning!" Firestorm yelled as he blasted lava at the sorcerer.
Constantine lifted up a protective shield and the lava immediately bounced off of it. Shazam tried to punch through it but was unable, even with all his strength.
"It ain't ever gonna be that easy, kid." Constantine took a swig of his flask. He moved to pick up Panther bridal style.
"Constantine right? Listen, I don't really know what went down but-"
"Save it. Have fun dealing with ol' Brucie's rage when all this blows over. I'm out of here." Constantine opened a portal to hell underneath his feet and jumped into it.
"WAIT!" Firestorm yelled but it was too late. They were gone. And almost instantly, all the demons evaporated into nothing. Like they were after her and not the fusion cell the whole time. Was that really the case?
"Whose Brucie?" Shazam asked, confused.
"D-don't worry about it." Firestorm sweated. It was clear Batman was still not trusting of Shazam to reveal that little truth to him. And why did Constantine call a grown man a kid? Firestorm barely made it in the league due to the age of Ronnie. Only the Professor's assurance of keeping him in check led to his acceptance into the League.
"How old are you again, Shazam?"
"Uh...like thirty, no forty!" Shazam sweated on the spot.
"Right…"
NANANANANANANANANANA
Watchtower Hangar C
Meta Containment
Flash in a split second, got back on his feet and into a battle stance. Diana responded by getting into her own, preparing to defend Joker. She stood in front of him and the others Flash had knocked out, Metatron, Messiah Picaro, and Maria did the same.
"This ends now, Diana...Please, I think I've figured it all out. Just stand down, this is exactly what the enemy wants." Flash said.
"I've had quite enough of hearing that. Unless you are joining me with them, I have nothing more to say." Diana scowled.
"Flash, take them all down, the time for discussion is over." Batman gritted out.
"Can't, tried everything I could on the kid, in the last nanosecond. Can't punch him without punching myself. Hitting the angels are like hitting ghosts." Flash said.
"So you left me awake for a nice chat? How kind." Diana scoffed.
"I figured it all out. Why everything got so out of hand so fast. Why the Phantom Thieves are tearing us apart so efficiently! And I wanted you to know who it was." Flash proclaimed
"If you really did, you'd be on the ground bleeding black, begging him to not kill those you love." Joker said darkly.
"That's the thing, Joker. He can't kill me, he wants to so badly, but if he does he ceases to exist. He's tried killing everyone I've cared about, time and time again. But it doesn't come without consequences to his timeline." Flash smirked.
"Flash are you saying…" Batman began.
BOOM!
The Watchtower rumbled and the lights flickered again.
"Think about the story I've told you all. The timeline I created, the outcome of all those in that universe. The letter I gave you from…Thomas." Flash said.
Batman gritted his teeth, Diana offered a simple ear, Joker crossed his arms.
"It's Thawne, he's alive isn't he? He forced you all to obey him and destroy the names of both me and Batman?" Flash asked Joker.
"Who?" Joker asked simply.
"It's over! You don't have to lie! He set it all up to make you think he is a demon to throw us all off! He traveled dimensions to find anything to throw us all off, and found you! Tell me! No...THAWNE SHOW YOURSELF!" Flash roared.
Silence filled the air, Joker raised an eyebrow at Flash's claim. He honestly felt a little bad.
"Barry…" Diana said.
"That has to be it, there's no way everything fell to shit that fast! I KNOW YOU'RE HERE SOMEWHERE!"
"You told me he was shot in the head. Point blank. Even he can't survive that if he doesn't see it coming." Batman hissed in pain.
"He must have gone fast enough to fake his own death! I've seen it hundreds of times! It's all a set up! He might not be the one who gave the kids their power, but I'd bet he's working with them! SOMETHING!" Flash roared.
"Barry…" Diana said solemnly.
"TELL ME! TELL ME THAT THIS IS ALL HIS FAULT! NOW JOKER!" Flash demanded.
Joker held a poker face, he didn't know how to approach this. He didn't really know what Flash was talking about. He supposed the brutal truth would have to do. He grabbed Diana's lasso of truth. He felt it's magic course through him.
"I've never heard of a man named "Thawne". Nor have I done anything to purposefully destroy your name. My captor is obsessed with Batman, not you." Joker said.
"Barry...I don't think you're thinking clearly." Superman said.
"Take them down, we'll figure it out when they're imprisoned!" Batman hissed.
"It has to be a lie…My nephew, my sister...my whole world is crumbling around me, because of you..." Flash said softly.
"You're running from the truth, Flash. I assume Mary was angered by the news? She has every right to be, as does Wally. You threw him to the wolves the moment he made a controversial choice." Diana said.
"That's not true! He flipped a coin to make up his mind. He wasn't convinced, he just threw caution to the wind!" Flash snapped.
"And what did you do exactly to make a coin flip a more promising option?" Nightwing asked, still frozen in his suit.
"He made the right call, Dick. We can't let them rule over all of us! Look what happens when we do!" Batman hissed.
"Oh yeah, I'm really ruling the world right now. I feel completely in control of every action I'm forced to take. That's what you're going with Bruce? How much mental gymnastics were done for that little number?" Joker asked.
"Any moment the demon could possess you! And kill us all!" Batman spat.
"Yup. Won't deny that. You can't deny however, I offered multiple chances to stop all of this. What do you do? Force my hand. All of the League is so scared of you, they wouldn't dare come to your city to deal with me. The rules are clear, and they all push violence against you. A simple allowance of another leaguer to talk to me and discuss the proper routes out would have sufficed in terms of a loophole." Joker put it simply.
"You couldn't possibly know that, you barely know if killing me is enough for him!" Batman hissed.
"But you were too stubborn and paranoid to simply try." Diana crossed her arms.
"Enough! Flash…Think about this. Think about all of the riots on the street happening right now! This is all they're doing! They cannot be allowed to run free!" Batman yelled.
While all this was happening, Joker did little hand motions behind his back. The personas behind him nodded.
Joker started to slowly back up.
"Wally asked you who you voted for, and was disappointed. Who wouldn't be?" Joker stated.
Flash gritted his teeth but nodded his head.
"Bruce here wanted to beat him up like scum. Just like he did to his own son. Who is he to tell you how to deal with your family? And what kind of family are you to allow it?" Joker continued.
"That's-" Flash tried but stopped himself.
"Just a thought. But why would you support such a man, when everyone in your life says it's wrong?" Joker asked.
Joker took Diana's hand, the slight tug had clear intention.
"I...I…" Flash stumbled.
"FOR FUCK'S SAKE! YOU'RE LETTING HIM GET AWAY!" Batman roared.
"Confliction and hesitance is the worst enemy of a man wanting change. What are you going to do Barry? Make up your mind." Diana pressed.
Joker pulled out a smokescreen, Flash made time come to a standstill as the boy made the move. Instinctively he raced towards the two, but something interrupted both off their plans.
BOOM!
"KAL!" Kara bursts in through the walls, her eyes glowing a bright red in panic and anger.
The blast blew back everyone, Joker flipping and throwing down the smokescreen in a panic. He didn't know who this girl was but he wasn't about to find out.
"NOW!" Joker ordered.
"NO!" Batman hissed.
Flash was quick to circle his arms at supersonic speeds clearing the smoke. But it was too late, he was too late.
Joker, Diana, everybody was gone that caused all this.
"Kara?! I told you to stay with-"
"I was worried ok?! And for good reason! Look what they did to you!" Kara had to keep away less she too was affected by the runoff kryptonite.
"What have you done…" Batman gritted out.
"Batman...I" Flash began.
"Batman! The demons are dispersing! Tim and the titans are tracking down Alibaba! We're gonna get them!" Oracle called in.
Batman glared at everyone around him intensely. The failures that were the Justice League. The failure made by him. Everything that could go wrong has every contingency he had in place.
"Find her. Now…" Batman practically growled.
"R-right away!" Oracle stuttered, Bruce was in that terrifying silent fury. Where he's past stuffing it down, past yelling, and past any rational reasoning on his target.
She hoped Tim and the others got Alibaba, for all their sakes.
NANANANANANANANANA
May 30th, Late Night
Port Adams
Thunderstorms
Red Robin kicked a Phantom Star in the chest, and followed up with blow to the head with his staff. Aqualad was quick to aid in taking her out as he was done with the one he fought off.
"Tell me some good news." Red Robin said.
"Robin and Batgirl have closed the perimeter to a subsection of crates. If there is anything they're hiding it's there." Aqualad reported.
"Good. Miss Martian, Superboy?" Red Robin called.
"We're done here, only two others. They must have only spared so much for Alibaba. They didn't think we'd find her." Miss Martian answered.
"And that's why they'll lose. Everyone, report to Robin and Batgirl. We might just win this thing." Red Robin smirked as he and Aqualad raised to the location.
NANANANANANANANA
"Senpai they're coming." Alice said calmly as the last Phantom Star lost contact.
"I just need a little more time! All the juicy stuff is very hard to access." Futaba whined.
"We must flee. If they get you-"
"I know, I know! Joker we need to buy some time and-"
BOOM!
The elevator shaft blasted open from Superboy's punch.
"IT'S OVER ALIBABA! GET HER!" Red Robin ordered.
"AHHH! Abort, abort, abort! Operation uh...whatever it's called, just help me!" Futaba shrieked.
Alice stood in front of her and smiled wickedly.
"As you wish. This will be fun~!" Alice giggled.
"Titans, whoever that is, do not underestimate her. If she's with them…" Red Robin dodged as Alice casted Black Viper. A giant snake appeared out of nowhere and tried to snap its teeth into any of the group.
"I'll be right there! Commence Operation Red!" Joker called.
"Understood, sending what I can!" Alibaba slammed her tiny hand on the big red button.
"INITIATING SELF DESTRUCT PROCEDURES!" The computer roared.
"WHAT?! Talia you crazy bitch! Get out of here NOW!" Alibaba roared at everyone inside.
"DON'T TALK TO ABOUT MY MOTHER THAT WAY YOU DEGENERATE!" Robin hissed.
"Not the time Robin!" Miss Martian quickly grabbed him and Batgirl and rushed back into the elevator.
"No Megan! We have to get her, the hostages!" Batgirl yelled.
"THIRTY SECONDS!" The computer chimed.
A portal opened and Joker quickly rushed into the room and grabbed Futaba and Alice.
"Joker! Stop right there!" Robin hissed as he pushed past the Titans and rushed towards him with his sword raised.
"DAMIAN!" Red Robin tried to grab him but the child quickly slashed his older brother in the arm. Nothing would stop him. NOTHING!
"Fuck. Do it now!" Joker ordered.
"FIVE"
Michael teleported in and tackled Damian, quickly teleporting again and dropping him outside.
"FOUR"
Other angels quickly did the same with the other Titans. Red Robin had no time to think as one moment he was in the secret room, and the next he was outside feet away from a cursing Damian, trying to fight off Michael's hold.
"THREE"
Joker jumped backwards into the portal, Futaba and Alice in tow. The portal closed quickly, leaving the room empty of any life.
The angels who saved the Titans disappeared as quickly as they came. Superboy and Miss Martian stood in confusion.
"Get down! It's gonna blow!" Aqualad ordered.
"TWO"
"JOKER!" Robin roared, voice filled with fury as Red Robin grabbed him back into the cover that Michael put him in.
"ONE"
BOOOM!
The secret hideout exploded and the storage containers outside quickly did with it. Debris flew everywhere, but nowhere near the Titans.
"LET ME GO YOU BASTARD! THEY MUST PAY!" Robin hissed.
"The last thing we need today is another dead Titan." Red Robin spat right back.
"YOU LET THEM GET AWAY! IF YOU HAD LET ME GET TO THEM I WOULD HAVE-"
"Been splattered across the entire shipyard, you brat. Titans report." Red Robin gripped the shoulder where Damian slashed him in anger and frustration.
"We're clear." Superboy and Miss Martian said.
"Roger" Aqualad reported.
"We lost again, I can't believe we lost again!" Batgirl said distraught.
"*sigh* At least we're alive. Oracle...bad news." Red Robin prepared for the earful Barbara had in store.
"The hostages...they...they just sent out a call to where they are." Oracle gasped.
"What?" Aqualad asked.
"An anonymous call to GCPD...a warehouse in Burnley. They... an officer just found them." Oracle continued.
"They're letting the hostages...go?" Miss Martian asked, confused.
"Why would they do that? They had us by the balls for a split second, and just gave up?" Superboy added.
"Wonder Woman…" Red Robin realized.
"Huh? What're you talking about?" Robin hissed.
"They just wanted Wonder Woman. That's it. Everything else didn't matter. They just wanted the one person in that debate who sided with them. And use it against us." Red Robin sighed.
"What does this mean? What happens now? What's the plan I-"
"Megan, there is no plan. They're already gone. And when they're gone, they make damn sure they can be found. The hostages are released, the demons are dispersing, Sataneal just popped away from Dr. Fate's battle laughing like a mad man. It's over. We lost." Oracle said.
"No…NOO!" Robin roared.
"All that's left...is the fallout." Oracle said gravely.
"Oh god. I'm so fucking dead." Red Robin sighed.
NANANANANANANANANANANA
Jim Gordon and Cash raced to the warehouse in their police car. The entire block was surrounded by police vehicles. A news helicopter was already hovering around the place like a vulture. Guess the kids told the news too.
"Report! NOW!" Gordon ordered.
"Sir! We're currently sweeping the room for any possible missing people. We have found none so far." An officer said.
"The diplomats?" Cash asked.
"All accounted for. But they're all out cold, it seems like the Thieves wanted witnesses though. Look at this." The officer continued, handing Gordon a card.
"We steal hearts, not stop them…" Gordon read.
"The hell is that supposed to mean?" cash asked.
"It means no one died. Joker told me himself." A random man huffed.
"What happened up there, sir? Did they give you any clue to where they might be hiding?" Gordon asked.
"Of course not, it would be too easy then, wouldn't it? Believe me, if I knew I'd tell you." The man scoffed.
"Dammit, find anyone with the card. They clearly wouldn't have left just one witness. They had to let something slip. A place, a person, anything that could lead us to them!" Cash yelled.
"We've found multiple witnesses, none of them know anything about their current whereabouts so far." the officer sighed.
"We won't find anything Cash. You know it, I know it." Gordon sighed as he lit a cigarette.
"Jim, there's got to be something, you don't just declare war on the entire Justice League and vanish off the face of the Earth!" Cash yelled.
"Either way, it's gonna be a long night. We're gonna be taking a lot of heat from the press for this. Not to mention the pressure the higher ups are gonna give from all of this. It's gonna be a long day tomorrow, with lots of paperwork." Gordon sighed, already tired from the long hours he's been working.
"I really could use a coffee right now…" Jim mumbled to himself.
NANANANANANANANANA
Kingdom of Hell
Joker panted as the adrenaline got to him about how close that escape was.
"Remind me to properly punish you for not changing that lunatic's heart!" Futaba hissed. Blowing the entire place up was not part of the plan, it was one of the few things Joker left up to Talia to deal with.
"Yeah...yeah…" Joker nodded.
He looked around to see everyone he sent out recovering from the assault. Many were still out cold. Most were the friends he held closest. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. It was over, it was finally over. He almost passed out from exhaustion.
"Joker?" Diana put a hand on his shoulder.
"Did we just...actually do all that?" Joker asked, almost uncertain.
Diana for the first time saw the child underneath the facade. She saw the angry and desperate, from when he furiously punched Bruce when the man refused to back down. But now she saw the faintest glimpse of the child that was forcefully made to do all of this. And it made her feel even more sorry for him as a result.
Diana hugged Joker, stroking his hair like a mother would.
"It's over sweetie. You're safe. All of your friends are safe too." Diana said softly.
But the brief relief was short between the two. A very slow clap could be heard throughout the halls. Joker froze, and the first place he looked the bastard was there.
"Bravo! Encore! This is exactly that kind of thing I wanted when I let you off your leash! Aw man! I knew I was right to pick you~!"
Bat-mite stood there with the biggest grin Joker had ever seen.
It was never over. This war was just beginning.
NANANANANANANANANANANA
AN: Sorry for a whole month away gang. Irl stuff and all that. But hey at least we finally finished up this arc! WOOO! Might revisit if you guys think the ending is a bit rushed. But for now, I'm so happy we can see the after effects of all this choas. See ya soon~!
