You were gone.

You left.

Gripping her dad's leather jacket, curled next to Titus, Joanna movements were sedated. Barely a single peep emitted from her, concerning her caretakers. They stood watch over her, as instructed, their eyes on the small body that trembled quietly. Her eyes shut tight and knuckles white from her strong grip. A small dark crackled of electricity emitted from the tips of her finger. They knew well not to get too close, backing up slightly just in case. There was no telling what would come the toddler.

From the cracked floors and walls, she caused, they let her be, and waited for the return of Damian and of her mother.

You.

You barely managed to deflect Mera's thrust assault. The tips of her trident nearly skewered you, interlocking with your sword; you hold yourself firmly against her strength. Which was twice than it was before, courtesy of her new cybernetics. She was half the Althantean if barely, she once was. Her lower half now a servant's tail, along with her arms and half of her face. It almost looked like Cyborg's.

Almost.

She wasn't the only one, the moment you and the others arrived in Apokolips; John cast an invisible spell. That wasn't invisible enough, Mera still maintaining her hydrokinesis, sensed everyone from the puddles laid out. No one thought much of it until John stepped in one and the attack began.

Everyone separated. You with Superman. Raven against Starfire who was nearly unrecognizable, your heart wept, she nearly all cybernetics. That prizing warmth she had was gone, cold and murderous intentions replaced that. Robin fought against Martian Manhunter, who was more machine than Martian. His legs now mechanical, four sharp ones. Relentlessly kept his attacks up. Pushing back and jumping to the side, you free yourself. With a sharp whistle, just as Mera charges you again, call your hounds. One was assisting Robin, the other…with John who was up against Wonder Women.

Your stomach felt like rocks, you could barely stop glancing over at him when you could. Physical combat (unless dirty) wasn't his strength. You use to call him out on that, even offered to teach him but he never took you upon it.

Damn idiot!

"Violet! Duck!" Clark alerts, you do so and he threw a punch at Mera knocking her back.

It was strong, but not that much. She skids back a few and pissed her off further. Like lighting she reached you and Clark in seconds, her trident raised, your hellhounds jump her from behind. Sinking their teeth into her shoulders, distributing her functions. Giving you an opening, gripping the hilt ignite the blade; you needed to finish this quickly. You couldn't stand the horrid sight before you and the mounting heaviness in your chest. Shutting your eyes for a moment, less than a second…how could you let this….you…if just would have…

"Violet!" Clark shouts seconds too late.

Your eyes snap open and your heart turns cold, your feet almost freeze in place. Clark raced to you, his arm stretched you. Your hounds flung off, one over the side and into the pit, screaming at yourself to move; John hearing Clark's cries pauses for a moment moving out the way of Wonder Woman, whips his head around in the direction, turned white. Something pressured inside him, his mouth opened slightly ready to shout; Wonder Woman comes back and barely cleaved him. Managing to push the alien back, Robin turns around to Clark's cries, lost focus for a moment. Felt it drop like a rock, his stomach.

"…Alright, I'll do it."

He remembered those words to Conner. The promise he made, now would die right before his eyes. Wishing for super-speed right now, just as he did many times ago. Watched, as he turned heel and bolted over, Mera's trident plunge itself right into you. Your body and head jerked back and forth and went limp. A coldness swept over you and for a moment you saw a light and…heard a voice.

"Not yet."

Not yet, you repeat to yourself and find, gratefully, only the left prong emerging from out of you. The others you managed to stop by stabbing your blade into the ground and holding it back. Also, Clark's grip on its neck kept it from any permit damage. Gritting your teeth, chuckle, swallow the pain. You really were out of shape, damn. You really should have trained.

Smirking, you look at Mera, a bit of blood drizzling from the corner of your mouth, "Not. Yet."

Yanking the prong out of you, ripping more flesh and producing more blood, Mera raised and thrust it again. Clark managed to pull you back this time. He was fast but she was faster; whipping her tail slung it, you muster your strength. Digging deep, but not too deep, call forth your flames and encase you and Clark in a sphere of hellfire. Protecting you both. That didn't stop her, repeatedly she whipped her tail and thrust her trident, trying to find any way to break the defense. You kept yourself firm, Robin returned back to fighting the martian; you were alright, holding up your own…well. His mind on the fight, for a moment, drifted to you and your…rather sluggish performance. Flipping back he dodged getting impaled; the years of sideline took its toll. He should have known, he should have kept you back at the temple.

Thrusting his blade at the alien, barely managed a cut, followed with a front kick; knocking the alien back a bit. Stunning the martian, using that Robin rushed him and managed to slash his blade across the alien's chest. The gash was huge and quickly healed. Jumping back Robin evaded the jaws of the martian took. He jumped back again, taking a quick moment to look over at you. Mera was hounding against the sphere, he noticed it weakening. One more hit and that was it, she'd get through.

Conner's words echoed in his mind again, gripping the hilt, spun himself mid-air, and landed lightly. Kicked himself from the spot flipping over the martian swiped the feet, knocking the martian over raised the blade high overhead, and without a second thought plunged it into the alien, only to miss. Manhunter split himself in two avoiding the blow. Keeping calm, Robin quickly went on the defense, knocked back by a mighty swing. He kept himself firm. His back in your direction, his ears heard your struggles and Clark's worries.

He needed to finish this quick, you weren't going to last very long.

Another hit from Mera burst the sphere, knocking you to the ground and leaving you and Clark open. Taking this moment she hurled her trident, thinking quickly Clark throws himself over you taking the hit.

"Clark"! You panic, eyes wide looking at the trident now lodged in the suit's shoulder.

There was no distress you could find or sense on him, he just looked winded. He managed to give you an assuring smile before getting up and pulled the trident out. Sparks of torn wires flickered, looking at the shoulder you see it still functional.

Good.

Mera advanced rapidly, her tail whipped at you and Clark. Quickly you get up, to fall back down and grab your side. You forgot about the injury, your hand now covered in red, blink a few times and shake off the dizziness. Your head was spinning slightly, and limbs began to feel like noodles. You barely kept yourself up. Fading in and out, between the fight and a white warm light…hearing that voice again…that was so familiar.

"Not yet."

Why not yet? Why not…an answer you wouldn't get, but the words were enough to give you strength. Calling upon the flames, engulf your blood-covered hand in it and slam it against the wound. Gritting your teeth and stifling your screams, keep your stomach from hurling at the scent of your own flesh burning. Ironically really, you've smelt burnt flesh before…down in Hell. Cauterizing it took a moment, a stupid decision that nearly cost your life. Mera engaged in a battle against Clark, who did his best to keep her away from you, she spotted a puddle of water and a simple violent flip of the hand harden into spikes and sent them at you.

Realizing what she just did, Clark screams your name, but you couldn't make it out and stand. Hearing him, Raven and Robin turn their heads, kicking back the martian Robin hurries to aid you. Using a burst of speed he just now discovered, pushes himself from where he was and leaps to you. HIs arm extended, stretching his muscles; he could feel the fibers ripping.

"Violet!"

"…..C-Conner….N..No…Damian.." you mutter stumbling forward, trip over your feet, fall to your knees.

When suddenly a strong metal arm scoops down and catches you, keeping you hosted up until Robin and Clark reached you.

"Easy, little sister."

Knowing that strong, kind voice that hadn't been heard in years, look as your vision refocus and find Wonder Women. No longer under Darkseid's control, warmly looking at you with her glowing red cybernetic eye.

Surprised, before you could utter a word she gives you over to Robin who wraps your arm around his shoulders and hurries away with your hellhound at his heel; just as Mera comes and attacks the Amazon. Raven and John were at the entrance of the palace waiting for you four. The sight of you triggered something in John, his heart clenched heatedly and dropped for a moment. An image flashed in his mind of you…in his arms with the scrunched up face looking up at him, eyes barely open. He was filled with dread, but when he saw…you smirk, the same one he had, all that washed away. Knowing he should stay where he was, hurried over to you and just took you from Robin, shouting back for the two to hurry their asses up.

Once inside, you managed to regain yourself after a few seconds, a few minutes would have been better. Luckily your one hellhound came to give you support. Robin stayed close and Raven too.

You really were out of shape, you couldn't help but snicker a bit, despite the pain. Something like this you would have turned yourself numb to erase any throbbing and dull ache, but you couldn't. The bit of energy you had would have to be saved for later. Walking through the corridors, being vigilant and ready for any surprise attack or figure. Luckily none came or was spotted, rounding the corner come to a room.

And in that room, to everyone's surprise, and horror; your utter shame and mounting regret; find Flash imprisoned and hooked up to on a treadmill.

Still alive!