Night had fallen like many times before, he landscape was desolate as it had been for the past six months. What was once his home is now a crumbled ruin, a familiar sight throughout the world. They were only two left of his family now. The rest had perished in the war. Their planet wasn't the only one feeling the scars but it was one of the last to be touched before it ended.
The stars were a slight comfort, there were a few missing now. New constellations would need to be named. Some cities were left abandoned to be reclaimed by nature. Gotham City one of them. Others were being rebuilt, Metropolis a shining example. Many nations had been dissolved society changing to a more simplistic bartering society. The parallels to No Man's Land after the earthquake that devastated Gotham years ago worried him.
At that time, people would either shine or take advantage to an extreme. Many people had died and the remaining population built up their own societies and structures of government. The world not just a city had changed fundamentally. Humanity would need to build itself again.
He sighed as his thoughts flew around again. A few of his friends were rebuilding in their own respective homelands. His homeland wouldn't be one of them. The city he strove to help to protect the innocent within no longer existed. Scavengers would come by to salvage whatever they could but it would never regain its glory.
The bundle in his lap shifted and he looked down to watch as his last remaining family member slept. She had come into his life two years ago. Fifteen years of age, very bright, and capable. She had spent the early formative years of her life in Paris with her adopted mother, Selina Kyle. He remembered her birth and the subsequent upheaval in his life.
He looked down at the twin bundles, his heart soaring with happiness. It had been a few years since he had embarked on his mission. He had never expected her to come in his life and with that the promise of a future different from what he expected.
They hadn't named them yet only had choices which they wished to bestow when they saw the twins for the first time. She was exhausted after giving birth. Her pulse slow but steady enough. Her eyes slowly opened as she looked at him with a small smile.
He didn't notice still looking at his daughters. His future included these wonderful beings. He would do anything for them. These two would be the most important innocents he would protect for the rest of his life.
A flash of gold light disturbed them and his countenance shifted as he saw who appeared. He looked at his partner and saw her face slowly frown in confusion.
"Good evening, Bruce Wayne," said Dr. Fate formally.
"Good evening," said Bruce stiffly. Dr. Fate's unexpected presence especially in his civilian identity raised his suspicions greatly. This would not be a good situation.
"I regret the circumstances of my coming, Bruce Wayne. However fate has decreed it and it must be fulfilled."
His eyes narrowed.
"Your daughters are instrumental in the fall and rise of civilization. One will partake in the defense and near destruction of the universe, and the other will protect and herald in a new age. They will be separated for it is necessary. Together they will attract attention as the portents and signs will become visible for those that seek to harm them."
"Bruce," whispered a voice, "what is happening?"
He turned to look at the bed a frown marring his face. "Our daughters are victims of fate." Inside he was cursing at himself, moments before he had sworn he would protect his innocent daughters from anything and now fate was throwing them into a struggle where the balance of the universe was at stake.
"Please, my daughters, don't ...," she pleaded as exhaustion overtook her. Her pulse increased in intensity.
"Leslie," he called loudly. She and Alfred had left a short time earlier leaving the new parents with their children.
Leslie rushed in with Alfred shortly behind her. It was too late already weakened by childbirth the news hadn't set in well with her and she had passed.
Bruce growled in frustration, his future kept changing with no notice and in drastic waves.
"My condolences, Bruce Wayne," said Dr. Fate softly.
Bruce looked at him coldly. "What is to happen to them?"
"One will remain in this world, it is best if she is distanced from you. The other will be taken to an alternate dimension the future will depend on her."
He took in a sharp breath at that. His existence in their lives would be completely nonexistent. Alfred was watching him with a sharp eye but didn't say anything.
He looked down at the twin bundles and the small sleeping faces visible memorizing every little detail. This might very well be the last time he saw them in his life. "Do I have a choice in anything?" Bruce finally asked.
"You may name them and the one that remains in this dimension can be placed with someone you trust with the stipulation you are not in her life until it is her time," said Dr. Fate.
"Helena, Marinette."
Helena was with him now; her time had come to fulfill part of her fate and she defended and witnessed the near destruction of the universe. One of the youngest to ever be inducted in the Justice League, she became valued in their ranks. When forced to accept her induction, he had her assigned to Nightwing's team. They already were close as brother and sister and worked well together. Dick looked after his sister and she was more agreeable to him not as rebellious as with her father. It was a good decision and later when the dust settled. Father and daughter had bonded closer than before. He was grateful but saddened at the cause.
He bent down and kissed her forehead wondering how her twin sister fared in her dimension.
Paris, France
"Marinette," said Tikki softly.
"It's too early, Tikki," mumbled Marinette.
It had been a long night fighting a concrete paver who got frustrated when people would ignore the signs to avoid the fresh concrete. Every floor turned into wet concrete that would solidify whenever someone stepped on it trapping them. It was excruciating how long it took to deal with him.
"You're going to be late to submit your entry," said Tikki.
"Oh no, is that today?" exclaimed Marinette quickly getting up. There was an all Parisian school fashion contest for aspiring designers. Those who excelled in the contest were to gain a two month internship with a few fashion houses. Marinette had been working on her piece for two weeks now and it was ready. Items were to be submitted with a description to be looked at and judged.
She bounded down the stairs and gave a quick kiss to her parents before leaving.
Minutes after she left, a gold light flashed in the living room and a man appeared from the portal.
"Bonjour Monsieur Dupain and Madame Dupain-Cheng."
"Dr. Fate," they both said surprised. They had not seen him since he dropped Marinette off with them years earlier.
"It's not her time, is it?" asked Sabine.
"Not hers for the time being, but events are in motion. Her sister has accomplished her first part with success. It is time the two were united."
"Her sister will leave with us?" asked Tom. "That would be wonderful for Marinette, she had always wished for another sibling." Sabine and Tom clung to each other, try as they could they could never have children and Marinette was a blessing to them. They loved her dearly and she them.
"That may not come to pass, for her father still lives and may wish to come with her when she comes to this world," said Dr. Fate.
"Have you shared the truth with Marinette of her place in the future?"
"We didn't wish to burden her until she came of age," said Tom. "My little girl deserved the best childhood free from worries."
"Tom, Marinette is strong, I think we should tell her soon," said Sabine.
"I agree, Madame, preferably before her twin crosses worlds and events get set into motion. Helena came into her birthright two years ago and Marinette must follow. Fate decrees it. There is darkness coming and she will stand against it."
"We will tell her soon," said Sabine. "Our girl is strong and capable, I'm sure of it."
"I will visit once more to inform you of Helena's crossing." He waved his hands to see if the spell he left seventeen years ago still held. A weakened pulse of magic washed over him. It still held but was weakened which was of no consequence at this point. The girl had already started on her path unbeknownst to her parents.
"Take care Monsieur and Madame."
Clark had invited the both of them to Metropolis. He had grunted in response not knowing what and where his future would lead him. He did know he would follow Helena wherever she went to help in with whatever fate had in store for her. Very few knew of Helena's possible future, other than Alfred and later Dick. The less that knew the better. Fate was not to be trifled with. His experiences with fate, destiny, and magic had always left him vary. They rarely if ever followed logic and substance.
Helena shifted again.
A gold light came again.
He knew what it meant, and dreaded the possibility of losing his daughter again.
"Batman."
"Dr. Fate."
"It is time for Helena to join her sister."
He sighed his heart heavy.
"Helena, wake up my brave little soldier."
She stirred, her eyes opening slowly to look at him. She smiled at the greeting before noticing Dr, Fate.
"Papa?" she questioned.
Bruce simply looked at Dr. Fate. He couldn't go through this, not again.
"Helena Wayne, fate has decreed your time in this dimension over. You will rejoin your twin in another dimension. She stands against formidable forces and will be the protector of her dimension. On her shoulders rests the future of a new age or an era of darkness."
"I get to actually join her," said Helena in a rush. She never expected to actually join her sister, she only knew fate had decreed specific separate paths for each of them.
"Fate has decreed it."
Bruce saw her excitement and he would never begrudge the joy on her face. He too yearned to see his other daughter and how she was just as he had yearned for Helena all these years until her appearance on his doorstep.
"Wait, what about Papa? Will he come with me?" she asked worried.
"If you desire it, Helena Wayne."
"I do! I absolutely desire it. I want Papa to come with me."
The heaviness in his heart lifted. His precious daughter would not be leaving him and depending on fate he might even get a glimpse of his other daughter.
"It will be so. Are you both ready?"
"Yes," they both replied together. They had meager possessions anyway. Everything was fitted into a few backpacks. One small pack contained pristine copies of both their suits to be used in emergencies only.
"Very well," said Dr. Fate opening a golden portal.
A/N: An idea floating in my head. Reviews appreciated.