On the 16th day of the hero's 16th year
For one single precious held most dear
By the shade of evil with time in his hands
Choices will be made to determine who stands
The hidden hero will be proclaimed
After a fall leaves him heavily maimed
The day's weather will be fought
By winter, summer, and storms a lot
The land of choice is the original spot
Where she died and now lives reborn
In the world of the original's form
The Road to Happiness, The Long One
A/N: Please review! Let me know in a private message if you'd like to suggest any ideas towards the story and I'd make sure you get a shout out for your credit. Sorry that last chapter was a bit long. Worth it though?
Characters: Cal (Your "average" mysterious male), Mason (Cal's best and most trustworthy buddy), Kara Danvers (Kara Zor-El, AKA Supergirl), Jason (Kara's Ex), Barbara Gordon (Batgirl), Dick Grayson (Nightwing), Clark Kent (Superman), Lois Lane (Superman's wife), Batman, Bartholomew, Karen (Power-Girl) and more that aren't quite ready to be presented yet. (Lots of characters are Out of Character (OOC), but I try my absolute best to make it as close as I can with the story.)
Chapter 26: Day 9/16, Tuesday
"Anyway, we didn't listen and killed you and now dear old Daddy dearest put us in the bad books. That's all for the history lesson, let's get to the main point…" He nodded to Space. Space went over to Cal's ankles and pushed the small pins sticking out of the cuffs in slightly. The pins dug into Cal's flesh, digging deeper and deeper. Cal let out a small, strangled grunt, trying to ignore the pain. Space grinned at Cal's discomfort. Time stepped closer.
"You're going to kill yourself…" Time said, as if it were plain and simple. "You're going to lose the will to live… And when the times comes," he nodded to Space, who snapped and the pins in Cal's wrists flew all the way in, causing Cal to wince and his eyes tear up in pain. Time leaned in and whispered. "You're going to kill yourself to save the people you care about." He backed up and Space followed him.
"You really think I'm just going to kill myself?" Cal asked, spitting the tasteless blood from his mouth. Time chuckled and Space materialized a knife and began toying with it, grinning evilly.
"Yeah, because if you don't I'll make those closest to you rue the day they were born. Their lives will be a living hell. They will wish they were dead, but we won't let them die…" Time said. Space beamed.
"I… won't… let you," Cal said between breaths, trying to ignore the pain. "I'll do everything I can to stop you…" Space growled and flicked his knife into Cal's shoulder, causing him to stifle a yell from pain. Time cocked his head and studied him.
"Well, let's be reasonable then," Time said. He snapped and a judge's seat appeared behind him. "Space, if you will." Space beamed and nodded, quickly climbing into the seat and materializing a gavel.
"The following argument will commence with the convincing party!" Space said, banging the gavel. Time nodded in agreement.
"As I said, let's be reasonable. My Father chose you to protect the human race, as well as those living on the same planet. He chose you to go through pain and suffering for the evil people of this cruel world. Exhibit A: Your first love, Annabeth Monroe," Time gestured behind him and a picture of a girl with dirty blonde hair, deep hazel eyes, and a beautiful smile appeared behind him. "She died because evil decided to become reckless and impartial. You live to protect people like this!" Time shook his head. "You protect the people that killed her… You protect," he spat out the word 'protect', "the scum of the Earth!" Cal shook his head, his eyes tearing at the sight of her.
"She died because of ME!" Cal protested. "I was gullible and she died because of that… No other people were to blame for that disaster…" Time shook his head.
"SHE DIED BECAUSE OF THE SCUM THAT YOU PROTECT!" Time yelled. "Admit it! It was NOT your fault! You cannot take the blame for something you haven't done! You only protect everyone because of her memory." Cal shook his head.
"Maybe I protect everyone because of her memory, but her death was my fault and I deserve the pain that I get…" Cal said, trying to control his breathing. "Besides, 'With every death there comes out life in one form or another…'" Cal quoted. "She loved that quote… It reminded her that good can come from anything…" Cal shook his head, trying to clear the tears from his eyes. Time shook his head. Space banged his gavel.
"Alright! We get it Time. He only does this because he has survivor's guilt and feels he deserves the pain. Move on…" Space said, bored. Time sighed and nodded.
"Exhibit B: A newspaper article," Time gestured behind him and a newspaper appeared. "This article briefly states the cruelty of the world. Allow me to explain. In this very world, a grandfather RAPED his 2 year old granddaughter while her mother simply WATCHED! After, the mother DROWNED her daughter!" Time paused, rubbing his forehead. "THESE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU PROTECT! YOU PROTECT THE WORLD RULED BY SELFISH TYRANTS, INHABITED BY CRUEL, DESPERATE SCUM! IS THIS WHAT SHE HAD IN MIND WHEN SHE DIED FOR YOU?! THAT YOU PROTECT THE FILTHY WASTE SOME CALL HUMAN BEINGS!" Time stopped and sighed, waiting for Cal's response. Cal was breathing slowly, struggling to stay conscious. Space sighed and flicked another knife into Cal's other shoulder. Cal winced, but withheld his yelling.
"Not… everyone is… like that…" Cal said. He spat out blood again. "Most are better than that… Everyone has good in them… Everyone… Even those who don't seem to… It's the way of the world… Bad is frowned upon, but no one intentionally stops themselves from it… Obvious good is rare because it shows people how much worse they are…" Time sighed. Space got up and made his way behind Cal. He stopped behind Cal and sighed, brushing his suit briefly. He swiftly took another knife and stabbed Cal through the back. The knife's edge went all the way through Cal, and Cal's eyes widened as he tried to yell in pain, but no sound would come out. Time studied Cal again as Space straightened up and brushed his suit once more, returning to his judge's seat.
"YOU ARE DELUSIONAL!" Space yelled. "NO ONE LEFT IN THE WORLD YOU PROTECT IS GOOD! NO ONE!" They both waited for Cal's answer.
"Kara is..." Cal whispered. "Is one good person not enough reason to save everyone?" Cal's whispered turned into a yell. "IS ONE GOOD PERSON NOT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO SAVE EVERYONE?!"
"SHOULD ONE PERSON ALSO PAY THE PRICE FOR EVERYONE ELSE?! SHOULD YOU HAVE TO SUFFER IN PAIN FOR THE FEW GOOD AND THE MANY BAD?!" Space yelled, outraged. Time sighed and waved his brother off.
"Callum, you need to listen to us. You're suffering isn't worth the people you're protecting. It's really not…" Time explained. Cal shook his head.
"It is for the right people…" Cal said.
"Like who?" Time asked. "Kara Danvers? Mason Marsden? Who?" Cal spat blood again.
"Anyone with enough good in their heart to know the difference between right and wrong is worth it…" Cal said. Time sighed and rubbed his head again.
"Oh well," Time said. "Our final exhibit, Exhibit C!" He gestured behind him and an image of Kara appeared. "Kara Danvers, AKA Supergirl, AKA Kara Zor-El. If you don't give up this stupid charade she'll be the one who suffers. Space and I will turn her life upside down. She will wish, hope, pray that she's dead, but we won't let her. She's going to wish she never knew you when we tell her why she's suffering…" Cal growled at them.
"If you touch her I will rip you both limp from limb!" Cal threatened. Space and Time both laughed, making lightning flash in the background of the dark landscape, blue and purple.
"You can't touch us now, and you sure as hell couldn't touch us if we didn't want it," Space said.
"Just because we threaten your girl toy you get all hot and bothered?" Time asked, amused, raising an eyebrow. Cal's nostrils flared and he growled a low growl.
"Don't call her that, she's much, MUCH more than that…" Cal warned. Space leapt out of his seat and ran in front of Cal.
"What? Did he hurt your feelings?" Space mocked. Time stood back, observing Cal. "You defensive of your girl toy? Maybe I should go down there and show her a good time… or NIGHT!" At that insult, suddenly Cal's irises turned a pure gold and his pupils pure, blood red. He snarled and ripped the chains from their held position and phased through them. Space stumbled back, falling on his butt, terrified. Time's eyes widened and he prepared to run. Cal removed the knives from his body and zoomed forward. He grabbed Space by the throat, lifting him well above his head.
"I warned you not to mess with me!" Cal said. "Now, you're going to go back to whatever hole you crawled out of and never, NEVER interfere with my life or anyone in it!" Time slowly moved behind Cal. Space made a strangled sound, gasping for air. "Do you understand?!" Space nodded, frantically, turning his suit's shade of purple. Time, trying to protect himself and his brother, leapt towards Cal's back. Cal, senses significantly heightened, swiftly spun and threw Space into Time. "LEAVE MY LIFE ALONE!" Cal screamed. His eyes returned to normal and he collapsed to the ground. Time and Space quickly got to their feet.
"Well, the dog's a bit more than bark…" Time said. Space rubbed his neck, growling softly. They angrily clenched their fists. Together, they sent blue and purple lightning Cal's way. The lightning struck Cal and Cal clenched his teeth in pain. Wincing, Cal didn't fight the pain, but let it wash over him. He didn't make a single noise with the onslaught of painful lightning. Cal simply slumped to the side, laying on the floor, his body tensed up in pain. Cal's vision started to go blurry, slowly darkening.
"Cal! Cal wake up!" Cal struggled to open his eyes. With the lightning still painfully coursing through him, his eyes struggled to focus on the source of the voice. The sweet, familiar voice that Cal hadn't heard in want seemed like eternity. Then, he saw her. He saw Annabeth Monroe, the first girl he ever loved. Her hair was still a dirty blonde, her golden locks flowing down to her shoulders. Her deep hazel eyes still had their look of happiness, but her face was sad. Suddenly, everything else froze. Time and Space, masters of their arts, froze. Annabeth made her way to Cal. She reached him and knelt over him. Cal, still paralyzed by the lightning coursing through him, looked at her, his eyes tearing.
"Annabeth?" Cal asked in disbelief. He managed to take her hands in his. She smiled her perfect smile and nodded.
"Cal…" she kissed him on the cheek. "It wasn't your fault…" Cal opened his mouth to protest, but she put a finger over his lips. "Just listen, after all, you were always good at that. I learned days earlier that there was a spy in our camp… I didn't think much of it, assuming it was a hoax to turn us against each other. So when I saw him enter your tent with a knife behind his back… I knew it was my fault if you died. I also knew you were the only person who could have tipped the scales in our direction. So I ran in... I ran in and stepped between you two… I took the knife because it was my fault that knife got anywhere close to you… and I'm sorry… I'm sorry for letting him get that close… I'm sorry for dying on you… I'm sorry for the pain you went through… I'm sorry for not telling you about the spy… and not telling you that I loved you… I love you Cal… but now you've moved on and I am VERY glad you did… I'm so sorry… but it wasn't your fault, no matter what you think…" She broke into tears and Cal hugged her close.
"I love you too Annabeth," Cal whispered, trying to keep his tears back. "I miss you!" She sniffled and hugged Cal back.
"I miss you too, and where ever I am, just know I'll be waiting for the day you arrive here too…" Annabeth said, tears streaming down her face. Cal wiped her tears from her face with his thumb.
"You'll wait for me?" Cal asked. Annabeth nodded. "But what about whatever or whomever is in my future? How will I decide?" Annabeth kissed him on the cheek again.
"Cal… you won't have to decide… There's no need for choosing between me and Kara or whomever else there is. You would tear yourself apart trying to choose. Just remember that I'll always love you and you can always love me…" Annabeth explained.
"I don't want to leave you," Cal said. "I don't want to have to go on knowing you're waiting patiently for me… But I can't just leave the people here…" Annabeth smiled through her tears.
"There's the caring heart I came to know and love…" Annabeth said. She took Cal's face in her hands. "I will watch you from where I am, maybe I'll even be allowed to visit you in your dreams occasionally… You and I both know you could use a break from the nightmares…" They both noticed Annabeth was slowly disappearing from the feet up. "My time is almost up… Cal…"
"Yes Annabeth?" Cal asked, clasping her hand on his face in his.
"Cal… I just want you to know… The hero doesn't always get the happy ending… And that if you don't… Well, prove that saying that haunts you wrong… 'If you don't die a hero, you live long enough to see yourself become the villain...' Prove that wrong… Live long enough to stay a hero…" Annabeth said. Cal sniffled and nodded. By now, most of Annabeth had disappeared. "I love you Callum, no matter what!" With that, Annabeth kissed Cal on the lips, and Cal kissed her back as she fully disappeared, trying not to forget her soft lips, her mesmerizing face, her sweet voice. With her gone, Cal broke into tears. He glanced back where Time and Space were, realizing they were gone. Cal sat on the ground, knees hugged to his chest, crying. He slowly rocked himself back and forth, his breathing shaky. After a few minutes, an entirely black figure sat beside him.
"You know, she really never deserved to die..." the figure said. "As you know, she wasn't from your Earth, but she was one of the few people in this multiverse that didn't have a doppelganger most of the time. Not to mention she was as good as a being in general can get…" He patted Cal on the back. "You're probably wondering who I am. Well, let's just say I'm the one who chose you to protect the world, I'm the one who gave you some of the powers you have now, I'm the one who brought you back to life, I'm the one who let you have some closure and time with the girl you lost." He sighed. "I'm truly sorry for her death… I saw that she would die and I tried to change that… I made sure she found out there was a spy, but I never would have imagined she wouldn't do anything about it… In the end, she still died… I'm truly very sorry…" Cal sighed and wiped his eyes.
"You're the one… who chose me?" Cal asked. The figure nodded. "But why me?" The figure laughed.
"Usually the first question is 'Who are you?', but I'm glad you skipped that one. Let me tell you a story: Once, LONG ago, there was nothing. In the beginning however, 7 beings willed themselves into existence. They were all family, 6 older brothers and 1 little sister. Weakened from bring themselves into existence, they rested. But, with no reason to exist, they all became weaker and weaker. The sister, who was the strongest, was on the verge of 'fading', which is our term for dying. However, dying usually means something happens to you after, but 'fading'…" He shuddered. "Fading is simply no longer existing. Anyway, the sister, with the last of her strength, called her brothers over. 'We don't have enough strength to all continue existing. With this in mind, I give the rest of my strength to create light… and dark…' And with that, she was gone. You might expect there to be some sort of glorious ending, like a slow fade or even a pile of glittering dust, but no… She was just gone… Next, the eldest brother turned to the rest. He said, 'She was right. We cannot all continue to exist. I give the remaining portion of my strength to create planets, worlds, and water.' And with that, he was gone. Next, the second brother spoke. 'I give the rest of myself to create dry land on most of the planets and worlds as well as vegetation.' And with that, he was gone. Then, the third brother gave himself up for 'sources of warmth, light, and gravity' which is translated into suns, moons, and stars. By now, the remaining brothers noticed a pattern. The 4th brother turned to the other 2. 'Be good,' he said. 'My sacrifice should be enough to allow you both to survive.' It was clear that they were becoming stronger, more fulfilled. With that, he gave himself for creatures of the air and creatures of the sea. With only 2 remaining, the 5th brother turned to the 6th. 'I love you brother,' he said. 'But this terrain of infinite possibilities doesn't have room for the both of us, I'm truly sorry. Be the best you can be my brother…' And, with that, he gave himself up for creatures of the dry land and beings to populate the planets and worlds…" He sighed. "By now you might realize that I am that last brother, unable to bring back what is forever lost… Believe me, I have tried…"
"Isn't that the Christian story of how the world was created?" Cal asked, confused. The being shrugged.
"There's a few differences here and there, but yes, the Christian story of 'creation' was based upon this true story. The humans that have had the privilege to meet me or hear about me from a source messed up some details when they told others, but the main jist is correct. I am considered 'God' to a majority of the humans. But, alas, I am not all-powerful and certainly not perfect. My real name is 'Potens' which means 'powerful'. My eldest brother was 'Praesidio' which means 'Protect'. Praesidio was as close to perfection as perfect can get… Next was 'Misericordiam' which means 'Kindness' and then 'Fortitudio' which means 'Bravery'. Then was 'Beatitudinem' which means 'Happiness' and finally 'Liberalis' which means 'Generous'. And my sister's name was 'Terra' which means 'Earth'… Well, in short, I chose you, as I chose all my Currents, because you significantly reminded me of my family. You resemble Praesidio so much that I couldn't help but choose you… Bartholomew reminded me so much of Lieralis I couldn't believe that it wasn't him somehow…" Potens sighed.
"What made you decide that you wanted, or needed, a Current and all those rules?" Cal asked. Potens sighed.
"I guess it was the fact that I named my favorite world after Terra. Watching it crumble apart, poisoned by itself, in this dimension only it was too much for me to bear, but I told myself I would never directly interfere in order to keep me from playing favorites. So, I indirectly interfere with The Current… For instance, do you remember the Black Plague and how a third of the world's population died off?" Cal nodded. "Good, well, if it weren't for The Current of that time providing an antidote discreetly to as many people as he could, Earth wouldn't have any people left in it… After he failed to deliver the antidote to the third of the world, he never forgave himself and demanded that he quit… So, I wiped his memories and powers and put him back into the world with false memories… It was then that I realized that this job isn't easy, not by a long shot… Time and Space have good intentions, but their methods are a bit… unruly… They know that not just anyone can do this job and become jealous with anyone who has the capabilities to do this job well… Like you…" He sighed. "Callum, you have so much potential that I fear if you even have limits at all… You have only been doing this for 2ish years and yet you are already beginning to shine brighter than the past Currents. You have never killed another human, which has happened to all the past Currents by your time. You have kept your sanity, which isn't rare; however, some Currents cannot keep it… You keep your anger hidden, dissolving it into a fuel for a different task… You are nice and respect everyone even if they don't deserve it… I'm truly sorry for picking you for this, after all, you truly do not deserve the pain this job comes with… Callum, your friends are going to awake you soon, so I'll make this last point brief. I know people tell you this as a kid so you can have confidence and determination, but…" He clasped Cal on the shoulders, and Cal felt Potens stare into his eyes. "You truly CAN do anything you set your mind to…"
"Cal!" Kara's voice echoed across the dark landscape. Potens stood up.
"That's my cue, but Callum, I just want you to know, your father's out there, watching over you as best he can when he can… He cares, but in time you will meet and I hope you have the strength to understand his story." Potens began walking away. "Oh! And Callum…"
"Cal! Wake up!" Kara's voice began shaking the landscape, causing it to begin to crumble away.
"Yeah Potens?" Cal said.
"Kick Chronos' ass for me!" And with that, Potens was gone. Cal was left alone in the crumbling landscape, awaiting to wake up.
"CAL!" Kara yelled.
-Break-
Cal shot up, almost head butting Kara in the face. Kara sighed in relief, hugging and kissing him.
"Thank goodness!" Kara said. "J'onn said you should have woken up by now and I was worried." Cal chuckled and kissed her cheek.
"I guess my psychological torment test wasn't sticking to a schedule," Cal said. Kara laughed.
"I'm glad you're okay," Kara said. "At least I was less worried just now than I was when you died…" Cal smiled.
"Awh, you worried about me? You do care!" Cal said jokingly. Kara shook her head, smiling.
"That's not funny Callum," Kara said. "You had me worried!" Cal kissed her again.
"Sorry I worried you Kara. I love you," Cal said. Kara kissed him back.
"I love you too. Now go kick Batman's butt!" Kara said, gesturing to the door. Cal smiled, brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her one last time.
"Will do, my lady!" Cal said, darting through the door to go face Batman, leaving Kara smiling and brushing her hair behind her ear.
"Go get em Cal," Kara whispered.