Our Darkest Hour
Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to DC or Marvel. I own my OCs.
Chapter 9: Rings of Light Part 1
In Africa…
Captain America and Hippolyta stood side-by-side as the two seemed to be surrounded by the Black Lanterns. The Queen of the Amazons held her sword high, while the super-soldier held his shield to defend her. Steve said to the queen,
"It looks like this is our final stand."
Marie, the new Cheetah, was also with them, hissing and snarling, attempting to drive off Bast. But, she would not be so easily intimidated. Queen Hippolyta nodded,
"So it would seem. But, I will fight to my last dying breath before then."
The shield-user nodded,
"We'll win this. I know it."
The other Black Lanterns were seeing Captain America's emotional spectrum image brighten in blue, and Hippolyta's in bright green.
Suddenly, a disembodied voice then said,
"Steve Rogers of Earth, you are a light of hope in these dark times. Accept this ring and be a part of the Blue Lantern Corps."
A bright blue light shined on Steve Rogers and then, Hippolyta heard a different voice,
"Queen Hippolyta of Earth, you possess great will. Accept this ring and be a part of the Green Lantern Corps."
Booster Gold looked at the light and asked,
"Hey, Beetle, what gives?"
Blue Beetle remarked,
"I don't know. But, if I were to guess, I think more rings just activated."
One of the rings replied,
"Green and Blue Lanterns are activating within vicinity."
Then, the other ring said,
"Alert; numerous ring energy signatures are arriving on Earth. Prospective Corps members are activating."
When the bright light subsided, Captain America and Hippolyta had now on different costumes. Captain America's shield bore the Blue Lantern Symbol, as well as on his chest. Hippolyta was wearing a green dress, and was channeling a green energy sword and shield empowered by the ring. She shouted,
"To arms and attack!"
Marie was in awe as she looked up,
"Cool."
The undead Bast hissed,
"This won't help you stop-."
Just then, Hippolyta's sword sliced through the undead goddess of felines. She huffed,
"You talk too much."
Wonder Man and Tigra closed in, but Captain America raised his ringed hand at them,
"I know you two are in there. Don't worry; all will be well."
A blast of crystal blue light shined forth from the ring, but, instead of a blast, it was showering them, basking the two of them in warm light. In a few moments, the Black Lantern rings were gone and Simon and Greer looked at each other. The tigress asked,
"What happened?"
Captain America explained,
"The ring must have restored your senses."
Simon held his head,
"I feel like we were in a nightmare."
Hippolyta said sternly,
"The fight is not over! We must counterattack!"
As she did so with her newfound abilities, Booster Gold looked over to Blue Beetle,
"Bossy, isn't she?"
Arlington looked at them and slapped them both upside the head,
"Focus, you two."
In Metropolis…
Black Lantern Crisis quickly dispatched Superman, but, instead of focusing on turning Superman, his eyes caught sight of Persiana, who was doing her best staying one step ahead of the Black Lantern Satana. Seemingly uninterested in the Man of Steel, the undead Lantern sped his way and interrupted the battle between the two of them. Satana hissed,
"What are you doing? I am turning her into one of us!"
The undead soldier responded,
"She is mine to turn, and mine alone."
He did not know why, but he felt a measure of warmth just seeing her. Something was clawing at him to do this, but, then, Satana began protesting,
"Why should you do it?"
Persiana was moving as fast as she could, away from the fight. Troia did her best to cover her, but Crisis simply back-handed the Amazon warrior aside and told Satana,
"Take her instead. I'm going after Persiana."
Satana watched and Deadpool seemed to enjoy himself,
"Yay! We're now going to make her a Black Lantern!"
Troia channeled her energy blast,
"Do not presume that at all, Deadpool."
Her blast leveled both the insane mercenary and the demonic sorceress. Deadpool groaned,
"Owie. That hurt."
Guy Gardner turned his attention to Arsenal when a streak of black fire came from behind him. Bea was able to get behind him and bite into his shoulder. The red-headed Lantern shouted,
"Oh, no you don't! I won't join you!"
His eyes burned with rage. Rage knowing that a friend of his had been turned into an undead abomination. He seethed with anger as he pulled her off and blasted Fire with emerald light.
It was at this time that another disembodied voice said,
"Guy Gardner of Earth, accept this ring and be a part of the Red Lantern Corps."
A red light shined on Guy Gardner, and, in a moment, he bellowed out in rage, drooling blood. He seemed feral and untamed and he looked around in an almost animal-like state, taking it all in. Superman looked away as he was holding back the Black Lantern Martian Manhunter. The undead Martian then shifted out of his grasp and said,
"You will join us, Superman!"
Ice then blasted the Martian,
"No, J'onn. You're not like them. You're kind and compassionate and you don't need to do this."
The Martian looked at Ice, and then tried to grasp her mind in a telepathic attack. But, as he did, an indigo light bathed upon the young woman from Norway and an alien voice seemed to say that she was joining the Indigo Tribe. As the light subsided, Tora was no longer in her blue and white costume, but tribal wear, holding an indigo staff. She still had her ice powers, but, instead of crystal blue, those too were turned to indigo.
Meanwhile…
Farrah had gone to the streets, but, as soon as she landed, Crisis grabbed her and threw her into a clothing store. The white-haired woman did her best to move and land safely, but, she got thrown through one of the store dummies and felt something break. Her shoulder was broken and she almost shouted in pain. The place was dark and, as Persiana tried to move, she saw Leon's outline at the end of the store. Quickly as she could, she ducked behind something and leaned against it, desperately trying not to give herself away.
Leon shook his head,
"I know you're in here, Farrah. It's really not bad joining up with me. I mean, we're going to have a happy life together. Beyond life. Beyond death."
Farrah shook her head, attempting to drown out that sound. That was not Leon. Whatever Leon was saying was not him. Not the real him, in her mind. Persiana gripped her shoulder again, knowing full well she could not fight given the situation. The only thing she could do was close her eyes and pray.
Farrah's emotional aura became a solid violet, and the undead Crisis quickly picked up on it. He sped near her and then grabbed her again. But, Farrah calmly opened her eyes and looked down at him,
"Leon. I know the real you. You aren't this abomination. I know that, and you know that too."
A violet ring came to her and hovered for a moment. Crisis looked at the ring, and then back at Farrah. For a brief moment, Leon's true colors were beginning to show and he said,
"Farrah, is that you? What's happening?"
Farrah smiled,
"It's all right. Believe me. It's going to be all right."
The ring asked,
"Do you wish to accept this ring and join the Star Sapphire Corps?"
The lioness nodded,
"Yes, if it saves the man I love."
A violet light then came from her and knocked Leon away. Leon reverted to the Black Lantern colors again and made a charge. But, as he did, Persiana, now dressed as a Star Sapphire, complete with the crown, raised her hand and kissed Leon in an embrace. The Black Ring shattered and Leon opened his eyes, as if waking from a dream,
"Farrah? What happened?"
He looked at her,
"Why are you dressed in purple?"
The former Avenger looked down at her attire and shrugged,
"I guess it's not the most flattering thing I've worn, but I think this is more than that. We need to find more Corps members and take the fight to the Black Lanterns."
"THERE YOU ARE!"
War Machine, Satana, and Deadpool all stood, preparing to attack…
Next Chapter:
Rings of Light continue as more characters get their own power rings, and the appearance of…wait for it…DOOM! Stay tuned, fellow readers!