CLVI
Darkseid vs. The Justice League
Part Thirteen: The Last Wish
In nothing more than the single blink of an eye, Barbara Gordon had witnessed Clark suddenly smash through the dark God of Apokolips, reducing foul Darkseid into nothing more than distant rubble… Scattering fragments of the former tyrant far along the sands of Kahndaq, and collapsing the air itself with his awesome speed - so that she had thought her eardrums would burst from his sonic boom!
The desert dust had been driven a mile straight up into the atmosphere when Clark had hit Darkseid so hard, that he utterly disintegrated the God - but Barbara still had to ask the lame, clichéd question…
(The same lame, clichéd question they always asked in Horror movies – just before the killer's eyes snapped open again.)
"…Is he dead?"
… She really should have known better by now. The new-and-powerful Raven told her that Darkseid was nothing more than a consciousness, a will and an energy… and not a physical being. But what the Hell did that mean? Was Darkseid just a power-tripping ghost who only possessed really ugly statues?...
The Earth itself gave her the reply.
While earthquakes weren't unheard of in Kahndaq, this wasn't just an earthquake. It was bigger. The land wasn't just shaking… it was being crushed! Like an eggshell being squeezed in the fist of a giant, shards of the tectonic plate erupted through the sands. Barbara instantly levitated above, now horrified…
Barbara Gordon of Earth! Use your Ring upon the Earth!
The psychic message from Ganthet interrupted her oncoming anxiety attack – as she realized that the all other Lanterns must have received similar instructions. They were firing their emerald beams into the land below – until a glowing green canopy extended far across the Earth's surface to the horizons. Barbara immediately joined in, extending the power of her Ring and her will into the shaking landscape, trying desperately to hold it all together.
She had never felt emotions through her Ring before! The combined power of the Guardians and the Lanterns was now extending across the entire planet… and Barbara Gordon could feel the terror and fear of the world's population from a possessed Earth. These emotions were overwhelming her own - but they also caused her to focus every bit of power she could into her Ring's beam - to stabilize a planet under attack from its core.
It wasn't just Kahndaq that was being shaken apart…
Across the face of the planet Earth, seismic shudders rattled tectonic plates while a thousand earthquakes began to shake the cities of mankind. The entire world was now feeling Darkseid's terrible wrath, as buildings around nearby Middle East began to collapse into rubble and dust while mighty waves formed crescents across the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Below them, Kahndaq was literally being torn asunder - mountains erupted through the desert sands as the Arabian Tectonic Plate cracked like chinaware plates… But she couldn't let her planet down, not like this… Hold it together, Barbara!
Twenty-one Green Lanterns and twelve Guardians used every single ounce of emerald power available to them, somehow maintaining the integrity of the Earth against the wrath of Darkseid's Omega Effect. Their green light saturated the entire planet, flowing, enveloping teetering skyscrapers, stitching together ruptured tectonic plates and calming the fury of the raging oceans beneath an emerald glow.
They had stilled the rage of Darkseid.
But how long would they be able to keep a planet from tearing itself apart?!...
Raven watched as the scraps of a million Manhunters slid into the recently-created chasms of a hungry Earth… She had used her God-given powers to assist the Lanterns in their effort to stop the Earth from tearing itself asunder, because their power was the power of the Gods she now championed. After tense moments, the entire Earth became calm once more, coated in a planetary emerald glow, allowing Raven to seek out the very root of the problem - sensing Darkseid's disruptive spirit deep within the bowels of the Earth.
With the magic of Hecate, Raven easily sculpted pure stone from a nearby outcropping that had recently jutted from the Earth into the likeness of Darkseid – so that she could perhaps conjure the God into this effigy. But attempting to isolate the spirit of Darkseid was like trying to grasp lightning. The energy of the Omega Effect was never a constant thing, continually shifting throughout infinite space. She desperately needed to reason with him.
So a different tact was required.
"Darkseid, please…"
As she stood anxiously in front of her stone effigy, she watched and waited… until the carved mouth suddenly moved, and sound emanated from deep, solid stone…
"Let the death of this world be upon your head, Raven! You sought to bring down my world… now I shall bring down yours!"
It had worked. But would he listen to her?...
"What of your Prophecy of Stone, Darkseid?… You have never sought to destroy the Universe."
"It shall come to pass… with or without this meaningless planet."
"I will grant you my final wish, Darkseid... Spare this world... Please!"
Aftershocks still rumbled across the surface of the world… but the fierce hands that had pulled apart continental plates suddenly stopped. Twenty-one Green Lanterns finally dared to draw breath, while beads of sweat poured down Barbara's forehead, her entire body shaking from the weight of a world placed upon her will. An uneasy and eerie silence now descended upon the darkness of Kahndaq - until the eyes of the statue Raven had magically created suddenly glowed red… and its crude, rough stone became polished and grey.
Darkseid was no longer possessing the planet.
The God emerged from the Earth, to once again stand before Raven, regarding her carefully with glowing ember eyes, as the stars shone silently in the black sky above.
"Wish?..."
"Yes, Lord Darkseid. When I returned the Source Trigon had stolen, finally reuniting it with the Realm of Fate, each Norn granted me one wish; a wish from the past, the present and the future. I grant you Skuld's favour, the wish of the Future, if you spare the Earth."
"This Goddess that you are now… you wished to become this Goddess of Magic? Is this how you gained such power? By a wish?"
"No… I wished for… something else. The last wish is yours."
"I would not believe you to resort to base, desperate trickery, niece... But tell me of your first two wishes. Amuse me while the last remnants of the Green Lanterns struggle to contain my power. Tell me of the great and powerful things you wished for, before I destroy this world..."
"…One of these wishes stands before you, step-father."
The God came face-to-face with a ghost, suddenly haunted by his dark past as Scott Free now walked before mighty Darkseid. Were all things truly possible?! Fore scheming Darkseid was momentarily stunned. His fostered son was now standing before him… alive! The same Scott Free who had willingly sacrificed himself by using the Anti-Life Equation was alive!
Perhaps... Perhaps the Fates had granted this girl three wishes…
And then Darkseid suddenly laughed with sudden knowledge.
"Then you have wasted that wish, my dear… My own eyes see clearly that Scott Free no longer holds the Anti-Life Equation in that eternally vacant skull of his! Death has removed the one thing of value he ever possessed in Life. Your gamble has failed, Raven. He can not save you."
"I wished for Scott to be resurrected without the Anti-Life Equation, Uncle."
Darkseid looked down at Raven as though he were conversing with an idiot. An idiot incapable of simple logic.
"Why?"
"Scott is my friend. And more than this, he is Barda's true and eternal love."
The sudden loud, mocking laughter of Darkseid boomed and echoed across the entire vast horizon. Each callous chuckle from the God rankled the emotions of the heroes who now stood against the Great Tyrant… but there was one who was cruelly slighted more than the rest combined. Raven felt the constant, bitter barbs of Darkseid's mocking laughter pierce Barda's heart like a wasp sting, over and over again…
"True love?! Oh my dear Raven, you are such a pathetic fool!… Or… Is it that you believed yourself strong enough to stop me? Was it your arrogance that caused you to do such a silly and meaningless thing? A jest, surely?..."
"No… It was the wish of my heart."
Darkseid's new outburst of cruel and terrible laughter was now directed solely at Raven… Until it was interrupted when the heavens burst forth in magical light, as runes and symbols appeared like hieroglyphics of pure radiance in a spiralling helix directly above. All who were present saw a thousand stars twinkling beyond this mystical signet of light.
And then from the darkness of space beyond they heard… music?!
And a dark-haired girl appeared from this circular light show above them.
Skuld had come to Earth.
The youngest Norn with long-flowing, black hair now descended from the sky before an inquisitive Darkseid. Like a delicate flower of Spring, Skuld's billowing robes were a pale pink marked with red trim. Vibrant and youthful was this third Goddess of Fate, the Goddess of the Future… Handmaiden of the Source itself!
And Skuld had travelled far to pose her question to the God of Tyranny. Descended and standing beside Raven, she spoke in joyful tones.
"… And what does your heart wish for, mighty Darkseid?"
Darkseid raised his hand to his chin as he contemplated the question and its motive.
"… I have already made my bargain with Fate, Goddess. And my desire is unchanged. The Prophecy of Stone will come to pass, as I have made it so. Fore no one has ever paid such a price to the Norns as truest Darkseid, dear Skuld. Be of joyful spirit, for soon, I shall give your weary hands a rest… You and your sisters need weave no more."
Skuld breathed a mournful sigh.
"Our weary hands will weave for a considerable time to come. Your Prophecy is no longer as close at hand as it once was, faithful Darkseid. Brief moments ago, the end of the thread was almost within my grasp. But now... my youthful eyes struggle to perceive that end along Fate's far horizon. And yet… Raven has relinquished her third wish to you, fore I have asked this of her… And she has agreed."
Darkseid suddenly looked sternly at Raven.
"… Is this true, niece? You would grant me your final wish?"
"…Yes."
Raven felt the bubbling of fear begin to rise within her… Had Skuld simply played her as a fool? Were the Fates tired of their eternal labours in the constant cycle of life, death and rebirth?... Did the Norns desire for Fate to cease so they may earn their final rest?... It couldn't be, but why else had Skuld asked her to do this?! Had Raven been wise to trust Skuld so easily?...
Darkseid regarded the two Goddesses carefully.
"Then speak why, Raven?... I do not believe that you so utterly devoid of intelligence. Why would you agree to Skuld's request? You – more than all others - are acutely aware of my desire for this tired and worn Universe. I have never hidden it from you. And that desire has not changed, I assure you. I do not regret my contract with Fate… only Suli's bitter cost. Surely you feel that there is no love in this heart of stone, no possibility of redemption, no hint of remorse... I am nothing more than the End itself. Glorious Darkseid shall surpass Life, Death and even Fate… And you know this... Then why have you damned existence, daughter-of-my-brother?"
It was a fair question, actually… There was no mocking or arrogance in Darkseid's voice this time. He truly did not comprehend her decision… But why had she agreed to let Skuld grant Darkseid – a God who had already paid the price of Immortality - her last wish? There were a million things she could have wished for, and yet she had trusted the Goddess of the Future implicitly. But why?... As the Universe hung precariously in the balance, as Raven realized the answer to Darkseid's question.
The only possible answer. In a soft voice, she spoke it…
"Hope."
Darkseid waited for Raven to finish her sentence… until he realized that her single word was the answer. The scowl returned as he snorted and looked to the stars above in disbelief and disappointment…
"Shall the entire Universe be your gravestone, girl?
Shall I shall scribe these words across that black void
As your epitaph - frozen in Time?…
Hope… Such a worthless commodity.
Shall I tell you of the final fate of Hope, Raven?
Of its terrible costs and its shadowed lies and its fall?
The price of Hope is Faith, dearest girl.
Something you have spent most unwisely.
Faith is the very currency tendered by we Gods.
Truly, the smallest of all denominations, as common as this dust below.
How willingly it is bartered upon shores of stone.
And to purchase precious Hope, only one single cost may be charged…
Everything.
Hope will take all you have, my simple niece.
And when Hope has finally left you with nothing else,
A broken soul devoid of Faith, only then will cruel Hope
Line your pockets with its dreams and lift you to the airy clouds above.
Hope suspends the idea so far above its natural station, to an Eternal view of Heaven,
That it finally believes that it forever belonged to such a limitless sky as a new Star.
Lowly Faith was long ago bartered far below – now forgotten amid the dust and stones,
But how cruel the moment when the leased hands of Hope simply
Let go…
And now only Belief remains to hold this new Star aloft…
Belief that it could remain in an airy web made of fleeting Hope,
But tell me, of what substance is Hope made, Raven?
Hope attaches itself to words and deeds and dreams… but truly it is
Nothing.
And Belief is as solid as a beam of moonlight and a longing for the past,
Grasping, the Star falls and dies, in its last breath proclaiming that
Hope was the greatest of all the evils left to mortals.
The blackest poison sealed in Pandora's cursed Box
Too easily purchased with worthless faith by fools…
And now… now… dear niece,
As you realize what you have designed,
Gaze well upon the very spot where your own Star falls this night,
As all the weary Stars now fall, and Hope…
Murderous Hope… convicted this moment by your reply,
Confessed by your trembling maiden lips… now dies."
"NOOOO!"
Raven felt Barda's angry wrath streak across the distance behind her – an attack against Darkseid she did not need to see, as Diana also pushed away from Clark's shocked grasp to confront the vile Darkseid once again… Only for the two fierce warriors to be pushed backwards by an unseen, unstoppable force.
Remaining motionless as the gentle winds of night fluttered within her white robe and cloak, Raven had willed the power of Selene to push all the heroes backwards. She stood with Skuld, Scott and Darkseid alone on an outcrop of rock while dismissed heroes faded into darkness behind. She had made her decision and it would come to pass. The Universe was one single wish away from ending… and Raven herself had brought it all to this final point. Was that not her destiny as well? A Thief in the Night? She had willingly given every ounce of Faith she had ever possessed to Skuld, for just the slimmest glimmer of Hope that dawn would break once more…
Scott Free placed his humble hand upon Raven's shoulder.
"I believe in Hope, Raven. We must all believe in Hope."
Gloating Darkseid scoffed at Scott's idyllic reassurance, while a terrible idea sprung to his wicked mind….
"If that is what you truly believe, Scott Free… If these are not empty words for a foolish girl, then shall we make our final wager? And let Time decide the victor… If you truly believe in Hope, then bow before triumphant Darkseid, Scott Free… And then, if my foretold Prophecy of Stone does not come to pass, simply rise once again. Rise and proclaim your glorious Freedom to every star above. And know that you shall never bow before Darkseid again.
But… If my absolute will does bring forth the Prophecy, you shall remain bowed before triumphant Darkseid forever! As Time and Fate cease to exist, you will have claimed your eternal and rightful place… subjugated at my feet! One of us must prevail in this wager. Shall Fate choose the sleep of Tyranny or the dreams of Freedom? Let this be our final war… If you truly believe in young Raven's Hope, step-son, then you must bow before confident Darkseid."
Darkseid grinned triumphantly as Scott Free lowered himself and bowed before the God of Tyranny, while Skuld confirmed with the arrogant God.
"Then this is your wish, Darkseid? To enact your Prophecy of Stone?"
"Yes, and Yes once again! Freedom itself now bows before mighty Darkseid's heavy boot. The very spirit of Hope is crushed before me. All is as it should be, noble Skuld. So let my Prophecy of Stone come to pass! Let this be my wish for eternity."
"And so it shall be, but… the stars have not yet been aligned, my Lord… So it must be your powerful will alone that maintains the Prophecy. Fate and Time shall cease… but only for as long as you will it to be so, glorious Darkseid. As the template, the Prophecy shall begin from your heart of stone and remake the very cosmos in its cold image. You need only agree and your wish shall be granted, master of Fate."
The smile of Darkseid widened as his eyes blazed with crimson energy. He had won! A thousand years of carefully laid plans had been led astray by the meddling girl-child before him… but it had only sealed his final victory! Perfect Order was now his to command alone…
"My will is unbreakable. My heart unmoving. I agree to these terms, Skuld. Let the will of Darkseid ascend both Fate and Time and become Creation!"
"As you wish, my Lord."
...
Raven was suddenly in space…
Seated before her in the void, with Time and Space frozen behind him, was pensive Metron. The God of Knowledge was seated upon an immense green chair, which seemed more like a flying computer than a chair, with a thousand controls and gauges at his fingertips. He smiled at her invoked curiosity.
"The Mobius Chair, Raven. With this most wondrous device, I can travel through dimension, time and space. It contains the entire sum of knowledge that ever-inquisitive Metron has learned from his far voyages. And yet I have only just discovered that the Goddess of the Future is most clever..."
The God of Knowledge spoke with no concern in his voice, only a mild sense of wonder and admiration.
"Skuld?... But has it happened Metron?! Is this the Prophecy of Stone?!"
"Yes, Raven. It has happened. And the momentum of Darkseid's indomitable will has allowed it to occur for an entire millionth of a second so that even you were affected…. Magnificent, was it not?"
"...One-millionth of a second?!"
"Yes… I had to freeze this small instant of time for you in order to explain what has occurred. I do not wish for the Champion of the God of Knowledge to be left… uneducated. You were kind enough to free me, after all."
"The Prophecy of Stone only lasted for one-millionth of a second, Metron?..."
"Roughly. My analysis will soon be complete. And it barely made it past Darkseid. But do you understand what Skuld did, Raven?"
"…She tricked him somehow. She made Darkseid maintain the Prophecy by his will alone..."
"Yes… Darkseid's wish was for a Universe where Fate and Time would no longer exist, but only for as long as he were able to will it so. Do you see the paradox that the Goddess of the Future created?"
"Without Fate and Time… there is no will. 'Will' is nothing more than conscious desire, which requires thought. And thoughts are electrical impulses which are impossible without Time to effect."
"Exactly! For Darkseid, thoughts were impulses of Omega Energy… which follows many of the same rules as electricity. So yes, Darkseid fell victim to his own stupidity and arrogance by placing himself above Fate and Time while still being bound by their laws. Yet the Prophecy of Stone was still fulfilled for the length of a single thought. A fitting end for one who betrayed his brethren, don't you think?"
"And ending required by Fate. But did you not also betray the Gods, Metron?... When you sided with the Maltusians."
"Yes… and how fitting that their destiny was to become my own. To be impaled by the same Needles of Fate I had provided my captors. To be put on crucified display by those same Maltusians I had once saved. We Gods are nothing if not the morals of our own bitter deeds, Raven."
"Then... What happens to Darkseid now, Metron?"
"When Fate shows its sleight of hand, an ironic ending is revealed. The Lord of Apokolips suffered the full effect of his own Prophecy… As you said, Darkseid was nothing more than the Omega Effect manifested as a soul... a living divine energy. He crafted his Prophecy to destroy all energy… including his own. His own wish literally destroyed him."
Raven breathed a deep sign of relief. It was finally over.
She remembered an expression she had heard Bruce use before although it had meant something different to her then.
"…Be careful what you wish for."
"Yes… fore you may receive it. Is this why you chose your wishes to benefit others, Champion?"
Raven pondered, and then winked at the cerebral God.
"My wishes were made from love, Metron. If one is to wish under the providence of love, what more care could one possibly take?"
Metron then did a very rare thing... He smiled.
"Perhaps we have much to learn from each other, Champion."
Raven beamed a radiant smile back at him, almost giddy with profound relief.
"Yes Metron, I believe we do… Thank you for this."
"Thank you, Champion. You have dared what none of us thought even possible. You have defeated Darkseid. A new dawn rises on the Fourth World after its darkest night."
And just as the words of Metron foretold, Raven opened her eyes to begin Time once more... To witness that the first, faint light of morning spread across the Eastern horizon of Kahndaq.
A new dawn had indeed risen on all worlds.
Alongside a quiet Raven, Scott Free then calmly rose to his feet, also glancing at the veiled sun to the east as it struggled to break free against the darkness of the distant horizon. He gently took Raven's hand into his own, as he spoke in awe and wonder.
"It's going to be the most beautiful sunrise I've ever seen…"