Author's Note:
The end of Darkseid…
Finally, really and truly.
Gone.
And while the God's demise may have seemed anti-climatic; a villain undone by his own mad desires… it had to happen that way. You see, only Darkseid could destroy Darkseid. Indeed, you may have noticed a recurring theme throughout "Elsewhere", in that no final resolution is ever achieved through the use of violence, only tragedy.
No conflicts are resolved with haymakers here… as is the case with so many superhero comics. We still enjoy their struggles, but simply pounding on the villains just won't work. Like the brave heroes of Classical Mythology, my characters must be clever to defeat their foes… and also incur the favour of the Gods to shine down upon them.
In other words, they had to be smart and lucky.
Raven's ultimate decision to trust Skuld with her final wish was the only reasonable thing she could do. She was unable to wish the Prophecy of Stone undone. It had to happen. So in the end, all that our heroes were left with was Hope.
As presented here, Darkseid truly was an invincible opponent. As living Omega energy who had contracted with Fate for the undeniable End of the Universe, his victory could only be delayed, but never averted.
And yet… it was.
By Hope.
Does this mean the story is over?
Not quite. There's a few loose threads and then many happy endings to enjoy!
I know you'll like those. You deserve them.
And by the way…
"Akanbe" is the insulting facial gesture that you see in anime (Japanese animation) that involves pulling down the eyelid, revealing the red underside of the eyeball and then sticking out your tongue.
It's usually accompanied by the word "Nnaahhh!"
CLVII
Dust to Dust
On a recently-formed mountainside along the southern shores of Kahndaq, a gathering of heroes from both the Earth and far-off worlds now stood fixed in wonder, staring at the eastern sky.
Twenty Green Lanterns from strange and mysterious worlds, twelve blue-skinned Guardians of Oa, powerful Kal-El of Krypton alongside Barbara Gordon of Earth, a battered Orion and Lightray – New Gods of New Genesis, a wounded Princess Diana of Themyscira and a young Skuld of the Realm of Fate now stood beside the jubilant God of Freedom - who held hands with both the Champion of Magic and also his tall warrior wife, born of Apokolips, Barda Free.
They each watched something they had believed they may never have had the chance to witness again…
The sunrise.
The glorious sun crested across the broken and smoky landscape of Kahndaq, shining upon the gathered Gods and heroes, rising above dark Earth, embracing them all in the promised light of a brand new day.
The war was over.
In stark contrast to their joy, Raven sensed the far-off turbulent emotions of an entire world… the panic from those affected by Darkseid's earthquakes, as well as the fear, curiosity and apathy of those who had been spared. Yes, there would be much work to do on Earth. A rebuilding of the cities of humanity and a mending of the relationships across the borders of nations. Yes, there was much work to do… but there was something else that must be done before she could find Peace.
As Raven readied herself for what lay ahead, she suddenly heard the unexpected cries of pain from behind her… "Ow! Ow! Ow!"… from… Skuld?!
But how could that be?! She had sensed no one's approach or any hostile emotions. The Seen and the Unseen were all known to her… And yet, Skuld was truly in distress and an unexpected stranger had joined them!
Quickly spinning around Raven saw…
Death.
The second oldest of the Endless, the ivory-skinned, young woman in tight, black leather pants and a fish-net halter-top, had secured the youngest Norn in a firm headlock and was playfully administering a vicious noogie to the top of Skuld's head, much to the expressed protestations of the young Goddess.
Death ignored Skuld's cries of mercy, and shouted her displeasure - while gleefully grinding her pale knuckles quickly back-and-forth across the top of Skuld's head…
"You little scamp! I thought you were going to put me out of a job! You're just lucky Destiny didn't show up… or you'd get the longest and most boring lecture of all time!"
A struggling Skuld replied.
"I'm sorry, Death!... Ow!….. I said I'm sorry!… Geez!"
Raven held up her arms to prevent the gathered heroes from coming to Skuld's aid. It was obvious that the Norn wasn't in any real danger but Raven couldn't say the same for any of them if they raised a hand against Death.
Raven now understood why she had been completely unable to sense this new arrival. For all of her powers of cosmic awareness, there was one thing that would always be able to sneak up on them…
"Death… Do not judge Skuld harshly. She saved us. Even you…"
Death looked up at Raven and then (begrudgingly) released the smaller Goddess of the Future, continuing to verbally scold and wag a finger at the black-haired Norn.
"Yes, she helped…But don't think you're off the hook yet, Skuld! I know who permitted the whole Prophecy of Stone idiocy in the first place! That was incredibly reckless…"
"Blah, blah, blah… old lady talking… blah, blah, blah."
With her index finger, Skuld suddenly yanked down her lower eyelid and stuck out her tongue at an infuriated Death… then promptly disappeared the instant before Death could get her hands on the cheeky Norn.
A frustrated Death was not amused…
"Brat! Seriously, Akanbe?!... I have a good mind to get Destiny to visit the Realm of Fate so he can have a long chat with Skuld's mother about this… Kids these days, no respect for their elders… I'd like to snip her threads!
Anyways, there was another reason why I came here today... even though the Brat sure had it coming."
Raven felt her anxiety rise… So Death had once again come to Kahndaq to claim her own. But who?! Who would have to pay the final price after they had already paid such a high cost to stop the evil Darkseid… Was Orion so far gone? Diana?! Had Bruce?!
No!…
Beautiful Death suddenly grinned at Raven and then laughed.
"Oh Geez… I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. No, I'm here for him…"
Death pointed her finger at the grim statue of Darkseid looming in the shadows beside them. Even now, there was something dark and ominous about the lifeless rock. The wicked and condescending laughter was forever frozen upon stony features.
Raven didn't understand why Death would come for this statue though. After all, Darkseid would not be returned to the Source. What did an ugly piece of rock matter?
"Was not Darkseid's price for the Prophecy of Stone his own immortality, Death?"
"It was… but the echoes of his soul are still contained in this stone. It must be returned to the black waters of Oblivion - so all that Darkseid was can be washed away into those dark depths and made anew. Besides, it's an ugly statue…"
"Then… a new God of Tyranny will be born?"
"Maybe. But that's for Urd to choose with which dark waters she fills her bucket with, and the threads that Verdandi weaves into Yggdrasil. It's up to Fate. And if they're smart, they'll just leave Skuld out of the decision making from now on… I'm only here to scatter the ashes of existence when a life is told… It's kinda what I do."
Raven breathed a sigh. So… Pale Death was here only to pick up the stone remnants of Darkseid. That wasn't so bad. Then Raven remembered something that had bothered her when she had last encountered the Endless…
"… Death, when we last met on Maltus, you told me 'See you soon'… Did you know this would happen now? That Darkseid would fall prey to his own wish?"
"Oh, gosh no! Only my stodgy, older brother Destiny knows those sort of things. No, I knew we would meet again when I first met you Raven because Darkseid was wrong. There is another who has paid the price of their immortality to the Fates. That's how I knew I would see you again… sooner than later. That's all."
"Another?…The price of immortality?... But who?"
Death placed her hand gently upon the white-clad Raven's shoulder and gazed into her amber eyes.
"You."
Raven took a second to comprehend this. Surely, this was a joke…
"Me?! But I'm not even immortal, Death…"
"Not anymore you're not… But you were. You gave it up for Love, Raven… I have to admit, I cried a little when you chose to have your Fate tied to the mortal, Bruce Wayne… that was really sweet. Just to protect him like that.
So, when Bruce does die, we all get to see each other again! That'll be fun! One of the drawbacks of a shared Fate - negates the whole immortality thing…"
Raven was utterly stunned. But somehow, she knew this to be true. She was half-God after all, but still, it seemed so beyond the possible…
"I was immortal?..."
"Yep. Because your father was an immortal, silly. Basic genetics. You had a 50/50 chance of being born with a God's lifespan… and you did! At least until you dealt with the Fates and tied your thread to that of Bruce Wayne's. You effectively gave up your own immortality…"
Death smiled and slid a consoling arm around Raven's shoulder as she brought the crimson Champion closer.
To Scott and Barda Free, it seemed such a strange situation… to have the Black Racer actually comforting the half-Goddess.
To the Guardians, the black-robed Goddess of Eternal Night now placed an arm around the Champion of Magic… not to carry her to the void but to seemingly comfort her.
To Barbara Gordon, the Grim Reaper leaned in to soothe her sister Raven, while his skeletal arm draped sympathetically across her shoulders.
To Princess Diana, the winged God of Death, young Thanatos had placed his blessed arm around the Lightning-Sorceress, as though he were an old acquaintance.
Regardless of which appearance Death had chosen to reveal herself as to those around her, she continued…
"Don't feel too bad, Raven-sweetie… It's one of the reasons why that conniving Skuld was even able to counteract the Prophecy of Stone. You gave her the rare opportunity to clean up one of the biggest mistakes of all time! Because someone had paid the same price as Darkseid. How often do you think that happens?...
So that's why the dumb, little witch got the noogie!"
Showing no fear of the Black Racer, Barda Free reached across to Raven, pulling the smaller half-Goddess into her powerful arms, cradled against Apokoliptian armour. Barda stroked Raven's ebony hair, whispering solemnly to the crimson Champion…
"I'm so sorry, Raven… You belong with us upon New Genesis. This is no fit reward, after all that you have done for us…"
Raven wrapped her own arms around the busty warrior, hugging powerful Barda back. She smiled at Scott and released her hold. Stepping backwards, she joined the two lovers hands together. The God of Freedom and his beautiful Goddess of Passion.
The Champion of Magic then cast her graceful gaze to the heroes beyond, who had stood against Darkseid in that darkest hour, now proudly standing in the sun.
"I have all the reward that I have ever required now before me.
What I did, was what I had to do… to save Bruce's soul… and my own.
And all of you that are gathered here,
Understand this. And you passionate Barda,
You alone understand better than any the price
That lovers are willing to pay for Love…
But to learn that such a freely-given thing
Was also able to break the Prophecy of Stone…
That makes it no burden whatsoever.
To have all of you gathered here at the end of Darkseid's terror,
And a new day shining upon us… There can be no regrets…
Not when this single morning will outshine countless days."
Raven felt their beaming admiration, their awe of the sacrifice she had made. But she had meant every word. What was her immortality measured against the continued existence of the entire Universe? Nodding to Death, Raven quietly walked over to the lifeless and foreboding statue of Darkseid, slowly reaching up to place her hand upon its grey, stony cheek one last time.
"…Farewell Uncle. May you find peace in that Dark Sea."
As she finished her prayer, Raven witnessed hairline cracks beginning to appear on the statue's cheek, just beneath where she had placed her hand. These tiny fissures continued to spread across rocky features, until they covered all of its carved face, and then extended beyond. Visible cracks now formed along the entire statue, when a great splitting sound was suddenly heard within its dark core…
And then… as by implosion, the entire statue simply exploded into fine powder… dust spreading across the mountainside and into the desert, carried with the morning wind. The slim figure of Death stepped behind Raven, watching the dust swirl further away, and placed a soft hand on Raven's weary shoulder…
"Well… This may take a little longer than I planned… Brittle fellow, wasn't he?"
"Even the echoes of his soul are beyond spiteful… Nonetheless, allow me, Death."
Using the twin observation of Zareah and Abraxas, Raven isolated every last particle of dust that had formed the stone effigy of Darkseid. Using the power of Selene, she then brought every single atom of those fragments back together into a large ball of rock…
"Aldruon en lenthranall losolomirus nor!"
With those magic words, a black-matter sack of magic energy appeared under the reformed boulder - as all former pieces of Darkseid neatly dropped into the opening and were then hermetically sealed within her magic bag…
Which gently floated over to a thankful Death.
"Sweet!… Sometimes they're pretty obstinate about going."
"Good riddance to him… Farewell, Death. I'll guess I will see you again."
"Of course! But it's not necessarily a bad thing, you know."
Raven cast her glance upwards at the immortal blue-skinned Guardians who silently watched, hovering above the group.
"No… No it's not. See you soon."
The pale smiling face of Death faded from her view (with her magic sack of Darkseid slung over her shoulder). Death journeyed to the cold Sea of Oblivion which she knew so well for Darkseid's last rites. Raven suppressed an urge to join her… as she realized that she actually enjoyed the company of the second oldest of the Endless.
It was strange to contemplate that Death had been on hand at the demise of every living thing that had ever existed since the beginning of time… But she had... In one guise or another. Raven was sure Death could tell her some fantastic stories of her far travels and exploits, perhaps over a couple glasses of chardonnay! She should really look her up sometime…
Barda approached a quiet Raven once more and clasped her hands in her own.
"The deed is done… Come with us to New Genesis, Raven. Your Bruce is more than welcome to join us. We will hold such a feast in your honour! For it is you who have ushered in a new era for the Gods themselves! Receive your heroes welcome among those joyous Gods."
With Lightray's assistance, a bruised and battered Orion also stumbled towards Raven. The Dog of War had endured the beams of the Manhunters longer than any other living thing could bear. She wasn't sure how he was even talking to her, yet alone still alive.
"Aye Raven, and even desolate Apokolips will name you sovereign. There are many old wounds between the two worlds of the Gods… but you have given us the chance to nurse those injuries. As the daughter of Drax, you would be heralded as Queen upon Apokolips!"
Raven strode forward and then kissed the Dog of War upon his burned and bruised cheek, reaching out with her magic to heal the wounds of a beaten Orion, until he was able to stand on his own two feet once more. He straightened and smiled at her in amazement, as she gave him her reply.
"There is much work to do to heal the wounds of this world as well, Orion. And shaken Earth is now my home… But I shall visit New Genesis when I have tied up a few loose ends… After all, I left something very important and dear to my heart in its care.
But I will not be a Queen, cousin… Fore it is you who will rule Apokolips … with the aid of your half-sister, my half-sister, and your noble lover…
Lightray, you must shine over that dark world, to become Orion's beacon. Zareah and Abraxas shall be your eyes and your measure, good Orion. But use them wisely, fore Apokolips has many easy paths to Tyranny laid along its fiery shores."
"Rule?! I can do no such thing, cousin! Dogs are not meant for crowns…"
"Then don't wear one."
"Apokolips has only known evil…"
"Then teach it something better, Orion. Show it Love, Charity and Hope. Were you not also born of Apokolips?… And were you not taught all the cruelty that world could ever offer? And yet, Izaya found goodness within you. Give Apokolips the same chance to become something more."
Orion hung his scarred head…
"Dearest cousin, I am unworthy. To have let you down in such a shameful way against Darkseid. To have fallen when the first trumpet called to war… I could not bear to disappoint you further."
"Then don't. I am glad we are agreed on this manner."
"But…"
Lightray suddenly placed a finger over the protesting mouth of Orion, stopping the second-born of Darkseid before more futile arguments could be issued from his lips.
"And this war– should you choose to wage it against Raven - would treat you far less favourably, brash Orion. In truth, bleak Apokolips may not love you as I do… but it respects you. Do not let its den of rabid vipers poison that populace further..."
The gleam of battle sparked in his clear eyes - as Orion placed a strong hand on the firm shoulder of Lightray.
"Aye, dear Lightray… The crimes of Darkseid were the worst of all, but not the only. There will be many who seek to claim that lonely throne and continue the Tyrant's mad ways... But let them proceed through ready Orion!"
A smiling Raven then addressed all four New Gods.
"Though there is a long road ahead of you, your work here is done, friends. Depart for New Genesis and bring your joyful news to the Highfather. I know there is one among you that he is most anxious to see… Give him my humble regards. I have a little left to do, and then I shall rejoin all of you."
With smiles and thanks, the New Gods opened a Boom Tube to New Genesis, where Raven knew a father would weep tears of joy at the return of his first-born son, and also the son he had filled with Love. The Highfather would shed tears in Heaven to see them both again and know his debt was fully paid.
As the Boom Tube closed, Raven then turned to Diana, carefully regarding her shoulder. When the Princess of the Amazons noticed this attention, she quickly rebuffed Raven's good intentions.
"Worry not for an Amazon, Lightning-Sorceress… I bear this wound proudly as a badge of courage! I would not deprive my sisters the opportunity to witness such a strange injury. But truly Lightning-Sorceress, your star does shine so bright that the Gods themselves would cast you against the night sky, Raven Wayne. The Amazons will sing songs of your heroic deeds until songs can no longer be sung. You would be a most honoured guest on Themyscira."
"Thank you, Princess. And we shall meet again in time, but I know your mother's heart yearns dearly for her most precious daughter… Hippolyta's many tears carry across the wide sea. But there are some things I must take care of, great Warrior…
Clark, Barbara… I must insist upon this one last favour. Could you please accompany Princess Diana back to Themyscira? Entreat the Amazons with tales of the Sum of All Evils and especially Princess Diana's great bravery against such a foe?"
A beaming Diana wrapped her one uninjured, powerful arm around a surprised Barbara Gordon.
"Green-Ring-Sorceress! You would be most welcome to my home! My sisters will sing your praises of glory with voices unsurpassed in this world of Man!"
Although Diana's excitement threatened to become infectious, something in Barbara's mind stirred, telling her that she should not leave… not now. Even in this war zone, it was a beautiful morning, but there was a storm brewing on the northern horizon. And her ebony-haired sister had never forced her hand like this.
"Raven, I…"
Barbara's words of protest died in blackness as the landscape around her suddenly changed to that of an island paradise… The sun shone higher in a perfect blue sky. A surprised Clark and Diana also stood by Barbara, all three of them together on a soft, warm beach.
The waves gently cascaded against the sands as the scent of a thousand tropical flowers mingled in the warm, humid air - bursting with life. The smoke and death of Kahndaq had now been exchanged for the tranquil beauty of Paradise.
Diana instantly recognized her homeland.
"Themyscira!"
In an opposite response, Barbara Gordon shouted obscenities at the wide, blue Sea that made even Clark blush.
Taken aback by the Green Lantern's reaction, Princess Diana slowly placed a gentle hand on Barbara's tense shoulder.
"Green-Ring-Sorceress… Do not fear… You and your man will be most welcomed here and well-provided for… The battle is over."
"No… it's not... Raven sent us here for a reason, Princess.
…She's going after the Guardians."
Author's Note: Gosh, I would sure hate to be a Guardian right about now…