Bonus Chapter, Part Ten:
The Ghosts of Daughters
It had been the sudden flicker of a vivid memory from twenty-two years ago which had caused the Goddess of the Past to make her impromptu decision to leave the Kryptonian and the Amazon Princess one dimension behind…
The memory had occurred on the edge of Yggdrasil twenty-two years ago, when Urd had first gathered Raven's thread of Fate, recalling its feel and sheen, as though it had only happened moments ago. This had been the first Thread of Iron she had selected in centuries as she ran it admiringly between her own immortal fingers.
A Goddess was to be born in Azarath that day.
A Goddess who would destroy them.
To his eternal damnation, Nekron had purchased the End. It was to be this same fine thread which Urd squeezed between her fingers which would bring about this last, terrible destiny. The bargain between Trigon and Nekron had been sealed, casting this cursed thread into the prophesized daughter of Trigon who would lead Existence into its final Darkness.
A dark-haired girl who would be named… Raven.
As Urd's beautiful sister Verdandi pulled this thread from Urd's quivering fingers, the Goddess of the Present had stopped and paused, gazing upon the rare display of sorrow in her sister's violet eyes.
"Why is it that you are saddened, Sister?"
"This thread, Verdandi… It is this thread which shall destroy us… Shall there be no Hope for us? For the Great Tree? Shall one small thread destroy us all?"
"It is Nekron's Prophecy which shall destroy us, Urd… Not this thread."
"But this is the very thread which shall lead to that Prophecy, Sister. It is now foretold with his daughter's birth, the God of Revenge has made it so."
A tiny grin creased Verdandi's mouth .
"The Weave was never so simple, Urd… But if it shall bring back your bright smile, I shall grant you three favors to attach to this Fate we now hold… Then, if there is to be the Hope you desire for us, it shall be within this Thread. Would it please you for this child to know Hope?"
"I pray that she becomes Hope itself, Sister… So that we Gods may finally embrace the Hope of mortals and call her Sister."
"Then it shall be done... And what of Love, dear Urd? Shall this child know Love?"
The tanned Goddess of the Past chuckled mischievously and wiped a tear from her eye.
"Let her know such Love that my own jealous heart shall burn with envy."
Verdandi quietly blushed. She was well aware her older sister was no slouch in the romance department.
"… So be it… And Freedom, dear Urd? Shall the unruly Black Thread which frays my Weave hold sway over even such a bright Goddess as this? Shall this Iron be tarnished by Freedom?"
In confident defiance, Urd raised her tightened fist to the Great Tree above.
"Sway?... Let it be her very destiny! Let her clutch the dark thread so tightly that this stiff thread unravels and falls from this cursed Weave you must spin, Sister. Let her grasp your Needle and weave her own damned Fate!"
Verdandi smiled and pulled the thread from her Sister-Goddess.
"Because of the tears in my Sister's distraught eyes, I shall bestow these gifts upon the child, so that she will never witness your tears, Urd. There shall come a time when this Iron Thread must bear the weight of the Great Tree itself..."
As she had traveled back across dimensions to Earth, Urd had suddenly realized that twenty-two years later, all of Verdandi's words had come to pass. Her Sister had woven the three gifts into Raven's life that Urd had asked for.
And now, in a graveyard of the Dead in Gotham, this child had grown into a woman and had just placed her own blood upon Nekron's amendment, announcing her consent to the Emperor of all things Unliving.
Raven's sacred blood was now smeared upon the very document which Urd was tasked to hold in her quivering hands, just as she had held onto an Iron Thread with those same quivering hands twenty-two years ago.
And yet, in this Darkest Night, Urd knew that Raven could still prevail. For the first time in her existence, she had felt Hope.
Beyond any measure of doubt she knew Raven could prevail, because her divine Sister had once told her that Raven would never witness saddened tears fall from the eyes of the Goddess of the Past…
And if Raven were to fall or her newborn son be sacrificed to Nekron, Urd would shed such bitter tears that Raven would have no choice but to bear witness. So it was true that Raven could prevail because Verdandi had never spoken a lie. But how could the Goddess of Hope ever avoid these tears that Urd must cry?...
Raven placed her hand upon Urd's shoulder, as much to comfort the distraught Goddess as to steady her pregnant self, never once daring to let her eyes wander from the gaze of her immortal adversary, Nekron.
"Please bring them back now, Goddess. It's alright, the Amendment has been ratified."
The Champion of Magic had been well aware of Urd's premonition and the fact that she had left Clark and Diana in a nearby dimension for safekeeping. Of course she had! With the aspect of Abraxas - the Goddess of the Unseen - what secrets could Urd ever keep from Raven?
As the Goddess of the Past let an embarrassed smile crease her lips, a confused Clark and Diana suddenly appeared amongst spinning circles of stars and Nordic runes. As soon as she realized what was happening, Barbara positively launched herself onto Clark, a wave of unstoppable emotional release, embracing the Kryptonian with everything that she had.
As Clark reunited with his wife, the Pride of the Amazons shifted her feet on the ground and readied her sword with a speed that impressed even Barry Allen. The Amazon stood at the ready, warily eying Nekron with a warrior's intention to strike.
Princess Diana would never back down from this fight… Even if her opponent was Lord Hades himself!
And yet… Raven asked her to do just that.
"Princess… Please… sheath your sword. This was a fight we could never win… I have agreed to the amended terms… Lord Nekron shall have my child."
On the spacious grounds of Wayne Manor, Alfred Pennyworth slowly strolled amongst the twenty slumbering aliens who had taken up residence earlier in the evening. Had they not all been dressed in the same style of uniform as Mrs. Barbara Gordon-El, Alfred doubted he would have recognized any of them as members of the Blue Lantern Corps.
Yet they must be. They wore the same ring as Mrs. Gordon-El (on some form of appendage or another) and looked somewhat similar to Barbara in what Alfred had deemed her 'work' uniform.
It was fortunate that Master Wayne did not employ guard dogs.
How strange it was for Alfred to see so many visitors from other worlds in their own backyard... literally. It was as though some strange science fiction movie were being filmed near the Manor and all the actors had become slumbering squatters.
Alfred was unsure if he should attempt to rouse them… Perhaps it was best just to let sleeping aliens lie. After all, he was completely ignorant of alien etiquette if they should awaken. And yet, he felt extremely awkward leaving them this way.
The elder caretaker of Wayne Manor had already attempted to contact Mr. And Mrs. Wayne upon discovery of the aliens moments ago, but with no success. Alfred would have stayed with Raven and Bruce at the hospital earlier, but there were still countless things to prepare at the Manor for the baby's arrival. Besides, he wouldn't have been much use there.
And now there were all these surprise guests!
Perhaps Mrs. Wayne's entire Blue Lantern Corps had unexpectedly arrived tonight in order to congratulate Raven and Bruce on the arrival of their new son and simply had no accommodations. That was probable. Alfred imagined it would have been difficult for an Extra Terrestrial to book a hotel reservation in Gotham.
And that would also explain why he had been unable to contact the Waynes. In fact, Alfred had little doubt he would get a call any moment now from Master Bruce, informing him of the jubilant news about the birth of his first godson… and then apologetically request that an extra twenty rooms be prepared for their unexpected guests.
Alfred was contemplating the overwhelming logistics of preparing twenty guest rooms for otherworldly visitors when one of the aliens stirred.
The Butler watched in silent astonishment as a creature which was an orange-skinned cross between a fish, bird and lizard slowly rose its "feet", gingerly rubbing its finned head. When the alien realized that the older human was staring at it, the being turned to Alfred and surprised him by speaking in perfect Oxford English.
"My sincerest apologies, Sir. I would dearly like to make amends for our slumberous impropriety upon your lawn – which I assure you is due to extraordinary circumstances completely beyond our control - but I regret that we must now all depart with considerable haste. Our Goddess calls us, you see."
"Has she? Well, think nothing of it then, my good Sir. Truly, no harm done. Please, feel free to drop by for a spot of tea should your circumstances permit. I'm sure there is an interesting tale to be told."
"There is indeed! But regrettably I must take my leave, kind Sir. I bid you a fond Adieu and humbly apologize once again for this unwarranted assemblage."
"Well met, Sir. An unexpected pleasure, I assure you. Good luck and farewell…"
Alfred Pennyworth watched as twenty Blue Lanterns (including the strange beaked one that had displayed such gracious manners) disappeared into a blue light, leaving him alone atop the night-darkened gardens of Wayne Estate.
Besides being a little damp, it was a pleasant summer's night. Sometimes Alfred forgot that the Manor's humble Mistress whom he had grown to love as a daughter was also a Goddess. It was no good worrying about Raven's condition now...
Alfred chuckled softly and started to make his way back towards the light of the Manor, staring up at the bright stars above.
"Let us hope that everything is alright with Mistress Raven and Master Bruce. One thing's for certain, however…" the Butler said aloud to no one but himself. "If all aliens are that polite, I believe humanity shall only be improved by their acquaintance."
With Richard Grayson leaning heavily into his shoulder as they walked, Bruce Wayne set a careful pace towards the center of the graveyard where his wife, the entire Blue Lantern Corps and his own Justice League were now facing an unspeakable evil…
Nekron.
With Richard in his current condition, Bruce was in no rush to join that battle. He feared that even letting his injured step-son get this close to Nekron might have been a terrible mistake. There was a firefight going on over the next hill and to put it bluntly, Dick's body was shattered.
Gods were now at war before them, and they limped along like wounded moths drawn to a flame.
The streak of light from the sky and the immense shock-wave that followed a few moments ago confirmed Bruce's worst fears. This battle was no place for a critically wounded man whose stealth-suit was in tatters. Bruce was positive that Dick must have had multiple broken ribs, a shattered clavicle, various contusions and probably a serious concussion.
And dear God, please let a concussion be the worst of the injuries they couldn't see…
Even with successful treatment, Dick would be out of action for months. The Batman would have to take a break from his personal war on crime... should they survive the night of course.
But was that actually such a bad thing? Maybe Richard could focus on being Richard again…
"Don't worry… I'll… be fine… Old man."
Bruce wondered if his troubled expression had been that obvious to his ward? He loved Richard dearly, but he didn't want to worry him by fearing the worst.
"I never said you wouldn't be, son."
"You're thinking it… I can read it… in your aura."
That was a new trick. It was bad enough with Bruce being married to an empath, but now he would have to be careful around Richard if he could read his emotions as well.
"Heh… Raven didn't mention the aura reading… But I'll be honest, Dick… You're in rough shape, son. You're going to be out of the game for awhile… I hope that you'll devote yourself to Azarathian healing techniques when this is all said and done."
"Won't have to… I'll be fine… I have a pretty Ace… up my sleeve."
A sharp memory triggered in Bruce's mind. Something he had wanted to confront Richard about for weeks but had never been able to pin him down to ask.
"Richard… Please… Tell me the truth. I know something's going on… There was a report that the Batman had been grievously wounded last month… And when Alfred found a huge trail of blood in the Cave…. Well, I panicked and analyzed it… It was your blood, Richard… But… there was never a mark on you!… How is that even possible?"
As Bruce stared with the worried look of a parent, his guts twisting in knots as he concluded that Richard had been playing with a fire that he shouldn't have, the younger man simply grinned impishly, answering his step-father with one word.
"Secret."
Bruce sighed, exasperated.
"You're really annoying, you know that?"
"Only… my Dad… would ever… say that."
Bruce managed to smile now. It always warmed his heart when Richard called him 'Dad'. It hadn't been an easy upbringing for either of them, and yet, it seemed as though they may pull through. They were a family now.
"You know I'll get it out of you one way or another… For now, just hang in there, Champ. Once we're over this hill, we'll be within sight of them. But promise me, son… You have to let the rest of the League handle Nekron, alright? We're only here to watch. No heroics."
"…You too."
Bruce chuckled at Dick's retort. Over the past year, Bruce had placed himself in more dangerous situations than he had any right to. Both of them were mortal men who had battled alongside Gods and survived. They belonged in the war, but this was no longer their battle.
Tonight, others would have to carry the banner of Humanity… From this point forward, they could bear witness only.
And at this moment, there was nothing more Bruce Wayne wanted to do than simply bear witness… to watch the birth of his son with Raven. That would be enough. Just let him be there by his wife as their child was born.
Let Nekron go back to Hell.
As father and son slowly crested the hill, Bruce's heart leapt as he saw the woman who had claimed his soul. His brave and indomitable wife was now actually standing, staring down Nekron himself. There were others around her, but it was Raven who had taken the lead and courageously faced the Lord of the Unliving.
Bruce appraised the scene. A white-haired woman with tan skin whom he didn't recognize was kneeling beside Raven. Barbara was also there, passionately hugging Clark, while Barry was eyeing the shades around them. Diana looked as fierce as ever, ready to fight Nekron single-handedly.
And then, with nothing more than her words, his perfect wife shattered their very world.
"Princess… Please… sheath your sword. This was a fight we could never win… I have agreed to the amended terms… Lord Nekron shall have my child."
It was Raven's voice…
No… NO!
How could she?! How could she do that to their son?!
It couldn't end like this… not like this.
It couldn't…
Bruce Wayne tumbled as he no longer had the strength to stand. On the crest of a dark hill, looking down upon his wife, his will to resist simply collapsed beneath him, allowing gravity to pull his unresisting body to the wet grass below.
He couldn't fight anymore.
He had lost… everything.
It took Richard Grayson a moment to rouse Bruce's spirit back to the present, out of the depths of blackest despair he had descended into. And when Bruce Wayne was back with the living when another Goddess appeared amongst them, he would finally grasp the full meaning and reality-altering consequences of Raven's prophetic words…
While Urd had retrieved Clark and Diana from the pocket dimension where the Goddess of the Past had deposited them, Raven silently called her Blue Lantern Corps from where they lay upon the grounds of Wayne Manor. She needed every ounce of power available to her now.
And even that would not be enough.
Existence itself now hinged upon this one single moment. Hope could only take her to the point where she must arrive, but Raven needed something that lay far beyond. She needed to overstep the bounds of reality and step past the limits of her own power.
But most of all, as a mother, she needed Forgiveness.
As members of her Blue Lantern Corps began to materialize in blue flashes all around her, a wary Nekron eyed her carefully, yet still grinned, amused with his apparent victory, attempting to provoke her. The threat of the Undead Lantern Corps still hung ominously in the darkness above them.
"Have you brought back… your little blue pets… to witness the End?"
"No. I pray that it is a new Beginning on this night, Lord Nekron."
"In time… Yes… It shall be… A New Beginning… But not on this night… Our roles have led us to… the Final Act, dear Raven."
Lord Nekron reached out his decaying hand towards Raven, his lifeless fingers extended to receive the promised price - as the tears she could no longer hold back began to fall from her swollen eyes.
"I still await your son."
Blue flames flickered and danced around her entire body when a sudden flash of blue light erupted from the Ring of every member of her Blue Lantern Corps. The fire grew until the Cemetery itself was immersed in the blue light of Hope, burning with the faithful flames of Prayer which were reflected upon the very stars above.
The specters of the Dead withered and fell from the sky as the corpses who walked the Earth now burned to ashen dust. Gotham itself soon became a blue light of Hope, a beacon to the Seas and Skies beyond with the promise of Life.
The light of blue shone to Heaven itself.
All who had gathered felt something extraordinary, something magical occur then, and yet very little seemed to have changed. But they themselves had changed. As though they saw the world with new eyes.
And then… finally… the one which Raven had called forth descended from the Heavens above.
The Goddess of Mothers.
With golden light and warmth she appeared among them, an eternal image of a woman dressed in flowing white wrapped in bands of gold. Her dark red hair was woven into a golden crown which flowed down past her shoulders.
As Princess Diana of Themyscira turned to witness this divine stranger who had charged the very air around them with her divine grace, the proud warrior immediately fell to her knees and subjected herself before the patron Goddess of the Amazons.
"Merciful Hera!"
The Goddess of Mothers smiled upon her faithful disciple, as Nekron shielded his dark eyes from the blinding glow of this divine force of Life. And still, he was unmoved. The Lord of the Unliving still held out his expectant palm as he glowered at Raven.
"Our arrangement must stand!… And I will have… your child, Raven!... The amendment is unbreakable… Or have you summoned… the Goddess of Mothers… simply to beg of… her divine forgiveness?... To allow her… to witness… this last birth?"
Saddened tears still flowed from violet eyes as Raven fixed her gaze onto the black eyes of Nekron. As the Champion of Magic stepped towards him, past his outstretched hand, all who watched her held their breath, silently watching in repulsion as Raven Wayne extended out her own small hand and touched the God of Oblivion's midsection, beneath the fetid hole in his decaying chest which revealed his still-beating black heart of darkness.
Even Nekron himself seemed taken aback by this act of familiarity. The small hand of Hope now rested upon his cursed body. The same Hope which had been denied him for Eternity now stood mere inches away. Since the very beginning of time, no one had ever dared to approach him so closely…
"What you speak is true, Lord Nekron. I have called the Goddess of Mothers to beg of her forgiveness."
As he curiously looked down upon her, he found there was no fear in her divine countenance, no repulsion in her shining twilight eyes. There was only a deep yearning for merciful acceptance and a warmth he had never encountered. She was alive with pure emotion. The snapping tinge of regret panged in his frozen heart.
To think, there was a time when this beautiful creature could have been his…
"I must implore Hera's mercy for this thing I have done, Lord Nekron… But I must beg for your forgiveness for it even more so… My blue flame of Hope now burns within you, my Lord. With every fiber of my very being, I beg that you shall permit its existence and learn to cherish it… so that it may be with you always. I beg of you to never curse this eternal fire… If you must curse it, rail against this hand which has lit it... But promise me... Swear to me that you shall never curse the fire…"
"Elpis… What have you done?..."
"I have fulfilled our contract, my Lord... Our daughter now grows within you. In the sight of the Goddess of Mothers, I have combined my egg with your divine essence to create our blessed daughter. She is the Blue Flame of Hope that shall burn atop the Sea of Oblivion... A daughter who shall be forever loyal to you… You must never rage against her… Promise me that... Only hate the mother… And if ever your lifeless heart could love, my Lord… I beg of you… to love her… to love our daughter."
Author's Note:
Bet you didn't see that one coming.