A/N: Two chapters in one day. I know, right? Although, I suppose it's technically still one chapter a day since ot's currently 1:15am as I'm writingthis. BUT STILL! That means if I post this and write/post another chapter Friday afternoon/evening after work, it'll REALLY be two chapters in one day. *mind blown*

Yes, I am a little loopy right now. I'll deal with Kaiba's mind next chapter. This had to be written first. Sorry, not sorry. Yes thi capter's a bit of a short but that probably means the next one's gonna be long so be prepared.

Gods, Verbal Warfare, and Mountains

"So, it is indeed the Dark Ones returned," Zeus murmured, his brow creased in thought.

"Their power was great many years ago," Athena said.

"Yes, but they only reigned on Earth for a few dozen years at most," Ares said. "No one's heard hide nor tail of of them since."

"And yet, here they are in a card game of all things," Dionysus said, taking a sip of his wine. He flopped down on his couch in thought. "Well, I suppose there's nothing for it. Might as well wait it out."

"Wait it out?" Ares demanded. "Are you mad?"

"Who are you talking to again?" Dionysus cast a cheeky grin to the god of war, winking playfully.

"I think waiting would be best," Helios said. Sun gold eyes lifted to Zeus's. "The Dark Ones never bothered us before. They kept to themselves and only fought when summoned. If that tradition holds, then we have nothing to fear."

Ares groaned. "And if the tradition doesn't hold? Think Titan!" The god stood and began pacing. "We must test their strength. It's the least we can do."

"And have them take offense and attack us?" Apollo said. "You aren't making sense, Ares. Listen to yourself."

"No, Apollo, you listen," Ares snapped. "The mortal's name is Set. Set! The Egyptian god of chaos."

"From the new pantheon only," Helios interrupted.

"But he was deified and as such hold a place among the gods as we do in some way, shape, or form," Artemis said. "Ares is right. We do need to know their strength."

"Thank you!"

"However," Artemis continued over Ares, "I also think we should wait. Set has shown little to no interest in us. He called us copycats of his own gods."

"Copycats?" Dionysus gasp caught between laughter and offense.

"The chances of him or any of his attacking us is slim," Artemis finished. "I say we leave him be for now."

"And the Justice League?" Selene asked, her gentle voice carrying through the council. "Princess Diana, daughter of Hippolyta, is a member of this League and she stands in high regard among those of this council." Silver eyes met her brother's. "While I agree we should wait, Helios, I also think we should defend our own. Should Diana or those under our protection be attacked, we should act in their defense."

Helios nodded. He and Selene were far older than of the gods here. They were Titans, predating Zeus. They knew of the Dark Ones but had never seen them until the Ancient Egyptians found a way to summon them.

"It is said," Helios said thoughtfully, "the Dark Ones dwell in a region of space separate but one with our own. They rule the Shadows from the shadows. They do not demand worship, nor do you they seek sacrifices or tributes. They merely wish to keep their domain in check, attacking only when summoned or threatened. They were known for their fierce protectiveness and secrecy." Here Helios paused, bowing his head. "I do not know much of them other than that, I am afraid. However," sun gold eyes opened and focused on Zeus, "Set is not just the god of chaos. He is also the god of foreigners. Take that into consideration before you make your final decision."

Zeus nodded in thought. "I have heard your words, Helios; as I have heard all of your words. We will wait."

"But Zeus!"

"We will wait, Ares," the lord of the gods thundered, subduing the errant god of war. "We are not as powerful as we once were. Our worshipers dwindle. We cannot afford to fight a war with an enemy we know little of. Especially when we only assume them to be the enemy. Let them make the first move."

"Father-"

"Enough Ares," Hera said. "Honor your father's decision. We wait."

Ares bowed to his mother and stalked out of the council. Helios watched him go. "I believe I too will retire for the night. Sister, if you would accompany me I would be most grateful."

Selene nodded, taking Helios's offered hand and standing gracefully. Together, the siblings turned to go.

"Helios," Hera called, gaining the siblings' attention. "Perhaps you and Selene care to join me for dinner tonight. Dionysus and Athena will also be in attendance."

"You offer is most gracious, Hera," Helios said, bowing on one knee.

Selene curtseyed next to him. "We humbly accept your invitation."

"Tonight then," Hera murmured, dismissing the two Titans.

"I fear you have woken a slumbering dragon brother," Selene whispered as the siblings walked down the steps from the council at the highest point of Olympus.

"I fear I have as well," Helios murmured in reply. "Nevertheless, I stand by my words. War is not something we can afford right now."

"Let us hope we are not outvoted," Selene said.

"They're waiting?" Superman asked, surprised. "I thought your gods would jump at the chance to challenge another pantheon for power."

Diana sighed tolerantly, turning away from the rooftop view of Starling City. "No, Clark, pantheons do not generally fight one another. They keep to themselves, hoard their worshipers, and acknowledge and respect boundaries of belief. If another pantheon is not threatening you, leave them be."

"So in other words, we're on our own," Batman said.

Diana shook her head. "Not so. I have the protection of my gods. Should I be attacked by another deity, my goddess will come to my aid."

"So we have one Greek goddess in our pocket," Green Lantern said. "That's not much in the grand scheme of things."

"But it's something," Hawkgirl said. "I'll stand by it."

"Hey," Flash said with a playful smile, shrugging, "maybe she's hot. Don't judge before you know." His smile faded when he notice J'onn tensed suddenly. "J'onn, hey buddy, you alright?"

"I...have lost Arrow."

"Lost?" Green Lantern gasped. "What do you mean by 'lost?'"l

J'onn closed his eyes and focused his telepathy on find Green Arrow's mind, but it gone. No, not gone, unreachable, as it had suddenly shrank to a point so minute he could not detect it. "He is...gone."

"Alright, I'm calling it," Batman said, narrowing eyes under his cowl. "We're moving in."

How long is this normally take?" Diggle asked, leaning towards the odd group on the bed.

"It depends," Yami said, also keeping an eye on his people.

Bakura hummed. "Sometimes it can take second for us but seem like hours or sometimes longer has passed for them. Other times, it may be hours to us but seem like seconds for them. Time is a convoluted thing, subject to perception."

"What he means," Ryou said, "is that time is relative. For instance, if you're having a particularly slow day at work, one minute may feel like an hour. But if you're having fun, that minute will fly by. The same amount of time passed by both times but your perception of it changed."

"But how long does it actually take?" Walter asked. "Perception aside?"

"As Bakura said, it varies from situation to situation," Yuugi said, grasping Yami's hand. "Jounouchi-kun, could you make coffee? I get the feeling this may take a few minutes at least."

"Sure thing Yug," Jounouchi said, saluting his friend. The blonde strode back into the common area to start the coffee maker when his path was suddenly blocked by a big, blueish green man. "WHAAA?!"

"Jounou-?!" Mai broke off in shock, staring at the outsider with wide eyes.

"Jounouchi-kun?" Yuugi called, hurrying over to the open doorway. He started at the sight that greeted him, falling back a step. "J-J'onn? What are you doing here?"

"Excuse me?" Diggle asked, stepping up behind Yuugi. He had just enough time to assess the situation before the window in the common room burst open and Batman swung in followed closely by Wonder Woman, Green Lantern with Flash in tow, Hawkgirl, and Superman. He reached for his gun instinctively.

"Don't even think about it," Batman said, arms hidden by his long black cape.

"I think I'll be doing my own thinking, thank you very much," Diggle said, drawing his gun and aiming it at Batman. He could heard the clicks of two more guns cocking on either side of him, feeling glad for the backup. Kaiba's bodyguards stood side by side with Diggle effectively blocking the doorway.

"Now before this all goes spiraling out of control," Walter said, pushing between the younger bodyguard and Diggle, "may I ask what this is about?"

"Walter Steele," J'onn said.

"Yes, and judging by your appearance I'm guessing you are the Martian Manhunter."

"I am."

"Good," Walter said with a smile. "There now, we're already getting somewhere. How about we all take a seat and discuss this like civilized men and not spoiled children gunning for a fight, if you'll pardon the pun."

"You seem confident," Hawkgirl said. "Most men would be cowering behind those guns."

"I am not most men, dear lady," Walter said, tilting his glasses to avoid the glare from the sunlight. "However, I will ask that the damages for the broken window be paid for my the Justice League, seeing as it was you who caused the destruction in the first place. Unwarranted destruction, might I add."

"Hardly unwarranted," Superman said. "One of our own just vanished from this room. You're going to tell us where he went."

"I'm assuming by 'one of your own' you mean Arrow," Walter said, tilting his head to look at the superheroes over the rims of his glasses. "I'mafraid my stepson is otherwise engaged at the moment. Any and all question regarding him will be referred to me until he is available once more."

"I think not," Batman said. "I wouldn't if I were you."

Jounouchi had backed up throughout the conversation and begun to reach for his bag which held his Duel Disk. He froze at the command, but his eyes narrowed to a men were threatening Yuugi, and Mai. Not to mention with Kaiba and Shaadi currently out for the count, that left only a handful of defenders in case this went south.

"Well, you're not me," he snarked, snatching his bag. He grabbed his Duel Disk, slipping it over his arm and activating it just before a rope looped around his arm, catching on the device. He tugged against the rope, struggling to free himself. Brown eyes followed to rope to it's lovely, raven haired wielder. "Let me go, lady," he demanded.

"Not until you stand down," she said.

Jounouchi glared. "Not fucking likely."

"Jounouchi, language," Walter said.

"Ehh?" the blonde gasped, staring incredulously at Walter.

I find it abhorrent that you honestly think you can waltz in here, weapons drawn and obviously ready for battle and have the audacity to take offense when we react in kind," Walter said, crossing his arms and staring down the Justice League. "You should all be ashamed of yourselves. This is a private meeting," he said, eyes hard. "Go back to Gotham."

"I can't do that," Batman replied. "We need information."

"You mean more than you already know?" Yami interjected, eyes staring straight ahead, calculating the reactions of the Justice League. His hand caressed his Deck calling a particular Spell Card to mind, just in case. "Noa informed us of your studies."

"I'm sure he did," the Dark Knight said. Yami could practically feel Batman's cowled eyes staring hard at the back of his head. "I want answers."

"I'm sure you do," Diggle said. "But you don't have the right to waltz into a city not under your watch and command civilians."

"Hardly civilians," Batman said.

"I take offense to that," Walter spoke up. "As a civilian business owner and resident of this city, I find myself not liking this situation at all. I am in the middle of an important private meeting with my future stepson, a possible business partner, and acquaintances which you so rudely interrupted."

The businessman clasped his hands in front of him and straightened his legs in a dignified manner Diggle recognized as a similar position Oliver used when attending business meetings. Diggle felt his lips tugging up in a grin of approval.

"Now how about you give my secretary a call and schedule a meeting like everyone else who wants to speak to me," Walter continued. He tilted his head so the morning sunlight flashed off of his glasses. "Just because you're a member of the Justice League does not mean you will be treated any differently from anyone else."

"That may be, but-"

"Then leave or I will call the police for harassment, damage to private property, and threatening my person as well as those of my friends," Walter said, eyes narrowing.

"You're making a mistake trusting them," Batman said, unmoving.

"And that would be strike one," Walter said, lifting one finger.

"Did he tell you he's the Egyptian god of chaos? That he murdered his own brother to take the throne?" Yami twitched, eyes hard and the humor from Walter's intelligent verbal smash-down gone from his face.

"Strike two," Walter said, lifting a second finger.

"I just want to know the name of the monster murdering people in this city," Batman said.

"Strike thr-"

The words left Walter before he could even finish, replaced by the sudden change of the scenery around them. Gone was the claustrophobic hotel room packed to the brim with people. In its place were huge, snow capped mountains and rugged terrain. Forest sprang to life, coating the lower mountains and foothills, stopping short at the tree-line. Mountain laurel and a few hardy trees, dwarfed and contorted by the harsh winds and conditions at high altitudes dotted the barren rock between the forest and the snow caps.

Instead of a ceiling, deep, sapphire skies filled the vast expanse of the heavens. Lenticular clouds capped several of the taller mountains, one mountain boasting three layers of the unusual cloud formations. Clouds poured over a nearby ridge like a slow moving waterfall or fog from a fog machine.

The stunned humans stood on a narrow ridge connecting two peaks. On either side of the ridge was a sea of rippling stratocumulus clouds which flowed through the valley below like a frothy sea. The sides of the ridge were covered by boulders and scattered patches of moss.

"What...is this?" Walter whispered, gazing at the breathtaking landscape in awe.

The Justice League seemed just as surprised. The superheroes moving into a loose circle formation, taking in the raw beauty surrounding them in awe and trepidation, anticipating an attack.

"Did you do this?" Diana demanded, staring hard at Jounouchi still caught by her lasso.

The blonde immediately shook his head in fervent denial. "No cards," he said.

"No cards?" Green Lantern said. "You mean Duel-"

"Do you know who did?" Wonder woman demanded.

The truth spell bound to her lasso activated and again the blonde shook his head. "Naw." Lips pulled back in a smirk. "But I can guess."

Before he could say anything more, a very distinct roar echoed through the mountainous landscape, shaking the very rocks. Something glittered radiantly in the dazzling sunlight, blocking out the sun far above. The shadow roared again and dove, rushing towards them at breakneck speeds.

"I'll give you a hint," Jounouchi said smirking. "He hates it went people spread lies about him and isn't known for his mercy."