A/N: Another slightly long chapter. I wanna go to bed so here's the chapter and goodnight.

Chapter 57 summary: In which discussions of sides and the truth behind the Egyptian pantheon begin to become clear.

Understanding Inter-Realm Connectivity

Kaiba watched Seth closely aware of how tired his other half was. But there was one thing he knew: if Seth was anything like him at all, then his other half would not vanish unless he was sure he would not appear weak. He knew Seth could handle stressful things fairly well; both Shadow Games he and subsequently Seth had been subjected to over the past couple days was proof enough of that. Kaiba paused as the last thought finally fully registered in his mind. Had it really only been a couple of days since this whole thing started? He ran a hand over his face, stuffing the other bandaged hand in his pocket. He should never think about things too hard, it would only bring on another headache.

/Seto?/

Kaiba looked up at Seth's mental call and saw his other half gazing at him worriedly. Kaiba just shook his head and stuffed both hands in his pockets. Instead, he turned when a hand rested on his shoulder and saw Shaadi standing behind him. "What is it?" he asked in Japanese.

"I wished to speak to you and Seth before I leave if you will allow it," the Egyptian said.

Kaiba glanced at Seth who was leaning on a wrought iron table and trying not to look like he was catching his breath. Seth saw the questioning look and nodded. Kaiba shrugged and waved Shaadi off. The Adviser nodded his thanks and moved to stand between Seth and his Regent.

For a moment he said nothing, simply stared at Seth curiously. Then he dropped his eyes and stuffed his arms into his sleeves. "I am glad you are well," he said softly.

Seth nodded. "As am I. But I believe that is not what you wished to say."

Shaadi shook his head. "No, it is not. I...I wish your advice."

"Advice for the Adviser?" Seth teased gently. "I shall do my best."

A faint blush dusted Shaadi's cheeks. "I wish to..." He looked away in an attempt to gather his thoughts. "I wish to continue what was started in the past," he said quickly, forcing the words out. "But I am unsure of how to go about it or if it is a wise decision to begin with."

Seth nodded slowly, eyes flicking over to Kaiba who stepped up to join them. "I would ask Ishizu first and let her decide," Seth said, smiling softly. "If it means anything, she greatly respects you and I do not think she would be adverse to it."

Shaadi nodded silently, his face still calm but the worry lines around his eyes had eased off somewhat. He bowed his head in respect. "Thank you."

"You never bow to me," Kaiba said, crossing his arms.

"You told me not to," Shaadi countered easily.

"The same goes for Seth," Kaiba replied. "We're equals."

Shaadi's lips twitched up in what was for him a broad smile. "I would argue that but we would just end where we started."

"Good," Kaiba said.

Shaadi nodded. "One last thing," he said casting his pale brown eyes down to the hand still in Kaiba's pocket. "How is your hand?"

Kaiba rolled his shoulders. "Roland took care of it. It's bandaged and should heal eventually."

Shaadi raised and eyebrow. "As you say."

The Regent rolled his eyes while Seth snickered. "Just get your sorry ass back to Egypt and be ready for Court tonight."

"About that," Flash said, walking up to the group unexpectedly. "If you want, I could teleport you."

Shaadi tilted his head to the side curiously. "I am fully capable of teleporting myself."

"Yeah, but I'm sure such a great distance would tire you out, am I right?" Flash argued with a cheeky grin. He shrugged his shoulders causally. "Look, I'm just sayin' we can send you back to Egypt without you getting tired. You up for it or what?"

Shaadi turned to Kaiba for permission. The Regent shrugged. "I don't see why not."

"Then it will be as you say," Shaadi said, stepping closer to Flash.

The speedster grinned. "Kay. Hang on a sec." He pressed a button on his ear and said, "Hey buddy, Flash here. Think you can give me and a plus one a ride?"

"Where to?" came Superman's voice.

Flash smirked when he saw Kaiba sneer at the other superhero's voice. "Egypt. You got coordinates?" he asked Shaadi.

The Egyptian shook his head. "Unfortunately no. I generally use reference points from my memories as well as the Shadows to guide me."

"Alright," Flash said thoughtfully. "Then, you got a specific place in mind?"

Shaadi thought for a moment before replying. "The museum where your Green Lantern spent time would be suitable."

Flash nodded. "You got that bud?" he said through the communicator.

"Loud and clear," came Superman's response. "I have it. Ready?"

"Yeah." Flahs placed a hand on Shaadi's shoulder and got ready for the teleport.

"Don't let him touch you," Kaiba said sharply to Shaadi who blinked in surprise.

"Who?" the Egyptian asked confused.

"Superman," Kaiba said simply. "Trust me. Don't let him touch you."

Shaadi nodded silently just as he and Flash vanished in a flash of light. Kaiba turned back to Seth noticing the pallor in his other half's face. "You should rest," he said softly.

Seth met Kaiba's eyes defiantly for several moments before his shoulders drooped. "Not yet," he said, closing his eyes and tilting his head back. "I want to feel the sun a little longer."

The Regent sighed and shook his head but did not press the issue.

"That's going to take some getting used to."

Kaiba turned to Oliver who had walked up with Walter and Diggle. "What?" he asked curiously.

"There being two of you," Oliver replied.

Kaiba snorted. "Imagine how I felt when I first heard his voice in my head? I thought I was going insane."

"You mean you aren't insane?" Seth teased. "Are you sure?"

Kaiba said something in Japanese that made Seth smile, a light-hearted laughter pouring from his lips. "Never, my Ka" he said in playful English.

"Ka?" Oliver asked. "You mean like Yami and Yuugi?"

Kaiba nodded but could not bring himself to say it out loud yet. Instead, he said, "Did you want something, kohai?"

The young man's jovial smile vanished leaving behind a serious, uncertain expression. "I want to ask you something. Both of you," he said glancing at Seth who lifted his head in interest.

Kaiba hummed, waiting for Oliver to continue.

"You told me I was a member of the Justice League, a Shadow user, the Starling City vigilante, and Oliver Queen," he said. "Did you mean that?"

"We did," Seth replied.

Oliver crossed his arms uncertainly. "Will I have to choose one over the others?"

Kaiba tilted his head curiously. "How do you mean?"

"Will I have to take sides between the Shadow Court and the Justice League?" Oliver clarified.

Seth smiled and Kaiba snorted. "What is your orientation?" he asked.

Oliver blinked but answered promptly. "Balance."

"And what does that mean to you?" Seth asked softly.

Oliver thought carefully before answering. "Neither good nor evil," he began slowly, "neither Dark nor Light, individual and uninfluenced."

Kaiba's lips quirked up at the corners. "Then keeping that in mind, what do you think the answer of your question is?"

Oliver's eyes darkened. "Both and neither?"

"All and none," Seth said. "You were first and foremost, the vigilante of Starling City. You answer to your own beliefs and morals in the defense of what is yours to protect. The Justice League offers you some protection from the powers of your land, a buffer if you will."

"The Shadow Court gives you protection against them as well as the dangers from our realm and anything involving the Shadows," Kaiba finished. "If the Justice League ever needs you, you help them, correct?" Oliver nodded. "But only if you believe you're needed, if it does not jeopardize Starling City, and it goes with your own personal beliefs and morals." Again, Oliver nodded.

"The same stands for us," Seth said. He leaned on the table heavily, trying to fight back against the exhaustion building in his body. He did not want to return to the Shadows of Kaiba's soul room so soon so he steeled himself, forcing himself to focus on the subject at hand, ignoring Kaiba's concerned glance cast his way. "You are your own person," Seth said calmly, "and we will never infringe on that. If you ever need us, we will help you. However, we ever need your help, we would hope you would help us in return."

"I don't like being in debt," Oliver said firmly.

"Neither do we," Kaiba said. "I'm a businessman. I refuse to be in debt to anyone for any reason. We're not asking you to be in debt to us. We're asking you to help us."

"How?" Oliver asked cautiously.

"You are of the Balance," Kaiba said. "You balance your life, your duties, your morals, and your essence. But every balance needs a fulcrum of some kind, something to keep them balanced and secure. In this case, I'm asking you to allow me and mine to be your fulcrum."

"Like Mokuba is yours?" Oliver asked.

Kaiba tilted his head thoughtfully. "Not exactly."

"We want to help you find your own fulcrum," Seth said. "Although we suspect you may have already found it, we want to be sure."

"Already found it?" Both the Regent and Seth smirked and Oliver groaned. "Alright, play your games. But what you said before, about helping you when you asked-"

"If something happens and the Court needs your help," Kaiba said holding up a hand, "most likely regarding something involving you, the city, another Shadow user in your immediate vicinity, or the Triad itself, we're asking you to help."

"How?"

"If a new Shadow user appears in this city," Kaiba said, "I want you to contact me and keep an eye on them until I can get here and assess their orientation, proficiency, and help them. If something Shadow related happens in this area, we want you to be an advance scout, although I think you would do that anyway because it would be threatening your city. Lastly, if something happens to me or my Triad, I want you to aid us until we can fix the situation."

Oliver nodded carefully. "I can do that." He noticed Seth shaking and his brows furrowed in worry. "Are you alright?"

"I...I'm just tired, is all," Seth said, smiling tensely.

Kaiba's eyebrow twitched and he leveled a glare at Seth who met it a best he could. Kaiba lifted an eyebrow and Seth wilted murmuring something in a sulky tone before vanishing in a whirl of Shadows.

"Is he alright?" Oliver asked again.

Kaiba sighed. "He will be. He's been through a lot and refuses to sleep. Something I intend to do myself. So help me if anything wakes me up before I wake up on my own, I will wipe it from existence," he growled.

Oliver laughed. "You know, now that all this is over, you want to come to the Verdant tonight? I could use a drink and it's on me if you come."

To the vigilante's surprise, Kaiba actually seriously considered the offer. "I just might," Kaiba said. "I'm not sure when, but if I do, it'll likely be late."

Oliver waved Kaiba's words aside. "It's a club. It's traditionally open 'till two in the morning anyway," he said. "Come late, come early, whichever. Just go to the front door and ask for me. I'll let you in."

"I'll probably just Travel there," Kaiba said dismissively. "Fewer go-betweens."

Shaking his head in amusement, Oliver grinned. "Fine by me. If you're too tired to drive home, I'll give you a lift back to my place. Just try not to scare away too many patrons while your at the club though, alright?"

Kaiba snorted and deliberately looked away to where Mokuba was talking to Roland in a sign of dismissal. He did not want to stay here any longer than he had to with the words Helios said still rattling around in his brain. He cast a dark glare at the Titan in question who was locked in what appeared to be an intense conversation with the Amazon. It looked like the Regent would have to wait at least a little bit longer before he could leave. Huffing in annoyance, Kaiba walked back under the cover to grab his coffee before returning to the sunlight to sit down and drink in relative peace.

Helios could feel the Amazon princess's gaze burning into his back so when she approached him, he did not attempt to avoid her. Instead, he took a sip of the concoction called coffee, wincing at the burnt taste.

"Try adding cream or sugar," Diana said. "It helps with the taste."

Helios nodded and grabbed a small, sealed cup of creamer and poured its contents into the brown brew, stirring it up. He took another taste and it was much more tolerable. He crossed his legs and waited for Diana to pull up a chair of her own and sit down before lowering the cup from his lips. "Yes, Diana," he said. "What is it?"

The raven haired woman hesitated. "What you said to Kaiba earlier, about what happened to your sister Eos, is that true?"

The Titan's hand tightened unconsciously on the handle of the cup. "It is."

"It's not what I have heard," she said.

"No," Helios said with a sardonic grin. "I doubt it is. What do your myths say?"

"That she asked Zeus to give her lover, Tithonus, immortality but forgot to ask for eternal youth," Diana answered. "As a result, Tithonus continued to grow older and weaker but could never die."

Helios snorted snidely. "How ridiculous. Immortality doesn't work that way. You are either immortal or you are not." He took a long sip of his coffee before setting it in his lap and speaking. "She loved Tithonus and he her. She became pregnant with his child but never got the chance to give birth. Zeus thought that by getting Pregnant, Eos was hoping to usurp his power, so he cursed Tithonus to death."

Diana gasped. "Why would Zeus do such a thing?"

"Because," Helios said, "he is not as secure on his throne as he would have you believe. Or perhaps he is but his overdeveloped sense of paranoia refuses to believe in his security. Either way, he feels the need to constantly reinforce his so-called absolute power."

Diana fell silent, pondering Helios's words. "Are all the Olympians like him?" she asked.

Helios shook his head. "No. Some do honor and respect him but others do not. Most of those who question him are of the younger generation of Olympians. But while they question him, it is very rarely to his face. They still fear his power."

"Because they know he could turn on them at any time," Diana finished, eyebrows drawing down in realization.

Helios nodded. "Yes. Zeus and the elder Olympians massacred my people simply because Zeus coveted the throne his Titan father, Cronus, sat on. Granted, Cronus was not the model father by any means and even I personally did not like him. But his wife Rhea was a kind-hearted woman who did not deserve the fate Zeus gave her."

Helios's sun gold eyes saddened. "She was a wise woman, clever and quick thinking. When Cronus began to go mad, devouring his own children, she stole Zeus away and cast an illusion on a rock tricking her husband into devouring it instead of her son." Helios chuckled. "Cronus had no idea. He was absolutely insane. The Titans feared him but could do little to fight him except wait and hope Zeus would grow strong and de-throne his father."

"But when it happened, he was not the ruler you were hoping for," Diana said softly.

Helios shook his head as the memories flooded his mind. "No. No he was not. He did kill Cronus for which we were thankful, but he then turned on us. He butchered my family and friends, even his own mother. The only reason he did not kill Selene and myself was because there was a solar eclipse that day and we were both out in our chariots. When we returned, we were greeted by Eos who was frantic with terror. It was Selene who convinced Zeus to leave us alive."

"How?"

Helios lifted his head to gaze directly at the sun, the light not harming his eyes. "Because we are the personifications of the solar bodies. Had he killed us, then the sun and moon would have drifted without a guide. It would have wrecked havoc on the tides, the growing seasons, and many other things. Even Eos is important. She brings hope at the end of the long night, heralding the day." His eyes grew sad. "Brought," he corrected himself.

The Amazon contemplated this new information carefully before looking around the room at the Shadow Court mingling with each other and her comrades at arms from the League. "Then may I ask why you told me not to inform Artemis of your presence here?"

"Artemis is one of the younger generation who dislikes Zeus's rule but fears his power too much to speak directly about it," Helios said. "I do not blame her. I too fear his power, it is why I sought asylum here."

"Yes, why did you come here seeking safety instead of another, more powerful pantheon?" Diana asked.

Helios gave the Amazon a wry smile. "Precisely because the other pantheons are powerful. Zeus is well aware of their existence and roughly where each of their courts dwell. But he is mostly in the dark when it comes to this pantheon. The only member of this pantheon he is even remotely familiar with is Set and even that knowledge is questionable at best. He does not know what Set looks like, only Ares and I do because we've had direct contact with him."

"But Set-" she paused to correct herself. "Kaiba is not a god."

Golden eyes met her sky blue evenly. "Are you so sure of that?"

Diana opened her mouth to immediately voice her answer when she paused and went over the facts in her head. Her eyes slowly grew round. "Is he a god?" she whispered, trying her best not to look at Kaiba whom she felt watching them from a distance.

Helios allowed a small smile to grace his lips as he drank his coffee. He still did not particularly like the taste but it was tolerable, he supposed. "You remember how powerful he was when his two half souls had united during the Judgment Game," he said softly. "That was the power of a god. As he is now, his power is cut in half, most likely shared equally between both of his two souls. It's a perfect way to hide. No one not aware of that fact would pass over him, dismissing him as nothing but a powerful mage and not the god he is."

"What about the others in the Court?" Diana demanded, still trying to process the new information.

Helios cocked his head to the side curiously. "The two called Atum or its variation are the same as Set with their two half souls. I felt divinity from several others in the Court as well when I saw them for the first time this morning, but some of them are more powerful than others. I believe a few are full deities while the rest are on the verge of achieving godhood."

"So they can't die," Diana murmured. "Do they know?" she asked.

Helios shook his head. "No to both of your statements. They can die and no, I believe only Set is aware."

"But you just said they were gods," Diana argued in confusion.

"I did," Helios agreed. "But not all gods are the same. In their case, they are immortal, not invulnerable."

"What's the difference?" Diana asked, genuinely curious.

"Immortality is the inability to age," Helios said. "If someone is immortal, then they will usually stop aging after a given point and be unable to die from old age. They can only be killed by outside means such as being slain in battle or sometimes serious illness. Invulnerability is quite simply the inability to die by any means except old age. If someone is both immortal and invulnerable, then they will essentially live forever at a given age unless killed by another person who is also immortal and invulnerable."

Diana sat back in shock. "And you said only Set is aware."

Helios nodded. "I believe he intends to tell the others tonight. I would assume that is what he told the two souls of Atum in the tongue of Ancient Egypt."

"So that's the language they speak," she murmured, nodding thoughtfully. The Amazon princess rested her chin on her hand, rubbing her cheek subconsciously. "That's why you sought sanctuary with them."

Helios nodded. "They're natural defenses tied to their unique existences protect them and give them an advantage in this."

Diana nodded carefully. "And Ares?"

"Ares is young and energetic," Helios said with a sigh. "He hates it when he feels his pride has been attacked. He is acting out as all young men do. However, because he is a god, more specifically a god of war, his 'acting out' is dangerous to both himself and the entire Greek pantheon as it stands. Not to mention any mortals unfortunate enough to get caught up in the middle of it."

"Can we expect an attack from him?" Diana asked, eyes narrowed.

Helios nodded. "Most definitely. Although I do not know when or how. He may not even have Zeus's backing. He did disobey a direct order and go behind Zeus's back when he attacked Set the first time. Either way, this is not the end of things."

Diana sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that."

"I'm a god," Helios said ironically. "It's hardly ever over for me. Just do me a favor, Diana," he said, turning to face the Amazon directly. "Do not tell Artemis I'm here and please," he lifted his eyes to where Kaiba had moved to speak with one of his bodyguards, one hand resting gently on Mokuba's head, "if anything happens to them, help them. They may be gods, but they are young and their power is great. They need guidance and allies they can depend on. Now more than ever."

Diana nodded. "I will." She studied the mingling Shadow Courtiers once more thoughtfully. "I will tell my comrades at arms of this," she warned. "This isn't something that should remain a secret."

Helios sighed. "I understand and I agree to an extent. But I would recommend you wait until tonight and tell no one except your fellows in the Justice League. No one else."

"Of course," Diana said.

"A new pantheon appearing is rare, especially given how many old religions remain," Helios said. "For this group to appear now of all times is significant. I don't know what they have experienced thus far but I can guess whatever it was was of immense importance. Even if no one was aware of it except their little group." He met Diana's eyes seriously. "That is one of the duties of all the pantheons: defend this world and its people from outside influences and threats."

The Amazon furrowed her brows in confusion. "But isn't that what we do?"

Helios shook his head. "No. You and yours defend this world and its people from threats within and a few without. The deities defend this world from threats outside your expertise. Typically these threats come from another world, be it another planet, reality, or dimension."

"But everyone we've faced with this Court has been from earth," Diana argued.

Helios lifted an eyebrow and studied the Amazon carefully. "Are you sure about that? Try talking it out, he suggested. "It may help you understand."

Wonder Woman sat back and thought back to everything that had happened so far, everything that had been said that she could remember. "They only defend their own," she said slowly, trying to piece the puzzle together. "They do not bother with anyone or anything that has nothing to do with the Shadows or their Court in any way unless they have no other choice."

Helios nodded and gestured for her to continue. Taking a deep breath, Diana considered. "They deal with anyone who misuses the Shadows or breaks the rules through what they call Games of different varieties," she said.

Helios smiled but tilted his head side to side. "Yes, but you are thinking too much into it," he said. "Don't look too deep. It's been in front of you the whole time. Think. What are their official titles?"

Wonder Woman blinked. "The Pharaoh, King, and Regent of the Shadow Realm and Earthbo... My god."

Helios smiled proudly. "There we go."

"But," Diana said hesitantly, "then that would mean this world, Earth, is the other world that... They're protecting the Shadow Realm from Earth!"

Helios's smile became brilliant. "Now you see? They are gods, just not gods of Earth. I'd even wager that while they have no worshipers here, they have plenty in their Shadow Realm."

Diana's mind was reeling. How could Earth be a threat to another world? Unless... The Court only dealt with those who misused Shadow magic and they had already said the Shadows were sentient. The Court spoke of how the Shadows drew on human souls for energy and companionship and thus only humans could use Shadow magic. That implied the Shadow Realm and Earth were at least somewhat symbiotic, giving and taking from one another to support each of their existences. So perhaps, the Shadow Realm was in essence a mirror reflection of, or shadow of Earth, literally. The Justice League protected Earth and the Shadow Court protected the Shadow Realm.

Was that it? If so, then did that mean only this Earth had a connection to the Shadow Realm? Or was the Shadow Realm connected to any and all versions of Earth in the multitude of alternate universes Einstein's Theory of Relativity hinted at? Was the Shadow Realm a gateway to these universes? If it was, then it was not surprising the Shadow Realm needed gods to protect it. It was probably inundated by attempted attacks all the time in one way or another. And since the connection to Earth was so intimate and necessary, the Shadow Court had to be efficient, tight knit, powerful, and adaptable in order to deal with each incursion. It also explained the strict enforcement of rules and why some Penalty Games were so severe for seemingly small infractions. It was the existence of an entire world that on the line. Worse, it was the existence of an entire world possibly all of the alternate Earths relied on in some manner.

Her mind was still spinning with the plethora of possibilities when she noticed Helios stand up. She followed the Titan's gaze and saw Kaiba gesturing for him to come. "Are you leaving?" she asked.

Helios nodded. "It would seem so." He placed a hand on her shoulder and met her eyes seriously. "Be mindful of what I said. Keep an eye on them and be there if they ever request aid."

The Amazon nodded. Now that she was beginning to comprehend the magnitude of the situation, she would do whatever she could to help them, whether they asked or not. She loved Earth and though it was not her home Themyscira, she would do her best to protect it. Even if it meant helping protect another world in the processes.