Disclaimer: I do not own anything you may recognize
Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.
Thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer and gussygus28 for their help with this chapter.
Rest In Peace Shelley Duvall. You will be missed by everyone. I knew her as Wendy Torrance and Olive Oyl, and she was perfection in both roles.
TW: Thank you for the review and glad it was very good. Glad the reunion between Angel and Connor was heartwarming.
Gallifrey 22.3: Thank you for the review and glad it was stupendously done.
DCMarvel heroes: Thank you for the review, glad it was fantastic and glad you loved it. Glad that was brilliant. Glad you loved it.
Guest: Thank you for the review. I'm thinking Kayako is not gone but is confined to her Universe now, because Frodo and Sam struck her with some really powerful blades. Samara Morgan/Sadako Yamamura can come too, yes.
Chapter 38- Adventures over
Middle-earth, Rivendell
Legolas was speaking with Aragorn, Gimli walking behind them, when the Elf sensed something, then looked ahead, holding out his hand, only for a breach to appear.
"Is this one of the pathways to the other worlds?" Legolas inquired.
"It is", Aragorn confirmed to him. "I have gone through these quite a few times now, mellon."
"I feel as if….it is beckoning to me", Legolas replied, closing his eyes briefly, then opening them once more, before he stepped through it.
"This is why I don't trust an Elf, they always go forth on their wrong intuitions", Gimli groaned, but Aragorn just stared ahead, and walked in as well. "You as well, Aragorn?" Gimli sighed, then shrugged. "I shouldn't be left behind!" With that, he rushed into the breach as well.
Earth-120703, New York City
Peter Parker aka Spider-Man of this Earth was swinging around New York City, his mind stuck on the moment when the head of Gwen Stacy had hit the ground, and she'd lost her life, all because of his mistake!
She should have lived, he should have been better, but he'd failed. What was he supposed to do? Even being the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man wasn't easy anymore, people had started being scared of him due to the fact that he'd stopped pulling his punches.
A girl from his college had been raped recently, and after tracking down the rapist, Peter had…..damaged his region beyond repair.
He was broken out of his thoughts when he felt his Spider-Sense tingle, and suddenly, a portal opened right in front of him, various monstrous creatures flying out of it, wearing what looked like golden armor.
Peter quickly dodged two of them when they tried to slice at him by swinging upwards, then flipped and landed on the ground, looking at these weird Demonic creatures.
"Oh boy….are you mutated experiments or legit Demons? It'd be cool if you're the latter…..right?" Peter inquired, trying to act like his usual self, even if he wasn't feeling his own joke, one Demon flying at him but Peter leapt to the other side to avoid, then fired a web, catching it and hurling it at two more, knocking them both away.
Another one flew at him, striking him with energy from its spear, Peter grunting before he grabbed it by the throat and decked it hard, before slamming it to the ground, and when another flew at him, he fired a web at that one, using it to swing forth and kick another Demon away.
"Okay, pals. I don't know who or what you lot are, but I don't want you all ruining my day right now. It's been too hard trying to be the best Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man that I can be!"
He landed on the ground while using his web to slam the Demon he'd used to swing, and as another flew at him, he webbed up its face, before punching it away, when three came at him at once, hitting with their energy, Peter grunting in pain, while some civilians were looking at the scene and fleeing in terror, some idiots with cameras trying to record.
Some of the Demons used their spears to fire at those people, making them scream and run too, just as another breach opened, and then Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli walked out, the latter two looking around in utter shock.
"What manner of place is this?" Legolas inquired, feeling very saddened all of a sudden. "No trees, no nature, just…a big city."
"I have never seen anything like this before", Gimli had to say in awe, staring at the buildings. "Do people live in these?"
"They do."
"I wonder if we could make such houses."
"Why would anyone want to stay in such a place?" Legolas wondered.
"Clearly, you cannot understand the beauty of such marvels, pointy-ear", Gimli chided the Elf, only for Legolas to glare at him.
"I see no beauty here", he snarled, before turning to see Peter facing the Demons, still gritting his teeth due to their spears. "I believe he needs our help against those….creatures."
"Then let us aid him!" Gimli held up his ax, and charged with the famed battle cry of the Dwarves, some people stopping to watch or record again. "Baruk Khazâd!"
One of the Demons turned to Gimli, only for him to slice at its head with his ax, chopping it off, while Legolas leapt and kicked another one into the air, before firing an arrow that went into its mouth, killing it, Aragorn running his sword through the last one, killing it too, as Peter steadied himself.
"Is it just me or am I seeing medieval people with medieval weapons?" He wondered to himself, staring at the three of them. "I think you're actually here. Thanks for the assist."
"This battle still needs to be won", Aragorn pointed out, gesturing to some more Demons that were now rushing them with screeches.
Legolas rushed forth and leapt over one that tried to slice at him, leaping onto its head, before leaping higher into the air and firing five arrows at once, getting one Demon with each of them, right in their mouths or throats, slaying them all that very moment, while Aragorn chopped off the head of the one Legolas had leapt on, Gimli slicing another's throat, after which Aragorn blocked the spear of one more before kicking it back, then brought his sword down on its head, killing it right there, Gimli chopping the leg of one more, making it fall down, before bringing his ax down on it.
Peter webbed up one more and slammed it down, before letting out an angry roar and leaping up, punching one so hard it crashed onto the ground and made a crater, after which he swung forth, kicking another high up into the air as well, before webbing another and hurling it away, right at Aragorn, who leapt forth and swung his sword, before landing.
The Demon landed on the ground behind him, then turned around, about to rush at him, only to realize it had been split into two, and both halves fell to the ground, while Aragorn sheathed his sword.
Some people were still recording, but Gimli let out a roar of victory, which scared them so much they scampered away, while Spider-Man walked to the three. "Thanks for your help, appreciate it….whoever you all are."
"You can call me Strider, I'm a Ranger from the North", Aragorn simply said, not wanting to give his true name in another world.
"Legolas of the Woodland Realm", Legolas added.
"I'm Gimli, Son of Gloin", Gimli introduced himself, Peter looking at all three in confusion.
"Are you a Dwarf?" Peter asked Gimli.
"Aye."
"Right", Peter said, turning to Legolas, noticing his ears. "You an Elf or something?"
"I am an Elf of Mirkwood, yes."
"…..Whoa!" Peter muttered in awe. "So….Elves aren't short matchmakers of Santa then?" His eyes widened. "Elves and Dwarves are real?"
"We come from a world different from this one….." Strider trailed off.
"I'm Spider-Man", Spider-Man introduced himself with his superhero name.
"Spider-Man", Strider continued at that. "Our world is….not like this", he gestured to the buildings, and a car at a distance.
"Are those the chariots that move without horses?" Legolas asked Aragorn.
"They are", Aragorn confirmed.
"The smith who crafted the first of these must be truly gifted", Gimli said, impressed.
"Ah, so medieval world then", Peter realized, then his eyes widened. "The Multiverse is real? Oh boy! So, like, they all vibrate at the same frequency while occupying the same Space?"
"I do not understand what it is you speak of, Spider-Man", Legolas said while shaking his head.
"This is not my first journey into a new world of this manner", Strider said to Spider-Man. "Some friends I have in another world I went to did describe this Multiverse the same way you do, so I believe you're right."
"YES! This day is a dream come true, it actually got better!" Peter said, sounding a bit cheerful now.
Aragorn then noted something, remembering how angry Spider-Man seemed to be during the battle against the Demons. "You seem….troubled to me."
"Oh no, I'm all good", Peter tried to assure him, but Aragorn didn't look convinced, and he noted Legolas looked apprehensive of that too.
"What is it?" Gimli asked kindly.
"Well…" Spider-Man trailed off, looking down sadly, having some sort of feeling that he could tell them, it'd be fine. "I've been through a lot this past year." He felt a tear roll down his cheek. "I lost someone I dearly loved." The image of Gwen's grave flashed in his mind again. "I tried to be better, but I couldn't really deal with any of it, and I met someone who tried to help me, but he wasn't really the right guy to do it, and he ended up being a bad influence." He remembered the harsh words he'd shared with Frank Castle aka the Punisher when they'd finally parted ways. "But really….I've just stopped pulling my punches. I got rageful….I got bitter."
To his surprise, Aragorn put a hand to his shoulder. "It is not too late, still, to find what made you the Man you were before."
"You can continue to fight in the honor of those you lost", Legolas added. "Your actions will not be in vain then, and neither will their deaths."
"Do you really believe its possible?" Peter asked, still unsure.
"I met a Man who prefers to work alone", Aragorn said, thinking of Batman. "From what I saw, he also lets his past affect what he does now." That was what Aragorn believed just from seeing how he spoke and acted. "But he is trying to move past that, and trust people more. So I believe you can be the Man you were once more."
"No need to be like the ones you battle", Gimli added.
Hearing all of that, Peter felt quite….humbled, to say the least.
"I didn't think anything I'd hear would make it any better", Peter said, looking up at all three of them. "You three proved me wrong. This advice…I thank you all for it."
"We hope you follow it, young one", Aragorn said, before taking out his extrapolator.
"Oh, what's that?" Peter inquired.
"This is used to travel between worlds", Aragorn explained to him.
"I'd love to look at it, but you all need to go back, so…see ya", Peter said, Aragorn opening a breach, as he, Legolas and Gimli walked into it, sharing a nod with Peter, after which the breach closed.
Thinking of the words by the three of them, Peter, for the first time in a long time, believed he could be the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man once more. With that, he fired a web and swung away.
Earth-1, Smallville, Kansas
The sound of a familiar car brought Clark's head out from under his truck. Climbing up, Clark waited for the black Honda Civic, putting the flannel shirt back on over the tank top but forgoing the glasses, he didn't need them for now. From the house, Dusty came sprinting out just as the car came to a stop. Clark couldn't hide his chuckle, as soon as the door was opened and the man stepped out, he was assaulted by the furred missile.
"How you doing, boy? How you doing?" He asked in dog talk as he crouched down and rubbed the collie's ears. He was a bit on the heavier side, with glasses and red hair in a well-maintained cut, a jacket over a short-sleeved shirt and tie. His attire was fit for business in town other than the farm, already the driveway was dirtying his shoes. The man looked up while leaning away from the dog trying to lick him. "Hey, Clark."
Clark nodded at his friend. "How you doing, Pete?"
Later
"So, you guys are over?" Pete asked just as Clark placed the coffee in front of them both before taking a seat, the latter having just finished recounting the previous night's conversation.
"She might not know yet, but I do." Clark sighed as he looked into his mug. "I've made my choice."
"I always knew you were too big for this town. Everyone knew it."
Smiling at the praise, Clark just waved him off. "I just tried to do my part."
"Why do those online courses anyway?" Pete asked. The whole town knew how smart the last Kent was. He saved many of his neighbors from financial ruin, helped local stores increase profits, ran local events, helped the sheriff, Clark did everything for Smallville. Clark opened his mouth to speak but shut it. Shaking his head, he just drank from his mug. "You were made for better things than just being a farmer."
"Okay, easy, this is still my family's place."
"I'm not denying that, but," Pete tried to find the right words as he thought back to that day on the bus, "we all know it."
Yes, some knew, or suspected. The bus, unexplained incidents since he was a kid, people thought he was different, then the bus fell off the bridge. Providence, an act of God, Pete's mom called it. Some thought along those lines, others thought it was an exaggeration, and the few who believed it wasn't real, like Whitney. No one knew the exact truth, however, that he kept to himself. Part of Clark always saw himself as human, even if he wasn't born one.
"I wouldn't to put pressure on you or anything-"
"Like that would ever work."
"But all I'm saying," Pete said with a chuckle, "Is this was a long time coming. You were stagnant here. Love your family, your home, and your girl, but why let that hold you back?"
"…I never knew anything else." Clark whispered. Dusty whined and laid his head in Clark's lap, the hidden alien stroking the dog's head as he thought. He was always so terrified when he was young. Seeing and hearing everything, and setting fire to things with his eyes, he thought he was a freak. Cursed. All Jonathan and Martha could do was remind him he wasn't, he was special, that they loved him. They were all that mattered for the longest time. When they died, a hole formed in his soul that never healed.
They were his only family.
"That day, when the bus went over the bridge, what were you thinking?"
Pete went silent. For the longest time, he stared at his hands, memories playing across his face. It was the day he nearly drowned, if not for Clark, many of them would be dead. A tragedy, if not for Clark Kent. "I was an idiot back then."
"Pete-" Clark tried to stop him but was cut off.
"No, I was." Regret filled Pete. "I thought Whitney was my friend, and everything I did, I was almost seeking his approval. Liked what he liked, hated what he hated, and picked up his same asshole energy."
"Watch the language, man." Clark told him sternly with a hint of humor.
Nodding, the last thing Pete would want to do was offend the memory of Jonathan and Martha in their house. "Then, we fell over…I thought I was going to die." Pete could almost feel the water filling up his chest, before someone pulled him up for air. Clark, his victim, saved him. "You saved my life, and everything just…changed." Pete looked at his friend of nearly twenty years. "Clark, what you did opened my eyes. I began to see what was actually important, even if it took me some time to realize that."
"We were kids."
"And I know now that I'm better off now than I would be if that bus never fell into the river." Pete said honestly. He'd probably be the same bitter drunk who can barely hold a job that Whitney became. After years of maturing, Pete approached Clark in friendship, something he needed when Jonathan and Martha passed. "What you did, whether it was an act of God or not, was a miracle. I'll never forget it. If you can share that same gift with others, you owe it to yourself to show people they can be better, you just need to show them."
Could he do that? Clark knows the Flash is meant to bring Central City hope, Green Arrow, despite his darker reputation and initial violent methods, saved Star City back when it was still called Starling City, now they see him as a hero. All over the world, people are beginning to see these superheroes as the ideal, inspirations. Whether Clark can do the same…he doesn't know.
"Thank you, Pete." Clark said sincerely.
"You're welcome." Pete said happily before feeling his mug and frowning. Looking down, he realized they were talking and thinking longer than they realized. His coffee was cold. "Umm," he held up the mug, "You think you can…?"
"Really?" The farmer asked tiredly before sighing, taking the mug and letting his eyes glow red before two thin beams of red shot into the coffee for two seconds before stopping, Clark handing back the now steaming liquid onto the table.
"I'm gonna miss that."
"I won't." Clark said, before smirking, Pete beginning to laugh before Clark joined him.
Hell
"You…" Castiel snarled, glaring at Chuck darkly, as Chuck gulped, having a feeling what was about to happen now.
"Father, what's going on?" Michael asked, still feeling confused and conflicted due to all that he had just heard. "These people are all wrong, right? You are God! This Lucifer and Amenadiel are fake!"
"SILENCE!"
Castiel whacked Michael on the face hard, sending him flying off by many feet and crashing into a wall in the corner that shattered on impact, and then he flew past it as well.
"Whoa! How'd you get so strong, Cass?" Dean asked him, as Sam was awed too.
"He has remembered, that's why", Amenadiel revealed, though the two brothers didn't fully get him as of now.
"Whoa!" Gabriel was stunned into silence for once.
Chuck raised his hands, while Castiel marched towards him menacingly.
"Now Cas-Castiel, think about this", Chuck said as he stumbled back from the angry Angel. "We had some good times, didn't we? Me playing your dad, the creator of everything, and you, my loyal soldier, my good boy", Chuck nervously reasoned before feeling his back hit the wall. "We-we can talk about this!"
Prayer by Disturbed plays
"Talk to my FIST!" With that, Castiel decked Chuck's face hard as it hit the wall, shattering the entirety of it, Chuck bleeding from the face, before Castiel decked his abdomen, making him double down in pain and spit out blood, after which Castiel lifted him up by the collar, then threw him to the other end of the place, shattering the other wall, Chuck crying out in pain.
"Bravo, brother! It only took you a few billion years", Lucifer cheered, causing Sam, Dean and Amenadiel to give him weird looks. "What? He was never my least favorite sibling and never the most annoying, but he'd no sense of humor. Now he does!"
"Well, I can see why that's good", Gabriel commented.
Chuck was crawling back in horror, as Lucifer walked forth too, standing next to Amenadiel.
"Should we help our brother?" Amenadiel inquired.
"I believe this is something our brother wants to do on his own", Lucifer said, Amenadiel nodding, but the two stood by, just in case their brother needed any backup against this Imp.
Castiel marched to Chuck, then grabbed his collar once more. "You kept me prisoner for SO LONG!"
"Aw come on! You could still move around freely!" Chuck begged feebly.
"To play the role YOU wanted me to play, in YOUR UNIVERSE!" Castiel snapped, lifting Chuck up and slamming him down hard, shattering the ground underneath him, unleashing a shockwave in the other direction that caused some more damage. "And not just me, you made the lives of these two as bad as Hell for YOUR amusement!" And then he punched Chuck on the face, breaking his nose while he screamed even louder. "And any world that did not satisfy you, you abandoned like the petty Imp YOU ARE!" He hurled Chuck away into another direction where he crashed into the ground once more, shattering the entire place.
"What's an Imp now?" Sam inquired out of curiosity.
"They are a race of powerful beings residing in what is called the Fifth Dimension, which exists outside of the usual confines of Creation", Amenadiel revealed, surprising the brothers at this new bit of info. "The Imps are all capable of altering reality at a massive scale on their own. However", Amenadiel looked ahead at Castiel guiltily, who was marching towards the cowering Chuck, "it seems that this one abducted one of our brothers, and somehow brainwashed him, which is why he could create many more Universes." Amenadiel looked at Sam and Dean sadly. "I knew he was missing, but I could never find him."
"But really, this might be the most pathetic Imp I have seen", Lucifer had to say about Chuck. "Really pathetic."
"So I am an Imp's creation?" Gabriel muttered. "Meaning I'm not even a real Archangel?"
Castiel marched to Chuck and lifted him up by the throat, making the Imp face him. Utter terror was upon Chuck's face. He was fearing for his life, something that hadn't happened since The Darkness had been defeated and locked up.
"I should kill you right now for all that you have done to me and everyone else in your own Universes, but that would be too kind for you", Castiel said, and then decked Chuck hard, making him spit out blood again, after which Castiel threw him to the ground, looking slightly satisfied.
He turned to Lucifer and Amenadiel. "Long ago, he caught me off-guard and abducted me, then brainwashed me so he could learn the secrets of Creation. Then he created many Universes of his own", he turned to Sam and Dean now, "including the one that you two inhabited."
Castiel looked ahead. "All the Angels, Archangels, gods, and other creatures that existed in these worlds were copies of the real deal, made by him to try and be God. But he is of evil mind and soul, and he could never stick in one place. Any Universe that stopped amusing him, he abandoned." He looked at Sam and Dean once more. "Your Universe was the one that he really liked, and it followed his plan too….until the Jedi foiled it, and then he grew rageful, deciding to end yours too."
"Wait…..so we weren't even created by the real God?" Sam asked, looking quite shaken now. "What does that even mean?"
"I'm wondering the same thing", Gabriel commented.
"It means nothing."
A bright glow appeared, and when it faded, another figure stood there, and he looked exactly like Lucifer did.
"Brother", Lucifer greeted the new arrival with a groan.
"Hello, brother", the new arrival greeted him, as Castiel bowed his head reverently to this one.
"It is good to have you back, Castiel", he said, while Michael staggered back into the area. "I am Archangel Michael."
"What?" The fake Michael asked in horror, then roared. "NO! YOU ARE NOT MICHAEL! I AM!"
Michael raised his hand, causing the fake Michael to fall to his knees in pain, while Michael looked at him, shaking his head. "You are another victim of this fake one, so perhaps…..you can be given another chance."
He looked at Sam and Dean. "As I said, you might not have been created by God, but it means nothing, for you have been created now."
"And…?" Dean trailed off.
"Since you are now created, He shall accept you, and any other Universe made by this Imp, as his own now", Michael revealed with a smile. "Now you are all His children too, in the adopted sense, but you are."
"Right…" Dean muttered. "Thanks, I guess?"
"Does this mean I get to be a real Archangel?" Gabriel asked Michael, but he shook his head.
"No."
"Oh well, it was worth a try."
"So now real God will watch over our worlds?" Sam inquired. "Would that make any difference?"
"Your lives will not be the playthings of some sick Cosmic Beings for one", Castiel said, glaring at Chuck, but Lucifer scoffed, only to get some looks, so he did a polite cough to remove any attention that was upon him.
"But you're letting him go?" Dean asked, gesturing to the fake Michael.
"Like I said, he was a victim of the Imp as well, so he has another chance", Michael revealed, continuing to look at fake Michael. "But if you do anything wrong, you will not survive for long after that. And you will let their half-brother go too. I will make sure of it."
With that, Michael twirled his hand, and fake Michael disappeared in a bright light, Michael looking at the Winchesters. "He will find himself back in Heaven, while your half-brother will be back in his home." Then Michael walked to Chuck. "Now you shall be punished for what you have done. I shall put you in a prison, and you will not be able to escape, Imp."
"No…please….." Chuck begged weakly as Michael lifted him up.
"Now you shall know how it feels", Castiel snarled at Chuck, as Michael unfurled his bright, white wings, aweing the Winchesters at their sight.
Michael looked at Lucifer and Amenadiel, then spoke. "You will need to look inside and find your true power once more, for it might be needed very soon." Lucifer and Amenadiel shared a look, and then Michael disappeared from the area, alongside Chuck.
"I should bill him just for being here!" Lucifer then said, only to get looks from Castiel and Amenadiel, that made him shrug.
"And now this mortal body", Castiel looked at his vessel's hands. "Chuck made him look just like I do. Yet, now that I remember who I am, I do not need him anymore." Castiel looked at the brothers. "After returning you two to your world, I shall stop possessing Jimmy Novak, and he shall be free to live his life once more."
That made Sam and Dean smile, before the latter asked. "So, will our lives get any easier now?"
"Hardship is part of life, but know that if you defy someone powerful, they shall not want to punish you simply because you did not follow a plan", Castiel revealed to them.
"And what about Heaven? Or fake Heaven?" Gabriel asked. "I mean….won't they still fight?"
"Not when they find out the truth, they will be too scared to", Castiel revealed.
"Is it just me or is he talking differently with his memories back?" Dean asked Sam, who'd to nod at that, and then Dean shrugged. "I guess all of that'll have to do for now. And…are you feeling better suddenly?"
"I think I am", Sam noted, as they looked at Castiel.
"It is something I can do when I talk", Castiel told the brothers.
"Yes, all of us have our mojos. Castiel here can raise morale with his words. Also", Lucifer walked towards Sam and Dean with a smirk, then asked. "What is it you desire?"
The two brothers struggled in trying to not answer him, before Dean spouted. "A normal life!"
"Stop monsters from hurting people!" Sam said as well, and then both brothers looked at each other in shock.
"What?" They said at the same time. "I thought that was me!"
"It seems you two have changed and grown quite a bit from before", Castiel shrugged, then looked at Lucifer with a chuckle and an eyeroll. "You and your desire mojo."
"Its fun!" Lucifer said.
"Anyways", Castiel sighed, holding his head as he looked at the Winchesters. "This ordeal has been quite a lot for me, so I shall leave you two in your world, and also stop possessing Jimmy Novak. After that, I am going to the Silver City to recover from this."
"For how long?" Dean asked.
"We shall see", Castiel told them both. "But this is not the last you two will be seeing of me." He turned to Amenadiel. "You may not have been able to find me, but do not blame yourself, Chuck worked meticulously, and besides, even I did not remember who I am, or my own strength for that matter."
"Yeah, you really kicked his butt there", Sam had to say.
"It was pretty amusing to see", Gabriel commented with a chuckle. "But if I'm not a real Archangel, what am I?"
"You can still help your world", Castiel told Gabriel. "You may not be the real Gabriel, but it does not matter. You did stand up against Chuck when he tried to kill Sam and Dean. Besides, someone has to watch over Michael and Raphael."
"I'm not as strong as they are", Gabriel pointed out.
"But you're not the only one", Castiel added ominously, and Gabriel then nodded.
"All right then."
Castiel nodded at Lucifer and Amenadiel. "Thank you, for letting me do what I needed, and for helping me get my memories back."
"I am sure that Imp shall be punished…..in a way that'd make me proud", Lucifer said, smirking.
"So…we met the real Devil, the real Michael, and a real Angel", Dean muttered as he listed it on his fingers. "What a day, eh?"
"I know", Sam sighed, as Castiel grasped them and Gabriel, then used his wings to fly through Dimensions, leaving Hell at last.
"Now, about what Michael said to us…." Amenadiel trailed off, looking at Lucifer.
"I know, brother." Lucifer looked at his hands. "But I do not know why."
"Me neither", Amenadiel shook his head. "But if what he says is true…"
"We will have to find out, and fix this for whatever mess comes our way next."
Earth-21
Zatanna Zatara was performing a magical show, the crowd going wild at the end of her latest trick, when suddenly, someone screamed.
Some of the crowd parted in fear, and Zatanna noticed one of the men had bitten another man in the crowd!
Her eyes widened, as she knew this was a Vampire, and it was drinking the blood of the guy already. Before she could do anything, the Vampire dropped his prey, then looked at her with a bloodied grin, the other people screaming and running off.
It leapt right at her but she leapt off the stage in time, holding up her wand as she chanted a spell. "Cilrag erif!"
Garlic shot right out of her wand, and hit the Vampire on the face. But nothing happened!
"Interesting trick", it snarled, moving towards her again as she chanted another spell.
"Traeh s'eripmav eht ecreip ekats nedoow."
A wooden stake appeared and shot at the Vampire, piercing it right in the heart, Zatanna sighing in relief briefly, before the Vampire smirked and ripped the stake out, throwing it away.
What kind of Vampire was this?
Before it could do anything else though, another portal opened and Gandalf the Grey appeared, having gone through another breach he'd found in Rivendell.
The Vampire stopped briefly now in confusion as Zatanna asked Gandalf. "Who're you?"
"Gandalf the Grey, at your service", Gandalf introduced himself cheerfully. "And who might you be?"
"Zatanna Zatara", Zatanna gave her name.
"It seems you are in a predicament", Gandalf noted, looking at the Vampire, which screeched.
"Yeah, I've tried everything against this Vampire but it doesn't work", Zatanna said with a groan.
"Have you tried cutting off its head?" Gandalf asked, which made Zatanna pause.
"Actually…..no!"
The Vampire rushed at her, but Zatanna chanted quickly. "Eripmav eht ezeerf."
That caused the Vampire to freeze in place, after which Gandalf unsheathed Glamdring and swung it, chopping off the Vampire's head, finally killing it.
"Phew!" Zatanna sighed, then turned to Gandalf. "Thanks for your help, Gandalf."
"One is glad to be of service, Lady Zatanna", Gandalf said to her with a smile, then added. "It is time for me to go back now."
"I'd love to meet you again sometime", Zatanna said, sensing his power, Gandalf nodding at that.
He then took out his extrapolator and opened a breach, walking into it as it closed, Zatanna sighing.
Earth-1, Star City
Ray Palmer was shrunken down and flying forth inside a computer. "This feels good. Being back in a field. Not that this is a field but-"
"Ray, are you up for this?" Oliver's voice asked him via comms.
"Uhhh, too late to turn back now", Ray admitted.
"The last thing we need is another group of nutcases running around the city."
Ray then noticed something as he landed. "Huh? Someone removed the Central Processing Unit."
"Well, whoever they are, they'd only remove it if they knew-"
I'd shrink down and fly into their secret computer lab with my tech?" Ray asked in realization. "My night's about to get a whole lot worse, isn't it?"
Arrowcave
On the cameras, Oliver noticed some men with guns moving towards Ray's location. They had black military outfits, but with skull balaclava on it.
"Oh you can take them. They've guns. You've a super suit. Its time to start growing."
"This is going to get a little rough."
As the men with guns arrived near the computer, Ray suddenly grew to normal size, causing a small explosion in the computer that threw two away, while the bullets were deflected off his armor as he punched one away, then threw another off, and blasted the third one.
At that point, one of the two who'd been thrown back by the explosion took a syringe out of his vest and injected it into his neck.
Then, he let out a scream, gaining Ray's attention, the Atom raising his gauntlet to blast, only for the cultist to suddenly get up, grab Ray's arm and force it down, despite the enhanced strength it granted Ray.
"Oh no." Ray gulped before a punch to his chest sent him crashing into the ruined processor.
"Ray, you alright?"
"I'm gonna need a minute." The CEO told his partner, before yelping when the front of his armor was grabbed, and he found himself hauled up from his feet, looking down on the bloodshot eyes of the cultist. "Maybe two." Then he shrank. However, the cultist's eyes found the ATOM suit and grabbed it with both hands. Ray, feeling himself getting crushed, grew out of the grip, only to get punched on the face, but he deflected the next blow, then shrank briefly to avoid another before growing back to normal size and elbowing the cultist, only for the cultist to kick him back.
As the cultist charged, Ray gave him an uppercut with an added boost from his energy blasts, staggering him back, and then he focused all power into a full-on blast to the chest that sent the cultist crashing through the door.
Ray shrank down in case the roided up cultist tried again, but instead, all he found was an unconscious goon.
"Whoever these guys are, they're dangerous." Ray told the archer before looking down at his chest and whined at the damage. "And they suck!"
Smallville, Kansas
This was it. Clark knocked on Nell's door and waited as the footsteps got closer, standing patiently when the older woman opened the door. She stood in front of the door with a silent glare and her arms crossed.
"Nell, good to see you." Clark said pleasantly as he fixed his glasses. The town's florist's expression remained unchanged. He expected that, apparently Nell had a thing with his dad back in the day, and when he married his mom, well, grudges don't just go away. "Is Lana in?"
"Ever since you kicked her out, of course."
"That's not-never mind." Shaking his head, Clark decided he didn't need to get into it with the town gossip. "Can I talk to Lana, please?"
Nell stared at him for a few more seconds before leaning back into the house. "Lana! Clark's here!" With one last glare at the still smiling farmer, Nell walked back into the hose just as Lana appeared from another room. Leaning closer to her niece, Clark picked up what she said as if she yelled the words. "I warned you about Kent men." Letting that one slide, Clark only waited for Lana as she stepped through the doors and joined him on the porch, looking at him expectantly.
"Well?"
"I love you, Lana." She began to smile and was about to speak, before he continued. "But I made my choice." Even after all these years, Clark could still not hear when a heart breaks, but he can see it across Lana's face. He meant what he said though. "When we first got together, my life was at its darkest and most painful. I don't think I could have made it without you. Every moment we spent with one another made me feel lighter, that things could get better, and they did."
"Until now." Lana said knowingly.
Nodding, Clark confirmed. "Until now."
"It all started after you stopped that truck."
Clark looked at her in shock. "Are you saying that I should have let a mother and her son die?"
"No, I'm not saying that, it's just," Lana struggled to find the words as she rubbed her eyes dry, "You know how I feel when you do stuff like that."
"People needed help."
"Despite the risk."
"They never saw my face." Clark countered before pulling back before things got too heated. "It wasn't just then; I've felt like this for years. I can't just…stop when I know I need to do something."
"This is how it ends then, huh?" Lana crossed her arms with a bitter tone in her voice. "On my aunt's porch of all places."
"It's not about us and you know it." Clark said with some annoyance. "We both wanted something the other can't give or accept. Even when my parents were alive, I felt this way." Once more, Clark released everything he buried down after years of hiding and remaining complacent. "I won't apologize for being who I am, not anymore."
Lana let out a bitter laugh before wiping a stray tear that fell to her cheek. "Then why the hell are you still here?"
"Because you deserved to know." It was the least he could do, after all she did for him. But that was over. "Goodbye, Lana." Clark turned his back to his now ex-girlfriend, getting his truck and starting her up. With one last look, Clark found Lana already slamming the door shut behind her, and Nell coming to console her. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Lana, yet it was inevitable. Turning the keys, and with one last look, Clark drove away from the Potter house.
Star City, Arrowcave
Ray was back in the lair, examining the damage to the exosuit. "For a man who has spent months cooped up in board meetings," the scientist turned around to find Oliver walking towards him, "you did pretty well."
"Thanks", Ray said with a smile before it dropped when he saw the dent on the armor. "Although I did not expect those guys to have a super soldier on their team."
"It wasn't a super soldier", Oliver informed the surprised scientist. He dreaded the thought of Mirakuru coming back, but the answer relieved and concerned him at the same time. "From the blood sample you took, the enhancement came from a steroid, it would have left his system in an hour or less, but until then, he was jacked up on adrenaline times ten."
"Explains the right hook." Ray mused as he thought of the implications. More importantly, the source. "These guys have more resources than we thought. Any leads?"
Oliver shook his head. "None. Roy and Thea are running down a lead, but looks like whoever they are, either they are really good at hiding, or Star City was never their base." Which begged another dozen questions the Green Arrow had no answers to. Who are they? Where do they come from? What do they want?
"Okay, concern is rising exponentially. We have a plan?"
"I'll get in touch with our friend over in Gotham. He's pretty good at finding connections." Oliver alluded to Bruce, which was the truth. The guy had basically figured out the identity of everyone he knew that wore a mask before they even met. Batman had the smarts and resources to likely find something on these guys. He was a hell of a detective.
"I am trying really hard to not to geek out about us knowing the Batman-"
"We don't exactly know him."
"But on that note," Ray continued, ignoring Oliver's comment, "I have to go home. Big meeting in the morning with Kord Industries. The CEO himself is coming."
"Ted Kord?" That guy was supposed to be a genius, saving his father's company from ruin and developing cutting edge technology. "What does he want with us?"
"No idea, but I have to admit, I'm excited!" Ray said giddily, quickly turning back on the frown he wore at his damaged armor. "How often do genius billionaires get together?"
"Guessing not very often." Oliver can see it now, two guys going back and forth over technobabble that Oliver needed a translator just to keep up with.
Ray scoffed. "Like, never! Man, I have so many ideas I want to bounce off him, and I really have to check the rumors, about his theories of Belphegor's prime-"
"Sounds fun, enjoy", Oliver said quickly before leaving, with a relieved sigh. Two seconds longer and he knew his head would start hurting. Still, the meeting with Ted Kord should prove interesting, at the very least.
Themyscira
Paradise Island. Home of the Amazons, warrior women created by Zeus himself, charged with spreading love and compassion to humanity.
However, that mission has long since been abandoned.
After Ares waged war upon the Gods, Zeus had hidden Themyscira from the world, leaving them to abandon the duty they were created for. For thousands of years, the Amazons had not interacted with Man's World, until war came to their shores.
Diana had set out into the world to fulfil her duties. She had learned so much, but also the truth. Her fate as Zeus' daughter, to kill Ares, but no one could prepare her for everything after. She had lost the first man she ever met, and the first man she ever loved. Steve was not the last one to leave her in life, everyone she knew, Etta, Napi, Sameer, and Charlie. Human life was so fragile, not even being the daughter of a God could change that.
Alone, wandering with no destination, Diana did the only thing she could: return home.
Her mother, welcomed her back with open arms, the other Amazons, her sisters, were less accepting. Ever since that day when her powers began to show with Antiope, Diana became aware that even those meant to spread love and compassion, could also show suspicion and despisal.
After nearly a hundred years since the end of the Great War and the death of Ares, Diana still longed for more. Staring across the sea, where the world awaited outside the barrier protecting the island of the Amazons, Diana could only wonder, what has become of the world she left behind?
A monstrous shriek broke Diana from her thoughts.
The Princess of the Amazons rushed faster than any horse to the training grounds where she heard the battle cries of her sisters and roars coming from what could only be a monster. It was only then did she discover they were not battle cries but screams of death.
Diana could only gasp at the scene in front of her. A dragon, with white and blue scales and red stripes patterned across its wing, a crest grown from its snout, and a mouth that resembled a beak. And it just crunched an Amazon within its jaws, the blood leaking from its maw. A rage took Diana, greater than she's ever felt in years, as she leapt forward, grabbing a shield and bashed into the dragon's body.
Aella took the chance as the dragon crumbled on the ground to stab her sword down, only to watch with widened eyes as the steel broke on impact. The Amazon looked at her sword before her instincts flared, but it was too late, the eye of the beast was on her, and snapped its jaws towards and snapped, before pulling the warrior's top half apart. The dragon would have made to fly, had it's tail not been grabbed and pulled, spinning its body before throwing it into a rock wall. Diana made to attack again when the dragon's wing slapped her aside.
Arrows and spears bounced harmlessly off the dragon's hide before it gave a roar before its throat glowed, and ice spewed from its mouth. Several Amazons were frozen from its breath before it ceased the ice and started to run, towards Diana. The princess could not react in time before the monster's talons had grabbed her and with a beat of its wings, flew above the island.
It was that scene that Hippolyta came upon.
"DIANA!"
With her arms restrained by the dragon's talons, the one dubbed Wonder Woman had to fight out of its grip, only to free her right arm before it reaffirmed its grip, the tip of a talon stabbing into her abdomen. Diana grunted and tried to use her free hand to pull out of the beast's grip. The dragon flew low, crashing into a structure that sent debris onto any Amazon not fast enough to move away.
It was then did Diana catch the glint of something metal spinning towards her, and it was then she realized what it was, and reached her hand, catching the Sword of Athena. One of the only items from Man's World she still possessed, a weapon forged by the God Hephaestus for the Goddess of Wisdom herself, hidden and unreachable, until Diana found it. The sword she gave to her mother as an offering, and now, as her brown eyes looked down, the sword her mother had thrown to her.
With the sword now in her hand, begin Diana begin to stab at the talon holding her viciously, some blood spewing out, as the Princess noted how this was the only weapon able to pierce the dragon's skin so far.
Eventually, it let her go as Diana landed in the coliseum.
Diana tried to get back up, but the dragon was upon her again, it's foot crashing into her back and forcing her face first into the ground. Its beak stabbed into Diana's shoulder, bring forth a rage as she pushed herself up from its own strength and avoided its peck, and punched the monster's neck, sending it tumbling away from her. Taking this chance to recover her breath, Diana waited as the dragon itself recovered and glared at her with reptilian eyes, before its throat began to glow.
Remembering what it did to her sisters, Diana let out a roar as she clashed her bracelets together just as the dragon let out it's ice breath, a spherical, omnidirectional burst of orange energy forced the ice back into its own throat. Seeing the chance, Diana rushed at the coughing dragon with all her might surging into her right fist as it slammed into the dragon's face, sending it rolling along the coliseum's sand before stabbing the sword into its neck. The dragon let out a roar of pain as Diana dragged the sword up its neck to the head before pulling out and stabbing it through the eye to the hilt, and into the brain. With one final cry, the dragon's head lulled to the side and dropped to the sand with a thud.
Pulling out the blade, Diana huffed and wheezed before falling to a knee. The sound of hooves on sand had the princess turn her head to see Queen Hippolyta galloping towards her before quickly dismounting and running to her side. "Diana!"
"I am fine, mother." Using the sword, Diana forced herself to her feet with a grimace, but needed her mother's hand to stay on her feet, the wounds inflicted on her more painful than she thought. Eyeing the ice-breathing beast, only one thought consumed Diana's mind. "How did a dragon get here?"
Earth-199999, Krakoa
Their island was thriving. More Mutants sought the sanctuary of Krakoa, and with the gift of Gateway's sight, brought them into the warm embrace of the island. Erik was happy at the progress. More were flocking to him for safety. An island may not be the world of Mutant supremacy he had desired, but it was a victory, nonetheless. He hoped Charles was smiling down at him, despite the acts of violence he has committed.
Among the Brotherhood, only four members have been put at unease due to the peace talks he had with Captain America. His children, Pyro, and the young Ms. Frost. Mastermind was a rodent, he would go wherever it is safest for him, while Sage was indifferent, she merely wanted to go about her business and live, not just survive. Cain, after recovering from having his connection to the Gem of Cyttorak severed, wanted payback on Forge for his betrayal, but nothing else. He himself had several strong words for the inventor, yet that was irrelevant for now.
What mattered was the negotiations about the terms he'd agreed to. Above everything else, the most prominent of his demands were the recognition for the island nation of Mutants, and now they have a name: Krakoa. Second, all Mutants under Magneto's care is to be pardoned, including himself. They were no longer to be hunted down and persecuted just for living or trying to secure their rights. If any oppose, he will finish what he started so many years ago.
Right now, Erik was seated in his towered, a table crafted as he drank from his tea. He looked to the other side, imagining Charles joining him, looking back on happier times, spouting some philosophical teaching of a long dead human about peace and unity, with a game of chess raging on between them. It made the old Mutant smile wistfully, before looking back at the sunset over the island.
The elevator was rising, and Erik suspected who was onboard. The click-clack of heels after the door opened, however, was not who he expected, but he had suspicions. "How may I help you, Ms. Frost?" Erik asked as he turned in time for the blonde telepath to finally make by his side.
"The Brotherhood of Mutant Supremacy." Erik rose a brow. "You chose that name for us. Only now, you're rolling over and giving up."
"If you truly believed that, you wouldn't still be here, Esme." The young woman's jaw clenched at the name. Emma Frost died long ago, a valued companion in their fight for Mutants. She was quite dear to Erik after he saved her from the CIA, even if he had nearly killed her once before. She died, and her body was experimented on by Bolivar Trask. Eggs were harvested from her body, and clones were made from those eggs. They all failed, until twenty years after the original's death, a perfect clone was born: Esme. Her telepathic powers, though lacking Emma's diamond form, were underestimated by her creators however, and she'd broken free, eventually crossing paths with Erik. However, there were details left out in her story that had the Mutant leader question the extent of the story's validity, but that mattered little. Esme was part of Magneto's Brotherhood, thus, under his protection. "Whether the governments of the world keep the peace is up to them, but at the first sign of treachery, do not think I would hesitate to do what must be done."
"And what about Captain America?" Esme snipped before choking at the metal cable around her throat. She tried to pull it off, but more metal tied around her wrists.
Magneto's expression was cold. "Steve Rogers is the only human who has earned my trust through his actions alone, and thus should be treated with respect due to him for what he has done for this planet. I believe you know just how much my words are worth, Esme." The metal retracted, and the telepath could breathe again, gasping for air. "Go. We won't have this conversation again." Esme walked away hastily, feeling Magneto's gaze every step of the way within the room made entirely of metal, where he could kill her in an instant, and her telepathy could not stop him. The elevator was already on the way up, and Esme paused when she saw Pietro and Wanda stepping off. They stared at each other for two seconds, Pietro noticing the bruises on her wrists and throat, before the telepath bypassed them into the elevator, and went down.
"Pietro, Wanda." Erik smiled at his children and two more chairs rose around the table. "Come, join me. The sunset is especially beautiful tonight."
Instead of answering, Pietro sped in front of their father and glared. Erik had a feeling this conversation would come soon enough, with a sigh he set his cup down and waited as Wanda joined them.
"You made peace with the Avengers."
"They are not our enemies."
"They were OUR enemies!" Pietro snapped.
Erik looked at him impassively. "What did Dr. Banner do to earn your ire?" The question confused the speedster and the witch. "Or what about the one called Black Widow? Falcon?"
"Or Captain America?"
"Watch yourself, Pietro." Erik warned lowly. The speedster looked at him incredulously.
"You would protect him?"
"Steve Rogers is the very ideal that humanity should strive for, and a long time ago, he gave me hope when I had little else but rags upon my back. He has earned more than my faith."
"Not ours." Wanda's hands curled and the red wisps began to emerge. Erik eyed her with caution. "Stark was all we wanted. We joined you because you promised us vengeance."
"I gave you safety, shelter, and a chance to do something more with your lives than be consumed by hate." So that they don't end up like him, was what Erik meant.
"You lied to us." Pietro shook his head. He actually believed in the man, only to learn he made peace with the very enemy he promised to destroy.
"I did what I had to do to protect you, but I never lied to you."
"Stark was ours!"
"Have you lost all sense, girl?!" Erik finally snapped at his daughter. Wanda stepped back in fear as Magneto's eyes flashed red, it was enough for Pietro to speed between them and stare at his father challengingly. "Can you both truly not see the importance of what we are doing here? We are fighting for our race."
"That was your purpose, not ours."
"Would you abandon your own kind so easily? You are my son and daughter, I will fight to the last to protect you, I had hoped you would do the same for our cause."
"We never chose this fight!" Wanda shoved past Pietro to move in front of their father. "You never read stories to us! Tucked us in, made us feel safe! Our parents did, and Stark killed them!"
"Stark made the weapon, but he was not the one to fire it." Erik pointed out. He understood vengeance, but he never blamed the people who made the guns that killed the Jews in the camps, or any other weapon used in the war, or those who made the tools that experimented on him. "I had thought you were both smart enough to see that."
"Says a man who achieved his vengeance." Wanda's lip curled in anger. Whether it was her grandmother or not, denying them their right to make Stark feel the pain they suffered because of him made Magneto a hypocrite in her eyes.
"I have…and look at me now." Erik spread his arms out and gestured to himself. Wanda's brow scrunched up in confusion as she stepped back with her brother. It was then they realized what he meant. "I have nothing. I never knew my own children were born. Years of my life were taken away by a plastic cage for a crime I did not commit. I have seen the injustice of the world and suffered from it. I have only ever had one true friend, and he is gone. This cause, these people, this island, is all I have now, besides the both of you. If you do not let this vengeance go, I might just lose you two." Erik walked closer to the two, even as the red and silver wisps began to emerge around them, but he did not care. "I would do anything to make sure you are safe, and that includes not picking a fight you are unlikely to win, or worse, a fight that would make everything worse."
"It's all about you then?" Pietro laughed without any humor. "We only matter as long as we suit your wants."
"Do not twist my words."
"That's all you do. Say pretty words meaning one thing and do something else later on." Pietro got in his father's face and spoke. "We know what really matters to you, between us and your cause, we know what the answer you would pick."
With that, brother and sister returned to the elevator, glaring at their father, who had not moved since his son spoke those words to him.
Mutantkind, or his children?
"…It is not even a choice." Erik whispered to himself as he looked back over as the sun finally set.
'Charles, how I could use your advice, old friend.'
Earth-1, Smallville, Kansas
Clark returned to the storm cellar. This time, he barely acknowledged his wall, only the ship. Over twenty-five years of questions, Clark did not want to wait any longer. No more wondering why he was there, who was he, it didn't matter. It was in front of this ship that his dad said that Clark had to have been sent to them for a reason, and that one day he had to make a choice, to stand in front of the human race, proud of who he was.
Holding the piece of metal Jonathan gave to him the first time he'd seen the ship, Clark looked at the "S" crest of the thing before running his hand along the ship. Sent here as a baby across how many lightyears. Whoever his birthparents were, he wondered if they expected something like this to happen to him. That he would end up on a world both weird and wonderful.
As Clark's hand ran over the strange design, touching it for the first time…ever really, his hand suddenly ran over something. Pausing, Clark thought he felt a switch, before hesitantly pressing it. A high-pitched whistling came from the ship, making Clark wince, it was less painful, more annoying, but the whistling died down. Staring at the ship, as if he didn't have enough questions, Clark had to wonder what just happened?
Themyscira
Over a dozen Amazons were being treated in the infirmary, even more were dead at the hands of the dragon, her own injuries took time to heal, but less so than her sisters since her powers were awakened. Diana wanted to mourn for them, and she did, but her thoughts were occupied by other matters. Her fellow Amazons claimed that the dragon appeared out of nowhere, a portal appeared and disappeared, leaving the beast to slaughter her sisters.
No one could answer how this happened, but there was a sense of foreboding that plagued her. Months ago, Diana could feel something about the world change, and she had no answers as to how. Now it's reached Themyscira once again, like so long ago.
She stood within the armory, where the armor she once wore into the Great War had returned to where it once stood, with the lasso and shield, with the addition of her aunt's tiara.
"I've seen that look before." Diana found her mother joining her, staring at the armor. "My heart broke when I realized what you meant to do that day."
"I had to leave...and now I believe I must again." She always wanted to save the world, but the world had been so cruel to those that deserved to live. Steve, her friends, while Themyscira was stuck in its ways, no one died, until conflict came to their shores. Unlike before, it was not man who took the lives of Amazons, but a monster.
Hippolyta nodded but remained silent. She stepped towards the armor where her sister's crown laid above it. With a heavy breath, the Queen of the Amazons told her daughter. "You are right." Diana's eyes widened at her mother, taking the tiara from its place to return to its rightful owner after Antiope. "A century has passed since you left this island, and we know nothing of what has happened to the world, besides what you have told us. Something has changed. This was no mere attack."
"You felt it too?" Diana asked. "The change in the air?"
"I am not gifted as you are, but I have lived long enough to feel something has shifted." Hippolyta confessed. There was no way to know for sure, only instinct. "The world may very well be in peril in such a way we have not seen in a long time."
"You are permitting me to leave?"
"I don't think I can stop you even if I wanted to, but we may need you to go. Find out why this has happened to our people and stop it. This task I place upon you, my daughter." Hippolyta ordered Diana before her features softened and cupped her cheek. "Just promise you will return home."
Diana grasped her mother's hand and took the offered tiara. "I promise, mother."
Smallville, Kansas
Looking at the picture of him with his parents again, Clark wondered what they would think of his decision. Would his dad ask to stop and stay? Would his mom encourage him to find his way? They were a mix of encouragement and fear about what he should do in life. No matter what would happen though, he'd always remember his mom and dad.
Placing the picture back on the nightstand, Clark heard two cars drive onto the farm. Grabbing his bag, Clark sped down to the door in time to let Dusty out and jump on a tall, dark-skinned man who drove in with Pete.
"Earl." Clark greeted as the collie walked away, hugging the other man as they patted each other's backs. "I can't thank you enough."
"Oh don't say that, I owe you and your family more than I can repay." Earl Jenkins was a farm hand that worked with his father, and he was always kind to Clark as a kid. Even taught him how to play guitar, with some difficulty that is. When his son was born, Earl was falling on hard times, but the Kents, with Clark's talent for business shining through, managed to help him raise enough money to buy his own patch of land. They've been neighbors and friends ever since. He was also one of the only people to look after his farm while he was…he didn't even know what he was doing next, to be honest. "Apple pie?"
"On the counter, a Martha Kent special." Earl smiled widely before he disappeared into the house faster than a man his age should be able to.
"He better not eat it all." Pete glared into the house, almost picturing Earl doing just that, before looking back at Clark. "So, this is it."
"It's not a goodbye, Pete."
"I know, it just," Pete shrugged, "You're finally doing it."
"Guess I am." Clark and Pete smiled at each other, before the men were engulfed in a hug. "Take care of yourself."
"You too, Clark." Pete patted Clark on the shoulder one more time before stepping back as Clark knelt in front of Dusty.
"Be a good boy, for me." He pleaded with the dog, whose answer was to rub himself into his owner's chest, making him wrap his arms around his canine companion, soaking in the smell of wet dog and whatever else he rolled in. Savoring it all. Standing up again, the alien raised by humans walked into his truck, throwing his bag into the passenger seat before looking back at his house. His home. He didn't know when he would be back, but when he did, he doubted he'd be the same farm boy from Kansas.
The engine came to life, Clark drove it down the lane. Looking into the rearview mirror, the Kent farm became smaller and smaller, before the road was laid before him.
Where Clark went, he didn't know, yet another addition to the endless questions he has gathered in his life. However, he was going to find out as he turned his truck north and drove on.
Middle-earth, Rivendell
The Fellowship of the Ring was gathered together, all discussing the adventures they'd just had.
"….That Trixie lass was quite feisty, yes", Merry was saying. "But the three of us defeated the evil creature after a short battle."
"Which is why I believe we are very much capable of being part of this mission", Pippin added, everyone chuckling due to his tone, while he looked at Frodo. "And you two met Spike's friends?"
"Yes, Pippin", Frodo confirmed. "They were battling creatures like Spike, but evil, in that place?"
"And there was that strange creature looking like a Lady, whom we slayed", Sam added, and he'd have shuddered on thinking of her if not for the fact that he'd met the Barrow-wights and Nazgûl before.
"The creatures we faced in the other world were unlike anything I've seen here", Gimli said. "Not even Orcs are that repulsive."
"But we did help Spider-Man while we were there", Legolas added.
"Indeed, and he needed it, not just in the battle", Aragorn noted, then looked at Gandalf. "So you met a Witch?"
"I did, she was quite lovely, and powerful", Gandalf said. "We defeated a Vampire together."
"These Vampires…they are not like the ones from the First Age, I believe", Legolas noted, Gandalf nodding at that.
"We should all prepare and rest", Aragorn then said, the mood darkening a bit. "The Quest is upon us, and we will all be setting out."
"Right you are, Aragorn", Gandalf agreed, when Boromir walked in, seeing the rest were in deep conversation.
"Did I miss anything?" Boromir inquired, causing the rest to chuckle.
"Some exciting adventures, laddie", Gimli replied, before they started telling the Son of Denethor of their adventures.
And that's another one done.
Thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer for his writing for the Earth-1 Clark, Earth-1 Diana, Magneto and Ray/Oliver scenes. And thank you to gussygus28 for his outline for the Fellowship plot.
So now the details of Chuck and Castiel have been fully revealed, and how it all went down. And well, Chuck got his from Castiel and the real Michael.
Unlike in the 'Lucifer' show, this Michael is based on the one from comics and actual Christianity, so he is a good guy through and through. Chuck isn't dead yet as I think it'd be cool to bring him back in the future as a villain again, but for now, we won't be hearing from him anytime soon. And while Castiel will return later with a bigger role, for now, this is how I'm writing him out of the plot.
And like Lucifer has his desire mojo and Amenadiel can stop time, Castiel's mojo is to raise morale with his words.
Clark and Lana have broken up properly, and now Clark is properly setting out to find out who he is. Imagine Nicole Kidman as Aunt Nell and Carl Lumbly as Earl Jenkins. Thank you to Stand with Ward and Queen for the castings.
Meanwhile, we get a reference to Ted Kord/Blue Beetle. I'm sure some of you could tell who the cult that Ray fought is.
So Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli met Peter Parker/Spider-Man from the TASM films and helped him out against some DCAU Parademons, and also gave Peter some good advice. Meanwhile, Gandalf went to the 'Smallville' Universe and helped Zatanna Zatara of that Earth take down a SPN Vampire. The entire Fellowship minus Boromir had their own adventures before they set out.
And now finally, Earth-1 Wonder Woman is here, and is going to set out on another Quest, since the Multiverse mess has reached Themyscira. She fought a Corpse Eater Dragon from 'God of War: Ragnarök'.
So, its not Emma Frost who was with Magneto, rather her clone Esme Frost this entire time.
While Wanda and Pietro are not fond of Magneto's little peace treaty it seems.
Also, Frodo and Sam took out Kayako Saeki from 'The Grudge' in last chapter. They weren't paralyzed in fear because they've already met the Nazgûl, who're much worse than her, plus Frodo resists the One Ring too, so she is nothing. And they used Sting and a Barrow-blade to take her down, and these weapons can affect her I'd say. Plus I'm thinking she is not really gone, but is now confined to her home Universe only because of this.
Shortest chapter in a while too, LOL! Next chapter will be really long. Its still unfinished right now but is already longer than this one.
Hope all enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter.