A/N: Sorry about this, I realized that I somehow missed posting the chapter covering the Tower of Fate, so I had to replace every chapter with the correct one.

Bleeding Multiverse

Chapter Eight: Shadows Retreat

Happy Harbor-October 1-18:13

I was watching Kaldur and Dick spar when the rest of the team showed up in pairs. Dick asked us if we knew that Kon and M'gann were a couple now, and Kaldur said he knew before they did. Personally, I doubted they would last long. When the next couple showed up, he asked "Can we tell them?" Kaldur said it wasn't our place, so Dick turned to me. "What do you think?"

"Are you kidding? They'd probably try to kill us if we mentioned that they liked each other." Wally immediately started complaining when he saw that Zatara and Captain Marvel were our current 'babysitters.' But then, the Zeta-beam tube opened up, silencing him.

Recognized: Batman-02. "Computer, National News."

The news came on, with Cat Grant reporting on an attack by giant plant creatures. Sounded like something Poison Ivy would do, or at least it did to me. "The initial attack was short lived, but Metropolis was only granted a brief reprieve. And despite the intervention of Superman and the Justice League, there seems to be no end in sight."

Dick immediately asked if we could join in. But Batman claimed that the League would have it under control and that wasn't why he was there. He shortly explained that all of our missions seemed to be leading up to this, as the plants seemed to be on Kobra Venom. "It's now clear that our enemies have formed some kind of . . . Secret Society of Supervillains. The attack on Metropolis is only the beginning."

Robin then showed that Batman was right, as there were other attacks in Gotham, Star City, Paris and Taipei, before he lost the connection. When the connection was re-established, one face showed up, a face that I had hated for years: the Clown Prince of Crime himself, Joker. "Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt your regularly scheduled mayhem to bring you this important announcement, from the Injustice League." He then shifted the camera to reveal six other villains, most of whom I recognized: Wotan, Count Vertigo, Ultra Humanite (I wondered why he was there,) Black Adam, Poison Ivy (I knew it!) and one that I didn't recognize. Then there was one other that shocked me to the core, and because of it, I knew that while I may have helped some things, I had also made things worse.

Vertigo then continued the statement. "We are responsible for the attacks on your cities. If you wish to save them, a ransom of 10 billion American dollars is required. Delivery instructions have been sent to the United Nations. There is no time limit, but the longer your governments wait-"

"The more we get to have our ... jollies," the Joker finished, ending the message on his typical, maniacal laugh.

Robin then rewound the video, identifying the final member as Atomic Skull, all of them at least B-list villains. (No wonder I didn't recognize him, he looks so different from how I'm used to.) "No idea who sock-face is though. Batman?"

"No one in the League knows who that particular person is."

"That's because he's from my Earth. His name is Baron Helmut Zemo, a committed Nazi and one of the most dangerous members of Hydra to ever exist. He typically fights against Captain America, a super soldier who is probably as good a fighter as you are, Batman," I explained. While everyone else stared at me, I turned to Batman and asked, "You've changed your mind and decided to send us after the plants while you go after them, right?"

"No." No? He actually said 'no'? He couldn't mean that, could he? "I have a different job for this team. With the plants attacking so many locations simultaneously, there must be a central control system. Your mission is to destroy it."

Zatara asked if he knew what he was really asking us to do, and Bats said we were ready. Wally actually had to ask what we were ready for. "Don't you get it, Impulse? Batman is actually sending us after the Injustice League!" I couldn't have been more excited. We were actually going after some serious villains, and for once the League knew and approved of it! Zatara pinpointed the Injustice League HQ in the Louisiana bayou and we left for the ship. I, however, went straight for my room, so I could pick up a very special vial that I'd been saving for just this situation. Batman may not like it, but it needed to be done. I was going to do the one job that Batman would never do, and I was going to make certain it was done right. At least one of these villains would not be going back to jail, but to the morgue!

Bartholomew Bayou-Louisiana, October 1-18:52

By the time we arrived, I was ready to face the Injustice League, and had chosen my suit. "Activate suit E-12-BB-TMW." The nanites quickly changed my uniform from my base uniform, to the second I had reprogramed into the system: a complete black bodysuit with large, pointed ears, boot jets, retractable red wings, and a red symbol on my chest.

"Um, Torch. You do realize that you're wearing a Batsuit, right?" Robin asked.

"Oh, I know Rob. This is part of my plan. I am going after one particular villain here tonight, and this is just one of my weapons against him," I said, unsurprised by now to find that I sounded like Terry McGinnis (Wayne.) Then Miss M mentioned that the bioship was feeling a little sick. "And that would be our introduction to the defenses: Count Vertigo." Black Adam then knocked us out of the sky, while some of Ivy's pets tried to drown us. Adam then tore into the ship to attack us, but Kon hit him hard enough to push him away. "Just a quick note, Kon, try not to get into a fight with him. Kryptonians are just as vulnerable to magic as anyone else, and magic is what he's all about." Kon nodded, and we escaped the ship, only to be knocked down by Vertigo. Kaldur quickly ordered Robin, M'gann and I to get to the control center.

I activated the suit's invisibility system and took off at top speed for the control center, only for a knife to fly through one of my wings, destroying it. "No need for the disguise, Tony, come out and face me like the good Captain would." I decided to listen, reverted my costume to its' base form and took a martial arts stance. "How honorable, choosing to face me without your powers."

"Guys, get out of here, the baron is mine." My teammates rushed off as I raised my eyebrow at his statement. Once I knew Zemo was here, I had assumed that he was the one responsible for removing my powers, considering how often Hydra had infiltrated even the highest levels of SHIELD. Oh well, that was a mystery for another day. For now, I had to face one of the most dangerous men from my world.

Yeah, I'm a dead man walking.

Screw that! I have too many plans to die tonight! If I fight Zemo's way, I'm a dead man, so let's play dirty! Before I did anything else, I threw a certain ball at Hydra's greatest warrior. Naturally, he sliced it in half, which was exactly what I wanted him to do, as it released the fear gas inside. Wait, why wasn't he reacting to it? "Ah, the Scarecrows' fear gas, yes? I was warned that you had a tendency to use it, and procured an antidote beforehand. Do pass on my gratitude to Bruce Wayne for that." With that, he charged at me, and even using the repulsors to speed up my retreat, he still managed to land a solid blow on my left leg and right arm. Shit! Only two minutes had passed since I had sent Rob and M'gann on, and I was already bleeding in two different places. Wait, his sword! If I could take care of that sword, that would certainly help even the odds. I took a new stance with one hand left vulnerable in front of me. As expected, the baron tried to take my hand, so I dropped and rolled to the side, exposing my neck. "Ah, a horrible mistake, Tony."

"Or not," I replied, and as he brought his sword down, I charged at him, raised my hands and fired off the repulsors with as much power as I could, sending him flying into a tree. Reversing the thrust of the repulsors, I flew at him and tied him to the tree as securely as possible, and as many times as I could using some of Terry's toys then threw his sword into the bayou. One down, six to go, and one beanstalk to chop down, I thought as I flew towards the control tower, quickly changing back to Terry's costume, mostly for easier access to his arsenal. Upon arrival, I opened a window and threw a batarang at Joker, quickly tying him up. "Here, have some medicine clown, I mixed it just for you," and I delivered the gas I'd saved just for today.

Joker quickly collapsed, freeing Dick from his fight. "Come on, Robin, let's blow this joint and go home!" Rob laughed at my quote but was quick to join me in placing explosive bat and birdarangs in the giant plant.

"My baby!" Ivy realized as we came out.

"Tick, tick, boom," I said with a smirk, and just like that, the explosives went off, destroying the building, and the mutant plant. With that, the fight started again, I switched to the Red Hood costume and started fighting Adam with Kon using every trick the suit offered. We lasted about a minute before Wotan blasted each of us with his magic. Kaldur managed to hold him off for a while, but he was quick to decide it was time for Plan B: Dr Fate. With Kaldur putting on the helmet and becoming Fate, we managed to hold off the Injustice League long enough for the Justice League to arrive, and for Batman to declare that it was over. Vertigo simply said that there would be another day.

Then another voice spoke up. "Another day?" Joker asked in response to Vertigo. He barely managed to climb from the rubble as he continued spewing his vitriol. "Another day?! There won't be another day, not for any of us! Bats, you may have found a way to win, but I'm going to be the only one to get what he wants tonight! Bing, bang boom!"

But before Joker could carry out his threat, a single shot rang out and he fell to the ground, a bullet having entered his head on one side and gone out the other. Everyone turned to look at me in shock. I quickly tossed a forcefield generator onto the body before taking a deep breath just in case and stated, "How's that for a happy ending?"

"What did you do?" Batman demanded of me.

"What did I do?" I demanded. "I did what you'll never do, Batman! I cleaned up your mess and put down one of the evilest humans to walk the face of this Earth! What I did was take a psychotic piece of evil, death-worshipping garbage, and sent him off to hell, where he belongs! What I did was save countless lives and minds from his insanity! If you want to punish me for that, then so be it. I cannot, will not regret my actions tonight." With that, I activated Pyro's gauntlets and set Joker's body on fire. I walked off into the swamp to be alone then smiled and whispered, "I did it Jason, he's dead, and you've finally been avenged." I had kept the promise I had made to him so long ago when I had first read Under the Red Hood and came up with the idea of going to a DC world. And as the Joker's body turned to ash and charred bone, I continued smiling, even then preparing to destroy what was left of Gotham's most dangerous criminal.

Unknown Location

"Impressive. The plant creatures have proven their use as potential weapons. More importantly, the so-called heroes now believe our secret society has been revealed and crushed. With the Injustice League serving as our proxies, we are once again free to operate with impunity. And shadows still conceal our Light," Vandal Savage stated.

"True, but a danger has been revealed," Ra's al Ghul stated. "This Torch has now eliminated several of our proxies, and I have no doubt he will do so again. Even worse, he has admitted that he knows who several of us are. And if he should face any of us again, we may not walk away. That is not a price we can pay, as we need every single member to keep our plans on track. Perhaps we should eliminate him."

"You think too small," Lex Luthor stated. "If he's willing to cross the line that none of the others will, then could he not be turned to the Light? Queen Bee, do you think you could do it?"

"Easily, no man can resist my control," the hypnotist stated.

"I doubt it would work," Klarion the Witch-Boy stated. "He hates us, that's why he's willing to kill us!"

"The vitch-boy is right," another voice said, one with a strong German accent. "Anthony Richards is from my own reality, and there is nothing that you can do to corrupt him to our side," the Red Skull explained. Luthor raised an eyebrow at the name. Anthony Richards was Torch? Interesting.

"But ze attempt must be made," the Brain stated. "Perhaps we could ... create an incident where zey must face Queen Bee? Perhaps even find a way where we could ... blackmail ze young hero into joining us? Especially as he claims to know three of our number."

"Why not? You have always wanted to control Qurac, have you not? Between your powers and those of your pet, it should be easy to create an incident that the League will wish to respond to, quietly," Ocean Master stated.

"Then it's settled. Queen Bee, you shall follow Ocean Master's suggestion and then we can make the young hero see the Light," Savage stated with a grin.

Justice League Watchtower-Space, October 2-8:52

For the first time, Young Justice was on board the Watchtower, but considering the circumstances, they all wished that they were back at Mount Justice, and I couldn't blame them. While I would never regret my actions, I did regret the pain I had caused them. "This tribunal is now in session," Batman stated. "The purpose of this tribunal is to discuss what action should be taken against Anthony Richards for his killing of the Joker. What have you to say for yourself?"

I knew exactly what I needed to do. "First, I request that Wonder Woman bind me with her lasso so that you know I am telling the truth." Diana stared at me in shock but did as I had asked.

"Why did you kill the Joker?" Diana demanded, activating the Lasso of Truth.

"To prevent the countless deaths that he could have caused," I answered, mostly truthfully. "Some of them would have been heroes, even those among the Justice League itself. He is pure evil, and to use the words of an alternate version of Agent A, he isn't looking for anything logical. He can't be bullied, bought, reasoned or negotiated with. He is a man that just wants to watch the world burn."

"And how do you know this?" Hawkman demanded.

"As I'm sure you all know by now, I am from an alternate universe where we know all about you. Back home, the Joker is one of the most infamous criminals in this entire multiverse. Among his many victims include Barbara Gordon, two Robins killed, another tortured, brainwashed and broken, even killing Batman himself along with Catwoman, and another woman that he truly loves. He used Batman-created robots to destroy Buckingham Palace. But the worst thing he has ever done is that he was directly responsible for the destruction of Metropolis, and the destruction of the Justice League." With that as a start, I explained the basics of the universe called Injustice and how Joker broke Superman and split the Justice League as a result. "Do you really blame me for killing him now?" I asked after explaining just how far Superman fell because of Joker's actions.

"Do you have proof of all this?" Batman asked.

"It's all in my room at Mount Justice, and I would suggest the League read it together." I stopped there, allowing them to take in what I had revealed before finally asking "Is there anything else you need from me?"

"Yes, do you regret your actions?" Dinah asked.

"Yes," I answered, much to my own surprise. "Wait, what? Ask me why, because that has to be a subconscious answer." When Dinah granted my request, almost everyone stared in shock at my answer. "My only regret is that he died so quickly. I had hoped to cause him as much pain as possible before finally letting him die as an act of mercy. He should have been forced to feel even a small part of the suffering he inflicted on others!" I think I surprised everyone at just how vicious I had sounded there. With that, no one had any more questions and Diana released me from the lasso. With that, I turned away to go to a side room, then I thought of something else. "I do have one last request: let Young Justice decide my fate first. They're my team, they should decide if I continue to work with them or not. Anything past that I am willing to take from the League."

"That sounds fair," Superman agreed.

I turned to leave, only to remember something important. "Oh, and one more thing. The Injustice League wasn't the brains of the outfit, they were the fall guys. The real masterminds are a group that call themselves The Light. Seven villains working together, though I can only name three of them: Brain, Lex Luthor and Ra's al Ghul. Also, just so you know, whatever happens, whatever is decided here, Magefire will continue to be active, outside the purview of the League if necessary." With that, I smiled and took a seat in the side room for them to make their decision. There I waited, content that whatever happened, I had made the future a better place, and if I was kicked off the team, I would work in the shadows, just to make certain the job was done and there would be no more Jokers, and to continue helping Young Justice and the League wherever I could.

Justice League Watchtower-Space, October 2-16:12

Before convening, we had agreed to think on our own about what we should do, and we had already spoken to our mentors about what they thought. To my shock, Bruce actually supported keeping Tony on the team, even before we heard his explanation. When we met up again, Wally was the first to speak up. "I vote we remove him from the team. I don't care why, he killed someone, and we can't stand for that, no matter who it is."

"Yeah, I can't really argue with that," Ms. M said. "Even the corrupted Reds weren't killers. Besides, all those horrors started because Joker was killed, are we really going to let him do the same thing? Also, what makes us so different from the bad guys if we kill? And what's to stop him from killing again?"

"My king will execute those who break severe enough laws, insanity does not figure into our courts' decisions, nor should it affect the surface world. From all I've heard, even without Tony's' explanation, Joker should have been executed long ago," Kaldur states. "I support keeping him on the team."

"Great! Now no one else will argue against Tony just because you support him!" Wally complained.

"What, you don't think we'd made up our minds before coming here?" Kon demanded. "Dad's not sure what to do, but I say he should stay. He's our friend! There is no way that I'd ever support throwing him out!"

"Yeah, I'm with Superboy here," Artemis said. "We can decide for ourselves, and Tony's helped us out a lot, he should stay."

"No, Wally and Artemis are right," Zatanna stated. "We have rules about this, and the one rule for us is that we do not kill, ever. We don't have a system to hold ourselves accountable for our actions, that's why we hold ourselves to such a high standard. Tony should be thrown out."

Everyone turned to me now because I held the vote that would decide Tony's fate. "Just for myself, I'd vote for Tony to stay," I said, startling everyone. "Kon and the others are right, he is our friend, but that's not a reason for him to stay," I explained. "Then there's Batman's reason: sometimes we need those who are willing to cross the line because crossing that line can stop greater threats during the times when the world will need that." I paused there to let them think before I explained my own. "But here's the thing: Tony gave up his family, what friends he had left, his entire world to come and help us. Why shouldn't we be willing to stand up for him when he needs us? Just think, he's already given us hope for the future, removed Abra as a threat for now and was willing to sacrifice the life he had here and his freedom to protect us from Joker. That's why I vote for him to stay."

With that, we walked back into the room. "By majority vote, we have decided that Tony will remain a member of Young Justice," Kaldur announced.

"So be it," Superman acknowledged. "We too have come to a decision. We heroes operate outside the law, partially out of necessity, true, but outside nonetheless. As a result, we have no system to keep us in check should we choose to act outside the law in other ways. Magefire has told us how such things can spiral out of control, and we must do our best to try and prevent such things from happening. Therefore, until he is willing to forego the use of deadly force, Magefire is hereby banned from even consideration of joining the Justice League."

"That is something I will gladly submit to," Tony replied.

"Good, then meeting adjourned, and now that that's over with, lets' take care of the official tour."

About an hour later, Tony surprised me by asking to meet Bruce and I in a private room. "What do you want?" Bruce asked.

"How well do you know Lady Shiva?" Both of us were shocked by that, but I'm pretty sure I was the only one to show it. Lady Shiva was one of the most dangerous and lethal women in the entire world. What did he want with her? "If I learned anything from that fight, it's that I need to up my game when it comes to my hand-to-hand skills. I was kind of hoping you could introduce me."

Bruce considered it for about a minute before responding. "I know her, and I'll see what I can do."