seen from Hong Kong SAR China
seen from Netherlands
seen from United States
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seen from United Kingdom
I think that New 52 was pretty much shite is proven by the fact that it was undone so quickly. Everyone hated it. The only mystery is really who ever thought it was a good idea to erase beloved heroes’ history. And why they thought it was a good idea. Moronic move.
Death to n52!! And forever warm pillow sides for the moron who thought it was a good idea!
N52: Apokolips War | Bruce Wayne/Batman x OC!Magician ft JLA Dark, JLA, Batfam [Part 2/2]
Synopsis: After the defeat of their attack at Apokalips, John Constantine and the others look for the only people who can turn the tide of their dystopian world. But there are a couple of problems: Batman is under Darkseid’s control and Vivian is believed to have died in the attack.
Actually, this is supposed to be the original ending of The Phoenix and follows Justice League Dark Apokalips War. I liked the tragedy of it, but I think it was too dark in my drafts, and I benched it.
Request by @diabolicallyprimevalvirtue: Hi, Can you write a scene about JL and bat family? For example, The first show up of the Justice League VS Darkseid . When I look at your account there are just a few scene with the league and the bat family.
Main Story Master List • Elseworld Stories Master List • N52: Apokolips War [Part 1]
“Will he remember us now when he wakes up?” Valerie asked as she watched Dick sleep on an actual bed in a well-lit room, the jacket removed from him—freeing his arms, and being tended by the medics in the League.
Returning through the same door they went through, Valerie ran straight to look for her brothers and sister and tell them the good news. Jason, Tim and Cass ran back inside from the tower they were perched on and have been talking to see with their own eyes. When they saw Vivian, they froze—a common reaction for someone who just saw the dead come back to life.
“See, I told you! Momma’s still here. She was just sick!” Valerie told them as she pulled on her mother’s hand and brought her to her siblings.
“Ma,” Jason was the first to move and brought Vivian to an embrace, then Cassandra and Tim. Vivian let them engulf her in their embrace, happy to see them—to remember them again.
After their embrace, Vivian asked where Dick was kept and Damian led her to the room, as soon as they disappeared inside—after telling Valerie to stay outside—the others asked how it happened. John was generous enough to explain but not in full detail, so Destruction—who came along with Dream—told them the whole story. By the end of it, Damian has called for assistance with Dick, and they brought their older brother to the room where Etrigan was still asleep.
“He will,” Vivian answered as she returned to Valerie’s side after placing a kiss on Dick’s forehead and whispering something to his ear. “And when he does, he will need your help to get back on his feet, okay?”
Valerie was about to say yes but then she felt something off. “Why just me, what about you?” When she saw her mother’s solemn look, tears started to build in her eyes. “You’re leaving again, aren’t you?”
“Val.”
Valerie clung to the skirts of her mother’s chiton and held onto her tight. “Please don’t go! Please! Just stay here with us! I just got you back!”
“Oh Valerie,” Vivian picked up her daughter. “I’m sorry but I need to help John and Damian and the others to get your Dad back and to fix all of this.”
“But if you go you’ll never come back,” Valerie cried.
“I will, I promise I will.”
“You don’t know that!”
“I do. Val, look at me,” Vivian had her daughter look up and wiped her tears. “Your Dad still needs my help, that’s why I have to go again.”
“Where is Dada?” Valerie sniffled.
“In Apokolips. He’s a prisoner of a really, really bad man. So I have to save him.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“It’s not safe for you there, Val. You need to trust me that I’ll come back, okay?”
Valerie nodded reluctantly and then rested her head on her mother’s shoulder. “I’ll wait for you here with Dick.”
“Good girl. I love you, Valerie.”
Valerie looked up to her again and kissed her mother’s cheek. “I love you, Momma.”
“Be strong and be brave.”
“I will, I promise.”
Rising from the bed, Vivian approached Destruction and handed her daughter to him. “Protect them. All of them. The moment you know they’re in danger take them to a safe place.”
“It would be safer for Valerie to stay with me in the Dreaming,” Dream spoke.
“But what about Dick?” Vivian told her father. “He’s my son too. Please, stay here with them.”
Dream nodded stiffly.
“We’ll look out for them,” Destruction reassured her, then from the wall behind him, he took his sheathed sword and handed it to her. “You’ll need this.”
Vivian took the sword. It was the sigil of Destruction, an important artifact of the Endless.
“Thank you,” Vivian accepted the gift.
“Alright, lovie, we’ll stay here and wait for your brother to wake up,” Destruction told Valerie.
“And until Momma comes back.”
“That’s right… I love you, Momma.”
“I love you, my Valerie,” Vivian kissed her daughter’s cheek again then left the room and in the hall she was met by everyone armed and ready to leave. Even Damian has donned his old Robin uniform for the mission.
“Are you going to battle wearing that?” John raised a brow at her.
Vivian took a breath. “Never change, John.”
Unlike before where she needs to use a spell to access the Phoenix’s powers, this time Vivian can easily change her appearance with a single thought. From the black chiton, her attire turned a black suit lined with gold which made the breast plate, and from the collar it became a hood—a priests’ robes—but over that dress was the maroon coat they all knew too well. It was her old coat.
“Happy?” Vivian said as she placed the sword on her belt.
“A little too flashy for my taste.”
Vivian raised the middle finger at John.
“Is everyone ready?” Raven asked them. “Good–” just as she were to make the spell, Vivian reached to hold her hand and offered her the power she needed to take them to the location. “Azarath, metrion, zinthos!”
They disappeared from the halls of the headquarters and appeared before the familiar site of Stryker’s Island.
“Why here?” Vivian asked them.
“The only way to get to Apokalips is through the Boomtube in Lexcorp Tower,” Clark explained. “And Lois said she’s negotiating with their leader to help us get to Lexcorp and get to the Boomtube.”
“You do know I can get us there now, right?” Vivian asked him.
“But like you said, we’re not going in half-cocked. We have a plan. A lot has happened while you were gone, Viv.”
“You don’t have to remind me, Clark. And Lois, how exactly is she handling negotiations… and who is the leader of this group you’re talking about?”
“You’ll be surprised… and knowing Lois… she’s a people person, so she’s got this under control…”
He opened the door and found the last thing they expected to see. Lois Land in the middle of a boxing ring with crowds cheering. And the most surprising sight of all is that Lois Lane is in the ring with Harley Quinn.
“Yeah, Harley got everyone in the Suicide Squad and the people in Bellereve and Stryker to join her gang,” Jason told her as they approached the ring, passing the crowd.
“Good for her, I always thought Harley could do better than being Joker’s… well, you get what I mean.”
“Lois? Lois!” Clark tried to call for his wife.
“It looks like she can handle herself,” Damian smirked.
“Come on, Harley, have at her!” Captain Boomerang called out. He said something else but Vivian and Jason weren’t able to catch it with how fast he spoke with a thick Aussie accent.
“Break her face!” John appeared beside them, specifically beside Boomerang. The sound of John’s English accent had Boomerang glaring at John.
“Psh… Brits.”
“Ausies,” John sneered.
“Pomps.”
“Convicts!”
“WANKER!” They both yelled at each other’s faces.
“Do you best, honey!” Clark called out to Lois.
“Hey, Boomerang, what’s the minimum wager?” Vivian asked.
“I’ll take a beer, love,” Boomerang said.
Vivian conjured a cold stack in her hands and into Jason’s arms to show her point.
“That’ll do,” Boomerang grinned.
“Put it on Lane.”
The Australian laughed at her. “Ohhh, you’re sure about that?”
“Yeah.”
“We’ll see about that, love.”
The fight continued with Harley mixing it up with her mixed martial arts and gymnastics, and to make things interesting, she’s got electric knuckle brasses in hand.
“That’s cheating, right?” Clark asked.
“Gotham rules,” Vivian and Jason said.
But though Harley had her knuckles, Lois still outsmarted her and used those weapons against Harley herself, knocking her out cold. John cheered in his win while Boomerang groaned in disappointment. He then got up to the ring and took the mic to announce the winner: Lushious Lois Lane. Harley was quick to recover from her knock out and approach Lois; as it turns out, Lois has been negotiating with Harley that her Suicide Squad join the resistance in stopping Darkseid, and to get Harley on board, they had to settle it in the ring.
“You hear that everybody?” Harley took the mic after kicking away Boomerang. “Now we ride for Lex Luthor in his Fortress of Bald-itude! So drink up esteemed ladies and gents of the Suicide Squad! Because tomorrow we take back this planet!”
“Honey, I want you see someone,” Clark brought Lois down from the ring and to where Vivian stood with Jason handing out the beer to the members of Harley’s Suicide Squad. Lois gasped at the sight of Vivian, the last she heard of Vivian was from Clark telling her about her demise. She mourned her death and never thought she would see her again.
“You’re alive?” Lois asked.
Vivian smiled. “Turns out I got nine lives.”
Lois was about to bring Vivian to an embrace when Harley appeared and beat her to it. “You! I thought you were dead, Professor!”
“Turns out, death is boring—but don’t tell my Aunt,” Vivian chuckled. “Nice to see that there’s still some Gotham characters around. But question, did Waller make you the leader of the Squad?”
“I think the question is how did Amanda Waller let a lunatic like her be the leader at all,” Damian joined them.
“Easy, she died: Cancer!” Harley laughed loudly, while others didn’t. Though she knew Harley’s humor isn’t exactly for everyone, she still couldn’t find it in her to laugh along. “Sorry, it’s a defense mechanism… a week after that my Puddin’ died because of the new Batman.”
“Batman?” Vivian’s attention turned sharp at the mention of her husband.
“Your new hubby is no fun by the way! So the me and my merry band of Suicidals decided to go freely.”
“We’ve been taking our cut from Luthor’s supply train since its shipment started,” Boomerang said.
“We’re real Robin Hood types: rob from the rich and sell to the poor,” Harley grinned.
“Give to the poor,” Lois corrected her.
“I’m pretty sure it’s ‘sell to the poor’.”
Before Lois could speak, Vivian said, “Don’t bother.”
Lois sighed. “Do you have somewhere private we can talk?”
“My office,” Harley said. “We’ll discuss everything with my top notch bottle of hootch.”
“We need some place we can rest,” Damian said as he assisted Raven in his arms. Though Vivian has helped with regaining her strength by providing power and energy, it did not stop Trigon from harassing his daughter’s mind.
“Oh, is that what the kids are calling it these days?” Harley snickered.
Damian only glared at her.
“Sheesh. Cheetah will show you the way. You too, Professor, come join us!”
“I’ll see you once we finish talking,” Vivian told Damian and Raven.
~ * ~
“Darkseid’s machines have gone live in Congo, China, and the coast of England,” the monitor in Harley’s office showed the shots taken by Lois’ team. They were joined by the other members of the Suicide Squad and Vivian and her sons who stood at the side to be caught up with everything happening in the world. “They phase the Earth’s magma to Darkseid’s ship.”
“So these things must be destroyed,” Shiva concluded.
“That’s a temporary solution. We need to blow up Apokolips,” Lois said.
“Oh, is that all? Pieces of cake,” Boomerang shrugged, sarcasm dripping in every word that came out of his mouth.
“We can’t brute force this. On Apokolips Darkseid has parademons that are upgraded with Superman’s DNA—like Doomsday. We need to get them off of Apokolips for us to have a chance. Our initial plan was to have simultaneous attacks on two of the machines, that would cause the paradooms to be sent to Earth as reinforcements.”
“But what’s the new one?” Damian asked.
“With Vivian back in the game, we have a far different approach which can save more lives of our people. With magic Vivian can destroy these machines instantly but if we destroy those machines, we’re afraid that Darkseid might do something drastic. So what she’ll do is she’ll damage the machines first, hit its critical parts then leave the rest to us.
“We need to have Darkseid’s forces divided, not retreating in one place in Apokolips. We’ll still destroy the machines but we also need it as a distraction for the paradooms. Vivian can destroy one but the two we need as a distraction, that’s where our people come in.
“The Boomtube gates are located in Lex Tower. That’s where we come in. Luthor has been Darkseid’s contact and the one managing the works on Earth. We take the tower and take hold of the Boomtube before destroying it.”
“Then how do you get to Apokolips?” Harley asked.
“I’ll take us there. I can get us to Darkseid. What’s important is to destroy any connection Apokolips has to Earth,” Vivian told them.
“And what about the paradooms on Earth?” Damian asked.
“I’ll handle it.”
“Easy peasy,” Harley said.
“I think we’re forgetting one small detail,” said Boomerang. “You know, someone called Darkseid. We can’t take ‘im. No one can.”
“That’s why she’s here,” John pointed at Vivian. “She’ll handle Darkseid. To be honest she’ll be handling everything.”
“But we can’t leave everything to Vivian,” Superman told them. “That’s why it’s a step by step process. When we get to Apokolips, Darkseid will be at Oa, giving us a chance to save everyone there before we blow up Apokolips.”
“And once Apokolips is gone?”
“I’ll turn Darkseid to cosmic dust,” Vivian answered. “I understand that everyone wants to have a hand in this. We all lost someone in this war and I don’t want to take the satisfaction of getting to kick his and his paradoom’s asses and get your revenge. I’ll let you have your pound of flesh but leave Darkseid to me. I’ll make sure he never comes back.”
“As long as I get to kick arse I’m all good with that,” Boomerang snickered.
“Ma, you sure about this?” Jason asked her.
“I am. Without a mortal body I do not risk myself being blown up with the Phoenix’s energy. What happened last time will never happen again, I promise… but I will need your help to get to Batman. All of you,” Vivian addressed them—Jason, Tim, Damian, and Cassandra.
“This would have been easy if Val’s around,” Tim snickered. “Maybe we could show him some of her photos to make him remember.”
“You underestimate Bruce’s love for all of you,” Vivian told them. “I know he’s not been the best father—”
“I’d say he’s okay enough,” Tim shrugged.
“But he cares so much and he would be devastated if any of you is harmed or—”
“What happened to Dick,” Jason added. “But admit it, he’s grown soft when Val came, so Tim’s right, maybe tying him up and showing some of Val’s baby pictures would be a good idea.”
Vivian could only sight and then turned to Lois, “We’ll deal with Batman. Our group will head ot Apokolips, what we need is for you all to focus on destroying the two other machines and the Boomtube so Darkseid can never come back to our world again.”
“But what about you guys? How do you get back?” Harley asked.
“You forget, blondie, we got magic right at our side. We can come back,” said John.
“Don’t worry about us on the ground, focus on Apokolips. We’ll take care of things here,” said Lois. “If everyone is onboard with the plan we leave in 0200 hours.”
~ * ~
The first attack made was in Congo. Batman was the first to receive an alert about the destroyed machine—with no explanation, it blew up and melted from the inside. They believed the resistance have planted multiple explosives but the question was how. The machines were heavily guarded and the moment tampering was detected it would trigger to get the paradooms as reinforcements. Then the attack began with the machines in China and London.
Breaking into Luthor Tower was easier than expected with magic and a bit of the Suice Squad’s theatrics. As expected, Luthor has an army to protect himself and the weapons he’s been supplying Batman and Darkseid. With her magic they were able to limit the casualties, but the moment they arrived at Luthor's floor at the top, they were met by an unexpected machine which was wielded by the man they were to attack. Damian was the first to attack and was grabbed and thrown to the wall by Luthor’s mech suit, rendering him unconscious.
Enraged, Raven succumbed to her father’s darkness and unleashed a power which destroyed Luthor’s weapon and armor, grabbing the man and threatening to destroy him.
“Raven, stop!” Vivian grabbed the girl’s shoulder. Raven turned to her sharply with her four, glowing red eyes, and sneered at her. “Don’t give in to your father. Let him down.”
Returning from the darkness, Raven dropped Luthor from her magic’s hold and went to see Damian with Vivian.
“I’m okay,” said Damian as his mother helped with healing his injuries.
“Can everyone stop trying to kill Luthor?” Clark exclaimed. “We need him.”
“He’s a collaborator,” said Damian.
“How about just a little over the top,” Boomerang suggested.
“Please,” Luthor scoffed. “I was surrounded by the time the battle was over, I had to make a choice. I’ve been trying to help Lois.”
“You’re Sleeper?” Lois asked—Sleeper was the agent whose been helping them with information about Darkseid’s weapons.
“He’s a traitor, he’ll change sides when it suits him. What makes you think he won’t do it again,” Damian told Clark.
“He’s got a point,” Jason shrugged.
“Because you need me and you don’t have a lot of time,” said Luthor.
“I highly doubt it,” Vivian told him. “We only need to destroy you and the Boomtube to cripple Darkseid’s hold on Earth.”
“Normally I’d be surprised to find you alive, Pryor, but given my fair share of witnessing the dead coming back to life, I’m not. Besides, say what you will about not needing my help, you’re still out powered by Darkseid. Knowing you, with your new power, you still want to do this by the book, and if you want to do this by the book you are gravely overestimating yourselves. Your swords and guns, and nullified Kryptonians will not be enough.”
“What, you got a god-killing rocket in there?” Jason mocked.
“I cannot say it is enough to kill a god,” Jason, Damian, Tim, and Cassandra did not miss the look Luthor gave Vivian when he mentioned god, “But it will be enough for Darkseid’s paradooms.”
Inside his lab, Luthor showed them the gallery of his inventions—weapons, his supercomputer, and so many more. It was odd to see Superman wearing the suit Luthor wore to fight the Man of Steel. Then there were his weapons which were made of Kryptonite—Damian had his eyes on the Kryptonite sword, ignoring Luthor’s suggestion of the gun, but Jason did opt for the guns. After equipping themselves with the weapons they need for Apokolips.
“We’re heading out now,” said Clark.
“The Boomtube’s not ready,” said Luthor.
“I’ll take us to Apokolips, if you use that you’ll alert Batman and give away your position here,” said Vivian. “Just do whatever it is you can to stop whatever control Darkseid has on this planet.”
“A little too late for that, he’s been harvesting the Earth’s core for the past two years now.”
“Just do what you can to stop this and destroy the Boomtube.”
“Whatever you say…”
Turning to their group of heroes, Vivian prepared the portal circle. “Ready?”
“Ready,” Superman said.
Using the sword of Destruction, Vivian slashed into air and a tear in their world appear, similar to how canvases would open when cut in the middle but at the other side it was the dark world of Apokolips.
“I have so many questions,” said Luthor as he and the others looked at the open canvas.
“A little imagination goes a long way, Luthor,” Vivian said as she passed through first. As their group—Superman, Raven, Etrigan, John, Damian, Tim, Jason, and Cassandra—went through, the portal closed like the cloth stitching itself together.
“Here we are,” John said.
“I’m surprised you stuck around, John,” Vivian commented.
“I don’t know why but… I want to see how this all ends.”
~ * ~
“There, it’s done,” Luthor pressed the last button and the Boomtube was destroyed. Not in a climactic way of an explosion, just a simple alteration in the code—Harley wasn’t impressed and expected a big show. “Even if it’s not a huge explosion, Batman will know and once he does, let’s say he’ll send reinforcements soon. That is if Professor Pryor gets to him first and wakes her husband from his servitude.”
Lois could only hope that was the case. The moment she saw Vivian, hope grew and she knew they would succeed. Vivian has always been their last resort when it comes to protecting their planet, and when Vivian died then there was a part of her that knew everything was lost. But she’s back and according to her old friend, without the limits of her mortal body. She is pure magic now and the only reason she still appears as Vivian is because of her consciousness that has fused with the Phoenix.
This will work.
They still have time.
“Luthor,” Batman’s voice echoed in the computer’s system. “What happened to the Boomtube?”
“Rebels have been tampering with our energy source, nothing I can’t fix,” Luthor lied. “I’m working on it. Hail Darkseid.”
Batman glared at him.
“Say, how’s the wife? Seen her lately?”
Lois wanted to kick him for asking that—he was going to blow the Strike Team’s mission!
But she saw the falter in Batman’s eyes, the sudden shift in his demeanor but it disappeared as soon as she blinked.
“You’ve just validated my suspicions, Luthor,” Batman said and ended the communication.
“Great, you just gave it away!” Boomerang exclaimed.
“No, he didn’t,” said Lois. “You wanted to see if there was still hope in this mission.”
“And there is. Batman lost the moment Vivian Pryor died in the hands of Darkseid but with her back… we’ll see just how strong Batman’s will is,” Luthor shrugged. “Let’s hope their marriage isn’t rocky at the end.”
~ * ~
They were met by the mind-controlled members of the League—Wonder Woman, Mera, Starfire, and Martian Manhunter—with their bodies mutilated in the previous war, Darkseid turned them to monstrous cyborgs which he can control. If Vivian wasn’t fast enough, the icicles that the mind-controlled Mera would have killed them, but Vivian’s flames protected their group and before they could engage in battle, with held them all with a single thought and released them from their binds.
But as it turns out, the horrors on Earth and seeing their friends turn to those mechanical monsters were nothing compared to the inhumane horror the Flash was put through these past two years. Placed on a treadmill which was bound to him through a claw attached to the back of his neck, the Flash has been powering Apokolips by running for all eternity. The sadist, Darkseid, thought it would be a perfect prison for the hero.
Clark ran to stop the turning wheels of the device and destroying it, freeing Barry from his prison.
“Barry, we thought you were dead,” said Clark as he held Barry in his arms.
“I was phased when the megabeam hit me, it reacted to the device and destroyed Apokolips’ source of power… Darkseid converted me as its replacement… make it stop. I can’t make it stop.”
“Let me,” John went to use a spell to put Barry to sleep. He gasped at the sudden touch.
“John?” Vivian reached for her friend and instantly she saw what John saw.
“He caused it,” said John.
“Caused what?” Clark asked.
“The Flashpoint,” said Vivian.
“If he doesn’t go back to save his Mum, Darkseid isn’t here,” John explained.
“So if Flash is the power generator, there’s no generator to blow up,” said Damian.
“We can’t stop Darkseid from coming back,” Raven concluded.
“We push through, we’re too far in to pull back now,” said John.
“What are you planning, Constantine?” Clark asked him.
“It’s magic, you wouldn’t understand.”
“I hate magic.”
Vivian raised a brow at him for that.
It’s no surprise they would face Darkseid’s army as they pushed through to the throne room but nothing they can’t stop.
“We’ve been expecting you,” said Darkseid; at his side was Batman.
“Bruce,” Vivian gasped at the sight of Batman sitting on a hovering throne and being controlled by the madman beside him.
“I knew Clark would come one day,” Batman began. “But I never thought all the rest of you would be part of it… especially you, Constantine.”
“I’m here to level the playing field, no running this time.”
Batman smirked. “Maybe Zatanna’s loss broke you — she didn’t die fast enough.”
It hurt but John kept his facade, “I’m not the only one back. I brought a little something to even out our odds,” John stepped aside to reveal Vivian.
“You’re alive,” Darkseid glared at her.
“Bruce,” Vivian took a step forward and for a moment she was sure she saw a flicker in Batman’s demeanor — a hint that he was still there, that there was a chance to get him back.
“Why are these still alive?” Darkseid sat on his throne as Batman got up from his own. “Correct this, Batman.”
“I’ll start with you,” Batman pointed at Vivian.
“As much as I’d want that,” Vivian had the sword of Destruction pointed at Darkseid. “He’s who I came here for.”
“Mobius Chair, attack protocol—”
The throne Batman sat on burst to flames and melted, the mind-controlled Dark Knight glared at Vivian who had her hand pointed at his weapon. “Like John said, I’m here to even out the odds.”
“I killed you before,” Darkseid got up from his throne. “I can do it again.”
The New God charged at Vivian and backhanded her, sending her through the wall. Damian and the others were about to go after her but John stopped them as Batman came charging at them with new weapons that were tasked to kill them.
“You three,” Batman glared at Jason, Tim, and Damian. “You have been nothing but a burden to me. I never should have taken any of you — only reason I did was because she wanted it.”
“If you think that’s gonna make me cry, old man? Well, I’m used to being the disappointment,” like those cowboys in old western films, Jason got his guns out in a flash and fired at Batman.
Batman had to dodge the fires, giving Tim and Damian a chance to attack.
In the darkness of space, Vivian flew in her pure magical form, surrounded by the magical-cosmic flames of the Phoenix, as Darkseid chased her, using his weapons to catch up to her. She was all power now but even when she had rested, she was still not par with Darkseid at all. This new god was all about military strength. He was faster than her, physically stronger. She would send powerful blasts of fire at Darkseid but the new god would dodge and then pursue his attack. In mid-flight, Darkseid grabbed her by her leg and threw Vivian back to the ground.
“What are you doing?! Unmake him!” John exclaimed.
“I can’t keep up with him,” Vivian groaned as she got up.
“YOU’RE A FUCKING ENDLESS, JUST REWRITE THE UNIVERSE OR SOMETHING! YOU’RE NOT HUMAN ANYMORE, VEE! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR THICK HEAD! YOU’RE ENDLESS, STOP THINKING HOW AND THINK ON JUST DOING”
That’s right. She’s not a witch anymore, she’s magic itself, she doesn’t need spells or the science of magic to do things, all she needs is to think on what. Just like her father, and just like what Destruction has been showing her while she recovered.
Our thoughts, our works, our laws are what keeps the balance of this world. It’s best to keep a level head, especially you, Destruction told her. We wouldn’t want the world crumbling down on us, aye? He laughed.
Vivian got up with the sword of Destruction. She stabbed the sword to the ground and everything shook. Apokolips shook. Everyone felt it, the battle between Batman and his sons ceased as they felt the cracks across Apokolips.
“What have you done?” Darkseid sneered at her.
“My fucking job,” Vivian raised her palm, facing the new god, and from her mortal form Vivian turned to light — a bright light. She was pure flames in the silhouette of a woman and from her outstretched hand, ashes began to appear. Ashes that came from Darkseid himself.
“What are you doing?!” Darkseid exclaimed.
“Unmaking you,” Vivian’s voice was laced with layers of others—similar to the echoes of the Big Bang. “You will not meet Death, you will not join your people in your afterlife. You will simply cease to exist.”
In a powerful cry, Darkseid fully turned to ash, leaving only Apokolips and the destruction he made as proof of his existence.
~ * ~
With Darkseid gone and Apokolips crumbling, the control on the others were gone. Batman blinked once, twice and was met by the sight of Jason’s gun right at his face. “Jason,” he began, but just as he was to ask what had happened, Jason punched him across the face.
“Oh, you’re back?” Jason said.
“Where’s your Mother?”
“Oh, so she’s my Ma now again and not a pain in your ass?” Jason glared at him.
“That wasn’t me,” Batman got back up. “That was Darkseid—”
“Bruce?” Tim approached him.
“Tim… Damian,” he held his sons by their shoulders, relieved to see them again. But… “Valerie?”
“She’s on Earth. Destruction and Dream are looking after her… they’re taking care of Dick,” Jason answered.
“How is she?”
“You can see for yourself later. Right now, we need to get out of here because this thing is going to explode,” said Tim.
“Where’s Vivian?”
Right on cue, Vivian came back with John and Raven at her side, the latter looking more healthy with the gem gone from her forehead. Trigon was no more, Vivian has sent that god away as well, giving Raven the peace she deserves. But there was something different from her, Vivian was literally glowing — her skin resembled the soft glow of the sun, and her hair were flames.
“Vivian?”
“Bruce,” Vivian approached him.
“You’re alive… I saw you die…”
“My mortal body is gone,” she admitted. “All I am now is my magic.”
Bruce took her hand hand placed it on his cheek. “You have always been magic.” Kissing her palm, Bruce brought her to an embrace and held his wife tight.
“Good to see you’re all caught up but we still need to get out of here. Vee, do the honors,” John said.
Before Apokolips could explode, Vivian opened a portal for them all and brought them home. To their relief, there were little casualties with every paradoom getting destroyed when Vivian unmade Darkseid but the effects of Darkseid’s machines.
“Even if the Planet Reapers were stopped, the damage was done,” Batman told a restored Superman — who was healed by Vivian by removing the Kryptonite — and Wonder Woman. “We lost 30% of Earth’s molten core. The planet’s rotation is compromised.”
“The smallest change would mean freezing or burning,” said Wonder Woman.
“My estimate is another billion deaths before we get everything in control. Provided we can.”
They turned to Vivian who stood quietly as she healed the others who were injured from the battle and their previous injuries.
“I know everyone’s been through hell but we can’t quit,” said Superman.
“Your optimism is appreciated but we all know there is nothing here now,” Destruction appeared just below the hill where the heroes gathered, with him was Dream, Death, and Dick, who had fully recovered, and then Valerie. “You know what you have to do, lass.”
“There is no future here anymore,” Constantine agreed. “I know it’s hard, Vee.”
“But it’s my duty,” Vivian smiled sadly.
“Dada!” Valerie got out of Dick’s hold and ran up the hill. Bruce met his daughter halfway and lifted her in his arms. “Dada, you’re back!”
“Valerie,” Bruce took off his cowl and looked at his daughter. His eyes watered at the realization as he memorized how she looked. “You’ve grown so big. How are you, my girl?”
“Happy now that you and Momma are back,” Valerie hugged her father again. “I missed you so much, Dada.”
The sound of her sobs had Bruce sit on the ground as he felt the sudden weakness of his knees—relieved to see his family again. Not just Valerie but everyone: Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian, Cassandra…
“I’m sorry I was gone for so long,” Batman whispered to her ear.
“I always knew you’d come back.”
Joining the reuniting father and daughter, Vivian knelt beside them and Batman welcomed her to the embrace.
“Bruce, there’s something I have to do,” Vivian whispered. “It’s the only way to save everyone.”
“I know,” Bruce murmured. He turned to the Endless, all seven of them now standing there waiting for Vivian. “Just a little more time, please.”
Dream nodded.
“What are you going to do, Momma?” Valerie asked.
Tears streaming down her face, Vivian attempted to smile but she ended up crying. So, Bruce had to explain to their daughter, “Your Mom has to do one last job.”
“She has to leave again? Don’t go, Momma!” Valerie grabbed Vivian’s scarf.
“I’m not leaving you, Val,” Vivian brushed her daughter’s hair back. “We’ll just… we’ll all just close our eyes and sleep, and when you wake up we’ll be together again.”
“We’re all going to sleep?” Valerie’s brows furrowed.
“That’s right, we’ll all just take a long, long nap and when you open your eyes you’ll see us again. All of us,” Vivian kissed Valerie’s forehead. “I love you so much, my Valerie.”
“I love you, Momma. I love you too, Dada.”
Bruce smiled and whispered it back to her.
Vivian called for her other children and had them close to them. She wanted them to be there with her in their final moments. “I love you. All of you,” Vivian told them.
“You know that we do too, Ma,” Jason smiled sadly.
“Close your eyes, Val,” said Bruce.
Once Valerie had her head resting on Bruce’s shoulder with her eyes closed, Bruce turned to Vivian and made a request, “Kiss me, Professor.”
Smiling sadly, Vivian said, “Okay, Batman.”
Leaning in, Vivian kissed Bruce one last time. At that moment, a bright light shone brightly across the universe, and then there was nothing. No stars, no planets, no pain, no sadness, nothing. Just the darkness. Just Night, Time, and Creation.
And from the nothingness of the cosmos, an explosion occurred and it echoed across the universe.
The Big Bang.
The universe has begun again.
~ New Earth ~
The gods cannot help themselves from meddling with human lives. Take it from the Trojan War. Though the law amongst the divine have secured humanity's safety from all of their petty and playful nature, there are still some who find ways to play amongst the mortals, and if not amongst them, then with mortals.
She stood out amongst the crowd because of her red hair cascading on her back. Maybe it was just the lighting but Bruce Wayne was sure her hair was glowing a mix of red and gold making an illusion of fire. Then there was the dress, black, bodyfitting, made with a material that glistened under the soft and orange light. She was still as the sculptures in the gallery, he doubted she was even breathing but when he approached and saw the brief glance she made his way, he knew she was alive.
“You've been staring at that for a while now,” Bruce began. “Do you like it?”
“The only reason why man stares at something for so long is because they find it beautiful,” She smiled teasingly. Her voice was alluring, like a siren singing in his ear. “And you, have you found something you fancy?”
“Not yet but does it matter? This is for charity after all.”
She took a breath. “A philanthropist.”
“One of my many occupations,” he smirked.
“And arrogance seems to be one of them too,” she finally moved from the still pose earlier and turned away from him. “And that painting is called the Wedding of Orpheus and Eurydice, a tragedy. Painted by Sebstian Russo.”
She walked away but the way she did Bruce felt like she was inviting him to follow. So he did. They stopped before another painting, this time it was the depiction of Aphrodite and Ares. Gore-covered Ares being bathed by red-haired Aphrodite in the pool. Both looking at each other with lust, the god's blood-soaked hands caressed the goddess’ bare hip, leaving a trail of mortal warriors’ essence on her skin but the goddess does not mind. She even welcomes it. War and love. Violence and sex.
It was a beautiful painting, probably the best of Russo's in the gallery but there was something about it that caught Bruce's attention. His gaze turned to the woman beside him and she was smiling, as if remembering a distant memory.
“Ares and Aphrodite,” she began. “Russo spent three months painting this. I had to leave my home and move to Florence so he may finish the piece.”
“I knew Aphrodite looked familiar. Friends with the artist?”
“Very much.”
“Then you must know many powerful people.”
She chuckled. “Art does hold power, which makes an artist more powerful than any… Artists are the most truthful people I know because while their lips are sealed by those who sit on thrones and wear crowns. Artists can speak their minds in their works and inspire revolution.”
“And what truth does this painting say?”
“That love and war are two sides of the same coin. In every event in history for the past hundreds of years, love and war are the only stories that are repeated over and over. Even in simple lives, mortals live by the will of love and war. Of violence and sex.”
“I don't believe that. Not all live for violence and lust.”
“I said sex, Mr. Wayne, and not lust. Sex, while intimate, has always been associated with ecstasy, passion, and power. That's why women are considered spoils of war. Trophies for warriors to claim for their own.”
“In ancient times,” Bruce told her.
“Is it? Though the world claims to have come to the modern age, there are still those who stick to the old ways.”
“I hope you don't speak from experience, Ms….”
“Vivian,” she extended her hand to him to shake. “No need for formalities, Mr. Wayne.”
“In that case, you can just call me Bruce.”
Main Story Master List • Elseworld Stories Master List • Main Story Season 3
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🪷Nina Mazursky in Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E #1 & 2🪷
Bonus because I thought it was funny:
Screaming from the rooftops that this guy is not actually Tim Drake.
Yes, he uses the name Tim Drake, but he isn’t. He’s Tim in name only (TINO). Tim [Redacted], as I call him.
You see, in the N52 continuity, this guy was just a New Yorker named Tim. He was your generic super genius and Olympic level athlete, typical for superhero books. One day, he decided to digitally steal $100 million dollars from the Penguin to get the attention of Batman, due to an obsession he had with the vigilante.
This backfired, leading his family to have to go into witness protection. He had his last name changed to Drake, moved in with Bruce, and later became Red Robin.
Long time Tim fans can see that literally none of this lines up with any incarnation of his character, being so shockingly different that most fans straight up ignore him. In fact, not even the personalities line up, as he went from a pretty smart dork to a genius and budding sociopath (he willingly blows up buildings full of people with little regret or second thoughts).
Great sign that people use his image and design, reference stuff that happened during this era, but didn’t read enough of it to realize that this just isn’t Tim Drake. Classic refusal to read the source material.
...you mean he can actually see out of that thing
where are the eye holes. where are the eye holes. where are t
N52: Apokolips War | Bruce Wayne/Batman x OC!Magician ft JLA Dark, JLA, Batfam [Part 1/2]
Synopsis: After the defeat of their attack at Apokalips, John Constantine and the others look for the only people who can turn the tide of their dystopian world. But there are a couple of problems: Batman is under Darkseid’s control and Vivian is believed to have died in the attack.
Actually, this is supposed to be the original ending of The Phoenix and follows Justice League Dark Apokalips War. I liked the tragedy of it, but I think it was too dark in my drafts, and I benched it.
Request by @diabolicallyprimevalvirtue: Hi, Can you write a scene about JL and bat family? For example, The first show up of the Justice League VS Darkseid . When I look at your account there are just a few scene with the league and the bat family.
Main Story Master List • Elseworld Stories Master List • N52: Apokolips War [Part 2]
Accept the things you cannot change, have the courage to change the things you can, and have the wisdom to know the difference…
~ * ~
For the first time, Bruce woke in the middle of the night not feeling Vivian beside him. Normally it’s the other way around with him always away on missions and patrol. It felt wrong not to feel her there — her warmth, her soft skin, the wisps of her hair, and how she would instantly hold his arm that would wrap around her and kiss his hand.
She wasn’t in the room. Putting on his discarded clothes on the ground, Bruce went to the first place he knew where she would be at this time. Valerie’s nursery.
And he was right. Vivian was in their four-year-old daughter’s nursery, cradling Valerie in her arms and humming a lullaby with little light of robins flying around them.
“I didn’t hear her this time,” Bruce said as he entered the room to join them in their daughter’s bed.
“She didn’t, I think I was the one who woke her,” Vivian brushed Valerie’s rosie cheek. The girl’s lips twitched to a smile at the feeling but continued to sleep. “She’s so beautiful.”
“She is,” Bruce offered his arms and Vivian gently placed Valerie for him to hold, but she didn’t leave their side. She stayed there and continued to hum the song. “Our little girl…if only you could stay like this forever.”
“If only,” Vivian kissed his shoulder and rested her head there. “I came here because I want to see her before we leave tomorrow.”
“I know,” Bruce frowned. “We won’t be here when she wakes… you can stay here with her.”
“I’m doing this for her too… I want to save her too. I’m just worried.”
“About what?”
“Do you trust this plan, Bruce?” Vivian brought his face to look at her. “Do you trust Clark’s plan? Don’t you think we’re going in half-cocked?”
“I trust Clark… but I’ve also made plans in case things don’t go as we hoped it would.”
Tears fell from her eyes and Bruce reached out to wipe them away. “Let’s stay here tonight. With Val.”
“Mumma? Dada?” Valerie opened her eyes, still sleepy, but she was a little surprised to find her parents there.
“Hello, Val,” Bruce chuckled. “Did we wake you?”
“No,” She sat up, rubbing her eyes and yawned. “School?”
“It’s still too early for school,” Vivian said. “And you don’t have school today, remember? You and Grandpa Alfred are going to stay at home while Momma and Dada go to work later.”
“How long?” Valerie asked.
Vivian sniffled but kept her smile. “We don’t know, lovie.”
“But you’re coming back, right?”
“We will,” Bruce kissed his daughter’s temple and lingered there for a moment. He didn’t want to lie to her but he couldn’t tell her the truth either. He didn’t know tears have fallen down his cheek until Vivian wiped them away. “Go back to sleep, my love.”
“Stay?” Val yawned.
“Okay,” Vivian whispered, not trusting herself not to burst out crying, “We’ll stay. Momma and Dada will stay with you tonight.”
“Good,” Valerie smiled and rest her head on her father’s chest and then falls asleep instantly. “Night, night.”
“Night, night, Val.”
“I love you.”
“We love you too.”
~ * ~
All Justice League members report to the hangar now.
Vivian was no Justice League member — not officially — but considering the fight they were going to face, she agreed to join in. Unlike other superheroes who had their suits and armour, she only wore her usual white shirt and dark trousers with the maroon coat lined with magical spells; and on her chest was the locket Jason gave her as a mother’s day present, which she had open so she could see the photo inside — the photo of their family and a petal from Helena’s garden.
“Are you ready?” Batman approached her.
“I am,” Vivian hid the locket under her shirt once again then joined her husband to face the gathering heroes. Amongst the crowd of heroes were a couple she never thought she’d ever see in the Watchtower — Lex Luthor, who she still does not trust, and then John Constantine. It was still a surprise to her to see John agreeing to join the League when he himself said it wasn’t his style, but since he and Zatanna started over again he changed his mind.
And because the House of Mystery kicked him out too and he needed a place to stay… there’s that.
“Thank you all for responding,” Superman addressed the heroes. “I know you all know what this is about. But it’s time we get the new members up to speed… this is Apokalips.” A hologram of the planet appeared after he pushed a button on the panel. “Homeworld of Darkseid, a power-hungry despot who orchestrated two attempted invitations on Earth. The first one being the reason for the formation of the Justice League.”
The hologram zoomed out, showing the location of Apokalips. “This image was taken a few hours ago at the edge of our solar system. Apokalips phased into our dimension and used stealth drones then phased out again,” said Batman.
“This can only be looked at as a prelude to war. Darkseid plans to conquer Earth and crush it under his heel.”
“Look, I know the guy’s a genocidal maniac but are we sure that’s his immediate plans or something he’s going to plan in a thousand years?” Flash asked.
He has a point, and it was the same one that Vivian said when Bruce told her about Clark’s suspicions. It was a long debate between the two of them too when they discussed the possibilities of Darkseid’s attacks, both showing the pros and cons of going on the offensive and defensive. But on both matters, both situations have one common factor: Darkseid is too powerful for them to take on.
“These are images of planets that Darkseid conquered, our intel shows that he’s already sent his elite guard and his furies to act as an occupying force and to thwart any resistance,” Superman explained.
The image had Vivian hold onto her husband’s hand, something she doesn’t normally do when they are in the Watchtower. When she realized she was about to let go but Batman held her there and squeezed it tight.
“I want to make this clear, we are facing an existential threat on our planet and we cannot wait for Darkseid to make the first move. That could mean the end of us. We have to attack. With our combined forces, we have to do what needs to be done… then I’ll do what’s necessary.”
“Then Earth will be ground zero in world war. Look, I know some of you don’t believe me about the visions I have about the Flashpoint. But a global war means death and destruction on a scale you cannot imagine. Everyone on the planet is at risk. Everyone we care about.”
“The Flash is right,” John spoke up. “Sure this guy needs kicking, but we can’t kick the hornet’s nest like everyone on Earth is like you.”
“I won’t ask you to give anything more than I do. But this isn’t up for discussion. We’re going to stop Darkseid once and for all.”
John turned to Vivian. “You can’t seriously think this is a sound plan, Vee. What’d your father say about this? Destiny?”
Every hero turned to her waiting for some sort of answer. An explanation that this would turn out fine.
“They have nothing to say,” Vivian answered.
Her words did not bring reassurance.
~ * ~
“Did I make things worse?” Vivian asked Bruce as they boarded the ship.
“It’s better than giving them false prophecies,” Batman answered as he prepared for their ship’s departure. His eyes fixed on the panel and on the holographic graphs that appeared for each button he pushed. “Viv.”
“Yes?”
“I want you to go home. Be with Val. Help the Titans, the Young Justice, and the Outlaws in keeping Earth safe,” Bruce told her.
Vivian's brows furrowed, “What about the plan? Superman already gave the plan, I can’t just bail. Bruce, what’s wrong? Why are you…”
“I just think it’s best if you’re there with them. Protecting them.”
Batman froze at the sudden grab of his face and from the panel he was now looking at his wife who was glaring at him. But through that glare, he could also see the fear and the sadness and the love. Always love.
“I am not leaving you, Bruce. Not ever.”
“Our family needs you—”
“They need us. Not just me. The both of us… and I need you.”
“And I need to know you’re safe.”
“Val is safe. She has her brothers and sisters, and her grandfathers and her aunt and uncle. But you need me here. It's us till the end, right?”
Batman took her hand and kissed her finger where her engagement ring should be but for now it was just her wedding ring. Before they left, Vivian gave her engagement ring to Valerie and attached it to the sun necklace they gave her.
“What did your sister say about Earth’s forces?”
“Well, she’s SAS so expect they’re at the front of all. They’ll be the first to know what happens to us,” Vivian tried to smile but failed. To think her little sister, Olivia, is in the front lines too and will fight alongside the Titans and the others if there’s an attack. Then there’s Oliver who was staying at the Manor with his family and Val and Alfred. Jason and the Outlaws are there in Gotham too to protect the city alongside the Birds of Prey.
“Things will go as planned,” Vivian whispered as she pressed her forehead against Bruce’s.
God, he hoped it did.
They flew to Apokalips in hopes of a smooth — and not smooth, then a manageable battle — but as they came to the planet, they were met by a force that was far more powerful and numbered than the one they planned for.
~ Two Years Later ~
There's always been one room which Valerie is not allowed to go to — Damian has told her time and time again not to go there, so does Jason… Well, Jason lets her but only when she's accompanied by an adult, aka him. But this time, Jason isn't around to go with her and it's already past lunch time so she better go to that room before Damian looks for her for her lessons.
With pockets full of bread and crackers, Valerie Pryor-Wayne went to the room Damian kept locked at all times and opened it with a simple spell. Usually Jason opens it with a key but with him still gone on his mission, she has to resort to other ways to open the door.
“I'm sorry I'm late,” Valerie whispered as she entered the room. “Damian didn't let me leave the table until I finished all of my veggies… but I got you these,” Valerie took out the bundle from her pocket and revealed the bread and biscuits and cheese.
There was a low snarl from the shadows, before those noises frightened her because they were monsters in her closet but she knew this was no monster.
“It's not grilled cheese like the ones we have back home, but I think I can make cheese on toast?” Valerie built the layers over the bread, placing slices of cheese and adding some crushed crackers to add some texture too. Then from her palms, fire appeared, just a small one to toast the bread and not burn it to a crisp. The sight of the fire startled the creature in the shadows.
“It's okay, it's just to make toast!” Valerie tried to calm them down. “See! No more, fire.”
The fire disappeared, the toast was just in the right hue of golden brown. She reached for the discarded tray on the floor, where they usually put the food, she placed the toast there then pushed the tray towards the shadow.
“See? It's cheese on toast,” Valerie smiled. “Just like what we always make for midnight snacks.”
There was no reply but she could hear the low growl from the corner.
Reaching inside her little bag, Valerie pulled out a little album that had many pictures of their family. It was one of the only things they managed to save from the house — Grandpa Alfred made sure she had that before they all got separated with him staying in the manor with Granda Adam while she left with Damian and Jason.
She flipped through the pages, passing a couple that was of her mother and father, then when she was a baby until she came to the photos that had her brothers and sisters.
“Look Dick, it’s us! Jay said I was really, really young then and you would always teach me how to do those crazy flips and let me climb the walls. See?” Valerie showed the photo. She turned the page. “And this one is when we went on the family day at school — we won every game that time and it was so fun!”
“Jay…”
Valerie turned to the shadows with a hopeful smile. “That’s right – Jay! Jason! Remember him now, Dick?”
“Di… ck?”
“Yes, you’re Dick,” Valerie pointed to the photo of the man holding her while he had a charming smile. “And that’s Jay, then Tim, and Damian, and me — Valerie.”
“V-v–v al…erieee…”
“That’s right! It’s me, Valerie! Remember now, Dick?”
There was silence. And it was an unsettling one.
“Dick?”
The creature pounced from the shadows and bolted towards her. Valerie let out a high pitch scream as she backed up against the wall and hid under her arms. Dick snarled and tried to get to her like an animal about to eat their prey but the leash attached to the jacket kept him from getting to her.
“Dick, please! Stop it! Stop! DAMIAN! DAMIAN!”
The burst open with a kick, Damian came flanked with assassins of the League. His gaze immediately came to the direction of the screaming girl, and with one signal, he had the assassins sedate Dick while he went to pick up Valerie and her things.
“Damian,” Valerie whimpered.
Damian only looked at her then at his brother who was forever changed after the attack two years ago, then left the room.
“Change the locks on that door,” Damian ordered his men. “Bolt it if you have to. Just make sure no one without a key and not even with magic can open it.”
Valerie flinched when he mentioned magic and hid her face on his shoulder, too afraid to face him after breaking the rules.
Everything’s different now since they had to leave home. She remembers everything so vividly from the moment her grandfathers took her to a door in the clock and then they were hiding there for a long time until Damian and Jason came. She kept asking them where Momma and Dada were but neither would answer.
Their new home, as Damian said, was the League of Assassin's headquarters. It was where he was born and raised before he went to Wayne Manor, and became part of their family. It's very different from their home. Then there was Damian too, since coming there, Damian stopped wearing his Robin uniform or his usual hoodies at home, he only wore armour at all times. It made him look like a powerful leader but it doesn't show the heart he always had.
The kind and loving brother of hers that had a big heart for all life.
He brought her back to her room. Valerie never liked her room there in the League, it wasn't as homey like the one at home — at Wayne Manor —- even when Damian did his best to make it look like it by getting her toys and books, a more comfortable bed, and a couple of photos he managed to save from the destroyed place. Still this was better than being at those meeting rooms Damian always goes to or at the training grounds.
The moment Damian placed her on the bed, Valerie immediately hid under the covers while clutching her old toy. Batplush.
“Valerie, get out of there, we need to talk,” Damian said.
“I'm sorry,” Valerie croaked. “I just… I just wanted to see him and it's lunch time and he hasn't eaten. I just miss him, Damian. I miss everybody.”
Damian frowned. “I know but we still need to talk about what you did.”
Valerie sat up to face him, tears falling down her eyes as she hugged Batplush and a photoframe that had their entire family. A family that has most of its members dead by now.
“Val,” Damian had her look at him. “There's a reason why you can't go in there.”
“But he's Dick — our big brother!”
“He was… but that's not Dick anymore. It's too dangerous for you to go there.”
“Why is he like that Damian?” Valerie whimpered. “Is Dick sick? If he is, we should look for medicine! Maybe we can look for a doctor!”
“Val, we can't fix him!” Damian snapped but quickly regretted it as Valerie flinched and hugged her worn out Batplush. He sighed and brought his sister to sit on his lap and cradle her in his arms. “I'm sorry… the reason why Dick is like that is because of me… I tried to save him but… and the reason why you can't go to that room is so you don't… so I don't have to do the same with you.”
Valerie was confused with what her brother said but kept silent. She let him brush her hair while she cried in Batplush's oversized head.
“I miss Momma,” Valerie hiccuped. “I miss Dada.”
“I know… I miss them too, so much.”
“When will they ever come back?”
At that Damian held his sister tight in the embrace. He never answered that question. He couldn't. He can't tell her the truth.
~ * ~
It’s become a habit for him to come to Valerie’s room after his missions, and sit beside her while she sleeps — in fact, because he’s frequently sleeping in her room, Valerie made him a designated spot on the floor with a futon, pillows and a blanket which she asked helped from one of the servants. Since that day, since they failed to save the world, Jason had nothing to live for but for Valerie. Everything he does now was for her and no one else.
“Jay?” Val stirred in her sleep as she felt the dip on the bed. Her eyes still sleepy.
Jason removed his mask and smiled down at her. “Hey, baby bird.”
“When did you come back?” She got up but Jason had her lay back down and tucked her in again.
“Just now. I wanted to see how you are,” Jason said.
“Is Tim back too?”
“He is.”
“Good… Jay.”
“Yeah?”
“I got in trouble,” Val pouted.
“What’d you do, use the zapping ring I gave you on those ninjas?” he snorted.
“I visited Dick.”
Oh. He froze at the mention of their brother and for a moment he felt a lump in his throat.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” He told her.
“We always visit him.”
“But not without me. Not when you’re alone. Did he attack you?”
Even in the dark, Jason could see the tears in her eyes and fall down her cheek. She nodded. “He doesn’t remember us. Why doesn’t he remember us?”
“It’s complicated, Val. Did Damian get you?”
Another nod.
I bet he even gave you an earful for it too, he thought and that’s why he decided not to chastise her for it. Val’s had enough for the day.
“Why can’t Dick remember us?” Val asked. “Damian won’t tell me…”
Memories of that day flooded his mind. He wasn’t at San Francisco, where the Titans were stationed, when the parademons came and Darkseid’s invasion of Earth took place. But he heard on their radio how it happened—the sound of Dick’s scream of pain while roaring to continue fighting until silence. He heard the flesh being torn, a weapon piercing his brother’s body. Jason wasn’t there but hearing it felt like he was.
As much as he would have wanted to fight beside Nightwing, just as they did before when he was Robin, Jason had responsibilities in Gotham. Gotham was his responsibility, and so was Val. When he heard of Nightwing’s death, Jason knew it was over. With Bizzaro and Artemis’ help, he got to the Manor to get to Valerie. The manor was already broken in by Parademons, the first family he saw on the ground was Stephanie and Kate, then there was Oliver by the clock, then down the stairs of the Cave he saw Adam and Alfred fighting them off while Valerie hid in the Batmobile.
He should have forced them to the Batmobile, even if it meant dragging their asses there. He should have told Bizzaro to grab Alfred and Adam but instead, he fulfilled their dying wish of saving Valerie and taking her to a safe place. And that safe place happens to be with Damian.
“Jay, are you okay?” Valerie asked, pulling him from his reverie.
“I am. Go back to sleep. I’ll just get something to eat then I’ll come back here.”
“Okay… night, night, Jay.”
“Night, night, Val,” he kissed her forehead before leaving the room.
As she returned to sleep, Valerie experienced something no one in these plains have for a long time. She dreamed. She is the only one who dreams now. Like many nights before the catastrophe that happened to their world, Valerie would dream standing before a large palace—rundown, abandoned—and a world that has long been deserted by its people but for the guardians that stood at the gates: the wyvern, the gryffin, and the pegasus.
The wyvern would recognize her blood and the scent of the Endless, specifically of her grandfather.
“Lady Valerie,” the wyvern would bow his head in greeting and so she could get on his back so they may take to the skies.
Every flight, the wyvern would take her to a place—a temple on a mountain where a beautiful voice would sing songs. She would always venture around the temple looking for the singer, who happens to be a head on a pedestal, then she would find a sword hung on the wall.
And through the extension of the temple where a comfortable, woven couch was, she would see a man with a puffy beard, wearing clothes she remembers lumberjacks would wear, and was holding a plate of food. But he wasn’t eating—he never does. The man was feeding the unmoving woman with red hair who sat there.
“Come on now, lass. We need to get your strength back,” said the man. He tried feeding her food again, it was soup this time, and when he smiled Valerie knew the woman took her full. “Alright, I think you’re full now. Got through half the bowl today. I’ll have Barnabas have the rest…”
No response.
The man smiled sadly.
“We gotta get you back on your feet, lass… the little one’s waitin’ for you.”
It was then Valerie saw the man’s eyes turn to her and he winked.
He could see her! All this time can he see her?
“You’ll see your Mummy soon, love. Just hold on tight, alright?”
Is that her Mom?
Valerie ran towards the couch to see her mother! Her mother! She misses her so much—all she wants is to hug her mother again and hold her tight. But before she could see her mother’s face, she was pulled out of her dream—like a vacuum sucking her through its tubes—and was back in her bed. And from the tower she could hear a commotion coming from the courtyard, or the training grounds as Cass calls them. Getting out of bed, Valerie ran to her window to see.
She gasped as she saw three people she never thought of seeing ever again. Not after she and her siblings moved to the League of Assassin’s headquarters.
~ * ~
They came to him right as he was finishing all of the shelves in the pub. John Constantine—with the help of Etrigan—has done nothing but drink, sleep, eat, and drink from one pub to the other for the past two years. Trying to drink their sorrows away. Better yet, drink until they’re so drunk that they won’t feel the apocalypse.
Though he was drunk, the moment the big blue boy scout made himself known, John wasted no time in punching him in the face. To his surprise, Superman fell back. Something was off with him—with Clark Kent—his eyes were green and black, and his veins looked unhealthily dark. Poison? But what can poison the Man of Steel?
But Clark Kent wasn’t alone, he was accompanied by a person John never thought of seeing in Superman’s company. Raven, or Rachel Roth, doesn’t exactly share the same aesthetics as Metropolis’ golden boy.
After running from the parademons that came to attack them in the bar, John took them and Etrigan to his little hideaway. Inside the Big Ben.
“Darkseid knew every part of our plan,” Superman began. “Those things that attacked us were half-parademon, half-doomsday. Barry and Hal fought hard but were taken down. The rest of us didn’t last much longer. Shazam was wounded but Cyborg helped him escape. Darkseid didn’t kill everyone, some he had plans for — he brainwashed Batman because he knew he could be an asset to his regime, the others he turned to his own warriors which he controls, and me… he carved liquid Kryptonite into my body so I may never be a threat to him.”
“A few days later, Darkseid sent those Paradooms to earth, we didn’t have a chance,” Raven explained.
“And what about Vee?” John asked, he couldn’t help his voice cracking at the mention of her. The very thought of Vivian and Zatanna would have him drinking to the last drop of his bottle. “She was supposed to save us all. She was the last line of defence before they came to Earth.”
“Professor Pryor…” Raven trailed off.
“Vivian didn’t stand a chance,” Superman continued. “She fought Darkseid but he was ready for her. He knew her weakness and threw everything at her until she burned up.”
“What do you mean burned up?” John asked.
“She overused her magic… the last thing I saw was her body turn to fire, then a bright light, and then nothing… it’s like she disintegrated. Bruce saw everything… I think that’s what broke him—it’s how Darkseid got to him too.”
“Disintegrated?” John sighed. “Does it hurt?” He nodded at the wound on Clark’s chest where the tattooed Superman symbol was made with liquid Kryptonite. When Superman nodded stiffly, he responded, “Good.”
“Even without powers, Clark is still fighting,” Raven told him. The teenager looked down at him. “You couldn’t be bothered to do it once. You ran away.”
He did. And he still doesn’t know why he did it. What thought came to his mind to abandon Zatanna when she cried for help, when those Paradooms attacked her and ripped her to pieces. He just ran. Like a coward.
“I don’t know why I ran,” John said. “I stood up against all kinds of bastards and I stood tall. But this time I just ran. Why did I do that? Why?” His question was mostly to himself. That’s been the same thing that’s been going on in his head since it happened.
Getting up, John wanted to leave but…
“What do you need me for, anyway? The magic you have left works just as good as mine.”
“We just need a locator spell,” said Clark.
“A locator spell?” John scoffed. “Then you’ll toddle off will you? Fine. I’ll just need to get something. Etrigan, continue wallowing.”
“Done.”
Returning from a nearby shop that sold trinkets, John showed them a globe—without the stand—and a pin.
“Alright, let’s get you on your way then… who am I finding?” John asked them.
“Damian Wayne,” Clark answered.
“Are you bloody daft, mate? He’ll kill you, you know?”
The mention of the Waynes reminded John of the youngest one of the family—Valerie Pryor-Wayne. The only child of Bruce and Vivian. She was only four years old when the attack happened, a kid who had no idea what was happening. He doubts she knows that Mummy and Daddy are gone forever.
“I’ll take my chances,” said Superman.
“And how does the Baby Bat help?”
“Why do you care?”
“Cheers.”
He cast the spell, whispering the incantation to the pin. The pin flew around the floating globe like a compass looking for north, it circled the globe until it stopped just at the location in mainland Asia.
“Okay, since I don’t have a stocked magical pantry anymore, I need to conjure up a portal of all of us… ten hours give or take,” John shrugged.
“Oh for fuck’s sake—Azarath Metriom Sinthos!” Raven conjured the portal herself.
Wrong move, John thought after seeing the girl’s state. She’s weakened since he last saw her, and all because of her father’s continuous nagging in her head.
They appeared in the courtyard of a palace. At the training ground, John concluded as he saw the weapons at the side and then there were the towers that were armed with weapons too. This was a fortress.
“Raven, you shouldn’t have done that,” Superman held the girl who had fallen on the ground.
“Intruders have breached our sanctuary!” A woman called out. From the roofs, ninjas dropped down and surrounded them, and leading them all was a woman in read and holding a sword, at her side was a girl wearing a mask over her face. Lady Shiva and Cassandra—Orphan. “Attack!”
John used his magic to blast away every assassin that came at their way. “Are you happy now?” He told Etrigan. “Assassins!”
“Fine,” Etrigan muttered and got up to lazily fight them off.
But the assassins were not the real threat. It was Cassandra Cain. The young and former Batgirl and member of the Batfamily, went straight at them, her eyes locked on Superman as rage came through her. She attacked Clark, reading his every move, punching and kicking him, not giving him a chance to get up nor speak. She wanted him to feel what she felt. She wanted him to suffer just as she had for these past two years—
“Enough!”
She froze just as she was to cut Superman’s neck.
From the doors of the palace, John, Raven, and Clark froze at the sight of the now matured Damian Wayne, but it wasn’t the young man’s growth spur that surprised them but what he was wearing. It was the Demon’s armor. Ras al’Ghul’s armour.
He is now the head of the League of Assassins.
He is now the Demon Head.
Damian’s eyes came to Clark and everything turned red. All he could see were the dead bodies of his friends and family… and the sight of Valerie crying.
“You,” he took out his sword.
“Damian, wait!” Raven tried to stop him.
“DAMIAN, NO!” Another one came from the palace, this time it was a little girl wearing pajamas, her black hair bouncing as she ran, and her eyes that were brown glowed gold as she held out her hand which cast a spell that stopped Damian’s sword from striking Clark. “It’s Uncle Clark!” Valerie ran down the steps.
“VALERIE, GET BACK INSIDE!” Damian ordered.
“Valerie?” Clark said and he couldn’t find it in him to look at the child. The girl looked so much like Vivian but with Bruce’s dark hair and a few of his facial traits. She is the best of both her parents.
“Damian, please!” Valerie held her brother’s cape.
“Val!” Jason came out with Tim, and scooped the girl from the ground. “You shouldn’t have left your room.”
“But I heard Uncle John and Uncle Clark,” Val told them.
“More reason why you shouldn’t have come out,” Jason said, glaring at Superman. “Let’s go.”
“No! They might know where Momma is!”
“You never told her?” Raven said to Damian in a whisper.
Damian couldn’t lie to her, nor can he hide anything from her. On his face alone, Raven could see the guilt he carried.
“That’s messed up, even for you, kid,” John told him.
“Jason, take Valerie inside. And you,” he turned to Clark. “I want you gone.”
“Damian, please, let us explain—” Raven collapsed in sheer exhaustion, luckily Damian was quick to catch her.
“What’s wrong with her?” Damian asked them.
“We wouldn’t be here unless it’s completely necessary,” Clark told him. Not exactly an answer to his question but Damian took it and carried Raven in his arms to bring her inside.
“I’ll let you live. For now.”
~ * ~
The room they were given was one of the quarters for the assassins in the palace. There were multiple beds inside, giving them a chance to rest. After Damian set Raven down, he left the room to retrieve something to help ease the pain she was feeling. Or at least he thought he knew what to do to help her.
Superman was busy trying to get his watch to work and contact Lois, while Etrigan was… the demon was still drunk, depressed, and asleep.
There was silence in the room but for the sound of Raven’s whimpers in her sleep. Then the door opened revealing Damian.
“Is there a way to cure her?” Damian asked.
“We get Trigon out, yeah, she’ll recover,” said John.
“But then he’ll destroy the world.”
“Where’s little Vee?” John asked, his voice solemn. “She’s grown.”
“She has.”
“She looks like her Mum. Sounds like her too… even her magic feels like her. Has she shown–”
“Do not even think about bringing my little sister into this fight, Constantine,” Damian sneered. “She’s a child.”
“So was Vee when she fought her first demon.”
“She’s all I have left! And I will not risk her life for a lost cause.”
John couldn’t argue with that. Maybe it was the sound of their argument that woke Raven, as the girl—still weak—got up from the bed looking shaken.
“Did you get any rest?” Damian asked her.
“Yeah.”
“Then come with me. You too Kent, I want you to see what this war has cost my family.”
Offering his hand to her, Raven took it and followed Damian out of the room, John and the others right at their tail. Unknownst to them, a shadow followed their every step.
~ * ~
“I feared your plan would fail from the very beginning, an army without killers is not an army at all. Even Mom shared my thoughts,” Damian glanced at Clark with a glare at the mention of his adopted mother—Vivian. It was clear, the boy will never forgive Clark for the death of Vivian Pryor and the other members of the family. Especially for leaving Valerie orphaned. “She and father argued and debated about your plan for days, spending sleepless nights just to understand how it could possibly be sound… but Batman believed in you.”
They were nearing a sealed door in an isolated hall, there have been many twists and turns that Raven and Clark found themselves lost if it not for Damian taking the lead of this walk.
“But that faith cost me my Father, my Mother, my siblings, and my teammates. I will never forgive that.”
“Then why didn’t you speak up?” Raven asked him.
“Nightwing convinced me not to speak out my thoughts. There’s always risks in war, he said." They stopped before the steel door. The door, they noticed, had crayon drawings of a family made by a child. Instantly the two thought of Valerie.
Damian opened the peephole of the door, inside, in the darkness, they saw Nightwing—Dick Grayson—snarling like an animal inside.
Raven gasped at the sight of their former leader. “You used the Lazarus Pit, you said you wouldn’t!”
“Never play with the dead, didn’t yer Mum tell you that?” John said in a solemn voice. Even he didn’t have the heart to make a joke about this. He knew how much Vivian loved Dick Grayson. He would remember the times she had the boy under her wing, how she doted on him, how she saw him as her own son. Seeing how the family she loved so much and protected turn to this was heartbreaking.
Seeing Valerie was heartbreaking enough.
“He was my brother… I had to take a chance. It just didn’t work.”
“We can’t let what happened to Dick and everyone else be in vain,” Clark finally spoke up. “Help us fix things.”
“How? You’re powerless now.”
“We need you to get through to Batman. You need to break through Darkseid’s programming.”
“You overestimate my influence over my father.”
“Batman cares about you. Even awful parents care about their kids. I should know.”
“I was there when Bruce learned about Dick’s death…” Clark began. “It affected him, it almost got through.”
“He overcame my mother’s brainwashing once,” he meant Talia. “If anyone could withstand Darkseid’s programming, it’d be Father… but even if we do get Batman again, it still leaves us with one problem.”
“Probably the only one there is,” John agreed. “Vivian’s dead. The Phoenix isn’t reborn, to be honest, I expected the girl to have it,” he meant Valerie, “But we don’t have the power to take out Darkseid.”
“What makes you think even if Valerie has the Phoenix, I or any one of us would let her face Darkseid?” Damian glared at John.
“Damian,” Raven tried to reason.
“Don’t you understand? She is all we have left. She is the only reason we have left after Dick… Alfred, Adam, Oliver… after Mom and Father… I swore to them that I would protect her and I will.”
“But you never told her the truth. You never told Val that Mummy and Daddy are gone, that you’re never going home,” John said. “D’you think this is what Vee meant about protecting her? Lying to her, giving her false hope?”
“You never told her, why?” Raven asked him.
“I couldn’t. I want to save her from this heartache.”
“But Damian, you’re giving her false hope that she’ll see her parents again. Don’t you think she deserves to know?”
“To know what?” He snapped. “That our parents are dead? That my Mom—her Mom—died because of magic? That our Father is now under Darkseid’s hold? That Dick is… that Dick is like that because I tried to play god and bring him back to life with the Pit? No… she doesn’t… she doesn’t need to have that heartache. Let me carry this burden for us both just keep Valerie… I just want to see her smile one more time.”
“Momma gone?” Valerie’s voice had everyone turning sharply to where it came from but the hall was empty. Until the shadows moved. From the pillar's shadow, the darkness seeped away like ink in water as a child appeared before them. Her gold eyes glowed like a twinkling star, and her tears looked like ichor as they fell down her cheeks.
“Valerie,” Clark began.
Valerie shook her head. “Momma’s not gone!”
“Val,” Damian tried to explain.
“She’s not! I saw Momma!”
“You must have been dreaming, love,” John told her.
She was but—
“No, I know what I saw! In my dream, the dragon would take me to a place and there’s this man who is taking care of her. Momma’s just sick! The man said so!”
“Valerie, enough,” Damian went to her and was about to lift her from the ground, but the girl ran away from him and went to Constantine. She clung to the man’s coat and said, “Momma’s there. I know it! See!”
From under her shirt, Valerie showed them a sapphire engagement ring that hung around a silver chain and was worn as a necklace by the child. “Momma said as long as her ring is hot she’s still here! Momma’s ring never turned cold, it’s always been hot! So she’s still alive! Momma’s still here and so is Dada! We just—we just need to help Momma get better and we can go home and we can get Dada and the others!
“Here, use it! Use it to find Momma! She said you can do that, Uncle John. Please find my Mommy, please!” Valerie took off the necklace and handed the ring to John.
It is warm. No, not warm. It felt hot in his palm.
“Valerie, enough,” Damian forcefully picked up the girl from the ground and had her in a tight hold to stop her from trying to get out. “I said, enough.”
“You lied, Damian,” Valerie cried. “You said Dick was just sick. He was hurt and he need to get better… and Grandda and Grandpa are still at home. You lie!”
“I’m sorry, Valerie,” Damian said, his voice cracking.
“Val, your brother was just trying to protect you,” Clark tried to reason with her. “Val, I know it’s hard but… your mom might be gone but your dad can still be saved.”
Valerie shook her head as if it would stop them from telling her her mother was dead.
“Val, come ‘ere, love,” John went to take Valerie from Damian. At first the young man didn’t let him but Valerie willingly went to John’s arms. “Do you know what this is?”
“Momma’s ring. She said Dada gave it to her when he asked her to marry him,” Valerie answered. “She loves that ring so much.”
“What is it, Constantine?” Damian asked.
“I’ve seen something similar before… The King of Dreams has a similar one but a ruby necklace. It holds his power. Well, part of his power and memories.”
“You’re saying, Vivian placed her magic in there?” Clark asked him.
“Could be… only one way to find out,” John placed necklace back on Valerie. “Listen, love, I need you to wish very hard while holding this ring, alright?”
“What wish?”
“Anything.”
Valerie turned to the door of Dick’s isolation room.
“Just not that,” John told her. “Rule number one with magic: Never play god and never play with death.”
Valerie held the sapphire tight in her tiny hands and had it close to her heart, then made a silent wish: I want to go to Momma.
There was nothing. Nothing happened, until…
“Was that door always there?” Clark pointed ahead of them.
There shouldn’t be one, Damian thought because this hall only had this isolation room. Only one for Dick. But there was a new door, one that was far different from the ones in the palace. This was styled to look like—
“Mom and Father’s bedroom door,” Damian approached the familiar door. It even has the same color, the knob, the design, the dents and cracks. Looking at it, he expects to see their parents inside, still in bed cuddling in each other's arms while reading a book.
“Damian,” Valerie got out of John’s arms and went to her brother. “That’s Momma and Dada’s door.”
“It is,” Damian knelt before his sister and wiped her tears. “How long have this been warm?”
“Since Momma gave it to me. Should I have told you? I’m sorry.”
Damian smiled sadly and wiped his sister’s tears then kissed her forehead. “It’s okay. We didn’t know… are you sure this is where Mom is?”
Valerie shrugged. “Whenever I want to see Momma, she’s always in her and Dada’s room. Do we knock?”
Damian smiled. “Sure and as loud as you can.”
Before Valerie could do so, John stopped them and went to hold the knob. “Just to be safe. We never know, it might be a door to hell. Hold her still, kid.”
Damian hid Valerie behind him and waited for Constantine to open the door.
It wasn’t Hell. It was a clearing atop a mountain with a temple right by the edge. And it was peaceful despite the red skies above.
“That’s where Momma is!” Valerie gasped. “That’s where the dragon would take me to see her! Come on Damian!” She pulled her brother’s hand and had them running through the door, ignoring John’s calls.
As they passed through, the door—they realized—was actually the mouth of a tree. And inside, as they looked through, they could see the dark hall which they came from.
There was singing from the temple, made by a lone singer, but the song stopped abruptly as the singer suddenly chuckled and spoke to someone inside. As they came to the temple, Valerie removed her shoes and asked Damian to do the same, then stepped on the white marble to go inside. John step in anyway without taking his shoes but as soon as he did a sword appeared, pressing against his neck.
“Private property, you’re trespassing’,” a deep and gruff voice said. And that voice came from the tall and hulking man with a beard, wearing a flannel, denim trousers, boots, and holding the sword.
“Easy, mate. We’re looking for someone. We’re just followin’ the kid, there,” John pointed at Valerie who Damian had hidden behind him. But Damian was more relaxed than any of them were.
“It’s you!” Valerie gasped at the sight of the man.
The man instantly dropped his sword and smiled at the sight of the girl. “Lassie, you’ve finally come!” He stabbed his sword to the ground and opened his arms to the girl. Valerie instantly ran into his arms and hugged him. “You’ve grown taller, love. Look at that, you’re bigger than Barnabas now!” The man’s gaze then went to Damian and his smile turned to a sad one, he got up from the ground with Valerie in his arms. “Damian, you’re a man now.”
“You know this man?” Raven asked him.
“We do… he’s family,” Damian answered. “This is Mom’s uncle. Destruction of the Endless.”
“I’m not the only family here,” Destruction pulled his sword from the ground and went inside the temple. “No need to remove your shoes. Come on, lovie, time to meet some people.”
As Destruction took Valerie inside, Superman, Raven, and John couldn’t help but gawk at the sight of the man—of the Endless.
“The Endless, I thought they were gone,” John said.
“Most have a left their realms since the attack,” Destruction explained. “Nothing left to serve. They said they won’t watch humanity die like that.”
“So they just turned their backs on them?” Clark asked, his voice raising in anger.
“We were ordered not to intervene,” Destruction turned to him as they stopped before a pedestal where a man’s head was placed, and that head was alive. “So we didn’t. But like me, my siblings cannot watch this end. Others still do their responsibilities, like Death and Destiny… but others, others have retreated to wherever they go.”
“And you’re here? Is this a summer home?”
“Not exactly,” the head spoke.
“Val, this is your Uncle Orpheus,” Destruction showed the girl the talking head. “He’s your Mummy’s brother.”
“He’s just a head?” Valerie asked.
“Unfortunately,” Orpheus smiled at her.
“How do you eat?”
“I don’t but I do sing.”
“He sings all the time,” Destruction chuckled. “Now, it’s time you meet someone important… love, we got company.”
They were met with silence but Destruction continued on and led them through the extension of the temple where they saw a woman with red hair sitting still on the couch.
“Momma!” Valerie wriggled out of Destruction’s hold and ran to her mother. “Momma— Damian, look it’s Momma!”
They froze on their spot as they stared at the woman with red hair. It was indeed Vivian Pryor. The same Vivian Pryor they remembered but instead of wearing her ruby coat she wore a black chiton and a shawl over her shoulder, then there was a glow in her, and her skin had little twinkling stars. She looked otherworldly but that was still the Vivian they knew. Or the face of the Vivian they knew.
“Mom?” Damian fell to his knees before Vivian. He took her hand and filled the gaps between them with his fingers. “Mom, it’s really you.”
“Damian, why isn’t Momma looking at us?” Valerie sobbed. “Momma, Momma, please! We’re here! Dami and I are here! Jay and Tim are at the door. Momma, please look at us. Dami, why isn’t she…”
“Because she has no memory,” the voice strained by dreams and nightmares made the Endless known to them. It was Dream. Dream appeared from his sand and approached the reunited family. “Vivian Pryor is no more. She has merged herself to the Phoenix. This is now a vessel of what she is.”
“What does that mean?” Damian demanded.
“Your mother gone.”
~ * ~
The first of the Endless to fall was Desire. With war, people have stopped their worships of Desire. To save themselves, Desire abandoned their duties and have begun to wander in the universe. Despair remains but she too has followed her twin and her older brother, Destruction's ways and left. Delirium remains but she prefers to hide in her realm than walk the wastelands of Earth. The only ones that remain were Destiny who continues to read from his book of what's to come and Death who comes to help every fallen.
Then there was Dream.
The grief stricken King of Dreams remains in his realm, mourning the death of his daughter. Ignoring the calls of his siblings. Humans still dream but mostly to remember what was life before the attack so the Dreaming remains, yet it is not as alive as it was before the chaos that came to earth.
Dream closed off from humans or so they thought.
“What do you mean Vivian’s gone?” Clark asked. They took their conversation outside while Vivian was moved inside with Orpheus and Valerie. The girl used her magic to summon her family album and started showing her mother and her uncle all the family photos with her.
“Darkseid knew Vivian had the power to destroy him,” Destruction began. “But he also knew her mortality is her weakness.”
“Vivian’s mortality is what limits the Phoenix’s power,” Dream explained. “Her mortal body can only take so much of Creation, so Darkseid cornered her—”
“By putting everything he’s got on her. He sent every paradoom in her way until she had no choice but to burn up. When you thought she died, it was only her mortal body that had gone.” Destruction sighed. “Her consciousness and her magic and the Phoenix, however, transformed. It merged together as it scattered in the cosmos. I found her in the asteroid belt with no form, just cosmic dust. She was weak and so was Creation. She had no form just pure energy.”
“How did she have a body then?” Clark asked.
“I called in the artist of the family,” Destruction gestured to Dream. “Her father knows her well enough to help construct her essence to create a physical form. But do not mistake that as a human body,” Destruction addressed Damian. “That is still pure magical energy. Your mother is no longer mortal. She has become something that is even more ancient and powerful than the Endless.”
“Much more powerful than Night and Time,” Dream added.
“And her memories?” Damian asked.
“We have collected all of her magical essence that was both her consciousness, Creation, and her magic—which includes her memories and what creates Vivian Pryor. But since having her form, she has not shown signs of recalling her previous life.”
“Did you ever plan to return her to us?” Damian glared at the Dream Lord. But Dream only remained silent and returned the same dark stare at the boy.
“You abandoned humanity,” John sneered at the two Endless. “And all this time you knew she was alive,” he pointed at Vivian’s way who still sat motionless while Valerie continued to show her pictures of their family. “And you kept her here. You hid her from the world and from her family!”
“She is my daughter,” Dream said. “I have lost her many times but after her defeat… What father am I to send her back to her death?”
“She’s still healing,” Destruction spoke, breaking the tension between Dream and the others. “I was the one who found her floating in the cosmos without a form. It was my decision to bring her here where she can rebuild herself, take form again. Her mind is still fractured. We thought it best if Vivian stayed here where she can heal on her own.”
“And what about the world? What about what’s happening? Don’t you think you should have done something to speed up the process?”
“What world, Constantine?” Dream’s brows furrowed. “There is no world anymore. No humanity. The Endless serve humanity but since Darkseid have taken this world and struck chaos all there is left is destruction. There is no humanity left to serve. All that is left is to wait for the Phoenix to return to its full power and remake all of it.”
“You mean destroy it?” Damian asked.
“There is nothing left here to save,” Dream insisted, the pain in his voice becoming more evident. “It is mercy to bring the world to the cycle of life and death and then be reborn with the light of the Phoenix once again.”
“Damian, Damian, look!” The sound of Valerie’s calls had Damian run back inside to the temple and see what was wrong. He saw his sister still holding the photo album before their mother, tears building in her eyes as she said, “She remembers you—Momma, can you say Damian’s name again? Please, Momma.”
There is a numbness inside him as Damian watched Valerie beg their mother to remember their family—to remember her. Watching his sister try so hard to stop herself from crying and to keep a smile on her face and the patience was heartbreaking. He vowed Valerie would never know heartbreak but since the attack—since they lost to Darkseid, heartbreak was the only thing they ever knew.
“Val,” Damian tried to pull her away. “Let’s go.”
“No!” Valerie ripped away from his hold and hugged her mother’s still arm. “I’M NOT LEAVING MOMMA! I’M NOT!”
A pulse of magical energy came from Valerie and went through them. It was weak but it had everyone take a step back.
“Look what you did,” Constantine muttered, directing to Dream and Destruction. “Alright, lovie, I think it’s time for yer Mum’s nap.”
“NO! I know what you’re going to do!” Valerie glared at Constantine. “You’re not taking me from Momma! I’m staying with Momma!”
Another pulse, this time it was strong enough to make the leaves and the rocks float around them.
“Kids,” John sighed. “Listen, your Mum is sick, alright? And she needs to rest.”
“That’s not true! She just—she just needs to remember. She’ll remember and then we can all go find Dada and we’ll go home! Damian, please, help me help Momma remember. Please, Damian!”
She was crying now, tears fell endlessly from her eyes and the girl clung to her mother’s side like it would ground her mother to stay there and never leave. Desperate to have her mother again, Valerie hugged Vivian and buried her face on the crook of her mother’s neck, just like when she was little and Momma would lull her to sleep.
“Momma, please remember! Please! I miss you so much. I miss you and Dada. I miss Grandpa and Grandda, I miss Dick, Stephie, and Duke… I miss everyone. They said you and Dada died but I never believed them. I know you’re still there. Please, Momma. I need you. I want my Mommy back, please! I’ll do anything.”
“She doesn’t want to do that,” John told Damian. “Stop her right now.”
“Why?” Damian asked.
“Wishes and deals are tricky—your sister is raw magic right now and it’s everywhere, and her saying that invites unwanted shits who’ll trick her to damning her soul to hell.”
“Val!” Jason was quick to take action. He went to Valerie and tried to get her from Vivian but a force sent him flying back and hitting the wall. From the dark shadowed corner of the temple, a man appeared wearing a white suit and holding.
Lucifer.
“VALERIE!” Damian and Raven went to get her but the Morningstar sent them out of the temple, along with Constantine and Superman, then closed the doors.
“Morningstar, you are not welcome here,” Dream smeared.
“But I heard a little girl crying. I’m just here to grant her wish,” Lucifer mocked him.
“Leave,” Destruction pointed his sword at the demon.
“You have no power anymore, Lords,” Lucifer smirked.
“Stay away from them!” Destruction attacked with his sword but the demon quickly sent Destruction to the pillar. The Morningstar’s wings grew with excitement—it has been awhile since he saw some action in this world. Before Dream could attack, the Morningstar flapped his wings and had the King of Dreams have the same fate has his brother.
Alone in the temple with the Pryor girls, Lucifer approached the crying child who was trying to keep a brave face as she held a little knife as a weapon against him to protect her mother.
“Don’t come close to her!” Valerie cried out.
“But I’m here to help you, little Valerie,” Lucifer crouched down to be the same height as her. “You said you wanted to have your Mommy back. I can help you with that.”
Valerie glared at him. “Momma said not to make deals with anyone, especially men with wings and wearing white suits.”
Lucifer’s lips twitched to a lopsided grin. “Your Momma is smart. But your Momma and I have history, kid. I was your Momma’s friend.”
“Momma doesn’t have a friend like you.”
“Your Mom taught you well. Listen, we want the same thing which is to take out that big guy who did this to your Momma,” Lucifer sat on the ground with his legs cross and elbows on his knees.
“Why?”
“Because he’s tipped the scales a bit and no one’s happy about what’s happened here. Now your Mom… she’s the only one who can stop that big bad meanie but she can’t do that while she’s like this.”
“She can?” Valerie turned to her mother who was now looking at her but with the same blank stare. “Momma’s that strong?”
“She is.”
“Don’t listen to him, Val!” Destruction called out but with a wave of a hand the Endless were sent out of the temple, completely isolating Lucifer with the Pryors.
“Very strong. So strong she can fix this world. Do you want that?”
Valerie nodded. “I want Momma back, I want Dada back too—I want everyone back and I want everything to go back to how things were. I wish Darkseid never existed in the first place,” she hiccupped.
“Is that what you really want?” Lucifer asked, he bit his lip in anticipation. “Are you willing to do anything to make that wish come true?”
Valerie turned to the Devil again but before she could say more a hand covered her mouth.
Lucifer’s smirk faltered as he was met by the glowing gold eyes of the child’s mother, glaring at him.
“Momma!” Valerie gasped.
Vivian glared at the Devil. “You’re not taking my daughter, Morningstar.”
“Vivi, I was just trying to help out,” Lucifer got up from the ground.
“Momma, you’re back!” Valerie hugged her mother.
Vivian smiled at the sight of her daughter and held her close. “Hide your eyes, Val. It’s going to be really bright in here.”
Picking her up from the ground, Vivian stood on her feet and waited for her daughter to hide her face on her shoulder. Vivian held her hand towards Lucifer, gold flames sparking at her palm.
“Vivian, we can talk about this,” Lucifer chuckled.
“You tried to damn my daughter’s soul,” Vivian sneered. “No deals, no apologies can ever make up for that, Morningstar.”
“YOU NEED ME TO DESTROY HIM!” Lucifer bellowed.
Valerie flinched, but feeling Momma’s cheek on her head calmed her.
“I am the beginning and I am the end. You came from me, Morningstar. I can simply take you back. Along with your realm.”
Sand. The Morningstar felt sand between the pads of his fingers. No, they were not between his fingers, they were his fingers, his hands, his face, his body—he was turning to sand… no, he was turning to ash!
“YOU CAN’T DO THIS!” Lucifer tried to reach for Vivian but in snap of her finger the Devil disappeared and turned to ash.
Silence came to the temple and Valerie turned to her mother, “Is it over now, Momma?”
“Yes, my love. It’s over,” Vivian adjusted her hold on Valerie so she could have a good look on her. “Oh, my Valerie’s all grown up now. You’ve grown so tall.”
“You remember now, Momma?”
“Yes, I do,” Vivian kissed her daughter’s hand that caressed her cheek.
“You remember Dada?”
“Yes, I remember him.”
“Damian? Jason? Dick? Tim?”
“Yes, everyone. I remember.”
“And me?”
“Yes, my love. I remember you, and I am so sorry that I forgot. I’m sorry I disappeared. Momma’s sorry she left you for so long.”
“It’s okay, Momma,” Valerie pressed her forehead against her mother’s. “You’re back now.”
“I am… and we’re going to get everyone back.”
~ * ~
The bright light from the temple disappeared as soon as it shone in the skies. Not knowing what it was, Raven created a protective dome around them and only put it down once the light disappeared.
“What was that?” Damian demanded.
“I do not know,” Dream said.
The doors of the temple opened and out came Vivian holding Valerie in her arms. The little girl grinned at her brother and waved at him. “She remembers now!” She told him. At that Damian ran from his spot and went to meet them halfway. He paused in his steps before Vivian—she looked like a goddess with how her magic glowed around her, but still his Mom.
“Damian,” Vivian brought him to an embrace. “You’ve all grown up.”
“Mom,” Damian hugged her tight. “You’re alive.”
“I am… and I am so sorry for disappearing on you. I know everything, I know how you took care of your sister, of our family, and I am so grateful to you for that.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Mom,” he sobbed. “I would always take care of our family. I’m sorry… I messed up. I hurt Val for…”
Pulling away, Vivian wiped away his tears. “You did what you thought was right. You’re just a kid and you were given this heavy responsibility. You have always been the heart of the Robins. I am proud of you, son.”
“Daughter,” Dream approached her with Orpheus in his arms.
“Dream. Destruction.”
Destruction smiled and nodded her way. “Good that you’re back.”
“Vivian,” Clark approached her.
Vivian’s smile fell. She handed Valerie to Damian as she approached Clark and—
SLAP!
Clark winced at the stinging pain across his cheek. He couldn’t look at her after that.
“Bruce believed in you. I believed in you,” Vivian said.
“I’m sorry,” Clark said. “I’m so sorry.”
“I felt them. All of them… all of their deaths. My kids, my fathers, my brother… and my husband.”
“I’m sorry. But we’re going to make this right. We have a plan to get Bruce back and stop Darkseid…”
“Is it another half-cocked plan, Clark?” Vivian sneered. “Or is it a real one this time?”
Clark finally looked at her. “This will work. And with you back, I know it will.”
Main Story Master List • Elseworld Stories Master List • Main Story Season 3
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Bendis’ take on an Earth 3 Young Justice team bugs me for a couple of reasons. Mostly the logistics of it, like how he doesn’t really get how the Earth works (how is Steph supposed to be a hero on the evil mirror Earth while not implying that she’s evil in the normal universe? I’m not even a fan of her and I think that’s stupid).
But he missed the perfect opportunity to base the evil versions on the N52 incarnations of the Core Four that no one liked. I mean, the opportunity is right there:
Talon (Tim’s counterpart): a child prodigy, olympic level athlete, and budding sociopath. Owlman discovered him using his hacking skills to attack what little heroes remained on this earth, and decided to make him his newest protege. An eager opportunist, he’s willing to do anything and step over anyone to achieve his goals.
Kid Ultra (Kon’s counterpart): The bastard offspring of Clark Kent (Ultraman) and Lois Lane (Superwoman). He has all of their powers, and none of their weaknesses. Cruel and merciless, he’s always willing to display his power to anyone who crosses him.
Speed Zone (Bart’s counterpart): A terrorist and murderer with a refined version version of Johnny Quick’s speed drug flowing through his veins. (Not much I can do to compare him to Bar Torr, besides saying that making him black was a weird choice from the design crew. If an evil counterpart gets a race lift, it gives off the wrong vibes.)
Olympiad (Cassies’s counterpart): A spoiled brat who accidentally stole a cursed suit of armor from her mother’s archaeological research site. It corrupted what little good she had in her, and the power consumed her. She uses it to get and do whatever she wants, consequences and casualties be damned.

Like, long time fans of these characters would get why these were chosen, because very few people liked the N52 incarnations. Honestly, I would have thought it was funny.
