Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto of DC Comics

"Talking!"

'Thinking!'

"Demon!"

Faraday

Groaning out before lifting himself up, Naruto looks around to see where he is located. The last thing the one eyed blonde remembers being attacked by a man wearing an owl mask. His mother tried to help out, but he overpowered her just like he did with him.

"Who the hell was that guy?" he rises to his feet to see his mother lying near him, "Mom!" Naruto rushes over to lift her up.

Groaning out before slowly opening her eyes, "When I find that fucker I'll rip his dick off,"

"It's good that you're okay, Mom. I wonder what we are," said Naruto with him looking around to only see pure white walls, floor, and ceiling, "They sure do love their white,"

"It kinda hurts my eyes," Kushina said with her now standing on her own two feet, "I never fought someone like that before. I'd never seen someone break through my chains with such raw strength before,"

"I know what you mean," both Kushina's and Naruto's chains have the power to seal someone's strength away making it easy to subdue them. Naruto tested out just how much his chains can do and knows that can hold just about anything, "Who ever he was, he had enough strength to break free. I'd hate to see what would happen if he were to get mad."

Kushina wonders over to the pure white wall. Running her hand over the smooth surface to find there are no seems. Then looks up to see no lights in the ceiling, but there is light shinning down onto the Amazon and her son. She hasn't seen walls like this on Themyscira and they had some of the best builders because Athena made sure the Amazons knew how to make their buildings to withstand till the end of time.

"Welcome!" said a voice over the intercoms, "You maybe wondering why you are here. That is simple; you are to die in this Labyrinth,"

"Who are you?!" Naruto demands for someone just doesn't attack and kidnap for no reason just to kill someone. Unless they're Victor Zsasz.

"We exist in the darkness. We are legend that tell the lies in the dark. We are the Court of Owls," said the voice over the intercoms

"Shit!" swears Naruto.

Naruto learned during his stay in Belle Reve that the Court of Owls attacked Bruce Wayne and tried to take over Gotham City. It ended with them losing the fight, but no one went to jail showing that they still came out of top. Naruto asked Talia shortly afterwards for more information about them. Talia said that they weren't as old as the League of Assassins, but they still give them trouble. While Gotham City knows the secret society is known as the Court of Owls; internationally is known as the Parliament of Owls. By using money and deep connections the Parliament of Owls have been having a secret war with the League of Assassins.

"So you know of us, Naruto Uzumaki," the voice says over the intercom, "Of course you would know of because of Talia al Ghul, the Demon Head of the League of Assassins. Tell me, how is Hinata Hyuga, the Clan Head of the Hyuga Clan?"

A chill goes down Naruto's spine as they know two of the women the blonde cares very deeply for. If they know about them, then that means they know about his children. The famous Amazonian Rage builds deep inside Naruto with him balling his fists so tightly that his knuckles turn white and blood drips down from his nails digging into his flesh.

"I don't know how you know these things, but I plan to kill every single one of you in the most violent way possible!"

Kushina catches on what the voice on the intercoms means. Just like Naruto this starts to build her Amazonian Rage for they are threatening her grandchildren. The redhead won't take it. She won't allow this like how she lost Naruto when he was younger. Arguing with her son, they'll both kill every single member of the Court of Owls in ways that'll become legend.

"Well, since you both will be dying I'll tell you who told us this information. Mother didn't like it that you killed one of her children. Waiting and biting for time finally came. You will die here in this Labyrinth and you both will be turned into Talons."

And just like that the intercoms go quiet. Naruto punches the wall, breaking it with his strength to fight off from losing himself. They dare do something like this. Attacking him is one thing, but to make threats against his children is too much from the one eyed blonde.

"Mom, we are going to make them pay," stated Naruto

"You have no idea how right you are," looking around the hallway, "We might as well start walking. We were placed in here, so that means there is an exit."

That's what the mother and son do. They walk down the hallway to try and find the exit. But what the two don't know is that a Talon has been watching them the whole time.

-Mars-

Years have past on Mars with it becoming the great society like it once was during its golden age. Massive city spread throughout the whole planet as the population exploded. The citizens gather at Mars capital around a monument with the symbol of the White Lantern Corps curved into the ground.

"We're here today to celebrate a life. A life well lived. A life well imaged," J'onn spoke out to everyone that gathered. In the twenty five years since J'onn has brought life back on Mars became a Green Lantern of Mars.

"And most important, a life well spent in the pursuit of truth, justice, and the universal way," Superman spoke up with a few gray hairs.

"It's this twenty fifth anniversary since he ushered in a new era of tranquility not just here on Mars, but also on Earth," said an aged Batman, "Peace in our time. Peace in my time. I didn't think I'd live to see it. Thanks to him I did,"

"You've been a shining example that it's never too late to start over again, that it's never too late to care and demand more of ourselves… of others," said Diana with some gray hair for she had to come visit her friend.

"You've blazed a trail, ol' buddy, and it's been a great ride trying to keep up with you all these years," an older Flash says with wrinkles showing.

"A teammate who cared about not only what was above, but also what was below," Aquaman said with his bread grown out that is neatly trimmed.

"What else can I say, except he's shown us the most amazing expression of willpower this universe has eve seen. I'm proud to not only call him my friend, but also my sector partner. My favorite Martian, Green Lantern J'onn J'onzz," said Hal with more gray hair on his head.

"Greetings Mars," said J'onn, "The pure bliss I feel standing before you today, here in the literal heart of the city, is as strong as it was twenty five years ago," spreading his arms out, "Every living and breathing thing in this universe is family. It has always been my mission to spread that message throughout the galaxy. We are all connected. We are one. And together we can achieve anything," J'onn looked over to his wife M'yri'ah, "None of this would be possible if not for my wife, M'yri'ah, and my children for they are the rock I stand upon, my unwavering partners in all the joys and challenges that this wonderful life has to offer. So, if there is one thought I would like to leave you all on this special anniversary, it is this; I did not give life to you, you have given life to me."

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Diana floats around the statue of J'onn standing next to Mars with her looking at the beauty that was made, "Seems your fellow Martians have literally put you on a pedestal,"

Flying over to her, "A place I find myself not entirely comfortable with, Diana," J'onn says honestly for he doesn't need a statue for doing what he did.

"Kinda strange to think the last time most of us were together on Mars it was lifeless and barren and we happened to be burying you, J'onn," said Hal with J'onn and Diana landing next to them. What Hal was saying it was when the remnants of Darkseid's forces ambushing him years ago.

"Time flies when you are having fun, Hal," said the Martian Manhunter

"Did J'onn J'onnzz just crack wise?" Flash asked with his mask lowered.

"Nothing life having your family and entire planet back to help put a smile on your face," stated Superman for J'onn did something that he could never do since Krypton.

"Yes, Kal, quality of life does wonders for the soul," J'onn says while crossing his arms.

"So does the quality of legacy when you're staring at your own mortality," said the Flash, "I think you've got a few miles left in the tank there, Bruce,"

"I'm closer to the end than I am the beginning, Barry, and that's okay when you're just meat and bone," Batman said with his cowl down showing a full head of gray hair, "It's the natural order of things when you're not a Martian, or wearing a Power Ring or surrounded by the Speed Force or powered by the sun itself or an Amazonian Queen or a half human Atlantean. But no matter what you are, there's only one simple question you have to ask yourself that really means anything, and that is; did I do more good than bad?"

"And what was your answer?" Aquaman asked

"Our scales of justice are personal. Arthur; we've all done things that've haunted us. We all bear the weight of those choices differently," Batman stated the facts.

"But right here, right now, between friends, Bruce, what answer comes to you in your private moments?" this time J'onn asked

"You can read my mind and find out for yourself," fired back Batman

"I would prefer you share it with us,"

"My answer's as simple as my question; I hope so,"

"That's all you got, I hope so?" Hal isn't buying what Batman is saying.

"Hope is all you ever have in the end, isn't that right, J'onn?" Batman is trying to tell the others to keep hope for a better tomorrow, for a better future.

"Yes, but never underestimate the power of will,"

"Our combination of will and hope is what'll continue to make people's lives better through the years. It's what lets me go to sleep justified," Superman said

"Come on, Kal, we all know you don't sleep," Diana joked for Superman just close his eyes for the act of sleeping.

"I sleep with my eyes open. I just grabbed a power nap while you were all talking," joking back to the others.

"This Martian air's bringing out the comedian in everybody," Flash took off his mask to show the sides of his head having gray hair, "I think Hal should bottle some of it and take it back to the JLA HQ,"

"What Hal should try to bottle, Barry, is the heart, grace, will, integrity, nobility, and endurance of this group; because what leaves me justified is knowing all of you will be here long after I'm gone to carry on," says Batman as he is getting up there is age.

"I have nothing to add to Batman's heartfelt words, except to say your presence here today means a great deal. It's been my honor and privilege to be a part of the Justice League of the past, present, and future."

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A few hours later J'onn stares at his Power Ring, "What an amazing day it has been, M'yri'ah," says J'onn for everything went perfectly.

"Incredibly poignant and stirring, my darling husband. Your family and people are incredibly proud of you," M'yri'ah came over to her husband and kissed him on the side of his head, "But no one's more proud of you than I am. It was so kind of your friends to join us for this anniversary. Keeping their arrival a secret took a great deal of effort,"

"It was a pleasant surprise," J'onn had his Power Ring fly off his finger and stay inside his Power Battery.

"You know all along, didn't you?"

"Of course not, I have no idea they were,"

"J'onn J'onzz, you're a terrible lair," stated M'yri'ah for she knows when her husband lies.

"Okay, yes, I knew all about it," J'onn pets his dog that he'd brought her to Mars when he decided to live here with his family once more. J'onn takes a handful of dog treats.

"You do realize you're spoiling Melissa with all those cookies. That's why we can never get her to eat her regular food," M'yri'ah rubs her husband's shoulders.

The dog bites J'onn's hand which quickly took it back, "She's never bit me before, M'yri'ah. Come to think of it, she's never bitten anyone," J'onn says for he can't believe his dog bit him.

"She was probably just hungry and upset at being ignored all day and having so many strangers around," J'onn's wife said for there have been a large amount of people coming and going.

"What is it, girl, what's wrong?"

"I'm sure it's nothing, J'onn," M'yri'ah's hand melds with J'onn, "Come to sleep, darling. It's late."

Melissa the Dog watches as the husband and wife meld together to have a good night's sleep. Only for a few hours later for J'onn to wake with a start.

'Da,'

"K'hym," J'onn has his Power Ring fly towards him, "Your thoughts are tangible. Blood has been spilled. There's been a murder,"

J'onn's daughter came rushing over for she has to tell her father who was killed, "It's even worse, Da… It's Batman."

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Standing before his long time friend. Lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood. The Martian Manhunter couldn't believe that someone could kill The Batman. A man that no one could kill. A man that brought humanity to the Justice League; now is dead.

"Bruce… No…" J'onn brings up his Ring, "Ring. Scan for all signs of organic and inorganic matter and index immediately,"

"Request complete!"

J'onn kneels down to take a better look at Batman's hand. Before his death the Dark Knight tried to write something in his own blood. A message. A clue. The only letters that Batman could write before his death was W and A.

"What were you trying to tell me, Bruce? Forgive my final intrusion, old friend, but I am sure you would want me to make an exception tonight,"

"Any residual imagery to draw from, Da?" K'hym asked

J'onn turns Batman's body over to lay on his back, "I am afraid not, K'hym. Maybe this remaining physical evidence can be used to…" the Martian Manhunter phase his hand into Batman's chest where the wound is to pull his hand out with five bullets made out of pearl.

"Pearl bullets?"

"This was personal. And whoever did it knew I would realize that. They were able to kill Batman, that the entire Justice League is at risk," J'onn can still feel the pain from being set on fire, "We must warn them quickly with a telepathic-" J'onn suddenly stopped talking.

"What is it, Da?"

"They're gone, K'hym. I cannot sense them anywhere on Mars! We must find them!"

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"There is always someone who celebrates the victory of fear. There is always some who wants to shot off the light," Diana was found tied and bound with her own Lasso of Truth hanging from the statue of J'onn that she was looking from early, "By destroying the goods within us," Arthur was found in the few remaining deserts on Mars with his chest ripped open, "The good among us. Someone has murdered my friends," Flash had his head right off though his body is still running around as though he was speeding around when his death took place, "And spit on our hard earned peace of the last twenty five years," Hal was found in orbit with his hand cut off so he died from the coldness of space.

J'onn goes over the information that was given to him. Each one was killed in some way that could kill them. This was like the time Vandal Savage broke into the Bat Cave to steal the information that Batman gather just in case if a member of the Justice League were went rogue. The only one that wasn't found yet is Superman.

"I have assembled you all here to tell you that justice will be served," he holds up his hand with the Ring flying off. Other Manhunters gather around for they are the police force for Mars and they will find out who did this, "And the Manhunters of Mars will be the ones serving it with extreme prejudice. I will now initiate a psychic probe that will penetrate ever mind across Mars," all the Manhunters close their eyes and focus, "It will result in severe pain and a short period of debiliation, but I consider it a small price to pay for helping us locate Superman and also the perpetrator of these appalling crimes. I found Superman! He's alive!"

"Where?" J'onn's daughter asks with her rubbing her forehead.

"Deep beneath Mars… In the underground security bunker where our most powerful enemies are held captive."

During the twenty five years the most dangerous villains of Earth where moved to Mars. Having the Manhunters reading their minds made it so escaping was impossible. And even if they do escape they're on Mars with no way back to Earth.

"There he is!" J'onn stated with him and K'hym.

Lying right in the middle of the hallway is Superman with a glowing green glow coming from his body.

"Is this what I think it-"

"A Kryptonite mask," someone went out of their way to make a mask made out of Kryptonite. J'onn takes the mask off from Superman's face, "Thank H'ronmeer, he's still alive after such a long exposure,"

K'hym kneels down as she has her hands phase into Superman's head, "You said only someone with incredible power could take out the entire Justice League. I'll scan him; maybe he's somehow responsible or knows-"

J'onn stops his daughter, "Get out of his mind, K'hym! Superman's not responsible for any of this insanity,"

"How can we be sure unless-"

Cutting off his daughter once more, "Superman is above Reproach,"

"No one is above Reproach, Da. It's one of the central tenets I learned when I became a Manhunter," K'hym explains she has has to read Superman's mind for he may have some information on what maybe going on.

"You will not breach him, understood?"

"No, I don't understand; you breached Batman's mind when-"

"Batman was dead! A deep probe is something I do not perform on the minds of closer friends unless they give their express approval,"

"You didn't give it a second thought when you preformed it on me, and every other fellow Martian on the planet," what K'hym said was true as J'onn didn't give anyone on Mars time to approve going through their minds, "Why didn't you ask for our approval? When do we get the same consideration the Earthlings do? Where do we rank, Da?"

"How dare you say that to me," J'onn lifts off the ground, "Have you ever considered what I had to go through to resurrect my people? My family?"

K'hym follows her father into space with them getting closer to the sun, "See! That's the problem, you treat us sometimes like mindless children; here to say things, do things, even think things you want us to think because-"

"That is not true, K'hym,"

"It is true, Da. When do you finally cut the ties that bind you to Earth so you can be here with us completely in mind and spirit?"

"Superman's life was in jeopardy. It was imperative that I probe-"

Cutting off her father, "I'm you daughter! Those are you people down there. When do we come first?"

"I have always put my family first,"

"Which family, Da?" the family of Mars or the family of Earth is what K'hym asking.

"J- J'onn…" Superman barely spoke out, "They used Kryptonite… Didn't get a chance to see who attacked me,"

"Just recharged, Kal, the Kryptonite's gone. Let the sun's rays get you back up to full power, we're going to need it,"

Turning to the Martian Manhunter, "What is it, J'onn? I can see it in your face?"

J'onn doesn't want to say it, but he has too. He has to tell his friend that everyone else that they call friend is now dead, "Someone has a vendetta against the Justice League… We are the only two left. All our dearest friends have been slaughtered,"

"That's not possible. I wasn't to see them. Now!"

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Superman was brought to his friends. Each one of them have been killed. He can't believe that they're dead.

"It's a nightmare… All of our enemies are dead, locked away; and still I'm standing here staring down at the lifeless faces of… Bruce, Hal, Arthur… Oh, poor Barry," Superman gently rubs Diana's face, "And Diana,"

"We have to arm our hearts, Kal. We have to be prepared to do what is necessary to avenge our fallen friends. Whoever killed them most likely knows we're here right now, waiting to finish what they started,"

"Good, because now they have the two most powerful members of the Justice League ready to tear them apart. If it's us they want, then it's us they're going to get,"

"I envy you sometimes, Kal,"

"Why, what's there to envy?"

"Because you didn't have to watch your planet die. Because you began your time on Earth surrounded by love, and I began mind surrounded by fear," J'onn tells this to Superman for Mars was at war with the White Martians during the time J'onn was born.

"J'onn, last I looked, Mars is alive and vibrant because of you," Superman turned his back to the Martian Manhunter.

"It's beauty is there to touch, hear, and see, but when I close my eyes, Kal… That all changes. I always see a dead planet, I hear the screams of my people, I smell the skin of my wife and daughter burning like it was yesterday. When is tomorrow going to be my new yesterday, Kal? When am I going to stop being the Last Son of Mars and think of myself as the First Son of Mars?"

"I wish I could tell you time heals all wounds but we both know the more time you have, the longer the list of wounds grows," Superman doesn't know how to tell J'onn how to handle the lost of life.

"Have you ever felt like the Last Son of Krypton?"

"Honestly, J'onn, I haven't. The unconditional love of my Ma and Pa made sure I never felt last in any way," Superman uses his x-ray vision on the nearby wall.

"That you were only an infant when Krypton was vaporized was a blessing in disguise, Kal, along with not having your Kryptonian heritage enter your life until after your formative years. Image if you had to bury each and every Kryptonian,"

"J'onn, did you actually-"

"It took me years, Kal… I did not stop digging until all the remains of my people were under the ground. And it seems the red dirt always needs more; will it want to devour my family and all those souls I raised again? I am not sure I can bear their loss for a second time. I need Mars to remain a living breathing planet now more than ever,"

"We can only bear what we're able to, J'onn. For these last twenty five years of your life you've had everything. It's time to fight to keep of all alive,"

"I am not sure I agree with you, Kal," J'onn grabs hold of Superman and drives a shard of Kryptonite into the Man of Steel's chest, "What makes you think any of us is meant to have everything!?" shoving Superman down between Diana and Green Lantern, "Does having everything make us happy, Kal!?"

"Wake…" Superman grunts out before another stab drives into his chest.

"Does it!?" the fit of rage J'onn didn't hear what Superman said.

"Up…" before his eyes rolled to the back of his head.

Stepping back with the Kryptonite dropping to the floor and the realization that he just killed his friend, "What have I done?!" but as J'onn steps back he can see markings curved through the bodies making out something. J'onn knows what is says, "No, it's not possible… on their bodies… the Martian symbols for love and hate," J'onn takes off with great force and speed, rocketing through the ceiling, "NO!"

Flying through the city to see it burning, to see the building collapsing onto themselves or falling over to the side. While flying through the smoke and fire the Manhunters cry out "Wake up!" as though they can't hold their forms. As if they are made out of two people. Other Manhunters try to pull J'onn down with all of them saying "We are trying to save me!" J'onn takes a closer look to see that the Manhunters look like J'onn instead of other Martians.

Martian Manhunter leaves the city to the forest out on the limits to the pyramind, crashing through the wall with fire raging and M'yri'ah is standing right in the middle of the fire with her arms spread out, "J'onn, my beloved, why do you enter our home with such rage?"

J'onn not answering rushes over, grabs M'yri'ah's cheeks and pulls through far apart with her sharp teeth showing, "You figure it out, D'kay! Show yourself, you twisted abomination!" ripping and tearing through the image of his wife as the fire consumes all.

Before everything became clear with them both standing out in the middle of nowhere with the remains of a house, and two bodies of Martian are sitting in the sits at the table. J'onn forces D'kay to her knees with him holding her by the throat.

"I guess you didn't want to fight to keep our brave new world after all, J'onn," D'kay says for the illusion she created was destroyed.

"I do not fight for a lie of the mind, D'kay! And I never will!" stated J'onn as he can't let this go on. To use what he wanted the most, to try and control him through an illusion that was too perfect.

-Hall of Justice-

"Come on, Mik, tally ho!" said Congorilla, a golden ape who is playing a game of chess.

William "Congo Bill" Glenmorgan was born in 1898, the son of a Scottish gamekeeper. At one point he was a member of the IRA, and during World War I he served as a solider in the Battle of the Somme in France 1916 and also Battle of Flanders Field in Passendale, Belgium. He worked his way up as a spy in Austria. He later became a globe trotting adventurer, and for a time worked for the Worldwide Insurance Company, protecting policies they had written and saving the company from fraudulent payouts.

Bill grew content to live in his adopted African home, swearing to protect it from harm. There he befriended a witch doctor known as Chief Kawolo. When Kawolo was mortally injured in a fall, he summoned Bill to his bedside, and offered him a magic ring. Kawolo told the skeptical Congo Bill that, by rubbing the ring, he could transfer his consciousness into the body of the legendary Golden Gorilla. He accepted the ring to humor his friend's dying wish. Several weeks later, an earthquake trapped Bill in a deep cave. With no possible escape, Congo Bill hopelessly rubbged the magic ring. Instantly, his mind was transported into the body of the Golden Gorilla. Racing to the cave-in, he used his massive strength to clear the blocked entrance and wondering what had become of his body without him being "home". He realized that when his consciousness entered the body of the Golden Gorilla, the creature's consciousness entered his own body. Bill decides to use his new powers to fight crime in the jungle. He is later assisted by Janu, a young boy raised in the jungle.

Years later, Bill now known as Congorilla is trapped in his gorilla form upon the death of his human body. He becomes the protector of a band of gorillas, and friend of the South African hero Freedom Beast. When the gorillas and Freedom Beast are slaughtered by hunters, Congorilla decides to seek justice. After the trail leads to the villain Prometheus, Congorilla teams up with Starman, and eventually a splinter faction of the Justice League. After Prometheus's death, Congorilla becomes a full time member of the Justice League.

During his time with th eLEague, Bill faces off against such foes as the rogue Starheart and Eclipso, and becomes close friends with Starman and Supergirl. He is also part of a much larger makeshift Justice League squad when the return of Batman from a seeming death threatens to destroy time and space. After the vigilante Batwing came to Africa to help as much as he can, Congorilla realizes that the continent is too big for one hero to handle. He ultimately chooses to resign from the Justice League in order to help organize the superheroes of Africa into a more efficient team, as well as to find a worthy successor to carry on Freedom Beast's legacy.

"You're never going to beat me playing like that," stated Congorilla. He was called back to the Hall of Justice to give a hand every now and then. He always like coming over to the States to visit his friends when given time.

"I'm still not quite sure I understand the point of board games, Bill," said Starman, a blue skinned alien.

Mikaal Tomas is an alien who traveled to Earth to help conquer it, but instead turned against his war-like people in defense of the human race. He has blue skin and originally wore Mister Miracle-style flight discs on his feet that allowed him to fly, and a medallion containing a sonic crystal around his neck. The gem eventually became embedded in his chest and allows him to fire bolts of energy.

Years later, Tony, Mikaal's lover is killed while visiting his parents in New York by unnamed super villains, prompting Mikaal to seek justice. He meets and befriends Congorilla, a fellow hero who is also mourning the loss of someone closer to him, in this case his partner and close friend, Freedom Beast. The two heroes travel to Paris, where they find the two assassins who murdered their loved ones, and in the ensuing fight both villains are killed before they can reveal who hired them. After asking Animal Man for help, the heroes travel to the Justice League Watchtower, only to soon find themselves in the midst of a battle with Prometheus, the villain that hired the assassins to kill Tony and Freedom Beast. Mikaal and his companions are easily defeated, and Prometheus escapes after destroying Star City. Mikaal is later shown helping Congorilla and the members of the Justice League search for survivors in the ruins of the city.

After this, Mikaal tries to help Congorilla after he is attacked by a group of villains working for Doctor Impossible. When Mikaal joined the Justice League his first mission with the team, he helped capture Plastique and her companions after they tried to flee the country.

"Chess is not a board game, Mikaal. It's a battle between intellects, a war between minds. There's nothing more exciting than that," Congorilla tries to explain the game of chess to his friend when he looks down to see black ooze on the board and pieces, "What? What is this mess? Tar?"

Jumping quickly with the sight of ice coming out of the ground, "And the floor is turning itno ice! We're under attack!"

"N- No! I need you h- help!" Firestorm have arrived at the Hall of Justice with his body burning and overheating. Tar coming out of his right left and ice coming out of his left leg, "I'm about to destroy the universe!"

-Bottom of the Atlantic-

Deep below the surface on the ocean floor is a building that Arthur had made just for him and his family. Jackson stares at pictures of Mera, Arthur, and Arthur Jr. in photo frames made out of water.

"Who are those people?" Jackson can make out Aquaman, but not the woman or child.

"Aquaman?"

"One is my wife, Mera. The other…" Arthur stops himself for it is still a sore subject.

"Your kid?"

"My son. He was murdered by your biological father. By Black Manta,"

For the longest time Jackson doesn't know what to say. Learning that the people taking care of him aren't his parents, though they took care of him if he was just like their own. Who were there by the way.

"What are you going to do now?" Jackson finally says something to break the silence.

"Your surrogate parents will be safe here while we deal with Mera's people," answered Aquaman

"I thought I was staying here with my parents,"

"You can't," the King of Atlantis quickly said.

"Why not?"

"Because Mera's people are trying to break free from the Bermuda Triangle,"

"Who are they?"

"Thousands of Atlanteans who were banished centuries ago to a penal colony called Xebel. Their hatred of the Surface World is rivaled only by their hatred for Atlantis. And me," looking through the map that came from Jackson's chest and going through maps to find where it could leads to, "If they get free, there will be a war between land and sea that will destroy both worlds,"

"Which world do you belong to?"

Aquaman looks down for he can't choose which world, "Say goodbye to your parents. We have to go,"

"We? What do you need me for?"

Grabbing his trident, "You're the key to keeping Mera's people locked up, Jackson," Aquaman answered to Jackson's question as to why he is being dragged along, "You're going to stop this war before it starts."

-The Watchtower-

Congorilla and Starman called the Watchtower to pick up Firestorm. There they put Firestorm in containment to get readings from his body, use the heat from Firestorm's body to power other systems, and to make sure he doesn't harm anyone by accident.

'If anyone can help us get our powers under control, Ronnie, it's them,' Jason said inside Firestorm's mind.

"I just want to get us fixed so we can go find the Professor and your dad. Do you think they're still alive, Jason?"

'I hope so.' was the only thing that Jason can say for he is holding onto hope that the two of them are safe.

-Elsewhere-

'What is that?' Professor Stein asks with him looking at the corrupt White Lantern giving off a great deal of power.

"It's power, dude. Extreme power. The White Lantern is the source of all life," Deathstorm answered back to the voice in his head.

'What do you want with it?'

"I'm only the delivery boy, Professor,"

'For who?'

"Man, you're asking a lot of questions. I'm sure that big brain of yours is thinking every second you keep me talking is a second closer Firestorm gets. But those losers are in way over their heads. Like the both of you,"

'My son is more than capable of handling something like you,' Alvin is still keeping hope that his son and friend will come save them.

"What's he going to do, Mr. Rusch? He's not going to risk harming me. Not when we're all fused together. And here's another fact… I'm more powerful than Firestorm," proclaims Deathstorm with that last bit of information, "I can transmute organics. Which means I can turn dirt into Black Lanterns or I can turn the skin on Firestorm into oatmeal. I will kill Ronnie and Jason and I will do it in the most painful way possible. They can't stop me, but I'll give you the chance to," waves his had for a handgun appears right in Deathstorm's hand, "The only way to destroy me is if the host I'm bonded to dies. I know you never got along with your son, Mr. Rusch. You're envious of Jason because he's a success despite you. You've attain anything really, which makes me wonder… How much do you love him?" Deathstorm switches with Alvin with him holding the handgun, "Would you die for him?" whispers out Deathstorm.

'Why would you take this risk?' Stein asks for this doesn't make any sense whatsoever. It doesn't sound like a good plan for Deathstorm to have over a weapon that could kill them all.

"Because I know you won't do it. But I do want you to remember this moment, this generous offer; your life or theirs. Remember it when those boys are screaming in pain as I turn their eyeballs into cockroaches and their blood into acid,"

"Stein," Alvin closes his eyes and the sound of him pulling back the hammer can be heard.

'Do it, Alvin! And may God have mercy on our souls,' if Deathstorm gave them this chance to end this before it could really begin, then he is willing to die so that Ronnie and Jason don't have to fight Deathstorm.

"See you in hell, you son of a bitch!" Alvin place the barrel of the gun to his forehead.

"WAIT!" the gun only clicks as there is no bullets, "Oh! Oh, right! I forgot to creat the bullets! Duh! Okay, enough goofing off, dudes," Deathstorm takes back over with Alvin cursing at him. The Black Lantern of Firestorm grabs the corrupt White Lantern, "We have a delivery to make." and like that Deathstorm makes his way through the black world he's been resting at.

-On the Coast of New England-

"We're here," Aquaman said with him and Jackson walking through a cave not too far from the ocean. It currently is low tide so they don't have to worry about the water flooding the cave.

"Shouldn't we get a flashlight or something? I can't see,"

"Open your eyes, Jackson. Let them adjust," Aquaman tells him, "The bottom of the ocean is darker than this cave. Your eyes are designed to see through that. Just believe you can and you will,"

"Believe…" and just like that Jackson's eyes adjust to the darkness of the cave. He can see Aquaman ahead of him facing a large boulder with a blue X on it, "Hey, hey! I can see! I can see… an X on the wall?"

"X marks the spot. Stand back.

Aquaman punches the boulder with it easily falling apart. Beyond the rumble sits a chest with glowing blue runes giving light to the once dark cave.

"Another chest?"

"With another bio-lock you need to open it,"

"What's going-!?" Jackson kneels before the chest and place his hands on it. Just like the other chest his tattoos light up with magical energies surging around him.

"I'm so sorry, Kaldur'ahm. My name is Mera, daughter of the King of Xebel and now; trator to my people," Jackson can see water following around him with the face of Mera appearing in front of him to deliver this message, "The people who put you through so much pain. You won't remember the experiments they performed on you, but you survived," images of his father and mother being attacked by soldiers of Xebel appear in the water, "Unlike your mother. My father believed it was because your mother gave birth to you in Xebel. It made you into a living key that was capable of opening the field that separated Xebel from the rest of the world. And because you have the power to open what the Surface World calls the Bermuda Triangle, you also have the power to close it," more images of him being experimented appeared before Jackson, "Some would have you killed for that, but that's wrong. I've learned killing is wrong form the King of Atlantis. But I killed to free you, and to free myself from my father's rule," it shows Mera killing the soldiers and scientists with her taking Jackson when he was still a baby, "I'm a woman without a home now, but I won't rest until I find one for you,"

Aquaman pulls Jackson out of the water and the water hitting the ground now that Jackson wasn't in it anymore.

"What was that?" Jackson asked for that was trip.

"A message recorded in the water, Jackson. Literal osmosis-"

"She called me Kaldur… something. And my Mother… I saw my real mother… She's dead?"

"I'll explain everything in detail later. Mera will," he has Jackson to look over into the chest, "Right now. It's time to claim your birthright," sitting inside the chest are two handles and clothes with the symbol of Atlantis right in the middle of the clothing.

"I… I want to go home," Jackson said

"Jackson-"

"I want to go get my parents and I want to go home,"

"You can't. You have a responsibility,"

"I'm not going anywhere else with you," the water starts to rises because of Jackson's emotions.

"You have to, Jackson,"

Jackson's eyes start to glow as the gills on his neck open up, "No, I don't! I DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING!"

Jackson forced the water to gather around his fists. Spinning and creating a current to give Aquaman a sucker punch with enough force that causes Aquaman to fly through the rocks. But since Jackson never really punched anyone falls through the hole he'd just created. They both fall below into the waters.

"I don't want this kind of pressure! I don't ask for it!" Jackson forced all the water back to create dry land for him and Aquaman.

The King of Atlantis place his fingers to his forehead, "Calm down," three dead eels jump out of the water and wrap themselves around the boy.

"You don't understand!" Jackson kills the eels but stays in the water, "You d- don't understand what I'm going through," Aquaman helps him up to his feet, "No one does," but Jackson quickly falls to his knees, "No one…"

Aquaman, no, Arthur can see what Jackson is going through. He knows what Jackson is going through, "I was thirteen when they came out of the water for me,"

Looking up with tearing running down his face, "Who did?"

"They were Atlantean terrorists looking for the Queen's first born. me. My Father was a human. He raised me to believe that's all I was. He was trying to protect me. But he couldn't forever. Eventually, I was lured back to Atlantis when they thought they needed their King back. But they never truly embraced me because of who my Father was. I know I'm asking a lot from you. I'm asking for everything. But I wouldn't ask you to take on this burden if I had any other choice. Or if I didn't believe you could do it."

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Making up his mind, Jackson knows what he has to do. Changing into the clothing that Mera left for him. It was a little tight, but besides that it fits perfectly.

"The suit fits pretty well," Jackson said with him looking at the handles.

"It's a soldier's uniform. And those are the soldier's weapons," Arthur explains for they are the same uniforms that the soldiers of Xebel used along with the weapons they used.

"What are they?"

"They're called waterbearers. Mera is unique among her people. Her hydrokinesis is far more advanced than any I've ever encountered," what Arthur said is true for her ability to control water can only rival that of Poseidon, "But like the other Xebels, you have a limited form of it. The waterbearers will help you focus your ability to shape water," Jackson's tattoos glow with water gathering at the handles, "Into weapons. Are you sure you're ready, Jackson?"

"Hell, no," he forms a sword and a mace, "But that didn't stop you, so I guess I won't let it stop me." Jackson is ready to take on what is coming for him. Even if he doesn't want too.

-The Watchtower-

The Atom is standing on a device that is scanning Firestorm's body, "The theory is metamorpho can help you regain control of your transmuting powers by acting like a stabilizer. He can cycle through whatever your body is trying to sort out and essentially unleash the built-up nuclear energy,"

"We're waiting for metamorpho!? Why?" Firestorm asked, "But what if it doesn't work?"

'Ronnie, let him finish. I want to hear the Atom out,' Jason cuts in for this is very important information that the Atom is trying to explain to them.

"I'm just asking questions. What if it doesn't work?" Ronnie is asking what could happen in the worst case.

'We won't know until we try,'

"I understand that, but I want a backup plan!"

'This is the back-up plan!'

"This is the Professor we're talking about. He's always been there for me like a father, and I need to be there for him. You wouldn't understand,"

'That's not fair!' that was a sore spot with Jason and his father.

"I didn't mean it like that!" just then Firestorm's power flex, "What's…"

The power surges through Firestorm as it become too much for the machines. Heat and light covers everything.

"Ronnie! Jason!" shouted out the Atom, "WE'RE GETTING MORE HELP! JUST HANG IN THERE! HANG-"

Firestorm explodes.

-Somewhere-

A light appears in the darkness.

'Ronnie?' Jason's voice echoes through the darkness.

"J- Jason? What happening?" Firestorm asked with his whole body is completely made out of fire now.

'I think we just destroyed the universe,'

"Where'd everything go?" turning to look at Jason's face, "Did we just blow up the universe?" Ronnie asked in a panic.

'I'm not sensing any matter to transmute. we're in a vacuum. There's nothing here, Ronnie,' the fear that they really did destroy the universe is setting in.

Ronnie saw something moved in the darkness, "Do you see that? The darkness is moving!"

'Looks like a shadow,'

"Jason, I think I've been here before," claimed Ronnie

'Been where?'

Ronnie powers up, "We didn't destroy the universe; we were brought to a different one because this isn't darkness," bursts with fire and light pushing back the Shadow Demons, "It's an army of Shadow Demons," all the Shadow Demons disappear with Firestorm finally looking around to see that he is outer space.

'Shadow Demon?' Jason never faced against Shadow Demons before.

"As in the Anti-Monitor's personal army. As in the Antimatter Universe. Somehow when we detonated we were drawn into the center of a Shadow Demon Hive,"

'Drawn here or brought here on purpose?' Jason asked for they never teleported like that before. And in their line of work teleporting around means something brought you to a place that you have to help.

"Either way, I'm hoping it means our universe is still okay,"

"Boston Brand has not found the Champion yet!" Firestorm stops flying through space to look around for where the voice came from, "Protect me until he does!"

Firestorm looks around once more to see a planet not too far away from him, "Yeah, and there's the Planet Qward. One of the only rocks with life in this place," blazing through the stars towards Qward, "That's gotta be where Deathstorm's got your dad and the Professor. And the White Lantern."

-Georgetown-

The sun is shining through the window that causes Dawn to turn over out of the sunlight. She doesn't want to wake up just yet, but the smell of something cooking causes the white haired woman to finally get out of bed. She leaves her room to go into the kitchen to find Boston cooking breakfast.

"Hey, there," Dawn greets

Not wanting to turn away from the oven, "'Morning,"

"Something smells good," she wonders over and hugs Boston from behind, "And familiar. Cheeseburgers for breakfast. Again," while Dawn doesn't mind eating a burger for breakfast she doesn't want to continue with it over and over again.

"Sorry. I guess I'm making up for lost time,"

Grabbing and turning his face towards her, "I could tell from last night,"

Boston leans in to kiss Dawn, "This has been so nice, Dawn"

"Yes, it has."

They have break with them cleaning the dishes afterwards. Dawn had Boston wear an apron with him still being shirtless.

"I've got class all day," Dawn says with her finishing up drying a dish.

"That's okay. I've got something to do,"

"What's up?"

"I called Oracle this morning and asked her to see if any of my family were still alive. I don't know why. I didn't expect them to be, but… turns out my grandfather just celebrated his ninety eighth birthday. He's in an assisted living home in upstate New York,"

Smiling at the thought of Boston still having family around, "Boston, that's great! Are you going to see him?"

He turns to face his girlfriend, "I don't know. I didn't really talk to him much after high school. And at ninety eight who knows if he'll even remember me,"

Dawn takes Boston's face into her hand, "Boston, you should go,"

"I feel terrible. Even when I was Deadman, I never checked in on him. I never thought he'd still be around," confessed Boston for he honestly thought his grandfather died.

"But the point is he is around, Boston,"

"Yeah… who knew anyone could live that long?" Boston said for people are living longer and longer with each passing generation.

-Court's Labyrinth-

Walking and walking through the corridor after corridor. Everything looks the same as mother and son walk through the Labyrinth. Because of the lights being so bright they couldn't tell the difference between night and day. They come upon a fountain that has water flowing.

"Water?" Kushina walks over to the fountain and place her hand into the cold water, "Why would they put a fountain in here? Don't they want to kill us?"

Looking around for anything that stands out, "I don't think so," said Naruto, "If anything, they'll want to have us killed in combat,"

"Well, water can only go so far," she takes a drink from the fountain. When the redhead did so she quickly spits the water out of her mouth, "Don't drink the water,"

"Poison?"

"No, something in the water that would make the body slow down," when Kushina was younger she had a bad habit of eating rotten food. Children will do the strangest things.

"Lights that mess with the mind not knowing what time of day it is, water that makes the body sluggish, and no food. This Labyrinth was made to worn down those trapped in it," looking around once more for something is watching them, "And a hunter stalking us. This place is to make so that those trapped in here would eventually lose."

Before Kushina could say anything a Talon comes out of nowhere and knees her in the face. Quickly turning to see the Talon. A man wearing an owl mask with two tubes connecting to a pack on his back. Armor covering his chest, shoulders, and arms. The Talon leap towards Naruto with him wrapping around Naruto's throat, throws him over head with said blonde crashing into the wall. He rolls onto his back to see a knee coming towards his face, but his mother kicks the Talon away.

Standing to his feet, "This isn't good," Naruto says to his mother, "His fists feel like their made out of stone. There was only one person who had fists like that,"

"I take it that you'd face someone like this before?"

"Yeah, nearly killed him. David Cain."

When Naruto said the name David Cain the Talon who regain his footing suddenly stops. A shacking hand reaches up to remove the owl mask to reveal the face of David Cain. Naruto's eye widen at this sight. The man that he killed is back. A man that almost killed the blonde all those years ago.

"Fuck!" was the only thing that Naruto could say before David Cain punches the blonde in the face.

Kushina wipes around to drive her fist into Cain's side with enough force to put the Talon into the wall. Chains come out of Kushina's back and they shoot straight for the Talon, piercing Cain's chest and anchoring him to the wall.

Rubbing his chin Naruto looks over to David Cain. He still can't believe that he's alive once more. The blonde doesn't remember him coming back to life when the Blackest Night ended, so there's that. So he must have been brought back to life somehow.

"Why is David Cain alive?!" yelled out Naruto, "Why do you have David Cain's body!?"

"Mother came with David Cain's body to have you killed, Naruto Uzumaki. He became a Talon to kill you. While David Cain is only one Talon that is being bind; what are you going to do with the other Talons?" the voice over the intercom says.

Naruto turns to see fifteen other Talons coming out of the woodwork. Each one dressed in black clothing with armor, wielding different types of weapons but most of them are wielding knives.

"Motherfucker!" was the only thing Naruto says before the Talons descend upon Naruto and his mother.

-Arthur's Note-

Wow, a new chapter a week ahead. I don't know what I was thinking. This arc is coming to a close with only a few more chapters.