They reach Oa at a rate that shouldn't be possible at all, and Kilowog is not happy. The trial finally begins; as a closed trial, and Judai is not happy. Batman shows lawyer skills? And the judgement is...

Epilogue: Court of Justice

Solid marble had never seemed so comforting to Batman. He idly wondered how long had passed already. Seeing as the Shadow Realm was a world of forever night, there was no way to sleep soundly anyway, with the monsters and the urgency of the mission.

"Oh, you guys!" a very annoyed Kilowog ran up to them. "How did you get here earlier than me?"

"...magic," Batman succinctly replied, his jaw bland. Lantern and Flash gave him odd looks and even Superman looked like he was fighting not to laugh. "What?"

"Yubel's with me, and so is Zera... but I don't remember the rabbit," Judai idly commented, looking up.

A horrible thought occurred to the Great Bat and he tentatively reached up, to the pointy ears of the mask...

...and touched something soft. And plump. And furry. And from the looks currently being shot to him, giving the watery-eyed expression that would induce near-immediate sympathy in the next victim.

He put his hand down. "What rabbit? There's no rabbit."

The same look appeared on the faces of every passing Green Lantern, the judges, and even the Guardians of the Universe twisted up at the sight of the quivering bunny stuck on Batman's head.

Except for Judai. The brown-haired boy was irritated that the trial was going to be a closed-court.

"But Yubel's my friend!" He argued with the burly guard.

"I'll be fine, Judai," the fiend murmured quietly. "Do not worry. Even if I am considered guilty, they will have to have me come quietly first. And, most assuredly, I will not come quietly."

"I'm here with you," Johan gave him a small smile. "Yubel, don't worry. He'll be safe... for a given value of the term. Trouble follows him around, really."

"I trust you with him," Yubel agreed, before she turned around to walk into a court that might decide her end, the heroes of the Justice League trailing behind her like what they are; protectors.

What seemed to be a geological epoch of waiting followed, and with Judai, it was almost never a good thing. Johan merely played a tabletop game with him constantly and they were already on the fifth round when, finally, the Rose Fiend appeared in her dark glory with the heroes of the Justice League.

Silence followed before Yubel broke out in a grin. "Cleared of all charges."

"Alright!" Judai punched the air.

"We'll still be watching you," Lantern directed at Yubel, who completely ignored it.

"So, can we go now?" Johan asked a stoic-looking Bat, the rabbit now asleep and still stuck between the pointy ears.

"Yes," Batman inclined his head. "Although... I think we might have to follow you back."

Judai's face bore a smile nearly equal to the Cheshire cat. "Road trip!"

"Dinosaurs!" The Flash screamed as the last of the portal closed on the reptilian monster. "Oh... we're back."

"One hour," Batman realised. He was still standing in the middle of the atrium, and every hero passing by was giving him odd looks. "One hour. From Oa to Earth."

"No more transatlantic flights? Right, see ya, Bats!" Flash joked, before he ran off.

"One hour to pass through most Lanterns take days, or months, to get," Batman was considering. "They could declare war and we'll be none the wiser until the notices come in. Imagine how fast their transport network can be."

"Batman, enough," Superman told the increasingly paranoid Dark Knight. "How about you go back to Gotham, and handle the Joker? I'm sure that you'll feel better knowing that he's not running around causing trouble."

"I'll do that," the Dark Knight nodded, still dazed as he walked off. "I'll- why does my head feel heavy?"

"Mission completed," Superman told J'onn. "Although... I think Batman came back with more issues than before."

"I'll look into it," J'onn nodded. "Is there anything else to add?"

Superman opened his mouth, before he shut it, confused. "No, I don't think so. Thank you, J'onn."

He walked away with the secret safe, memories of the darkness and isolation promising to haunt his mind for nights to come.

"So, how was the trip through the Shadow Realm, you say?"

"..."

"Great. Very good. Well, except that I ran out of Mad Lobster."

"..."

"Fine, I'll go to Kajiki first thing. Anything else, Guardian?"

"..."

"Yes, I know, see you next world crisis."

Click. A flash of gold, and no other trace remained of the Herald of the Gentle Darkness.

Hidden in another world, and shrouded in shadows, Venominaga the Deity of Poisonous Snakes laughed as she watched her toy struggle futilely against bonds that cannot be broken.

"You cannot stop me, darkness..." the proud fighter roared to the darkness, like Ozymandias fighting fate.

Well? He thought. Answer that, darkness.

Take me if you can. But don't ever think that you'll win. I am Darkseid, I am a god... and gods will triumph.

Only silence answered, in the everlasting darkness between dimensions and space that none save those trapped in it will ever understand. Darkness... darkness and silence everlasting.

Conclusione della storia.