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Swords and the Sorcerer
Morganna walked through the flap to the war tent; she spied her son Modred at the General’s table. Modred was a striking individual, dressed in golden armor that had been enchanted by Morganna herself. Modred was the only thing that was right in the world to her, the offspring of the brief encounter she had with her half brother Arthur, King of England. “Mother, please join us,” Modred said and offered her a seat. As Morganna sat she looked over the other two men in the conference.
Vandal Savage, a nobleman from the coastland; while his mannerisms were greater than those of any knight, there was still a wild and untamed look in his lustful eyes. Savage had recruited nearly four hundred men to help Modred become rightful ruler of Camelot and all of England. His only two wishes for payment were to rule the southern portion of England as he saw fit, and the other Morganna fulfilled last night with him in her tent.
The final member of the war party was the strange cult leader named Brother Blood. His religious beliefs were not centered on Christianity like most of the region, so his following was small, but loyal to the death. There was a knowledge that Blood possessed that no man his age could have. Of course, he did claim to be nearly eighty years old even though he looked to be only in his mid twenties.
As Morganna sat with the three other leaders, she noticed that her son seemed to intimidate the others less so than she had hoped. She needed to work with the boy on his body language; there was no room to deal with an attempted turn by one of their erstwhile allies when they were this close to finally defeating Arthur and overrunning Camelot.
“Milady,” began Vandal Savage, “we were discussing the particulars of the next battle. I believe that our forces are close to victory, but we both know that with the vile wizard Merlin on his side, King Arthur is still an enemy to be reckoned. I propose we set a trap for Arthur and his noble knights. One that lures them out of their splendid lands and allows us more of an advantage.”
“What is your plan then?”
Vandal smiled. “It all involves the Grail my dear.”
“The Holy Grail itself? Do you know where it can be found?”
Vandal leaned back in his seat; as a man who had been alive since the beginning of time he knew a great many things that had always confounded the common man, but the location or pure existence of the Holy Grail had remained a mystery even to one such as he. That was a mystery he was sure this war would help him solve. “Milady, it doesn’t matter if I know where the Grail is to be found, what matters is whether or not we can draw out Arthur’s knights to find it and then lay in wait for them. That we can do, now that The Church of Blood has joined its forces with ours.” Savage smiled wickedly and looked over to Brother Blood.
“How can you be sure they will search for the Grail?”
Blood remained seated and had a far away look in his eyes, like he was seeing the future. “They will come for the magic to save Camelot, and I will be waiting. No man can defeat the power of Blood.”
King Arthur stalked around his throne room like a lion pacing in wait for its dinner. He disliked waiting this long for news from Merlin, but then he always waited on Merlin. But this past some winters the King had grown sickly, and with him the state of Camelot grew worse. Some said that the life force of the kingdom itself was tied to that of Arthur, and should he not see better days, then the kingdom would fall.
“My king, I bear horrendous news,” said a voice from behind the throne. Merlin walked out, using his large staff as a walking stick and dragging his long robes behind him. “It would seem Modred has struck and alliance with The Church of Blood and has called its warriors to his side.”
Arthur’s brow furrowed in anger. “And what of Lancelot, has he there been any sign of him?” The greatest knight in the land, and the king’s best friend, had been missing for nearly ten years, ever since Arthur found him and the Queen together in a moment of betrayal.
Merlin looked to the floor and again gave the same answer to Arthur’s question that he had given every day since this all began, “No my King, no one has seen Lancelot in quite some time. I think it is best if we look for help in other options.”
“Nonsense, I have forgiven Guenivere, though she still stays with the nuns in Hampshire to fulfill her self imposed penance. Why cannot Lancelot take my forgiveness and come back to his home?”
“I know not, my King.”
“Look about you Merlin, Camelot is in a sad state. When is the last time these halls were filled with mirth and laughter?”
“I know not, my King.”
“When is the last time the people of England lived their lives in peace and joy?”
“Some time ago, my King, before Morganna and Modred made their evil army.”
“Tell me mage, what will it take for Camelot to once again stand proud? Tell me what I must do, even though my own heart tells me it is weary of war and battle.”
“There is something that will cure thy ailment, my King. Though the risk of finding such an item can be as destructive as going without.”
Arthur rushed to Merlin’s side with desperation in his eyes. “Then tell me what it is Merlin, tell me and my knights will ride forth and retrieve the item so that Camelot will live again in prosperity.”
Merlin looked back and forth about the room, making certain they were not being watched, even though he knew they were not. “The Grail,” he whispered. “The Holy Grail itself. Find it and drink from it and the King and Kingdom shall thrive again and ride to battle!”
Arthur looked rejuvenated. “Call forth to my knights! I would meet with them! Call them to the Round Table!”
Arthur looked over the knights sitting before him. Sir Gauwain, Sir Tristan, Sir Kale, Sir Percival, and all the others, all of them men of honor and all of them willing to lay down their life for the good of King and country. “My friends, I implore you today, to find that which legend tells us cannot be found. To seek the Grail of Life and bring it to your King.”
“Where do we search?” yelled Kale, adopted brother of Arthur. “Tell me what it looks like and where to find the Grail and I will bring it to you faster than the wind can blow.”
Merlin stepped out from his hiding spot in the shadows. “I know not what it looks like nor where it is, Sir Knight.” The room exploded into curses and shouts, many wondered how they were to find the Grail if they did not know where to begin or even what it looked like. “However, this chair will show us the way to retrieve the item.” He took hold of the chair from a nearby wall and dragged it toward the Round Table. Next to the fine polished metal seats the knights were used to, the wooden chair looked terribly fragile and out of place. “This chair will be known as the Siege Perilous; only he who can find the Grail may sit in it.”
Sir Gauwain, sometimes known as the Green Knight, stood and walked to the seat. “And how do we know who will find it seer? Tell us.”
Merlin flashed his devilish grin, “The name of the knight that is worthy to find the Grail will appear on the Siege Perilous in flames, until then, no one will find that which you seek.”
Arthur coughed hard and doubled over in pain. The knights rushed to his side as one, but Arthur was quick to catch himself and stood proudly in front of his knights. “Merlin! What trickery is this? You said that the Grail would save Camelot, now you say only by sitting in this chair can we divine its whereabouts?” The knights looked back to the Siege Perilous, but Merlin was already gone.
Percival walked forward, “My King, allow me to search the countryside, I will find this Grail and deliver it onto you.”
Gauwain moved forward, “And I my King.”
Then, nearly as one, the Knights of the Round Table pledged to set forth and find the Holy Grail and return it to Camelot.
And as they left, the Siege Perilous was alone in the empty chamber, until a small spark of flames suddenly came to life on its seat, burning a letter into the chair. The letter B.
One by one the knights left Camelot and set out across England. They raced from hamlet to village, from village to town, and from town to city. They followed rumors and old philosophers on wild goose chases for nearly a year.
Sir Tristan was the first. He had followed a lead from a small village of Handinburg that led him to the Caves of Undykeberry. He tied his horse and drew his sword as he entered the caves near the shore and lit his torch when he had finally went inside so deep that the light failed to make known its presence. As he crept through the strange rock outcroppings he noticed another light up ahead, his heart started racing in anticipation of the Grail finally being so close at hand. Instead he found the followers of The Church of Blood as they set upon him from the shadows.
Tristan yelled his battle cry and attacked, slicing the arm off of one member and landing a solid strike to fell another. But the followers of Blood were willing to accept such losses, in fact they expected it, and they pushed on to fight harder even as their brothers fell missing arms, legs and hands. Tristan kept up his attack; a true knight such as he was more than a match for the pitiful peasants Blood had convinced to join his cult.
Finally, Tristan stopped to catch his breath, the cult members lay around him dead, and his wounds were numerous, but not life threatening. He made his way out of the caves to try and warn his fellows of the trap they might also be riding into when a powerful grip upon the back of his neck lifted him from the ground.
“Do not leave so hastily, Sir Knight,” Brother Blood said through gritted teeth. “The rest of my followers and I would have words with you.” Blood picked Tristan up and heaved his body into a large outcropping of stalagmites. His armor shielded him from any piercing, but the knight was nearly knocked unconscious as he hit the ground. As his eyes glazed over he searched for his sword only to find more followers as they fell upon the knight and beat him senseless. Blood smiled as the fight finally ended.
Tristan was the first, but he was far from the last. One by one the Church of Blood laid their traps for the Knights of the Round Table, and one by one they were able to either imprison or kill them. Soon, by Blood’s count, only the King and the remnants of his army remained free, and without the leadership of the knights, that army would fall within a week’s time to the forces of Modred.
As Arthur sat on his throne, he looked like a small skeleton inside his armor. Various servants scurried about him trying to make him feel more comfortable, but he hardly noticed them. Lady Elaine, Arthur’s cousin tried her best to keep his spirits up. She was a beautiful young lady, and it warmed Arthur’s heart to have her near. He stared at the doorway, praying that one of his knights might soon walk through the door, whether they had the Grail or not mattered little to him at this point, because by all reports he had the Knights were either dead or captured by Modred and his forces. “Worry not my King,” Elaine said. “Your knights are the greatest this land has ever seen, and should anyone find a way to save Camelot, it will be you.”
“I am afraid you are wrong, dear Elaine,” he said. “My knights have fallen prey to evil forces and the kingdom is without its champions.”
“Fear not, my King,” Merlin said as he melted out of the shadows. “The kingdom shall ever have its champions, whether they be here now or not is another matter entirely.”
“What are you talking about Merlin? By God man, Camelot itself is in jeopardy and here I sit but a husk of my former self listening to you spout riddles and heresy like a madman.” Arthur struggled to sit up and, with a wave of his hand, had Elaine disperse the servants. “If there be allies to save Camelot then waste no time and bring them here.”
Merlin smiled, “Time? Aye time it shall be, ingenious milord. I shall search through times past and yet to come for champions of justice to aid thee.” Merlin made a circle in the air with his walking stick and began speaking a language Arthur had never heard before, a language never before heard by the living. “Shentime thullsnarktis wetfullkunmaddal…” As Merlin spoke, the circle his staff had made seemed to turn to water then became a portal through which the two of them could see.
“My God Merlin, what am I seeing?” Arthur stood with his mouth agape. Inside the circle he watched as a man with immense strength fought against overwhelming odds, they watched as his body deflected every blow, despite wearing no visible armor, “Tis as if he is a Man of Steel,” muttered Arthur.
They watched as a Dark Knight unleashed is fury from the shadows, bringing to justice they who would do harm to others. A black bat adorned his chest.
Then there were others: an Amazon Princess who fought armies; an emerald warrior with unknown magic at his beck and call; a scarlet knight whose speed was unrivaled by any in the land; and a being from another land fighting for justice in a new world. Together the group composed a true League of Justice.
“Call them Merlin, call them to aid Camelot and all of England,” Arthur said as his voice sounded more like a cough than anything else.
“Aye, my King, I will but not here, no not here. This demands powerful magic not fit for a throne room.” Merlin whisked himself away down the halls of Camelot out of Arthur’s sight.
“Hurry my friend,” said the frail king. “Please…hurry.”
Deep within the center of the Earth, Merlin called upon the Dragon’s Breath to free itself and aid his call to the warriors in his vision. The magic he was employing was taxing, but for his King, Merlin thought it was worth the risk.
As Merlin began his enchantment, a single intruder made his way into Merlin’s lair. As Merlin closed his eyes, he was unaware that Vandal Savage had convinced Morganna to reveal to him the secret to Merlin’s lair. He laid in wait till Merlin was in the throes of his spell, a spell that Savage was convinced would help him find that which he sought more than all of England: the Holy Grail.
“Look upon me, sorcerer!” cried Savage. “Give me the location of the Grail or die!” Eldritch magic flew from Savage’s body, consuming Merlin in a hail of fire and rock.
Merlin never stopped his casting, because to do so now would cause those he tried to pull through time to be lost forever, he needed all of his concentration. Savage’s attack intensified as the mists of time blew around them both, suddenly a Man of Steel in blue was in Merlin’s sight and he used all of his might and pulled the League of Justice through time. That was when Savage used his most powerful spells…
Merlin rocked out of his self-imposed trance and stopped his spell casting to defend himself. Rock and fire flew around the room as Merlin created shields of ice to form and protect him. An explosion rocked the cavern, then another. Finally Savage felt it best to leave the old man to die in a collapsed cavern and find the Grail another time. After all, he was immortal.
The ceiling to the cavern began its collapse and, with his last breath, Merlin cast a final spell and then vanished as his lair was destroyed.
Hours passed as Savage rode back to the encampment of Modred. As he entered, he made for the command tent to check on the progress of Blood and the others. “Modred, I bring news,” he proclaimed as he entered the tent.
“News, Sir Vandal?” asked Morganna. “We have already seen the fall of Arthur’s loyal knights, we have watched as his armies grow smaller each day, what other news is there besides the inevitable fall of Camelot?”
Vandal smiled, “Merlin is dead.”
The Siege Perilous flamed again, this time the letters read BA.
The throne room of Arthur rocked as magic swirled about it in a kaleidoscope of colors. Arthur and Elaine watched in awe as Merlin’s ethereal body floated past them to an unknown destination. Suddenly smoke erupted from the center of the room and the Man of Steel walked forth.
“My God, he did it.” Arthur said out loud. “Sir Knight, welcome to my court, welcome to Camelot.”
The Man of Steel looked confused as he eyed the king and his surroundings, then the smoke parted again and another knight from the future appeared.
“The Dark Knight!” cried Elaine, and then to her shock she saw that it was someone else than she had seen, another warrior from a time far away. Not the Batman, but Nightwing.
“What the...” Dick Grayson looked around the throne room in shock. He spied Superman and walked to his side, “Superman, where are we? What’s going on here?” Superman looked at Nightwing with no recognition on his face, never saying a word. Nightwing placed his hand on his shoulder and whispered, “Superman, what’s wrong with…”
The blow came from nowhere, and caught Nightwing totally off guard. Superman’s punch felt like it may have broken a rib as he slammed into the far throne room wall he was nearly knocked unconscious. Superman looked around the room and leapt through the roof, leaving a hole in the castle as he flew off at top speed.
Again the mists parted to find more heroes coming forth: Green Lantern Anthony Drake; the super fast Titan Bart Allen known as Impulse; Kendra Saunders who was better known as Hawk Girl; and Cassie Sandsmark who was the Titan Wonder Girl.
Together they were not the Justice League, but Arthur looked at them as his last hope.
Heroes of The Round Table
Anthony Drake looked at his surroundings; somehow he just went from walking into his apartment after his shift with the Phoenix SCU to standing in his Green Lantern uniform in a castle. To make matters more confusing, he was standing with other super heroes who he had never met before, and they were all standing before a man that claimed to be King Arthur.
“I am pleased that Merlin was able to summon you to help us,” Arthur said. He stepped down from his throne and approached Impulse and Wonder Girl, “I must say, some of you looked quite different in Merlin’s vision than you do now. Some of you looked quite older, you barely look old enough to be a squire to one of my knights,” he said looking over Bart.
Lady Elaine walked over to Arthur, “Now cousin, please remember that you said they were here to help, not be criticized by a thankless king.” She walked over to Hawkgirl and Green Lantern and curtsied. “I am Lady Elaine, second cousin and counsel to King Arthur, ruler of England.”
Hawkgirl walked forward and did her best to emulate Elaine’s curtsy. “My name is Hawkgirl, um… how exactly did I get here?”
“I think I can answer that,” said Nightwing from the far end of the chamber. He was just pulling himself up after smashing into the wall after Superman lashed out at him. “We’re in Camelot, court of King Arthur. We were brought here by his sorcerer Merlin to help him in some way.” Wonder Girl rushed over to Nightwing and helped him walk to the others; Superman’s punch may have broken a rib. “Magic isn’t something that Superman reacts well to, something happened to him as he was brought over, he acted like he didn’t know who I was, punched me, and blasted through the roof.”
The Siege Perilous smoked again, and the letters now read BAR.
“You got hit by Superman?” exclaimed Impulse. “Cool!”
“Yeah, cool. I think the only reason I’m still alive to talk is because he doesn’t seem to know what he is capable of, otherwise he could have punched me all the way to France.” Nightwing sat down at the Round Table. “We have to find Superman and then get Merlin and get him to send us back home.”
Arthur walked to Nightwing’s side. “Merlin’s whereabouts are unknown to me at this time, but he brought you here on my request. Camelot and all of England are in danger. I need knights such as yourselves to help me stop Modred and his forces from defeating my forces.” Arthur broke out into a coughing attack that caused Elaine to rush to his side and help him to his seat at the Round Table. She motioned for the others to sit and join the king. “I beg you for your help. Modred has enlisted powerful allies in the Church of Blood and a sorcerer unknown to me, and now with Merlin lost somewhere, Camelot is at a severe disadvantage. I saw in Merlin’s vision how you and your fellows helped fight for justice, will you now fight for your King?”
Hawkgirl was the first to speak. “This isn’t our fight to win, we shouldn’t be here, your majesty, this could…” She was cut off as Nightwing stood up and began to speak.
“We’re helping, if the Church of Blood is here, then the King is going to need our assistance. Besides, we still have to find Superman and Merlin before we can go anywhere and Blood has caused me enough problems in the future, I won’t let him run roughshod over the past.”
“But Nightwing,” Wonder Girl said. “I’ve read about Camelot before, there isn’t any mention of us helping King Arthur.”
“Camelot’s not real Cassie,” said Impulse matter-of-factly.
“And just where do you think we are, Impulse? Disneyland?”
Drake couldn’t take it any longer. “Listen guys, I didn’t believe in a lot of things before I got this ring, but it’s shown me that anything is possible. I know about King Arthur just like the rest of you, and I know he’s one of the good guys, so I’m helping him in any way that I can.” Looking over the group his gaze caught the look from Lady Elaine and her emerald eyes, Anthony suddenly found himself smiling ever so slightly.
“What about the Knights of the Round Table?” asked Impulse.
“Look where we’re sitting,” said Wonder Girl.
“Thank you all,” said Arthur. He began to stand as a page ran into the chamber.
“My King, your forces on the eastern border are under heavy attack from Modred’s army. They need assistance or they will all surely fall!”
Nightwing looked at the others at the table. “So what’s it going to be people?” As one they all stood and followed the page outside the castle. No one noticed that the chair Impulse sat in was again flaming with the final letter burned in its seat, BART.
“Lantern get us to the front line as fast as you can!” Nightwing was barking orders like a madman. “When we get there, Impulse your job is to pull out as many injured fighters as you can. Wonder Girl you’re on search and destroy mode, take out as many clusters of enemy knights as possible. Hawkgirl, take out as many of the commanding officers as possible, without leadership they may retreat faster. GL, you’re our heavy hitter, use your ring to protect as much of Arthur’s forces as possible and try at the same time to disarm the others.” As Nightwing finished he and the others saw the carnage that lay before them. This was war, medieval war, and neither side was taking prisoners. A battle for the nation of England was raging before them, but none of them doubted each other’s abilities and they waded in to the fight with victory in their eyes.
Impulse raced in and out of the battle, he grabbed wounded knights and peasants alike and withdrew them far away from the front lines to the makeshift medical areas. While he was helping the fallen he tried his best to disarm as many of Modred’s men as possible, hoping to force them to fall back. What he saw that he was really doing was giving Arthur’s men unarmed opponents who fell easily to the sword. “Stop it! They’re unarmed, let them go!”
“This is war Impulse!” cried Hawkgirl. “These men are fighting for their freedom and their families. They will give no quarter to the enemy, you have to realize that no matter what we do here many of the are going to die.” As Hawkgirl spoke she slammed her mace into the shield of a Church of Blood member who was on horseback, causing him to fall to the ground.
Impulse watched as Wonder Girl was also doing her best not to seriously injure any of her opponents, but for every three men she forced to retreat or knocked to the ground, there was one who was killed by Arthur’s forces.
Impulse raced around helping where he could and green knights fighting in place of the injured he pulled from battle. A Green Lantern that he had never seen before used his ring to help fight as many enemy soldiers as his concentration would allow. Whoever this Lantern was he was unaffected by the carnage about him, he simply gritted his teeth and dished out the punishment. Impulse steeled himself and went back in to the fight; he had lives to save.
One Hour Later
Nightwing scanned the horizon, but the last of Modred’s troops were wither dead or retreated to the safety of the forest. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Hawkgirl helping to tend to the wounded. He thought how funny they must have looked to all of the soldiers, yet they welcomed their aid without hesitation.
“Nightwing,” said Green Lantern. “I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced,” he offered his hand to Nightwing.
“Good to meet you GL,” he said back. “You handled yourself well for someone I’ve never met before. Exactly how long have you had that ring?”
Drake looked over his shoulder, trying to find something to change the subject. “Maybe we should get some of these cut marks cleaned.” They had both taken a few shots here and there; of course their wounds were minor compared to some of Arthur’s soldiers. They walked over to the water buckets and looked at the filthy water that soldiers were using to clean their wounds. “Maybe I can do something with my ring instead,” he said.
Impulse raced bandages and water back and forth as much as he could, his shoes gave him super speed, but he would gladly trade them in for a case of super strength, he was running down quickly. He saw Nightwing and GL talking like old friends and saw Hawkgirl helping more of the soldiers when it occurred to him that he hadn’t seen Wonder Girl since the battle ended.
He raced around the perimeter, even chancing to yell her name once in awhile. It wasn’t until he made his way to the nearby river that he finally found her. “Cassie, what are you doing way over here by yourself? We’re getting ready to head back to Camelot soon I’m sure and…” He stopped when he saw Cassie was crying. “Cassie what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
Cassie looked up at Bart from where she was sitting on the grass. “Bart, I don’t think I can do this.”
“What do you mean? You’ve been in plenty of fights before Cassie, this is no different for us.”
“It is different, it’s all different. Look at all the people who died here today! I haven’t been around more than six dead people my whole life and today I watched helplessly as nearly a hundred died around me! I was useless!”
“But think of how many more would have died today if it hadn’t been for you! You made a difference today Cassie, believe me I saw what was going on and I hated it too, then I realized that we were the last hope of these people! Don’t ever think you’re useless, I’ve never met a braver or better person than you Cassie.”
He smile and caressed her cheek with his hand and when she smiled back Bart felt like they were the only two people in the world. “Cassie I have to tell you..”
“Impulse! Wonder Girl!” Hawkgirl’s shouts brought the two of them back to reality. “We’re heading back to Camelot! Nightwing wants both of you back now.” Her mighty wings beat hard into the air and turned her back towards the others.
Bart looked toward the ground, embarrassed about what he was about to say to Cassie. “I guess we should go back,” was all he could manage to get out.
“I guess,” she replied and flew into the air.
Stupid! Stupid! She’s your friend’s girlfriend! What were you thinking! As Bart admonished himself he sped back to the others.
“What do you mean you were routed!” screamed Vandal Savage. Every report made by their soldiers told Savage, Modred, Morganna, and Blood the same thing. They had been routed even though they outnumbered the enemy nearly three to one. “How is this possible?"
“Milord,” stammered one fighter who suffered from many cut wounds. “Milord and Lady, we were on the verge of victory till the arrival of the Green Knight himself!”
Morganna’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Sir Guawaine? That’s impossible! After Brother Blood captured him, I had my men strap him to the Tree of Woe with the others.”
“I know not his name milady, but he used great magic to be everywhere at once. He was too powerful for my men to face.”
Another soldier rolled over off of his deathbed to speak. “Nay, twas not him, it was a speed demon from the pits of Hell itself that did come to claim the spirits of any man who fell! I tried several times to cleave his head from his shoulders and each time the creature took my blade with him, leaving me defenseless.”
“This is impossible!” screamed Morganna. “Arthur doesn’t have this kind of power even if Merlin wasn’t as dead as you claim him to be, Savage.”
Savage gave her a deadly look. “Milady, obviously your men are spouting lies to cover their ineptitude. There are no green knights or demons on the battlefield, they simply failed.”
Modred entered the tent. “Children! The men say Arthur has a young girl with the strength of twenty men fighting for him! Rumors abound of an angel from heaven flying down to smite any who dare challenge Arthur’s reign as King! And even more claim that a silent dark knight swept through them like a fire, disabling men wherever he went! What in the name of Hell is going on here?”
“Calm yourself, Modred,” said Savage. “I will get to the bottom of this with your mother.” As he spoke, Morganna cast a spell and the two of them appeared as an old peasant couple. “We shall draw near to Camelot and find an explanation to these events. Brother Blood, I think it is wise if you direct your men in the search for the Grail, it is the only thing that will save the old king’s life now, and if he does have new magical champions, it is likely one of them will try to find it shortly. Come my dear, let us be off to court.”
As Drake let the others off of his emerald magic carpet, he saw King Arthur rushing towards them in the courtyard, but more importantly he saw that Lady Elaine was with him. Tony had seen some beautiful women in his time, but he found he didn’t know what beauty was until he met Elaine. He didn’t realize it was him she was staring at until Arthur spoke.
“My friends, all of Camelot thanks you for your help this day. But the war will not end unless you aid me in taking this fight to the Church of Blood and Modred himself.” As Arthur spoke his coughing became worse.
The heroes walked inside the castle with Arthur and Elaine and sat once again at the Round Table. Nightwing looked at the group of heroes. Impulse and Wonder Girl were young and inexperienced, but they had pulled through the battle like pros. He had been worried about them and even went out of his way during the fighting to stay as close to Wonder Girl as he could to keep an eye on her. Green Lantern was also handling himself well, and his question dodging made him think that his ring had been with him for a while. Hawkgirl was the one that seemed the most unaffected by what was going on around them. According to Batman’s files on her, she had some memories of being resurrected, so time displacement might not be that bad on her.
“We’ll help anyway that we can sir, but I think that our first priority is finding Superman and Merlin; with their help this fight should be over with quickly,” Nightwing said. “Your health also seems to be an issue. Perhaps it would be best if we tabled our discussions until tomorrow and met with you after we have all rested?”
Arthur looked into his eyes and smiled. “I thank you for your help, and we shall meet tomorrow.” Arthur struggled to stand and looked as if he would pass out. Lady Elaine put her arms around her cousin to keep him from falling.
“Let me help,” said Green Lantern. He quickly made an emerald waterbed and Arthur sat down. “Why don’t you show me the way, Lady Elaine?” Real smooth Tony! he thought.
Elaine smiled that fabulous smile again and led him down the hallway. As they left everyone’s view, several old servants walked in to escort the heroes to their chambers.
“And this should serve your needs for the evening milady,” said the elder lady as she showed Kendra her quarters.
“Thank you very much, ma’am,” she replied as she stared at the massive bedroom before her.
“Tell me, dear, is the little girl as strong as all the soldiers say?”
“Well, I’m not sure how strong she is, but she was the equal to at least ten of the men today.”
“And this lady with the wings, she isn’t really from Heaven?” asked the kindly old man as he showed Cassie to her room.
“Hawkgirl? No, she’s from, uhh, you know I’m not exactly sure where she’s from, but she’s a human just like you and me,” replied Cassie.
“I see then the myths of the Green Knight must also be false. He can’t really fight twenty men at a time can he?” the old man said as he opened the door.
“I think Green Lantern can do anything he wants to with that ring of his. I’ve heard it called the most powerful weapon in the universe,” Impulse said as he stepped inside his opulent chamber. “Of course, I have no idea how he…” As Bart turned around he found that the old man was gone. “Pretty quick for an old guy.”
Lady Elaine closed the door to Arthur’s chambers and whispered to Tony. “He is finally sleeping. You and your comrades have brought him much happiness today. For the first time in months I think he believes in the survival of his kingdom. I give you my thanks.”
“No need for that,” Tony said a little embarrassed. “If I would have known that this magical place was filled with people as kind and caring as yourself then I would have come to help without the aid of magic.”
“Why thank you, Green Lantern.”
“Please, call me Tony.”
“Tony?”
“Or Anthony if you prefer. Green Lantern is a name I am still getting comfortable with having.”
“Sir Anthony, then,” she said and smiled but quickly hid it by looking at the floor. “Would you escort me to my door?”
“It would be my pleasure.”
Morganna and Savage met outside and made their way out of Camelot through the darkness. “I think we have all the information on these new knights that we need,” said Morganna.
Savage’s eyes glinted in the moonlight, the only information he needed was that one of them possessed the most powerful weapon in the universe, and he planned to make it his.
Cassie stirred in her sleep as she heard the noise through a haze at first. Soon the noise turned into voices speaking about her and she shot out of bed ready to defend herself. “Who’s there?” she yelled and stood in a fighting stance. The three female servants stopped breathing they were so scared. They stood holding large jars of steaming water that they had been heating over the fireplace in her bedroom, making her a bath. “Oh, well, um, continue?” she said sheepishly.
She met up with Impulse after her bath. He was already in costume, even though it was torn in several places she could see that the servants had been trying to stitch it up in several spots and it made his uniform look like a patchwork of sorts. She couldn’t help but think it made him look cute standing there with that crooked grim of his. “Hi Bart!”
Bart took a deep bow before her. “All hail Milady Cassie of Wonder!” he proclaimed. He was already embarrassed at himself, but the playful giggle that came from Cassie erased any humiliation he had, it was good to see her laugh again after yesterday. “And what would milady like for breakfast this fine morning?” He took her arm and led her to the smell of fresh fruit and they talked of the marvels about them.
Some many miles away from the happy morning in Camelot, Superman stood and watched the sunrise on the coast. The sun invigorated him, he did not know why. He looked about him and saw the people in the village mill about with their morning chores. They bundled themselves against the cold wind, he did not feel the cold. They prepared breakfast for their children, he was neither hungry nor thirsty, he did not know why. He also didn’t understand why he could see the villagers in their homes when it would take a man nearly half a day to walk there. He did not even know his name.
Nightwing walked to the Round Table where the others had already gathered, he was still holding his side where Superman had punched him. He had already wrapped his ribs, but he was starting to fear that there was more wrong with him than he first thought. When he had woke up there was dried blood on his pillow…he was probably bleeding internally. Unfortunately for him they weren’t in a position to take him to a hospital for treatment. He would have to stick it out and hope they made it home soon.
“Alright folks, after our conversations last night with King Arthur, I feel we have no choice but to try and help him win his battle with Modred as we search for Superman and Merlin. Superman could really be anywhere in the world, so Green Lantern he’s your priority. Find him any way that you can, but only engage him if necessary, with the way the magic has affected his mind he could be quite dangerous.” Nightwing felt a searing pain in his left side that made him stop talking and he nearly fell to the ground.
“Nightwing!” cried Hawkgirl as she flew to his side and helped him into a chair. The others sat around him with concerned looks on their faces. “What’s wrong?”
“Seems that shot I took from Superman was a little worse than I let you guys know,” he talked through gritted teeth as he tried to fight back the pain. Soon a droplet of blood appeared on his lips.
“Nightwing this is a lot worse than you let on,” said Drake. As a police officer, he had seen people who had been shot bleed internally and die. He started to fear the same was happening here.
Suddenly there was a flurry of commotion outside the chamber and Lady Elaine rushed inside. “My friends, the King is dying! I beg of you, please finish the knight’s quest and find the Holy Grail, it is the only thing that can save him now!” She was nearly in tears and if they weren’t all stunned by the news of Nightwing’s condition and now the king’s one of them would have noticed how Elaine ran right to Green Lantern’s embrace.
“You mean THE Holy Grail?” asked Hawkgirl.
“Yes, Merlin said that if we find it the king and the land would be healed as one.”
“How do we find it, Elaine?” asked Drake.
“Merlin was so vague in his telling, but he did say that the name of the knight would appear on the Siege…” she gasped in shock as she realized the Siege Perilous was already occupied, by Impulse! “You must get up! Only the knight whose name appears on the Siege Perilous may sit there!”
Impulse jumped out of his seat and stood behind Nightwing’s chair. “But that’s where I’ve been sitting since we got here.”
Cassie leaned over the Siege and surprise flashed across her face. “Impulse, your name is on this chair!”
The others leaned in and saw BART emblazoned on the seat, as one they looked over at Impulse. “What?” he said.
Sacrifice of the Valiant
Impulse couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable as the gathering of heroes stared at him in disbelief. “Don’t ask me where the Holy Grail is, I don’t even know what it looks like!”
Wonder Girl was the first to break the silence of disbelief. “Bart, the Siege Perilous has your name burned into its seat! You are the person who can find the Holy Grail and save King Arthur and Camelot!” As Cassie spoke, Nightwing groaned in pain, clutching his side, the attack by Superman the day before had left him with internal injuries that now seemed to be life threatening.
“Well that’s great!” Impulse said. “And just where in the world am I supposed to find this thing? I mean Arthur already said he sent all of his knights to scour the countryside for it and they never cam back!”
Hawkgirl lifted Nightwing back into a chair. “It doesn’t matter if all the others failed Impulse, if you are the one to find the Grail, not only can it save Arthur, but it is also our best bet in saving Nightwing. By drinking from the Grail all injuries will be healed, so here is what we will do. Wonder Girl, you stay in and around Camelot, if any of Modred’s forces attack you will be sorely needed to help repel their attack. Green Lantern, Impulse and I will conduct searches around England for Merlin, Superman, and the Grail itself.” She looked down at the ailing Nightwing, “Elaine can we please ask your help in looking over our friend until we return?”
“Of course Hawkgirl, I will do all that I can to help you to repay the debt this kingdom already owes you.”
Hawkgirl started down the hallway with the others, “Don’t thank us yet Elaine, not until this war is over.”
Modred sat on his horse impatiently, he watched as soldier after soldier rode past him in defeat. Not more than stone’s throw was a bridge that crossed a small creek near the front lines of Arthur’s southern perimeter defense. Crossing the bridge would cut a day’s ride off his men’s march to battle, yet a lone warrior stood on the opposite side of the bridge and allowed no one to pass. Those that chose to challenge the unarmored warrior to single combat were all soundly defeated in a battle as quickly as their began. He gazed at the man, clad in dirty blue and rags, with a torn red cape flowing off of his shoulders. His yellow crest was one that Modred did not recognize, but he was certain that he would cross the bridge, no matter if the Devil himself stood in his way.
Morganna and Savage approached Modred’s horse, both knew what he was already thinking. “My son,” began Marganna. “Allow one of the other soldiers to try again, I certain it is only a matter of time before the warrior falls.”
“No! I will go myself, if I am to be King of this land then the peasants must learn their place.”
Morganna smiled at Savage, she enjoyed watching her son proclaim his future power in front of their pawns, it made them remember their place in the order of things. “Then please allow your mother a small favor,” she reached for her necklace around her neck and from it pulled a tiny vial. She opened the vial and allowed a drop of thee gold liquid inside it to touch her son’s armor. “No spear, no sword, no man can harm thee whilst you are clad in this armor,” she said rubbing her hands all over the cold metal.
Modred waited for her to finish and rode to the bridge. “Make way for your future King of England stranger. We would use this bridge to hasten our travel to Camelot and the death of Arthur.”
“This is my place,” called back the stranger. He would have proclaimed his name if he could remember it, but all his memories could go back were to the day he found himself in that strange castle. “There are other ways to the kingdom of Camelot, go around. I do not wish to harm any other soldiers.”
Modred grunted his anger. “This is no mere soldier you face now sir, I am Modred, future King of England, so I say to you, stand aside or feel my steel.”
“If you are worthy to be king, then you are worthy to defeat me in combat. I search for my place in the world and cannot find the man who can defeat me in combat. I accept your challenge and if I am defeated I swear to follow you and name you my king.” Superman walked from the end of the bridge to an open portion of the field and awaited Modred.
As he lined up across from his foe, Modred drew out his mace and charged forward on his horse. Superman merely stood his ground as the horse thundered towards him. Modred’s mace glinted in the sunlight as he held it above his head and thrust it down at his opponent, only to see it shatter into three pieces on impact. Superman used his left hand to grab hold of Modred by the armor and wrench him from his horse, but as Superman made contact the strange magical energies about the metal caused him to become lightheaded and he fell to one knee.
“By Heaven above,” whispered Savage. “Modred may yet win despite the power this stranger possesses.”
Modred was the first to his feet, and he drew his sword from his side. “Yield stranger, I have no desire to kill such a powerful warrior when I could have him battling my enemy.”
Superman struggled to his feet, “I don’t know what happened, but I am far from defeated. If it is combat you seek, then I will oblige, but no man can defeat me.”
The two combatants raced at each other and clashed. Superman’s left hand staved off Modred’s sword, but the simple act of grappling with Modred in his enchanted armor was making him weaker by the moment. “Do you yield?” screamed Modred.
Superman succumbed to one knee. “I do not!” he shouted and jumped high into the sky carrying Modred with him.
Morganna screamed and Vandal’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Never in all my years did I think I would see this sight,” he said.
As they cleared the tops of the ancient trees, Modred’s will was resolute. “Fly to Heaven or Hell man, you shall call me king this day!” Superman’s brow began sweating as the magic acted like a poison to his system sapping him of his power. Ever slowly the duo floated back to the ground where Modred landed a hard kcik that sent Superman onto his back. “I ask again, do you yield?”
Superman tried to stand, “I…I do.”
“What is your name sir?” asked Modred as he relaxed his stance.
“I have no name, I know only that I am a man like you who can perform these wonders feats of strength. Finally I have found a man who is my equal in combat, I promise to serve you wherever you lead.”
Modred raised his sword at him again. “Well then Man of Wonders, kneel before Modred!”
Anthony Drake flew over northern Asia; at least that’s where he hoped he was now, without the usual landmarks it was becoming difficult to tell exactly where in this medieval world he was at some points. Find the Grail, an item I don’t know if I even believe in and save Camelot. What have I gotten into now, and how do we get out of here? As Tony thought of his current predicament he thought again of Lady Elaine. Not only had she proven herself to be a caring woman, but also she was beautiful and kind. He started to wonder what he would when and if they found a way home. Part of him wanted to return, but there was a small portion that would like to stay and explore this thing with Elaine. They had talked well into the night the prior evening, and he had never been so into a woman before in his life, maybe this is what I am supposed to do with the rest of my life. Reaching the Pacific ocean he turned and started to cross the southern portion of Asia using his ring to keep searching for the Grail or Superman as he went, if nothing came up he would be able to reach England by dark.
Hopeless. Hawkgirl flew further into the forest in northern England, searching for anything that would help her in her hunt for the Grail. The woods made it difficult for her to maneuver in, and several times she was forced to land and make her way on foot. As the trees crowded in on her more and more she thought of home, the JSA, and of Carter. She wondered if she would ever see any of them again or if she was stuck playing the flying knight for the rest of her life.
The trees in the forest were blotting nearly all of the sunlight out, but her keen eyesight allowed her to see where she was going and she pressed on, she wanted to make sure she covered as much area as possible before heading back to Camelot. She noticed the trees all seemed dead, but at the same time their trunks looked to have wicked faces on them grinning at her and plotting evil things. She heard the call of ravens overhead as they passed by her, then a low moaning noise.
At first the moan was so faint she was forced to quit walking on the dead leaves under her feet, as the crunching drowned it out. She heard it again, the moan was something like she had heard in an old movie meant to scare the audience.
But there it was again, louder as she made her way, pulling branches away from her face. There was more than one as she heard it again, like someone was saying the letter O for an extended amount of time. She barely noticed the light was all but gone. Nor did she notice the three figures moving in behind her.
“This is my advisor Vandal Savage and this is my mother, Morganna,” stated Modred as he introduced his newest knight. “Now we must know what to call you my friend.”
“I said before, I have no name,” said Superman.
Morganna ran her fingers over his chest and through his hair. “Such a wonderful specimen of a man.” She noticed the flair of jealousy in Savage’s eyes. “I am sure that I could make you remember more than your name if you would come with me for the evening.”
“I have it!” announced Modred. “We shall call you The Knight of Wonders, and I shall use your power to counter that of my hated father Arthur and his magical allies.”
“So be it,” said Superman. “I am yours to command.”
Savage scoffed aloud and went outside the tent. Morganna met him outside. “What is wrong milord? Do you not see the advantage we gain by having his power in our camp?”
Savage laughed at Morganna. “Are you that stupid woman? Do you think it a coincidence that Arthur finds himself with magical allies on the eve of his destruction and now so close to victory we find one who eclipses them all in power? He is obviously a spy and you and your inbred imbecile of a son welcome you into our camp and throw your plans and body at his feet.”
“Watch your tone Savage! Modred will take the throne of England, do not forget that, lest you be an enemy of the kingdom itself!”
Savage’s eyes burned with anger as he clenched his fists. “I do not need you or your pathetic kingdom any longer whore! I will have the ultimate weapon in the universe this evening and it is I that you will call King and master!” Savage quickly uttered a simple teleportation spell and departed the camp as Morganna set her mind in motion on how to kill the upstart.
Impulse searched everything he came in contact with, rocks, caves, trees, and still he found no trace or clue to the Grail itself. His body was quickly running down and he wondered how many more caverns he could search before he would have to sleep. He knew Nightwing and King Arthur depended on him, but without knowing where to search it all seemed hopeless.
The cavern he was in was a tight fit in some areas, and his speed did him little good, and as he continued he heard the sound of rushing water. Soon he found an underground waterfall, feeding a large lake blow him. The light from his torch showed that on the ground ahead were pieces of armor. He walked forward to investigate them when a noise behind him caught his attention.
“Welcome young sorcerer,” said a man dressed in white, black, and red robes, with a skull shaped helmet on his head. “I am Brother Blood, and I also search for the Holy Grail.”
“Well guess what ugly? I have no freaking idea where it is, so why don’t you back up just a little, your BO is a little much this evening!” Bart tried talking tough, but the sheer presence of this man scared him, and he had faced down a giant Starro among other foes and this man still scared him.
“I am afraid you do not understand little one. I seek the Grail, therefore you are in my way.” Blood pulled a small pouch from his side and threw it at Impulse. Bart tried to doge, but the confines of the cavern prevented him from escaping as the pouch his the ground in front of him and a yellow powder flew into the air.
Bart started coughing uncontrollably, but still used his speed to whirl in place and disperse the powder in to the air. Even so, his face was red, and he found that it was harder to catch his breath. Blood moved closer to him as the feeling of asphyxiation washed over him.
In reality, the dust was simple compound of opium and other herbs that caused the victim to hallucinate. Blood used Impulse’s delusion to walk up on him and began using his great strength to begin to choke the life out of him. As the crazed Impulse fought to catch his breath he didn’t comprehend that it was Blood crushing his windpipe with his bare hands.
“Good bye boy,” said as he felt the final breath leave Impulse’s body. He lifted the limp body and tossed it down the waterfall to the lake below.
The moaning was loud and numerous as Hawkgirl pressed on, suddenly a swooshing noise caused her to turn and she was barely able to hold her mace up to block a blow from the Church of Blood member’s sword. The shock of the attack still sent her to the ground, and she saw as the three warrior priests closed in on her. She thought quickly of taking to the air, but remembered her enclosed space. She instead lashed out at the closest foe with her mace, a blow that was blocked with his shield but left him open to a kick to the side of his head. Hawkgirl’s boot made a loud smacking noise at it found his cheek and eye, the man screamed in pain and shock and fell to the ground.
Another fighter moved in and stabbed at Kendra with a spear but she used her wings as a shield and buffered the spearhead to the side. Her wing then shot out to the right and smashed into the third villains hand causing him to drop his sword. “Come on boys, I’ve been waiting to beat on something all day.”
With one of his compatriots already down, the second fighter shouted a primeval battle cry and charged forward with his spear. Kendra moved at the last second and the man only succeeded in skewering his friend. Kendra grabbed the back of the spearman’s head and jerked him backwards off his feet slamming him hard into the ground.
She looked around, two unconsciousness and another was dead. She heard the moaning again, this time with cries of, “Over here.” She took up her mace and went further into the darkness until the sight before her stopped her and made her stomach uneasy.
There in the forest was the largest black tree she had ever seen, its bark looked like leathery skin and it was devoid of all foliage. Instead of leaves there were men hanging in various positions around the tree. They were bound by rope that was so tight that it dug into their skin and had opened wounds around their ankles, wrists, and necks. Various insects crawled over the men, eating away ever so slowly on the live ones and quickly over those who had already perished. At the site of Hawkgirl, several of them started to sob and asked for their release to Heaven. “An Angel…she has come to take us to Heaven…to end our suffering even though we failed our King.”
Kendra fought back the bile in her throat. “I’m not an angel, I’m your friend.” She began the task of freeing the surviving Knights of the Round Table.
Wonder Girl returned to the castle after flying over the northern perimeter and finding all was well. She walked to Nightwing’s room and found that he was asleep. At least when you sleep you aren’t in pain she thought. She stood at the window and saw the sun setting, she wondered how long it would be until Impulse and the others made it back. She had been worried al day about them, especially Impulse. She couldn’t remember anyone being as kind to her as he had been these past few days, not even her boyfriend Superboy. Come home safe Bart.
She walked out of Nightwing’s room and saw Green Lantern walking ahead of her down the hall. She was about to call his name when she saw Lady Elaine come up to him and the two engaged in a long embrace. Well Mr. Green Lantern, it seems I’m not the only one thinking of the good side this trip has produced. She turned the opposite direction passing an old male servant and headed out to the courtyard outside, she wanted to give the young lovers time to themselves.
“Sir Anthony!” Elaine said with relief in her heart as she saw that he had returned safely. “I am so pleased you have returned.” She hugged Anthony even though it was not the proper thing to do as a member of the royal court. But she found herself quickly falling in love with the man’s noble heart.
“I’m sorry Elaine, I couldn’t find a trace of the Grail, Merlin, or my friend. How is Arthur?”
“He is so still sometimes that I wonder if he has already passed on, but his heart still beats within his breast. I have faith in you and your friends Sir Anthony.”
An old servant came towards them and Elaine parted away from Anthony. “Milord,” he said, “May I show you to your room so that you may rest from your day’s work?”
“Thank you sir, but I am fine, I know my way around the castle now. I think I am going to have dinner with this lovely lady tonight before I retire for the evening.”
The man’s expression faded from a calm exterior to one of rage as Vandal Savage allowed the disguise to fade away. “I would have preferred to do this in private sir, but the lady will be dead within days anyway.”
Anthony’s shock lasted for only a second as Vandal cast a spell that shot blue glowing bolts into his chest causing a searing pain to go down his left arm. Elaine tried to call for the guard, but Vandal slapped her hard across the face knocking her into a hallway wall. He turned back around to see Drake getting to his feet despite the pain that made him feel like he was having a heart attack. “Your magic ring will be mine!” growled Savage as he drew his sword from his side.
“You want it? Come get it asshole!” Drake created an emerald sword and shield and thrust his weapon down hard at Vandal.
The blow was blocked, and Drake soon found himself overmatched in swordplay with the veteran fighter. “Yield Green Knight, and I shall spare your life this night.” Vandal licked his lips with anticipation of holding the magic ring.
Drake used his shield to push Vandal away and flew to the ceiling. He fired a twin blast of energy and as Savage blocked one with his sword the second washed over his body creating a green straight jacket and a mask that covered his mouth with little barbs. “Nobody’s dying tonight, at least not on our team.” He made his way over to Elaine and helped her up from the ground. “Are you okay Elaine?” he asked. As she looked up at him he saw the small trickle of blood from her swollen lip and Anthony never felt like hurting someone as badly as he did in that moment. “You bastard!”
Anthony heard the low laughing by Savage. “You think I care that your wench is harmed? I will do far worse than that to her when I am free and possess your magic.” Vandal continued his laughter as Drake stalked toward him and took a swing at him. His shock was staggering as his fist went right through Savage’s ethereal frame. “Did you truly think I would be held by such a rudimentary trap?” came Savage’s voice from behind. Anthony spun around only to be bludgeoned in the head with the handle of Savage’s sword. Somehow the enchanted weapon made it through the protective field the ring created around his body.
Savage reached down and tried to pry the magic ring from the dazed Green Lantern’s hand, but he was having no luck. “Won’t do…you…any good. I can’t…even take it off myself…you idiot.” Drake was trying to regain his senses and his footing, he knew if the sword could penetrate his shield that it wouldn’t be long before…
“If I cannot claim my prize from your grasp, I shall take it from your lifeless body!” Savage waited for the dazed Drake to stand and then he thrust his sword forward.
“Noooooo!”
Drake’s scream filled Camelot and seemed to echo forever. He watched Elaine fell forward, Savage’s sword buried deep within her breast.
“A pity,” Savage said as he reached for Drake again.
“YOU MURDERING BASTARD!” screamed Anthony. His fist slammed into the side of Vandal’s face, again and again; finally the fourth blow landed and sent Savage sprawling to the stone floor. Anthony jumped on top of him and began pummeling his face until blood flowed freely to the ground. He stopped punching and created a green dagger in his hands and raised it high over Vandal’s face.
“Anthony?” Elaine’s voice sounded frail behind him. He quickly turned and saw her lying on the floor reaching for him. He left Savage and shot to her side and held her head in his lap. Vandal coughed up blood and chanted a teleportation spell to take himself to safety.
“It’s alright Elaine, I’m here.” Drake brushed her hair out of her face for her and looked at her chest as the blood pumped out at a frightening pace. “Everything’s going to be alright.” He was crying now and didn’t know it. “Oh God Elaine, please don’t…please…I…I…”
“I know Sir Anthony…I know.”
He bent his head forward and kissed her lips as she closed her eyes.
Impulse watched the world turn black all around him, he never thought he might die by being choked to death. He always had nightmares about laser blasts or Joker gas, but never just a plain lack of oxygen as a maniac crushed his windpipe. It just didn’t seem like superhero like death.
He watched as the darkness began to fade, and was replaced by a white light. He heard a voice that sounded like Cassie’s. He hoped nothing had happened to her. But the voice was getting louder, and it had such an angelic sound to it that he knew he was going to Heaven.
As the light became nearly blinding he couldn’t turn away, and then as the light itself seemed to part he saw a pair of hands floating in the air.
“What do you seek?”
Bart looked around for the source of the new voice that seemed fatherly and loving. “I seek…I seek the Grail.” He didn’t know why he said that, it just felt right.
“Why do you deserve to know the touch of the Grail?”
“I…I don’t want it for myself, I am trying to save the lives of my friends.”
“If your friends perish, they will join us here. Why do you wish to stop their passing to peace?”
“They are needed. They are needed to help innocents live in peace. It doesn’t matter if I pass on, and they deserve their rest, but so many depend on them that there must be more time for them to help those that are helpless. Please, please help me find the Grail.”
Water began pouring from the hands floating in front of him. “Drink Bart, drink and bring peace to the land.”
As Impulse drank the water, he suddenly found himself underwater, with a wooden cup in his hands. He frantically kicked his feet and swam faster and faster, he could see light ahead and he raced for it as fast as he could push himself. His muscles screamed for oxygen and he found himself moving slower and slower, he wasn’t going to make it.
Suddenly a hand thrust itself into the water and grabbed Impulse by the hair, pulling him up and out of the water. Impulse gasped and gulped in air. He turned his head and saw a bearded old man staring at him, his hair was long and wild, and a torch was held in his left hand. “Get out of the water boy, lest you drown!”
He caught his breath and held the Grail close to his chest as he was pulled to the shore. “Who are you?”
“It doesn’t matter boy. Why is that cup so important to you that you would rather die than drop it to save yourself?”
“The Grail, the Holy Grail. I have to make my way to Camelot to save the King.”
The old man’s eyes widened and his voice became very soft. “The Grail…to save the King…to save the land…”
“Are you all right?” asked Impulse.
“I am better than that boy. Come, I know the fastest way back to Camelot, but it will still take days of hard travel.”
Impulse smiled, “I think it will take less time than you think.” He grabbed the man and took off at super speed. “This is why they call me Impulse”
The man’s eyes were wide with disbelief, and then a smile formed under his scraggly beard. “My God boy, your magic will speed us to Camelot by the morning. It has been too long since I have seen her glory.”
“Did you live there in the past?”
“I did, but left long ago to pay for my sins. Now it seems that helping you to the castle to heal the king will be the first real step after all these years for my salvation.”
“What’s your name?”
“I am Lancelot.”
For King and Country
Anthony Drake’s eyes misted at the sides as he watched the fire burn higher and higher towards Heaven. Upon the mound lay the body of Lady Elaine, a woman he had found himself caring more for each and every moment he was stranded in this fantasyland of magic and kings. Elaine died to save his life from a madman who wanted his ring. She died a hero, and Anthony was going to make certain that nothing God could put in front of him would stop him from taking vengeance for her.
Wonder Girl watched from the highest tower in Camelot as Green Lantern stood in front of the fire. She felt the guilt rise up in her because she had left Green Lantern and Elaine alone in the castle and wasn’t there when they were attacked. If only she had been nearby, then Elaine may have been saved…If only Bart were here, he always seemed to know just what to say to make her feel better in any situation. He could always bring a smile to her face.
Cassie’s guilt grew greater as she realized she was even more worried about Impulse and his safety than she was about the loss of life they had already suffered. Come on girl, get your head on straight, this is for real. Bart is fine; he knows what he’s doing. I just wish he would come back soon.
She wiped away the tears that had suddenly started running down her face as she saw an arc of light speed past the bonfire. “Bart,” she said under her breath and flew to meet the young speedster on his way in to Camelot.
Impulse sped towards the lights of Camelot with Lancelot and the Grail in his arms. The journey had been long and taxing, and he had been forced to stop many times to rest as the added weight of carrying a full grown man was too much for him to take after his ordeals of the past few days.
Lancelot’s eyes grew wider with fear and appreciation as he saw his home come into view for the first time in many years. He was openly weeping as they approached a large funeral pyre.
Suddenly they were knocked to a stop and smacked to the ground. Lancelot bounced hard on his lower back but held onto the Grail. He looked back and around for Impulse to see what sort of villain or magic had hurt him. What he saw was two young lovers sharing a kiss and embrace. He walked to them and offered them both a hand up to their feet. “This must be the Lady Cassie if I am not mistaken,” Lancelot said as he kissed Wonder Girl’s hand. “Young Bart has told me much about you milady, and as far as I can see, it was all true.”
Cassie blushed and thanked Lancelot for the compliment before turning back to Bart. “I’m glad you’re back Bart, things aren’t going so well.”
Impulse smiled. “I think that’s about to change, Cassie.” He pointed his finger to the Grail that was held by Lancelot. “I think things are finally going to go our way again.”
“Come on Arthur, drink…” Cassie said as she poured the water from the Grail down the sickly King’s throat. Arthur coughed harshly and his eyes started to flutter open. His vision was blurry as he slowly pulled himself into a sitting position in bed.
Arthur gazed around the room at Wonder Girl, Impulse, Green Lantern, and a friend he thought lost to him for all time. “Lancelot?” he said weakly.
“Yes, my King,” Lancelot said and dropped to one knee next to the bed. “Know that I would do anything to have taken your place on death’s door. I pledge to you that you that I shall always be by your side, if you will but allow that to happen.”
Arthur smiled as he once again felt his strength return to his limbs. He reached out and grabbed Lancelot by the head and hugged his old friend. “Of course my friend, with you once again at Camelot’s side, no enemy shall ever vanquish her.”
Arthur looked to his strange guests again. “I suppose I have you all to thank for this, I don’t know how to repay you. Where are your other friends, and where is Elaine?”
At that moment, anger contorted around Anthony Drake’s face as he shot through the hallways of Camelot into the night sky. It fell to Wonder Girl to tell Arthur the heart wrenching news of his cousin’s death.
Miles away from Camelot, Hawkgirl led the surviving Knights of the Round Table on their journey home. The troop moved slowly over the countryside, many of them suffering from wounds that would be long in healing, and she knew some of them would not survive to even see the morning.
She beat her mighty wings harder and to propel herself higher into the night sky. On the horizon she spied the lights of Camelot, and the campfires of Modred’s forces. Her group may make it back in time to see Camelot’s last stand.
She flew back down near the front of the line where Sir Tristan and Sir Guwaine were leading the others. “It looks as if Modred plans on launching his attack in the morning. I hope my friends can hold him back long enough for us to offer help.”
Sir Tristan bent down to the ground and plucked a blossoming flower. He held up to Guwaine and they passed it back to the other knights, each of them smiling as they touched the flower and picked up their pace.
“What is it?” asked Hawkgirl.
Sir Tristan turned to her to explain. “Heal the King and you will heal the land. That is the first wild flower I have seen bloom in a year. The King is back.”
Arthur and Lancelot strode into the great hall in full battle armor. Arthur was in his usual dark gray armor, with Excalibur by his side, while Lancelot was wearing his old shining silver plate mail. “Modred will think to attack before the morning, using the cover of the mists from lakes. We will force his hand early, bringing our forces in early to catch his mongrels unaware,” Arthur stated.
“What of the Knights?” asked Lancelot.
Arthur shook his head. “We are all there is to lead the charge my friend.”
The sound of someone clearing their throat brought Arthur and Lancelot’s attention to the Round Table. Nightwing, Wonder Girl and Impulse were there dressed for battle, the Grail in Nightwing’s hand.
“It would be our honor to aid you in battle,” Nightwing said.
Arthur looked to Lancelot and they both smiled. “Then let us win this war tonight.”
Vandal Savage sat under the great oak tree and completed the last healing spell on himself. It had been nearly a day since his battle with the green knight for his magic, and he was just now able to completely move without pain. He looked up into the night sky and smiled as he saw the emerald light streak across. You will come to me and we will end this, Emerald Warrior.
Modred marched through his camp with his Knight of Wonders behind him. Modred knew that with such power in his grasp, the battle in the morning was his. He looked about as the taskmasters kicked his mongrel soldiers from their beds, readying them for battle.
“Come my friend,” he said to the amnesiac Superman. “Today we conquer the world.”
Morganna watched her son stride off in confidence from her tent. After the battle was over she would have to bring the Knight of Wonders to her tent and show him the true meaning of the name. Just as she was about to close the flap of her tent she spied a wisp of glowing white outside.
She threw the tent open to see the translucent form Merlin hanging in the air before her smiling.
“Devil!” she cried and raked at him with her fingers, only to find he had faded into nothing. Morganna hissed and looked about the camp, all she could see where her men rushing about and the small cherry trees that surrounded their camp and their small blossoms. Suddenly the image of Merlin was behind her and with a gesture, Morganna slept.
Arthur’s men rode through the forest towards battle. As they did, leaves on trees came alive, flowers that had laid dormant began to bloom, and birds began to sing. Arthur’s smile was huge as he pulled Excalibur from his scabbard. “To Victory!” he cried.
The small army behind him launched their blood curdling battle cry and crashed into Modred’s mist shrouded encampment. The force from Camelot was greatly outnumbered but their surprise attack, coupled with the mist and confusion they caused, made the larger army panic rather than react.
Wonder Girl crashed into three and four men at a time, trying to render as many of them unable to fight as possible. She broke weapons and flung soldiers away into tents and trees.
Impulse went for the horses first as Nightwing had asked him to do; without horses the group from Camelot would have a distinct advantage. He began racing through the horses, scaring them and causing them to stampede away from camp. He looked over his shoulder and dodged a sword blow meant for his head and gave the soldier a shoulder block, sending him roughly to the ground. Suddenly a blue streak caught his eye. “Superman?” he said as the Man of Steel landed before him.
Nightwing jumped in and out of various battles as he helped any he could. He kept a close eye on Arthur and Lancelot. I wonder if this is going to end like I think it will, he said to himself.
He watched as Wonder Girl was causing havoc on the forces of Modred. She was certainly living up to her name. He looked around for Impulse; he should have been back from taking care of the horses already.
Nightwing continued his search when he saw Impulse held up by the throat by Superman. “Superman, NO!” he cried and raced at him. That was when Brother Blood attacked Nightwing.
The mace to his head had him seeing stars and Nightwing hit the ground hard. He looked up to see the familiar outfit of one of his most hated enemies from his days as leader of the Teen Titans. He knew the man in the costume had never met him before but the resemblance was uncanny.
Brother Blood swung his mace down again but Nightwing managed to roll to the side to avoid the blow. He kicked out with his right leg and swept Brother Blood’s legs out from under him.
As Nightwing and Brother Blood locked into combat on the ground, Superman brought the unconscious Impulse up and slammed him face first into the ground.
Wonder Girl knew they were winning, she could feel it. She saw Lancelot fighting through the crowds with Arthur by his side; the two of them were nearly unstoppable. She saw Nightwing scream out and her heart skipped a beat as she saw Impulse get hurtled to the ground by Superman.
Cassie didn’t even think about what she was doing as she slammed herself into Superman’s side. The impact knocked the wind from Superman and she pushed him nearly one hundred feet before he planted himself and stopped her dead in the air with one hand.
“Superman listens to me! Magic has made you…”
Superman didn’t let her finish her sentence as smacked her with his open right hand, causing her to spin in the air and hit the ground hard. He picked her up by the hair barely even noticing that she was bleeding from the mouth. His next two punches knocked the girl into unconsciousness and he willed his eyes to start to burn with fire so that he could end her.
“Why kill her, my friend?” asked Vandal Savage as he slipped from the shadow of one of the few remaining tents.
“She has attacked the men of the rightful King,” answered the Knight of Wonders.
“Well, that is true. But I think there is more to gain by keeping her alive. Just imagine the powerful magic she must possess. She is nearly as strong as the Emerald Knight, and he is the greatest warrior in all the world.” A grin crept across Savage’s face as he spoke.
“Who is this Emerald Warrior? To who does he claim allegiance?”
“Why to the enemy, King Arthur. He has stopped a thousand men alone. Modred fears he is your equal, if not your better. Keep the girl here as a safeguard so that we can force him back, lest he kill us all.”
Superman’s face grew dark. “I will find this Emerald Warrior and defeat him myself! No one stands in the way of the true King of England.”
Superman dropped Wonder Girl and streaked away into the air faster than Savage could watch. “You do that friend, you do that.”
He knelt down next to Wonder Girl and brushed back the hair on her face. “As for you my dear, every ruler has need of a consort.”
“Take you hands off her, you son of a bitch!”
Vandal whirled around expecting an attack as soon as he heard the young voice. Instead he found Impulse, barely able to stand, much less run. Another smile crept across Vandal’s face. He cast a fiery spell at young Bart, who was unable to dodge the brunt of the attack. His costume caught fire and his skin started to burn in small places.
“Die whelp!” screamed Savage as he launched another attack only to see it and Impulse become bathed in green rain. Vandal looked up to see a very pissed off Green Lantern.
“No asshole,” Drake said, “you die!”
Nightwing and Brother Blood continued to battle back and forth. Nightwing landed kick after kick to the side of Blood’s head, eventually knocking the skull decorated helmet off of him. Blood realized he was no match for the young fighter and reached for his delusion powder that had secured him his victory over Impulse.
Nightwing reached out and knocked the bag of powder back into the magician’s face. Blood inhaled his own dust and saw the hand of God himself smite him down.
Brother Blood expired from a heart attack one second later.
Lancelot battled through the throng of warriors next to Arthur’s side. “My king, it seems as if their numbers are greater than we imagined and my sword arm tires far too easily this day.”
“Aye, my friend,” Arthur replied. “But should we die this day, let it be as warriors.”
Modred sat atop his steed and watched his father and his friend fight their way towards him. He unsheathed his sword and smirked at Arthur. “Welcome to your funeral, father. Your men are outnumbered, your castle will be overrun, and I shall be King all after your bloody corpse is trampled beneath my heels.”
There was a pause in the air, like the world itself held its breath waiting for Modred’s attack. Suddenly the sun shone its first rays of the day on the battlefield and an eruption of noise took place to Arthur’s back in the East. Out of the sun like a fiery angel flew Hawkgirl and beneath her in a mad rush were the remaining Knights of the Round Table. Arthur and Lancelot smiled at one another. There was hope still.
Vandal Savage was casting one spell before the one ahead of it had finished, everything he had he threw at the enraged Green Lantern. But Drake shrugged it all off with his emerald sheath. “Nothing will stop me, not until you are dead.”
A gale wind kicked up and Drake was smashed into by a red and blue blur. He looked up from the ground shaking his head in disbelief at Superman. The Man of Steel was in a fit of rage as he started to hammer the Green Lantern’s shield mercilessly.
Vandal Savage laughed aloud as he stood up and walked toward the fight. “Now, my friend you find out that Vandal Savage always gets what he wants. It is my destiny, while yours is merely to die.” Superman unleashed a blast of heat vision that Drake was forced to block with an array of shields. “When your death comes, I will wrench your magic from your hand and bend it to my will.”
Superman moved in closer and Drake used anything he could imagine to keep his sick friend away. Tanks, cars, Jessica Rabbit, a wrecking ball, all of it proved useless as the Man of Steel bore down on him. Superman grabbed both of Anthony’s hands in his and began to crush them with his superhuman strength. Drake knew he was about to die. “You will die easier than your woman did. At least she had the will to try to live,” Vandal hissed out in hatred and malice.
Drake’s eyes glowed green and beneath Superman’s hands an emerald glow emanated from Anthony that shone brightly in the morning sky. Superman grunted in pain from the energy seething from the green power washing from his opponent’s hands. Emerald fire came out of Drake’s mouth as he began to scream in pain and hatred.
Superman began to sweat and buckle.
The energy poured out of Drake and soon it was Superman who was now down to one knee. “I will kill you!” Drake screamed at Savage in an unearthly voice. Savage felt his immortal heart skip a beat.
Hawkgirl flew to Wonder Girl’s side as she cradled Impulse’s head in her arms. “I think he was hurt bad by Superman,” she cried. Bart’s eye was swelled shut and his mouth was bloodied.
Hawkgirl looked about quickly and saw the ghostly image of Merlin that had been walking through the battlefield. “You there! If you are on our side, do something to help end this carnage!”
Merlin turned and looked over the fallen boy and waved his hand. Impulse opened his eyes. “Am I dead? Because you look like an angel,” he said looking up at Cassie. She started crying as she kissed him.
Hawkgirl rushed to the phantom magician. “You’re Merlin aren’t you?”
“Oh yes, we haven’t much time for introductions though,” he said. “Its time to send all of you back.”
“Not yet,” yelled Hawkgirl. “They still need us here!” she pointed to the Knights. There was a horrible noise and Lancelot fell to the ground, unable to continue due to the grievous wounds he had suffered in battle. Arthur was by his side in an instant. “They’re going to die!”
“You knew that the moment we got here, Hawkgirl,” Nightwing said as he made his way to the foursome. “You know as well as I do that this has already happened. My question is why now Merlin? And where have you been?
“Resting,” the ancient mage said. “I was attacked trying to bring Arthur help; my own magic protected me but the cost of doing so took its toll on my body. I lay at the dragon’s feet near death for many days before I regained enough strength just to perform these minor magics. I am afraid that if I do not send you and your other friends back now, you will be stranded here forever.”
“I don’t have time to waste on you,” hissed Anthony Drake as he tossed Superman to the side. The Man of Steel’s hands burned with green flame from the unbridled power of the Green Lantern’s ring. “It's you I want, Savage,” he said pointing at the immortal mage. “You are a dead man.”
Emerald cosmic energy was met by eldritch magic in a pitched battle for the life of Vandal Savage. Drake pressed his attack at every turn, battering Savage with both unearthly looking objects and energy blasts at the same time.
As Modred’s soldiers tried to come to Savage’s aid, a hundred Storm troopers appeared and pressed their way onto the battlefield, creating a circle for Drake to work in uninterrupted.
Superman stirred as he saw Drake create green energy gauntlets on his own hands that he used to batter at Savage’s bloody form mercilessly. The Son of Krypton shook his head as if waking from a long sleep. He was unsure of where he was, but he knew a Green Lantern when he saw one, and this one was about to commit murder. As Superman stood he noticed he was wearing some odd clothing, a quick take of the landscape with x-ray vision confirmed his suspicions. “Magic,” he said to himself.
As Anthony raised his fist for the killing blow, he felt an incredible force grab hold of his arm. “Lantern, stop this, you’re going to ki...” Superman didn’t finish his sentence as an emerald creature resembling those from the movie ALIENS grabbed him from behind and attempted to eat his face.
“This ends tonight,” Drake said in a cosmic power drunk voice.
Nightwing motioned the others into battle with Drake’s storm troopers as they tried to bust through the blockade. “We need to hurry people. According to Merlin we don’t have a lot of time.” With Brother Blood down, many of his men lost faith in their leader and had retreated. He hoped this would turn the tide for Arthur’s small army and help them achieve victory. Of course he knew it would, like he told Hawkgirl, he knew how this would end. He looked over at Arthur as he began his final battle with Modred. Nightwing balled up his fists and turned back to his own fight; what was meant to be was meant to be.
Impulse and Wonder Girl bashed Imperial skulls at every turn, working as a devastating team together. Bart stopped mid-fight to steal a look at Cassie. If we do get home, what are we going to do? I don’t know what I will do if she goes back to Kon-El, what do I say?
Hawkgirl used her aerial maneuverability to her full advantage once again, sweeping in and out of the laser fire. She paused in her battle just long enough to see many of the Knights of the Round Table lie fallen on the battlefield. She had freed them from their torture to lead many of them to their death in the name of their King. She knew that to them there would have been no greater honor.
Drake paid no attention to the others, as he resumed his attack on Savage. “Come boy...let’s see if you ca…finish your work...” Savage spit out through a broken jaw.
“Let’s not,” Nightwing said as he walked up behind Drake.
Anthony spun around with energy crackling from his eyes. “You can’t stop me! I can burn you where you stand!”
“I know, Lantern, and I understand how mad you are, but you aren’t a killer. That’s what separates you from scum like Vandal Savage: you have a conscience. This guy would deserve anything you do to him, God knows he’s going to kill so many more people in the future that I can’t believe I am even saying this, but if you kill him we might as well stay here. With his death you’ll upset everything our world is about. Our time would cease to exist and another would take its place. A world may where someone’s son who was born yesterday never exists, a world where nuclear war comes in 1978, or a world where the people you love are killed before your very own eyes.”
“So its fair and just that he kills and destroys everything he does to save what might be?” screamed Drake. “That’s bullshit, Nightwing! Take you goddamn philosophical crap and stick it in your fucking ass! This motherfucker killed a woman that I was in love with; do I deserve to live with her last words in my head? Do I deserve to live with her last kiss on my lips? Do I?”
“No, you deserve to die,” Savage said as a bolt of lightning released from his hand and tore through Drake’s abdomen. Savage cackled and coughed up blood as he used his last remaining power to teleport himself to safety.
Nightwing and Hawkgirl rushed to Drake’s side. The emerald energy had faded from is body and his ring began to lose its glow. The storm troopers and the alien creature that Superman was fighting began to fade away.
“Merlin!” yelled Nightwing. “Do it Merlin, send us back now!”
Merlin drifted towards the heroes that had gathered around the fallen Drake. As he began his spell, Nightwing glanced back to see Arthur staggering towards them. He reached out and caught the injured King before he fell to the ground. Arthur’s chest wound was fatal, behind him Modred lay dead, a sword wound to the abdomen had killed the would be King.
Arthur looked at the heroes and Merlin who was continuing his spell with tears in his eyes. “Take my sword, take Excalibur and return it to the Lady of the Lake,” he said.
Nightwing knelt beside Arthur. “We can’t Arthur, its time for us to leave this place.”
Arthur thrust the hilt of the sword into Nightwing’s hand. “Please, you must take the sword. Someday a new King will rise and claim Excalibur and lead England to greater glory than I could ever imagine.” Arthur’s eyes glazed over as he took his final breaths.
“No Arthur,” Merlin said as he completed his spell. “No King will ever again lead England like you my friend.” Magic enveloped the six heroes and they went home.
Epilogue One
Carter Hall was sitting on Kendra Saunders' bed when Hawkgirl reappeared within the apartment aerie on the top floor of the JSA headquarters. As he saw her, his jaw dropped in amazement as the hopeless look that was dominating his features dissipated into happiness. He sprung to his feet to greet Hawkgirl as she stood for a moment in disorientation.
“Kendra!” Carter said as his nervous tension caused by Kendra’s disappearance faded into nothing. “We’ve been looking all over for you!”
Carter gave Kendra a mighty hug as the events that led her to this moment rushed back to the forefront of her memory. As she gave in to the relief of finally making it home, she returned Carter’s embrace, never wanting to let go.
“I was beginning to lose hope of your return, Kendra,” Carter said. “It was as if our reunion was a battle won in a war that was not ours to win.”
“They’re all our wars to win, Carter,” she said as they clung to each other, neither drawing back until the sun came up.
Epilogue Two
Anthony Drake owned a modest home on the outer edges of Phoenix. It had two bedrooms, a kitchen, dining and living room, and a decent sized bathroom, and right now it was unoccupied. The door remained partially cracked open, for only moments ago the SCU officer returned to his home, after an exhilarating day on the job…that’s when he disappeared.
The seconds stretched into minutes, before Anthony Drake blinked back into existence. He shut his eyes, squeezing the sensation to throw-up back down his throat as nausea washed over him, causing the world to spin around him as he reached for the doorknob. A searing pain in his chest stabbed at him. Merlin had healed the gaping wound as he was sent back to his proper time; but Merlin couldn’t heal the shattered heart, the fried mind, or the exhausted body of the broken hero yet he was numb to every sensation that should have overwhelmed him.
He hoped, for Vandals sake, that he never ran across the immortal again, for there was nothing preventing Drake from killing him in the tomorrows to come.
In this time he knew he wasn’t gone for maybe a few minutes, but he knew it had been days, the most grueling few days of his life. During his many years on the force, he had never seen death on such a scale, yet he steeled himself against it. He had met heroes that he could have only dreamed about seeing, yet he calmed himself against the youthful joy. He also never knew real love, that kind of love that sparks into a flame the second two people look upon each others face…well, he was certain he would never find it again, and he felt eternally saddened.
He loved her.
His rage had been awesome, after Lady Elaine’s death. Never before had Drake commanded such raw cosmic power, using it to stand off such people like Superman, and an army all at once, while somehow focusing his mind on Vandal, and his will to the entire field. His body and mind had paid the price for that abuse of power. Anthony wondered how far he could go; he had seen it, yet he knew he was capable of so much more, and that scared him.
He missed her.
None of that mattered though; it was all useless now…they had failed from the moment they were brought to that magical land. Drake failed Lady Elaine from the very moment he stepped from the smoke that permitted his entrance into the Castle, and it made him sick to his very core.
He would have stayed there forever, if she could have lived.
It wasn’t an easy chore for Anthony to make the quest to his bed, where he hoped he could regain some of the energy he had lost in the past, and try to put everything out of his mind, as it no longer mattered. History could not be disturbed. But, as the Green Lantern laid his head down, not bothering to shed any of his clothing, he dreamt of the kingdom lost long ago, he dreamt of the most beautiful lady he had ever seen. A tear came to his closed eye, and for the moment he was happy.
Epilogue Three
Superman looked around, confusion was apparent on his face, as the lines creased around his squinting eyes. Memories, more recent than that flooded his mind, as he remembered everything that happened over the day, long ago in the kingdom long lost in time. Magic, was one of the banes in Superman’s existence, for all of the invulnerability in the universe couldn’t shield him from even the tiniest spell. He knew magic was used on him, he remembered the battlefield where he faced an emerald creature, created by a Green Lantern.
The Lantern, Superman hadn’t the time to recognize the Lantern when he first looked at him. He’s the GL from Phoenix… what was he doing there? Then it occurred to him, that it could have been the rings power that shielded him from the harmful effects of the transportation spell. It was the only explanation for why he could remember everything now, and nothing to the point when he stopped the Lantern from committing murder, against a bloodied foe.
The pure rage, and the pain. When I see Nightwing, I will have to make a point to get caught up. What could make him do that?
The Man of Steel knew no answers to the questions in his mind, which lingered all the way back to Metropolis.
Epilogue Four
Two Days Later
Bart was sitting in the Titan's Headquarters, watching Superboy and Wonder Girl as they playfully held each other's hand. Cassie then looked over at Bart, and forgot Superboy was even there. She then turned her attention back to Kon El, and Bart remembered that they would always have Camelot.
Epilogue Five
Dick Grayson put his Nightwing uniform back in his closet. His gear that he wore during his time in Camelot still had the thread stitching and dried blood from the battles. It was a time he would never forget; he had met one of the greatest leaders of men, even if he was supposed to be mythical.
He drank from the Holy Grail itself. Even though there had never been any actual physical proof that it had existed.
He had sat at the Round Table. Even though it was all make believe.
Dick reached down and grasped the hilt of the sword by the wall; he had made a small display to hang it on that was made from black iron. He stepped back and admired the sword of Kings. Excalibur was beautiful, even if it was only a thing of legend, from a time that wasn’t real.
Epilogue Six
Their lips met, and fire ran through their blood as their tongues explored each other’s mouth. A tingle ran along her spine, as she was carried into her room in his arms. Never before had a man made her feel like this, like she were a woman, and the only woman that mattered in the entire world.
He laid her down on her bed; the softness of her sheets was eclipsed by the softness of his hands. Her emerald eyes looked up at his face, as the fire’s orange light flickered across it, the shadows making him looking mysterious, even after the mask disappeared from his face, revealing to her his true face, and his true eyes that spoke in volumes.
She felt like she could stare into his soul, and see hers with his, which was comfortably odd for her in the short time they had known each other. She melted into him, as two bodies, two souls, and two lives came together as one…All this played through Lady Elaine’s mind as she took her last breath, with her dying lips pressed weakly against his. She would miss her Emerald Knight forever.
The End...
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