Chapter Seven:
The aftermath of the destruction of Earth Thirty-Eight, and the incoming trouble for other Earths, still echoed in Harry's mind. Already, the Green Arrow died. Harry stepped forward and almost ran headlong into one Dinah Laurel Lance of Earth-Two.. She looked at Harry for a second, as if sizing him up.
"Hey," Dinah said. "Impressive out there."
"You too," Harry said. "You're not the biggest fan of Mar Novu are you?"
"Don't know what gave you that idea," Dinah snorted. "I could use a drink, and I think you could to, before we move forward. Oliver's death, can't believe I had to go through that all over again. Granted, he could be a jerk, but he could be selfless as well. Good times and bad times.
The two made their way to the bar. Dinah looked thoughtful for a minute.
"Both of our Earths were screwed over. You're the only survivor of yours too, aren't you?"
"As far as I know, yes," Harry said.
The moment Harry and Dinah moved forward, Sara met them halfway.
"You had to tell her," Dinah said.
"Yeah, not a conversation I wanted to have soon," Sara said before clarifying to Harry. "Felicity, Oliver's wife, I told her that he died in the Crisis. She's...she's in denial right now, although by the time I left, I think it just finally started to hit her. She knew it was possible. She'll be here. Soon."
'Oliver knew as well," Harry said.
The three of them sat down. Harry summoned a bottle of Firewhiskey and three glasses and poured them each a drink.
"He's wiping out Earths. Getting stronger every time. But everyone has weaknesses."
"And the fact you're sitting here having a drink shows you haven't found one," Dinah said. "Not bad by the way."
"Bit smoky," Sara commented. "But good. One of my teammates, he would like this."
Harry calmly took a drink. He only drank for the social aspect of it, although he did not have many social opportunities back on his Earth. Thanks to his unique magic, intoxication was an impossibility.
"So, sisters, right?"
"Well, kind of, yes, but kind of no," Dinah said. "It's complicated."
"She's my sister's alternate counterpart," Sara said. "Who died tragically and senselessly a year years ago."
Sara drank a couple of long swallows. It gave her a little bit of a buzz, although her tolerance was depressingly high after all of what she had gone through. Given how alcoholism was hereditary, with both her father and her sister going through that, Sara realized that she was playing with fire, but sometimes she really needed a drink.
"Of course, my own timeline requires more alcohol than is in this bottle to unwind. And let's not even think about the tangled mess that the entire Black Canary legacy is."
"Yes," Dinah said. "It's almost like some spiteful higher power really did a number on it."
Regardless, she continued to drink and think. Never a good combination.
"He's really gone," Sara remarked.
"You two really started it all, in some strange way," Dinah remarked.
"Who knew a stupid impulsive decision would have such far reaching consequences?" Sara asked. "Oliver, was my sister's boyfriend, and he had an affair with me. Stupid, I know, but...it was a simpler time."
"Yes, I see," Harry remarked. "Another drink?"
"Please," Sara agreed.
Sara had to think of the good times, the bad times, and the insane times. It helped put everything in perspective.
"You could feel him die at the end, didn't you?" Sara asked.
"Yes," Harry said. "And I saw him walk to death. Willingly."
"The noble idiot," Dinah murmured, but she was smiling. "Here's to Oliver."
"Yeah, for the good memories and the bittersweet ones," Sara said.
"Cheers, "Harry said.
The trio downed their drinks.
After a few moments to collect themselves, Sara, Laurel, and Harry walked around the corner. The three had been joined with Kara and Lena. They both looked somber. It was all setting in.
"It's shocking," Kara said. "It really puts perspective on what we're fighting for. Everyone is coming to terms with what happened."
"Yes, all of the displaced Earth Thirty-Eight people, well they're panicked too," Lena said. "After this Crisis is over, we'll find a way to sort this out."
"If we don't find a way to restore the dead Earths," Kara told them. "Reverse what the Anti-Monitor is doing?"
"Is it possible?" Dinah asked.
"It's not impossible," Harry thoughtfully said.
"Well, that really answers my question," she commented with a snort.
Regardless, Harry had been learning about this Anti-Matter as they went, and it entered some new, unfamiliar, uncharged territory for them all. These people had to exist somewhere, because it was different feeling than what happened even with Oliver's recent death. The group walked off in the other direction. The moment they passed the hallway, Diana stepped in. She looked rather tranquil and respectfully nodded towards the group.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Diana told the group. "While I didn't know Oliver, he died a warrior's death and he must be commended for it."
"Yes," Harry agreed. "If we don't stop the Anti-Monitor, he won't be the last."
"Our next move is going to be very important," Lena said.
"Right," Sara said. "Anything on him? Any...feelings?"
"Nothing right now," Harry said. "I'll let you know."
Nothing since his little encounter with the Anti-Monitor last night. Harry could sense that this was some kind of calm before the storm. Whatever the Anti-Monitor's next move was it was going to be something nasty, and it was going to be difficult to deal with.
"So, how's the kid?" Dinah asked. "Mia, I mean."
"Brooding," Kara said.
"I'll talk to her if she doesn't come back for a little bit," Harry said. "I've got first-hand experience with this."
Mostly because he was doing most of the brooding when he was younger. Thankfully, Harry dialed down the angst.
"I think you would be the best person to talk to her," Diana said. "If you don't mind me for saying, I sense a strong empathy from you. And yet, there's something else about you, which is familiar."
"There's a lot of people alluding to that fact," Harry remarked. "And I've heard stories in passing, in lore, about the Amazon Warriors. How they are fierce and how they do not back down. I'm glad to see you are even more impressive than the stories I've heard."
"Thank you," Diana said. "We will need more than strong will and determination to beat this threat."
Harry unfortunately could not disagree. They needed a good solid plan of attack and a bit of luck as well. The Anti-Monitor countered pretty much every move they made. Which brought Harry some level of agitation.
Right now, the skies above were calm, blue and cloudless. Something which could change in a blink of time.
Mia slammed her fist into a punching bag. It had been damaged already, and her fist had been pounded raw. However, she did not care. Perhaps, deep down, Mia thought she could fix things. Change the timeline, give all of the people in the future a better life. Give herself a stable homelife, with both parents home. The nuclear family.
And then her father had to go and sacrifice himself. Nobly, but stupidly. And selfishlessly, Mia had to hate that just a little bit. She punched a couple of times over, angry grunts coming.
A knock on the door got even louder. Mia finally jolted out of her attention.
"I'm fine!"
"It's Harry, I want to talk to you."
Mia stopped dead and took a couple of calming breaths. She moved over to open the door. Her tone softened
"Really, I'm fine."
Harry chuckled and walked into the room. He eyed the damaged bag, Mia's sweaty face with her hair sticking down, and her swollen knuckles. He motioned for Mia to have a seat on the couch on the other end of the room.
"I know all of the notes to this song and dance. I practically wrote them. You're not fine. You're hurting. And it's understandable that you would hurt when you feel loss."
Mia spent a second collecting her thoughts.
"You know something that's funny. I got used to not knowing my father. To the point where I didn't give a damn about him. And then, when I actually met him, I got used to the idea of having him in my life. I had all of these plans, where I could stop the bad things in future from happening. And maybe, just maybe, if I would have fought a little harder, been a little bit more accurate with some of my shots, he still would have been alive."
"It's easy to blame yourself," Harry said. "The fact is, Oliver is a grown man, who made a decision. He made a choice."
He could tell that Mia had been about to say that Oliver made a bad choice, but stopped herself short.
"I never knew my parents. Both of them they were murdered when I was a year old. I only knew an idealistic picture of them given to me by others. Something which was shattered over time. They weren't perfect. No one is."
"You...you're right," Mia said. "Dad was far from perfect. And for my mother...well she had plenty of demons she had to work out until the very end. I guess I was expected to be as good as him."
"You can only live up to your own goals, and not let the people who have come before you define you," Harry remarked.
"You're really him, aren't you?" Mia asked.
"Who?"
"N-nevermind," Mia said. "Mom told me a story. My trainer told it to me as well. About a valiant warrior from another dimension, with green-eyes, and mystical powers which were almost godlike. Mom told it to me so glowingly, talked about you...him, so glowingly, I thought she must have had an affair with you. I know, stupid right?"
Harry chuckled in spite of himself.
"Well, I can see why you might get that impression."
Yeah, Mia really could. She did wonder though sometimes. She looked longingly into Harry's eyes.
"From what I heard, Mom really mellowed out, but she still had her moments where she...never mind," Mia said. "So, how did you do it? How did you live up to them?"
"My parents?" Harry asked. "I didn't. I eventually carved my own path. Although, I always looked like my father, and I had my mother's eyes."
"And such beautiful eyes."
Mia spoke without thinking. Oh, come on, she could not go all gushy over a boy, well a man technically. And he was practically married to Supergirl, one of the most legendary heroines in existence. Not that Mia had a crush on Supergirl or anything.
"Are we really bonding over our dead parents?" Mia asked. "How messed up are we?"
Harry said nothing and he poured out a bottle. He poured himself a glass and hesitated for a second.
"You are of legal drinking age, right?"
"You really ask me that after I just fought against dangerous shadow demons?"
"Fair point."
Harry poured her a glass and the two joined each other in a drink. Mia tipped the glass back and looked thoughtful, and a tiny bit calm as well. She took a couple of drinks.
"Pretty good. Going to have to tell me where you got this."
Harry just smiled. Mia looked at him, thoughtfully.
"So, how does this entire Master of Death thing work?"
Harry did not like the direction which this conversation was heading in.
"No magic can bring back the dead," Harry warned her.
"Well, maybe," Mia said. "But, you have this great power, perhaps you can give Oliver a second chance. Marvin said that he was not supposed to go that soon."
"Marvin?"
"You know, that Monitor guy, the guy who convinced my father to sacrifice himself," Mia said.
Harry smiled at Mia's misnaming for Mar Novu.
"If it's possible, there are certain sacrifices which need to be make. In other words, someone will go in Oliver's place. And given the deal that Oliver made and who he had to save, you know why I'm not a big fan of trying something like that."
"Oh, right, yeah, I understand why you would have a conflict of interest," Mia said. "Seems like a bit of a cop out through."
"Well, even without the entire balance thing, there are other consequences. If I brought Oliver back, he would come back as he died, exactly how he died. Even my magic couldn't heal the injuries that fast before he died again and again. Or he could come back as a tragic shell of his former self. Or a feral monster."
Mia winced, and each possibility flashed through her mind.
"Or he wouldn't come back at all," Harry added. "Because he chose to go on."
"You mean there's a choice?" Mia asked.
"Well, wizards and witches can stay behind as ghosts, but it's such a miserable existence, I wouldn't recommend it. And since your father wasn't magical, that wouldn't be an option."
Mia thought about it.
"You brought back XS though."
"Not technically dead," Harry said. "But, no less complicated. Look Mia, I understand, why you want this, but even if it wasn't Kara's life on the line, I don't think I could do this without creating another crisis on top of this one."
Mia nodded wistfully, not liking it, but understanding it.
"It's just...I wish I could say goodbye."
Harry smiled and put a hand on hers. Mia could feel a small warmth spread through her body.
"I could help you on that one," Harry told her. "If it is something you're really sure about."
Mia opened her mouth to say something. Harry cut her off with a small finger raised.
"You need to think really carefully about this. You might not like what you see on the other side. And there have been those who have wasted away or went insane, when speaking with their deceased loved ones. Desperately clinging onto that last moment."
"Well, I'm sure you can figure out a way where it's safe, right?" Mia asked. "The Dragon can do anything, right?"
It almost slipped out, Harry could tell. And Harry really wished how he got this nickname that people who time traveled had been calling him. It was amusing, but also frustrating at the same time.
Harry and Mia left the room, with Nora coming down the hallway. The daughter of the Flash and the Daughter of the Green Arrow bumped into each other. There had been a long and awkward silence.
"Sorry," Nora said. "I messed up."
"I shouldn't have blamed you," Mia said. "I would have done the same thing. And I likely would have screwed it up too. You were just trying to save your Dad, I get it."
Mia leaned in and wrapped Nora in a hug. They might not have met each other before today, but their father's worked together to try and create a foundation. Nora returned the hug a bit more energetically than Mia felt comfortable with.
"Okay, okay, dial it back a little bit,' Mia said. "But, you should really cherish every last moment you have with your dad."
"Oh, I do," Nora responded. "I'm going to cherish this all. The gift which Harry gave me, I'm going to take full advantage of."
Perhaps, there was still hope. Yet, as the Crisis was upon them, Nora did not have much time to fix this.
"I'm going to head off to see if Mom needs everything," Nora said.
"You should," Harry told her. "Something wrong?"
Nora nodded, and frowned.
"Every time I see Pariah, I see Thawne. Because, Thawne wore the face of Harrison Wells when I met him, knew him.. I think he's gotten attached to that face, because it causes Dad the most pain."
Harry learned a little bit about Eobard Thawne, the Reverse-Flash. Although there had been a lot of things which Harry did not understand.
"Why does Thawne hate your father so much?" Harry asked.
"That's a good question," Nora admitted. "But, he's done a lot of things, bad things. I just let him blind me and think he might have changed. But, he used me to escape his fate. Again."
Harry waved Nora off. She sped away in a blink of an eye. To be honest, Nash Wells, Pariah, he most certainly may have eclipsed Thawne in the amount of deaths he was responsible for. However, Harry figured for the Flash Family, it was more personal with Thawne. And he understood how some wounds stung deeply.
Harry slipped back off to talk with Kara. Kara and Harry leaned in to greet each other with a kiss, and then the Kryptonian survivor moved far away from Harry, with a small smile.
"Mia seems in a lot better spirits now."
"We talked for a while," Harry said.
"Did you just talk?"
Kara had been smiling at Harry, quite knowing. Harry just calmly squeezed his Alpha's hand and looked her straight in the eye.
"Mind out of the gutter, please," Harry said. "And we just talked. For now."
"Although, there are women crowding around to get a piece of you. If it wasn't for the Crisis looming, I'm sure some of them would have made a move sooner than now. Although, some might...do so to distract themselves from all we're going to."
"Harry tapping into his full reserve of powers has caused the allure that he has which attracts women to strengthen more," Alia said. "Although, it's strongest against women who would be attracted to him in the first place. It just speeds up the process."
Kara and Harry walked down the hallway. They came across a blonde woman with glasses, who dressed in a button up blouse, a nice skirt, and a jacket, who had been deep in conversation with Barry, Sara, and Dinah, and they had all been talking solemnly.
"Felicity Smoak," Kara explained. "Oliver's widow and Mia's mother."
"Mmm," Harry remarked.
"She does have a nice ass, doesn't she?" Alia popped in.
"Alia," Harry hissed reproachfully. "Way too bloody soon."
"You can't deny that," Alia said.
The twenty-six year old sorcerer sighed. Kara struggled to keep her amusement at bay, but thankfully Supergirl had some decorum.
"Not the time or the place."
"I can't stay long," Felicity said. "Mom's watching Mia, and I don't want Mia to be spoiled too much. Or you know, turn out like me, the last thing that you need is another me running around."
A little bit of self-deprecating humor allowed Felicity to deal with the grief she was dealing with.
"Oh, you're not that bad," Sara said.
"Most of the time anyway," Dinah said. "You have your moments, but motherhood has mellowed you out."
Kara moved over to hug Felicity.
"Sorry, about your loss," Kara said. "This is Harry...he's…."
"Wait, Harry? The Harry? He actually exists?"
Felicity had been distracted from her grief momentarily to take a good long look at Harry. Harry smiled and offered his hand to shake. Felicity took it and had been given.
"It's a pleasure to actually meet you," Felicity said. "I thought you might have been someone that Kara invented to keep other men from chasing her."
After the handshake broke, Felicity turned to Harry and took a second to look him over before turning to Kara.
"No offense, but I really thought that there was something going on between you and Lena."
"Well, you're not the only one," Kara said.
And not entirely inaccurate.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Harry said seriously.
"Thank you, thank you," Felicity said. "I...thank you for telling me. I have to get back. Hopefully, after this Crisis is over, you two can come over for dinner, or something."
"We'll hold you to that," Kara said.
The moment Felicity left the complex, with Sara and Dinah seeing her out, Harry and Kara turned around, to see Lena standing in the doorway, gritting her teeth. Miffed did not even begin to describe what she felt. Kara sensed something immediately.
"What's up?"
"Lex is up. He's here."
"Lex?" Harry asked. "Your brother?"
"Yes," Lena said.
"Didn't you kill him?"
"Yes," Lena confirmed. "Although obviously I should have burned the body. Not that it would have done anything."
Harry was beginning to despise figures with great cosmic power. Then again, with the Hallows, he did have the potential.
"So, that's what I felt," Harry said. "He really shouldn't be here. Mar Novu is playing a dangerous game bringing him back."
"You don't know the half of it," Lena said. "Watch out for Lex. He'll twist things around if you let him."
Harry was pretty sure Lena and Kara could clue him in rather soon regarding just what kind of problem they were dealing with.
Harry, Lena, and Kara came face to face with Lyla. And Lena was not going to let this pass without preamble.
"My brother is here," Lena said. "Why?"
"Mar Novu thought that he would play a role in the upcoming Crisis," Lyla said. "He is being monitored closely."
"Oh, you can never be too careful with him," Lena said. "Mark my words, Lex will find a way to twist this for his own benefit."
"Perhaps, but you are missing the bigger picture. I've brought Lex Luthor back for a purpose."
Mar Novu appeared in a flash. Harry did sense him coming this time. Forewarning did not improve Harry's mood when he stared down the Monitor.
"There's something else," Harry said. "You gave Lex something."
"The Book of Destiny," Mar Novu said.
"Wait, you gave Lex Freaking Luthor the Book of Destiny?" Kara asked. "Are you serious? A nobody like John Deegan used the Book of Destiny and caused chaos. If a functioning sociopath like Lex Luthor has the book, he could turn the entire multiverse upside down worse than the Anti-Monitor."
Lena curled her hand up into a ball and took a deep breath. Harry put his hand on her shoulder.
"Let me pass."
It was not a suggestion. And much to their surprise, Lyla's included, Mar Novu stepped to one side, and the trio walked into the room.
"Hey, sis!"
They came face to face with Lex Luthor, in all of his bald glory, who waved to them quite cheerfully.
"Nice to see you're well. Although, the friendship you have with the Kryptonian, is stronger than ever...and…."
Lex paused for a long second, as if noticing Harry for the first time. The bald heir whistled for a brief second when giving Harry a look over.
"Such powerful and imposing eyes. And terrifying. You know they say that eyes are the window to the soul."
There was nothing that Harry said.
"It's quite...astonishing to see the man himself. Standing before me. The man who has been foiling my well-laid schemes left and right, despite being marooned in another dimension. And don't think I didn't try to reach your universe, so I could properly thank you for all of the headaches you've caused me, pal."
Lex walked until he hit an invisible barrier.
"You made her immune to Kryptonite. Do you realize how embarrassing it was, when I filled the entire atmosphere with Kryptonite and Supergirl didn't even blink? The Kryptonians and their advanced technology didn't figure it out? So tell me, Harry, if that is your real name, what sufficiently advanced race of aliens are you from? Or is that a problematic question to ask in the current year?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," Harry said.
"Well, yes, I would, otherwise, I wouldn't have asked."
Lex tried to get into Harry's head, but realized that Harry was not going to budge.
"Mar Novu gave you the Book of Destiny."
"Not really," Lex said. "My reading time has been monitored. It's almost like no one trusts me."
"At least we agree on something," Lena said.
"Don't get too comfortable," Harry told Lex. "Because, the moment you step out of line, I don't care what Mar Novu has planned. I will put you back down."
"Oooh, ruthless and I can see you are not just blowing hot air. Perfect Luthor behavior. Sis, I approve."
Lex looked from Lena to Harry, considered, and nodded.
"Shame it has to be with the Kryptonian involved. But, accidents happen."
Harry squeezed his hand and lifted Lex up into the air with ease, before he slammed him down onto the ground. Harry painfully broke every bone in Lex's body, but stopped short of murdering him. This time.
"That's your only warning."
Then a stabbing pain erupted through Lex. The injuries had then been healed in the most painful way Harry could manage. Kara looked in in shock and awe, and Lena gave Harry a small approving nod.
Although she was secretly disappointed that Harry didn't snap his fingers and reduce Lex to dust.
Lena stepped off to get some air, with Harry and Kara following her closely behind.
"I know Lex's type. I can handle him."
"I doubt it," Lena said. "No offense, but no one is quite like my brother in the manipulation category."
"Maybe," Harry conceded. "But manipulation comes in many forms."
Lena would have to concede Harry's point of all of this. They turned to Kara, who looked thoughtful.
"Just thinking," Kara said. "The Book of Destiny. It has the power to warp reality. Do you think it could warp the Anti-Monitor out of existence? Stop all of this?"
"No," Harry said.
"But…"
"Kara, it's dangerous," Lena interjected. "I know it seems like a logical solution, but it's not going to work."
"We could bring it all back,' Kara protested.
"We could craft the perfect world using the book," Harry told her. "But, with such powers, there is all sorts problems. I trust both of you are familiar with the story of the Monkey's Paw?"
Both Kara and Lena responded with nods. It actually was not a story though. It was an actually cursed artifact that The Black Family created to mess with non-magicals. They found it cleaning Sirius's house when Harry was fifteen years old.
"And, Deegan used it and he's currently drooling and mad in Arkham, because of it."
Batwoman popped around the corner, to greet the rest of the group. Harry sensed her standing there about two minutes ago.
"Mar Novu wants us all to meet him," Batwoman said. "He says he's found out some information which could help us about the Anti-Monitor."
"Suppose we should see what this is all about," Kara said.
"The Paragons are among the greatest heroes of the Multiverse. At one time, they were believed to be only seven. But upon further reflection, there is an eighth Paragon which has been uncovered recently"
Mar Novu looked around the group of heroes. Harry hoped he would get to the point. He was well past the point of patience.
"The Paragon of Hope, Kara Zor-El."
Given how much hope Kara gave to what was a dismal existence at the time for Harry, he thought no one else could be more appropriate to holding that moniker.
"Sara Lance, the Paragon of Destiny."
Harry smiled. Given Sara had been a cornerstone of a rising movement of heroes, and how she had been the Captain of her own timeship. He flashed Sara a thumbs up and she returned back with a smile.
"We have some uncertainty regarding the Paragon of Love. We believe two individuals can qualify, although time will tell who will be most qualified. Both Barry Allen and Princess Diana have those qualities which will fit of the Paragon of Love. In time we will find out who is more worthy."
"Diana," Barry said without missing a beat.
"Don't sell yourself short," Diana said. "It hasn't been decided just yet."
No disrespect meant to Barry at all, but Diana was likely the only person in the room not to find herself the most worthy.
"I'm friends with both of them," Kara murmured. "But, while I think Barry would be great, there are some things regarding Diana which make her infinitely more qualified."
Barry looked at Kara, happening to overhear that part of the conversation.
"No offense," Kara stated in response.
"None taken."
"And much like the Paragon of Love, the Paragon of Honor is either Dinah Laurel Lance of Earth-2 or J'onn J'onzz. In time, I will hope to reach a full conclusion."
"Really, I don't think I should be considered to be a paragon of anything," Dinah said. "I'm too broken. Too much baggage. J'onn should be the one."
J'onn could sense her doubts, and funnily enough, he had some of the same doubts of his own.
"There is great honor of one who could pull themselves up from the darkness. But, regardless, we'll find out in time."
"It can't be me," Dinah murmured.
"Why not?" Sara asked.
"It just can't," Dinah remarked. "After all I've done. Working with Zoom and Chase and Diaz...all of the bad things I've caused, none of that is honorable."
"And yet, you still rose beyond it," Mar Novu told her breaking his speech. "You did not betray Oliver Queen, despite the fact the promise to restore your Earth was given."
Dinah looked completely thoughtful. The former Black Siren and current Black Canary wondered, perhaps. Harry flashed her an encouraging smile, which made her stomach flutter.
Maybe, she could do better. Her taste in men were improving at the very least.
"The Paragons of Truth, Courage, and Humanity have yet to be uncovered," Mar Novu told them. "But, there is one final Paragon. The Paragon of Life. The one thread that unites them."
Mar Novu's eyes fell upon Harry.
"Yes, of course," Harry drawled.
"Harry Potter is the Paragon of Life."
"Well, who didn't see that one coming?" Sara asked. "Master of Death, Paragon of Life, quite the contrast, isn't it?"
"Just the story of my life, another day, another title," Harry dryly said.
Harry was pretty sure he had twice as many titles as Dumbledore did middle names by this point. Harry motioned Kara and Sara to join them, with the other potential Paragons looming in the distance. Although, Harry had a clear idea who might fit best, he wanted to be reasonable and not let certain biases he had cloud himself.
"We need to find the others, and quickly," Harry said. "And figure out who is most worthy."
"Well, can't you do something to figure out who is most worthy?" Barry asked.
"If only magic were that simple and straight-forward," Harry said.
The moment Harry finished speaking, Mia appeared around the corner and wasted no time in making a beeline for Harry.
"I thought about it. And I want closure"
Harry held a black stone out towards Mia.
"This is the Resurrection Stone. One of the three artifacts of Peverell, the Deathly Hallows, the Keys to Eternity. They've had a few names. But, don't let the name fool you. It doesn't bring back the dead, it just recalls an image from the afterlife to talk to them."
Harry looked Mia dead in the eyes, completely serious.
"Be warned. People have been driven mad by being unable to let it go. I've figured out a way to prevent it for you. I've put a limiter on the stone, where you have fifteen minutes to talk to your father. After that, he'll be gone."
"Right," Mia said. "Let's do this"
Harry handed Mia the stone. He had taken every step in the world to make sure this highly unpredictable magical artifact was as safe as it could be.
"Turn the stone three times, while thinking of your father."
Mia did turn the stone, three times. A wisp of smoke rose and Mia's eyes snapped open.
"Something went wrong," Mia said. "Are you sure this thing is working?"
"Yes, I'm positive," Harry said. "This is very strange. Can I see it?"
Mia handed the stone back to Harry and he tapped it three times.
"Well, this could be a problem. We're going to have to find a Nexus Point to access the Dark Realm. And for that, we're going to need someone else who has had a brush with death before."
Harry sent a message outside. Sara returned seconds later and looked at Harry in a quizzical way.
"What?" Mia asked. "What do you mean by the Dark Realm?"
"The easiest path to Purgatory, where your father is currently looming. The closest point to life and death without dying as well. Of course, there are things far worse than death."
A messed up map of lines appeared. Sara looked on quizzically from Harry to Mia and wondered what they were doing.
"Here's the Nexus Point," Harry said. "Mia wants to say goodbye to her father. I'm taking her on a spirit quest to do so, but I'm going to need your help given you've died before."
This had not even been close to the weirdest thing Sara had to do after all of these years of being with the Legends, so she took it in stride.
"Oh, of course," Sara said. "And I know where that temple is."
"Great," Harry said. "Looks like we're in business."
The moment Harry, Sara, and Mia arrived outside of the Nexus Point, they had a sense they were not the only ones there.
On instinct, Sara turned around and got in a brief scuffle with a hooded figure and sent the said figure flying. Sara prepared for another attack, but nothing happened.
The figure landed gracefully down onto the ground. The woman dropped her hood and Sara's eyes widened.
"Even after all of those years, you still haven't lost your touch, beloved."
"Nyssa. Long time no see."
Chapter Eight:
Sara had a feeling that there was some level of significance that Nyssa was here.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your traveling companions?"
"This is Harry Potter. He's new around here. And this is Oliver's daughter, from the future, Mia."
A few seconds passed, and recognition appeared to dawn on Mia's face as she saw Nyssa. Nyssa, however, locked her eyes on Harry.
"This is Nyssa. We were...involved in the past."
Harry could tell based on the body language. He held out his hand and Nyssa lightly grasped in. The two met in the middle, as if trying to figure out what this meant for the other.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Harry said.
"The pleasure is all mine,' Nyssa remarked a few seconds later. "Although, there must be a reason why you are here. And speaking of Oliver, how is my ex-husband?"
Mia blinked a few seconds later. She had a feeling there was some kind of long story here. The Nyssa she knew, in the future, well she did not quite bring that up. Then again, it was all business and all training overall.
"She's...he's dead," Sara said. "Sacrificed himself to save others."
"My condolences," Nyssa said. "We might not have seen eye to eye always, but I do respect his dedication and his fighting abilities. Surely, the world is at a great loss when he is here. I feel that you will be a credit to his legacy though."
Mia's eyes locked onto Nyssa and she responded with a nod.
"I have a mentor who ensured that I would be skilled enough to handle myself."
"Well, a good trainer is merely half of the battle," Nyssa said. "There must be a reason why you're here."
"Yes, but is there a reason why you're here?" Sara asked.
Nyssa turned her attention away for a moment. Harry could tell she had been wrestling with something, some past demons which threatened to overwhelm her. Oh, Harry had been down that road so many times in the past. And no one entered a temple like this without any answer.
"There's some feeling that I can't shake. One of looming darkness. And when learning of Oliver's passing, I can't say I was wrong, now can I?"
"No, you're not," Harry agreed. "There's a Crisis coming. It will affect everyone, over multiple worlds."
"So, one of the great disasters my father often spoke of," Nyssa said. "Perhaps it was best that he did not live to see how right he was."
"We're here to enter the Dark Realm," Sara said.
Nyssa looked for a second. She understood immediately what the Dark Realm represented, and all of the problems with entering such a location. And now, with the energies so high in this area, it would be the perfect time.
"Why?"
"Because, I wish to have closure, to properly say goodbye to my father," Mia firmly said.
"Yes, I can understand your plight," Nyssa said. "But, it is one that you are certain of? One that you understand all of the potential risks and consequences of?"
A mere moment passed with Nyssa and Mia locking eyes with each other. Then in the heat of the moment, Mia set her jaw and nodded firmly.
"Yes."
"Very well," Nyssa said. "I won't stand in your way, if you are certain. But, I will join you."
Harry figured as much. There had been something between Nyssa and Mia, and Harry picked up on it. They had known each other in the future. Nyssa may have picked up on it as well. Harry did not ask, because unfortunately they are on a time table.
"Well, I shouldn't waste any more time because the three of you know and understand what we're getting into," Harry said. "Get ready."
Harry crouched down on the ground and did the necessary to prepare to open up a gateway to lead them straight into the Dark Realm. He took every step possible to make sure this was done safely.
However, one cannot be too careful.
The Dark Realm had been exactly what it said on the tin. Dark, dismal, and depressing. Given the three women who joined him had dealt with great losses many times, the voices started to echo in their head. Tormenting whispers prodded at their psyche and for weaker people, they would have succumbed to madness.
No one knew more loss than Harry though. He gathered every bit of strength together.
Harry guided his hand into Mia's and then through Sara's, while Sara's took Nyssa's. The three moved down the path and the wind whispered through, taunting them and guiding them in some ways.
"Stay focused. Do not let the dark magic of the realm distract you."
One could say that the Dark Realm enticed the prey as they moved forward. As long as they stayed on of the path, and they did not go where the shadows consumed them, they would be find.
"Dad's on the other side of this?"
"Yes."
Mia closed her eyes. Images of her father's dying body haunted her mind. Star City burned and she could not save it. Her father's corpse rose from the grave. Acusing eyes flashed towards Mia.
Mia shivered. Harry squeezed her hand hard to jolt her back to life.
"None of this is real."
"Although it is very convincing," Sara muttered. "Oh, Laurel…."
"Focus, beloved," Nyssa told her.
Yet, Nyssa saw him off of the path. The image of her father. Taunting her, of her failures, and critical. Nyssa summoned all of the will she had in her body to block him out. Block out the man who she spent most of her life trying to gain the approval of. Who in the end, Nyssa realized would never approve of what she was doing.
Through sheer force of will, Nyssa fought off everything. Although it was getting exceedingly difficult to concentrate the more she walked down the pathway.
"We're close to the end. But, it just gets worse from there."
That had not been encouraging. They stuck to the path, despite things getting topsy turvy. The Dark Realm doubled down its efforts to try and consume them. The ghosts of the past, they stuck to Nyssa, rapidly haunting her and getting directly into her mind.
Harry did what he could to keep his mind and the mind of his companions mostly stable and secure. Still, as they walked through the area, Harry had the overwhelming sense that there was something way.
"Three paths," Sara remarked. "Which one?"
"Center your minds, focus on reality, and we will find the way out of here. This is what tests us."
After all, getting into the Dark Realm, it had not been a problem. Leaving the Dark Realm, that was the issue. The portal split wide open, and the party just shot out through the portal, splitting the energy field open as they shot out into nothingness.
They found the way out, through the portal. Harry, Sara, Mia, and Nyssa made it, just barely.
"Well, we reached Purgatory."
Somehow, Sara had not been too surprised this was Oliver's mental representation of what Purgatory was. Lian Yu, a place which Sara never wanted to return to, and thankfully was not as big of a part of her past as Oliver, flashed in front of them. Ghosts surrounded them, moving on the surface.
Mia, Nyssa, and Harry stepped in behind Sara.
"Purgatory varies for some. It's a train station for some. It's a tower for others. Apparently, it's an island for him."
"This is the place where he spent five years of his life," Nyssa remarked. "For better or for worse, it turned him into the man he became. So naturally, it would leave an impact on him."
And it was a place where Oliver's innocence, in many ways, went to die.
"He's close," Mia murmured.
"Yes."
Mia steadied herself. All of these spirits hovering around the surface, closed in and almost appeared to be sniffing the air to try and get a good feel of what was going on. They avoided Harry, perhaps out of fear of what he represented and out of who he was.
Sara saw brief flickers of Damien Darhk, R'as al Ghul, and Anthony Ivo. Despite passing through the Dark Realm ,her own personal demons moved around her, circling her.
"We need to find Oliver before he departs," Harry said. "Time is running out."
"How so?" Sara asked.
Harry held up a magical watch and it showed sands slowly, but surely running out.
"These sands represent the time we have to find Oliver. And also, the time before our path from the Dark Realm to Purgatory closes."
"Big island, but we have to…."
Mia turned around and drew her bow. She fired an arrow at a figure which had been hovering through it. It struck, a Deathstroke Mask which had been levitating on the ground. Mia's arm quivered as she stared down the mask.
"It's merely a ghost," Nyssa told her.
Mia only barely heard her. She saw a boat on the outskirts. She recognized Oliver, a younger Oliver, on the boat. Along with a man who could only be Robert Queen. Her father and grandfather shared words briefly, before a loud bang echoed and Robert Queen killed herself.
Then hiss and a caw of crows followed, before shadows dove out of the sky and dove bomb the younger Oliver in the boat. Mia's eyes widened as she rushed over. It took Sara a second to grab her before she rushed over. Oliver had been ripped from the boat.
Blood stained the water, as the younger image of her father had been buried in the water.
"No, this is wrong," Harry whispered. "Mia?"
Mia started, transfixed, at the water, which her father's rotting corpse, looking very much how she saw him die, rose up after the water.
"You watched me die. You're a disappointment."
"No."
"I wish you were never born to ruin my legacy. Why didn't you save me? You're not worthy. I'm disappointed to call you daughter. You have failed me as my heir. You have failed this city."
"No," Mia said. "No, I…."
A strong concussive blast of magic shot out of Harry's palm and impacted the faux Oliver and rendered him to dust particles. Mia's hands were shaking and she collapsed down, heavily breathing. Her mind had been rocked in more ways than one.
"Come out," Harry said. "I know you're here."
"Yes, and the Anti-Monitor knew you would come here. Blinded by your foolish sentiment. Almost as foolish as the man who sacrificed himself for nothing. Only to delay the inevitable."
The Deathstroke mask turned into a disturbed looking skull mask, before it manifested arms and legs and then a body, rising up like some diseased figure.
The skull faced man approached Harry, Nyssa, Mia, and Sara. Mia withdrew her bow, but Harry looked at him.
"What are you?" Harry asked.
"Mar Novu used me as a pawn," he growled. "I was reduced to a quivering, drooling wreck in Arkham Asylum. Until the Anti-Monitor came and set me free. He gave me gifts far greater, and far more powerful. My gifts are not just affecting the physical world, I can affect the minds and drive anyone mad. You can't even go to sleep to escape my power."
"Okay, Freddy, enough with the chatter," Sara said.
Harry remembered something J'onn told him.
"Deegan?" Harry asked. "John Deegan."
"In another, simpler, more primitive life," Deegan said. "But, I am now Doctor Destiny, and I will feast upon what you fear the most. Your fears make me stronger and you will only grow weaker that…."
Harry beamed Destiny in the face with two large blasts of magic which launched him up and caused him to crash down onto the ground.
With, Mia, Sara, and Nyssa paralyzed, Harry had to work quickly to slay this monster. Before Deegan carved up their minds and drove them completely insane. And to be fair, Harry just barely pushed himself through.
"Beneath your powers, you are still a puppet for a higher being. Mar Novu used you to test to heroes. And now the Anti-Monitor will use you…."
"Silence, you will even bow before my power, Dragon. You won't be able to save them all. I will dig in your mind and use your deepest fears to destroy you."
Harry's memories had not been pleasant. He began sealing them off one at a time. He did, in fact, manage to clear his mind, although it had not been that straight forward. Regardless, Harry locked into battle with Destiny and entered a battle of the wills against him.
Destiny shifted into a Dementor. Harry leaned in and channeled all of his positive emotions into one blast and sent the demonic wraith flying back. Beam after beam of light shot at Destiny and it caused him to crack.
Suddenly, Destiny had been driven back by a sonic scream.
Mia, Sara, and Nyssa had broken free from the trance they had been in, just in time to see a very familiar figure.
"Laurel? Wait are you…"
"Hey, sis."
Dinah Laurel Lance of Earth-1, or rather her spirit, appeared from the shadows. She approached Sara and offered her a big smile and hugged her briefly.
"You shouldn't really be on this other side. Although, the Master of Death is the Perfect Chaperone."
"He is," Sara said.
"What are you doing here?" Laurel asked.
"I want to say goodbye to my father," Mia said.
"Yes," Laurel said. "He's still here, but we need to hurry."
"So, no time for a fluffy reunion right now?" Sara asked her sister.
"Afraid not. Follow me."
"Can we trust her?" Nyssa whispered to Harry.
"Yes," Harry said. "I would know if we couldn't."
Mia and Sara nodded in response, they trusted Harry. Although, Sara's instincts already told her that she could trust Laurel. She would know if there was something wrong with her sister.
She hoped.
As Laurel promised, they reached Oliver. Mia took a few seconds to compose herself.
"I never thought I would have a chance to say goodbye. Dad."
Harry gave Mia a moment as she rushed over to join him.
"Dad, I'm so sorry."
"None of this is your fault," Oliver quietly told her. "You will be amazing. I don't have any regrets. Not with you around. But, my time is almost up. I'm going to have to go. And you have to promise me, that no matter what, you don't try anything to bring me back. Because I've made my choice."
It hit Harry that this was no ordinary death, even without the bargain Oliver and the Monitor made.
"I...I promise," Mia said.
"I know you'll keep your word," Oliver said. "And I hope that this leads to better things. Great things for you."
Harry noticed a gentleman approaching the island out of the corner of his eye. Sara and Nyssa had gotten on edge, guarded for the sudden arrival. Guarded as they should have been.
"It's fine," Harry told them.
Nyssa and Sara kept their eyes open, but they relaxed a little bit. The gentleman approached Oliver.
"Oliver Queen, my name is Jim Corrigan. I will need your assistance for what is to come. When worlds die, there is only rebirth. While Death's Guardian will rally his Paragons, you will spark the key which will unlock are salvation. You will need to be something else. You will become something else."
Harry could begin to see it happening. Well, when one door closed, a window opened, and Oliver approached the window of opportunity.
"Goodbye," Oliver told them.
Oliver stopped down the line and shook hands with Nyssa, Sara, and Harry, before giving his daughter a hug goodbye. He then stopped and looked at Laurel.
"Laurel, for everything, I'm sorry."
"I know," Laurel said. "If only things had been different."
"Yes, if only things had been different," Oliver said. "You all should go."
"Yes," Harry agreed. "Time is almost up."
"I'll see you to the gate," Laurel said. "You can't stay any longer. But, Sara, I'm really proud of you and I know you'll flourish in your new role. And don't be afraid of what is to come. It will only make you stronger."
With that, Nyssa and Mia passed the gate. Sara slowly walked through.. Laurel guided her hand into Harry's shoulder and whispered something in his ear, which Sara could not pick up.
"Yes, that makes sense," Harry agreed.
Harry walked further to the gate, along with Sara, Mia, and Nyssa. They would begin the treacherous journey back through the Dark Realm. Although a little bit easier now they knew what to expect.
While Doctor Destiny had been banished for the moment, Harry kept his eyes wide open for the slightest sign of Deegan. The Anti-Monitor employing Deegan as a distraction, while also fueling Deegan's resentment to Mar Novu really was an insidious move. And Harry doubted that was the only shot the Anti-Monitor had to fire.
Harry invited that monster to take his best shot.
Mia, Nyssa, Sara, and Harry returned back home Kara paced back and forth, waiting for their return. She had been in a conversation, with Kate, Dinah, and Diana, before she broke away. Kara threw her arms around Harry and planted a light kiss on his lips.
"You're back," Kara said.
"Of course," Harry said. "Did you doubt it?"
"Well no," Kara said. "I just had a weird feeling that something weird's happening."
"Something is, but I'll tell you all," Harry said.
Kara turned to Mia and Sara, about ready to ask them if they found Oliver and said goodbye. She fell her eyes across the dark-haired beauty who had popped out of the portal along with them.
"So, you must be the Dragon's beloved," Nyssa said with a smile. "I am Nyssa."
"Oh, you're that Nyssa," Kara said. "It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Kara."
The two women greeted each other. Kara did think that Nyssa was quite stunning, and if they did not have other matters to focus on, there were problems.
"Are you sticking around?" Sara asked.
"I have to attend to something," Nyssa said. "I've taken on a student, but she's gone missing. And she has unique powers which I'm concerned could be used for nefarious purposes."
"I won't keep you waiting," Harry said. "Do you need any help…."
"No, you have this Crisis to deal with," Nyssa said. "It was nice meeting you. I hope after you defeat the Anti-Monitor, our paths will cross again."
"Maybe, they will," Kara remarked.
"So, it seems like we're always saying goodbye?" Sara asked.
"It appears so," Nyssa said. "Oh, and tell this Ava that if she ever hurts you, there will be no place in time which she can hide."
Sara knew Nyssa was completely serious with what she said. The two parted ways, on mostly good terms.
"I'll pass the message along," Sara remarked.
"So, did you get what you wanted?" Harry asked Mia.
"Yes, thank you," Mia said. "I can never repay you."
It might have been a brief meeting, but given that Mia grew up without her father, it was more than she would have hoped for for years.
"We have a problem," Harry said.
"What kind of problem?" Kate asked him.
"John Deegan," Harry said. "He's gotten new powers, and he could affect all of our minds. He feeds off of the fears and the terror of people. Those who have lost, he particularly targets."
"Great," Dinah said. "There's plenty of that going on in here."
"Yes," Diana agreed. "He's a particularly dangerous force, who has to be stopped."
"He was still in Arkham, the last time I checked," Kate said.
"Well, with his power set, he might not have to necessarily leave the walls of Arkham to torment his victims."
Kate conceded Harry's point. She would still check up, on things.
"I'll be back soon," Kate said.
With that, she disappeared. Diana and Kara locked eyes with each other.
"The sudden disappearances, that runs in the family," Diana commented.
"Oh, so you met him?" Kara asked. Diana nodded swiftly."Yes, it does."
Kara never did meet her Earth's version of Batman. She heard second hand encounters from her cousin regarding their teamups. It had been out of necessity against greater evils.
"Harry, given where you've been, I would highly recommend you get checked out," Alia said.
"I agree with Alia," Kara said. "Just to make sure."
Harry thought it would be far better to agree, then argue. At the moment, they were at a lull, not knowing the Anti-Monitor's next move. Although Deegan lurking on the surface, preparing to go into a feeding frenzy most certainly brought some unease to Harry.
Harry would insist he was fine, but he had a bad habit of not really understanding how injured he could be.
"The usual amount of dark magical energy is still radiating off of your body,' Alia said. "Given, you expanded most of your defensive powers shielding Nyssa, Sara, and Mia, it is to be expected."
"We were cut off," Harry said.
"Yes, I noticed," Alia said. "But, you did fine without me."
Lena and Kara stood on either side of Harry. Lena had her mind on Lex. A small vindictive part of her wished that Harry would have done more than break every single bone in Lex's body. Perhaps, though, it might not have worked.
"Brain scans are fine, magical scans are fine, physically you are as healthy as ever," Alia said.
"About the only thing I lack right now is information," Harry said.
"We know that Deegan is working with the Anti-Monitor," Lena said.
"Yes, and he was bad enough without nightmare powers," Kara said. "How can we trust our own eyes?"
"With a scan of his abilities, we should be able to create a means to counteract it," Alia said.
The scientific printout of Deegan's powers flashed on the screen. Lena looked at it for a good long minute, considering each step of it. She underwood precisely.
"I have an idea on how to block out his particular mental pattern," Lena said. "Although, the technology I'm thinking of, it's not perfected yet. And it runs risks."
"But, with Alia, we can perhaps mitigate the risks," Harry said.
Kara heard a buzzing in the ear piece which caused her to stand up.
"Batwoman to Supergirl, can you hear me?"
"Yes, I can hear you," Kara said.
"Deegan and his cellmate are gone," Kate said. "You know Psycho Pirate."
"Well, there's a name that makes me feel better," Harry dryly responded.
"I'm pouring over the security footage. But they were there one minute and gone the next. There was no hint of an escape. The guards denied their existence, even after I persuaded them otherwise."
"One or both must have either wiped something from their minds," Harry interjected.
"Or the Anti-Monitor did," Kara said.
So, not only did they have to deal with Deegan, but they had to deal with someone called Psycho-Pirate. While Harry had no idea what his power set was, with a name like that, it could not be anything pleasant.
X-X-X
Harry walked around the corner. He thought it was a good time to check up on Mia. Only to find her in the hallway right next to him. Mia changed into a pair of jean shorts and a green tank top, which shifted up to show her tight stomach with the slightest amount of movement. And it would be unfair to deny Mia's long, lovely, and strong looking legs.
"Coming to see me?" Mia asked.
"Wanted to see how you were doing."
"Well, I wanted to talk to you. Why don't you come into my room?"
Mia's eyes looked inviting and Harry took her hand. The two entered the room.
"I want to thank you for that," Mia said. "I got the closure I've always wanted. Although, it meant more that I actually got to know my father over the past few weeks. I still want to know what greater purpose he has."
"It's certainly worthy," Harry said. "He's been through a lot to get down this road."
"We all have, in our own ways," Mia said. "He showed me that the worst could happen, in a blink of an eye. We all saw it, when Kara's Earth got destroyed. And you saw it with yours. And it's only the beginning."
Mia slid her arms around Harry's waist and Harry did likewise. The two joined together.
"I overheard Kara and Lena talking about your little harem plan."
"I prefer the term collective," Harry told her.
A half smirk came across the face of the Queen heiress.
"Well, whatever you call it," Mia said. "It's bold. Not many men would be able to pull it off. But, you're not like many men, are you?"
The two moved closer together. Mia and Harry could feel their breath on Harry's face.
"You're interested, aren't you?"
"Well, obviously," Mia said with a slight roll of her eyes. "But, I think you already knew it. You're the type of guy who wants the woman to thirst for it. Make them sweat. But, I'm not going to fuck around. If I want something, I'm going to get it and if I have what I want in my grasp, I'm going to move in for the kill."
Mia moved a little bit closer. Harry drifted his hands around Mia and pulled her in as tight as he could go.
"If the multiverse gets destroyed, I want no regrets," Mia breathed in Harry's ear.
"It won't be destroyed," Harry said.
"Regardless."
Mia laid a huge kiss on Harry, which he returned. Harry wrapped his arms around the skilled and gorgeous young woman. Their hands touched and worked over each other, things heating up as they proceeded forward.