In the Golden Light - A Justice League AU

Chapter 33 - Message from the Rebels

His blood was boiling at the mention of his nemesis. Now of all times! Of course. What could the Thanagarian possibly want with him now at this sensitive time? Goldwath let out a snarl as he whisked away from the Queen. He did stop and look back to her, realizing that he may have offended her. "Thank you, your Majesty," he added to make up for his growl. "You have been of great help. Take care of Lazuli and my newborn daughter for me while I handle my...little spat."

She followed him anyway.

The heroes gathered, staring ahead at their screen projecting. Dazzling had appeared in front of everyone, his face alone making Goldwath want to leap at the screen and tear it up. Of course he couldn't though. At least not yet that is. When they meet again, he will gladly tear it up. Along with the rest of his body. 

Basically, he will gladly kill Dazzling without remorse soon enough.

"Goldwath~" Dazzling spoke in a singsong voice as he tilted his head, giving off a huge grin.

Goldwath inhaled his anger, remembering the tactics of keeping it under control. Don't give in; that's how you'll leave yourself open and exposed to that creep with the empty white eyes. "Dazzling." His voice was shaky compared to Dazzling's but it held firm.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything...special," Dazzling stated, chuckling. That made Goldwath furious. Dazzling lifted up his claws to his face as he picked his teeth. "Anyway, it was about time we had met again since our last encounter. And actually about time we sat down and...talk things out. Make some compromises, some deals, you know by now. Though, it is a shame we can't do this in person. That will be soon."

Shut the hell up. "What is it you want now?" Goldwath demanded.

"As I said: Compromises."

"Before we discuss those compromises, I want to know something. Well, I know that you know."

Dazzling tilted his head, an ear twitched. 

"I know you must have some involvement with the coup."

His expression was monotone, but it was obvious he was hiding that he knew. "What coup? You mean the little situation with the underwater city?"

Goldwath slammed his paw. "Damn you! Don't play dumb with me, Dazzling. I've just had it, and this time I'm not in the mood for jokes!"

How he wanted to punch and kick the ever loving daylights out of the Thanagarian. The one who made his life on Thanagar a hell. The bastard who had his little disabled henchmen infiltrate Atlantis and cause severe mental trauma to Lazuli. It was unforgivable. Hell, HOW could it be forgivable? He just wanted to make him pay for all he had done. Make his team pay for it all. For following such a corrupt and mentally insane psychopath!

Dazzling looked at him all offended and lifted up his paws. "Moody much! You're no fun! And I thought Krandor was uptight. Oh man, how I miss him so much. I wonder how he's doing? Don't you agree?"

He revealed his teeth. "Mention my brother's real name again, and I swear I'll--"

"Yes, I have been planning with Suizul for months now ever he first arrived to me. I've heard stories. I always found it distracting to my main goal, but... Oh! This is perfect! How perfect it came out!"

Goldwath's heart was beating hard, it hurt. He backed away slightly to not have another tantrum and turned his head. He exhaled in an annoyed way.

Calm. 

Keep calm. 

"Now if we're done discussing blame games.... Here's the deal, Goldwath: If you want your precious princess girlfriend and her family to live, you should surrender yourself to me. You and the League. It's guaranteed I will not harm them or the League."

"And leave Atlantis in the paws of a traitor?"

Those words did not come out of his mouth. Goldwath turned his head to the approaching King Ultramine. The King had been mingled with the Justice League but the mention of Lazuli and her family triggered him. The Thanagarian was a bit surprised the King would speak to someone he never knew. To the Thanagarian he told all awful stories of from his past. But when he looked back to the screen, it had flickered over to Suizul himself, who was grinning. Beside him was Lazuli's guard (he guessed former guard now given circumstances), Starshern, and an Atlantean Lazuli had told him about: Oraca. Her best friend.

"What the-?" Goldwath whispered.

"Ah, King Ultramine!" Suizul's voice filled the tower. "Surprised to see me alive?"

"Traitors, all of you!" Ultramine growled. "If you think I'll bow down to you and give up my crown, I've got some bad news for you all."

The Atlantean managed a shrug. "Eh, a crown's a crown, we could make one for all we care. Anyway, that's not what we're after," Suizul commented.

"What do you want then?"

Starshern was the one to offer the proposition. "Either you and your family's demise or utter surrender."

That statement blew the King away. He held tall, but Goldwath could tell that, just like him, he was internally seething with rage. "What?"

"Along with complete surrender from the Justice League as well," Suizul added. "Just like Dazzling said." He turned his attention to Goldwath. 

To hell with you as well, he told himself. For bringing harm to Lazuli. Bringing harm to our family.

"It's your decision, Your Majesty," Oraca mocked at King Ultramine, stepping up. "You all get to live in a cell for all your life, or meet your untimely demise along with the rest of Atlantis and the surface world."

The screen flickered back to Dazzling Hawk.

"You've got exactly 1 year, Stinkphidian," he said to Goldwath. "A year so we can savor the fact we have defeated you. For now. Until then, watch yourselves. We'll be lurking in your head."


{To be continued...}