Raven Roth and Damian Wayne: The Walk of Life (Book 1 Of 2)

Chapter Twenty Five

Badabing badaboom we have the last chapter....of this arch. Hope everyone enjoys, after having to wait so long for it, I'm sorry. But I think it's a strong come back :D have fun guys. Shep out.

In the mansion above Harley had be holding a terrified and crying Raven for some time. The poor girl hadn't stopped shaking the whole time they'd been hearing the fight below. "I don't know what to do, what do I say to her? I could really use some help Red, you were always good with words when I needed them. I hope you're alright." Harley thought to herself. "Mortal creatures! This farce is over!" They heard Trigons thunderous declaration come rumbling up the staircase. Ravens eyes widened in fear and she gripped Harleys sleeves tightly. "Shh, you're ok little birdy, Bats and everyone are clearly winning if he's getting this mad. Besides, I have never seen the big broody batguy this angry, and I've done a lot of things to make him mad, like really mad. Right now, he scares me more than your bloated daddio." Harley said trying to comfort the girl with a smile. Before any kind of answer could come from her however a cough came from behind them. "Sorry love, am I ruining some kind of bonding moment here?" Asked John with a lot of sarcasm and a big triumphant smile.

“Where the hell have you been?!” Harley screamed unexpectedly. “Hey getting this spear was not easy. There were traps and riddles and all that crap to go through to get it. She looks fine, a bit shaken but fine, and the crystal is… the crystals gone.” John replied trailing off as a sense of dread fell over him. “Zee?! Time to go, we’re late to the party.” John called behind him. Zatana rushed out from the House of Mystery with the newly claimed spear in hand. “Ooo that’s puuurdy” Harley remarked with twinkling eyes. “No.” Zatana said giving her a smiling glance “This is to be used for stopping trigon and nothing else.” She continued causing Harley to pull an exaggerated sad face. “But what about after?” She asked with a puppy dog expression. “It goes back to here we got it.” Affirmed Zatana causing John to straighten up and Harley to jump up from her seated position. “HUH?! Both John and Harley exclaimed. “After all that trouble you want to go out it back?” John protested. “You must, it belongs to Azarath. I can return it if you do not wish to return there” Interrupted Raven from her position on the floor. John looked at her for a moment and saw that she was still filled with fear but there was something else there, a look of purpose and duty. He sighed “fine we take it back once this is over. How bad is it right now?” As he asked Batgirl, Batwoman, Huntress and Catwoman came charging up the stairs. “You can go down take a look if you want to be crushed by the cave in caused by Trigon when he jumped through the damn ceiling after losing two eyes.” Said Batwoman with a fair amount of snark. “Everyone is going topside, this fight isnt contained any longer and that means Gotham is at risk.” Added Bargirl. Catwoman knelt down with Damian and Raven, placing a hand on Ravens shoulder. “It’ll be fine Raven.” She turned to Damian, “We could use another skilled and slippery fighter, though I understand if you want to stay here.” Damian thought for just a second before standing, “no, I’ll fight.” He stated matter of factly as he turned towards the door. In that moment Raven remembered her dream of facing her father, remembered his words and remembered holding Damians body. “Please, dont go out there, please dont fight him.” She cried as she reached out for him. In that moment John grabbed her wrist. “Revan. Everyone is fighting for you to be free. For you to be able to live, have friends, pursue love. And you’re just going to sit here, afraid, crying. They’re all afraid too, but it’s a different fear they have. It’s the fear that you would be a prisoner, they fear that they’re not giving you hope, they fear that this battle is already over and you’ve given up. But even with those fears they fight. So I’m asking you, will you take up this spear, will you go to them and fight with them, then drive this pointy stick into your father’s heart.” He said as he let her go and held out the spear.

As the battle raged on superman and Shazam traded blows high above everyone else. Shazam catch Superman with a powerful right hook and in retaliation Superman brought both his hands together and slammed them into Shazams back, sending him plummeting down to the ground. As he hit the dirt Wonder Woman rushed him and threw her lasso of truth around him “the lasso compels you, speak your word of power!” she called out to him. After a momentary struggle her orders were followed “SHAZAM!” and a bolt of lightening rained down, as the smoke cleared there stood an exhausted Billy who collapsed to his knees only to be caught by Batman. “get to a safe distance and sit the rest out Billy, you’ve done your part" he said trying not to be too stern. Billy just nodded and stumbled to his feet before taking off towards the back of Wayne manor. “I know it’s the right call but we could really use the fire power of Shazam, be too much to have him change back?” Superman asked as he landed beside Batman. “It would be useful, but he’s a boy Clark and needs the rest.” Said Wonder Woman as she joined them. “Diana’s right, plus we dont know if Trigon would just possess him again after he kept you busy for a while. We need to end this fast.” Said Batman as he scanned the field and saw Green Lantern get swatted by Trigon. At the demon kings feet, Red Hood, Green Arrow and Batwing were charging in, letting off shots at the large target as they went. “Ever wonder how normal guys get dragged into these over blown other worldly fights? I mean, I have arrows, arrows for every occasion, but arrows none the less. What am I doing here?” Green Arrow joked. “Helping your friends sons girlfriend have an opportunity to be free from demonic possession, mental imprisonment and have an equal right to happiness. All while enjoying a love social with all your super powered buddies. Basically an average Tuesday.” Quipped Hood. “Your Tuesdays are messed up man" added Batwings as the three scattered to avoid Trigons attempt to stamp them out. Whilst the three of them had Trigon distracted Power Girl charged in from some distance away, reaching supersonic speed and throw in a punch with all the might she could muster. Her fist connected with Trigons jaw with a thunderous clap causing him to almost stumble. While off balance Ivy reached out with her vines and yanked out his stable leg. In doing so she cause Trigon to fall, landing on his back. With Trigon down Green Lantern and Superman made a quick dash towards him in an attempt to hit him hard and render him unconscious. Their attempt was met with failure as enraged by the turn of events Trigon let loose a large blast of his demonic energy sending the two heroes rocketing back in the direction they had come from. He quickly gets back to his feet and while his opponents take in the fact that he has been able to regain so much power, power unused till this point, he makes several strides towards Gotham in an attempt to limit how much fire power the heroes would be willing to use against him. One of the only heroes to be right on his heels is Batman, seemingly unfazed by the display, he gives chase. “Focus, he’s advancing on Gotham. If he reaches the city this fight only gets harder and more innocent lives get thrown into the mix.” He calls out over the teams radios. It unfortunately doesn’t take long for Trigon to reach the city even with Batman and Nightwing trying to slow him down. As the citizens of Gotham saw Trigons giant form approach the city panic erupted and screams filled the air. “Your people are weak and pathetic. With no understanding of just how small and insignificant they truly are.” Bellowed Trigon as he snatched up a handful of the terrified populace and threw them into the air, twirling with high pitch screams of despair. As they glided across the sky it dawned on Superman that he wouldn’t be able to cat h them all without causing injury from the speed he’d have to travel to get them all. In this moment, tendrils of black purple magic erupted from the ground ensnaring each person without harm and lowering them gently to the ground. “You’re wrong father. Each person has strengths. A mother holding down two jobs and still having time to care for her children, so that they can have a better upbringing going than she did, that’s strength. A father saying no to a bribe as to teach his fellow man that the right way isn’t always the easy way, that’s strength. You could never understand the strength these people have.” Declared Raven as she stepped into view surrounded by allies, friends and loved ones. Trigon cased his eyes over to meet her glare and spotted the spear in her hands. “Where did you get that?!” he demanded. “from a very nice but not so nice disembodied voice mate.” Joked John as he lit up a cigarette and was joined by all the heroes of the battle. Trigon clearly filled with rage as he grit his teeth and began to growl. “you will not be given the opportunity to use that weapon. Trigon double over and crouched as he built a huge amount of energy at his centre. “COVER! NOW!” Ordered Batman and everyone began to scatter but it was too late. With a tremendous roar Trigon let loose an exponential amount of energy that blinded everyone and a great ball of orange red fiery energy engulfed him and grew outwards.

As the dust cleared Trigon stood tall and surveyed the area around him. He saw his daughter on her knees holding a body. “Look at all you've done." He called out to her. Her sobbing eyes look out over a burning Gotham City. "For all your struggling, self control and see what it has wrought." Flames lashing at the choked and blackened sky, wailing screams that curdled blood filled the air. Tears fall from red bloodshot eyes, splashing down to charcoaled earth. Buried in soot and ash, bodies, a bat, a bird, a cat, an alien, new friends and new loves. "Your naivety, your ignorance, your inability to use power, has destroyed them all. Their deaths are a result of you being unable to maintain composure." A horrified, traumatised and mournful scream rings out in anguish. Tears of sorrow race down a pale face. Pigments of grey switch to fiery red, two purple eyes change into 4 glowing yellow, grief and pain flow into rage and fury. Raven bolts up from cradling the body of the young broken Robin she loves. "You did this" rides out from her lips on a wave of wrath as she turns to face her father. Trigon stands tall before her, smirking at how disgustingly pathetic his daughter looks "You will fail, girl. You will always fail. For as long as you love them. You will always fail, for as long as you love him." Raven gets to her feet and takes the spear in hand. “No, I can fight harder and stronger because I love him. He gives me purpose and direction. I know I can succeed because he loves me too, he trusts me to know who I am. I know I am the daughter of the devil. I know that this makes me dangerous . But I also know that I am a daughter of Azaroth, she has gifted me with power also, she has gifted me with guidance, she has bestowed her spear to me because she knows that I can and will defeat YOU!” Raven tightened her grip on the spear and charged forward, propelling herself upwards with a blast of her magic under her feet. Trigon raised a hand ready to swat her back k down but as he did he felt a small sharp twinge in the palm of his hand. A small anchor line had lodged into his flesh and as it reeled in Batman came gliding out of the smoke and placed a free hand under Ravens boot. “Need to get you higher.” He stated through bloodied teeth and broken cowl as he put all his strength into throwing her up over Trigons clasping fingers. As Raven looked down to watch her fathers hand shut onto Batman she heard a word bei ging called out in the distance. “SHAZAM!” and lightening drilled into the ground kicking up dirt, soot and smoke. “HEY! TRIGUY! HEADS UP!” cried Shazam as he rocketed in and landed a blow against the demons face. “Need some more height ?” Asked superman as he brought his arms in under Ravens and took her higher into the air. Seeing all this support after her father’s attack brought a tear to her eye but she shook it off and frowned with determination. “let me go here" she said to superman who nodded and let her go. She straightened out her body and tucked the spear I  close she she began falling towards her father. “Take a dirt nap bastard" called Power Girl as she followed Shazams attack up with a fist from the other direction. With Trigon off balance she saw Red Hood and Nightwing speeding towards his feet with their grapples connected to each other’s motorcycles. “One asshole hitting the dirt.” Declared Hood and as stated the grapple lines pulled Trigons instead feet out from under him, bringing him crashing down onto his back. With him down Batwing and Cyborg jumped up and unloaded a devastating barrage into his face causing him to roar out in pain and anger. In this moment Revan drove the spear into his exposed chest as she landed and the black purple magic of her and Azaroth flooded out from the wound. Trigon writhed in pain and screamed out. As he realised what was happening he began to raise his ha as to grab Raven. Before he could his left hand became wrapped in vines as Ivy tried to pin him down, she threw in more and more but they began to break and snap. Harley jumped in with some rope that she had found, Catwoman threw her whip around his wrist and Batwoman, Batgirl and huntress launched their grapples in and started to pull as well. “You. Will not. Break. My sisters heart!” yelled Huntress as their team managed to combine their strength and over power the now weakened Trigon, pinning his left hand to the ground. On the right as his hand came up Shazam, Superman and Green Lantern all took hold of a finger and pulled with all their might. Wonder Woman threw her lasso around another finger and the now free Batman grappled another. Cyborg came to the aid of Shazam, Superman and Green Lantern and Trigons right hand began to fall. Green Arrow shot a line into the giant hand and joined Batman and Wonder Woman in pulling from the other side. After a short struggle Trigon was pinned and bellowing in agony. “You. You would do this. Murder your own father!” he taunted at Raven through screams. Raven clenched her eyes shut, trying to block her father out but found she wasnt able to push down on the spear. In that moment she felt a hand on hers helping to keep her grip on the spear. She felt another take her cheek and run a thumb along it. When she opened her eyes she saw Robin, Damian, with a determined look and a gentle smile. “So you can be free, to feel, to love, to live.” He said planting a kiss on her lips and then fully grasping the spear while still maintaining eye contact. Raven nodded in agreement and looked towards her father. “Strength father.” She said as she turned to the task at hand and drove the spear further down through his chest and I to his heart. As Trigon screamed and magic erupted, Trigons body began to fracture and black, purple and orange cracks ripped across his body. Everyone dove for cover in all directions and a thunderous boom echoed out as Trigons body seemingly exploded.

Everyone crept out of their cover cautiously and found before them a crater, in the middle stuck in the ground stood the spear and no trace of Trigon. They all looked toward each other and approached the epicentre of the explosion. “So, blown into pieces is dead right?” asked Green Lantern to no one in particular. Raven stepped forward and touched the spear, as she did her skin returned to it’s normal grey pigment and her four eyes returned to two. After a quick moment that seemed to drag on for everyone else, she opened her eyes. “Hes gone.” She stated, looking a little sad at the words. “I’m sorry you had to do that.” Said Batman as he stepped forward. “What about the city. Its basically gone.” Asked Wonder Woman as she scanned the horizon. Zetanna walked to her side and took in the view while contemplating . “I should be able to fix most of this.” She said as she held out her hands toward the ruins before her. “ereh enod egamad eht odnu” she said casting her spell. After a short pause rubble began sliding across the ground and steel girders realigned themselves allowing the concrete to connect to them. This sight was seen across the whole devastated city, after five minutes John joined her side. “come on Zee, you can keep this up, you need to stop.” He said softly as he saw the magician struggling to keep her eyes open and her legs from buckling, a streak of blood began to fall from her nose as she continued to try push through. “Zee! Christ sake, that’s enough.” John protested as she seemed to ignore him. At that moment Batman put a hand on her shoulder. “He’s right Zetanna, you’ve done enough.” He said calmly and Zetanna met his eyes and let up dropping to her knees as she released the spell. As the gathered heroes looked out across Gotham the city was more or less back intact. There appeared to be minor superficial repairs needing attention but nothing more. “I’m sorry, theres one building I couldn’t fix.” Zetanna stated as she looked across to Batman and then to the ruins of Wayne manor. Everyone looked at what was now just three semi destroyed walls and half a floor waiting to collapse. Raven looked at the ruins and walked to Batman. “I’m really sorry, your home was destroyed because of me, and all the belongings and memories there.” She said softly about to cry. Batman took down his cowl and knelt down before her placing his hands on her shoulders. “it’s ok, everyone is safe and mostly unharmed.” He stood up again but left his hands in place. “I’ll bill you for the repairs he said with a reassuring smile which Raven stiffened at first, then saw caught the smile and look in his eye and then she realised and relaxed, allowing herself to smile with him. “let’s get to it then.” Said Superman as he joined Raven and Batman. With that all the heroes headed towards the manor to begin clearing up.

Two weeks later and the Wayne clan were staying in various penthouses in Gotham owned by Bruce. They all had one each more or less but Bruce insisted that Damian and Raven had to stay with him and Selina. Damian wasn’t best pleased as getting on with Selina was still a new concept but things were getting better. He had taken Raven to various museums and art galleries for dates and they had been out to dinner together a couple of times.  Things were getting back to normal, Dick and Kori had headed back to the Tower to make sure everything had been ok while they were away. It wasn't Gar had rung up a huge pizza bill that Dick and Kori had to settle and made Gar do every ones chores for the next six months. The other heroes still popped in to offer help rebuilding the manor but Bruce turned down the help stating he had people on it. “Thanks for the offer Clark but it’s coming along fine, I have Wayne Enterprises R&D department doing the work in the face so theres no leaks on information there. No, they have been going out a lot. It’s the first time Ravens really seen Gotham so Damians been showing her the sights. Haha yes, smitten would be a word for it. No I think everything is going to be just fine for some time. Events like this tend to keep the underground elements in hiding for a bit while they watch what happens.”

“With Batman and his allies emerging victorious in there latest battle, some citizens are questioning....” “hmm, heroes at it again" says a guard while he sits at his desk watching the latest news on Gotham Channel 5. “Hey Gerry, be a pal and turn that up wont you.” Says a voice behind him. “Why? It’s just the usual. Batman out defending the city, only this time he had a bunch of other heroes with him.” Replies Gerry. “You’re telling me that Batsy had a party? And he didn't invite meeeee?! Well this just wont do, will it. Hehe hehehe ahaHA haHAhaHAhaHAhaHAhaHAhaaaaaa"