The wind howled outside the vast estate, the storm clouds thickening over Gotham as lightning split the sky. Inside, the Wayne Mansion remained warm and lively despite the tempest brewing beyond its grand windows.
But in that very moment, something shifted.
A spark of energy, subtle but unmistakable, rippled across the planet. It was faint, yet for those attuned to cosmic forces, it was like hearing the whisper of a long-lost soul calling out across the void.
Skylar felt it first.
Her silver-white hair flickered with static as arcs of blue lightning crackled around her fingertips. Standing atop one of the Kryptonian watchtowers on Mars, she closed her eyes, reaching out, tracing the disturbance. It wasn't random. It was a signal. A beacon.
A connection.
Her eyes snapped open, glowing with a bright, electric blue.
"Took him long enough."
Without hesitation, she vanished in a burst of lightning.
[Wayne Enterprises – The Meeting Room]
Pamela Isley sat at the head of a glass conference table, surrounded by some of the world's top scientists and defense strategists. A holographic projection of Earth's orbital grid hovered in the air before them, displaying the locations of the newly developed Orbital Defense Weaponry Systems, a network of satellites capable of neutralizing threats before they ever reached the planet.
"This project is our best hope against extraterrestrial threats. It's an upgraded version of the existing system," one of the engineers explained. "With this, we can..."
A sharp crack echoed through the room.
A pulse of blue lightning flashed, and Skylar materialized in the center of the meeting. The lights flickered from the energy surge, causing a few startled gasps from the gathered experts.
Pamela, however, didn't flinch. She simply folded her arms and gave Skylar a tired look.
"This had better be important," she said, arching an eyebrow.
Skylar took a deep breath, locking eyes with her.
"He's here."
For the first time in a decade, Pamela felt her heart stop.
Her composure nearly cracked, but she held firm. Her hands were trembling. Ten years... Finally, she found hope. Slowly, she exhaled. "You're sure?"
Skylar gave a rare, sharp nod. "He's trying to connect to this universe. It's faint, but I can feel it. The door to the other side will open somewhere around the manor. Go. I'll inform the others."
Pamela stood up immediately, her chair sliding back with a sharp screech. "This meeting is over," she declared. Before anyone could protest, she was already walking toward the door. She activated the bracelet. Nanites swarmed over her body, forming her armor. Then with a crackle of lightning, she disappeared.
[Themyscira – The Training Grounds]
The clash of steel rang through the air as Diana and Kara sparred on the golden sands of Themyscira. Diana, clad in her Amazonian battle armor, ducked beneath Kara's lightning-fast strike, countering with a powerful shield bash.
Kara skidded back, grinning. "You're getting slow, Princess."
Diana smirked. "And you're getting reckless."
Kara launched herself forward again, but before their blades could meet—BOOM. A crack of thunder tore through the sky, and a streak of blue lightning slammed into the sand between them.
Skylar stood there, unshaken, her gaze fierce.
Diana straightened, gripping her sword. "Skylar?"
Kara tilted her head, wiping sweat from her brow. "You look like you just saw a ghost."
Skylar took a step forward, eyes gleaming.
"He's here."
Diana froze.
For a second, she thought she had misheard. But no, Skylar wasn't one to play games. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she barely noticed when her grip on her sword slackened, the blade falling into the sand with a soft thud.
Kara, on the other hand, clenched her fists. "You better not be messing with us, Skylar," she said, voice raw with emotion.
Skylar didn't blink. "I'm not. Go to the manor."
Diana swallowed the lump in her throat, her voice barely a whisper. "...Then what are we waiting for?"
Both Kara and Diana flew into the sky, making their way to the Wayne manor.
[Justice League Base – The Training Room]
Blades clashed in the dimly lit training chamber as Talia and Nyssa al Ghul moved in perfect synchrony. Their duel was a dance of precision and skill, neither sister giving the other an inch.
Nyssa struck low, forcing Talia to pivot and counter with a swift kick, sending Nyssa back a step.
"Still relying on brute force, sister?" Nyssa teased.
Talia smirked. "And yet you still fall for it."
Then—CRACK!
Lightning exploded in the room. The temperature shifted instantly, the very air charged with energy.
Skylar stood between them, unbothered by the blades still in their hands.
Talia and Nyssa didn't even get the chance to scold her before she spoke:
"He's here."
Nyssa frowned. "Who..."
Talia dropped her sword.
Her lips parted slightly, her breath catching in her throat. "Are you certain?"
Skylar gave her a knowing look. "Go to the manor. Now."
Talia closed her eyes for a moment, steeling herself. Then, she opened them. 'I'm so gonna punch that guy. How dare he make me worry for 10 long years.'
She was already walking toward the door. Nyssa followed her.
[The New Atlantis – The Surface Citadel]
The ocean had long since ceased to be a prison for the Atlanteans.
Once, they had been cursed to live beneath the waves, bound to the sea, unable to walk the land without suffering. But that had changed.
Bruce had changed it.
Before his disappearance, he had done the impossible—healed the Atlanteans of their affliction, allowing them to walk among humans once more. And now, New Atlantis stood proud on the ocean's surface, a marvel of engineering, built on the ruins of a forgotten island, merging ancient Atlantean architecture with modern advancements.
At the heart of the citadel, standing atop a balcony overlooking the endless blue, Ariel, the Aquawoman, watched the horizon. The wind whipped through her crimson hair, her piercing green eyes narrowed in thought.
Something was wrong.
A shift in the currents.
A whisper in the tides.
Then, before she could fully process it—lightning struck.
Not real lightning... Skylar.
Ariel didn't flinch as a flash of blue energy erupted behind her. The Queen of Atlantis turned, already knowing who she would see.
Skylar stood before her, still crackling with energy, breathing slightly heavy from the rapid teleportations.
Ariel's expression remained calm, but her fingers curled into fists. "I assume you have a reason for nearly shattering the water barrier with your entrance?"
Skylar stepped forward, gaze unwavering.
"He's here."
For a moment, the world stopped.
Ariel's breath hitched.
She had waited ten years for those words. Ten years of prayers whispered to the ocean. Ten years of doubting, hoping, despairing, and believing all over again.
And now…
The Queen of Atlantis closed her eyes for a brief second, grounding herself, then looked back at Skylar. Her voice was steady.
"Where?"
"Wayne Manor," Skylar answered without hesitation.
Ariel turned without another word. She instantly sent a telepathic command to her warriors. Within seconds, her royal guards appeared, ready to follow.
"Prepare the teleporter," she ordered. "We're leaving immediately."
One of her generals hesitated. "My Queen, should we not alert..."
Ariel cut him off with a sharp glance. "There is no time for alerts. This is Bruce."
That was all she needed to say.
[Wayne Manor]
Inside the grand halls of Wayne Manor, chaos was brewing.
Elissa Wayne, the young Amazon-Kryptonian hybrid, had once again outdone herself.
Thomas Wayne stood before the grand mirror in the living room, his mustache completely gone. He was staring at his reflection with a mixture of horror and betrayal.
"You little—!"
Elissa, sitting cross-legged on the couch, gave him her best innocent smile. "Grandpa, you look so much younger now. You should be thanking me."
Martha Wayne, standing beside him, covered her mouth, clearly holding back laughter.
"Don't laugh," Thoman turned toward Elissa. "You miss, you are grounded. And for the record, I look very much young thanks to the serum your dad made."
Damian sighed, arms crossed. "I told you this would happen."
Elissa shrugged. "I regret nothing."
Then... lightning struck.
A pulse of raw energy filled the room as Skylar materialized right in the middle of the hall.
Everyone turned to face her.
She looked directly at them, her expression unreadable.
Then, she spoke:
"He's here."
The room fell silent.
"He...?! Bruce?" Thomas stuttered.
Damian's eyes widened. "Father?"
Elissa shot up from the couch. "Dad?! Where?!"
Thomas Wayne, shock written across his face, reached for Martha's hand. Martha, unable to speak, simply tightened her grip around his fingers.
Even Maggie, who had been bringing in a tray of cookies, stood frozen in place.
Skylar looked around at them all.
"Everyone's gathering in the main hall. Now."
No one hesitated.
Because after ten years, after all the waiting, all the pain, all the uncertainty...
Bruce Wayne was coming home.
And none of them intended to miss it.
....
By the time Ariel arrived at Wayne Manor, the storm had grown.
Raindrops pattered against the gothic estate, the sky above Gotham swirling with unnatural energy.
One by one, the legends gathered in the grand hall.
Pamela was already there, standing stiffly with her arms crossed, trying to mask the emotions running rampant beneath her calm exterior. Her green eyes flickered toward the Wayne family portrait above the fireplace, her thoughts unreadable.
Diana stood beside her, her lasso coiled at her hip and she was fiddling with her fingers. Kara, standing slightly apart, remained quiet and her hands clenched into fists, her expression unreadable.
Kara was leaning on the pillar behind Diana.
Talia and Nyssa arrived next. Nyssa held back, observing, while Talia's eyes scanned the room, searching, waiting.
And then...
The doors swung open once more, and Aquawoman walked in, her presence commanding. She looked around the room.
Damian and Elissa stood at the center of it all, barely able to contain themselves.
The young Amazon, Human, and Kryptonian hybrid practically vibrated with energy, bouncing on her heels, while Damian remained still... too still. He said nothing, but the way his fists tightened at his sides spoke volumes.
Thomas and Martha Wayne stood behind them, their expressions a mix of hope and disbelief.
Then, finally, the last arrival...
Skylar appeared with a final crackle of lightning with Sophia with her. Sophia was in Europe making a deal with another company when she got the news.
Skylar looked around, nodding in satisfaction. "Good. You're all here."
A heavy silence settled over them.
And then…
A sound.
A low hum, barely perceptible at first, like the distant vibration of a tuning fork. The energy in the room shifted and static danced along the skin of everyone present. The very air crackled.
Skylar lifted her hands, her eyes glowing pure white as the floor beneath them trembled as she created a shield around everyone.
Then, with a BOOM, the space before them ripped open.
A swirling vortex of deep blues and purples expanded outward, its edges crackling with arcs of electricity. The portal stood tall, unstable for a moment before finally settling into a perfect, circular gateway.
And then—a figure emerged.
At first, all they could see was a silhouette, bathed in the blinding glow of the portal. Then, slowly, an armored drone, shot out, crashing on the shield.
---
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