The sun glared down over Washington D.C., but the temperature remained pleasant thanks to a light breeze dancing through the National Mall. Cameras flashed and murmurs filled the air as a massive crowd gathered before a stage set just outside the White House. The mood was electric — one of hope, celebration, and curiosity.
Standing tall on the stage, the President of the United States addressed the nation, his voice broadcasted across the world. "These are the heroes who stood beside humanity during our darkest hour. When alien invaders came to dominate our world, they rose — not as gods, but as protectors. On behalf of the American people and all mankind, I thank them."
Behind him stood Earth's finest — Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Flash, Shazam, and Cyborg — each hero an icon in their own right. They wore stoic expressions, but beneath their calm exteriors, a mutual question gnawed at them.
Where were Ethan and Diana?
Ever since their meeting — the night they all agreed to stand united and represent Earth's defense — both had vanished without a trace.
"I'm telling you," Green Lantern whispered and side-eyeing Flash. "You had one job: keep track of the two who could level a city when they sneeze."
Flash threw up his hands. "How is this my fault? They went on a date — to nowhere! I mean that literally! I'm human too. I can't keep an eye on them every second—even when they go to the bathroom!"
"Maybe they were kidnapped," Shazam chimed in while rubbing the back of his neck.
Batman's voice cut through the group like a blade. "If Ethan Carter — a being with enough power to one on one with Darkseid — gets 'kidnapped,' then this entire world is next on the hostage list. Don't be ridiculous."
Despite the snark, Batman's mind raced. Ever since he covertly placed a monitoring beacon on Ethan, his satellites had detected a massive energy surge the night of their disappearance. The data suggested they hadn't just gone off-grid… they had exited this Earth entirely.
'Maybe he took Diana to his home world,The surge matched his power signature. He's not from here, after all.'
Superman then looked over the crowd. Children on shoulders, families waving flags, journalists with mics raised — all beaming with admiration.
"I believe they'll come back soon," Superman said softly, then smiled. "But… maybe we should stand together a little longer. Just in case."
Batman glanced sideways at the Man of Steel. "If a threat ever arises that needs this much firepower just to break even, we're looking at catastrophic losses. But…" His tone softened slightly. "I'm open to it."
"Pfft. I've got an entire sector to protect," Green Lantern scoffed. "I'm a solo flyer. I'm more effective without being tied to one planet or a team."
"Oh, you mean the same guy who got one-punched by Darkseid?" Flash teased with a grin.
Green Lantern turned sharply. "You wanna go, string bean?"
"If you can't guard a single planet, how in the hell can you watch an entire sector?"
Shazam chuckled nervously. "I wonder what Diana's doing now. Hopefully, not getting too close to that guy…"
Cyborg, who had been silently absorbing the President's praise, watching his proud father among the crowd, suddenly stiffened. His systems lit up with red alerts.
"High-energy anomaly detected above us," he announced. "It's familiar."
A hush fell over the stage as dark clouds rolled in from nowhere. The clear blue sky twisted into a vortex of shadow and lightning. Winds howled, not violently, but theatrically — a storm without threat, a display of power rather than danger. Panic spread through the audience.
"That's not me!" Shazam blurted.
"He's here," Batman said while narrowing his eyes.
Cyborg amplified his voice, addressing the crowd through external speakers. "Everyone, remain calm! This is not a threat. I repeat — this is one of ours."
The sky growled with a low thunderous rumble.
A circular formation of clouds spiraled open in the sky like a celestial gateway. From the center, two figures descended slowly, silhouetted by arcs of lightning and glowing mist.
Then — BOOM...
A massive bolt struck the stage directly in front of the heroes, kicking up smoke and light. Gasps rang out, security braced for action and moved swiftly to guard the president, forming a protective circle around him, and media scrambled to catch the moment.
As the smoke cleared, two figures stood confidently on the scorched metal.
Diana — Wonder Woman — adorned in her suit with a regal blend of red and gold across her bustier, dark navy skirt lined with silver, silver gauntlets wrapped around her forearms, and knee-high boots that shimmered with divine craftsmanship. Her tiara gleamed under the fading stormlight.
Beside her stood Ethan.
He wore a jet-black three-piece suit — fitted blazer, sharp waistcoat, and sleek trousers. A crisp white shirt accentuated his build, complemented by a black silk tie and polished leather dress shoes.
Flash let out a low whistle. "Dude. Ten outta ten entrance."
Shazam's eyes sparkled. "I need to learn that!"
The President, momentarily stunned, leaned toward the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen… that's the woman who saved my life." He turned toward Ethan. "And you, sir… may I ask your name?"
Ethan smiled faintly. "It's Aeon."
The President nodded and turned back to the crowd. "Then let me officially welcome Aeon and Wonder Woman!"
Thunderous applause erupted. Cameras flashed like strobe lights. The storm above dissipated and the sky returning to calm.
Ethan walked to the left of Superman, Diana naturally to his right.
Shazam asked Ethan. "Dude, that was so cool. I'm stealing that entrance next time."
Victor rolled his eyes. "Last time you tried something like that, you broke three ribs fighting Darkseid."
"Why'd you have to bring that up, man…"
Batman raised an eyebrow. "Was that really necessary?"
Ethan smirked. "When you're late, you compensate with spectacle. Leave them too awed to question the delay. It's about making an impression."
Diana nodded, amused. "It was dramatic, I'll admit."
Flash cocked his head. "But… a suit? Really? No skin-tight armor? No cape?"
Superman shared a similar expression.
Ethan responded coolly. "I don't do capes — Aunt Edna would never approve. Skin-tight suits? They look good but feel like hell to wear. And frankly…" His voice deepened slightly. "There's no one on this planet who can harm me or anyone I care for. A suit fits the image — authority, refinement, and presence."
That shut them up. Even Superman didn't argue.
Batman narrowed his already narrow eyes, studying Ethan like a puzzle he still hadn't solved.
The President returned to the podium. "Before we close… is there a name you all go by? Something for the world to rally behind?"
There was hesitation. No one had thought that far ahead.
Shazam threw out, "How about… Super Seven?"
Everyone turned slowly to stare at him.
"…Seriously?" Green Lantern muttered.
Ethan stepped forward, calm and confident. "We are the Justice League. A group of extraordinary individuals who come together to face threats that normal people cannot. We exist to protect this world and the innocent lives within it."
The President smiled, clapping once before speaking into the mic. "Then let the world know… Ladies and gentlemen, I give you… the Justice League!"
The crowd roared in celebration, a new legend born beneath the American sky.
The rest of the Justice League stood in formation, basking in the public's adoration. Yet Ethan's eyes drifted away from the crowd and the spotlight.
He saw her. Anna.
Standing quietly among the crowd, a little distance from the main stage, she held up her camera, snapping photos of the Justice League—and most importantly, of Ethan.
Her eyes sparkled with admiration, a childlike wonder lighting her expression. It was the look of someone seeing her favorite heroes up close, and yet the pride in her gaze was far more personal. This wasn't just about meeting superheroes. This was about her man, her boyfriend, standing at the forefront of legends.
Earlier Ethan had asked her to come up on stage with him. She'd refused, gently but firmly. Anna knew how this world worked. She knew how dangerous it could be to become a public figure in a realm of gods, aliens, and monsters. She didn't want her face on every news broadcast or her name echoing through every media outlet. It wasn't fear—it was foresight.
But standing among the crowd, with the golden glow of sunlight brushing her hair and the camera steady in her hands, she looked every bit a queen documenting her king's coronation.
Ethan's eyes lingered on her proud stance, her chest puffed just slightly as she captured photos she'd one day show their children. 'That's your father,' she'd say, 'a founding member of the Justice League.'
A soft smile tugged at Ethan's lips, touched with pride and affection—but also tension. Because amid the sea of eyes fixed on the heroes, he felt several that were not ordinary.
They weren't the gazes of admirers or fans. They were watching him and Anna.
Eyes that were hidden behind veils of power or shadows of other dimensions. He couldn't tell how many. Couldn't tell who they belonged to. But ever since he'd fought Darkseid, that presence had been there—faint, patient, but persistent.
He didn't know anything about them.
His senses were sharp, far sharper than any being on Earth, but they weren't omnipotent—not yet. The fragment of the Phoenix Force within him stirred faintly, aware of the tension, aware of the need to grow. Ethan had mastered all the powers he had. His telepathy, telekinesis and weather manipulation—he wielded them with ease now. But the Phoenix Force was different.
It was limitless.
'If I can become one with it… If I can synchronize with the Phoenix completely, I'll gain access to all of its powers—and maybe more... then I'll finally solve Anna's problem, too.'
Anna, who carried her own burden of uncontrollable power. She was strong—far stronger than she knew—but even now, she held back, restrained herself because she's afraid of hurting others.
Ethan would change that.
He had a plan—risky one, but possible. If it succeeded, Anna would have full control over her powers. She'd stand beside him not just as his partner but as a force of nature in her own right.
The thought brought a broader smile to his lips.
He looked at her one last time before turning back to his team. She was still snapping pictures with her lips curled in smile. The camera clicked, and Ethan stood a little straighter.
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Far above, on the edge of a quiet rooftop overlooking the plaza, a figure stood alone.
A girl—or at least, that's what one might think at first glance. Pale skin like porcelain, dark hair cropped short and wild, black eyeliner shadowing eyes that held infinite depth. She wore a simple black tank top under a fitted jacket, jeans tucked into worn boots, and a silver ankh pendant that glinted faintly. A black umbrella rested casually against her shoulder, though no rain threatened the skies.
She was known by many names across the endless realms, but here and now, she was simply—Didi.
Her eyes were fixed below... On him... Ethan Carter.
A human that can't to die, a human that even she could not claim. And that fascinated her.
She could have watched from anywhere—realms, reflections, even the shifting grains of time itself—but something compelled her to be here, now, in person. To stand on a rooftop and witness the man who had defied her domain.
'He really brought another one from outside his universe,' she thought with an amused smirk, watching Anna take Ethan's pictures below. 'How very… human of him. And I can see her end… but something is pushing it much further. At this point, I can say She won't die...'
Didi's eyes narrowed faintly. That shouldn't be possible. But it was.
And the more she looked, the more she felt a strange tug in her chest—Pure, burning curiosity.
And then, a soft voice behind her pulled her from her thoughts. "He's coming with others now," a deep, Patient and Familiar voice said. "This will get out of hand if no one interferes."
Didi didn't need to turn to know who stood behind her.
She let out a quiet sigh and finally answered, "And why do you think they haven't made a move on him yet? Much less you, my dear Brother."
Morpheus—the Dream himself—stepped forward beside her. His eyes followed hers down to where Ethan stood.
"Because…" he began slowly, as if tasting each word. "The moment I even thought of harming him, something inside me… recoiled. I can't explain it. It wasn't logic or reason. It was like an instinct. A warning."
Didi turned her head, studying her brother with mild surprise. "See?" she said before tilting her umbrella back. "That's exactly the reason why no one's touched him. There's something about him… That's what makes him so interesting."
Morpheus frowned. "Didn't you feel it too? You're… Death."
She paused. "No," she said softly, her voice tinged with a rare note of uncertainty. "I don't get that feeling. I don't feel threatened. I feel… curious."
He turned to her slowly. "Curiosity from Death herself… is not a good omen."
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you speaking ill of me now, Morpheus?"
Dream did not respond immediately. He turned his head slowly as the wind rustling the fabric of his robe like whispers from forgotten dreams.
"No," he finally said. "I speak not ill… only truth."
Didi tilted her head in curiously. "Truth, huh?" She tapped the silver ankh pendant resting against her chest. "Funny, coming from you. You, who trades in illusions, metaphors, and riddles. The King of Dreams talking about truth?"
He looked at her with an unreadable face, "There is truth even in dreams. Sometimes especially in dreams."
"Touché." She gave a soft smirk. "So tell me, brother. What truth are you trying to warn me about?"
Morpheus gazed down at the plaza again, watching Ethan, "You are Death. You observe all lives, witness all ends and yet… here you are... Watching him... Again."
Didi shrugged, her umbrella tilting slightly in her grip. "Can't I be curious?"
"You can," Morpheus said in a quiet voice. "But curiosity from you is rarely harmless."
Didi smiled, "If he can make me curious, then I think he's already more dangerous than either of us want to admit."
She stepped away from the edge of the rooftop. "Still," she added as she began to fade, "dangerous or not… I want to see how his story ends."
Morpheus stood alone again, staring at the man below.
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Author's Note:
So, how did you like the chapter?
What do you think Ethan will have to do to fully merge with the Phoenix Force? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—I'd love to hear your theories!
Also, just a heads-up: I don't have deep knowledge of the DC Universe since I haven't watched many of the movies or shows yet. I'm learning more as I write, so feel free to share any cool ideas, insights, or suggestions for the story. It really helps!
As always, reviews are greatly appreciated. Your support keeps the story alive!