Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind.
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox.
Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros.
X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox.
The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.
Star Wars and all related concepts created by or based on the universe created by George Lucas. Copyright 20th Century Fox, LucasFilms Ltd. and Lucas Books/Ballantine Books.
I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered.
Other stories set in this universe:
"Marvel Knights" "Tales of a Young Mutant" (no new postings in a while) "Tales of a Superhero Band" "Tales of the New Phoenix"
I have received many emails from people who have enjoyed it and some from those who do not. I would enjoy hearing from you. Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks.
authorjames2002@yahoo.com
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If anyone has artistic talent and/or design capabilities, check out the "Real Dark Knight" Contest.
Chapter 20 Face-Off
We headed out looking for Death, hoping against hope that we would find him before he caused any damage to anyone else. It amazed me how Death affected people more than just physically. It brought out the worst in Blade. His anger toward me was off the charts. I think because of the effect Death had on Punisher. He seemed out of it, like he didn't want to live any more. He was in some catatonic state that I didn't know if anyone could free him from. The best we could hope for was to save Johnny, take him back to Michael, and hope he could snap Michael out of the state of catatonia.
The car swerved as Blade turned it onto a busy street.
"What are you doing?" I asked him. "The people!"
"Are running away. Death had to have come this way. Why would they be screaming so much?"
"Good point."
"That's not the best point I have."
I knew he was referring to his sword. For someone who was so against people getting killed, he didn't seem like he would care to kill me. I didn't have time to dwell on his motives, though. I had someone who needed my help. And that's what I was going to do, help him in any way that I could.
People jumped out of the way as the car swerved again. I looked back to see Huntress and Dr. Strange in the car behind us. Huntress was an excellent driver. She kept up with Blade even though his driving was insane. 'She must be thankful for those Slayer reflexes right now,' I thought. I looked out the window and saw Death running along the rooftop. He was definitely scared. Dr. Strange obviously shown his capabilities and the spirit was frightened. It didn't want to be anywhere but in control. I could relate to that feeling to a point. Who wants to lose control? Who wants to be hidden in the shadows while things you do are credited to others? No one.
I took the initiative and pulled out a grapple. Taking careful aim, I shot a line to the rooftop and flew out the car window. The line pulled me up to the rooftop where I looked at Death.
"What the fuck is he doing?" Blade muttered as his partner disappeared out the window. The Daywalker quickly pulled the car to the side and climbed out, sword in hand.
The Huntress's car pulled up next to his and Huntress and Dr. Strange climbed out.
"What's he doing?" the Slayer asked.
"Doing what he does best," Blade answered, "getting involved without thinking things through."
Huntress looked over at Blade unsure if she should agree with him due to past experience with her friend or be offended that he talked so openly horrible of her friend. Deciding to let it go, she turned to look up at the building.
"Can you get a shot at him from here?" she asked Dr. Strange.
"No. I could hit Batman."
"But it wouldn't have any affect on him, would it?"
"I'm not sure what this spell would do to someone not possessed by a spirit. And I don't want to take the chance that some major damage could happen to Batman."
"Look," Blade said as an object of fire flew through the night sky.
The fire headed toward them getting larger. Then, all three realized what it was, or who, it was. It was the mutant known as Sunfire.
"What's up?" the mutant asked.
"Batman just went after Death on his own."
"Then we better see what we can do to help him."
Death turned and looked at me. "What do you want, puny human?"
"I came to help you."
"I don't need any help. I'm perfectly fine the way I am."
"You don't look fine. You look like you are lost, scared, alone."
"What?" Death looked at me with confusion.
"I know what that's like. It happened to me when I was in another country. I didn't really have friends there. Sure, I got to know them and appreciate them. But at first, I felt so alone. I was scared of what would happen."
"I'm a demon. I cannot be afraid."
"You looked pretty afraid of Dr. Strange's magic. Besides, I'm not talking to the demon. I'm talking to Johnny."
The countenance of Death changed abruptly. He looked tired and worn. Johnny was fighting to regain control.
"The demon can't keep you down forever," I spoke focusing my words so Johnny would hear them. It was my hope that he would gain strength from them. "I know what its like to have that in you. I happened to me. I fought with an immortal demon in England. In defeating him, I opened myself to part of him and it poisoned me. Do you know what helped me defeat him? Knowing someone loved me."
"Someone does love you," a voice said from behind me.
I turned to see Punisher walking toward us.
"Michael?" Johnny's voice said, his hand reaching out.
"It's me, Johnny."
"I'm so sorry for what I did. I...I didn't want to hit you."
Steam came up from around the eye area. Johnny was crying, but Ghost Rider's flames were evaporating the tears.
"I know you didn't, Johnny. That's why I'm here."
Death's countenance changed and the flames surrounding his head flared up. "You can't have him! I am immortal!"
"So are you, Johnny!" I yelled back, hoping to break through again. "Every human being has a soul, something that is immortal! It's inevitable that these bodies die, but we have something that lives on, something that cannot be harmed by the things of this world. And that part also has power, power over the supernatural. We live so much in the here and now that we forget the eternal part of us. That creature that possesses you wants you to believe you are gone. But you saw everything, didn't you? You witnessed everything that creature did with your body."
"Yes," Johnny's voice came back. Pain and anguish resounded in his voice. My heart went out to him.
"And you wanted to stop it."
"I couldn't, but I wanted to. I didn't want to hurt anyone. I didn't want to...oh, God! Apocalypse!"
"What is it about him?" I said stepping closer with Punisher right beside me.
"It's okay," Punisher said. "I'm here. I won't let him hurt you."
"He's...his plan is going into motion. He's..."
Suddenly the flames around his head skyrocketed into the night sky lighting up the area.
"How dare you?!" Death's voice rang out. "You cannot stop me!"
Death held up his hand and a fireball appeared. He flung it at Punisher. I pushed him out of the way as the fireball hit me, tossing me off the building. I hit something and all went black.
Dr. Strange floated up to the rooftop in time to see Batman get knocked off the building. Death had turned his attention to Punisher, not noticing Dr. Strange. The sorcerer took advantage of the opportunity and magic flew threw the air surrounding Death before he could react.
"Nooooo!" Death screamed as the magic took over the spirit that was in Johnny Blaze. The magic pulsed around him knocking Punisher to his knees. Then the energy swirled and headed back to Dr. Strange. And all became peaceful.
Johnny lay on the rooftop tears pouring from his eyes. Punisher crawled over to him and held him in his arms. Johnny clutched Michael and he went loudly.
"Oh, God, Michael!"
"It's okay," Michael replied. "You're fine now. Everything's fine."
Blade stood at the corner of the building watching the two men embrace. He took a deep breath and went back down the ladder.
Slowly, I opened my eyes. I was in the infirmary. Shiro came over to me and looked into my eyes.
"Hey, you're awake."
Soon my vision was filled with Lance, Jessica and Justin smiling down at me.
"You're okay," Lance said taking my hand.
"Did we win?"
"Yes, we won," Jessica replied. "You were able to distract Death so that Dr. Strange's spell could work."
"I guess if you call getting hit by a fireball and thrown off a building a distraction..."
Everyone smiled.
"Is Johnny okay?"
"Yeah," Justin said. "He and Punisher, er, Michael are resting in their room. I must say, they make a cute couple."
"I would give real money to hear you say that in public."
"Why do you say that?" Justin asked.
"Because most of the world believes you to be a macho heterosexual man who wouldn't dream of saying two guys make a cute couple. But I believe you."
Justin chuckled. "If you want me to show the world something, I will kiss you on national television with tongue."
Lance cleared his throat getting Justin's attention focused again.
"That is, if you weren't married already."
"Good answer," Lance replied.
"What did Strange's spell do?"
Jessica answered, "It took the spirit from Johnny and placed it in, of all things, a motorcycle gas cap. That was the closest thing he could find that wasn't a living object. Plus it's portable! When Johnny touches it, though, he will become Ghost Rider. But he will have complete control so he can shut it off when he wants to."
"Good. I'm sure he was a valuable team member to Blade. Speaking of which, has anyone seen him?"
"Last we saw, he was heading to the roof," Lance said.
"Is it okay to move, Shiro?" I couldn't see him, but figured he was still in the room keeping an eye on his patient.
"Yes, its fine to move."
Lance helped me sit up. I turned to him and kissed him.
"It's good to be alive."
"Amen to that."
After some more kissing, I excused myself to the roof. Wearing white sweats and a muscle shirt made it a little cool when I was exposed to the night air. But I didn't go up there for comfort. I went up there to talk with Blade, to see how he was doing.
"Don't bother," he said as soon as the door closed behind me.
"What do you mean?"
"You came up to see how I was doing. It's none of your business. You don't need to know. So don't bother."
"Blade, what I said to you, I..."
The Daywalker shook his head. "You just don't get it, do you?" He turned around. "Your world isn't as black and white as my world! Where I come from, feelings get in the way! I'm sure in your world they make teams and create couples, and all that sweet shit! But in mine, they don't make things better or make people closer! If anything, they tear people apart!"
"That's not what I saw with Michael and Johnny."
"That's different."
"How so?"
"They met when I wasn't around. If I had been, I probably would have warned Punisher of what could happen. Hell, he should already have known before Johnny got taken over! He was in the Marines for God knows how long! He should know that in this world, when you are fighting on an everyday basis, there is a risk of death. There is a risk that the one person you love could die, especially when they are fighting along side you."
"I'm sorry that you have known such loss."
"I haven't known any yet. That's because I keep people at arms length."
I stepped up closer to Blade. A tear formed in my eye and slowly made its way down my cheek.
"Why the fuck are you crying?"
"For you, Blade. Because you keep people at arms length, you will never know the joy that comes from having that person in your life, of sharing true intimacy. I'm not talking about sex. I'm talking about sharing what you are feeling, your hopes and dreams, your fears and lost moments. I'm talking about emotional intimacy. When I first met the Punisher, he was so cold. Johnny has given him a little warmth.
"I could have been him. Hell, I was on my way to being him twice! Do you know what pulled me out of the pit both times? The first was Jessica. She fought to save me from the pain I experienced at being hurt by someone who didn't care. The second was Lance. When he loved me despite these scars on my face, that snapped it for me. Since then, I have felt a lot of warmth and a lot of love. And those things keep me going. Those things give my fight every night meaning. I'm out here not because of some great loss that I've experienced. And I'm not out here because I can do it, not any more. I continue out here because I know I'm making a difference for someone who loves me. And I know he will be waiting for me when I come home. That's why I do this. Abilities, callings, destinies, none of that matters. The people who are with you, the people who want to be in your life and want you to be in theirs, that is what matters."
Blade slowly turned and I knew he was thinking about it.
The door opened up and Lance stepped out. "Johnny's talking about Apocalypse's plan. We need you two down there."
I placed my hand on Blade's shoulder and walked up to Lance. Grabbing his hand tightly, I headed down.
To Be Continued...
Johnny has been saved and Ghost Rider still exists!!!! Yay!!! To be honest, I wasn't sure if Johnny was going to remain alive or not. The possibility of him dying and pushing the Punisher over the edge (more so than he already is) kept coming into my mind. Should I have allowed Johnny to die instead of live? Or is it better having Johnny alive? What do you think? I would love to hear your perspective on this topic. More to come as Apocalypse's plans come forth and our heroes face off with him!