Shadow Monarch in DC

The domain of Mobius was slowly fading. The crystallized ground was cracked and broken, scarred by the battle that had taken place within its boundaries.

Grail materialized in the center of the domain, her form emerging from a swirl of dark energy, her eyes already scanning the space before her. She had come to report to Mobius, to share the progress of her plans, to ensure that everything was proceeding as intended. She had been working with him for months, feeding him information, guiding his attacks, using him as a tool to achieve her ultimate goal.

But something was wrong.

The domain was too quiet. The throne was shattered. The presence that had once filled this place was gone, replaced by something far more darker that made her blood run cold. She could feel it in the air, a power that she had never encountered before.

And then she saw him.

Arthur Blackwynd sat upon the shattered throne, in his cosmic shadow armor. His body was relaxed, casual as he looked at her.

He looked utterly at ease, as if he had been waiting for her arrival.

Grail's instinct screamed at her to flee. She reached for her power, trying to summon a Boom Tube, trying to escape.

Nothing happened.

A binding spell wrapped around her, invisible, its origin unknown but unmistakably Arthur's work. She could feel its weight pressing against her, could sense the power that held her in place. It was not a physical binding, it was something that touched her very soul.

Grail smiled as she said. "I assume Mobius is gone. I assume you killed him. I can feel his absence. The domain is empty of his presence."

"Sealed. He'll reform eventually if I had killed him, this is the thing about monitors, you need to shatter them or seal them. By the time I decide to release him. He will serve a purpose far greater than his own ambitions."

Grail's eyes narrowed.

"Why are you doing this? That's the only question I'll ask you, Grail, daughter of Darkseid." Arthur asked.

Grail answered immediately. "To kill my father." She paused, her eyes meeting Arthur's. "I sided with the Anti-Monitor, a strong being who had more than a chance to destroy him with enough time and preparation. None of you dare to strike Apokolips. None of you dare to threaten my father's reign over this entire multiverse." Her voice hardened. "All of you know he is the true threat. The true terror of it all. And yet you do nothing."

Arthur's voice was calm. "I acknowledge that fact as well." He paused, his eyes meeting hers. "But why are you so hell-bent on trying to harm my planet?"

Grail laughed. "Your planet is just a stepping stone. We do not care about your planet." She paused, her eyes narrowing. "We only care about the threats there that dare interfere in our plans. And you are a threat! You are the biggest threat to everything we have been building. You killed new gods easily. You command millions of shadows, you established a rogue lantern Corps. And now you sealed the Anti-Monitor. You are a cosmic force that cannot be controlled."

"My goal is to kill your father as well. The real him. I am no threat to you." Arthur paused, his eyes meeting hers. "My actions were always in self-defense. But I am not about to explain my position to the likes of you." His voice hardened. "Besides, I promised someone not to harm you. That is why I sent Lobo after you instead of hunting you myself, knowing fully well he would not be able to kill you."

Grail smiled, cold, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "You sent that bounty hunter because you could not track me yourself. You needed someone else to do your dirty work."

Arthur's smile widened. "Is that what you really think?"

With a gesture of his hand, a shadow tore itself free from her. A shadow demon materialized, its form writhing with dark energy, its eyes burning with violet light. It hovered beside her.

Grail was surprised. "You had a leech on me this entire time?!"

"No. This one only attached itself while you were fighting Lobo. From that moment forward, you were under my watchful gaze." He paused, his eyes meeting hers. "And there was this one time where I saw you on Earth, just walking around people, doing nothing. So I questioned your entire motives." His voice softened, becoming more contemplative. "You are just an angry child, are you not? Your goal is to kill your father, but then you have nothing else to do. You still wish in your heart to live among the people you consider not yours. There on Earth."

Grail's voice was a snarl, her composure finally cracking. "You know nothing! You know nothing about me or my father or the things I have done to survive!"

"I just said what I saw. Nothing more." Arthur said. "Now, I will present to you two options."

He stood, and shadows wrapped around him, sending waves of power radiating toward her. His eyes blazed violet.

"And do not even bother with the cheap Omega Effect knockoff that you wield. It will not break you free from my hold."

Her eyes glowed red then dimmed. Her power was useless against him. She was trapped.

"You will come with me, you will be trialled by Diana in Themyscira, and she will decide the fitting punishment for you." He paused, his eyes meeting hers. "Or you can die here, and no one will know of it. You will not see your goal being fulfilled."

Grail was silent for a long moment, her eyes fixed on the ground. Then she spoke,

"Can you really do it? Can you really kill him?"

Arthur said with absolute certainty. "Only I can. I will not rest until I see it done."

Grail's voice was barely a whisper. "Fine. So be it. I will accept your punishment."

Arthur's smile was small. "Very well."

He moved away from the throne, and the world changed around them.

Suddenly, she found herself standing on an island, the warm sun beating down on her, the sound of waves crashing against the shore. She was bound by shackles made of shadows, a constant reminder of her captivity.

"Already in Themyscira. You are not wasting time." Grail said.

"Of course. I have much to do after all." Arthur said, his eyes meeting hers. "The trial will be just. I can promise you that."

"Just? Diana will wish to kill me herself." Grail laughed.

"If that is the just thing to do, then so be it." Arthur said.

A group of Amazonian warriors appeared, their forms emerging from the treeline, their weapons raised. They were bewildered by what they saw, but they recognized both of them.

One of them, a fierce warrior with a scar across her face, stepped forward. "The traitor! How dare you show your face! You must die!"

"Take her and treat her with respect. She is your prisoner now." Arthur commanded, his eyes meeting theirs. "Await Diana. She is the one who will judge her, not you."

The warriors listened, their weapons lowering, their eyes fixed on Arthur with a mixture of awe and respect. They did not argue. They did not question. They simply obeyed, they have not forgotten what the shadow monarch did for them with Olympus.

Grail said in genuine surprise. "You really command respect everywhere you go."

Arthur watched them take her, his eyes fixed on her retreating form. Then he spoke,

"What a strange person, really."

Didi's voice whispered in his mind, soft and amused. "She is confused on which side she should take. Always has been." She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I would say she is like a version of Raven who took the wrong path."

Arthur acknowledged the similarity. "I find it similar as well. Evil fathers, troubled daughters who can't fit in two different worlds." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "I wish to guide her, but this is not my call."

His voice shifted, becoming more focused. "Now, then, we have a meeting to attend. I think my clone has done enough talking with them."

"They will not appreciate this, you know. It is disrespectful to your friends." Didi said.

"The Justice League are not my friends. More like colleagues and certain people that I tolerate. Nothing more." Arthur corrected.

Didi's voice carried a note of playful teasing. "I think you do not feel that way with some of them. Especially Clark and Diana."

"I look like a madman talking to myself here."

Didi laughed. "You will get used to it. Just do not do it in public, or I will have to manifest physically to save you from embarassment."

Arthur's voice carried a note of resigned acceptance. "Okay, okay. Enough. Let us go."

.

.

.

.

The Justice League Watchtower -

Arthur appeared in the middle of the Justice League meeting, his form materializing from a swirl of shadows, in his casual clothes. The room was filled with familiar faces, Superman, Batman, Diana, the Flash, Hal Jordan, and Martian Manhunter. Not everyone was present; many were still recovering from the Paradragon attack.

The room fell silent as they all exchanged looks between the Arthur that they were talking to and the one that just arrived.

Flash's voice carried a note of genuine confusion. "What the hell is going on here?"

Hal Jordan's voice carried a note of sharp surprise. "This is not cool... at all."

Arthur's smile was warm and genuine. "My apologies. I was doing some important business, so I had to leave a little replacement."

"I knew something was strange." Batman said.

Arthur's eyebrow rose. "Oh?"

"This one was more polite." Batman said with a smirk.

Clark chuckled.

Arthur coughed before he continued. "Well, as he.. or I was saying, we will be discussing the threats to come, the threats I have already dealt with, and those we are dealing with at the moment."

/-\\

If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Shadow Monarch: In One Piece / The Witcher: Heir of Fire!

&

If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my p@t-reon / FrenzyAren"

You can Get Access to 7 More Chapters on all of my stories!

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!