Shadow Monarch in DC

Arthur’s Estate - Evening

The last rays of sunlight painting the sky in hues of amber and rose. The garden of the estate was a sanctuary of tranquility, its paths lined with flowers that bloomed in colors that seemed to defy nature, something that had been cultivated by none other than George himself. The sound of a gentle fountain provided a soothing backdrop, its waters catching the fading light.

Arthur materialized in the center of the garden, his eyes swept across the scene before him, and for a moment, he simply stood there, taking it all in.

The garden was filled with the people he loved most.

George stood near the fountain, his hands clasped behind his back. His silver hair caught the fading light, and his eyes held the warmth of a man who had dedicated his existence to the service of people he truly loved.

"Master Arthur. We were beginning to wonder if you would join us. The evening has been quite pleasant, but it lacked a certain... presence."

His mother, Elenor Blackwynd, sat at the head of a long table that had been set up in the center of the garden. Her hair was pulled back in an elegant bun, her eyes were filled with joy. She was dressed in a simple but elegant gown. She rose from her chair, her arms opening wide.

"Arthur!" She crossed the distance between them in seconds, her arms wrapping around him in a warm embrace. "I was so worried about you. Are you well? You look thinner than the last time I saw you. Are you eating properly? I know George feeds you well, but you seem to have a habit of forgetting to take care of yourself."

Arthur smiled. "I am fine, Mother." He paused, his arms tightening around her. "I promise I have been taking care of myself."

Kara sat beside his mother’s chair, her hand resting on her belly, her eyes fixed on the horizon. Her smile was soft, her expression peaceful, her presence a reminder of everything Arthur was fighting to protect. She wore a simple white dress that seemed to glow in the fading light, and her hair was loose, cascading over her shoulders.

Raven sat across from Kara, her dark robes replaced by a simple dress that seemed to glow in the fading light. Her eyes found Arthur’s, and she smiled.

"Arthur. You finally decided to join us, I was beginning to think you had gotten lost in your cosmic adventures. Or perhaps you had forgotten that you have a family."

His brother, Adam, sat at the far end of the table, a shadow ring gleaming on his finger. He was leaning back in his chair, his posture relaxed, his eyes scanning the garden.

"Brother. You have completely and utterly forgotten about us." He paused, his eyes gleaming with humor. "Or perhaps you were too busy saving the universe to remember that we exist."

Even Dexter, the cat, was there, curled up on a cushion near Kara’s feet, his fur glowing in the fading light, his eyes half-closed in contentment. He opened one eye as Arthur approached, then closed it again, as if to say, "You are late, but I don’t care."

"Well, this is quite a gathering." Arthur said.

George smiled. "Indeed, Master Arthur. Lady Elenor insisted on a family dinner to celebrate Lady Kara’s announcement and yes she told them she is having a daughter. I took the liberty of preparing a feast worthy of the occasion."

Arthur’s smile widened as he looked at Adam. "Have you fought the Paradragons as well?"

"Wrong question to ask." Adam paused, his eyes meeting Arthur’s. "You should have asked how many did I kill."

Arthur’s laugh was warm, genuine. "How many?"

"None." Adam said. "Your shadows did not leave one for us. The other trained Lanterns were also relentless."

Raven’s laughed. "Of course.."

Kara rose from her chair, her smile warm and genuine. She crossed the distance between them, her arms wrapping around Arthur in a gentle embrace.

"It only took you three days." She paused, her voice teasing and barely over a whisper. "I was beginning to think you had gotten lost. Or perhaps you had decided to stay in that anti-matter universe."

"I told you I would return as fast as I could." He said, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I always keep my word."

Didi’s voice emerged from beside him, her body materializing from the shadows with a playful smile. "I am almost dying of warmth here." She paused, her eyes scanning the gathered family. "Wait a sec..."

She materialized fully, her form solid and present, her dark clothes pooling around her like shadows. Her silver ankh caught the fading light, gleaming softly.

Elenor said in genuine surprise. "You are here too?!"

"I was here already." She said, her eyes scanning the table. "This is indeed a special celebration, I am dying to try this food, if you will have me."

George smiled. "Of course, Lady Didi. Made by yours truly." He paused, his eyes gleaming with quiet pride. "I have prepared a roast of lamb with rosemary and garlic, a selection of seasonal vegetables, and a dessert of chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis. I trust it will meet your expectations."

Elenor welcomed her as she said, "Yes, I have decided that we should celebrate my Kara and my granddaughter, who will be here very soon." She paused, her eyes meeting Arthur’s. "We have been planning this for days. I was beginning to think you would not make it."

Arthur laughed. "You were going to celebrate without me?"

Kara teased him. "I insisted we do this without you." She paused, "You like fighting on your own, so we decided to celebrate on our own."

"And I agreed to it." Raven said, her eyes meeting Arthur’s.

"That is a bit harsh." Arthur said while looking away.

Raven rose from her chair, crossing the distance between them. She leaned in, pressing a light kiss to his lips, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Just kidding." She paused, her eyes meeting his. "I was informed by this girl over here.. that you were done with your task, so we decided to do this." She gestured at Didi.

"You informed Raven?" He said while looking at Didi.

"I only mentioned that we were coming back... If I knew George was about to make this feast, I would have told her even sooner. I would have made sure we arrived earlier." Didi said calmly while picking a drink.

They all laughed.

"Come, I have missed you. Sit with us." His mother said.

"So what did you hunt this time?" Adam asked. "I have been hearing rumors.."

"I prefer not to speak about it, really. Not with my family." Arthur answered, his eyes meeting Adam’s. "There are some things that are better left in the shadows."

Didi said in cheerful innocence. "It was a cosmic being who sought to destroy your planet." She paused. "Nothing major."

His mother and brother exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.

"Didi..." Arthur said.

"What? I am simply being honest." She paused, her eyes scanning the table. "Would you rather I lied perhaps?"

"She is too innocent for this world." George said, his eyes meeting Didi’s. "An honest young lady to the core."

Didi’s voice carried a note of genuine gratitude. "Thank you, George."

"This is also why I like her as well." Raven said, her eyes meeting Kara’s. "And I have no fear that she and Arthur would..."

Kara coughed, interrupting what Raven was about to say. "I have something to say."

They all turned to look at her.

Arthur was curious. "What is it?"

"Have you decided on a name for our daughter?" She asked, her eyes scanning the gathered family. "I was thinking of strong Kryptonian names such as Nyra, Faora, Vaela, Ursa."

They all exchanged glances, Raven, Arthur’s mother, even Adam.

Adam was carefully neutral. "Okay..."

"Kryptonian names for my child?" Arthur said, his eyes meeting hers. "I was thinking more of... Earthling names, I guess."

"I am just kidding. You guys do have the better names, I guess..." Kara said but she couldn’t hide the disappointment.

"You were not kidding, were you?" Raven said.

Kara looked away, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "Not really..."

Arthur smiled. "How about this: we will keep Zor-El as part of her name. To honor your family and to keep that bit of Krypton alive here on Earth for generations to come."

Kara’s eyes glistened, her voice carrying the weight of everything she felt this moment. "Yes." She paused, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "We can do that."

She could not hide that smile.

Arthur looked around at his family at the people he loved most in the world, at the people he was fighting to protect.

"Can’t we just live like this without worry?"

Didi’s voice whispered inside his mind, soft and warm. "That is what you are fighting for." She paused. "And you will achieve it."

Arthur suddenly said. "How about we change scenery?"

They were all confused.

"What do you mean?" Adam asked.

Arthur smiled, his eyes gleaming with violet light. "My garden is fancy and all, but..." He waved his hand.

The world changed around them.

Suddenly, they were no longer in the garden. They were sitting at the same table, but the table was now on a massive tree branch. The sky above them was a canvas of colors that defied description, violet and gold and silver and blue, swirling in patterns. The air was filled with the scent of something ancient and beautiful, something that had existed since before the first star was born.

Elenor’s voice was full of wonder. "What is this place?"

"A multiversal World Tree. Called Yggdrasil." He paused, his eyes meeting theirs. "It harbors all of creation. I find myself coming here a lot recently."

George was also impressed. "Quite a fascinating place indeed." He paused, his eyes scanning the horizon. "The architecture of reality itself seems to be visible from here."

"It is beautiful." Elenor said.

"It is also endlessly large." Didi said, her eyes scanning the horizon. "And yes, a majestic place to dine in."

They all smiled.

"That’s a beautiful aurora in the sky." Elenor paused, her eyes meeting Arthur’s. "How about this: why not name your daughter Aurora?"

"I like it." Kara said, her eyes meeting Arthur’s. "It is a beautiful name."

"Kara resembles the sun, while I have ties to this place, and darkness too..." He paused, his eyes meeting theirs. "I think it is fitting."

Raven’s voice carried a tone of playful teasing. "Are you saying you would name our child eventually something like a demon lord from Hell, based on that?"

Arthur’s smile was warm, genuine. "Not necessarily.."

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