The battlefield was still smoking, debris floating in the air as the last echoes of combat faded. Edward stood at the center of it all, hands in his coat pockets, looking far too casual for someone who'd just caught a nuclear explosion and punched Ultraman into orbit.
Around him, the Justice League assembled slowly, battered, exhausted, but alive. Diana and Cassie flanked their father, both wearing expressions somewhere between pride and exasperation. The rest approached more cautiously, some in awe, others with quiet respect.
Edward gave them a light nod then smiled at Arthur. " I see your haki powers have improved a lot kid. You've been through a lot huh? How's your armament and observation haki holding up? You sucked at those."
Arthur nodded absent mindedly. " Yes , I've been working on that..." Then he jolted awake and stared at him dumbfounded.
"Wait a minute! The haki training," Arthur said, stepping forward. His expression was complex—gratitude, nostalgia, and something like hope. "How do you know so much about it? Only one person ever knew about it."
Edward turned to him, his smile gentling. "Because I was the one who taught you, Arthur. Did you think that 'mysterious mentor' who found you after your father died was a random dude? And have you ever seen anybody else use it? Jez, your brain is still so slow."
Arthur's breath caught. For a moment, the King of Atlantis looked like the lost boy he'd once been. "That was… you?"
"You were drowning in grief," Edward said quietly. "Angry at the world, angry at yourself for surviving when your father didn't. I couldn't leave you like that."
He gestured toward Arthur's stance, his presence. "Look at you now. King of Atlantis, protector of two worlds. You've become everything I hoped you would."
The King of Atlantis froze. His eyes widened, then filled with sudden tears. All those years ago, the mysterious mentor who'd found him after his father died, who'd taken in an angry, lost half-breed who belonged nowhere.
The man who'd taught him not just to fight, but to stand tall. To be more than his grief. The one who practically molded him into the man he became today.
"You…" Arthur's voice cracked. "It was you. All along."
He stepped forward quickly and pulled Edward into an embrace—not the formal warrior's grip, but something deeper, more desperate.
When he pulled back, tears streaked his face and he was smiling genuinely, in a way few had ever seen from the stoic King ever since his crew died.
"I'm glad it was you who taught me," Arthur said, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you. For taking care of me all those years ago. For seeing something in me worth saving."
Edward gripped his shoulder firmly. "You were always worth saving, Arthur. You just needed to see it yourself."
"Wait, wait, wait," Cassie interjected, waving her hands and ruining the heartfelt reunion. "Dad, you've been running around mentoring people and didn't tell us? How many secret students do you have?"
"Define 'secret,'" Edward replied innocently.
"Father," Diana said with exasperation. "Seriously?"
Edward was about to say something witty, before Bruce stepped forward his calculating gaze fixed on Edward.
"Whatchu want emo kid?" Edward grinned.
There was some snickers at his words from the others, but Bruce wasn't paying attention.
There was something in his expression, recognition mixed with disbelief at the familiar tone and the words.
He took a deep breath and spoke calmly. "We... Need to talk, alone."
Diana was about to protest, but Edward waved her off with a smile. "It's fine. I wanna hear what he wants to say. Should be interesting."
Edward followed Bruce to walk a little further than them.
Bruce. stopped a few feet away, jaw working as if trying to find the right words.
"You," Bruce said finally, his voice rough. "Have you been to Tibet recently? In the early 2000's ?"
Edward's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Yes, actually. I taught an emo kid how to better control himself. It was such a pain in the ass. What can I say, I have a fondness for emotionally damaged kids.""
Bruce went completely still. The revelation hit him like a physical blow—years of training, the foundation of everything he'd become, and it had been him all along. The master who'd found him at his lowest, who'd taken a broken, rage-filled young man and forged him into something more.
"The monastery," Bruce breathed. "All that time… it was you."
Edward's expression softened. "You were drowning in anger back then. I just helped you find a way to channel it. I probably would have left earlier if I didn't met you there."
For Bruce Wayne, a man who prided himself on preparation and knowledge, the shock of this discovery was profound. His mentor, the person who'd given him the resolve and control to become Batman, had been the greatest hero in human history, and he'd never known.
"You called me an 'emo kid,' you made me sweep snow off the ground in nothing but a monk's robe. I got hypothermia." Bruce said flatly.
Edward's grin widened. "Well, you were fun to mess with. All brooding and vengeance-focused. Honestly, you reminded me of myself at that age, which is why I bothered at all." He tilted his head. "You've done well with what I taught you, though. Better than I expected, actually."
Bruce's expression softened. He looked around, then bowed deeply, just like he did as a student. "Thank you, mentor. For everything. I owe a lot to you, something I can never repay."
"Don't mention it. Really." Edward's smile turned wry. "If word gets out that I've been mentoring brooding billionaires in mountain temples, my reputation will never recover."
Bruce smirked. " Says the man who pretended to be Buddha and used stolen quotes. I wonder how the people would react if they knew their hero was stealing identities and abusing kids."
Edward chuckled." What kind of kid goes around yelling veangence and justice all day long! You even spoke in your sleep about becoming a symbol and whatnot! I have recordings."
Bruce flinched. "I want to buy any such recordings you have. Name your price"
Edward wiggled his finger with an annoying grin. " Get lost. I don't lack money. I can buy your company 10 times and still have more cash left than federal reserve."
Bruce sighed in frustration. But he couldn't help but smile at the familiar interaction.
Meanwhile Hal nudged Clark. "Dude, what are they talking about? Tell us."
Clark looked indignant. " Hey! I don't use my super hearing to listen to people's secret conversations."
Diana crossed her arms. "You literally did that a few days ago on the jet. "
Clark glared. "it was you and Faora who made me do it! And you said it would be a secret!"
Cassie nodded and slapped his back. " Come on man, don't be such a tight ass! Spill it!"
Faora laughed and hugged his arm. "Since you did it once, why not do it one more time honey?"
An amused voice spoke behind her. "Do what?" Edward was smirking while Bruce's glare could have melted steel.
Clark nearly jumped back. "What the, how did you sneak up on me! That never happens!"
Before Edward could defend himself, a red and gold blur approached hesitantly. Barry Allen, the Flash, stopped a few feet away, fidgeting with his cowl. His expression was earnest, almost boyish despite the exhaustion etched into his features.
"Hello sir," Barry started, then corrected himself quickly. "I mean, Edward. Sorry, it's just—I've wanted to thank you for years."
Edward raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
"The pep talk you gave me," Barry said, a genuine smile breaking through. " I still remember the day back in Greece.
I was there trying to process everything—the Speed Force, my powers, my mom's death. I was drowning in books about physics, trying to make sense of it all."
Edward chuckled. " I remember kid. You showed up in one of my old shrine, looking for advice."
"Yes," Barry confirmed with a self-deprecating laugh. "You stood in front of me and said... God, I'll never forget it. You said, 'Speed without direction is just chaos. Figure out where you're running to, not just what you're running from.'"
Edward nodded slowly. "I remember. You looked like you were about to vibrate through the ground from anxiety."
"I kinda was! Not to mention geeking out having my hero idol in front of me." Barry laughed. "But what you said, it changed everything. I stopped obsessing over the how and started focusing on the why. I remembered your words that I can become a great hero.
That's when I decided to use my powers to help people, to make sure others didn't lose what I lost." His voice grew more serious. "You helped me become the Flash. Not just a guy with powers, but a hero."
"I'm glad it helped," Edward said sincerely. "Though from what I've seen today, you did all the hard work yourself. I just gave you a nudge."
"A nudge that saved my life," Barry countered. "So... thank you."
Edward reached out and clapped him on the shoulder. "You're welcome, kid. Keep running forward."
As Barry stepped back, grinning like he'd just met his childhood idol—which, in a way, he had,Hal Jordan floated down, green energy still flickering around him. His expression was a mix of admiration and mild indignation.
"You know," Hal said, crossing his arms, "Diana could've mentioned she had such a cool dad. Would've saved me a lot of stress during the whole 'government wants to control us' mess."
He glanced at Diana with mock accusation. "Seriously, 'Oh, my father this, my father that,' but you never mentioned he was THE Edward Elric."
Diana's cheeks colored slightly. "I wanted to be seen for myself, not just as his daughter."
"Fair," Hal conceded, then turned to Edward with a grin. "But man, the stories don't do you justice. Catching a nuke like it's a baseball? That's Hall of Fame material."
Edward smirked. "I've had practice. You'd be surprised how often governments resort to nuclear solutions when they panic."
"Given today, I really wouldn't," Hal replied dryly.
Another voice joined the growing circle. full of unrestrained enthusiasm. Shazam practically bounced forward, his eyes wide with barely contained excitement.
"Oh my God, oh my God," Shazam said, his voice cracking slightly. "You're really him! The Edward Elric. The hero who saved the world and stopped the Great War. The man who defeated gods and gave humanity a second chance."
Edward looked mildly uncomfortable with the hero worship. "Hahaha, That's... one way to put it."
"No, seriously!" Shazam continued, gesturing emphatically. "The Wizard told me about you when I inherited the powers. He said you embodied what it means to be a true hero, not just strength, but compassion. Wisdom. Sacrifice. Not to mention inheriting your will."
His expression grew more earnest. "You're the reason I accepted to be a hero. You proved that one person really can make a difference, that protecting humanity is worth any cost."
Edward was quiet for a moment, something flickering across his features—old pain, old memories. Then he smiled, genuinely touched.
"That's... kind of you to say. But you should know, being a hero isn't about living up to legends. It's about showing up even when they don't need you, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard."
"I know," Shazam said seriously. "You taught humanity that. And I'm going to honor that legacy."
"Then you're already doing better than most," Edward replied. He glanced around at the assembled League, at these battered, exhausted, magnificent fools who kept fighting even when the world turned against them. "You all are."
A moment of calm silence settled over the group. The weight of the day—the losses, the victories, the revelations—hung in the air between them.
Then a new voice broke the quiet. Earth-3 Luthor stepped forward, his expression grim but determined. Unlike his deceased counterpart, this Luthor carried himself with the bearing of a leader who'd lost everything but his purpose.
"As touching as this is," Luthor said, his tone respectful but urgent, "we have a problem. Owlman escaped back to Earth-3, and if he's following the plan I think he is..." He paused, jaw tightening. "He's going to try to destroy the multiverse."
The mood shifted instantly. Bruce's expression hardened. "Explain."
"Owlman doesn't want to rule," Luthor said. "He wants to end everything. He believes existence itself is flawed—that every choice, every universe, is just another iteration of meaningless chaos. His solution is to find the Prime Earth, the lynchpin of the multiverse, and destroy it. When Prime Earth falls, every other reality collapses with it."
"That's insane," Arthur said.
"That's Owlman," Luthor countered bitterly. "He's already lost everything that mattered. Now he wants to drag all of creation down with him."
Clark stepped forward, his expression grave. "How do we stop him? How do we even approach this?"
Edward's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. "Punch first, ask questions later."
Diana couldn't help it—she laughed. It was short, surprised, but genuine. "Father, that's your plan?"
"It's worked for thousands of years," Edward replied with a shrug. "Why fix what isn't broken?"
"Because it's reckless?" Bruce offered.
"Says the man who dresses as a bat and jumps off buildings," Edward countered.
"Look, we know where they are. We know what they're planning. Subtlety is great and all, but sometimes you need to kick down the door and remind the bad guys why they should've stayed in bed."
Cassie grinned. "I love it when Dad gets tactical."
"That's not tactics, that's just violence," Diana muttered, but there was fondness in her tone.
"Effective violence," Edward corrected. He then spoke to Cassie. " As for you, go and help waller with rescue and clean-up."
Cassie groaned. " But daaad...."
Edward patted her head. " Don't always look for a fight. Help others. You will see while you kick ass, others can become unfortunate victims."
He then looked around at the League, his expression growing more serious. "But in all honesty—we need to hit them hard and fast. Owlman's smart. Give him time, and he'll have contingencies for our contingencies. We go in now, while they're still reeling, and we end this."
Bruce considered for a moment, then nodded. "It's reckless. It's aggressive." He almost smiled. "It'll work."
"See?" Edward said, gesturing at Bruce. "Even Batman agrees. And he's the most paranoid person I know."
"Cautious," Bruce corrected.
"Paranoid," Edward repeated with a grin.
Hal powered up his ring, green energy swirling. "I'm in. Darkseid destroyed OA. I need to punch someone to vent frustrations."
"We all do," Arthur agreed, lightning crackling faintly around his form.
Barry nodded, determination settling over his features. "Let's finish this."
Shazam raised his fist. "For Earth!"
Diana drew her sword, its blade catching the dying light. "For justice."
Clark's eyes burned with quiet intensity. "For everyone they've hurt."
Faora cracked her knuckles. "For the satisfaction of beating them senseless."
Martian Manhunter also nodded. "Let's end this."
Edward gasped in mock surprise. "Whoa dude! Where did you pop off from! For a guy with so many broken powers, I never saw you during battles. Are like Gandhi or something?"
Everyone burst out laughing while Hank blushed a little. " I wish I could help, but a fiery battlefield isn't a good location for me."
Edward looked at his assembled army—heroes, warriors, his daughters—and felt something warm settle in his chest. Pride, perhaps. Or hope.
"Alright then," he said, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "Let's go crash a multiverse and ruin Owlman's day."
He raised his hand, and the air began to shimmer. Reality bent, folded, opened. A swirling portal of golden light erupted before them, stabilizing into a gateway between worlds.
"Everyone ready?" Edward asked.
Diana stepped beside him, shoulder to shoulder. "Always."
Cassie took his other side. "Let's go kick some interdimensional ass."
Bruce moved to the portal's edge, cape billowing. "No contingencies this time. We go in together, we come out together."
*****
Before they could step through the portal to Earth-3 , a sharp, feminine voice cut through the moment.
"Excuse me! Excuse me!"
A pretty woman in a torn business suit pushed through the debris, her press badge still clinging to her jacket.
Lois Lane, ever the opportunistic reporter, had her recorder out and her expression set in that particular mix of determination and righteousness that had made her famous.
She zeroed in on the assembled League. "Can someone please explain what just happened here? Is the crisis over? Where did these invaders come from, and why is..."
Clark groaned audibly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Lois, not now."
Edward, however, simply looked at her with calm disinterest. " I get that you are a reporter miss Lois. But Rather than asking stupid questions at this time, maybe you should go help the people who are actually injured. You know, actually help. "
Lois's eyes flashed anger . She stepped closer, undeterred, her recorder thrust forward. "Stupid questions? People deserve answers! And are you a new member of the Justice League? What's your name?"
Edward laughed and barely stood straight. "Yeah, you wish!"
Arthur stepped forward. "He is the great hero Edward Elric, the man who saved humanity more than once. Show some respect, woman."
Lois was caught off guard as she stared at Edward. She would be lying if the man didn't tick all her boxes for an ideal partner, but her reporter spirit took over. She wanted answers.
" Is that true ? Are you the hero from history books? Where have you been all these years? Why didn't you intervene before this happened? Watching from the sidelines while people suffer isn't heroic—it's negligent!"
Diana's eyes blazed with divine fury. She moved forward, her hand instinctively going to her sword. "You will mind your manners when speaking to him, wench. I should slap your teeth off..."
"Diana," Edward said softly, raising a hand. His tone carried no anger, just mild amusement. "It's fine."
Diana stopped, though her jaw remained tight.
Around them, the Justice League exchanged glances.
Bruce's expression was unreadable, but there was a subtle shift in his posture, respect for how Edward handled the words without a hint of anger.
Arthur crossed his arms, watching with interest. Hal was looking for popcorn.
Barry looked uncomfortable, caught between defending Edward and not wanting to say something bad.
Edward looked at Lois with that same calm smile, completely unbothered by her accusations. The silence stretched for a moment, her questions hanging in the air like an insult waiting to be answered.
Then Edward's smirk widened. "You want to know what I've been up to? Very well Ms Lois Lane."
He straightened slightly, his expression shifting into something oddly theatrical.
"My name is Edward Elric. I'm 3,217 ish years old. Hard to keep track of years before calendars became a thing.
My house is in the northeast section of Avalon, my city, where all the villas are, and I am married to 3 beautiful women and a somewhat unhinged lover . Got 4 kids who I love unconditionally.
I work part time as a professional troll in a vast community where people try to write stlupid stories, and ragebait them into quitting. Then I get home every day by 8 PM at the latest."
Lois blinked, confused. "What? That's not—"
"I don't smoke," Edward continued smoothly, completely ignoring her attempt to interrupt, "but I occasionally drink. I'm in bed usually by 11 PM, and make sure I get eight hours of sleep, no matter what.
After having a glass of warm milk, and doing Atleast sixty minutes of stretches with my wives before going to bed, I usually have no problems sleeping until morning."
"Sir, I'm asking about your absence during—"
"Just like a baby, I wake up without any fatigue or stress in the morning," Edward pressed on, his tone growing more absurd. "I was told there were no issues at my last check-up. I'm trying to explain that I'm a person who wishes to live a very quiet life."
Lois's face reddened. "This is ridiculous! People died while you were—"
"I take care not to trouble myself with any enemies, like winning and losing, that would cause me to lose sleep at night," Edward said, his eyes gleaming with barely suppressed laughter.
"That is how I deal with society, and I know that is what brings me happiness. Although, if I were to fight, I wouldn't lose to anyone."
"Are you mocking me?!" Lois snapped, stepping forward aggressively.
Edward simply waved his hand casually. "You just figured that out?" An invisible force gently lifted Lois off her feet.
She yelped in surprise as she floated backward through the air, arms pinwheeling, before landing with a soft thump directly into an overturned garbage bin. The lid clattered shut over her.
Muffled outrage erupted from inside the bin.
For a moment, there was absolute silence.
Then Cassie exploded into laughter, doubling over and slapping her knee. "Oh my God! Dad, you actually...." She couldn't even finish the sentence, she was laughing so hard.
Barry tried to hold it in, he really did, but a snort escaped before he dissolved into helpless giggles. "That was, oh man, Clark is going to kill us for laughing, but..."
Clark immediately raised his hand defensively. " I don't have anything to do with her! She stalks me to find my secrets!"
Hal shook his head, chuckling. " You're too nice sometimes dude."
Shazam wasn't even trying to be subtle. He was practically howling with laughter, tears streaming down his face. "Did you see her face?! When she hit the bin!"
Faora smirked, her usual cold demeanor cracking as she covered her mouth, shoulders shaking. "That was deeply satisfying to watch."
Even Clark, despite his obvious exasperation, couldn't quite suppress the amused smile tugging at his lips. He shook his head, but there was laughter in his eyes. "I'm going to have to apologize for that later, aren't I?"
"Or you can grow a spine and tell her to piss off," Diana said, though her own lips twitched as she fought back a smile.
She looked at her father with a fond exasperation. "Father, that last bit was...unnecessary."
"Was it though?" Edward replied innocently. "I just put the trash in the bin."
Bruce allowed the smallest smirk to cross his face. It was barely there, the barest twitch of his lips, but it was genuine amusement. "Efficient as always," he murmured.
Arthur chuckled deeply, the sound rumbling from his chest. "Remind me never to get on your bad side master."
From inside the garbage bin, Lois's muffled voice could be heard: "SOMEONE GET ME OUT OF HERE!"
Clark sighed and moved toward the bin. "I'll… handle this."
"You do that," Edward said cheerfully. He turned back to the portal, clapping his hands together. "Now then, where were we? Ah yes, multiverse saving. Shall we?"
Diana shook her head, but her smile was warm. "You're impossible."
"I've been called worse," Edward replied with a grin. "Usually by your mother."
Cassie was still giggling as they approached the portal. "Best. Dad. Ever."
"Don't encourage him," Diana muttered, though there was no heat in it.
Behind them, Clark was helping a very angry, garbage covered Lois Lane out of the bin, making apologetic noises while clearly fighting back his own laughter.
Edward glanced back one more time, caught Clark's eye, and winked.
Then he turned to the swirling gateway to Earth-3, his expression shifting back to something more serious, more dangerous.
"Alright then kids." he said, his voice carrying across the assembled heroes. "Let's go save the multiverse."