The rain fell in sheets over Gotham, drumming against the rooftops and pooling in the streets. Flare stood in the middle of it, her mind consumed by Jason's last words, his face disappearing into the choking shadows. Her fists clenched, and a few embers flared around her knuckles, casting a faint glow against the rain-slicked pavement.

She turned, hands shaking with suppressed rage and worry, and dialed a number she considered involving numerous times before. The line clicked, and a familiar voice answered with guarded curiosity.

"Aubrey?"

"Addi," she said, her voice raw and low. "I need you."

There was a pause on the line, and Flare could practically hear her sister's surprise.

"What happened?"

"It's... it's Mom. She's back, and she took Jason."

A sharp intake of breath sounded on the other end. "You're sure it was her?"

"Yes." Flare's voice shook. "And she's out for blood. More ruthless. Pretty sure your gonna be next on her list if the info I got is correct. I thought about telling you earlier but i wasn't sure how you would react."

"Where are you?"

Flare gave her the location, and within minutes, Addi was there, her figure cutting through the rain. She wore a dark coat, the hood shielding her face, and her gaze was intense, stormy, just like her powers.

They stood in silence for a moment, the rain pouring down around them. Flare felt a strange comfort in her sister's presence, but she couldn't shake the fear that gnawed at her heart. Jason was out there, somewhere in the clutches of their mother. And she didn't know how long he had.

"Are you going to ask them for help?" Addi's voice was quiet but resolute.

Flare clenched her jaw, the hesitation evident. It wasn't in her nature to ask for help, especially from the Batfamily. She had fought for years to prove herself alone, to be independent, to forge her own path. But this was different. This was Jason's life on the line.

"Yes," she said finally, her voice steady. "I have no other choice."

Together, they made their way to Wayne Manor. The imposing structure loomed in the distance, lights barely visible through the rain. Flare's heart beat faster as they approached, memories of tense exchanges and moments of judgment flashing through her mind. Jason had always kept a certain distance from the Batfamily, refusing to let them control him. She had followed his lead out of instinct, knowing better to reveal to much to people who could easily use that information to control her. But tonight, she would lay it all bare.

As they stepped inside the manor, Alfred greeted them, his eyes widening in surprise as he took in their bedraggled forms. "Miss Aubrey, Miss Addi... what brings you here at this hour?" The 'without Jason' was unspoken, but Aubrey knew it was there.

Aubrey's gaze was sharp, her tone clipped. "Where's Bruce?"

"He's in the Batcave," Alfred replied, his voice calm but with a note of understanding in his eyes. "Shall I take you to him?"

They followed Alfred through the hidden corridors and into the Batcave, where Bruce Wayne sat in front of the Batcomputer, his expression hardening as they approached. Dick Grayson stood beside him, his arms crossed, a slight frown on his face.

Bruce rose, his gaze narrowing as he looked at Aubrey and Addi. "What happened?"

"It's the Black Fog, our mother." Aubrey said, her voice brittle. "She's back. She took Jason. That's who the two of us have been working against for the past moth and a half now."

The room fell silent. Dick's jaw clenched, and Bruce's eyes darkened, his expression shifting from concern to something sharper, more dangerous.

"Are you sure?" Bruce's voice was low, his gaze unyielding.

"Yes." Aubrey met his gaze head-on, refusing to show weakness. "And she's different than what your used too. She's no meta or alien. Her power is ancient and deadly and truthfully something that shouldn't exist. She has shadows—these tendrils that can choke out my flames, and Addi's wind goes right through them. She wants to use Jason against me."

Bruce exchanged a look with Dick, who nodded grimly. "Then we'll get him back."

Aubrey's heart lifted slightly at the certainty in Bruce's words, but she pushed it down, focusing on the task at hand. This wasn't about gratitude or relief. This was about rescuing Jason, and nothing else.

"Do you have a plan?" Dick asked, his gaze flicking between the two sisters.

Aubrey hesitated, glancing at Addi before she answered. "We know she's using an abandoned industrial complex as a base. We can infiltrate from the north side. She'll have guards. I need you to take them out quietly so Addi and I can focus on... her."

Bruce nodded, his mind already working through the logistics. "We'll need to move quickly. If she's holding Jason, she'll expect a rescue attempt. This won't be easy."

"Nothing is," Aubrey replied, her tone hard.

The plan was laid out in hushed but urgent tones. Bruce would take point with Dick and Damian, infiltrating the complex from the east and creating a diversion. Addi and Aubrey would confront their mother head-on, using their combined powers to disrupt her defenses.

Before they moved out, Bruce caught Aubrey arm, his gaze intent. "You're sure about this?"

Flare looked him in the eyes, her voice steady. "Don't stop me. Whatever i do today is to keep your son and the rest of your family safe. Whatever happens do not get in my way, cause I won't stop until she's gone. Not this time."

They moved through the shadows, silent and deadly, a coordinated team with one shared goal. The complex loomed before them, its walls scarred and decayed, echoing with the sounds of distant machinery. The rain had subsided, leaving a thick mist that clung to the ground, obscuring their movements.

Bats led the way, his silhouette barely visible as he slipped through the darkness. Flare and Windy followed closely, their steps mirroring his precision. Flare's heart pounded as they drew closer, the weight of the mission pressing down on her. She felt the heat of her powers simmering just beneath the surface, kept in check only by sheer force of will.

They reached the outer perimeter, where the first wave of shadow minions patrolled. Flare exchanged a glance with Batman, who nodded before disappearing into the mist. Within moments, he and Nightwing had neutralized the guards, their movements swift and silent.

Flare felt a surge of adrenaline as she and Windy slipped through the opening, moving deeper into the complex. The shadows grew thicker, the air colder, as they approached the heart of the building. She could feel her mother's presence, an oppressive force that seemed to seep into her skin, chilling her from the inside out.

They reached the main chamber, a vast, echoing space lit by a dim, flickering light. Jason was there, chained to a pillar, his head hanging low, his body slumped. Flare's heart lurched at the sight of him, a mixture of relief and fear flooding her.

"Jason!" she called, her voice breaking the silence.

He lifted his head slowly, his eyes meeting hers. Despite the pain etched across his face, he managed a faint smile.

"You... took your time."

Flare felt a flicker of relief at his words, but it was quickly overshadowed by a dark, familiar laugh that echoed through the chamber.

"So, you've come after all, my Ruby," her mother's voice purred, each word dripping with malice.

The Black Fog stepped forward, her figure cloaked in shadows, her eyes gleaming with a predatory light. She looked at Flare with a twisted smile, as if this was all some elaborate game.

"Let him go," Flare demanded, her voice cold and unyielding.

Her mother laughed, a harsh, grating sound that sent chills down Flare's spine. "Oh, my sweet, naive child. Do you think you can just walk in here and make demands?"

Flare clenched her fists, flames igniting around her hands. She took a step forward, her gaze locked on her mother. "I'm not asking."

The Black Fog's smile widened, and with a flick of her wrist, tendrils of shadow shot out, wrapping around Jason tighter. He winced, the chains digging into his skin.

"You really think you can defeat me, Aubrey?" her mother taunted, her voice dripping with contempt. "You're just a child, still clinging to the scraps of power you were left with after you so foolishly burned yourself out that day. Did you enjoy burning down my kingdom? Turning my empire to ash? It will cost you everything"

Windy stepped forward, her eyes blazing with defiance as she slipped her hood down. "She's not alone."

The Black Fog's gaze shifted to Windy, and her smile faltered, a flash of something—resentment? Disgust?—flickering across her face. "And you," she sneered. "You've always been the weaker one. The obedient one. Did you really think you could stand against me? Defy me by coming to this world and playing hero?"

Windy's jaw clenched, but she didn't back down. "I'm done being obedient. And I AM a hero."

Flare took advantage of her mother's distraction, summoning her flames in a powerful burst that lit up the chamber. She hurled a wave of fire toward the Black Fog, who deflected it with a sweep of her hand, the shadows consuming the flames with ease.

The battle began in earnest, a deadly dance of fire and shadow. Flare and Windy moved in sync, their powers combining in a storm of flame and wind, each strike calculated, each movement a reflection of their shared past. The Black Fog countered their attacks with effortless precision, her shadows twisting and writhing like living things, smothering their flames, deflecting their blasts of wind.

But Flare wasn't deterred. Every strike she landed, every ounce of power she poured into her flames, was fueled by years of pain and anger, by the memories of her mother's manipulations, by the sight of Jason chained and bleeding because of her.

The Black Fog laughed, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Is this all you have, my dear? Pathetic."

Flare's vision blurred with rage. She pushed herself harder, her flames growing hotter, brighter, until they were almost blinding. She could feel the heat searing her skin, but she didn't care. She would burn herself to ashes if it meant ending this.

Beside her, Windy unleashed a whirlwind, the air crackling with energy as she directed it toward their mother. Together, they forced the Black Fog back, pushing her toward the edge of the chamber.

But the Black Fog wasn't done. With a snarl, she summoned a wave of shadows that surged forward, engulfing the room in darkness. Flare and Windy braced themselves, their powers flaring as they fought to keep the shadows at bay.

In the midst of the darkness, Flare caught a glimpse of Jason, still chained, his gaze locked on hers. His eyes held a silent message, a plea, a promise. She felt a surge of determination, a fierce resolve that burned brighter than her flames.

She would save him. She would end this.

With a final, powerful burst of fire, Flare broke through the shadows, her flames illuminating the room, casting her mother's face in stark relief. She saw, for the first time, a flicker of fear in her mother's eyes.

"Holy shit" her sister breathed, and Aubrey looked over to see her sister's blue eyes wide as she stared at her.

"What?"

Addi shook her head, before speaking in a soft voice. "This is what you looked like when you burned down Antraxia..."

That was why their mother looked so terrified. The monster that had burnt down the city of warriors like it was nothing had her sights on her now.