Chapter 1: Happy Birthday, Boy of Wonder!
MT. JUSTICE
"And the JLA leaked this to Central City News," the reporter on the TV announced. "Nightwing is turning 22 today,"
Nightwing grinned.
"Other JLA members requested we tell you this, Nightwing," the reporter continued. "Batman says 'LEAVE ME ALONE! I AM TRYING TO PRACTICE SHOOTING MY BATARANG!' Wonder Woman says 'Have a happy birthday, Nightwing. May the gods be with you!' And Zatanna says, 'Happy birthday Nightwing, I REALLY wanted to be at your birthday party.'"
What birthday party? Nightwing thought to himself.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
Nightwing was bombarded with confetti and streamers in all possible colors.
"You didn't think we'd forget, right?" Wally asked. He sounded as if he CLEARY forgot. "I mean what kind of friends would we be!"
"Bad ones," Nightwing laughed as Artemis hugged him.
She snapped a quick picture with her phone, taking Nightwing by surprise.
"We'll laugh about this someday," she smirked.
Oh that thing! She knows?
"Happy birthday boy of wonder," Batgirl laughed as she kissed his cheek. "14 years of being a superhero is quite an accomplishment."
"Thanks guys," Nightwing said. "This was totally…unexpected. Who knew streamers and confetti came in all these colors?"
"I know right!" Beast Boy said as he jumped. "I told Megan to go with the black and blue one because that's your uniform colors but she went the splash of sunshine!"
"It's okay," Nightwing grinned widely. "Everything's perfect."
"Hey, where's Zatanna?" Batgirl smirked.
DR. FATE'S TOWER
"DAD," Zatanna screamed looking up at the tall, concrete building. "DAD, I KNOW YOU'RE UP THERE OPEN UP!"
As if on cue, the wall in front of her dissolved and she could clearly see what was inside. It was a place of disorder. Not actually disorder, Dr. Fate was the Lord of Balance. The room was…unorganized. The walls were nowhere to be found, just a mixture of black and red glitter. The stairs were all over the place, it'd take any normal person a long time to find their way. But, she's wasn't any normal person. She was Dr. Fate's daughter—well, she was Zatara's daughter, but same concept!
Zatanna stepped in and the wall immediately returned. It was clear that there was no backing out from this. Suddenly, a glowing, gold ankh appeared in front of her. There stood Dr. Fate, clothed in his gold and blue garment.
"What brings you here, Zatanna?" Dr. Fate asked.
"I want to see my father," Zatanna replied.
"I am your father,"
"The one behind the helmet,"
"Your father made a promise to me, young Zatanna. I will not take off the helmet,"
Zatanna turned around and crossed her arms. From the corner of her eyes she looked at Dr. Fate.
"Then, I have nothing to say to you," She said in a low voice.
Dr. Fate didn't answer. Instead, he opened the wall again so Zatanna could leave. Zatanna walked out. She turned around and looked at Dr. Fate once more before he closed the wall. One day, she'd get that helmet off—one way or another.
"Zatanna to Watch Tower," she spoke through her com-link.
She disappeared.
From the terrace, Dr. Fate watched his host's daughter disappear. A promise is a promise. No matter what Zatara said, he wouldn't let him out. Even to see his only daughter—the only thing he had left in his life.
MT. JUSTICE
"Nightwing," Batgirl began. "Let's go get some cake."
She grabbed Nightwing's arm and pulled him the kitchen, where the cake was. It was chocolate with Nightwing's symbol on it. It said Happy Birthday and other comments people decided to write on it.
"LET'S EAT," Wally said. Even when he was older, he couldn't get enough of food!