Gotc: Well hello there everybody!! Most of you on this side of FF probably don't know myself or the chaos that usually follows me where ever I go-

Ace: YOU STUPID WHALE!!!!! GIVE ME BACK MY JACKET!!!!!!!!

Gotc: sigh Speak of the devil...Readers, meet Ace, the main character in just about every story of mine(including this one), the bane of my very existence-

Ace: I can hear you, ya' know.

Gotc: Since when has that ever mattered? Now be good and say hi to the nice viewers, who will hopefully review.

Ace: You should stop reading while you still can.

Gotc: WHAT WAS THAT?!?!?!

Ace: Yo.

Gotc: Thought so. Anyway, like I was saying earlier, this is my first shot at posting a Justice League fic, though not the first one I've ever written. My very first fic was a JL fic, though I can only hope that my writing has gotten better since the 7th grade...

Ace: HA! Fat chance. Though I must say, I look waaaaaaay cooler now, but I'll let the readers discover that for themselves.

Gotc: Remind me to lock you in a closet later. This story is a JL version of a fic I've been posting on the Yu-gi-oh side of things for a couple of years now, but I hope you enjoy it all the same. Now to introduce the lovable, miniature killer whale that keeps my rear out of jail for copyright infringement, Squeaky the Whale!!!!! Squeaky!! Disclaimer!!

Squeaky: Squeak! (Translation: Hi there readers! Remember, Gotc doesn't own the League or any story lines that accompany them, though Ace is her slave for all eternity.)

Ace: I don't know whether to protest or jump off a cliff.

Gotc: Neither, the fic's starting. Have fun reading everybody!!!!


Rise of the Guardian: Ancient Power, Modern Age

CHAPTER 1: The Guardian is Coming.

Shade. In the past eight weeks, it was a name the League had come to know all too well. It had taken over Gotham and Metropolis by storm, and was responsible for a death toll in the hundreds. One that continued to rise with every night that passed by. It was a drug, one that had seemingly appeared out of the very darkness in which it was dealt, and the darkness concealed well with it with a veil that yielded nothing.

Diana and J'onn hovered over the Watchtower's Monitor Womb, combing over every report that came in from every news station.

"They've just discovered two more on the south side of Gotham." J'onn announced.

"They're the tenth this week." The Amazonian princess sighed before rubbing the bridge of her nose, "Batman's not going to be happy at all about this."

"No, I can't imagine that he will." J'onn said bringing up a few more screens to display the various reports.

Diana tapped her com-link to get in touch with the rest of the League.

"Lantern, Flash. Report?"

"Nothing yet." Came the tired reply, "But we'll let you know if we come across something."

"Ok, but start heading back. You guys are going to need a break soon."she said before breaking off and turning to J'onn, "How's Superman and Hawkgirl?"

"Tired." he said before sitting down in a near by chair.

"So are Flash and Lantern." she said joining him, "We're running out of leads."

Since the appearance of Shade, they had been trying every trick in the book to find out where the drug was coming from, and who was making it. Roughly a week into the hunt, they'd come across a dealer during a routine patrol, but before they could question him, he disappeared without a trace. After that, the leads all but dried up into dust.

An excited voice from a reporter snapped her away from her thoughts and back to reality. Seconds later many others joined in on the same frenzied note.

"We're just receiving word from local authorities in Gotham, that two men have been captured and have been linked to the sale of the drug, Shade. They are now reportedly being escorted to Arkham where they will be questioned by local police. As you know, the drug has been responsible for close to 300 deaths in the last month-"

"Arkham?" Diana said puzzled, "That's odd. Commissioner Gordon never sends detainees to Arkham so soon after capture..."

"Perhaps they are recent escapees." J'onn mused.

"Batman? Do you copy?"

"What?" came the irritable reply.

Diana couldn't blame him for being upset. He was taking every life lost to the drug personally.

"We're receiving reports that there's been two men caught in connection with the Shade outbreak."

"Yes, but that news is old, and inaccurate."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, they were found over two hours ago on the doorstep of the police station."

"Wait, found?"

"That's what I said." The Dark Knight growled, "One was in shock and wouldn't talk to anybody. The other just kept repeating the same thing over and over again."

"Was that why they were sent to Arkham?"

"Yes."

"What was the one saying?"

There was a long pause on the other side of the link.

"The Guardian is coming."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Heh. Figures you'd want to meet in a place like this."

"What can I say? The bartender here knows how to mix his drinks. You're ten minutes late Jonathan."

Jonathan beckoned to the two bodyguards that had accompanied him into the small south side bar. There were only a few incoherent drunks left in the cobweb riddled establishment, and it was after midnight, so the chances he'd be needing them were slim. Still, the man sitting at the bar unnerved him. At first glance, he didn't look like much. A young man, tall and lean, wearing nothing more than a white t-shirt, ragged jeans, and a worn-out, faded blue jean jacket that disguised a finely toned body. His dark, raven black hair was tied back into a ponytail, and long bangs obscured penetrating azure eyes. He seemed to blend in so well, and at the same time was completely out of place.

"Are you going to sit down or not?" He asked.

"Always right to the point, aren't you Ace?"

"Time's too important to waste with pointless chatter. You have it or not?" Ace huffed.

Jonathan smirked and reached into his coat and pulled out a small vial, containing a fine black powder.

"Four hundred." Jonathan said rolling the vial around in his palm.

"Four?! Prices around town are less than two-fifty for that little." Ace growled, "Ripping people off isn't a good way to get return customers."

"I think you'll find we have no problem with that. Now, do we have a deal?"

Ace looked at Jonathan for a moment more, before pulling out a wad of money from his pocket.

"Here." he said tossing it to Jonathan, who in turn handed over the vial, "You know, having prices so high makes me think that there's a bit of a problem with you supply."

"What makes you say that?"Jonathan said looking up from counting the money.

"Well, with those two guys down by the docks getting caught, it just seems like you dealers are a bit nervous."

"How did you know about that?!"Jonathan said standing up abruptly.

"You're kidding right?" Ace said leaning back in his chair, "It's all over the news. Not like it's a big secret."

The two bodyguards took a couple steps toward Ace, as Jonathan reached into his coat.

"No one knew what sector they dealt in. You're the one that took them out!" he accused.

"That's right."

The two bodyguards lunged for Ace, only to have him leap out of his seat and on to the back of one of them, knocking him to the ground. A swift windmill kick to the neck felled the other before he could react. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jonathan produce a gun, but before he could fire off a shot, he whisked his glass off of the bar and threw it at his hand. The gun went flying as Jonathan howled in pain, and Ace grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.

"Go ahead kill me." Jonathan said half hysterically

"Jeez you're an idiot." Ace scoffed, "If I was going to do that, I'd have done it by now. You're going to deliver a message to your boss for me. Tell him that I know who he is, and when I find him, I'm going to kill him."

Ace let Jonathan fall to the ground in a sniveling heap and tossed a hundred dollar bill to the bartender before walking out of the bar.


Gotc: So? You like? Sorry it's probably not as good as it could be, but I promise it gets a whole lot better next chapter.

Ace: See, told you I was cool...ish...

Gotc: Yeah, hold on th that dream. Anyway R&R if you please, flames and advice greatly appreciated here, and keep an eye out for the next chapter!!!!