I could barely breathe, the stress was too much. My body shook as I held my mortal instruments, these pieces of silver would be the difference between life and death. This could be my toughest challenge yet.
It's been two years since I arrived in this bizarre world, a mirror of my own Earth, where superheroes and villains alike do battle, these either having a supernatural or science fictional origin. I've fought zombies, gargoyles, Voodoo priests, tax agents, and aliens each threat more dreaded than the last, but this, this may be my greatest challenge.
"Come on my boy, eat up"
I was eating vegetable soup.I held my spoons staring at my monstrous meal created my mentor, Kent Nelson. He may have been a master sorcerer but he couldn't meet my terribly fuzzy appetite.
"What are you waiting for boy! eat it while it's hot"
Mr. Nelson's voice had both a soft quality and gruff old man-ness to it that insured that when he barked at me to do something I did it, so grabbed a few slices of bread, then dunking one into the bowl and taking a bite.
"So 'Master' what's the schedule for today"
"The schedule as you put it, my boy," he said gruffly "is that you are going out to meet an old friend of mine"
"Oh," I said leaning on the dining chair taking another bite of souped bread "well that tells me everything, I'll just step outside and start shouting 'Friend of Nelson, friend of Kent Nelson, friend of '"
"Smart-ass" Nelson interrupted "If you just waited a moment instead of flapping those lips of yours you'd know"
"Sorry Mr. Nelson, I don't mean to be a..." I told him sincerely.
"I know" he sighed rubbing his tie down "I hope though you try you'll to show more respect to Diana when you meet her"
Silence permeated the air for a few moments as Kent stared at me hoping that I would come to some sort of realization about the identity of his friend.
"Oh" I exclaimed suddenly "It's Wonder Woman"
The Sorcerer supreme gave me I slow clap at me finally figuring out her identity. I didn't think kindly of this so I glared at him. It was an epic glare.
"You'll be meeting her at the Amazonian embassy"
"So that's in Washington?"
There was large sigh from the elder of the two
"Look the meeting is at two pm, Washington time"
"Do you know what she wants me for"
"You" he laughed "Nothing, she called me up sometime last night, needs some light back up on mystical cult that's running about"
Nelson took a moment to breathe softly, he twirled golden topped can from hand to another and looked at me with forelongned eyes.
"As you can see kid" he waved his free hand about "I'm much too old to be running about stopping cults and saving damsels"
"Right" I said knowing where he is going with this "so you're sending me instead"
"That's jiff of it kid"
"Don't the Justice League have a magician?" I questioned with confusion, wondering if I was remembering wrong.
"Yes" He started to explain "Giovanni Zatara, an extremely skilled and powerful magician, but in the end, he's only one man and is needed elsewhere"
"Okay" I said my verbal reply putting myself into a ponderous mood, thinking about the information that I just received.
"Do the League only know two Sorcerers?" I asked incredulously
"No" He answered "But they know few with the necessary combat ability to be useful in the field"
"And those properly are limited by how many of those are trustworthy"
"Exactly" Nelson exclaimed happily "And I'm hoping you'll soon be considered among the trustworthy ones"
I finished my meal and then stood up and bowed to him abashed with warm feelings at the honor Mr. Nelson had afforded me not just here but since becoming his apprentice two years ago,
"I don't think I've thanked you for all you've done for me since I've become your apprentice"
"There's no need kid" The former Dr. Fate replied solemnly "Soon when I've deemed you ready you'll take up a mantle I've left alone for far too long"
At that unique note picked up my blue jacket from my chair, putting it on and summoning my magic utility belt preceded to leave the glorious Tower of Fate and head to one of the magic teleporting trees Dr. Fate had placed outside in his glory days to get around, this one would take me to Washington DC.
Washington DC
June 20th 13:50 EST
I found the Themyscira Embassy pretty easily, mostly because it was endorsed by their iconography, of images of Zeus, Hera and for some reason just as much Wonder Woman's own personal symbol as the Olympian's icons.
I wandered over to the front desk where the possibly Themysciran receptionist looked at me with what I assumed were suspicious eyes but a polite smile.
"Welcome to the Themysciran Embassy sir," The polite young woman said continuing smiling "How can I help you"
"Yaa" I yelped nervously elongating my a. "I'm representing a Mr. Kent Nelson, I was told that at 2 I was to meet aahh"
I started to wave my right hand about nervously as if the answer would suddenly leap from my arm and into my mouth.
"Oh" She said abruptly "Your the 2 o'clock for the Ambassador"
"Right" I nodded yelping out the answer "Right that's Wonder Woman right?"
"Yes" The receptionist agreed "Please have a seat she'll be with you in a moment"
I slowly went to an armchair set in the corner of the lobby, trying to sit like a regular person as to not draw attention to myself. I was only waiting for a moment or two when the Woman herself came out of the door behind the door.
I stood up from the chair thinking about how pointless it was for me to have sat in it in the first place. Once Wonder Woman reached me she held out her arm. There was a moment where I didn't know what do as my mind what such an action could mean.
"Hello," She said with a certain amount of confusion "I'm Diana, Kent sent you in his place right"
"Yes" I yelped finally realizing what I was meant to do and reached out my hand to shake hers "I'm Peter, uh hmm, oh it's a pleasure to meet Ms. Wonder Woman"
"Please call me Diana," She said while motioning for us to sit back down in the seating area "Peter, Kent has told me that you're quite the budding Sorcerer"
"He did" I exclaimed ecstatically "well, in my opinion, I'm good, not all that powerful, but I know what I'm doing"
"Oh he didn't mention that your humble" She smiled with a small amount of humor "Let's get down to business" Her smile turned into a straight face "Did Kent tell you what I wanted help with"
"Not the percifics" I replied "Just that it was some kind of 'magic? cult that you needed some mystic backup for" Saying the word magic as if asking a question.
"I would say that the Cult of Kobra has capable wielders of the mystic arts" Answering my unsaid question.
"What currently are they doing that brought them under your scope"
"There's been a series what I believe to be connected robberies and ritualistic murders" As she said this she placed a yellow folder on the tidy but disgusting shade brown coffee table "Here's the necessary files, have a look"
I nodded at her absentmindedly, taking the folder into my hands and opening it. The first file was a murder, the victim a 21-year-old male, the name was Richard Dickinson, blood type O negative. The murder weapon was a high curved bladed instrument, the body was found in a pentagram that had symbols placed on every point, the investigators could match a few but the ones they could seem to have a link to snakes.
The murder took place between 10 pm to 1 am, the lethal injury was a stab wound directly into the heart. The victim died in the space of five to ten minutes. The other three murders within the files all happened using the same method, had victims of the same gender, the same blood type, the same age and at the same timeframe.
Next in the files were the less gruesome crimes, the robberies. An ancient staff adorned with Hermes' iconography, twin serpent threaded themselves into the staff their head meeting on top. Then a serpent-themed helmet belonging to some collector. Then finally a Large stone tablet of unknown age and origin, the thing itself was about four times the height of me and six me sized people width ways.
Looking back up from the files several things stood out to me, as if details were missing.
"I noticed something odd"
"Yes," She said in a somewhat questioning tone "What is it"
"It's just that the file" I hesitated thinking that if she didn't mention it, it properly didn't mean anything "It doesn't list any of the victims' occupations"
"There's a simple explanation for that" She intoned "They never had any"
"What?"
"This is the first time in ten years that any of the victims have been seen"
"Kidnapped"
"We think so"
It all seemed very cut and dry. They kidnapped them because they had the necessary qualities, then brainwashed subtly throughout the years. This could mean that whatever ritual the cult is trying needs the willing sacrifices. That along with the Hermes connection could mean that they're trying to either heal or restore someone.
"Well I'm still not sure what you need me for," I said lightly "I mean I'm either back-up or an opinion"
"You are going to be both"
"Okay" I enunciated "They're obviously trying to bring something back, heal someone, make someone powerful" To her nod I continued "I can see why you think it's the 'Kobra Bros' but"
"But?"
"But it's a red herring, one of the items is for Hermes worship, Kobra are very much a one god kinda people, so it's not them"
"Good job" She congratulated me too my confusion "I already came to the same conclusion myself"
"Then why not be upfront with the information" I questioned my left eyebrow twitching at her.
"I wanted to see if you and I thought the same regarding the evidence"
She stood up beckoning me to follow her inside the embassy. We went through a room after room, then we came to a stairwell and descended into a hangar bay. There awaiting us the most extraordinary of objects. Nothing.
Because Wonder Woman's Jet was invisible. The Invisible Jet mesmerized me as I could do nothing but follow her every step straight onto the jet. Eventually, the effect was broken by Diana's voice
"And that's why it is good that you decided to join me on this mission, even though it involves a group comfortable to frame the Cult of Kobra, Kent spoke well of you and ensured me that you were up to this task"
Oh shit, I got confused by the amazing Invisible Jet. Wow, now I'm trouble if I don't start asking questions about why we're in her Invisible Jet.
"So I'm guessing you've already found whatever our thieves slash murderers reside and it's not necessary for me to attempt to magically"
"Yes that's correct" She quirked an eyebrow "I wasn't aware you have the talent or experience to find murderers"
"Before Dr. Fate took me on his apprentice" I started to explain "I worked with my homelands law enforcement, learned from them basic detective skills and the like"
"That doesn't explain your certainty to finding the killer"
"That's where my special talents come in, I know a spell that finds people that have interacted with a target I set"
Another lift of her eyebrow told that she somehow didn't see how helpful such a spell would be in a murder case.
"Okay" I went on to clarify "Just like how in item search on Ebay or Amazon you can filter by categories, the spell pecifically can include more than one person or object for the point of interaction"
"Therefore you remove all the subjects who haven't meet all the victims"
"And" I added "for a piece la resistance, the spell can then with the use of a map find the location of the target"
"That's an ingenious spell"
"Thank You" I beamed with pride at the compliment "I created the spell by combining the functioning of the two older spells that have fallen out use in modern times"
Before I could get into exact detail with my use of spells we had arrived at our destination, an abandoned? warehouse district of Washington DC. What why does this exist here, I can't think of a single reason for this being here.
"I think it's time for you to suit up," Wonder Woman told me as we got out of her Invisible Jet. "The group we are up against will have the resources to track you down if they see your face"
"Right!" I exclaimed snapping my fingers once causing a dull light to surround my body. When the glow faded clothes had changed little except my royal blue coat was joined by a dark gray dual tailed scarf with a dull silver helmet not too dissimilar to Dr. Fate's own adorned my head.
"Right then!" I stated "Let's get to work"
"What should I call you while you're wearing that" Amazonian asked "Doctor Fate?"
"No" I shook my head in a negative response "Just Fate, for now, I'm no Doctor"
"Don't you want to have a more original name for yourself"
"Sure" I admitted sheepishly " I'm just having trouble coming up with anything at all"
"That's fine, I can tell you'll withhold the integrity of the Fate title"
The two of us carefully surveyed the area, finding that there were noises coming out of the one bigger warehouse. I silently signaled to Wonder Woman to come over to me before pointing to the ground showcasing runic symbols painted into to the ground.
They were simple runes signifying detection of anyone who crossed this point. Luckily have I equally simple solution on hand, reaching into one of the poaches on my belt I took out a black spray paint can and then blotted out the runes.
I gave Wonder Woman a thumbs up, she awarded me with a gentle smile and a nod. The two of us entered the warehouse taking careful note of our surroundings as to not fall into traps. It wasn't long until we found ourselves in the center storeroom of the warehouse. But what we found wasn't a normal warehouse storeroom, not that we were expecting that in the first place.
"Ah" Came a lady's voice from the center of the room. This, of course, brought my attention to that part of the room, she wore what I had only ever seen in the animated G.I Joe movie, it was some kind of cobra cloak that the head of which was the snakes as well. What she wore under it was a simple leotard not too dissimilar to Raven's. Which I thought wouldn't be too bad of a comparison in terms of look a cobra themed Raven.
I wondered about how that kind of outfit wasn't incredibly cold. It had no pants. It didn't even have any tights. For some reason Wonder Woman also didn't wear any pants, hell sometimes I'm told she doesn't even wear her skirt. How in the name of the ultimate toaster wasn't she freezing, especially when she spends a great deal of time the upper atmosphere flying about with only a single layer of clothes
"...and that's what I hoped to achieve Diana!"
Oops, I really should stop going off in thought tangents, especially when my enemies go on monologues, it would be pretty embarrassing to be knocked out or something while daydreaming.
"no one can get in my way now" The unknown, to me, villainess exclaimed her arm gleefully extended out "I will have my revenge against not just you Diana but Kobra as well"
Then as she started to laugh maniacally I put both of my hands into my belt pouches, a different poach for each hand. I drew two rune covered rubber balls, threw one to the floor and the other act the laughing lady.
When the first ball hit the floor a bright light beam struck the villain in the eye, the second ball didn't appear to do anything as it bounced off the ground and returned to my hand.
I could see Wonder Woman from the corner of my eye as she appeared to have taken my action in stride, only looking mildly confused at my 'lackluster' assault. Then Wonder Woman took two steps forward and raised her right hand pointing it at the villain who's induction I ignored earlier.
"Lady Eve surrender now, corroborate with the authorities and can promise you that I bring Kobra to justice"
Lady Eve as Diana had just revealed her to be, seemed to complicate this thought for a moment Wonder Woman's natural charisma seemingly taken her aggression down to manageable levels.
The Lady smiled wickedly then made a hand motion, this appeared to be a signaler to her forces in hiding. Dozens of cobra themed wackos decided from the ceiling, wielding a wide variety of weapons, ranging nunchucks, swords and automatic guns.
I was a little nervous at the sight of this amount of weapons but attempted to calm myself knowing that I had the ability to defend myself. I set my hands in a triangle like shape and started to murmur in low tones.
The villainess brought her hand down indicating to the automatic weapon wielders in mook forces to fire down on us. As bullets descended down upon us Wonder Woman a defending position between me and the projectiles.
But she needn't too as the bullets just hung completely still in the air in front of her stopped by glowing dull silver field before dropping to floor harmlessly. Wonder Woman turned back to face me, giving me a majestic grin and a small nod.
"I think you all realize that none of you can take us in close combat" My helmet deepening my voice making unrecognizable "Surrender, don't make us have to take this to physical methods"
"Your leader is captured!" I exclaimed pointing towards the lounging Lady Eve, who had tried to make a cutting remark but there was any sound leaving her lips "I Fate, trapped her in before you all revealed yourselves"
The cobra mooks or as I will remember them from now on as the knock-off/former Kobra members looked at each other in what only be described as intense silence and then dropped their weapons on the floor.
"Well that was easy" I spoke softly to Diana who chuckled lightly.
My light attitude changed quickly when the mooks decided that they could suddenly take us without guns and rushed us with staffs and swords.
I swiftly spun my left hand at the oncoming forces.
"Fate denies you fiends"
At this call, the ground beneath the Kobra forces suddenly distorted dragging them neck deep into the floor immobilizing them. The force defeated could do nothing but sigh at the how ineffectual there were.
"You are quite dramatic, aren't you young Fate" Diana asked me in bemusement.
Suddenly the ground shook under the pressure of a large snake-themed armored man barrelling towards us. This I thought must have been their plot, to sacrifice hidden Kobra men to create a powerful super Kobra warrior that will then do whatever task Lady Eve was talking about to Diana earlier.
Luckily I know just what to do. So I waved my arm causing a small ankle-high wall of mystical energy to appear, tripping the obviously magic empowered warrior and leading his unprotected chin right into Wonder Woman's fist, smacking him up into the air knocking the man out cold on the floor.
"That's the most wasted mystical power-up I've ever seen in my life"
"Oh, you've seen a lot empowering ritual have you" Wonder Woman asked in seemed at least to me like sarcasm.
"No this is the first, but forgive me for my hyperbowl"
As she walked off to the side slightly properly to make a call to the right authority so these people could be taken into custody, I could hear her whisper the word 'hyperbowl' to herself as trying to understand the meaning.
Author's Note: I started writing this while rewatching the first season again. I had the thought, what is the simplest way to cause a butterfly effect to allot but not all of the events of the first season.
So Peter was born, he is the easiest change I could create this early in the Young Justice timeline and those of you familiar with the events of the show should realize some of the ripples he creates just by existing, imagine the what he will do once he starts interacting properly with the plot. One thing to note is that he has a bit of a lisp( e.g percific to specific) and sometimes uses the wrong words like Hyperbowl instead of Hyperbole if this is annoying to enough people I will remove it.
Now, this unbeta'd but I have checked for mistakes myself. I am not entirely happy with the dialogue in this chapter. Any suggestions anyone has to improve the dialogue would be appreciated.
It is my hope to produce longer chapters as this goes on.
Please review and critique my writing it no doubt deserves it.