Chapter Four-Work Your Magic
I never wanna lose this feeling
I am able and I'm willing
Yes, I'm willing
Work your magic-Dima Koldun
So Wally decides to be more foolish and reveal some magic to his sharp eyed friends. He doesn't realize that appearances can deceive…painfully.
Wally liked Mt. Justice a lot, but he did wish he had a little more privacy. All he wanted to do was not think about his father and munch on something carbohydrate laden and instead, he had been recruited to the sparring club. "Come on, everyone's doing it," Artemis mocked. "Show us what you're made of."
The stats were clear. Artemis had managed to defeat Aqualad, but Blondie was then promptly thrown out of the game by Superboy, who was still reigning champion. To his utter chagrin, Wally watched Artemis smile and blush the entire time, she had enjoyed the big lug putting his hands all over her. Miss Martian was not accustomed to earth fighting and had just stayed to cheerlead Superboy. The fake gods were not kind. "Robin?" Superboy asked. "You next?"
He wished he could be that strong and powerful. Then everyone would be cheering for him, he wouldn't be the comic relief of the team. He would be the leader, like Batman and Uncle Barry were, like Robin would be.
Need a magical boost? The Mask-bracelet was so hilarious. Of course he needed a magical boost, he was only a young sorcerer who was madly in love and losing the girl of his dreams. You only need ask. After all, the girls admire Superboy for his strength. You could be strong too.
Wally did want to impress the ladies. And didn't knights in the stupid novels Aunt Iris read fight duels to win the hearts of fair maidens? It was historical precedent for the brave Sir Wallace to defeat the evil Super Boy. "Gwna 'm 'n bybyr," he whispered in a cough, grateful he had learned the strengthening spell. "I'll spar him," he said in a louder voice.
Superboy snickered. "You?" he asked. "You are fast, but you're kinda weak." He was such a muscle-head, what did Miss Martian and Artemis see in him? "It wouldn't be right."
"I'll worry about that," Wally said, assuming a fighting stance. Superboy was counting on a quick knock out, but he wouldn't count on a single blow coming in and returning the favor. He would have a weak defense and that would send him on the swift trip to fall.
"Your funeral," Superboy said, assuming a fighting stance. "Come on, get it over with." He looked bored. Just the way Wally had hoped he would look. This was actually going to be fun.
Wally sped at him and dodged a lazy punch for Superboy. Dodging and agility were his skills and he would use them well. He sped around, dodging and darting, waiting for the opening. "Come on, is this the bet you got?" Superboy challenged.
"Hey, K.F., if you go down, can I get your DVD collection?" Robin asked, making Wally blush to the roots of their hair. There had been a set of…naughty DVDs called "Girls Gone Wild" that the two shared. If either mentor had caught them with it…it would have been a painful affair.
Distracted, Wally narrowly ducked a haymaker. He could handle this, he was the Sorcerer Supreme. His lady was watching. As Superboy tossed another punch, Wally landed a quick jab to the chest. It should leave a nice little push and allow him to sweep Superboy.
Unfortunately, he didn't know his own newfound strength. Superboy flew backwards and crashed into the wall. As he folded in pain, his eyes were wide with shock. "What the hell was that?" he asked, the wind knocked out of him.
Wally feigned ignorance and wondered if he had lost his mind. He had just displayed his powers in front of his friends and he had no way of explaining this. He had hoped for a winding blow, not a knock out. "I have no idea, I tried to put my speed into a blow, I didn't think it would do that," he lied, trying to sound innocent. "You okay?"
"Are you all right?" Miss Martian asked, already at Superboy's side. Wally couldn't hide his sour look. He had risked losing everything and she didn't' pay him a lick of attention? What did he have to do, act dumb and muscle headed for her?
"I'm fine," Superboy grumbled, clearly happy for the attention. He had turned the situation for his own advantage. Wally wanted to be impressed.
"Wow, that was nice," Artemis said, with a smile. "You were actually more than useless. I'm impressed." She gave him a nice smile and Wally felt his throat go dry.
"That was an impressive feat of strength, Wally. I am very impressed," Aqualad said. "Your powers seem to be evolving." That wasn't something he wanted to hear.
"Yeah, Flash will be so proud," Wally said, trying to hide his nervousness. His scientist uncle would love to test this and he was quite sure he didn't want to break the magical seal for now.
"Why don't you try me, K.F.?" Robin asked, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. Wally gulped and cursed Batman for making Robin the world's most suspicious teenager. "Come on, for old time's sake."
"You know, I'm tired. That used up all of my strength," Wally said, smiling. He knew he was in trouble now, Robin was like a terrior with a bone, or Uncle Barry with a bible teacher. Neither would let go without a pummeling.
"Oh come on, you're going to let me be champion?" Robin mocked, folding his arms into mock wings. "Chicken Flash, we should call you. Tell you what? You win and I'll take the rap for the next screw up. " It was a generous offer, considering everyone was terrified of his mentor. Everyone, besides Robin who actually adored his mentor and seemed to relish the emotional abuse he dished out with abandon. "Don't make me cluck at you."
If he refused, everyone would be suspicious. He always accepted Robin's challenges and this had to be no exeption. He couldn't completely throw the match but he couldn't win too easily either. "Fine, your funeral," he said with a confident grin. "But don't say I didn't warn you!"
"Deal," Robin said, folding his arms. He didn't look any less distrustful but at least he had lost the look of intervention in his eyes. "Come on, give me your best shot."
This was going to be a tougher fight. Robin was fairly quick and he was extremely strong for a non-meta human. He also knew all of Wally's weaknesses, maneuvers and strengths, honed from years of being each other's sparring partner. He would notice if something was amiss.
"That will have to wait," Red Tornedo said, striding into the room. "Batman has a mission for you all. Get to the briefing room," it metallically said.
Wally said a silent prayer of thanks to what invisible deity Uncle Barry didn't believe in that had saved him at the last moment. "Rain check, Rob?" he asked, trying to act normally.
Robin nodded. "You can count on it."
Wally walked back to his room. He would be leaving in the morning to Bialya, on some dangerous mission. Robin was still giving him suspicious glares and he had managed to push the divine Miss Martian further into Superboy's arms. He was not in a good mood.
Having regrets about the power? Nabu really had a sense of humor. Perhaps it was from hanging around in his head. I gave you the power.
"Well, obviously you didn't give me enough of it. I need it to look natural," Wally whined, lying down on his bed. "Don't' tell me, I'll need training. Do I look like I have the time for it?" he demanded. "I'm already two people. I can't be three."
Have you ever heard of spirit projection? Nabu had a point. Wally hadn't heard of it, but in his defense, he had not kept abreast of recent matters in the spiritual world. Your spirit comes with me, and your body will be left here.
"That sounds dangerous," Wally noted wryly. He liked keeping body and soul together for the time being.
I have no intention of hurting you. It is in my best interest that my host remains in good health. Nabu had a point. There was no point to a dead host. That made scientific sense. Your body will seem almost dead, but as soon as your spirit returns, you will return to normal. Best of all, your body rests and your mind learns the magic. You sleep and learn at the same time.
Now that sounded like a plan he could enjoy. He could sleep and master his powers? Why hadn't Batman thought of such a brilliant idea? Likely because the old bat liked to see people sweat. Still, this didn't mean he couldn't have some fun with this idea. "Work your magic, spell book," he hissed as the pages clouded his mind with millions of words.
First lie down in bed and cover yourself. If someone looks in, you will appear as if you are sleeping peacefully. Wally obeyed, covering himself up on the cot. He looked up at the ceiling. "So, work your magic." He took a deep breath and recited the words before him. "Chyflea 'm hysbryd rhyddha."
The ceiling was so interesting, Wally could see the cracks…and if he looked down he could see his own body. "Hey, just remember. No funny business, my body, my rules," he scolded, as he looked down on a sleeping form of Wally West. He looked down on his hands and realized he wasn't there. He was only a spirit.
Well understood. Now, shall we practice controlling your powers? We will be heading to the Spirit world for practice. Nabu didn't take hints well, but the friendship had its perks. Wally sighed and felt himself float away to endure further training at the hands of an overbearing master. Story of his life.
A few days ago, he had been so rational. He supposed he was a fool for love. Or a fool for the greatest power a hero could know, which would be all his!
Dick padded silently into Wally's room and sat down next to him. "We need to talk. Wake up," he ordered angrily. He kenw something weird was going on. His best friend was many things, but that strong wasn't one of them. "And you better tell me."
The two had been best friends for almost as long as they had been heroes. Wally was the one friend Dick truly had. Speedy and Aqualad were decent sort, but they never seemed to be anything but work people. Dick had to be friends with them because they were his collegues. But Wally? Dick would have been friends even if they had been normal kids. It was the closest either of them had to a brother, and that meant Dick had first butt-kicking rights by natural law.
Wally's still form didn't move. Dick sighed. "Don't say I didn't warn you," he said, grabbing the pitcher of water from his bedside and dousing the sleeping speedster. "Rise and shine!" He hated doing this to his friend but he did need a good chat about performance enhancing potions Wally had nicked from his uncle's lab. "Or at least, just rise."
Nothing happened. Wally slept like a log but usually water was enough to get him up and running his mouth. Dick grabbed a pillow and socked his friend in the head. Nothing happened. This was bad. Even Wally didn't sleep that deeply.
Hesitantly, Dick touched Wally's carotid pulse, wondering how deeply his friend was sleeping. "One…two," he counted out loud, his voice shaking as the awful truth appeared to him. There was barely a pulse…Wally should have had a humming pulse, but this was just a beat every ten seconds. That was way below human heartbeat and Wally was no normal human.
Wally was slipping away into a coma. Dick felt his natural instincts take over. He slammed the emergency button on his pulse. "B, you need to come," he pleaded desperately. "Wally's dying!" As he spoke the fatal words, he could feel tears stream down his face. He had known something was wrong with his friend but had never suspected it was so dire. "Don't die…" he whispered, as he lifted his friend's cold body out of bed. "I am ordering you not to die!" he snapped, carrying him as quickly as he could down the hall.
Images of his parents flashed before his eyes. He had spoken to them seconds before they had shattered on the floor. He had seen Bruce come home with terrible injuries and he had always been terrified of losing him. Wally was his best friend and he had never thought it could be him that could die next.
"What's happened?" Miss Martian asked, her eyes wide as she poked her head of her room. Aqualad, Artemis and Superboy peaked out as well and gaped in shock at the sight of a crying Robin carrying a motionless Kid Flash down the hall. "What's wrong with Kid Flash?" Dick didn't know, that was the problem. His friend was perfectly healthy two hours ago and now was just fading away. He should have alerted the other members of the team, but he hadn't thought of them. He hadn't thought of anyone but Wally.
"I need to get him to the infirmary," Dick ordered, not hiding how his voice was shaking. He could deal with the stress of battle, but seeing his friend dying in their home was more than he could take. "Now!"
In the confusion, Dick hadn't seen Batman and Flash were barreling down the hall. They had teleported here. It had seemed like hours since the distress call, but now Dick realized it had been seconds. Things might actually be okay. "What happened?" Flash whispered, looking pale. "Whats' wrong with my Wally?"
"No time to explain," Robin snapped. "He needs the infirmary." He would not let go of his friend. He would not let Wally die. He was trusted to save the world, and that started with the person in front of him!
"I'll take him there," Flash said, grabbing him and disappearing down the hall. "A doctor's on the way."
Batman had his hand on Robin's shaking shoulders. "Come with me," he whispered. "The rest of you, meet me in the infirmary in five minutes. Sharp," he continued in a sharp tone. Usually, feeling Bruce's strong hand on his shoulder made him feel safe. He looked up at his mentor with wet eyes and only felt terrified. He couldn't lose his friend now. "We need to talk. Whatever Wally has, you might all have it too."
Robin's look of horror was only matched by the faces on his teammates
"Whoa," Wally cheered, as he zipped through the air of the spirit world. Training with Batman had never been this much fun, he got to practice flying by riding demon winds. It was cooler than surfing could ever be! As he glided as quickly as he could run, he felt so free.
He couldn't wait to show off his new powers tomorrow morning, when he woke up bright and refreshed. That rematch would go much smoother when he could disguise his strength completely as speed force.
He couldn't wait to see the look on Robin's face.
AN-Noticed my review count dropped. If you want me to do something to the story, so you'll like it more (or if you're enjoying it) tell me, please!
