Disclaimer:
Hawk & Dove sing with air guitars: "Hank's World! Hank's World! Party time! EXCELLENT!"
Hawk: "Welcome back to 'Hank's World!'"
Dove: "Today we will be discussing….hypothetical fights."
Hawk: "As in, who would win in a fight if Krypto the Superdog went against Superman?"
Dove: "Well my money would be on Superman. Given his height advantage."
Hawk: "…Dude…Krypto's a dog. A dog with jaws stronger than steel. One well placed bite and Supes would go down like ton of bricks.
Dove: "Hmmm…you have a point…what about Krypto vs. Ace?
Hawk: "Depends on which "Ace" you mean. Ace the person, or Ace the Bat-dog.
Dove: "Bat-dog."
Hawk: Snort. "Then Krypto of course."
Dove: "I wouldn't be so sure. Remember, Ace is Batman's dog."
Hawk: "Now there's a scary thought. A dog with quote un-quote issues... I do see your point, bro."
Dove: "Okay next one, Fire vs. Ice."
Hawk: "As long as mud's involved, I really don't care!"
Don rolls his eyes.
Dove: "Must you always turn into a chauvinist pig whenever we do this?"
Hawk: "What can I say, I am what I am!"
Dove: "Too, true."
Hawk: "I know I-Hey!"
Dove: "Anyway, seriously though, Fire would win hands down. Her energy blasts would melt the ice in seconds."
Hawk: "Okay! Next one…Sir Justin vs. Jason Blood…"
Dove: "Well we might be able to figure that one out sooner than you think!"
Hawk: "As always Mists owns nothing. And now! On with the fic!"
-Ramifications-
-Wally's POV-
"Ugh…Did anyone get the number of that truck…and that freight train…and the possible jet that hit me," groaned Wally as he slowly cracked open his eyes.
"Wally…" sighed Shayera in relief as she gently caressed his cheek. "I'm so glad you're awake. You really had us worried."
Wally looked up into her pale face and gave her one of his goofy grins.
"Sorry 'bout that babe…" he grumbled as he turned to lie on his back.
"No, Wall-" exclaimed Shayera as she extended her hand to stop him. But she was too late.
"YEE-OW!" he yelled as he felt a strange pain run down his spine. Wally leapt out of bed and stumbled into Shayera's waiting arms.
"What the hell-" Wally heaved as he tried to catch his breath. It was then that he noticed his reflection in the full length mirror.
He froze in shock, staring at himself. Wally slowly let go of Shayera and walked towards his reflection.
"How…how is this even possible…" thought Wally as he flexed the muscles in his back. The wings in the mirror fluttered for a moment and then settled down.
Wally slowly reached around, grabbed his right wing, and gave it a good tug. He cringed as he felt pain radiating through it. He immediately let go and stared at the red feathers left in his hand.
He felt Shayera slowly come up behind him and place her hand on his shoulder.
"You feeling okay?" she asked in a faint whisper.
"Uh..yeah," said Wally with a gulp. "It's…it's just a little disconcerting to wakeup and find that…well you have appendages that you didn't have before."
Shayera snorted at this. "Yeah well…imagine waking up and finding those same appendages gone!"
Wally turned towards her self-deprecating laughter. "Geez, now that is a disturbing thought…" he replied as he felt his wings move slightly as he breathed.
"You're telling me…" grunted Shayera as she scratched idly at her now vacant back.
Wally looked at her forlornly. He hadn't even thought about her pain. To suddenly lose a part of your body like that…he couldn't even imagine.
"So…how are you and the others holding up?" asked Wally, figuring that Shayera's tactic was best. Focus on something else.
"Well…you were the one we were most worried about. I'm okay…just a little shaken up, you know? Batman's been zipping around like he's had twenty espressos…I'm just about ready to give him a good clung on the head with my mace. Clark's been trying to keep Diana calm…and Dr. Fate and Zatanna are back with some new information. We've been waiting for you to wakeup so we could have a meeting," she said giving Wally a quick punch on the arm.
Shayera then grabbed a piece of cloth that was lying on Wally's bed. "I made a t-shirt for you out of the same material I use," she said as she stretched the light blue fabric out really far.
"There are two holes in the back for your wings. Once you have it on, the material will shrink back to its original size," she explained as she tossed the shirt at him.
"Thanks," Wally said shyly as he put the top on.
"Oh, don't thank me. I just got sick of your pasty white chest blinding my eyes," she cackled and leaned against the door frame.
"Ha-ha," he replied as he let the shirt settle over his blue jeans.
"Get on your mask and go to the conference room. Hopefully Fate will be able to shed some light on this whole situation," she grumbled and made her way out the door.
"Shy…" called out Wally before she left, "Thanks for staying with me."
Shayera smiled back and gave him a wink. "No problem, little bro."
Wally chuckled, "Hey, why am I the younger one," as he turned back to face himself in the mirror.
His grin quickly turned to a frown as he touched the polished glass surface with his hand.
He really didn't know why this was affecting him so much…Sure…he'd been changed into worse things before. It really wasn't a totally new situation for him. But for some reason…it stirred in him a sense of foreboding…
Wally just shook away the thought, grabbed his mask, and walked out the door. It was time that he and others got some answers.
-Batman's POV-
Bruce had been waiting in the conference room for what felt like forty-five minutes by the time the others started to arrive.
And of course, who would just happen to be the first one to enter? Wally.
Batman sent him a very irritated glare as the winged Flash immediately covered his mouth trying to contain his laughter.
"Shut it," he growled as Wally took a seat next to him.
Bruce could see the mirth building in Wally's eyes as he watched Batman's leg bounce up and down impatiently.
"Now Batman," said Wally in a gruff voice, "as a leader of the Justice League, you should have better control over your powers. You should present an air of professionalism when attending a meeting with your peers."
Bruce's hands clenched into fists as he tried to keep his building anger under control.
As much as he tried, slowing down to normal speed was still a bit of challenge for him.
He shot Wally the nastiest glare he could muster.
Wally of course, just laughed in his face.
"Not so easy to sit still for what feels like hours, is it Bats?"
Bruce decided to not even acknowledge the question.
As he fumed in his seat, Wally whispered to him as John and "Diana" entered the room.
"You'd better try a bit harder, man. Shy said she's going to brain you soon."
Batman let out a grunt of response and delivered a super-speed smack to the back of Wally's head.
"Ow!" whined the former speedster as he rubbed at the sore spot.
"Remind me to thank Shayera for the idea," mumbled Batman as the others of the original seven, Dr. Fate, and Zatanna took their seats around the conference table.
Clark then cleared his throat and spoke, "If everyone's here. I'd like to get this meeting underway as soon as possible."
Everyone quieted down as Batman quickly added, "I'm afraid we're still waiting for two pe-"
"Traitor! Thou hath no business here!"
"I have every right to be here, just as you do knight!"
Came the yelled argument from out in the hall.
Batman groaned and rubbed at his temples.
The other occupants in the room turned to him in shock.
"Bats…you invited Blood and Justin to the same meeting? Have you lost your freaking mind?!"
"This case deals directly with Morgan Le Fey and they are the two foremost experts on her that we have."
"I know…but still-"
Batman got up from his seat with forced slowness and made his way towards the door.
As he did, the fight out in the hall continued on. "If not for you, Camelot would have never fallen that day! The Battle of Camlann would have been ours!"
"Do not speak of which that you do not know, knight! I understand very well the extent of my crimes. But do not act so piux to me! Morgan flung you into this time period weeks before the final battle, whose to say you are not just as much at fault as I?"
"Wreched beast, how dare you compare yourself to me? You betrayed your country, your king! I fought Le Fey with all my might and never did her wiles tempt me."
"Please…as if you'd understand passonite love of a woman's kiss."
"Hold thy toungue, Blood. Or I shall sever it from thy mouth!"
"All right, that tears it," said Vigillante just as Batman entered the hall. "You two bulls need to stop butt'n heads right this instant, you hear!"
Vigillante stood between Jason and Justin trying to defuse the increasingly tense situation.
"This argument is nothin' but an old battle that can't be changed," said the cowboy as he slowly moved aside. "Now, if both of you gentlemen would kindly get in that confrence room before Shayera decides to tan your hides with her mace, it'd be greatly apprechated."
And with that, Vigillante adjusted his belt with a quick, "See yah, when you get out Justin," and continued to walk down the hall with a tip of his hat.
Blood and Justin looked ashamed when Batman unleashed his coldest stare at them.
"Inside, now."
And so needless to say, the meeting was already off to a rocky start.
After everyone got settled down again, Fate wasted no time getting down to business.
"As most of you know, the encounter with Morgan yielded…some unexpected results."
Everyone gave each other wary looks.
"What Zatanna and I have been able to deduce is that the spell you all were meant to be hit with was Confector de Inlustris."
Jason and Sir Justin gasped hearing this.
"And…just what does that spell do?" asked John as he fidgeted in his chair.
Zatanna to continue for Fate, "Literally, the spell means Destroyer of Light. It is said to snuff out life's very spark."
"What? –Then how-" asked Clark as he and the other tried to come to terms with it's meaning.
"Someone interfered," said Batman calmly. "Apparently, the child I was trying to protect during the battle did something to stop it."
The others seemed nervous when Bruce brought up the child again.
"But, Bats… there wasn't-"
Wally was then silenced by the intensity of Batman's glare.
"Fate and I, did some more tests at the battle site," said Zatanna, drawing everyone's attention to her. "It seems that another magical signature was there. It was extremely faint. If one didn't know what to look for it would have been missed."
The others looked a bit ashamed, but Batman paid them no mind. He knew he'd been right.
"Did you find out what exactly the entity did?" he asked.
Fate and Zatanna sighed and gave each other a significant look.
"This being, whoever she is, changed the very nature of the spell before it took affect," said Zatanna darkly.
Jason stood up and placed his hands on the table. "Th-that cannot be! A curse of that level would be a challenge for even Merlin to manipulate."
"Needless to say," said Fate glaring at Blood, "Someone did, and also managed to erase her presence from the minds of those who she wished not to remember her."
Everyone twitched nervously at this.
"Fate and I have determined that the altered spell that was used on you was-"
"Traductor de Divinitas," said Bruce solemnly.
Everyone stared at him in shock.
"Batman…" said the good doctor as he narrowed his eyes at him. "She appeared to you again…didn't she?"
Batman nodded and replied, "Yes…apparently she is a part of the group that attacked us a few months ago during the training room incident."
"This is very bad," whispered John with a shake of his head.
Bruce grunted in agreement with him, remembering the damage that the one entity had caused. Only Dr. Fate knew everything about his encounter with the cloaked figures in the warehouse. Well…almost everything. He had kept the entity's parting words to himself.
"What are you willing to sacrifice…to keep him alive?"
Batman felt his hand clench as he continued, "She appeared to me just a little while ago."
"She-she appeared, here? On the Metro Tower?" asked Shayera with wide eyes.
"Yes, she- I don't know how to explain it, she froze everyone in place and started talking to me."
The fact that the being could circumvent their security system, seemed to make everyone uneasy.
"Did…she say anything else?" asked Wally as he looked worriedly at Bruce.
"Only that her name was Guide and that she changed the spell to Traductor de Divinitas."
John and Fate shared a significant look upon hearing this information. Bruce's narrowed at them…they knew something they weren't telling him. But that would have to wait till later.
"Zatanna, please explain what else you and Fate discovered about the spell," said Batman, trying to keep the meeting on track.
"Uh…yes, right," she said and she cleared her throat. "Traductor de Divinitas translated means Transferor of Power. Apparently the pattern in which you were hit determined whose powers were transferred to whom. "
"But Fate…I didn't just get J'onn's power. I mean I'm a Martian now," said Diana, gesturing to her alien body.
"I, too…am a little confused by this development," said J'onn, who had taken on Diana's form.
Dr. Fate sighed, "The beam took the following path, from Flash to Batman, from Batman to Superman, from Superman to John, from John to Shayera, from Shayera back to Wally…and finally hitting you and Diana simultaneously."
After taking a deep breath he continued, "What happen to both of you is similar to what happened to Flash. Shayera's flying abilities were transferred into his body and his body naturally adapted to the power. My theory is that when J'onn and Diana's powers started to transfer, Diana's armor became energy and went into J'onn. Then before J'onn's powers totally left him, they transformed him into the form Diana's powers were most accustom to…Diana. Then when J'onn's powers went into Diana, they had her body take on the form that they were the most familiar with, a Martian's…..Does that make sense?"
Diana and J'onn looked at each other for a moment and slowly nodded.
"Yeah...I think so…So we weren't transferred into different bodies…it's just that our bodies have changed form," said Diana with an air of question in her voice.
"Exactly," said Fate as the others began to converse amongst themselves.
Finally Superman's voice cut through the chatter, "Okay, so let me get this straight."
"John has my powers, Shayera has John's, Flash has Shayera's, Batman has Flash's, J'onn and Diana have each other's…and I have…none, right?" asked Clark as he counted off all the changes on his fingers.
"Correct," confirmed Dr. Fate as Clark flopped back into his chair.
"This…is going to be a problem," said Superman with a sigh.
"How so?" inquired Shayera, as her right hand started to glow green again.
"Because, Morgan is out there looking for something that she is deadly serious about obtaining," said Batman coldly. "We will most likely have to fight her again very soon. With each of us having powers that we are unfamiliar with, our chances of winning have become slim."
"Not to mention how badly we got beat this last time, it's more like nonexistent," mumbled Wally to Shayera.
The words, Per unitatem vis, suddenly raced through Bruce's mind and he frowned. He had forgotten that Guide had said that to him. Strange…he could swear that he had heard that phrase somewhere before. Batman thought back to his private school days…
When the answer had dawned on him, he frowned. The others would know something was up if it came from him. But in the end…he guessed he had no other choice.
"Anyway," said Batman with a glare at Shayera and Wally, "If we are going to have any chance for fighting Morgan…we need to familiarize ourselves with our new powers and relearn how to fight as a team."
The others all looked at Batman shocked, but then gradually nodded to one another in favor of the plan.
"But, where can we train that won't draw that much attention?" asked Diana as she crossed her green arms.
Clark's face then lit up as he said, "Oh! I know where we can go!"
"Good," said Batman sending Superman a glare in order to stop him from saying anything further. "We'll discuss it later."
Superman then glanced at Blood and Justin sitting there and coughed, "Yes, of course."
Bruce then turned towards Jason and Justin to address them, "I think both of you should aid Dr. Fate in his search for whatever Morgan is hunting for."
Both Blood and Sir Justin share a look of despise before turning back to Batman's stony expression.
"To catch the witch…Yes, I believe we can set our animosity aside for that," said Shining Knight as he held out his hand to Jason in truce.
"Agreed," sighed Blood as he took the other man's hand and gave it a stiff shake.
"Good," said Batman as he turned towards Zatanna. "Since all of the original seven will be busy for awhile, I think it best to tell the news networks that we're all still recovering from the fight. Zatanna, I would like you, and some select others to run the League's activities while we're gone."
"I- of course Batman."
"Does anyone have any other suggestions?" asked Batman to the others.
"I think we should ask Black Canary and Green Arrow, too," said Wally seriously.
"Agreed," said Diana, "Mr. Terrific should also be brought in."
Everyone nodded in acceptance to this. "Anyone else?" asked Clark as the others began to converse with one another.
"I would like Wild Cat to be on the team as well," said John seriously. "He'll keep them all grounded if he sees something is getting out of line."
"True," replied Batman. "All in favor?"
Everyone of the original seven agreed.
"Very well…this meeting is adjured. I would like to ask that those of the original seven to take a break and meet back here in an hour to discuss training arrangements," said Batman as he quickly stood up to leave.
The others grumbled in agreement and went their separate ways.
Wally seemed to want to ask him something, but Batman sped down the hall before he got the chance.
He knew Wally and the others could sense something was off. But Bruce really didn't want to deal with the others asking questions at the moment. What he really needed was sometime alone to think. ….this was going to be one trying experience.
The second Bruce shut the door to his bunkroom, a voice behind him said,
"How very strange for you of all people to want to train as a team! I had always figured you as more of a loner, Bats."
Batman continued to face the closed door as he gave his response, "Per unitatem vis."
"Peruvian who, what now?" asked the innocent little voice behind him.
"Per unitatem vis," said Batman calmly as he turned toward Guide, who now sat on top of his nightstand. "The phrase you whispered to me before I passed out. I remembered hearing it before…back when I studied Latin in private school."
"Really, now," said Guide sweetly as she propped her hand under chin. "Then please, do tell, what does it mean?"
Bruce frowned at the child and said, "Literally translated it means, Strength in Unity."
"Huh," replied the little girl as she cocked her head to one side, "What a strange thing for me to say…"
Batman's eyes narrowed into a glare. "Look, Guide. I don't know what kind of game you think you're playing here-"
"Game? Who said I was doing any such thing?!" she said in surprise. "I saved you and you're friends' lives back there in case you've forgotten!"
"No…I haven't forgotten. …That's exactly why I'm wary of you."
Guide looked at him with a small pout on her face. As if she was hurt by his words.
But Batman's glare did not waver. "You controlled who was hit with that beam."
"I-what?"
"I saw the way that beam returned back to Wally after hitting Shayera. And the way it hit J'onn and Diana separately. You wanted us to get the powers that we did. Even your lackey from before said, "You and Wally must both understand the extent of his powers." The only reason that person would have said that was because he or she knew that this was going to happen!"
"So?" asked Guide with a small smile.
"So, I don't like being toyed with, Guide," said Batman coldly. "Now, tell me. What are you and the others after?"
"You're saying you don't trust me…" said Guide as her smile became predatory. The look in her eyes was fierce, almost half crazed as she growled, "…good."
Batman backed away startled as the girl let loose a maniacal cackle.
"Good for you, laddie! You're smarter than most mortals I've known. Tis good to be wary of things you do not understand."
Bruce just stared at Guide. This was not the reaction he was expecting.
"You're….glad that I don't trust you?"
This question caused Guide's laughter to suddenly stop. The look that now adorned her face was cold and serious. "Let me make one thing perfectly clear, Bats. ….The Guild and I are not on your side."
"..the Guild?" thought Bruce as Guide continued, "Nor are we with Le Fey. I am here, to offer you advice. Whether you chose to take it, or ignore it is entirely up to you."
Batman's eyes narrowed at this. "The only side you're on is your own," said Batman with certainty.
"Exactly," growled Guide with her feral grin. "The Guild has but one goal…"
"And that would be?" snarled the Dark Knight in reply.
Guide laughed merrily at his outburst.
She then flew up into Bruce's face and lightly touched her finger to his lips. Guide then gently whispered, "That I'm afraid…will have to remain a secret…"
The little girl giggled and quickly flew up towards the ceiling, "Good luck with the training, boyo! You're going to need it!"
And with that, the child disappeared in a ball of smoke and flames as Bruce was left to fume alone.
-Morgan's POV-
"Infernal device!!" she yelled as she hurled the computer screen against the wall. "Curse this world of technology."
Her breathing was labored as she tried to get her anger back under control. Without Mordred's help, she was unable to access the information she desired. Her child understood the ways of this modern world better than she.
Morgan had tracked the Grimorum to an ancient castle in Scotland. The guard she had drained sat lifelessly in the chair next to her as she tried to find a record of the book in the computer database.
But alas, it seemed her search was once again in vain. Morgan took a deep cleansing breath and started to walk towards the door, when she stepped on some rectangular device on the floor.
Suddenly, the guard's small television came to life. "Snapper Carr here," said the visual image. "I have breaking news that has just been released from the Justice League. The world can rest easy tonight because the members of the original seven have been confirmed to be recovering at the Metro Tower in downtow-"
Morgan's head snapped to attention hearing this. "But- that's impossible. They should all be dead! No mortal can withstand that spell…It is possible that they are lying in order to keep peace," thought Morgan as her eyes flashed green.
The TV reporter then cut to a clip of Superman addressing the public, "Yes, we were lucky to get off as well as we did. Several of us need a few days to recuperate but please be rest assured-"
"No, that is definitely the real Superman…then how did-"
Morgan then suddenly gripped the amulet she wore on her chest and gasped. "No! Impossible, how could I have missed it before!" she thought wildly as her mind drifted back to her memories of that day.
She remembered Batman crouching down…trying…trying to protect something. Then…then just as she was about to release the spell…she could feel a presence behind her. She saw the flutter of a dark cloak out of the corner of her eye, just as she released the spell. And then her mind went blank and she felt nothing more.
The realization of it hit her with the force of a physical blow.
Someone had been powerful enough to invade her mind without her knowledge.
Morgan's hand clenched into a fist as she felt her rage built inside of her.
No one made a mockery of her, no one.
And when she found whoever had messed with her mind….that being was going to pay…dearly.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Author's Notes: GAHH! Sorry this chapter took so long guys. I've had a lot of stuff going this month with my birthday and others birthdays that I really didn't have any time. That and this chapter was a hard one to write because of all the explanatory information I had to weave in there. So, overall, you guys got some questions answered and some others popped up!
And now, for next time!
Back to Basics: The original seven go to Ma and Pa Kent's farm in Smallville to train! And end up with quite a few hilarious results! While Morgan deals with an unexpected visitor.
All this and more! Next time, on "The Double Edged Sword."
Now review!