Kingdom of Krypton
Night
It was the beginning of a night of intrigue.
An eerie green supernatural light ominously hung over the kingdom. High in the sky, there were signs of what had seemed to be a small volcanic eruption, as a plume of green smoke from somewhere inside the city had begun to rain debris down on the town. Strangely, there had been no sound at all from the explosion.
Across the city, the few citizens on the streets were running for their lives. Burning hot boulders and debris were falling haphazardly. Waking residents began to rush to loved ones, scurry for cover, and warn others of the mysterious danger.
Everything had been thrown into chaos.
On the Kent farm, joyous laughter resounded from the main house. The dinner table was festive, upbeat and jovial. The hours had been filled with family bonding.
Princess Diana just couldn't get enough of Ma Kent's wonderfully humorous stories about her young son Kal. They were engaging, involved … and endearing. On more than one occasion, Diana caught herself inadvertently touching Kal's hand or arm as they laughed together. Again, like on that first night, the sensations of simple true touch were bonding them on a level she had never experienced before.
Then, suddenly, in the midst of the three of them sharing another joyous round of laughter, King Kal-El stood suddenly, holding up his hand to halt their laughter.
"What is it?" asked Princess Diana.
"Civilians," said Kal. "Screaming. I have to go."
"I'll go with you, Kal," Diana said quickly.
"Be safe!" Ma Kent called after them.
As the two of them rushed toward the front door, Ma Kent stood up behind them. She watched them intently, noticing how they moved in unison as one. Time slowed for her, and slight tears welled in her eyes.
She could go be with her Johnathan in peace now. Her son had a woman strong enough to always be by his side in battle. He wouldn't be alone ever again.
Seconds later, King Kal-El slammed onto the ground in the center of the city, with Princess Diana landing by his side a moment later. Even in the midst of running for safety, many of the townspeople hollered in adoration at the very presence of their Saviour King. As long as he was alive, they knew they would ultimately be safe.
"King Kal-El!" called Barry, constantly moving instantly from place to place helping the frightened civilians. "I've been getting people out of harm's way, but these boulders just keep coming!"
"Flash! Go get Hal the cook at once!" King Kal-El called back to him. "Tell him that I said it's time to bring the ring!"
Flash was out of sight only a moment later.
"Kal-El," said Diana. "We need to find the source of all this."
"Diana, cover your eyes," Kal said as his own began to glow a deep red hue while he hovered up a few feet into the air.
Looking up at the sky, King Kal-El let loose a blinding burst of heat, covering the nearby part of the kingdom and incinerating a wave of the falling boulders. However, it was only a momentary respite. There was yet another wave, although smaller, still poised to fall upon the city.
Landing beside Diana a moment later, King Kal-El stumbled slightly. Diana quickly took hold of his arm to steady him.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," he answered. "My heat vision can be very draining for me. Nothing major."
"But, your skin is slightly pale," Diana told him, carefully reaching a hand up to feel his forehead. "You're sweating, and you have a near deadly fever."
"The effects seem to have been much more intense this time than I've ever felt before. This is unusual. Don't worry. Help is on the way," he said, once again hovering up into the air.
Then, help arrived with an announcement.
"Help is here! Hal Jordan, the best cook in all the lands, at your service, O King!"
Standing beside Barry was a brash, brown haired playboy, somehow seeming to exude overconfidence and buffoonery simultaneously.
"Hal!" called King Kal-El. "We need a protective net over the city! Now!"
At his words, Hal extended his right hand, and the large ring he wore began to emit a light green glow. Then, a massive net formed in the sky overhead, catching the next wave of falling debris. Hal smiled as he obeyed his orders.
"He's … just your cook?" Diana asked Kal in surprise.
"One of my contingency plans," Kal answered. "I have several. I've been gathering them for battles just such as these. Flash, bring Zatanna at once."
"Woo hoo, I call dibs on you," said Hal, blatantly staring at Diana as he quickly stepped over toward her with his hand extended. "Hi."
Then, Kal landed between Hal and Diana. Kal gave him a calm assertive stare. Hal lowered his hand.
Diana didn't respond. She didn't want to admit the fact that some part of her actually liked Kal's being a little possessive over her. He truly had a propensity for making her feel things she had never before imagined.
"King!" Bruce suddenly called out loudly as he came swinging down from a grappling line with Selina in his arms. "You must withdraw immediately. I recognize what may be happening here."
"What is this?" asked Diana.
"Knightwing and my other charges witnessed green staining on the night King Zod and Queen Faora were assassinated, before the substance seemed to fade away without a trace. The King and I were away that night, but I trained them to make expert observations," Bruce told her. "This time, the assassins have certainly come to target The King."
"I've been awaiting this night," King Kal-El said strongly. "If I can solve this mystery, perhaps I can ensure the safety of the people. This is an opportunity we have to turn for our good."
"No, Kal-El," Bruce said forcefully. "We can't take the risk. Our best countermove is to remove you from their path."
"If they're trying to kill you, we can't lose you," followed Selina.
"What is done in the dark shall be brought to the light," he said. "I have to be the bait. If they're coming after me, we'll be able to see them."
"Wait, Kal, they're right," Diana said, stepping closer to Kal to garner his full attention. "The kingdom needs you. The world needs you."
"The kingdom. The world. What about you, Princess?" Kal asked boldly, lowering his voice for only he and Diana.
Diana hesitated, but she knew what was needed to get him to listen, and she prepared to stop holding back her heart in order to get through to him.
"Kal, I …," she began as she placed a hand on the center of his chest.
"Great King, I'm here," Zatanna's voice called out to interrupt them as she left Barry and rushed over to Kal's side to take his muscular forearm in both her hands.
"Zatanna, use your magic," King Kal-El told her quickly. "Find the source of this debris. We have to locate where the enemy is coming from."
"At once, My Lord," The Mistress of Magic answered quickly. "May I draw upon your immense strength to heighten my abilities?"
"Yes, Zatanna," he answered. "Hurry."
With a slight glance of jealousy over at Diana, Zatanna reached up to place her hands on the sides of Kal's face. She closed her eyes, drew in what only another woman would recognize as a sigh of contented fulfillment, and began to slowly spin around against his massive body. Despite herself, Diana looked away for a moment. The wholistically feminine side of the warrior woman Diana knew for sure that all the physical contact certainly wasn't absolutely necessary for this spell to work. Diana was unable to deny that she had also become somewhat possessive over Kal as he had over her. Unfortunately, she couldn't come between Kal and Zatanna the way that Kal had come between she and Hal. After a few moments which seemed far too long to Diana, Zatanna ceased her spin facing toward the southern region of the kingdom.
"King Kal-El, there is something ailing you," she said gravely, instantly turning to gaze up at him with fear in her eyes. "Your very essence is being corrupted and corroded. From what I have learned from Luthor's alchemistic medicine, I believe he would say your cells are decaying."
"The green substance," said Bruce. "It's starting to cover everything. This is their attack strategy. Kal-El, you must withdraw."
"Where are they, Zatanna?" asked Kal.
"There, My Lord," said Zatanna, pointing toward the south as she performed one final spin against him.
Raising her hands to the sky, several speckles of blue dust arose from her fingertips and drifted on the wind to permeate the air. Some distance away, ironically not too far from The Fortress itself, a tower of rock began to fade into view. The physical structure appeared to be ethereal, as if it were only partially attached to this realm of existence. Although the tower appeared somewhat small and unassuming, the one dark doorway at the bottom of it seemed ominous and foreboding.
"What … What is that?" asked Selina, the dread in her voice obvious.
"It is a stronghold of darkest magic," explained Zatanna as she too turned to stare at it, the fear in her words also evident. "It has always been here with us, hidden in plain sight. It exists between realms, that's why the explosion made no sound to alert us. The fact that it has revealed itself now can only mean deadly intentions. The concealment of it denotes a power far greater than any I've ever encountered. All whom enter into its gate shall be overcome by great peril. This is quite literally completely out of my league."
At her words, Kal grinned. The time had come. It was time to unite.
"Justice League!" Kal called loudly.
At his call, the skies lit up. Soaring in from the east came Victor and Mari. Using her gift to draw upon the abilities of the animal world, Mari hovered on the winds as an eagle, carrying Victor in her arms with the strength of a bear. Flying in from the west were Kara and Karen, cutting through the air at breakneck speed to land with the group.
Now together back to back in a circle, stood Kal-El, Diana, Bruce, Selina, Victor, Mari, Barry, Hal, Kara, Karen and Zatanna.
This was the dawn of justice.
No sooner had the team come together than a new set of adversaries arose against them almost instantly. Materializing into the realm were an army of large spider like crab creatures, their hideous bodies coated with traces of the glowing green substance. Their razor sharp pincer like legs could be seen phasing in ominously from around the edges of buildings and dark alleyways.
King Kal-El turned, quietly staring at the stronghold of evil in the distance.
"League, always, pursue The Truth, procure justice, and protect liberty for all," he said solemnly.
With those final words, King Kal-El soared at supersonic speed toward the temple.
Behind him, Kara and Karen prepared to follow. Then, suddenly, both of them dropped to the ground, writhing in torturous agony. Their skin began to turn deathly pale as if the life was being drained out of them, and an intense burning sensation seemed to make slight tendrils of steam emanate from every part of their bodies.
"The green spore is affecting them," Bruce said quickly. "It must be deadly to all Kryptonians. We need to get them to safety."
"Lead The League, Bruce," Diana told him. "Keep the
people safe. I'll protect The King."
Then, Diana took off like a shot toward the small citadel, following after Kal-El.
No one could be prepared for the trials which awaited inside the tower ...