Chapter Ten

In the Future

Areina woke up feeling groggy and lightheaded. Her head pounded as she lifted it and felt the dry stickiness as she moved-and she couldn't. Her eyes widened with sudden awareness and saw how she was tied up.

Her arms were up above her head and her legs were tied apart, and she couldn't move an inch in either direction. Her arms and legs were hurting already. The room she was in was steel gray in color and the door heavy granite.

She knew she was in trouble when he walked in. It was Ian. Dressed just like Slade; right down to the missing eye.

"I knew you were crazy, but damn." Areina said, hoping to hide her fear.

"You must have me confused with my protégé, Stalker. He died in the Asylum." Ian had Slade's mannerisms down pat as he walked to Areina carefully. "You were foolish to come after the Light, Red Bird. And now you are mine. I had vowed that I would have a Greyson as my apprentice...and now I do."

"SCREW YOU." Areina said.

Ian nodded at her response and from the pocket that his hand was in, he pressed a button.

Areina's restraints pulled her arms and legs taunt and she winced as she felt the tug.

"I have plans for you...apprentice." He then pulled out a thick switch-blade, allowing the light to catch on the metal.

"No way...in hell...I'd join you." Areina said as she fought the pain.

"You don't have to. However, your twins might want you to rethink that."

"STAY AWAY FROM THEM." She shouted.

"We know they went to the past, protected by your demoness immortal cousin. We will eventually find them. And I will enjoy cutting her unborn child from her first."

"Now you're sounding like Mordred." Areina said, trying to keep her mind off the knife and pain.

"Mordred has expressed...interest in her; but he doesn't want her pregnant." Ian ran the knife gently down her left arm from her shoulder.

"You really are messed up. Thinking I'll be your apprentice AND thinking Meygan would love Mordred." Areina said then she spat in Ian's face.

Ian sliced up her arm, the blade going deep from her elbow to shoulder. "I'd watch your tone, apprentice." Ian walked from her.

Areina didn't cry out, but the pain was evident in her face. "You think I can't handle your torture..."

"Eventually...no..." Ian walked to the door to her prison. "I wonder how Batman is fairing with Ra's..." He then left Areina alone.

"You really think Terry will crack...whatever happened to you, messed you up worse than I thought."

"As I said, Ian died in the Asylum." Then he walked away.

"Maybe mentally." Areina said under her breath.

In Another Room

Orin felt so tired…so drained as he felt his energy leave him. The cage he was in had heated bars but he could see the whispery fog of his life force and magic being pulled from him to a gray stone above.

Mordred watched it with a smile on his face as he made sure Orin didn't try to rip the stone from its place.

"Enjoying that, Atlantean." Mordred remarked.

"Where's ...my...wife..."

"Having fun talking to Deathstroke." Mordred said, hoping for a reaction.

"He's dead!" he said with conviction as he grabbed the bars to break them.

But they burned his hands instead.

"The one that killed the earth boy may be...but someone has taken up his mantle." Mordred remarked with a laugh in his voice at Orin's attempts to escape.

"You will...die...for this..."

"I'm surprised you'd say that, aren't you heroes supposed to have a no killing code." Mordred said.

"You...I'll...make…an...exception for..."

"Your wife is rubbing off on you. I've heard she's wanted to make exceptions."

Orin couldn't stay awake anymore and fainted before he could reply.

"We have enough, Mordred, and Ian is done with the fire brat, why not reunite the happy couple." Zach said as he appeared.

"Very well...I thought the insane boy wanted more time with the fire brat?"

"Apparently he's done carving her up…for now."

Orin had come to for a moment and heard that, but passed right back out.

Mordred grinned.

Meanwhile in the Past

The kids and the future heroes were outside of Wayne Manor, enjoying a rare warm sunny day.

Baby Kal and Baby Seri were in bouncers that Alfred purchased for the infants as Da'Shawn was in a walker, rolling over everyone's toes.

Rodney took a yellow rose and placed it into Young Reiena's hair and she blushed. Older Reiena giggled and teased Dick over the upcoming wedding.

Meygan sat in a lawn chair, resting as Olivia and Terra ate the finger foods Alfred kept brining out. Old Bruce had taken the young children to the Wayne Pool and the kids were enjoying the water, especially Young Bruce. Only Young Jason stayed away from the pool, as he wasn't too fond of water…unless he was visiting Atlantis.

Molly and Andrew were playing one-on-one basketball on the manor's court, but neither one was making shots. At one point Andrew flew up and grabbed the ball before it went in the basket.

"No fair!" Molly threw a funnel of wind at Andrew, spinning him around and around before dropping him back on the court.

Back outside in the sun, Meygan she felt an ominous presence watching her. She got up from the chair, and she walked toward the wooded area just beyond the fenced in yard of Wayne Manor.

Rini surfaced from the pool water, looking around to see why she felt the evil presence.

Bruce saw his grandniece's body language and knew something was wrong so he reached up to his comm.

"Reiena, you and Dick get down to the pool, something's wrong." And soon enough the twins confirmed they were on their way.

"Grandpa, you're right, I'm feeling it too, is Rini acting funny?" Molly said over the comm.

Andrew got up from the ground and went to Meygan.

That was when Zacharius' spirit appeared less than 10 feet from Meygan and grinned. "Did you think I'd never find you?"

"You're going to pay when I see you in person." Meygan lowly said.

"I doubt that...because I will kill you before you have a chance to move."

"Try it. I'm immortal." Meygan took a step forward but Andrew stood in front of her.

"He's tempting you; you can't fight, not right now." Andrew said.

"Oh look, you got a bird for a bodyguard. You can't stop me. I'm 1600 years old. You're a child."

Meygan was at her boiling point and her dark aura started to show around her.

Andrew's wings rose in an attack. He locked his arms around her arms, pinning them to her sides. "Don't!"

"So, you need a weak Thanagarian to help you fight me, well I'll just kill your parents in a day, let's see how that gets your goat."

Meygan lunged at Zacharius' spirit and Andrew held his ground. "Let go of me!"

"Meygan, he WANTS you to go after him, he couldn't get to our parents, they're safe...trust me."

"Really? I captured the heroes. All of them. Fight me, child."

Meygan fought to get free from Andrew but he wouldn't give.

"You're LYING." Meygan said. "Andrew, I swear I will make my sister a widow if you don't let me fight him."

"You're not strong enough, you just had Kal."

Molly and Terra gathered the babies and ran them to the pool. Olivia picked up her crossbow and went to Meygan's side.

Meygan still fought Andrew.

"Mommy, please, once you're stronger you can fight him, and I can help, but you have to stay safe till you ARE stronger."

"Rini, he has your cousin Cass, I just know it. He can't have her. Please, leave my mind. Don't go back in."

Meygan began to lower her body temperature as she gathered her power to attack.

"You know, it's too bad that my step son couldn't handle the ONE task I gave him...capturing your cousin. But soon enough I will deal with him AND have my true love back."

Meygan seemed to calm down a bit, but not before launching a dark energy attack at him.

He took the hit and laughed. "Have you learned nothing? Your demon powers are useless."

"I'm coming after you Zach, and I don't care about what happens to me if I break the code, but you WILL DIE."

"You have 72 hours. After that, I start killing heroes."

"Not today! Andrew, don't listen!" Olivia began to sing.

Zacharius' soul could not break Olivia's hold on him.

Olivia stopped singing. "Meygan! Cast a spell! Make him forget!"

"Ereh pirt sih tegrof mih ekam, nevowretni emit."

Zacharius stood very still. Then he turned around and vanished.

Meygan then collapsed from the strain her body had been under.

Andrew picked her up into his arms. "Mey-Mey?"

"I'm ok. Just tired..."

Olivia smiled and lowered her crossbow.

"Meygan, he was lying, believe me; you know the villains always lie." Andrew said, hoping to ease his teammate's mind.

"I just..can't let him...find out...about Cassidee..." Meygan started to fall asleep.

"This isn't good, Andrew. Meygan can't heal if the bad guys come after her." Olivia told him.

That was when a red streak came running up to them and stopped before them.

It was The Flash.

"You guys OK? Where are the kids?"

"Terra and Molly got the kids down to the pool, and nothing happened, but Bruce said that Rini was really tense." Reiena said as she came running back from the house.

"Meygan cast a spell to make him forget but the wizard's 1600 years old. It might not hold." Andrew saw the glow start around Meygan. "She needs to heal."

All of a sudden a tiny dark portal opened and Rini came flying through. "MOMMY!"

Olivia grabbed Rini. "Sweetie, you shouldn't be here." she told the child softly.

"Mommy needed me." Rini said as she started to tear up.

"We need to get everyone inside." Barry replied worriedly.

"Ok..." Rini felt Olivia hug her.

"Aunt Rei, I'm sorry I came here, but I had to be here for mommy." Rini said as she struggled to get to Reiena.

"Sweetie, it's alright, you're a unique little girl, and you knew your family was in trouble." Reiena said as Olivia let Rini go and the multi-powered girl flew to her aunt.

"Let's get Meygan inside. She needs to rest up." Andrew started walking to the Manor.

Three Hours Later in the Future

Kevin Kent was being tortured in the worst way for a Kryptonian. His bonds were made of PURE Kryptonite and he was listening to Meygan's screams from times she had been tortured over the past few years.

It was just as Kevin tried once more (after about 50 attempts already) to break the chains, that someone came into the room, and Kevin was livid with rage.

"So, enjoying my times with your mate...or should I say my future wife." The person said.

"Stay away...from my w-wife!" Kevin growled.

"Aw, what is the big bad alien going to do? Pop my head off?" Mordred mocked as Meygan's screams came over the speakers. "I can't wait for her to scream for me."

"Y-you...won't ever...touch...her!"

"You do know we know where she is. We're just picking our moment to take her. She looks delicious pregnant."

Kevin let out a roar of anger and rage and pulled hard the green chains from the wall.

They gave about two inches, terrifying the spoiled wizard.

"I thought..." Mordred remarked with fear in his voice.

"Do not mess with someone's mate." A familiar voice said.

"The bastard is right. Mess with Meygan and you won't have a chance to try anything." Kevin said and the anger was apparent in his voice.

"Now I see why he's so intent on making mother's killers suffer. Well maybe next time." Mordred said as he and Zach, as it was now revealed, left out.

Ten Minutes Later, The Past

The kids that had been swimming were changed and it was now chaos in the Bat Cave. The kids were ready to go home and take on Zacharius. Meygan was finally out cold, in a healing trance while Alfred was looking after Baby Kal.

Even little Da'Shaun looked ready to fight at four months old.

"Calm down everyone," Superman almost boomed with his voice. It quieted the children somewhat. "Molly, Andrew, who is Zacharius?"

Molly let out a sigh to not only calm her, but at the facts she was about to tell. "He's my uncle on Serenity's side."

Superman was shocked.

"We found out he was alive about seven years ago, when Meygan was pregnant with Rini and Serenity was so happy that he was still alive. Uncle Jason was suspicious of him from day one."

"So was Uncle Damian." Little Jason said. "Bruce and I eavesdropped on him telling the other Bat brothers AND Uncle Conner."

"So why is he attacking you all?"

"He married Morgan La Fay, Grandpa Merlin's arch enemy and the enemy to Camelot." Molly answered.

"But..."

"We know, it was hard to process when we found out that he was the one going after Meygan, Areina...as well as Bruce, Jason and Rini."

Older Reiena was really starting to heat up at hearing all of this.

"Areina and Mathen have the fire aspect handled while we're here, Cass is good with Earth, mom's wind element, and Orin'ahm's water can be a good combination..."

"So what is this I've been told about Omni Wizards, what exactly are they?" Superman asked.

"Omni-wizards are the holders of ALL the element magics, there are others that can hold the four elementals, and then there are some that can also hold special magics as well. I know that my great grandmother had a VERY rare magic called Ice Fire. The way we've heard about them is only an Omni Wizard can defeat and kill another."

Superman flinched at the word 'kill'.

"To stop one from continuing because of a wizard's immortality, it's the only way."

"So... Zacharius is an Omni-Wizard." Old Bruce deduced.

"And so is Mey-Mey." Andrew added.

"She is?" Dick asked. "I'm starting to like that I'm married to Ser. It's getting more interesting by the day."

"And Rini?" the Dark Knight asked.

"I am," Rini said softly. She walked over to Bruce and he picked her up. She stared with her blue eyes at her great grandfather. "I have water and wind magic so far." She then yawned and snuggled against him.

Bruce looked to Molly and Andrew. "And he tried making her rush at him."

"Which was why I held on to her."

"I'm glad you did. But if the bad guys are coming here to fight, then the kids aren't safe." Roy told the senior members of the League.

"Liv is up and about after giving birth. But Meygan is still bed bound. She can't fight if she's that drained." GA told the League.

"We're ready to fight." Wes said as he stood before his team.

"Giving birth to a Kryptonian baby was hard on my sister. She needs more time. And no Wes. Delta isn't ready yet." Molly shook her head to emphasize that.

"We have to protect our parents." Jason said as he stood beside his leader.

"Jay..." Andrew reached into his pocket and pulled out the Lantern's ring. "Delta shouldn't be fighting. Not yet. But we still have my plan B."

The League's eyes landed on the ring. "You're a Lantern?" Roy asked.

"No. This is my grandfather's ring. When I was five, he told me to hang onto it until it was ready to find its new user. Now, at 17, I know why it never left me. I AM the one meant to replace him."

Jon Stewart smiled as he and Hal nodded. "You never put on the ring."

"No. It wasn't time, but the JLU Lantern is in a coma and Sinestro is on Earth. I'm the one that the villains wouldn't expect to have a ring.

"Andrew...being a Lantern is a huge job," Wesley said worriedly. "Think before you do it."

"Well, I wanna save my mommy and daddy and I'll run circles around the bad guys to make them go away!" Iesha cried, folding her arms.

Barry rushed to her and picked her up. "The bad guys have no issues hurting kids. You're safe here."

"I don't wanna be safe!"

"We have to help." Little Bruce said.

"Kryptonians aren't scared of anything." Kara remarked.

"Kara, Bruce...Iesha...you kids can't fight these bad guys." Molly kneeled before Delta Squad.

"If Zacharius was here to make Mey-Mey mad enough to follow him back…that means our parents are in trouble." Rodney reasoned.

Bruce started to move from the chair. But a little bundle with strawberry blonde hair was curled into his side, sound asleep.

Barry's mouth twitched to avoid laughing.

Oliver was smiling at the scene.

"Don't. Even." Batman threatened.

Clark shook his head.

"Andrew... You need to decide on your own. We can train you when you're ready." Hal offered sincerely.

"I do need to make a choice."

"Don't do it because your parents are dying and you want the Light to suffer." Wesley spoke to Andrew gently. "Do it because your Thanagarian and New God blood is screaming against the injustice of it."

The heroes looked at Andrew in shock.

Rini let out a gentle snore before throwing an arm around Batman's waist.

Oliver and Roy started laughing.

"What about Uncle Jay...he was the first one captured, he wouldn't have stayed away this long unless that was the only answer." Jason remarked.

"He did it to protect you kids...so no fighting with the Light." Molly affirmed.

"Aaaaaaawwww" went the kids.

"Should the League here find a way to get to the future to help?" Roy asked.

"We don't even know what took down our league." Molly protested.

"Gear and Syfon were working on it, but I doubt they have a way to get to us they don't want to risk the Light finding out WHERE we went in the past." Andrew remarked.

"But Zach found us." Brie said as she was jumping up and down, unable to contain her energy.

"True, but Meygan's spell should be able to keep him away for a while." Molly reassured her little sister.

"We should continue this conversation tomorrow." Batman picked up the sleeping Rini and held her close. "We will protect these children until we can learn about what is happening in the future."

"I'll call Doctor Fate. He might help." Superman offered.

Just then all of Delta let out yawns.

"Nap time!" Andrew announced.

"But we want to help *yawn* plan." Jason said as he rubbed his eyes.

"You can do it tomorrow." Old Bruce reached for Young Jason. "After the nap, you all can play with the robots."

"YAY!" Jason sleepily shouted.

The kids stampeded up the steps and Andrew got out of the way.

"Jason sure loves fighting the robots." Bruce said with a curiosity in his voice that Molly picked up on.

"It's because you let him whenever he stays with you. Areina had to get a couple for her house so Jason didn't get too bored when Bruce practices with his magic." Molly said.

"I'll tuck them in. I'm sure Rini would like a bed."

Batman headed up.

"I can see that the kids are growing on him." Barry teased.

"They do. I better get Terra ready for her daily shot." Molly headed up.

"We'll come back tomorrow." Superman headed for the Zeta Tube.

Barry, Oliver, and the Lanterns followed.

The Next Day

The kids were playing in the backyard of Wayne Manor, being carefree as the swings, slides and jungle gym became their favorite toys.

Bruce and Alfred watched them from the study window, and the children's laughter reached them.

"It feels good to hear children's laughter again, Master Bruce."

Bruce let a small smile stay on his lips.

Rini went down the slide again and as she reached the bottom, she stood up slowly. She felt watched again.

She looked around slowly, her blue eyes showing a red tint to them.

Rodney noticed it as he sat on top of the jungle gym. He shrunk down and flew over to Rini. He stood on her shoulder.

"Rodney, get the others inside for me." she whispered faintly.

"What's going on, Raven?"

"He's back…and Mommy's too tired to take him on, she can't do like she did when he came the first time." she explained.

"Who?"

The flames shimmered and danced into existence as a body formed.

Rodney immediately flew off, and attacked it with stingers.

A hand came out and swatted him to the ground hard.

Rodney grew to his normal size as he hit the ground.

"Guardian!" Young Jason tried to take the fire into himself and realized he couldn't. "That fire's magical!" he cried.

The kids were in a panic...all but Marik who looked at his twin sister, then at Wesley. "Double M, get them out of here. Rini and I got this!"

Marik leaped from the jungle gym effortlessly and went to Rini's side.

Using a telekinetic bubble, Wesley gathered everyone up and moved them to the kitchen door. He looked back as Zacharius exited from the flames and the young Martian mentally called for Molly.

Zach smiled as Rini stared him down, hands fisted up as Marik held out a birdarang.

"Here you brats are... Did you think you all could get away from me?" he asked as he itched to use his spells on the two budding wizards before him.

"You go away!" Rini cried, her voice suddenly strong and loud, her eyes becoming redder.

"Now now, elfling...that's no way to talk to your uncle."

Marik threw up a dirt wall between them. "You're no uncle of ours! You made my mom cry!" Marik yelled.

Zach waved the dirt wall away, parting it as if it was made of sand.

Rini formed a fireball in her hands and held it.

It was so small that Zach just busted out laughing. "Oh dear! A teeny, tiny fireball! Whatever will I do?" he said, mockingly.

The tiny fireball then grew to the size of a meteor and the tiny Omni wizard threw it.

Zacharius barely got out of its way as it scorched a section of trees before dissipating. "Why you little-!"

Marik then opened the Earth under Zach and he fell in, not expecting it. The little Earth wizard then hurriedly closed it over him, but Zacharius flew out before it closed and he glared at the young heroes before him. "Fine then! You want to be rough! You got it!"

Then a batarang smacked into Zacharius from behind. He glared behind him.

Batman stood there, with Flamebird and Nightwing. All three were ready to attack.

"Do you enjoy suffering so, Batman?" Zach cried in an almost disbelief tone.

"Leave the children alone." Batman warned.

Zach sent a wave of fire at them.

Reiena tried to take those flames into her and they didn't obey!

"ZACH; I owe you for the hell you've put my family through in your time." Reiena said as fire was building around her.

"So you do, but you'll die before you get the chance." Zach said as the fire grew even closer.

Rini reached for those flames and redirected them back at Zach but he absorbed them before they did anything.

Rini looked nervous.

Zach then sent a wind at the heroes and blew them aside and vines from the trees wrapped themselves around the three, trapping them.

"Fight me like a man, Zach, I'll show you that my family is capable of." Reiena called out, but the vines only tightened around her.

Molly then arrived and she stood in front of Marik and Rini. "Go away." she told Zach.

"Awww, where's your big sister, healer? Oh that's right; she's WEAK and won't fight me. Pity…I want the elfling."

"Drop dead." Molly told him.

"How about you take your own advice." Zach said, and with that he opened the Earth and before any of the young heroes from the future could react, they were sucked into the opening.

"NO." Flamebird screamed and she heated up so quickly that she was free of the vines and flying at this wizard.

"So, this time's fire controller wishes to die...GOOD, maybe I won't be plagued by the fire brat after this." Zach said and he turned with water forming around him.

"You better not have hurt my daughter." Flamebird cried out as she reached Zach and started into hand to hand combat.

While Flamebird had Zach distracted, Rini was able to use her demon powers to fly herself and Marik out of the trench while Molly pulled wind around her to float back up.

When the third generation wizards landed, Marik was quick to run to his father and grandfather and touched the vines to gain control of them and they released the captured heroes.

"Marik, we've got this, you get Rini and head into the house." Dick said to his future son.

"Rini's really the only one that can take him...he's an Omni wizard and only another Omni can fight one right."

Dick knew his future son wasn't going to listen, so he nodded. "Alright, just keep her safe."

Marik got back over to his niece and sister.

"Rini, you have to go." Molly said as she made sure little Rini was okay.

"No, I'm staying; I have to fight in mom's stead." Rini stated with a strong, NOT quiet voice.

"Mol, she's right, we need an Omni right now."

Rini glared at Zach and her magic began to overflow within her.

From the ground shot up tree roots and they trapped the evil wizard in place.

He merely smiled as the small girl panted. "Not bad...for an elfling."

Then the roots were burned away and he swatted Reiena back with a gust of wind.

Molly countered with hurricane-force winds, all directed at him. "You're not getting my sister!"

"Your precious sister is no match for me!" Zach then dissipated the winds and smiled as he formed fiery chains in his hands.

Molly grew nervous and took a step back.

He sent the chains at the three wizards.

But the chains stopped midway. They then broke apart and formed four spheres of magic as Meygan arrived by water wave.

"So I'm no match for you, huh?" she remarked. She sent those spheres back at Zach, then grinned as she uttered a spell that made his eyes go wide and listless.

"You won't remember finding the kids here. You will return to your time and tell the Light that you didn't find them. You will never remember being here for about five years."

Zacharius nodded, then vanished via flame.

Then Meygan fell to her knees, weak from the spellcasting.

"Mommy!" Rini ran to her mother and hugged her tight.

"You just gave birth. Kal nearly killed you! You have no business being out here!" Molly cried.

Meygan flipped her sister off. "He was toying with you three. I had to put an end to it."

The present day bats were alright, but Reiena was ready to go to her daughter's time and hunt down Zach for attacking.

"It's alright, Aunt Reiena, thanks for keeping him distracted for me." Meygan said.

"How could I not absorb the fire he sent at us?" Reiena asked.

"Areina had that same problem with magic fire before she got her amulet from Grandpa Merlin. Because the basis is different between Meta and Magic fire, they can't be controlled by the other." Meygan answered.

"Oh….right." Reiena said.

"I hope that the kids kick his ass." Dick said with anger in his eyes.

"They've had good training, Dick." Bruce said as he through about how the kids were four years ago (present day time).

In the future at The Light's Base

A portal opened up in the meeting room and Zacharius fell through. He slammed into the table, breaking it in the middle and it collapse to the floor.

As he got up, Mordred came running in. "Zacharius! What happened? Did you find them?"

Zach paused, tilted his head. He then said, "No. I used a 5 year span. Nothing."

Mordred knew something happened. The Master's voice was flat, no emotion.

"They did something to you." Mordred told Zach.

"No they didn't." Zach cried with a little emotion. "How could they if I didn't find them…."

"Cassidee got away. She's growing stronger." Mordred told him, so the subject of Rini and Meygan was dropped for the moment.

"Then I will track the traitor. You go help Ra's. He's my strongest ally...for the moment."

Mordred watched Zacharius leave. "I'm going back for those two."

"Like you'd be able to find them, they are too well hidden. NOW DO AS I SAY." Zach shouted back.

Mordred watched Zacharius go, then he left to find Ra's. "Fine. But after a while, I'm going to look for them myself."