Well, I've finally done it. I've completed my first fanfiction! Mad props to everyine who stuck through and read it till the end. I just have some loose ends to tie up, and then I'm on to something new. So, without further ado, for one last time, here is Lightning Strikes!

Epilogue

FawcettCity

Well, I guess you can say that the threat of the New Empire was no more. Of course, the Empire was created for the sole purpose of being destroyed, but that's beside the point. After they beat the Empire, our motley crew of a super-team looked around, and looked at each other. With everything that happened, they had reached a realization: it's time to go home.

Which is what they did. Shazam and Raven traveled back with Danny, Sam, and Tucker. They landed down on the outskirts of FawcettCity. Sam was the first to say something.

"Let's never do this again. And if we do, let's do it on our own terms."

"Agreed," everyone said at the same time.

Moment of awkward silence.

"Well," Shazam said, walking off, "it was nice meeting you all."

"Wait," interjected Danny. "Shazam, Billy, whoever you are, just wait."

He stopped in his tracks.

"We need to talk. Who are you really?"

Shazam looked over to Raven, who nodded her head.

"Shazam." The magic lightning came down, changing him back to Billy Batson. He walked back over to them. "My parents died when I was real little. I was put in a foster home, but…it didn't work out. They through me out on the streets, and I had to make it on my own. I've been homeless for most of my life; it hasn't been that long, but no one deserves a day of what I've been through. Especially not a kid. But, I never gave up hope. I swore that I wouldn't become corrupted by the constant evil around me. Raven here was there for me. She would sneak out of her boarding school dorm every morning and every night to see me. I prayed every night to whoever would listen; God, Allah, Jehovah, it didn't matter who; and I'd pray that I would find a family that would care.

"Turns out, someone was listening after all. The Wizard was the then keeper of the Rock. He saw me, and saw that I had a noble and pure heart. You see, he was dying, and he wanted to sire a new protector. He chose me. He gave me his power, his authority, his name; and I can claim them, all by saying the title he passed on to me: Shazam."

Danny, Sam, and Tucker ducked, expecting the lightning, but surprisingly, nothing happened. Billy laughed. "Don't worry, there's a difference between calling down the lightshow and just saying the name."

They all took a sigh of relief. Then Tucker said something. "That's…an amazing story Billy. But, you-Shazam is always upbeat: is that just a ploy?"

"Just a ploy? What do you mean by that? Of course I'm smiling; I'm smiling because, well, look where I am. I'm a superhero! A year ago, I was a street urchin, a cast-off kid that society wanted out of its sight. But then, I got the powers that I have, and next thing you know, I'm part of something, people look up to me, I found my little sister Mary..." he started to tear up. "And-and I have a family. Yes, a lot of things happened in my yesterdays, but today is ripe for the picking."

Sam, overwhelmed with emotion, stepped forward and hugged Billy. He was comforted by her grasp, him in the arms of a this beautiful, smart, daring girl.

"Group hug!"

"Tucker, no."

"C'mon, bring it all in."

"Billy…"

Billy ignored Raven's complaint.

AmityPark

Meanwhile, Vlad was desperately trying to find a way to this "Rock of Eternity". "Computer, search through all databases in the U.S for anything regarding the Rock of Eternity."

"Searching. Searching. Searching."

The face of Maddie Fenton, co-owner of Fenton Works and Danny's mother appeared on the screen. But never fear, it was only a program developed by Vlad, a truly sick pervert who hap a borderline psychotic obsession with her.

"Master, I am still hacking the databases, but I have found a sighting of Valerie Gray."

"You have? Well, where the hell is she?"

"Outside your office door."

She knocked on the door.

"Mr. Masters? It's me? Valerie."

"Oh dammit." He transformed back into human form, and ordered the computer to hide itself in the wall. He quickly ran to his desk and sat down. "Come in, come, come."

She walked inside, her suit still on, but her helmet not.

"So, how was your…escape?"

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Your help that you got; what the hell?"

"My help?"

"Yeah, some warlock for hire came with two of my classmates, saying that a ghost approached him with them as hostages, threatening to take him to the Rock of Eternity or he'll kill them."

Oh, so his plan worked after all.

"I thought were the good guys."

"Oh we are, we are. I had no idea that he would do such things. I can assure you that my business with him is done. And I will make him regret his actions, "

"I have no doubt of that, but that's not what bugs me. Turns out, Black Adam was only trying to protect his country. He played both us, and those he teamed up with, but if he didn't, things would be way worse."

"Yes, Adam's intentions are pure, but it does not excuse his socialistic regime."

"I don't think you're getting this all Mayor Masters: it's not that black-and-white. If a dictator can play the role of a hero, what does that make those who try to stop him?"

"I don't think I am understanding this."

"What if what we're doing isn't the right thing? What if…"

"What if Danny Phantom really is a good guy?"

Valerie stopped talking.

"Now don't try to argue with me; it will only reveal your foolishness."

She left with her head down. As she was walking out, Amanda Waller was walking in.

"Hello again."

"Ah yes, Miss Waller. So, have you ordered your squad to follow my commands."

"Yes I have, and given a little bit of consideration, I am now looking forward to our new business partnership."

"I'm glad you're more complacent."

"Yes. The squad is awaiting your orders Mr. Plasmius."

"Tell them to…What did you just call me?"

"Oh I'm sorry, did I say Plasmius? I don't know how I must've gotten you mixed up with him. I've been reading through this, and he's been on my mind," she plopped a folder on his desk. He looked inside, and discovered documents that linked the appearances of Vlad Plasmius, and Vlad Masters' headways into big business.

He looked up at her. "How…?"

"I have my ways. I got all of this in 28 minutes and 10 seconds exactly. You're not slick."

He laughed nervously. "I guess we're even now."

"No, we're not. You don't get it do you? I got my hands in everything; you leak what you have on me, and I'll have every news source in the country come up with counter-claims that will prove you irrelevant. And even if by some miracle that doesn't work, and I have to go to Supreme Court, the ruling will be that whatever I've done was for the greater good. They will come to that ruling regardless of whether I have the jurors on my payroll or not. Now if I release this on you, it'll be a different story. Everything you've ever done has been only to satisfy your own selfishness. You're not on my level; you never were, and you never will be. Get it through your thick skull: you are my bitch."

Valerie would've loved to see this. But unfortunately for her, she was flying through downtown on her board, lost in thought. She was unsure of what she stood for. Was Vlad really half the man he painted himself to be? She thought about the people he associated himself: staunch, rich, white men. What had any of them done for anyone who didn't fit inside their narrow-minded ideas? Yes, Vlad was paying her for her services, so she could help her dad support themselves in a way that wasn't illegal. But what had he done on a larger scale for those who were born in poor, working-class families? What had he done for those like her, who grew up in neighborhoods with drugs and drive-bys?

She landed down on the rooftop of a building. Another thought entered her mind. He remembered the thick smell of cigarette smoke on John Constantine; Lucky Strikes to be exact. Her dad used to smoke them. She smelled the same Lucky Strike smoke on Vlad. Was he right?

She sensed that she wasn't alone. She threw a punch in the dark, using her other senses to determine where her opponent was. She punched and kicked, but all her blows were blocked. Her opponent stepped into the light. Speaking of the devil, there he was, Deathstroke, as if he was waiting for her the whole time.

"Slade?"

"Yes, Miss Gray. TisI. I have to congratulate you; you have a damn strong punch."

"What do you want old man?"

"It's not about what I want. You're upset about something. It has something to do with Vlad. Have you come to accept the truth?"

"Don't even start that again. I don't care what you say, Mayor Masters isn't a ghost villain."

"Alright, I won't say anything about that. But, I get the feeling that your patience with him is nearing the end. He may make claims that he's making AmityPark a better place, but he's a liar, a fool, and a hypocrite. You're seeing that, and you don't know how much more of his crap you can take."

"So what if I am?" She turned to him. "Yeah, he's all those things, but I don't have any other choice than to get over it. I may not like him personally, but I respect him on a professional level."

"I understand. You don't have to agree with someone else's opinions to get something worthwhile out of knowing them." He turned to her, palm out. "Now, let's try that again."

She smirked. "Only if you think you can handle it."

So we've reached the conclusion of our journey. The many characters that you've seen have been affected by the events of this story. This is a textbook definition of "the end". But does it really end? No. Just like that song says, "every new beginning is marked by some other beginning's end". So whenever it seems that the storm is over, lightning strikes.

The End

"I know who I want to take me home". Isn't that a fitting song? Anyway, that's all. P.S: Be on the lookout for any new stories from me