The following is a fanbased work of fiction. Young Justice is property of DC Comics, Warner Brothers and Greg Weisman – please support the official release.

True refinement seeks simplicity.

~Bruce Lee

Dear Mr. -blizzard.

I hope your parents are ashamed of you. You're just as bad as Zsasz was, you know that?

My Mom is in a mental ward, would you kill her too?

-ing kill yourself. If I see you in public, I'll help you along with my 12 gauge.

~Go-Yourself.

Received by e-mail June 2nd, 2010. Anonymous sender. Censored by Unit Adjutant v 6.923. Police Report submitted six seconds after receiving e-mail.

"So…let me get this straight," Doc began, a very dangerous glint shining off of his glasses. "You agreed to a showy, big style debate, one with a lot of posh, pinnace and emotional importance. Then you both went for a jugular and emerged victorious, guaranteeing that not only is a member of your team, who you are trusting your life to, is going to hate you for the rest of his life but also likely pissing off his mentor, one of the founding members of the Justice League. Is that right?"

"Basically, yeah," Mike nodded.

Doc's avatar immediately grabbed a nearby monitor and started slamming his head against it as fast as he could.

"Pointing out a hypocrite's hypocrisy is not an efficient way to make them stop being a hypocrite," Adjutant stated neutrally. "Did he make you angry?"

"He opened the debate by saying I should be thrown out of the only group of peers that I've been able to stand for the past fifteen years," Mike answered with a cold glare. "Yeah, he upset me more than a bit."

"Weren't you already livid about him being a dishonest, self-righteous jerk?" Vulcan asked calmly, lowering his sunglasses to look at Mike.

"Oh absolutely," Mike nodded. "That just…set the pot to a boil."

"Well, you would've been able to avoid that if you had skipped on the whole debate thing and just told him that you had a problem with him lying to Ms. Martian," Vulcan responded, grabbing a cigar from somewhere off screen, clipping and lighting it. "You just made it look like you came up with an evil plan to murder Kid Flash with words and that can't be helping the perception that you're one bad day away from trying to exterminate all life on Earth."

"Are you sure you don't want to introduce us to the League?" Jaina asked with a frown. "I think I might be able to snap Kid Flash out of his disbelief in magic, at the very least."

"It doesn't matter if Kid Flash knows that a portal to hell is going to open and summon the devil," Michael began, shaking his head with a frown. "Or has deluded himself into believing someone is opening a dimensional portal to bring in a giant, hyper intelligent eldritch abomination or something. As long as he gets the gist of it, he can delude himself about the specifics all he wants."

"That just bugs me though," Jaina said with a frustrated groan. "Like, a lot."

"Oh, believe me, I think it's ridiculous too," Mike said with a groan, reaching for the bottle of root beer sitting on his desk and taking a swig. "I can work with him, I don't have to like him. Or think he's smart. Which is a shame because I think we could be great friends."

"How can you be so casual about this?" Doc asked, now that he had put a hole through the monitor with his head. "Can you not see the social dynamics in place? Mike, you're splitting the team up at the center!"

"Aqualad and Robin aren't stupid," Mike responded with a deep sigh. "They both know Kid Flash was in the wrong."

"It's not about whether he was right or wrong," Doc objected. "It's about the fact that he's their longtime friend against a relative new-comer, you. They're probably going to stick with him over you and defend him just on that alone. It's evolutionary social dynamics, Mike, and you can't fight that."

"Your acerbic nature is causing a divide in the team right down the middle," Adjutant pointed out. "Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad are all objecting to your presence."

"So you're saying I should not object to a new member actively being shunned in favor of an old friend or someone lying to a girl to get in on their good side," Mike asked with a glare.

"I did not say anything about your justified objections," Adjutant replied as neutrally as ever. "I am merely saying that your caustic manner poisoned your efforts."

"Oh," Mike let out a breath. "Well, that's true."

"We're not saying you can't or shouldn't stand up to Kid Flash," Doc said kindly. "Simply that you need to do so diplomatically."

Mike started to make gagging noises. "Look, I wasn't trying to convince Kid Flash, that was a lost cause. I was trying to use facts and logic to sway anyone who might've been undecided."

"You mean like you do when you start a flame war on the internet," Jaina said, sounding decidedly less than impressed.

"Exactly," Pyro nodded.

"Who would've been the undecided parties in this scenario?" Vulcan asked. His avatar took off the sunglasses and wiped them off with his shirt.

"The Justice League itself," Mike replied. "Because Black Canary didn't want to call Kid Flash out on anything, I went for a way that would get all of their attention."

"I was under the impression you were joking," Adjutant said with a quirk of her eyebrow.

"Half joking," Pyro replied. "But KF, arrogant SOB that he is, couldn't resist to make the 'beatdown' official. So, I took the opportunity that he provided."

"Look, just stop. Being. Caustic," Doc demanded, slamming both of his hands down on an unseen table.

"No."

"Do you want to get thrown off the team?" Doc pleaded, the glare off of his glasses fading to reveal a very concerned pair of dark brown eyes. "Come on, this is serious."

"I might end up quitting the team, actually," Mike replied with a downcast expression.

"This isn't about Klarion, is it?" Jaina asked with a frown. "That's not exactly something you can handle on your own."

"It's not about handling it," Mike replied. "Even if I didn't mean for it to happen, my presence there gave Klarion an idea. If he starts abducting random people to graft random bits of magical energy to their souls because he got the idea from me, that is a consequence of my actions."

"Which actions?" Vulcan asked. "The part where you helped coordinate a hostage rescue or where you took on one of the most dangerous supervillains on the planet by yourself to protect your teammates secret identities?"

"It doesn't matter what I intended, what matters is what happened," Mike replied with a frown. "That's what Rule Seven is all about and if the Justice League wants to stop me from getting the powerups I need to enforce Rule Nine on a Lord of Chaos, then I'll need to distance myself from the team until it's taken care of."

"That's no call for such a drastic action," Doc laughed nervously. "We don't need to Justice League to give us stuff, really, uh…Jaina, you mind sharing what you and Vulcan have been working on?"

"Gladly," Jaina said, bringing a scroll up to her face to read.

"Oh, have you made any progress on recreating the Power Ring technology like I asked, Vulcan?" Mike asked idly with a smirk.

"Don't be stupid," Vulcan replied flatly. "I think I've made some headway on nanotechnology, but it's somewhat more magical that I was originally anticipating."

Mike blinked. "Wait, really?"

"Really," Jaina confirmed. "A few weeks ago, when you were talking with Ms. Martian about Sympathetic Magic, I got inspired. So, I started trawling the internet and I found some interesting stuff."

"What'd you find?" Mike asked.

"I found some fairly plausible arcane theory, for starters," Jaina started. "But the really interesting bit was a paper theory crafting what Sympathetic Magic would be capable of. Then it hit me, we could use it with the Prometheus Rite."

"You take a big block of metal or trash or something and imbue that with traits from each of the elemental planes," Vulcan added. "Shape-shifting from the Red, Flight from the White, division on a cellular level from the Divide, and so on. You could take elemental energy from them and give it back once you extract the traits you want."

"Did you just say you could make a suit of armor that can transmute itself into whatever I want?" Mike asked with wide eyes.

"Essentially, yeah," Vulcan nodded. "I'm already drawing up blueprints, but they're all theoretical. You understand."

"We'll need to do some testing on the Sympathetic Rites that I've been cooking up, but the principles behind them are sound," Jaina continued. "We could also use these principles to create a super-serum like Doc's been wanting."

"I didn't even think of that!" Doc sounded shocked. "That'd be amazing! Vulcan, could you build a hyperdrive or something and we can extract the massive acceleration and speed for, well, Super Speed!"

"The concept is sound," Vulcan nodded. "But I have no idea how to build a Hyperdrive. What we might do is extract that level of speed from a highly concentrated set of extracted elemental matter from the White."

"We can only do this serum once, right?" Mike asked with a raised eyebrow. "To much chance for conflict with later serums."

"Eh…" Doc gave a wishy-washy motion with his hand. "Maybe. It'd be wise to make the serum as awesome as possible at first so we have more time to test possible upgrades."

"If it even exists, you could also extract the possibility to be 'upgraded' from the Metal," Jaina pointed out. "Since that's where all the Machine elementals are. We'd have to figure out how to extract matter from there, which shouldn't be too hard…again, if it exists."

"Speaking of which, has any of you noticed a type of connection to such a place?" Mike asked with a raised eyebrow. "Anyone?"

"I do not believe we would recognize such a connection if it occurred," Adjutant answered. "So, I do not know. Now, in light of Klarion, theoretically, taking inspiration from you, I must again recommend that you allow us to make first contact the Justice League as soon as possible."

"The longer we remain an unknown, the harder it'll be for us to let them know that we don't want to blow up the world," Doc said with a nod.

"If they're going to deal with Klarion, they'll need all the help they can get," Jaina added on to it. "And if we can help smooth things over with your team, bonus."

"Look, practically, we've gotten about near as far as we can on our own in the internet," Vulcan began to wrap it up. "The amount you've been able to do while only going slightly crazy is impressive but we're at the end. We need more data. Real data. Not mountains of conjecture and flawed theory. We need the League, and so do you."

Mike took a breath. "Fine. Fine! I'll give you guys a call from the cave tomorrow, I'll introduce you to Red Tornado or Black Canary or Batman if he's there."

All four of the AI's let out sounds of relief and happiness.

"Great. Yay. Now if that's that, I'd like to get back on topic," Mike drummed his fingers on his arm. "The best short-term solution to Klarion is Doctor Fate and since he's proven willing to remove the helmet means he can be negotiated with."

"I would just like to remind you that putting the Helmet of Fate on is in direct violation of Rule Three," Adjutant piped up. "But it does allow for provisions for the arrangement to end. Just ensure you can come to a reasonable agreement."

"Magic lessons on the weekends in return for being a puppet," Mike shook his head. "That's the deal."

"Makes sense to me," Doc said, nodding. "Just be careful with the mind-control helmet. We were made to help you, not an old fart that calls himself a Lord of Order."

"I'll do my best."

Hey, -wit,

Drop dead. Criminals are people too, you don't get to decide who lives or dies. Get a life, call the cops like a normal person!

You don't incinerate people, that's cruel and disgusting, - -!

I hope you go to jail for your entire life you piece of -. People like you shouldn't be allowed outside. -ing vigilantes thinking they're Batman or something just because they can kill the mentally ill.

You're sick. You know what, I bet you're going to get Victor's cell in Arkham you brain damaged -wipe. Get cancer.

~[Name Withheld]

Received June 3rd, 2010. Censored by Unit Adjutant v 6.923.

"Recognized, Pyroclasm. B08."

Mike, now dressed up in full uniform, stepped into the cave. Since a Zeta Tube entrance had been mercifully installed in Blüdhaven, it was only a short walk to actually get to the cave now. Of course, it was nearly ten o'clock at night now, so it was likely that this visit would be scrutinized or asked about later.

That was fine, as far as Mike was concerned. He planned on telling them about Klarion anyway, so it didn't matter much that he was putting his stopgap solution in place. Conner and M'Gann were likely watching TV together or something else. They would know he arrived, but Mike wanted to get in and out as quickly as possible.

Of course, it rested in the cave's trophy room. The fact that it hadn't actually been touched in the day since the tower incident almost seemed like a crime. It wasn't even locked behind glass or a cage or anything, it was just sitting on a shelf, right beside Professor Ojo's eye.

Mike simply grabbed the helmet and shoved it on top of his balaclava. Instantly, he was transported to a plane of infinite blackness with a pool on the ground beside his feet showing what he was seeing.

"Well, now. I wasn't expecting to see you."

Mike turned and saw Kent Nelson standing there with his staff in hand. "Truth be told, I didn't even think Nabu would consider allowing you to put the helmet on, but I guess there's a few surprises left in store for an old codger like me."

"I hadn't even considered that," Mike said, extending a hand. "Michael Winter, nice to meet you."

"Kent Nelson," Kent replied. "We've met. And yes, I must say I'm shocked."

"I have no objection to Michael as he is," A deep, great voice echoed in the darkness and above them, in a bright halo of golden light descended the Helm of Fate.

"Are you sure?" Kent asked with a frown. "His soul is…"

"On fire," Michael finished with a nod.

"It is the nature of fire to fuse, refine and create," Nabu replied. "There is no law against what he has done. His intentions are not evil and his methods are orderly. He will do."

"Nice," Mike nodded, looking down. "Did he just teleport me to the Tower of Fate?"

"He did," Kent nodded. "So, what made you come put on the helmet? I thought you had rules against this sort of thing."

"The fact that Nabu was willing to let Aqualad go so quickly is what made me reconsider," Mike replied. "As for why, Klarion appears to have…taken a liking to me."

"Yes, I see the memory," Nabu explained, the vision of which played out transparently over the screen of his vision. "You have done well to call upon the powers of Fate."

"You know, I was expecting a lot more yelling about how I was a chaotic spawn of the devil and how I had doomed the world," Mike replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh no, Nabu can be very reasonable," Kent replied with a nod. "Just very time consuming."

"Well, I figured that he took a lot of time," Michael muttered. "So, here's the deal. I put on the Helmet on weekends or if I have some spare time. In return, I want magic lessons."

"That is not nearly enough time," Nabu responded.

"It's the time that I got," Pyro shrugged. "Your other alternative is to wait until someone comes a long with nothing but time on their hands so they can just sit in their heads all day doing nothing."

"Surely there are others that will make up the time you cannot," Nabu asked. "Kal'dur or perhaps M'Gann might be of service?"

"Eh, I could ask him once I get out," Mike shrugged his shoulders. "I doubt M'Gann would be willing, though. I'm not opposed to others being Doctor Fate, just that magic lessons are the price of my time and I only have weekends available. Also, I will need a time directed when the Helmet comes off."

"That's a smart idea," Kent Nelson mused. "Perhaps that's something I should've done when I was still running around with the helmet on my head."

"Name your timeframe," Nabu stated immediately.

"On Saturdays and Sundays, we have training periods from 1pm to 5pm. My curfew on both of these days is 11pm," Mike explained. "I can get to the cave at nine in the morning and you can do Lord of Order things until noon, when I have lunch. Then I go into the training exercise and put the helmet back on at six. Then you give me back my body at ten so I have more than enough time to go home. That gives you sixteen hours in the week for you to prepare and try to counteract Klarion and whatever else shows up."

"Sixteen hours out of one-hundred and sixty-eight is not very much," Nabu objected. "I understand you have your mortal life to deal with, but I will need more than that. Much more."

"Well, I am also considering plans to grow you a new host," Mike continued. "You know, give you a clone. Actually, how necessary is a soul for you to have a host."

"It is absolutely necessary," Nabu explained. "The point of the bond is to provide framework and context to the binding forces of Order. Without it, I would fall to chaos in such a way that Klarion could not even dream of."

"Too much of one thing throws everything into whack, I got you," Mike nodded. "That makes things a lot more complicated, though. I was hoping to just hand you a soulless human body and call it good."

"I'm afraid it is never quite so simple," Nabu replied. "But I commend your ingenuity and willingness to try, nonetheless. Kent?"

"Yes?" Kent said.

"You failed to bring me a replacement host for many years," Nabu stated. "You will take care of Michael's magical lessons until a better host can be found."

Kent let out a breath. "As you wish."

"Michael, I agree to your terms," Nabu explained. "But there will be consequences if you fall short."

"I'll do my best," Michael nodded. "What standards are you looking for in a new host?"

"One who is magically inclined, if not gifted, and can wear the helmet for forty hours a week at the very least," Nabu explained matter-of-factly. "Then ownership of the Helmet may be passed to them. Until then, the Helmet of Fate will be entrusted to your care."

"Well, that should take care of any doubts that I'll go villain," Mike muttered to himself.

"Today, I must request that we extend the time I have with you by one hour," Nabu said. "It is nearly 10."

"That's fine, we can go to eleven," Mike replied. "As long as you drop me at home afterwards and I can be let off early on Sunday."

"It shall be done," Nabu said.

Kent started to chuckle, shaking his head. "You just came in here and got a straight bargain from a Lord of Order. You know Nabu is going to start asking you for more and more time?"

"As long as he lets me off with less and less time in recompense, I don't see it becoming that much of an issue," Mike replied. "Now, my actual capability to perform magic is kind of…low."

"How do you mean?" Kent asked with a furrowed brown.

"I rely on a potion to cast even the most basic rituals," Mike replied, letting out a breath.

"Is that so?" Kent asked with a raised eyebrow. "How's it taste?"

"Foul," Mike almost spat out. "So, if we could stick to theory for a bit, I'd appreciate it."

"Alright, fair enough," Kent nodded. "If you don't mind me asking, did you just put the helmet on because you wanted any old magic or did you want Order magic in particular?"

"Well, I wasn't really going to be picky," Mike answered with a shrug. "But I am happy it's Order magic, though. Might be exactly what I need."

"How so?" Kent asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I glued a fire elemental to my soul," Mike replied. "You know that. Well, fire has this tendency to destroy, burn down and cause pain, suffering and property damage. But controlled fire can create steel, warm and light a house and even put out a wild fire ravaging a forest. Supplementing what I've got with Order magic would help me stick to the latter category instead of inching into the former."

"Oh, you know…that's true," Kent started to nod with a satisfied smile on his face. "Alright, the first thing you need to know about Order Magic, Michael, is…"

We, the Gotham Committee for Criminal Rights, do hereby write this statement in response to the death of Victor Zsasz, a mentally unwell man who was in no way responsible for his actions.

In respects to the court of Gotham v Winter, we urge all those in attendance to remember that the Death Penalty has been illegal in the state of Connecticut since 1969 and that the death of any those who have been ruled criminally insane would be prosecuted to the full any self-styled vigilante should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The murderer in this case, Michael Winter has been judged sane and in possession of all his faculties and as such, has no right to enforce any form of judgement or punishment upon the unfortunate victim, Victor Zsasz. Zsasz was mentally ill and could not be held to any form of accountability. As such, Michael Winter should have faced imprisonment for his crime against humanity.

We of the Committee find this ruling of Justifiable Homicide to be a travesty of justice and a trampling of the civil rights of the mentally unwell and criminals alike and would call for mistrial, were it not for widespread prejudice against patients such as Victor Zsasz. We call upon Mayor Gill to fight for the Mentally Ill's right to treatment without prejudice, and the courts to abolish Justifiable Homicide from Gotham's lawbooks.

If such laws are not abolished and such behavior is allowed to continue without so much as a slap on the wrist, the safety and welfare of those who are sick and afflicted with mental disease would be in grave jeopardy.

Signed Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel, Dr. Fredrick Ezekiel Eisenhower, June Valery DeWitt, Attorney at Law.

Statement Published April 14th by the Gotham Committee for Criminal Rights. No further Legal action was taken following the Justifiable Homicide ruling on Gotham v Winter.

-Dr. Quinzel is suspected of being mentally unstable herself, while Dr. Eisenhower and Attorney DeWitt both have some evidence that they are corrupt. I have been unable to determine who is paying them or why their organization is being bankrolled but I will continue to monitor their activities. ~Adjutant

Author's Notes: Well, that didn't take long at all. I must say, my muse kind of jumped on me here. Bit of a different chapter here, going over some of the hate-mail that Mike got on a regular basis. It's lightened up considerably since he hasn't been in the spotlight, but he still gets some. Let me know what you think.

Shout out goes out too Melden V, Anders Kronquist, Ray Tony Song, makopaulo, Volkogluk, Aaron Bjornson, iolande, Martin Auguado, Julio, Jiopaba, Hackerham, Tim Collins-Squire, Maben00, Sultan Saltlick, PostLifeSyndrome, DarthBane, Ventari and PbookR. Thank you all so much, you are the best.

Until the next time!

~Fulcon