Chapter 23: Civic High

September 4 2026 – Civic City, Pennsylvania: The Treehouse, 6:00 am

"Attention! Attention! The Team is needed in the Mission Room!" A robotic voice rang throughout the Treehouse. The blaring of the voice led a drone of eight teens towards the missions room where they found their two leaders wide awake and dressed in school uniforms.

"You do realize what time it is? Do you people even sleep?" Tony complained as he slumped down into one of the chairs around the round table with an annoyed glare. His complaining caused the rest of the teens to start voicing out their feelings about being woken up so early.

The buzz of complaints grated on Nightwing's nerves, never in his life had he ever dealt with such unruly and undisciplined children before. Even if he had he wouldn't have developed patience for them. He thought as the clearing of his throat cut through the room, which brought silence to the room. "I do realize what time it is, it is exactly two hours until your first day of the high school that the League has register you in; Civic High," Nightwing announced while shooting Tony a bat glare that made the poor boy pale over as he straightened up in his seat. When he was done commanding respect from soldiers he looked to Abby, who stepped in front of him to finish off the debriefing.

"You will find your uniforms along with your assigned grade and classes in the changing bay, and report back in the garage hanger after breakfast at 6:30 sharp. In the garage you will be handed a backpack filled with all the necessities that will get you through the school term. Also all of you need to arrange a suitable means of transportation that will take you to school and back from now on," Abby informed before stepping back into her place beside her brother.

"Before I dismiss you to get started on your preparation for today. While each of you are at school you are to blend in by any means necessary, as long as, your grades are maintained. An example of deviating from this order is any sort of display of superhuman abilities in front of your classmates. Does anyone have any questions?" Nightwing asked only to suppress a sigh when he saw Bart's hand fly into the air. Before the young boy could voice his question, Damien raised a hand to stop him.

"If you are unsure about whether your course of action will comprise your superhero identity, discuss it with your leaders that have been well versed in what is acceptable behavior. If anyone is caught breaking this rule will result in immediate termination from the Team. Does everyone understand this?" Nightwing demanded more than questioned. All the teens that sat in front of him answered with a nervous 'Yes sir', before he declared the meeting adjourned.

As Damien watched his team file out of the room he wondered if the idea of having them attend the same school would actually work. I guess for Superman's sake it better work. Damien thought with a slight grimace, as he remembered how his argument got shot down in a single blow once Superman voted against it.

"Grrr, I can't believe I have to wear this ugly uniform! And why does it have to match with Abby's anyway?" Donna whined as she glared at the uniform that was hung in front of her locker. The uniform consisted of a white button up blouse, a forest green tie and sweater vest, and a black blazer, skirt, high knee socks, and shoes.

"Do you even know the meaning of uniform? It means everyone's going to be wearing the damn same thing so deal with," Lian answered her with annoyance heavy in her voice as she took one more glance at her assigned school schedule before walk out the door for breakfast.

"I don't even understand your problem with her, but all I can say is that you better watch yourself girl. If your not careful Abby could get your ass kicked off this team in a blink of an eye. Not that it would be a bad thing, anyways Lori let's go before Bart eats all the food again," Iris warned as she took hold of Lori's arm and rushed out of the changing room. Leaving Donna by herself to grumble at the whole situation.

Why is it always Abby this and Abby that? Especially with mother, even though she rejected her. I should be the one getting all the attention; after all, I'm mother's legit child and heir to her thrown. If only she wasn't so perfect…if only she wasn't on the Team. As that last thought came to Donna's mind she was reminded of the words that both Nightwing and Iris had said that morning. A mischievous smile played at the edges of her mouth as she thought of different ways to make sure she got rid of the thorn in her side permanently, while putting on her school uniform.

"What a wondrous day, the start of a new academic season for the youth," Me'gan exclaimed as she hugged her son after handing him his backpack filled with school supplies. The very action made the usually green toned teen, who had a peach skin tone to blend in with the rest of the children, squirm slightly in embarrassment.

"Speak for yourself you didn't have to endure six years of teaching said youth," Barry Allen commented as he held the school supplies he had bought for Bart over a flaring said boy that was trying desperately to take it from the older man.

"Jeez we weren't that bad," Bart retorted with a hint of offence in his voice as he jumped a few inches into the air to grab his bag from his Grandpa.

"Yeah Bart's right you were worse," Black Canary giggled, but before anyone could agree with her Nightwing walked in causing the room to fall silent as the children rushed into their means of transportation.

"There is exactly thirty minutes before the first school bell, you should all start to head out," Damien announced and as commanded the kids quickly waved their final goodbyes to their parents and mentors.

"Man, maybe we should've gotten Damien to be a teacher a couple years ago," Wally snickered as he continued to look out of the opened garage doors where he could still see the children driving away.

"Yeah if we wanted to end up with ten mini soldiers running around," Aqua lad commented on with a smile as he imagined the children in military clothes saluting.

"Now that would be a creepy image," Dick stated with a fake shiver, only to laugh a little when Damien shot him a bat glare. No matter what all the grown ups said that morning the same thing was on all their minds as they hoped with all their might's this wouldn't blow up in their faces.

"Hmph, I can't believe you guys live with the Dictator," Lian grumbled as she the screen on her motorcycle connected with the other vehicles that the rest of the children were riding in.

"Quiet easily I bet, you can tell that the only ones he likes on the team are the Bat twerps," Tony replied with a slight snicker that he knew would grate on Joe's nerves and judging by the bat glare he received over the monitor he was right.

"Are you excusing Nightwing of favoritism?" Joe questioned with a voice that was dripping in annoyance.

"Well I'm not excusing him of being a fair leader," Tony retorted with a smirk that widened in anticipation of the up coming fight that was by now inevitable especially due to his recent comments.

"Why you-"

"Hey why don't we settle this like adults please," Abby interjected with a sigh of annoyance from shotgun of the car Joe was driving, which was a blue Cayman S Porsche.

"Yeah Abby's right, how about this last ones to school have to do all everyone's chores for a week!" Iris boomed from behind of her cousin.

"I like that idea," Lian agreed as she started to reeve the engine of the motorcycle she was riding with Iris clinging to her back as her passenger.

"Get ready to eat my dust like always ladies," Bart taunted as he also hit the gas pedal on his motorcycle that he was riding with Lori, who was literally on the verge of peeing her pants as she held on to Bart for dear life.

"That's not what I meant-"

"Wait that's not fair, when Zack and I have to compete with a super expensive car and two motorcycles on a scooter," Aaron complained, but it only fell on deaf ears as they both begun choke on the huge cloud of exhaust the rest of the team left in their wake.

"So I guess it's decided that the newbies will be doing the chores then, consider as your initiation into our gang," Lian snickered as she signed off her screen monitor, which resulted in everyone doing the same.

"I thought we agreed on the Independence Day ceremony that we would start acting a little grown up?" Abby questioned Joe with a raise eyebrow.

"Well you started by saying that they should settle it a different way other than yelling at each other over the communication screen. So I guess if Nightwing asks you'll have to take responsibility," Donna stated with a mischievous smile from the back of the car they were riding in. This comment only led to the bat kids to give at each other a knowing look before Joe pressed a button on the dashboard. The button caused a sound proof glass to slide up and separate the back from the front.

"Much better?"

"Much," Abby replied as she looked behind to see Donna with a red flushed face filled with anger as she started pounding on the glass. Lucky we asked Cyborg to upgrade the car to make it Amazon proof, Abby thought as she allowed for the childish of her team to continue. Little did she know she was adding fuel to Donna's plan to ruin her.

It didn't take the teens long to get to the pristine private with Aaron's team driving into the parking lot last with their heads hang in defeat as they took the silent taunting from the rest of the team as they entered the school building.

"Th-th-this…"

"Whelming?" Joe offered Aaron along with the members of his team that seemed stunned by the sea of children moving around in front of them as they stood at the entrance of the school.

"Yeah…that," Lori answered as she quickly took out the sheet with all her class information that she had found in her locker this morning. But she was interrupted as the warning bell blared over their heads, which didn't exactly help their anxiety.

"Well let's see I'll get Bart, and Lori settled in, while Tony can help out Aaron and Iris, and Abby you've got Miss. Princess and Zack…and Lian-"

"Save it," Lian stated as she started to head off towards the grade twelve section. With that the rest of the children dispersed off to their separate sections; the part of the team headed by Tony headed off towards the grade eleven section, Joe led his part to the grade ten section of the school, while Abby and the rest of the team head into the grade eight section in the middle school division.

The morning classes took off without a hint of trouble, as the grade eight class started off the day with Math and History. But all that was going change as Donna's temper started to boil up as she watched Abby answer each and every question the teacher asked. She was stealing the attention of the teacher as well as the rest of the students around them.

How can I mess little miss perfect up without getting caught? She thought as she let her eyes wonder around the class until her eyes fell on Zack, who was a sleep on his desk across from hers. He was the perfect candidate; after all, he was one of the new recruits, which means he hadn't been bewitched yet, by her half sister. Plus from what she could gather the boy was naturally a prankster, who loved using his magical powers to cause mischief, by the way he turned the boys into frogs a few days for hazing the new guys.

"Pssts, pssts, Zack," Donna whispered over to the sleeping teen that groggily turned around with an irritated look that told the young princess that she had to phrase her plan to him in a way he would take interest in it or he was going to turn around and fall back to sleep.

"Look I need your help executing a plan," Donna said with a mischievous smile that sparked interest in the pale blue eyes of the magician.

"What kind of plan?"

"I want to get rid of little Miss. Prefect by making her do something that would break the number one rule."

"Let me get this right, you want me to help you frame the girl who is the Dictator's precious little sister and is our leader? Fat chance Princess," Zack replied with a snicker at how ridiculous Donna's plan sounded.

"I guess even the king of pranksters can be a chicken huhn?" Donna teased as she pretended to look disappointed, which caused Zack fall into her trap hook line and sinker as he agreed to take on her challenge.

"Okay next period is gym, and here is what we're going to do…"

"Okay class I'm Coach Cater, and we'll be doing a fitness test today," a bald man wearing a white t-shirt and blue shorts announced as his class sat in a circle around he man. They began the fitness test with six laps around the gym's track.

Finally something I can excel at, Donna thought as the coach blew the whistle to start the race. Donna was off like the wind, she ran as fast as she could while still remaining in the parameters that could be considered normal for an average person. Unfortunately at this speed she was neck in neck with Abby at the front of the line of runners. The two sisters were evenly matched until they got to their last lap, when Donna started to speed up and lead pack right up until a couple of meters towards the finish line. At the last moment Abby sprinted across the finish line first before Donna could even react. The very sight of seeing Abby being applauded by the rest of the class and being praised by the gym teacher made her teeth clench with fury as she stomped over to her partner in crime.

"Wow, she really smoked ya, huhn?" Zack teased with a grin that only grew wider when the princess of the Amazon's directed her heated agitated blue eyes towards him.

"You were suppose to do something that made her look bad," she grumbled through her teeth.

"Okay, okay, calm that pretty royal head of yours, I'm on it," Zack whispered towards as he patted her head before heading off towards the next stage of their fitness test, which was jumping over a vaulting box. Since the coach called the children up by alphabetic order to try and jump over the vaulting box, Zack had along time to think of what devious prank he was going to pull. Once the coach finally got to the last names starting with 'W' Abby was up first, and as she took a running start he said a few magical words underneath his breath. When Abby went to jump over the vaulting box it started to wobble causing her to lose her balance. But instead falling flat on her face and looking like a total clutz, she stabilized herself in the air by doing a few fancy flips before landing gracefully on the landing pad.

"That was amazing! Where did you learn to do that?" a blond girl with long wavy hair exclaimed with excitement as she ran up to Abby.

This was it, Donna thought knowing quite well that if Abby didn't explain that with a bulletproof alibi everyone would think that she was some kind of freak and then she would be able to have the line light of everyone's attention to herself.

"I've been doing gymnastics since I was four years old," she replied in a modest tone with a slight blush that commanded more attention on to her as more girls circled around her and invited her to the cheerleading tryouts that were taking place after school.

All Donna could do was glare at Zack who merely shrugged as he got up to do the vaulting exercise soon after Abby. The rest of the day ended up with similar results. During lunch, Zack made the meatloaf surprise explode all over Abby but that only led to everyone rushing over to her to help get cleaned and leading her to make more friends. Their next attempt was during Chemistry where Zack magically set the Bunsen burner on causing the salt sample that Abby and her partner were looking at to catch on fire causing the fire to turn green. Abby was able to save the situation after the teacher put out the fire, by explaining to the class the science behind why the fire turned green when it started to burn the salt.

By the end of the day Donna was fuming as she watched Abby being dragged along with a bunch of girls to get ready for the cheerleading tryouts. How could all of her plans to make Abby look bad only make everyone around them like her more? What were these people idiots or something? She thought as she stormed out the classroom with Zack by her side. My last chance is the cheerleading tryouts, she thought as she tried to come up with a plan that would knock all her other plans out of the water. A plan that Abby couldn't simply sweet talk her way out of.

"Are you still bent on making Abby look bad?" Zack questioned with a sigh as looked down to see that the princess had her scheming face on.

"Of course I am! I am not giving up until I have won!" Donna exclaimed in a whisper so she wouldn't attract too much attention from the other students around them.

"Why do you even hate her so much? I mean she hasn't done anything to retaliate against you even though I'm sure she knew we were trying to mess her up."

"Wait she knew?"

"Well duh, she's the daughter of the world's greatest detective. Plus anyone could figure out that all those accidents concentrated on her all happening in one day wasn't a coincidence."

"If you knew that she was on to us, why did you continue to help me?"

This question caused Zack to stop for a moment as he bent down to Donna's height. He leaned in so close to Donna's face that it almost looked like he was going to kiss her. "That's for me to know and you to find out, Princess," Zack answered before he continued to walk down the hall towards the middle school locker room.

Donna didn't know what it was about that last sentence, but each and every word caused her cheeks to heat up with a violent blush, especially the way he said 'Princess' at the end. There was an emotion behind it she couldn't quite grasp. Who cares about what he really meant by those words, Donna thought as she broke out of her flustered state so she could focus on the more important matter at hand; how to ruin Abby.

"Hey where are you going? Aren't coming the tryouts with me?" Donna questioned as she caught up with Zack at his locker.

"What part of give up don't you understand? She's a powerful person you don't want to piss off, and also maybe if you weren't so obsessed with bring your sister down than maybe you might so actual friends that will give you all the attention you seem to think your in titled to."

"So that's it you're really just giving up? T-t, you really are a coward. See if I ever lower myself to talk to you again," Donna replied with a pout as she glared at the taller boy.

"See ya around too, Princess," Zack waved farewell to her while trying his hardest not to laugh too much at the furious look she was shooting at him.

Who needs him anyway, all he did was screw up anyway, she thought as she made her way towards the gym where she found herself seating on the bleachers along with the rest of the student body that came out to watch and vote for their favorite recruit that they want to become a cheerleader. Donna spent minutes thinking about a plan that she could execute by herself without being caught, especially with Bart and Joe in the audience as well. But no matter how she looked at the situation she kept on drawling blanks.

Why did Zack have to duck out of her plan to bring Abby down? But more importantly why was Abby just so perfect? Her very being commanded attention from others; a trait that should belong to her, the only person that would one day become queen of the Amazons. As Donna watched Abby do the Civic High Phoenix routine she sort of began to see what Zack was saying about focusing her energy on the wrong places. If she was going to grab the line light from Abby she need to work hard to out class Abby in both Academics and sports.