Hi everybody, how is everyone? So we're back to the original episodes this one being "Misplaced". I'm thinking of cutting "Cold-hearted" out even though I kind of like that episode since it's Wally's birthday but I might just cut it out. But I'm not sure yet; I'll let everyone know in the next chapter. Anyways, how did everybody like that last chapter? I know it was super long and I'm so sorry for that but I didn't feel like making a third part. Anyways… here is part 1 of "Misplaced". Please review with thoughts and all that good stuff.
Disclaimer in chapter 1
Chapter 38-Misplaced Part 1
~Mount Justice, November 5th, 19:47 or 7:47pm, Normal POV~
Four days had passed since the team left Trivoyian; four days since Angelee made her choice in leaving and returning to Earth… giving up her biological right. Visions and dreams entered her mind at night; her parents and William telling their disappointment in her. Shooting in bed the past few nights began to frighten her. Did she make the right choice in leaving Trivoyian? Was she beginning to regret not staying and be Queen? Was Lucinda ruining the planet again? Was she letting the power of being Queen run to her head? No… she wouldn't let that happen; she loved Trivoyian… she loved Jerry. There was no way Lucinda would destroy the world she loved so much. Batman finally managed to talk to Angelee about everything that had happened on Trivoyian. And man was he worried… and angry. He was happy that everyone came back safely but he worried at how killing people would change her; it changes everybody. Would she forget she's on Earth again; part of the Justice League? Would she forget everything Batman taught her? Even though he was concerned about her, she was still grounded. She was grounded from hanging out with her friends from school after school and on the weekends until further notice; not to mention tell him where she is going to be most of the day.
The past few days had been rough for Artemis. She found out Superboy and M'gann were dating and she was jealous beyond belief. Angelee understood the feeling but was surprised to discover that Artemis had a crush on Superboy. And for once, Artemis came to her and wanted to talk to her about it.
~Flashback to November 4th, Artemis and Angelee's POV~
Angelee was in the gym. Oh how she missed the gym while on Trivoyian. Practicing her kickboxing, she was punching a punching bag when Artemis came in and plopped herself on a bench with a loud exhale. She wanted Angelee to know she was there,
"Ummm… everything okay Artemis?"
"Have you ever gotten news that just upset you so much that you want to forget everything?"
Angelee froze; was Artemis really having a normal conversation with her?"
"Living with Robin for two years… I could tell you stories about that scenario. What happened?"
"I just found out Conner and M'gann are a couple."
"Ohhh…" man was she behind in the Cave gossip. Even Kaldur and Dick knew they were together, "let me guess… you're jealous right?"
"Is it that obvious?"
Angelee felt bad for her. It isn't every day Artemis came to her with a problem. With Artemis coming to Trivoyian with her, they really bonded. They still hated each other and Angelee still didn't fully trust her but they had a newfound respect for one another,
"You wanna talk about it?"
"I don't know. How did you handle finding out that Robin had a crush on Zatanna," Angelee didn't know everyone knew about it, "trust me… it was obvious he had a thing for her."
"Well," Angelee opened her water bottle, "at first I was heartbroken," she had some water, "I was afraid he wouldn't look at me the same way without comparing me to her. But… after a while; after I discovered how I felt about William, I was okay with it. I even told Robin to go for it."
"Really? You told Robin to go for Zatanna," Angelee nodded, "why? You love him."
"I do; but I moved on and so did he. I loved William and he took a big part of me when he died and I told Robin that I don't think I'll be ever be able to completely love anyone again. You'll forget about Conner and find someone for you; trust me."
"How can you be sure?"
"Experience…" They smiled at each other before Artemis gave her rare, unexpected hug,
"Thanks… for everything."
Angelee was caught by surprise; Artemis was hugging her… just her.
"You're welcome…"
~Present time, Hanger, Normal POV~
Kaldur, Wally, was gathered in the hanger; Conner and M'gann were unloading the bio-ship. Batman, Zatara and Martian Manhunter were watching them,
"Did you get everything?"
M'gann was levitating two crates,
"Everything on your list Batman; plus groceries." She set the crates down.
Wally dashed over; a smile on his face,
"Cookie fixings?"
"Snickerdoodles."
"Babe," his mouth was salivating, "you rock my world."
"I even grabbed some baking goods so Angelee can make some of her desserts."
The elevator doors opened to reveal Artemis and Zatanna in their street clothes,
"Glad you're back Zatanna. Does this mean you're officially joining the team?"
"Tup hcae meti ni sti reporp ecalp!" Zatara aimed his staff at two small crates and directed them off to the side while Red Tornado moved the larger crate with a small tornado.
Zatanna had her arms folded across her chest,
"Oh I don't know. Zatara's SO overprotective. I mean just letting him to get me to visit takes a whole's day wielding. I wish he'd just give me a little space." Just then, the Leaguer's disappeared. "DAD!" The large crate smashed to the ground.
Everyone gasped as they heard,
"Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln!" over and over again. (Translation: We are the Pipers of Hamelin! It's German…)
"What's… what's going on? Where are the Leaguers?"
"I don't know… but I think I know someone who might be able to tell us," Artemis went back into the elevator and got to the main floor, "where is Angelee?"
Angelee came running from her room,
"Please tell me you all heard that echoing voice too?"
"Yeah," Dick pulled up a keyboard, "who was that?"
"Klarion… the little brat."
Zatanna came up from the hanger,
"Oh… hi Angelee."
"Zatanna, good to see," everyone else came up from the hanger, "it's Klarion." She was so tempted to take control again; send the team out to investigate. But she wasn't in charge anymore; Aqualad was.
"Kid, go out and investigate the areas; she if you can find anything out." Aqualad thought the same thing Angelee was going to do.
Kid nodded then took the tubes. Dick and Zatanna immediately took to the screens and began to investigate while Angelee and the others went to different areas to look around. Everyone wondered while Angelee was okay leaving Dick and Zatanna together; they didn't know she told him to. The only one who knew that was Artemis; and she wasn't going to tell anyone.
~Dick and Zatanna's POV~
"We've set up a… a refugee center at the high school gym. Any luck with…"
"No," Dick typed at the keyboard, "can't reach the BatCave, the Hall of Justice or the Watch… or any adult hero; even Red Arrow."
"Guess we're on our own. Kid Flash out."
"Traditional media is offline but kids worldwide are posting the same thing," Zatanna pushed a screen aside, "every adult, 18 and older has disappeared. The sorcery necessary to pull this off…scary big."
"And we need you to find its source."
Zatanna doubted herself,
"How am I? Wouldn't Black Crane be more suited for this?"
"She's not here… and she's not supposed to use her powers for a while. I pulled some footage," Dick recovered the security footage from when Zatara located the source of magic when they fought the Injustice League, "it's your Dad helping us locate Wotan and the Injustice League last month." The footage increased sizes on the screen; Zatara recited the epicenter of sorcery spell
Zatanna came over and looked,
"But… but the words… I mean… that's only part of it… this takes training and… Robin, I'm just not on Zatara's level."
Robin softened his eyes; from everything that happened with Angelee, he had a better understanding,
"I know it's hard but try to stay whelmed." That word again… "We'll find your Dad and Batman and all of them; it's what we do." They smiled at each other.
"Black Crane to Cave, Robin come in."
"I'm here Crane; what's the status?"
"Gotham is running wild; kids are running lose. I'm trying to get everyone to be calm but I need someone else. Call her."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, tell her to meet me Gotham Junior High."
"Got it; be careful and try not to use your powers."
"I'll be okay. Black Crane out!"
Robin pulled out his cell,
"Yeah it's me… we're trying to find out… she's stressed, can you meet her at Gotham Junior High?... No it's just her… thanks…"
~Black Crane's POV~
"Hey!" She flew over to some kids who were breaking in to an electronics store, "Put it back!"
The kids froze when they heard her voice,
"Aww man… it's Black Crane."
"Put it back and let's get all of you to the high school."
They gently put the TV back through the window,
"Where are our parents?"
"We're doing what we can to find them. But all of you to stay calm and listen to directions from us okay?"
"Yes Black Crane."
"Alright. Head to the High School."
The kids ran off and she sighed. What was going on? Where have all the adults gone and what did Klarion have to do with it?"
"Crane, come in." Aqualad's voice came over the com.
"I'm here Aqualad; what's the update?"
"We need you to return to the Cave."
"Uhh… sure. On my way," she called someone, "Nicki it's me, I need you do me a favor… I need you to gather all the kids under 18 and take them to the High School… I've been called back to the Cave… I know, we're doing all we can… get as many friends as you can to help gather the kids and bring them to the High School…thanks… I appreciate the help…" She hung up the phone and went into the nearest phone booth.
"RECOGNIZED BLACK CRANE! B02!"
She was teleported into the Cave.
~Mount Justice, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Robin and Black Crane's POV~
"Alright… what's the big thing you need me for?"
"We need you to assist Zatanna in locating the center or sorcery."
"Like what Zatara did when we found the Injustice League?"
"Exactly that." Aqualad had a camera set up.
"Uh sure but I can't do any sorcery myself; still recovering."
The camera was put on; Kid, Aqualad, and Robin stood in front.
"Attention children and teenagers of Earth; I am Aqualad. These are my friends Robin and Kid Flash."
Robin spoke,
"We are using Justice League tech to cast and stream to every TV, radio, computer and smart phone on the Planet."
"We know you must be scared," Kid addressed the camera, "and angry. We know with your parents missing there is a temptation to run wild but please, stay calm."
"We will find a way to bring the adults back. But for now, the oldest among you must step up."
"Take care of your younger siblings; take care of kids who have no one."
"Protect them."
"It is up to you," Aqualad was calm. He waved Crane over, "make a statement… you know what it's like to be on your own."
Crane stepped in front of the camera,
"My name is Black Crane… and like Aqualad and Kid Flash said before, please stay calm. Find others and then all of you get to refugee centers set up in various locations. I know what is it like to be on my own; and trust me… it is not as much fun as it sounds. Get to safety centers in your area and wait for our parents; we will find them." The camera shut off, "I hate doing that…"
"Go and help Zatanna; you're the best chance we have."
"I'll see what I can do but I can't guarantee anything." Crane left to see what Zatanna needed her assistance with. It would be much easier if she could just cast the spell herself but she couldn't use her powers; her life force was still recovering from Trivoyian.
~Zatanna and Black Crane's POV~
Zatanna was watching the footage of her father again; it must have been the eighth time.
"You nervous?"
Zatanna looked over her shoulder,
"It would be easier if you could just do it."
"As true as that may be, I can't. You have to; just remain calm and focus on the power within. Your powers are different than mine; all I have to do is speak clearly and my life force does the rest. With you, you have to be calm and focused. Relax and concentrate."
"I guess I'm ready to try." She went down the hallway then passed the souvenir room. Kid and Aqualad were talking in there, "Guys," she leaned against the door frame, "I'm ready to try my Father's locator spell."
~Normal POV~
Aqualad, Kid, Zatanna and Crane went into the Mission Room; a holomap appeared.
"Remember what I said… just stay calm and concentrate." Crane reminded her.
Zatanna stepped closer to the holomap; wand her left hand,
"Etacol retnecipe fo yrecros!" A red blimp appeared on the holomap.
"Coordinates locked! Roanoke Island," the holographic keyboard in front of him disappeared, "you did it!"
Crane looked at Zatanna,
"I'm going to head back to Gotham; check on the kids."
"Wait, you're not coming with us?" Miss Martian asked her.
"I won't be much help; I can't use my powers so I wouldn't be able to do anything. I'd be more help keeping an eye on the kids in Gotham."
"No way," Zatanna turned to her, "we need you… I'm going to need you."
"Alright… let's go."
~Adults POV 19:47~
"Babe… you rock my world."
"Tup hcae meti ni sti reporp ecalp!" The two smaller crates floated off as Tornado moved the larger one.
"So does this mean you're officially joining the team?"
Zatara watched Artemis talk to Zatanna.
"I'm glad you brought Zatanna old friend," Batman talked to Zatara, "does this mean you'll allow her to join the team?"
"I do not know. Zatanna's so…" Zatara sighed, "My only child. I so wish I could get used to the idea that she's…" he sighed again, "growing up."
"I know how you feel," Batman watched Angelee rip open a crate, "I feel the same about Angelica. Granted she's not my actual daughter but… I took her in as if she was. Knowing she went to Trivoyian and fell in love… she's only 12 and already she's more grown up than I thought. It's only a matter of years before she really does get her first Earth boyfriend. I fear of what she'll grow up to be…" All the kids disappeared.
"Zatanna!"
"Angelica…Dick!" Batman lost it… it only happens when it comes to, in a nut shell, his kids. Dick and Angelica were his kids; he promised to treat them as such.
After getting word of the chaos all over from angry and scared parents, most of the League was sent to help contain it. Batman, Zatara and Red Tornado were all that remained. Zatara used the locator spell and found the center; on Roanoke just like the kids. And just like Aqualad and Kid, Zatara and Batman were in the souvenir room; staring at the Helmet of Fate.
"So… how desperate are we?"
"I informed the Watchtower you located the focal point at Roanoke. The rest of the League is deployed to avert the chaos. Tornado, you and I are on our own."
"I will do anything to get my daughter back." Zatara and Batman stared at the Helmet once again.
"Yes. But we both know there are many ways for you to lose her."
"So…" they looked at each other, "not that desperate… not yet. The entire League is unavailable?"
"Except for perhaps, Captain Marvel," they left the souvenir room; without the Helmet of Fate, "he's missing."
So… I'm ending it here; the last chapter was too long so I thought I'd make this one a bit shorter. The next chapter is part 2 and it will focus on the fight at Roanoke and the inter-dimension messaging thanks to Captain Marvel/Bobby Batson. I hope everything is enjoying the story. Please review!