Mount Justice, August 19, 7:39 PM
Hunter stood to the side as he watched Supeboy and Kaldur about to spar. He was excited for everyone else to see how far Superboy has come. The clone had come a long way from simple punches and brute force. The Amazon was proud of the clone's progress.
Being off duty everyone were in their civilian clothing. Hunter in his maroon shirt and black jeans he found on his first day hair but not opted for blue sneakers. He had his golden lasso tied through his belt hoop as well as his bracelets under his long sleeves.
INITIATE COMBAT TRAINING
Superboy and Kaldur circled each other on the circle. The clone had forgone a shirt leaving his tones body for all to see, not that Hunter mined.
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Just like that, they sprang into action. Hunter watched closely as Superboy easily blocked and dodged Kaldur's attacks. Eventually, they locked arms and wrestled before Superboy put his foot behind Kaldur's and knocked him down.
"Black Canary taught me that." Hunter cleared his throat, "And so did Hunter." He added making the Amazon smile.
"Do you know who else would make the cutest couple?" The blonde asked.
"Who?" M'gann asked.
"Hunter and Superboy."
Hunter immediately went stiff as well as Superboy.
"I agree, they fit together so well as it is." M'gann replied, "Hunter is kind, understanding and compassionate while Superboy is brooding, stern and protective. It's like one of those romance novels I read back home."
The two looked in the opposite directions from each other and avoided eye contact.
Wally zipped in between them, mouth full of burrito, "You two do know that they can hear you right?"
The two girls looked over to see Hunter and Superboy standing uncomfortably.
"Oops." Artemis said awkwardly.
Before the situation could be any more awkward Red Tornado descended from his room at the top of the cave. When he landed he began to walk away until Wally got in his way in a blur.
"You got a new mission for us?" He asked excitedly.
"Mission assignments are the Batman's responsibility." The android replied.
"Well, the Batman is out with the Robin doing the dynamic duo thing in Gotham." The redhead replied, "But you're headed somewhere huh? Hot date or a mission?"
"If we can be of help." Kaldur offered.
Wordlessly Red Tornado turned around and the holo screens appeared. Everyone watched as a sharply dressed elderly man appeared on screen, "This is Kent Nelson, a friend. He is 106 years old."
"The guy doesn't a look a day over ninety." Wally joked but got a nudge from Hunter.
"And he has been missing for 23 days, Nelson was a charter member of the Justice Society, the precursor your mentors' Justice League." The image changed to a man dawning a golden helmet, a blue suit and a golden came.
"Of course, Nelson was earth's Sorcerer Supreme he was Dr. Fate." Kaldur stated.
"Fate was a Lord of Order, his mission: to root out any chaos across the planet." Hunter added, "He may be one of the most powerful beings on Earth if not the universe."
"Kent may simply be on one of his walkabouts. But Kent he is caretaker to the Helmet of Fate, the source to the Doctor's mystic might and it is unwise to leave such power unguarded." The android explained.
"He's like the great sorcerer priest and priestesses of Mars. I would be honored to help find him." M'gann said.
"Me too." Wally said raising his hand with super speed.
"Here we go." Hunter muttered before stepping forward and shoving Wally back, "Magic has always been a part of my life, we practice it in Themyscira, it would be a great honor."
The android raised his hand revealing a key"Take this. It is the key to the Tower of Fate." Red Tornado said hand the key to Kaldur.
"What are the chances we both admire the mystic arts?" Wally asked M'gann causing Hunter to groan.
"This is going to be a long trip." The Amazonian said.
Salem, August 19, 8:22 PM
The bioship flew over the town of Salem in stealth mode. Aboard the ship, Hunter and Superboy sat on the opposite sides of the bridge. Occasionally the two would lock eyes before quickly looking away. On the other hand, Artemis wanted to take Wally down a peg.
"So, Wally when do you realize your honest affinity for sorcery?" Artemis probed.
"Well, I uh don't like to brag but. Before I became, Kid Flash I seriously considered becoming a wizard myself." The ginger replied smoothly.
The blonde only glared at him before looking ahead.
"We've reached Tornado's coordinates, but..." Miss Martian said.
"Nothing's there." Superboy cut her off.
"Take us down." Aqualad said.
M'gann landed the ship in the middle of the road, keeping it in stealth mode. They all walked out of the ship and began to inspect the clearing where the Tower of Fate should be. Wally zoomed forward and began to examine the area.
"It must be a cloaking spell." Hunter observed, "We have same sort of spell protecting Themyscira from anyone who comes too close."
"Nothing. This isn't simple camouflage." He said to Artemis.
"So what do you think, adaptive micro optoelectronics combined with phase shifting?" She asked.
The redhead smiled, "Absolutely. . .not." He quickly corrected himself when M'gann came next to him, "Clearly, mystic powers are at work here."
"Oh, brother." Hunter groaned.
The prince noticed Kaldur looking at the key, "What is it Kaldur?"
"A test of faith." He looking at the key, "Stand behind me."
He walked forward and inserts the key into an invisible keyhole and turned the key. Where once was nothing now stood a tall stone tower. Before them, a large wooden door stood. Kaldur pushed the door open revealing only darkness.
Everyone has a shocked look on their faces before walking in after their leader. The door shut behind them. They all looked back to see the door gone. They found themselves in a stone room with no way out.
"Uh, where'd the door go?" Superboy asked.
A golden apparition in the form of Kent Nelson stood, "Greetings you have entered with a key but the tower does not recognize you. Please state your purpose and intent." He requested.
Wally glanced back at M'gann before walking forward, "We are true believers here to find Dr. Fate." The speedster declared.
Wordlessly the apparition faded away.
"Oh no." Hunter said feeling that something bad is about to happen.
Not a moment later the floor they stood on began to break open. Before they could react they were falling towards a pool of lava. M'gann caught Wally, Artemis grabbed Kaldur and pulled out a hidden crossbow and fired an arrow with a line attached at the wall, they swung towards the wall and held on. Hunter flew down and grabbed Superboy by the underarms before the clone could hit the lava.
"Lava, is that necessary?" Hunter exclaimed fly upwards away from the lava pool.
"This geezer better be worth it." Superboy added.
Above them, M'gann slowly began to descend. The martian began to sweat at a rapid pace, "Having trouble maintaining altitude. I'm so hot." She panted.
"Yes, you certainly are." Wally agreed flirtatiously.
"Wally!" Artemis groaned
"Seriously right now?!" Hunter snapped.
"Hey! Inches above sizzling death, I'm allowed to speak my mind." He shot back.
"My biology and M'gann's are susceptible to extreme heat, we must climb out quickly!" Kaldur informed, sweating himself.
Hunter quickly flew upwards, "Get on my back you two." M'gann and Wally both held on to Hunter's back as the Amazon ascended.
Hunter looked up to see the way out was sealed, "There's no way out."
"Hello, Megan!" M'gann explained, "We never truly answered the question. Red Tornado sent us to see if Mr. Nelson and the helmet were safe!" She called out.
Below a new floor slid out covering the boiling lava. Hunter descended and landed on the floor as everyone hopped off of him. Artemis and Kaldur landed next to them.
Kaldur crouched down and touched the floor, "This platform it should red hot but it is cool to the touch."
"Don't worry, Megalicious. I got you." Wally said putting an arm around her.
"Enough!" Artemis pushed wally away from M'gann and against the wall, "Your little 'impress Megan at all cost' game nearly got us all barbecued!" Artemis yelled.
"When did this become my fault?" He asked.
"When you lied to that whatever it was and called yourself a true believer." She said.
"Wally, you don't believe?" Megan asked.
"Fine, fine! I lied about believing in magic. But magic is the real lie, a major load." He said.
"Wally, I studied for a year at the conservatory of sorcery in Atlantis. The mystic arts created the skin icons that power my water bearers." Aqualad said from his crouching position.
"You're pretty close minded for a guy who can break the sound barrier in his sneakers." Artemis countered.
"That's science. I recreated Flash's laboratory experiment and here I am." He said.
"Explain the gods then and immortality of the Amazons." Hunter challenged.
"Easy, your so called 'gods' are human-like aliens who came down to earth to be worshiped and mated with human beings and here you are." Wally replied, "Everything can be explained by science."
Hunter cracked his knuckles as he began to walks forward. Superboy had to hold Hunter back from attacking Wally.
"Let us test that theory." Kaldur said finding a handle on the floor.
When Kaldur opened it snow blew into the room. Inside was a frozen tundra.
"It's snow." Megan said.
"How's science treating you now?" Hunter mocked.
"Do you ever get tired of being wrong?" Artemis asked.
They jumped in and gravity shifted making them fall in as if they were thrown. Wally looked back at the disappearing entrance and turned around to see everyone staring at him.
"Well?" Artemis asked.
"Everything here is string theory, we're in a pocket dimension." Wally replied smoothly.
The blonde only grunted in annoyance. Hunter shook his head.
"What's that?" Megan asked making everyone look at a floating cane as Artemis walked forward.
"Ohh. Maybe it's Nelson's magic wand." Wally said sarcastically before speeding ahead.
Artemis and Wally grabbed the cane at the same time
"I got it." They glared at each other as the cane began to glow. "Ahh, I can't let go!" They said at the same time.
The cane flew them into the air and disappeared in Flash of light. Everyone else stood in silence.
"That's unfortunate." Hunter said breaking the silence.
"Come on we need to find a way out of here." Kaldur said before he began to walk away.
Everyone else followed the leader. Hunter crossed his arms, he never really liked the cold. Why couldn't they fall into a tropical island?
Superboy noticed this but was unsure of what to do, "Thanks." He said catching Hunter's attention before scratching the back of his head, "For catching me."
"Don't mention it, what are teammates for." Hunter replied with a small smile.
The two then fell into an awkward silence.
Noticing this the martian decided to break the tension, "I don't understand, Wally. It's almost like he needs to believe the impossible can't happen." Megan said.
"Wally uses his understanding of science to control what he can't comprehend. Acknowledging the existence of magic would be to relinquish the last vestige of that control." He said.
"In other words, he's a know it all." The prince summarized.
They heard a creaking noise in the distance saw a door in the distance atop a snowy hill. The team walked to it cautiously. Kaldur and Superboy entered first and the other two did as well. The moment the door closed behind them they were enveloped in a blinding light and began to fall. Below them, a square doorway appeared and Hunter and Megan quickly slowed their descent.
Through the portal, they landed in a stairway maze. Superboy and Kaldur landed face-first while Hunter and M'gann landed softly on their feet. They all looked around to see Artemis and Wally standing a few feet in front of them and with them Kent Nelson.
"Friends of yours?" The elder man asked.
Wally pushed the old man down before a blast of electricity could hit him.
"Friends of yours?!" The teen asked before pushing Kent out of the way of a second blast.
A third blast was directed at the team who disbursed out of the way. Hunter flew up and blocked a blast sent his way with his brackets, burning off his sleeves. In the air, he saw who attacked them clearly. Klarion the Witch Boy and Abra Kadabra. One of them used technology to imitate magic while the other uses actual magic.
Hunter saw Kent Nelson hit a large golden bell with his cane causing the bell to glow a brilliant shining gold. Kent and Wally quickly entered the bell but Klarion flew in behind them. Before the prince could do anything he was blasted by Abra Kadabra.
Hunter fell down to the floor in pain. Superboy saw the Amazon fall and glared at the villain. The clone leaped into the air ready to ready to knock his head off. Abra Kadabra saw him coming and shot a net of electricity from his wand. The Kryptonian got caught in the web and feel to the floor.
Kaldur pulled out his aqua sword and went to free Superboy but a second electro net caught the Atlantean. Artemis fired an arrow at the villain who easily deflected it with his wand before ensnaring the archer.
Hunter saw as his friends were being trapped and writhing in pain. He glared at the villain before grabbing his lasso. Abra Kadabra pointed his want at Megan ready to attack but the golden lasso caught his arm. Wonder Warrior used his whole body to pull the villain off his feet.
Hunter pulled his fist back before thrusting it forward. When the punch connected an audible crack sounded and blood came from Abra Kadabra's nose. The man fell to the floor unconscious. The Amazon stomped his foot on the wand, breaking it and freeing his friends.
Artemis, Kaldur, and Superboy all groaned in relief. Hunter ran to Superboy while Megan checked on the other two.
Hunter went down and placed a gentle hand on Superboy's face, "You ok?"
Blue eyes looked up at the prince, "Nice hit." The clone smiled.
Hunter smiled in return before a golden light filled the room. Everyone turned to look at the bell anxiously, waiting to see who won. When a single silhouette broke through the light they assumed the worst. They panic subsided when Wally came into view with the helmet in his hands.
"Did we win?" Kaldur asked.
Wally nodded with a somber look on his face.
"And Mr. Nelson?" Artemis asked.
Wally only shook his head before he looked down at the helmet.
Mount Justice, August 20, 3:00 AM
Hunter stood on a cliff just outside the Cave as a thunderstorm raged on. He was soaked from head to toe by the rain. Most people are afraid of thunder and lightning but the Amazon found it calming. The rumble of the thunder and flashing of lightning all of it made him feel so small, in a good way.
Looking into the dark sky he closed his eyes. Kent Nelson sacrificed himself to save the earth from Klarion and sacrificed his chance to see his wife in the afterlife. The man lived for over a hundred years, fighting for peace and justice and when he was finally allowed to rest that peace was denied to him. Is that the fate of all heroes, sacrificing everything until the end.
Sometimes he hated his immortality. Whilst his friends grow old and die he will be left behind fighting on. His mother always said 'As immortals, we have a responsibility to the generations to come. To teach them about the mistakes of the past and how not to repeat them.' He knew she was right, she's almost always is.
But the idea of seeing his friends die, of seeing him die. It sends a stinging to his heart and soul. When that happens he may lose control and hurt many more people. That's why he denies his feelings for Superboy, no matter how poorly he tried.
Whenever he tries to swallow those feelings down into the pit of his stomach he remembers what he considers the wisest thing his mother has ever said. He believes these words now more than ever by Kent Nelson's example. The man loved his wife so much he willingly gave his life for a chance to be with her again and gave up that chance because he knew what she'd want him to do. The right thing.
He looked up to the stormy sky and said those words he will always live by, "Only love can truly save the world."