Roanoke Island; November 5th, 19:46 EDT
Two old dirt roads cross each other, the hibernating plants making the area seem dark and dreary.
Klarion, with the large cat in his arms, walks along one of the roads, looking at the crossroads before him. "How about here?" he muses.
The cat meows and jumps out of his arms.
"Finally." he sighs, then goes to the inside pocket of his suit, pulling out a large gold crystal. Positioning it in the center of the crossroads, he raises his hands over his head. Hands positioned almost like he's more animalistic than his human appearance lets on. Then his hands glow red with power.
The crystal glows in sync, before flashing three times- with a light chime going off with them- before a light-based design begins to grow from it.
Two circles, the smaller about a pace from the gem, the second only the length of Klarion's hand wider than the first. Then six symbols appear, equally spaced with one just under Klarion's left foot. Two circles, less than an inch apart surround the symbols. Finally, a six-sided star, where each low corner is positioned in line with a symbol appears. The space between the two lines of the star is no larger than Klarion's hand is wide.
In line with each symbol, appears another, closed in by double lined triangles. All that is enclosed by two circles, where five diamonds have their narrow point touching it and branch off from the outside circle. A symbol appearing in each one.
Between each of the five diamonds, in line with the other symbols, large runes appear, smaller runes appear between them and the diamonds. As the last two circles connect the diamonds outside the runes, and a singular circle connects the top points of each diamond. Closing the circle.
Klarion drops his hands and the glowing circle remains in the center of the crossroads.
He backs up slowly, and when he steps outside the circle, in line with one of the diamonds, a circle with a symbol inside appears under his feet.
He smiles. "Time to get the old band together." His eyes start to glow the same color as the circle. "Wotan," a man so pale, his skin nearly looks tinged blue, appears. A circle and a symbol forming under his feet as he flashes into existence. Wearing a high collared, yellow trimmed, black cape that falls to his ankles, and a red suit of thin armor. "Blackbriar Thorn," (who, along with Felix and Wizard, you really don't get a good look at so I'm trying my best and pulling from google images, so this one of the few times where I will take ZERO criticism for how I describe them.) an old man with a white beard coming down to his exposed collarbones, wearing only an open- popped collared- jacket that falls past his hips, baggy pants that are tied off just below his knees, and open sandals with ties going up his calves. Exposing his nearly vine-like body, accented by green vines wrapping around his muscles, over his ears and to the corner of his mouth, and over his bald head. "Felix Faust," a man wearing a pale but dark blue Mongolian tunic with deep blue edging, and white fur on the cut-off shoulders, tied off by a harvest yellow sash falling over his right hip and to his knee. His pants and shirt are the same deep blue as the edging, tucked into thin black shoes and pale bronze arm guards. The arm guards match the broad collar that wraps around his neck and is mostly covered due to his tunic His hair is covered by the same blue as his tunic, though there is a crescent moon that rests at the top of it. A wide, crown-like band rests over his forehead and around his head. Covering from one ear to the other is a long deep blue cloth connected underneath the pale bronze. The only hair visible is his perfectly split, long, black mustache. "Wizard," decked out like a Victorian Era magician, complete with the top hat, chained and high collared, baggy cloak coving a dark grey suit coat, and a white button-down with only a simple red String Tie. "now…" his face contorts as he rubs his hands together, making his features seem even sharper and his eyes turning into what looks like small red jewels rather than eyes. He chuckles. "Let's put on the show."
"Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln. Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln. Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln. Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln. Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln. Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln…" they incant, each one joining in going around the circle, until they say the last one together.
(As someone who reads just enough German to not be totally lost when small things show up in the English language with a Germanic base, I'm translating this to We are the pipers of Hamelin… which took me a long-ass minute to remember where Pied Piper was from [I'll give you a hint, he's German and it starts with an h].)
Theme Song
Mount Justice; November 5th, 19:47 EDT
Inside the Hangar Batman, Zatara, and Red Tornado watch as M'gann and Conner unload the BioShip. Kaldur and Wally stand beside them, Wally's arm still in a cast while Kaldur is in his uniform.
"Did you get everything?" Batman asks.
"Everything on your list, Batman," M'gann assures, "plus groceries." as she sets down one of the two boxes she's holding with her powers.
Wally walks over and looks inside. "Cookie fixin's?" he asks excitedly.
"Snickerdoodles!" she confirms.
"Babe," Wally sighs, "you rock my world."
While Kaldur and Conner undo the latches on the crates Conner took off the BioShip.
Artemis and Zatanna arrive in the elevator. "Glad you're back, Zatanna. Does this mean you're officially joining the Team?" she asks.
"Tup hcae meti ni reporp ecalp." Zatara incants, moving two boxes, directing them with his cane. Red Tornado uses his powers for the larger one.
"I don't know." Zatanna sighs, "Zatara's so overprotective. I mean, just getting him to let me visit takes a full day wheedling. I wish he'd just give me a little space!"
Suddenly all three of the Leaguers disappear, the boxes they were carrying crashing to the ground.
(Okay, I need to know who read the Gone Series and was totally expecting something like that to happen here? Me?... Just me? Okay. Fine, that's fair. That series is… intense…)
Artemis gasps as Zatanna yelps "Dad!" which catches everyone else's attention and makes them realize what happened.
"Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln… Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln… Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln…"
Roanoke Island; November 5th, 19:47 EDT
They continue chanting. "Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln… Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln… Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln…" suddenly everyone in the circle except Klarion starts to glow gold, then disappears. "Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln!" he finishes the incantation by himself.
Fawcett City; November 5th, 18:47 CDT
Through the metropolitan area, traffic is moving, though a few cars honk. Two kids are playing on the sidewalk in front of the apartment buildings, as a woman sits on her steps and watches as they play with a large red ball. "Not on the street, please!" she tells them.
From across the street, a kid in a red sweatshirt with black hair and blue eyes watches from a few stories up.
A female news anchor is talking on the TV. "Today, in Fawcett City," he turns towards the old man on the couch who's watching it. "Captain Marvel defeated an attack by the creatures known as Ibac and Sabbac." he reaches out and messes with the boy's hair a proud smile on his face.
Suddenly, he disappears.
Billy's eyes snap up at the sudden loss of the hand, when he can't see him, he jumps over the back of the couch, landing on the cushion. "Uncle Dudley!" but no one's there. He brings a hand to his chin. "Don't know which of my enemies is behind this, but I know a job for Captain Marvel when I see one." slamming his fist into an open palm. "SHAZ-" he cuts himself off as he sees Cat Grant is no longer there either. Looks like Uncle D. isn't the only one gone missing."
"Look out!" a girl shouts, followed by a crash that has Billy running to his window.
A car crashed into a light post, and the two kids from before are both unharmed, though the girl in purple is now on the ground.
"Are you OK?" the other asks.
"Forget me. Where is mommy?" she points to the now-empty stairs.
Billy backs away from the window slowly. "All the grown-ups are gone." he realizes. "And Cap's a grown-up. If I change… I could disappear too!" he looks over the empty apartment as confirmation.
Mount Justice is mostly dark, with only the screen giving light in the Training Deck. "We've set a- uhh- refugee center at the high school gym." Kid Flash says over the comm-link. He pauses for a second, while Robin and Zatanna keep typing away on separate holo-keyboards. "Any luck with-?"
"No." Robin says lowly. "Can't reach the Batcave, the Hall of Justice, or the Watch-" he cuts himself off. "or any adult hero." he corrects quickly. "Even Red Arrow."
"Guess we're on our own." Kid says. "Kid Flash, out."
"Traditional media is offline." Zatanna confirms. But kids worldwide are all posting the same thing. Every adult, eighteen or older, has disappeared." Robin pauses in what he's doing and look her way. "The sorcery necessary to pull this off…" she finally turns towards Robin. "Scary big."
"And we need you to find its source." he tells her.
Zatanna looks stunned and confused. "How am I-?"
"I pulled this footage." he cuts in, pulling up a video with only a few clicks. "It's your dad, helping us locate Wotan and the Injustice League, last month."
The video starts, showing off Zatara stepping up to a virtual globe in the very room they're in. "Etacol retnecipe fo yrecros." the globe stops, and a red dot appears in Louisiana. "There." he confirms before the video stops.
But the- the words- I mean, it's only part of it. And the rest takes training and… Robin, I'm- I'm just not in Zatara's level."
(Further confirmation that either DC Universe doesn't know how to spell that Zatanna genuinely thought Robin's given name was Robin because it is spelled R-O-B-Y-N in the subtitles. Either way, I find it hilarious and I'm laughing.)
He fully turns towards her. "I know it's hard but try to stay whelmed. We'll find your dad, Batman, all of them. That's what we do." he gives her a small smile.
She returns it, with a bit more in her eyes.
Happy Harbor; November 5th, 20:19 EDT
Inside a crashed car a baby is crying. Conner grabs the broken door and rips it off the car, throwing it away. Looking in at the small, probably toddler-aged, boy wearing a Superman hoodie.
Conner eases the safety belts off, picking the kid with ease in one hand. Looking down at the kid with worry as he stares at him.
The kid smiles, reaching out to put his hand over Conner's S, Conner smiles looking down at the boy's hand. As the boy pulls it away, Conner and he share a smile.
Happy Harbor High School
Two teens are using green spray paint on the walls of the school when suddenly they pull out of their hands and start spraying them in the head.
The two teens run off and M'gann, looking like Megan, turns visible while floating in the air. Settling back down on the ground as Wally approaches with a young boy in his arms.
Wally smiles at her in a job well done as the boy drinks out of his sippy cup.
They both walk into the gymnasium. Where there are a few handfuls of groups of kids, the largest, and the youngest are on one of the laid-out mats while Artemis sits in front of them on a larger stack of folded mats. Singing. "Twinkle, twinkle, little star," she stiffens. "Uhm…" then gives a careful smile. "...Yes sir, yes sir, Three bags full." she chuckles a little through it, clearly realizing she mixed them up.
The kids laugh too.
"That's not "Twinkle, twinkle" that's "Baa Baa Black Sheep"!" one of the girls says through her laughs.
Artemis bits her fingernail. "Um… Oh!" trying to remember. "Q-R-S-T-U-V…"
The kids start laughing again.
"That's ABC's!"
(For those that missed the joke, all three songs Artemis sings here actually have the same melody [same key and everything], so whether she's doing this on purpose or if she genuinely can't remember how these songs are supposed to go they actually work together.)
Wally and M'gann walk up to Artemis who sends them a sour look.
The boy holds up his sippy cup to Wally. "Oh, for me? Thank you!" taking it from him with a smile.
Artemis stands up, facing them. "Did you call home?" she whispers.
"No answer." Wally says lowly.
"You could Zeta there." Artemis offers. (And I want to know WHERE I got these subtitles from because this was- for some reason- written as "scurry over" rather than "Zeta".)
"I've been collecting kids all day." Wally points out, then drops his gaze to the floor.
I don't need to see another empty house."
The door slams open.
Conner stands in the doorway, the boy from the car in his right arm against his stomach, a blonde girl on his shoulders, and a black-haired boy between his left arm and hip. He looks rung out. "Got three more." sounding tired.
Billy double-checks the road before running across at a wide-angle as a dog barks and he runs towards the arcade.
Then sliding along the door in mock-stealth. "Okay, Batson, make sure the coast is clear, and…" he reaches the edge of the building. "Go!" turning quickly and lifting up a broken fence panel and ducking in.
At the end of the alley is a clearly written 'Out of Order' Photo Booth. Billy parts the curtains and sits on the chair.
"Captain Marvel, 1-5." he says, then closes his eyes and smiles. When nothing happens, he opens them and looks at the tech confused. "Captain Marvel, 1-5!" he tries again, nothing happens. He crosses his arms and glares. "Override: H-O-J-slash-Watchtower, Priority Red! Captain Marvel, 1-5!"
Finally, a scanning light comes over Billy.
Not recognized.
Access denied.
Billy screams in annoyance.
He walks past a TV Store, all the TVs showing static, until suddenly Aqualad with Robin on his left and Kid Flash on his right appear. "Attention, children and teenagers of Earth I am Aqualad. These are my friends, Robin and Kid Flash."
Billy runs back to the TV display.
"We are using Justice League's tech to cast and stream to every TV, radio, computer, and smartphone on the planet." Robin explains.
"We know you must be scared and angry. We know with your parents missing, there's a temptation to run wild. But please… Stay calm." Kid Flash pleads.
In Happy Harbor High all the kids are watching the TV.
"We will find a way to bring the adults back." Aqualad promises. "But for now, the oldest among you must step up."
Gotham City; November 5th, 22:07 EDT
Gotham Academia a similar setup is taking place, with Barbara reading a book to the kids while Bette watches over two young kids and plays with a toddler in their Gymnasium as the Radio plays the transmission.
"Take care of your younger siblings." Robin instructs.
Dakota City; November 5th, 21:08 CDT
A school bus about to go over the edge is pushed back a pale blue sphere under the front end of it, a young teen with her belt glowing the same color flies up behind it. Guiding the bus fully back onto the bridge.
"Take care of kids who have no one." Robin continues.
"Protect them." Kid Flash instructs.
Paris; November 5th; 04:09 CEST
(This should be CET because it's no longer "Summer Time" because Daylight Savings in the US is over already.)
"Protège-les." the video translates Wally's words instantaneously. (DCU CC: [incantation] … uh huh, sure.)
Taipei; November 6th, 11:10 NST
"Baohù tāmen." Wally's voice says again.
Fawcett City
Billy runs across a street towards the airfield. "It is up to you." Aqualad concludes as Billy presses his back to the fence.
"It's up to Billy Batson to find a way to the Cave." he looks up at the fence, climbing it with ease. "No matter the risk!"
At a wider look, the doorway in the gate was open.
"Please… Help in any way you can." Kaldur begs. (DCU CC: "Kid Flash"... ummm, you sure about that?)
"Which is how, exactly?" a young girl muses, sitting a chair backwards, watching the TV.
"That depends." Billy says with a surprising amount of drop in his voice, he's clearly imitating Batman, which has her turning on the spot. Finding Billy leaning against the doorway. "Do you have a pilot's license?" he asks, back his normal pitch.
Wally stands in his room, looking at Dr. Fate's helmet.
"I finally got through to Atlantis." Kaldur says as he enters the open doorway, Wally turning to him. "No adults there, either."
"So… Just how desperate are we?" Wally asks.
They both look at the empty eyes of the helmet.
"I mean… this thing… could definitely come in handy." Wally mutters.
"Yes," Kaldur agrees tersely, "but we both know anyone who dons the helmet and allows Nabu to possess him may never be released from being Doctor Fate."
"So… not that desperate." Wally confirms.
"Not yet." Kaldur says as they both look at the helmet.
"Guys?" they both turn, finding Zatanna, decked out in her costume, leaning against the doorway. "I- I'm ready to try my father's locator spell."
The same globe that Batman pulled up for Zatara Robin pulls up in the Zeta Room.
Zatanna stands closest to it, one hand holding a wand the other empty but pointed towards the globe.
"Etacol retnecipe fo yrecros!" Zatanna speaks her spell slowly, careful of each sound but with intent.
A red dot pops up on the globe.
"Coordinates locked. Roanoke Island!" Robin tells them as he types away on a holo-keyboard. "You did it!"
"I cannot believe I let you talk me into this." the girl grumbles, now wearing a red baseball cap, flying a single-engine plane, with Billy in her passenger seat.
"You did the right thing, Amber. I know I don't look like much, but I have to get to Happy Harbor, to help." Billy tells her.
"We're almost there!" she checks her gauges then her watch. "We should arrive just after midnight, on my birthday!" she says brightly.
Billy's eyes snap wide. "Wait, are you telling me you turn eighteen at midnight?"
He doesn't get the chance to hear an answer as she's gone in a sudden flash of light.
"I'll take that as a ＂yes＂." he says gravely.
Roanoke Island; November 5th, 19:47 EDT
"Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln… Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln… Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln…" Klarion and his cat suddenly disappear. "Wir sind die Pfeifer von Hameln!" the remaining four finish the spell.
Mount Justice; November 5th, 19:47 EDT
"Cookie fixin's?" Wally asks excitedly.
"Snickerdoodles!" she confirms.
"Babe," Wally sighs, "you rock my world."
While Kaldur and Conner undo the latches on the crates Conner took off the BioShip.
Artemis and Zatanna arrive in the elevator.
"Tup hcae meti ni reporp ecalp." Zatara incants, moving two boxes, directing them with his cane. Red Tornado uses his powers for the larger one.
"Does this mean you're officially joining the Team?" Artemis asks as they exit the elevator.
"I'm glad you brought Zatanna, old friend." Batman speaks calmly to Zatara. "Does this mean you'll allow her to join the Team?"
"I do not know!" he says quickly. "Zatanna's so…" he sighs. "My only child. I wish I could get used to the idea that she's, uhhh, growing up."
Before their eyes, Conner disappears from the BioShip ramp, dropping the crate, and Wally and M'gann are suddenly gone as well. Then Robin and Kaldur, Giovanni has just enough time to turn and see Zatanna before she suddenly disappears as well.
"Zatanna!"
A car suddenly swerves across the road before knocking bumpers with a parked car. The white van behind them hitting their rear bumper with more force. The driver leaves his car quickly. "Dude, who taught you how to-"
In the car is a man, looking in the backseat at an empty car seat. "My son! My son's gone!"
"Worldwide reports are all the same: Every child under the age of 18 has disappeared." Cat Grant reports, Dudley watches the news with bated breath. "Parents are desperate for answers. From secular and religious leaders, from the heroes of the Justice League,
Gotham City; November 5th, 22:07 EDT
"and from scientists at facilities like S.T.A.R. Labs."
The police are parked out front of the facility, keeping protestors at bay.
"Those eggheads in there know what happened to our kids!" one man shouts. For all we know, they're responsible! Make them tell us the truth!" a blonde man shouts from the front of the crowd.
(I had to step away from this for a couple of hours because… well, I've had it up to HERE with jerks who don't understand how to use their brain and act like adults. So, I'm gonna say it, purely because it'll make me feel better, "You lose your adulting privileges, so shut up." Also because I apparently have trauma from getting charged by cops decked out in riot gear and threatening to shoot us when all we were doing was asking for justice and carrying signs… Didn't know that. Nifty.)
The crowd cheers and pushes forward, while he just stands there and watches the police get overrun, backing up slowly with a smirk on his face.
The cops order of "stand down" and "stay where you are" get drowned out by the crowd.
James Gordon stands on top of a squad car with a megaphone in his hand. "Citizens of Gotham, please return to your homes. Rest assured best minds here and throughout the world are working on this and only this." the crowd charges the officers decked out with helmets and shields, a few leave the building carrying guns. Behind them a man in a lab coat leaves the building, unimpeded. "Everything possible is being done to recover your… our children. Violence will not get them back. So all you're creating is a dangerous distraction from what really matters here tonight." a car pulls up to the curb, picks up the man in the lab coat, and drives off quickly.
The blonde man, and the skinny brunet he picked up look over the clearly labeled toxic material they now have.
Giovanni stares at the Helmet of Fate and Batman walks up behind him. "So, how desperate are we?" Giovanni asks without turning to face the Dark Knight.
"I informed the Watchtower you located the focal point at Roanoke. But the rest of the League is deployed to avert the chaos. Tornado, you and I are on our own." he informs.
"I would do anything to get my daughter back." Giovanni says strongly.
"Yes." Bruce agrees. "But we both know there are many ways for you to lose her." he looks at Giovanni strongly at that.
"So, not that desperate." Giovanni muses, looking back at Bruce. "Not yet." Bruce says nothing. "The entire League is unavailable?" Giovanni asks.
"Except, perhaps, for Captain Marvel." Batman admits, turning the two of them walk out of Wally's room. "He's missing."
Happy Harbor; November 6th, 00:01 EDT
Billy is desperately trying to control the plane by himself. Too short to really see where he's flying. "I can't… If I say it, I'll be an adult." he thinks through aloud. "And maybe disappear forever!" Billy looks down. "Captain Marvel may have the courage of Achilles, but Billy Batson…" his eyes snap up, sharp. "has the courage of Billy Batson! SHAZAM!"
Through a flash of lightning, the plane is gone, and Captain Marvel is left in a sitting position in the air. He lets out a "Whoa!" as he drops suddenly, before catching himself. "Hey, I didn't disappear!"
Suddenly he can hear a girl screaming.
"Amber!" he shouts diving after her. "Got you!" she looks at him, then around, confused.
Giovanni and Bruce stand in front of the monitors when they hear the Cave system go off.
Recognized:
Captain Marvel; 1-5
They both turn, seeing Captain Marvel flying into the Mountain quickly. "All right, guys! I'm here to-" he cuts himself off with a bright smile, bolting to both adults and hugging them around the waist, with enough power to lift both of them off the ground with ease. "You're back! Is it over? Where is the Team?
"Haven't you heard?" Zatara demands. "Every child in the world has-"
"Zatara! Wait." Batman growls, setting his hand on the magician's shoulder. "Captain, where have you been?"
"On a world without grown-ups!" his eyes go wide, slapping himself in the forehead as he nearly stumbles back in shock. "Holy moly! There are two worlds!"
"Two dimensions." Batman corrects. "One for adults-"
"And one for kids!" Captain Marvel finishes.
"And you can travel between them?" Zatara questions.
"I think I can." then says it with more certainty. "I- I know I can! SHAZAM!" Suddenly he's Billy again. "It works!"
He turns slowly, finding the Team staring at him.
"Where did you come from?" Kaldur asks quickly, as the Team walks up to him. "Who are you?"
"Quick, read my mind!" he tells M'gann. (Gwen? Like… guys, gals, enby pals, I CAN'T make this up!)
Her eyes glow green and he simply smiles. She gasps as she comes back "He's Captain Marvel." she says, barely believing it.
"Yeah, and I'm Speedy Gonzales." Wally grouches, full of sarcasm. "Look, just because he believes he's Cap-"
In a very Captain Marvel way, Billy cuts him off. "Gee, Wally," raising his left eyebrow as he does a small shrug that makes the movement of bending his elbows and raising his hands look fluid. "do I really have to bring you nachos and pineapples juice to get on your good side?" he swings his hands down to his hips as he tilts his head and eases his right eyebrow some.
They all stare at him for a moment, before turning to M'gann who smiles.
"There will be threats in both dimensions, and we may not be familiar with our opponents." Batman says to Captain Marvel, with Red Tornado and Zatara at his side.
"But the key to this mission is a coordinated simultaneous attack." Kaldur points out to Billy.
"Agreed." Batman speaks. "Our best chance against sorcery is to strike fast, disrupt their efforts."
"And hope the two dimensions merge naturally back into one." Aqualad confirms.
Zatanna nervously hugs herself behind him.
Giovanni looks down.
Teekl meows as the gem hums and Klarion looks around for a moment, his eyes now back to normal.
He turns to his right easily, throwing out his hand. Stopping three of Artemis' arrows and three of Robin's disks with a red shield.
He turns towards them, glaring. "That's the best you can do?"
The two, out in the open, can only stare.
Klarion raises his hand, more red magic pouring from his hand, before flicking his hand up and red lightning strikes out towards Robin and Artemis.
Superboy charges at him, catching Klarion's attention. Behind his back Aqualad charges at him with a hammer coming from his WaterBearers, Klarion catches him just out of the corner of his eye. Then sees Wally charging at him at superspeed.
Suddenly a red dome appears around the circle, knocking all three of them back.
Zatanna slides in, raising her hands towards Klarion. "Etativel mih ffo eht margtnep!"
A sigil blips on the dome.
Klarion scoffs. "Baby magic." with a smirk he raises his hand, lazily pointing his sharp black nails at her. "Fi ehs stnaw ot etativel os yldab, tel reh." flicking his hand up at the end of the incantation.
Zatanna can only gape for a moment before she's sent flying back.
Superboy moves quickly, catching her before she can hit the ground.
M'gann levitates off the ground, throwing large rocks at the dome in an attempt to break it.
Klarion opens his mouth wide and fire streams out of it.
Kid Flash and Artemis end up near each other. "Listen," Kid whispers, "when Nabu possessed my body, he defeated Klarion by attacking the cat."
Teekl sits outside the dome, licking her paw. Then turns towards them, hissing, her red eyes glaring down at them.
"Good." she whispers, pulling an arrow back. "Not a big cat fan, anyway."
The arrow flies through the air, but before it can reach the cat, Klarion reaches out and turns it into a green ball of yarn, which drops at Teekl's paws.
Klarion chuckles. "Show 'em what a familiar to a Lord of Chaos can do, Teekl." his eyes turn red as he turns both his palms towards her as she plays with her yarn. She morphs from a housecat to the size of a bear and looking more like a sabretooth.
Conner charges at the cat, only to get struct away by her paw to his face. Knocking him away and to his back, where he groans and closes his eyes.
He opens his eyes, and then they snap open as he dodges to the side, narrowly avoiding a massive paw landing on his head.
He backs up, trying to get his feet underneath him, but gets caught by her paw across the front of his chest, knocking him away, and she immediately chases after him.
Captain Marvel drops behind Wizard. Batman behind Blackbriar Thorn, throwing a Batarang at the villain, which he ducks under.
As Batman rushes in, he raises a hand, and Batman gets caught around the center by vines that drag him up off the ground and pin him to a vine the size of a tree.
Red Tornado lands behind Felix Faust, using his hands to create two individual tornados, which Felix counters with two strong streams of fire that slam into Red Tornado's chest.
From in the clouds, Zatara raises his cane. "Nommus eht gninthgil!" he incants.
Crashing lightning to the four magicians in the Circle.
The gem in the center rings with power as the lightning stretches from the magicians to it.
Zatara winces.
The crystal chimes in Klarion's dimension as well. He grunts. "So, you teamed up with the grown-ups. Teamwork is so overrated." the crystal still thrums with blue. With a sweep of his hand, Klarion sends the lightning towards the Team.
(Okay this line I SWEAR I hear Klarion saying "grumps" not grown-ups, and I would like to know what you here, because as has been made crystal clear in this episode alone, I don't trust the DCUniverse Closed Captioning OR the subtitle files I have to be accurate. It's at 14:27 of this episode.)
Kid Flash manages to dodge it, and Aqualad's tattoos glow as he absorbs the power, but Artemis and Robin get sent flying.
Zatanna rushes over to them, dropping to her knees. "Artemis! Robin!"
She looks up, seeing Aqualad fall to his knees as the magic overwhelms his, and Kid Flash charging at the dome gets struck by lightning bouncing off the Atlantean.
Zatanna worries for a moment before turning to a rock. Raising her hand. "TemleH fo etaF, laever flesruoy!"
The golden helmet sits in wait.
Wizard lifts large rocks from the ground in front of him, throwing them at Captain Marvel.
He punches through three, only for two halves to come together to try and crush him. For a moment it nearly looks like it works, but he breaks out.
"Captain, wait!" Zatara says, dropping so he's closer to Captain Marvel's height off the ground. "That mystic gem, Ambrejin Verdu, is the conduit of this sorcery. Without it, nothing may keep apart two worlds meant to be one."
He turns slightly over his shoulder. "I'll tell the Team." he promises. "SHAZAM!"
In a flash of lightning he's seeing Aqualad still being hit by the lightning.
"It's the-" he starts but is cut off by a blue glove covering his mouth.
"Don't shout, Billy. I've linked you telepathically to the others." M'gann tells him.
"That is so cool." Billy geeks for a moment. "I mean, it's the gem, at the center of the pentagram. Destroy it and we win!"
The rock around the helmet disappears fully. "That's all I needed to know." Zatanna says lowly, picking it up.
Kaldur turns over his shoulder, the only person close enough to hear her. "Zatanna!"
"Stop!" Kid cries out, pushing himself up on his casted arm.
Zatanna doesn't listen and raises the Helmet over her head and resting it down.
Her gaze intense before her pupils suddenly shrink and Nabu's glow overtakes them.
Now in Fate's iconic outfit, Zatanna's body flies in the sky. Fate's symbol appearing behind them.
(I did debate this for a moment for what pronouns to use and here's my rationalization for they/them/theirs. In theory, you could probably argue to use he/him because while the body Doctor Fate is inhabiting is Zatanna's- therefore female- he's the one in the driver's seat therefore male pronouns. However, we DO know that in this case in particular it's not a perfect mesh so Zatanna is more conscious of what's happening than Kent probably even was. So, in this case, I'm using they/them. I see no justification to use she/her, because like I said Zatanna- even if it had worked correctly- is not the person controlling her body, so not her pronouns. I did debate possibly going in and changing Nabu's pronouns to they/them all the way around because… y'know cosmic-entity/alien-I-think… nonhuman pronouns? Then I remembered that google search I did AGES ago and… yeah, no spoilers so we'll just leave it at he/him for Nabu is right. [If this changes on Earth 16 {who does right now have Nabu listed as "genderless" but I also know what his backstory is in the Comics}, trust me I will go back and fix it.])
"Klarion!" their voices don't meld, they're two polar opposites, but they speak over each other. "This ends now!"
Klarion stares for a moment before gritting his teeth.
"Billy, tell Zatara!" Miss Martian commands.
"R-right, yeah." he says shakily. "SHAZAM!"
Miss Martian turns away from the flash of light that hits Billy in the chest.
Klarion brings both his hands together, aiming the beam they create at Fate. Nabu does the same. The two of them meeting just outside the barrier of the dome.
Spikes pop out from Batman's arm guards, cutting the vines and dropping him.
On his fall, he turns, throwing two Batarangs at the tree. Then landing on his feet in a crouch just before it explodes. He takes off back into the fight.
Captain Marvel floats by Zatara, who is protecting them with a red shield as Blackbriar Thorn, Wotan, and Felix Faust try to break through it. (Hehehe… I messed up Felix's name.)
"She did what?" Zatara hisses. Go back right now and-"
"No. The sooner we end this, the sooner you can help your daughter." he cuts him off sternly before he smiles in a familiar way. "Keep the bad guys distracted. I have an idea."
Taking off beyond the safety of the shield. "Speed of Mercury! Power of Zeus!" as he loops back down, he starts to spin. When he hits the ground, he burrows right through.
Klarion summons magic in his hand, it crackles but stays a steady ball of magic. He starts throwing them harshly at Doctor Fate.
Who flies around the explosions they create.
Coming to a stop and creating a gold bolt of lightning that when it hits the dome doesn't do anything.
Miss Martian moves the still unconscious Artemis and Robin, to a safe spot, while Aqualad and Kid Flash keep her covered. Even though Klarion and Teekl are busy.
Miss Martian takes to the sky.
Aqualad turns to the speedster. "Go, Kid."
Kid takes off in the opposite direction, nearly seeming to be running away from the fight.
Aqualad pulls out his WaterBearers, creating two hammers before charging at the dome.
Now Fate, Miss Martian, and him are all attacking it.
As Fate continues to fly around, for a moment Zatanna without the helmet on blips into existence. Enough for her to gasp and fall a foot before Doctor Fate returns.
Klarion, now with his eyes red again, and his features less human-like laughs at the Lord of Order. "There, see?" Zatanna fades in and out of existence. "When the world's divided, the Helmet split too. You're not all here, Nabu! And you are losing in whole, and that poor, soon-to-be-dead girl!" He chuckles a little. "She gave herself for nothing…"
"No, Witch Boy." Doctor Fate pulls their right arm back, bright gold light gathering in that hand. "Fate decrees her sacrifice will not be in vain!"
A harsh bolt of golden magic slams into the dome, this one causes Klarion to take cover.
Miss Martian picks up larger rocks and continues throwing them at the dome while Aqualad continues to beat his hammers against them.
"No! No, no, no, no, no!" Klarion shouts, losing the integrity of the barrier. The physical backlash of it coming down knocks him on his knees. "No!"
Doctor Fate shoots another beam of gold magic at Klarion. Creating a Fate's cross that captures his wrists and his neck to keep him from running away.
"Now, Kid!" Aqualad calls.
Kid runs past the still unconscious archer and bird, snagging the gem from right in front of Klarion, skidding to a stop and turning. "Doc, catch!" throwing the gem high.
Captain Marvel breaks out of the ground in the center of the circle, disrupting every magician. As he comes to a stop, he turns to Zatara. "Zatara, catch!"
"Yam eht owt emoceb eno ecno erom!" The two say their incantation at the same time.
The two dimensions snap back together. The four adult magicians fall to the ground, and Klarion is left glaring from his spot.
He innocently looks up at Fate. "Boy, they sure don't make evil immortal sorcerers like they used to." he says nonchalantly, if he could he'd probably shrug. "Oh, well." he snaps his fingers, and Fate's cross disappears and he stands up straight. "Fun as it lasted." he brushes off the dirt from his suit. "Teekl!" he calls.
The cat is still snarling over Superboy but stops when she hears the Lord of Chaos clap. Running over to him and her size returning to normal until her snarls turn into mews and she jumps into his arms.
Zatara, Batman, Red Tornado, Captain Marvel, Aqualad, and Miss Martian can only stare.
Unable to move before he opens a large red portal, turning towards them directly. "See you later, armadillos! Unless I see you first!" then laughing he jumps through the portal, which closes behind him.
Kid speeds in front of Fate. "Aren't you gonna stop him?" he demands.
"To what end?" they question. "Klarion is Chaos personified. He cannot be contained."
Batman ties up Blackbriar Thorn, Wotan, and Felix Faust. (I had Felix "Felicis", I don't think I need to say what book series I was rereading when I wrote this chapter. Sorry about that.)
Robin and Artemis work themselves back to their feet, Robin groans holding his left arm. "Did we win?" he asks.
"At a cost." Aqualad replies, all of them keeping their backs to Doctor Fate, who still hovers in the air. No longer flickering.
Zatara steps closer and only when he steps between them do, they turn and follow him, and eventually his gaze. "Fate!" Zatara calls. Doctor Fate turns their head. "Great Nabu, release my daughter."
"No." Nabu's voice snarls underneath Zatanna's nearly dead tone. "Witnesses the havoc wrought in these hours. The world needs Doctor Fate," his hands raise out, encompassing what he's have seen, "and the girl's natural affinities for the Mystic Arts makes her the perfect candidate."
(Dundunduhdun, the reason I don't trust either DCUniverse or these Subtitles! My version had "Witness have been these last past hours", DCU has "Hear what the Helmet wants in these hours" and I put down what I swear ON MY LEFT FOOT I heard Nabu say. So, yeah, take that how you want.)
"You can't do that!" Artemis snaps.
"She has her own life to live!" Robin shouts.
"Kent would never allow you-" Kid snarls.
Fate cuts him off. "Kent Nelson did object," they turn towards him, glaring him down, "strenuously, so I released his spirit to the afterlife. He is gone."
Kid can only stare wide-eyed before exchanging looks with his teammates.
Giovanni steps up. "Take me, instead. My skills are already at their peak. My body is physically stronger, better able to withstand the strength of your power."
"All true." Fate agrees. "But if I remove the helmet, what guarantee have I that you will don it?"
"My word." he raises his hands out, open to Fate. "Ekat em daetsni."
Fate lowers out of the sky, landing before Zatara. Easing the Helmet off, the costume disappears as well. Only when Zatanna's eyes open does she seem back to awareness.
Her gaze brightens, clearly unaware of what her father agreed to. "Dad!"
Giovanni reaches out and pulls her into a hug. "Zatanna!" when they pull apart Giovanni looks at her sadly. "Remember, I love you." kissing her on the forehead. Taking the helmet from her grasp before turning to the Team and the Leaguers. "Take care of my girl."
"You have my word." Batman confirms.
Zatara lifts the helmet and Robin quickly moves to Zatanna's side as her eyes go wide and she realizes what's happening. "No, please!" she pushes the bird off, but he sticks close. "This was my fault! Dad, don't! Dad!"
The Helmet settles, and his green eyes close, flashing gold with Nabu's power.
Zatanna reaches out, hesitantly for her father, but Fate turns away. "Leave these to the Fate." levitating the villains and disappearing in a gold flash.
Zatanna drops to her knees, Robin following her down as Artemis and Kid Flash running over to her.
Wally runs through the streets, up the stairs only slowing when he reaches his front door. Mom? Dad?" Wally calls out.
The two of them come around the corner into the living room.
Wally can't keep from smiling, running to hug his mom and his holding both of them.
Dogs bark across the street while Dudley looks at a picture of him and Billy.
When suddenly, a flash and "SHAZAM!" rings out. Then Billy comes through the door of their apartment.
Billy rushes to hug him before he can get off the couch.
Artemis kneels on the floor hugging her mom around the waist and her mom tucks her head under her chin and holds her shoulders.
Mount Justice; November 7th, 09:16 EST
Wally looks at his souvenir shelf, where the missing space is. Then lifts the sippy cup he was given. His lip turns up and he places it where the helmet used to be.
M'gann, Artemis, and Robin all help Zatanna move boxes in. "And my room is right next door. If you need anything." M'gann says while Artemis stretches out her sore back and Robin sets down his box.
"Thanks. I, uh, could use a little alone time. Okay?" she asks numbly.
"Of course." Artemis assures.
They all leave, though Robin keeps his eye on Zatanna as he lets M'gann walk in front of him before following the two girls out.
He pauses at her doorway, turning over his shoulder to look her way for turning back and walking out. Closing the door behind him.
Alone, Zatanna sits on her bed and can't hold back her sobs.
Klarion laughs happily over the monitor. "Happy?"
"Oui, mon ami." the Brain agrees. "Your distraction, though peut-être extreme, was très effective." the door behind him opens, and in walks Riddler and Sportsmaster. "Amid your trademarked Chaos, no one will notice the absence of our prize."
Riddler sets the high-tech briefcase on the table before the Brain and opens it.
"And, in time, we will bring it into the Light."
A small tentacle sits inside it in a glass tube.