Chapter 35: Nightmares
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I'd like to thank masters123lfm for the characters in this chapter. I put quite a few surprises in this one. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
It was early in the morning at Jaden's house when Jaden's alarm clock went off.
"Ugh I hate the sound of this thing." Jaden groans as a web shot out at the alarm shutting it off. "Is it a school break? What am I doing home?" Making his way to the bathroom Jaden looks at the mirror in his room and screams seeing he had 6 arms.
"Jaden? Is everything alright?" Maya said knocking on door.
"Everything's fine mom. Really." Jaden said when the door opened to reveal his mom with a giant spider head. "Mom what is that?!"
"Oh this old thing? You got it for my birthday." Maya said gesturing to her hat clearly oblivious. "Are you alright sweetie? Do you have a fever?" Maya asks walking over.
"No I am totally fine." Jaden said backing away when a magic circle appeared in front of him and Zatanna appeared. "Zee?" Jaden said Zatanna turned around and blasted him out his window.
Screaming Jaden woke up to see he was back at Super Hero High and had fallen asleep in class. "Oh man, I just had a crazy dream."
"Your Mom had a Spider head and you had extra arms?" Zatanna said walking up to him.
"Okay how did you know?" Jaden asks.
"Dream walking, but it wasn't natural." Iron Fist said walking in with Wonder Woman. "Took most of mine and Zatanna's energy to save the 4 of us before we ended up like them."
Looking around the class, Jaden saw all his classmates even the teacher asleep at their desks. "What is going on here?"
"Dreams are the window to the soul and someone has slammed them all shut." Iron Fist.
"I do not like the sound of that." Jaden said grabbing his Spider-Man mask and putting it on.
"So if we're the only ones awake how do we wake everyone else up?" Wonder Woman asks.
"This has supernatural all over it." Iron Fist said.
"We need to get to the School's Magic teacher." Zatanna said.
"This school has a magic teacher?" Jaden asks.
"He's a master of the Mystic Arts but he only takes students who are knowledgeable in this area, like the three of us." Zatanna gestured.
"You too Wonder Woman?" Spider-Man asks.
"Lotta magic involved at Themyscria." She nods as they walk down the hall.
"So who's the wizard?" Spider-Man asks.
"He's not a Wizard, he's a doctor." Iron Fist said when they heard a loud rattling from the front door.
All four heroes braced themselves for what was on the other side when it opened to reveal a muscular man in a red suit, white cape and lightning bolt on his chest. This was Shazam.
"Oh good, I'm not the only one awake." Shazam smiles at the four heroes who were surprised to see a Justice League member in front of them.
"A member of the Justice League." Spider-Man said surprised.
"Shazam, it is an honor to meet you." Iron Fist bows.
"Aww stop you're gonna make me blush." Shazam said brushing it off. "Everyone seems to have fallen asleep where ever they are it's crazy."
"The whole city?" Spider-Man asks.
"Try the whole world. I can't reach anyone else in the League at the moment." Shazam said.
"So why are you here?" Spider-Man asks.
"To see me." Walking out of the shadows was a man with black hair, a red cape and a fancy amulet around his neck. This was Doctor Strange, Super Hero High's magic teacher. "Iron Fist, Zatanna, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man I'm impressed to see you all conscious."
"It was your training that saved us." Iron Fist said.
"I found Spider-Man just before he fell under the spell." Zatanna said.
Doctor Strange looks at Spider-Man and waves his hand in front of him. "Interesting, he is uniquely connected to this reality by energies that would act as a beacon. You're lucky to have this Spider-Sense as you call it."
"Was that mind-reading? Guess what number I'm thinking of." Spider-Man said.
"You're not thinking of a number, you're thinking of flapjacks." Doctor Strange said causing Zatanna to giggle as they made their way to his office.
"I wouldn't mind some flapjacks myself when this is over." Shazam said.
In his office, the 6 of them were looking into the cauldron as a demonic face appeared.
"Nightmare." Shazam growled.
"You know this guy?" Spider-Man asks.
"The self-proclaimed, King of Dreams. He's tried to escape the Dream Realm for eons and has finally found a way through." Doctor Strange said.
"But dreams aren't another world, they're what's in our heads." Spider-Man said.
"To most people but dreams are an entirely new world. Nightmare escaped and has cast everyone under his spell." Wonder Woman said.
"By giving them nothing but nightmares he can feed himself for eternity." Shazam said.
"Even so, this doesn't exactly sound up my ally." Spider-Man said.
"Destiny chose you to be here for a reason Spider-Man if you want to save the world you'll have to step outside your comfort zone." Doctor Strange said.
"Ready?" Shazam asks.
"Prepare yourselves we are about to enter the dream world and stop Nightmare or else humanity will fall." Doctor Strange said as a magic circle appeared at everyone's feet and they were transported to the dream world which was multiple paths with doors almost everywhere.
"Amazing." Wonder Woman said.
"Everyone stay on the path." Doctor Strange said when Spider-Man walks up to one door and opens it.
"What the? Supergirl?" Spider-Man looks to see Supergirl on Krypton as it was being destroyed.
"No! NO!" Supergirl screams dropping to her knees and holding her head.
"Kara it's only a dream." Spider-Man runs to her but when he grabs her hand but she vanishes.
"That is her dream-self Spider-Man. While under Nightmare's control she cannot see or hear you. Nor can the others." Doctor Strange explains.
In Poison Ivy's dream, Ivy was running with a bucket of water.
"Hang on!" Ivy screams as she ran to the greenhouse that was on fire, but the more water she threw onto the flames the more they grew.
"Poor Ivy." Wonder Woman winces.
In Black Panther's dream, T'Challa was kneeling before his father who was sitting on Wakanda's throne.
"You are unworthy of the throne and of the title Black Panther. You are banished from Wakanda forever!" King T'Chaka said.
"Father no please! Give me one more chance!" T'Challa begs as the guards grabbed him by the arms.
"Oh man that's scary." Spider-Man said.
In Harley's dream, Harley was screaming in agony.
"Make it stop! Please!" Harley screams as she was forced to work on stacks upon stacks of homework while Vice Principal Grodd was across the room pointing and laughing at her. "NOOO!"
"Even Harley's nightmares are crazy." Zatanna said.
"Who knows what lurks in the dark?" Iron Fist asks.
"Homework really is scary." Shazam said.
"Okay you guys have convinced me, we need to stop this and fast." Spider-Man said.
"Too late for that little Spider. I caught you and the Doctor sleeping on the job and now the world belongs to Nightmare!" A sinister voice said. Looking down the path a man with pale skin, wild black hair was sitting on a dark horse looking down at them, this was Nightmare.
"Oh man now I really wish I was dreaming." Spider-Man gulps.
"Playtime is over Nightmare." Shazam said creating a lighting bolt and threw it at Nightmare forcing him to jump off his horse.
"Feel the sting of the Crimson Chains of Cyttorrak!" Using this opening Doctor Strange summoned chains but Nightmare slashed them away.
"You two are still playing the same old game, but as you can see I have changed the rules. Dreamons!" Nightmare raised his sword and from the doors multiple dream demons appeared.
"I think Mr. Boogey and his friends need some sun." Spider-Man said as the Dreamons attacked them.
Spider-Man kicked one but it reappeared above and knocked him to the ground. "That should be against the laws of physics."
Running in Wonder Woman whacks the Dreamon with her shield. "The only law in this place is survive."
"The 6 of us are living beings walking the land of dreams. If we lose here, we'll be lost forever." Iron Fist warns.
"Got it, no losing." Spider-Man said.
"Shroud-Blade of Shar'oth!" Doctor Strange spun around and multiple blades flew towards Nightmare while Shazam ran in with the Speed of Mercury.
"Oh please. I'm practically drowning in power while you two are still using the same tried tricks." Nightmare deflects the blades and kicks Shazam in the face knocking him into Strange.
Both heroes stand up only for Nightmare to appear out of different dream doors and nail them both again and again.
"I confine you with the Mists of Manopoor!" Strange yells releasing mist everywhere to reveal Nightmare.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you that smoking is bad?" Nightmare asks as he inhales all the smoke and blows it in their faces.
"And secondhand smoke is even worse. Why don't leave the jokes to people who know what they're saying." Spider-Man said firing webs at him.
"How desperate you must be. Allying yourself with children. What a joke." Nightmare laughs turning his horse into a giant spider. "Cede your defeat! This is the eternal night! My world my rules!"
"Shield of the Seraphim!" Strange said creating a barrier to protect them.
"Can't you guys like do a magic combo attack and beat him?" Spider-Man asks.
"With so many minds to feed on he's too powerful." Doctor Strange winced.
"We can't punch our way out of this one." Shazam said.
"So what else can we do?" Zatanna asks.
"We must weaken him. Nightmare will try to separate us and attack through our fears but you must keep your wit or we are done." Doctor Strange said.
"What about you guys?" Spider-Man asks.
"Like I'm gonna give that werido the satisfaction!" Shazam said.
"Agreed I do not have the luxury of fear." Strange said.
"Impressive." Spider-Man said when he noticed Iron Fist and Wonder Woman walking through a door. "Oh no!"
"We gotta stop them!" Zatanna said as they ran after them.
Using the strength of Hercules Shazam smashes the spider to the ground as Doctor Strange blasts it away.
"I hate bugs." Shazam said when he noticed the students were gone.
"And we're alone." Doctor Strange sighs.
Wandering through the mountains Spider-Man and Zatanna followed Iron Fist and Wonder Woman.
"Guys come on. We need to stick together." Spider-Man said.
"This is K'un Lun, it's where I became Iron Fist, this is my home." Iron Fist said.
"Not anymore." A voice said as two figures emerged.
On was Hippolyta and the other was a large red dragon.
"Mom." Wonder Woman gasps.
"Shou Lao." Iron Fist said as the two of them readied themselves.
"No it's just Nightmare!" Zatanna said.
"Don't worry Zatanna, I've faced my mom many times." Wonder Woman said.
"And I defeated Shou Lao in order to earn this." Iron Fist said as his fist glowed until Shou Lao absorbed it surprising them.
"You two are a disgrace to your homes. Especially you!" Hippolyta said pointing at Wonder Woman. "To fall under the control of a man. I should destroy you right now!" Hippolyta raised her sword and attacked.
"Mom stop!" Wonder Woman said raising her shield only to be knocked back.
"You are undeserving of your talents." Shou Lao said.
"Don't listen to him Danny, you earned the name Iron Fist." Zatanna said.
"I-I know but there was always a part of me that wondered if it was a mistake." Iron Fist admits.
Spider-Man and Zatanna ran to try and help only for Shou Lao to blast them out the door where Doctor Strange and Shazam were being overwhelmed by Nightmare.
"Glad you two could join us." Shazam said.
"We gotta stop him." Zatanna said.
"You had me at first but I am no child. I am the Master of the Mystic Arts!" Doctor Strange declared.
"Yeah bring it doc!" Spider-Man said.
"Agreed, bring it." Nightmare mocks.
Shazam charged up and was about to release lighting only for it to turn into a joy buzzer.
Strange tried to attack only to summon flowers.
"Uh what's going on here? I don't get the plan." Spider-Man said confused.
"There is no plan because they have lost." Nightmare grins growing larger in size and his hair turned to flames.
"Zatanna!" Spider-Man yelled as she waved her wand.
"Tropelet Su!" Zatanna said as Nightmare launched an attack but they teleported out of the way in time.
"He's too powerful." Strange said when Shazam screams turning into Billy Batson.
"I don't even have enough power to fight back." Billy pants as Doctor Strange's clothes turned to normal.
"It's just you and me now, Spider-Man." Zatanna said.
Turning to Nightmare both of them went on the attack.
"He's just playing with your fears like Iron Fist and Wonder Woman." Spider-Man punching Nightmare. "It's not real!"
Grinning Nightmare grabs Spidey by his arms.
"But it is." Nightmare throws Spider-Man into Zatanna knocking them both backward only to look up and see Nightmare smash them both through the pathway to a lower level.
Crashing down Spider-man and Zatanna groaned in pain when Nightmare appeared in front of them.
"Strange, Iron Fist, Wonder Woman and Shazam are true believers and now all that's left is a little bug and a stage performer." Nightmare mocks as they both stood up.
"Take your best shot, Boogeyman." Spider-Man mocks.
"You're not gonna pull the helmet over my eyes." Zatanna said.
"Shot? Helmet? Such perfect words remind me of two people you both knew." Nightmare said waving his hand and behind Spider-Man his house appeared while Zatanna saw a stage to her left. "Two men who believed you in both and they lost everything because of it. Your greatest failures."
Walking out of Jaden's house, Ryan Cooper appeared while on stage a man with black hair in a magician's outfit appeared. This was Giovanni Zatarra.
"Welcome to your nightmares!" Nightmare declared.
"Dad." They both said shocked.
"Ladies first." Nightmare waved his hand and Zatanna appeared on stage with Zatarra who looked over to her.
"Zatanna." He said acknowledging her.
"Dad what are you doing here?" Zatanna asks.
"To correct my greatest mistake." Zatarra said putting on a golden mask and turning into Doctor Fate. "You failed! This was your fault I'm what I am today because you were weak!"
"Dad I'm sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen!" Zatanna said with tears in her eyes.
"You are a disgrace to magic everywhere!" Doctor Fate said blasting her across the stage.
Nightmare grins seeing Zatanna cower in fear, turning to Spider-Man Ryan Cooper was walking up to him as he seemed paralyzed in fear.
"Dad?" Spider-Man asks as a smile appeared on Ryan's face.
"How's it going Jaden?" Ryan asks hugging him. "Still daydreaming?"
"You're half right." Jaden said taking off his mask.
"Love the suit." Ryan said causing Jaden to smile.
It's great to see you." Jaden said confusing Nightmare.
"Great to see you? This is your ultimate failure, your greatest fear." Nightmare said.
"You said that already. Who's the weirdo?" Ryan asks.
"He's pathetic is what he is. Nightmare you don't know my dad and you don't know me." Jaden walks to Nightmare causing him to back up. "You think this is some buried secret? I think about my dad every day, but not the way you think. I took responsibility for what happened and turned it into something special, helping people every day as Spider-Man. Guess who taught me that trick?" Jaden asks as Ryan smiles.
Firing two webs Jaden spins Nightmare around and throws him into the house.
"That's my boy." Ryan smiles handing Jaden back his mask.
"Bye dad, I miss you." Jaden said putting the mask on.
"Kick his ass, Jaden." Ryan said before disappearing.
"This is my dream, huh? Let's see what I really dream of." Spider-Man said as he looked inside to see a young him waking up from a nightmare.
"Whoa Jaden is everything okay?" Ryan asks.
"I had a nightmare. You and mom were…"
"Hey it's okay. We all have nightmares, they're not real. What's real is the dreams we make, how we live our lives every day." Ryan said as Spider-Man looks to see Nightmare growing weaker.
"So that's it. Magic may be real but with nightmares once you face them there's nothing to be afraid of." Spider-Man said as Nightmare screams in agony.
From their areas, Billy and Doctor Strange heard the screams as well.
"Impressive, the boy's actually doing it." Strange smiles.
"Way to go Spidey." Billy smiles. "SHAZAM!" Lighting struck the Dreamons allowing Doctor Strange and Shazam to appear at Spider-Man's side.
"Glad you guys could make it." Spider-Man said as Doctor Strange created a microphone.
"Would you do the honors?" Doctor Strange asks.
"Hello everyone, MC Web Head here with a little something called, there's nothing to be afraid of it's just a nightmare!" Spider-Man said waking everyone up.
As Doctor Fate blasted Zatanna to the ground her hat fell off her head. Doctor Fate raised his hand to finish her off.
"Like I said weak." Doctor Fate said when Zatanna heard Spider-Man's words.
He was about to attack when she grabs his arm and stops him. "No, I'm not weak. My father made his choice and he never doubted my abilities FOR A SECOND!" Zatanna roars blasting the helmet clear off his face knocking Zatarra to the ground.
Zatanna panted heavily as Zatarra stood up and walked over to her picking up her hat.
"I never have and I never will." Zatarra smiles kissing her forehead before putting the hat back on her head. "I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks dad." Zatanna smiles.
"I love you Zatanna." He said before disappearing.
With Wonder Woman and Iron Fist, they were on their knees worn out from their battles with Shou Lao and Hippolyta when they heard Spider-Man's echo.
"I earned the Iron Fist. I use it to the best of my ability. I honor that power through my actions and no one can take that from me! Not even you!" Iron Fist said as his fist glowed destroying the dragon.
Hippolyta swings her sword but Wonder Woman raised her shield absorbing the hit as it knocked her to the ground.
"Last chance, stand down and accept your punishment." Hippolyta said as Wonder Woman stood and took a fighting stance.
"I can do this all day." Wonder Woman declared.
Hippolyta charged forward but as she swung her sword Wonder Woman sidestepped and whacked her in the face with her shield shattering the nightmare.
Soon Nightmare was on the ground looking up at all 6 heroes glaring him down.
"Nice entrance." Spider-Man said as his friends joined them.
"We try." Wonder Woman said.
"Thank you for believing in me and showing me the truth." Iron Fist said.
"No I had them…I had them all!" Nightmare screams when Shazam flew ahead and punched Nightmare high into the air.
Zatanna pulls out her wand and fired bindings at him while Spider-Man shot a web tying him up as they swung him towards Iron Fist and Wonder Woman who nail him in the face.
"Pleasant Dreams." Doctor Strange said opening a box that released multiple tentacles that pulled Nightmare in trapping him inside.
Back in Strange's office, he picked up the box as they all appeared back in Super Hero High.
"Oh man that was awesome." Shazam smiles.
"So is Nightmare gone for good?" Spider-Man asks.
"No, there will always be nightmares, but when we overcome them we can learn and be stronger from them. You reminded us of that Spider-Man." Doctor Strange smiles.
"Yeah Spidey, way to shine and be the hero." Shazam said high fiving him.
"Shazam you better get going before everyone wakes up." Doctor Strange said.
"Yeah you're probably right. Knowing Batman and Superman those two are gonna want an explanation. See ya round guys." Shazam said leaving.
"Still I learned something from this too. We could use some magic. Doctor Strange, Iron Fist, Zatanna." Spider-Man said getting their attention. "How would you three like to join the Avengers?"
Big smiles appear on Zatanna and Iron Fist's face while Doctor Strange simply smirks.
"Boy our team just keeps growing." Wonder Woman smiles.
"Speaking of team, you better go check on your classmates." Doctor Strange said.
As they walked out Spider-Man felt a hand on his shoulder and saw Zatanna looking at him.
"Hey uh can we talk?" She asks.
"Sure." He nods.
In Zee's room, Jaden looked around to see so many magical items and pictures.
"Wow." Jaden said when he noticed a picture of a young Zee and her father. "Wait, who's this guy?"
"That's my dad." Zee said walking in. "Giovanni Zatara, member of the Justice League and one of the greatest magicians in the world until I messed up."
"What happened?" Jaden asks as she sat down on her bed.
"It was all my fault. My dad warned me not to use it but I did." Zee said as Jaden sat down next to her.
"You wanna talk about it?" Jaden asks.
"I was just starting off as a hero and as my dad's assistant. We were a great team, but one day we were facing a powerful enemy in the magic arts. He was about to finish off my dad when I put on the Helmet of Fate to save him. I won the match but Fate wanted to keep my body saying that the world needed him." Zee admits.
"You were gonna become Dr. Fate?" Jaden asks shocked.
"Until my dad stepped up. He offered up his body in place of mine because of my stupid choices I lost my dad." Zee said as tears built up in her eyes.
"Didn't realize we had so much in common." Jaden admits causing her to look up. "That's how I lost mine. When I first lost him it hurt so much, but I never let it bring me down. Instead of moping about the loss I use him as my inspiration the fact that I'm here is proof of how much my dad means to me and it's the same with you. Your dad loved you so much he gave up his life so you could have yours." Jaden said as Zee wipes the tears away.
"Thanks Jaden." She smiles.
"We'll make our dads proud, together." Jaden smiles.
Touched by this Zee leans in and kisses Jaden on the lips. Jaden is surprised by this at first but leans in and kisses back.
This day may have started off a total nightmare but in the end it turned out magical.