"So let me get this straight." I said, running my hands through my hair as I rode the elevator with Zatanna and Artemis. "This guy not only stole a magic sword for...God knows why, but he stabbed his sister to death to make his soul completely evil and referred to himself in the third person?"
"Crazy right?" Artemis asked.
"Not crazy. Criminally insane, and I don't like to use the 'I' word." I laughed. "Now I kind of wished I did go with you! Magic swords, preteen ghost girls, blowing up kitchens...exciting stuff." I paused. "Although on second thought...I don't think I'd be able to let that guy get away with killing his baby sister..."
As the elevator stopped we stepped out to see the tea, unloading groceries from the bio-ship as Batman,Red, and Zatara supervised.
"On another note, think Zatara will let you join the team?" Artemis asked Zatanna.
"I don't know..." Zatanna groaned. "Zatara's so overprotective! I mean, just getting him to let me visit takes a whole days begging!"
"You're only 14." I placed a hand on her shoulder. "You have plenty of time to join the team, or maybe even the league."
"I just wish he'd give me some space!" Zatanna exclaimed, and just like that: Batman, Red, and Zatara just disappeared.
There were there, and then they weren't.
"Dad!" Zatanna cried.
"I've tried to contact Red Arrow, but seeing as how he already turned 18: it was a dead end." I sighed into my com as I dropped three more infants to a resident high school, where a couple teenagers took the from my hands. "Other then that, I've helped teenagers set up camps in Star City, Beach City,France, and London. Not to mention my little brother on my back wondering where our father and older brother are. Which, you know, is something I would like to know as well! Please tell me we have some progress!"
"Unfortunatly not...I still haven't gotten through to Atlantis. But Megan, Conner, Artemis, and Wally have a hold on Happy Harbor, and Robin set Zatanna with Zatara's spell for locating the epicenter of the sorcery behind this." Kaldur explained, sounding just as tired as I felt.
"Okay, that's...something." I hummed, rubbing my face. "Could you send Wally and Artemis on field duty? I could use some more coverage."
"First we need you and Wally for the public announcement. Artemis will take your place, alright while you and Wally are busy." Kaldur said and I looked around, happy to see I had collected all the children I could.
"Alright, on my way to the nearest Zeta-tube." I said. "Don't worry Kaldur, we'll get a handle on this. It'll be alright."
A moment of radio silence followed before Kaldur answered. "Thank you Lina, see you soon."
"Attention children and teenagers of Earth." Kaldur began. "I am Aqualad; and these are my friends Zephyr, Robin, and Kid Flash."
"We are using Justice League tech to access and stream to every TV, radio, computer and smartphone on the planet." Robin explained.
"We know you must be scared and angry." Wally continued. "We know with your parents missing there's a temptation to run wild, but please: remain calm."
"We will find a way to bring the adults back, we're already putting all our efforts into it. But for the time being, we must ask for your help; please care for not only yourself, but also those younger then you. Schools are open for shelter and first aid."
"Take care of your younger siblings, take care of those who have no one." Robin added.
"Protect them." Wally said.
"It is up to you." Kaldur finished.
"Etacol retnecipe fo yrecros!" Zatanna cast as she pointe to the giant holographic globe, similar to how Zatara did it when he located the Injustice League's bas of operations. Suddenly, a red dot appeared.
"Coordinates locked, Roanoke Island. You did it." Robin congratulated.
Before anyone could do anything else, there was a loud crash of thunder and when we turned to see what had happened: a child with black hair and a red hoodie stood there. "It worked!" The kid exclaimed.
"Where did you come from? Who are you?" Kaldur asked, confused. But instead of answering, the kid turned to Megan.
"Quick! Read mymind!" The kid said, and just going through with it: Megan's eyes began to glow green.
"He's...Captain Marvel?!" Megan exclaimed, confused.
"Yeah, and I'm Speedy Gonzales." Wally scoffed disbelievingly. "Look, just because he believes he's Captain Marvel-""Wow Wally, do I really need to serve you nachos and Pineapple juice to get on your good side?"
The kid's statement blindsided all of us.
"This...actually explains a lot." I muttered.
"No time for this!" Captain Marvel said. "The grown ups didn't disappear! There are two worlds, and I can teleport between the two of them!"
"So my dad's okay?!" Zatanna exclaimed hopefully.
"Go." Kaldur said, taking charge. "Tell Batman that we need a plan!"
The kid nodded before yelling 'shazam' and disappearing ina blast of lightning.
Our first attack was the usual: Robin and Artemis using their weapons. This proved ineffective as Klarion (ayoung Lord of Chaos we had run into during the Kent Nelson mission) simply moved his hands to stop the weapons mid-fly, and then countered with an explosion aimed at the two martial artists. Out next move was a four-way attack with Conner, Kaldur and his water-hammers, Wally running jet-speed, and me flying top speed.
Klarion dodged by forming a red dome around himself and the magic circle he was on. All of us just crashed into the dome, falling back.
Zatanna attempted to cast a spell on Klarion's dome buthe proved much stronger and sent her flying. Luckily, I was able to fly up at top speed and catch her before she smashed into the ground.
"Thanks." She muttered.
"Don't mention it." I replied.
When we turned back to the fight, Klarion's weird orange cat had been formed into a giant sabertooth tiger, and had batted Conner away with a single swipe of its paw. Suddenly, I saw Klarion's face morph into one of interest.
"So you teamed up with the grownups, eh?" He muttered. "Teamwork's so overrated." And with that, he sent blue lightning attacks at all of us.
I groaned and keeled over in pain, trying not to let the pain get to me as I saw Robin and Artemis pass out. Wally went flying into a tree, Conner tried once more to attack the dome before stopping due to the pain, and Kaldur; who was originally able to channel the attack through his tattoos, eventually surrendered to the pain.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw kid-Captain-Marvel appear and begin to shout something when Megan placed a hand over his mouth.
"Don't shout Billy, I've linked you telepathically to the rest of the team." Megan said, almost motherly.
"Cool-I mean, it's the gem. Attack it, the worlds will form back into one." Billy said.
"That's all I needed to know." Zatanna said darkly before I see her pull out the helmet of Fate, how she got it I had no idea: but I knew it wasn't good.
"Zatanna!" Kaldur exclaimed.
"Don't do it!" Wally yelled, but it was too late. Before all our eyes: Zatanna was taken over by Nabu as she suddenly was clothed in a more feminine look.
"Billy! Tell Zatara!" Megan said, and with that Billy disappeared.
As we dragged Artemis and Robin into the shelter of the surrounding woods, Doctor Fate kept Klarion busy until Conner, Kaldur and I went to attack Klarion more, trying with everything we had to take down the dome.
"Ha! There! See!" Klarion said in a bragging voice. "When the world divide, so does the helmet. You're losing hold on that poor-soon to be dead-girl."
"NO!" Doctor Fate commanded. "Fate decrees that her sacrifice will not be in vain!"
And with that, the magical sorcerer laid on a huge energy attack that-with the help of all our collected efforts-lowered the barrier.
"No! No! No! No! NO!"Klarion screamed, but it was too late as Doctor Fate put him in a cross-like-headlock, and Wally grabbed the gem before throwing it at the sorcerer supreme. After a quick incantation; Batman, Red, Zatara, grown up Captain Marvel, and four adult evil sorcerers appeared.
Before anyone could do anything, Klarion got out of the headlock and escaped through a magic portal.
"Aren't you going to stop him?" Wally asked Fate.
"To what end? Klarion in chaos personified: he cannot be contained." Fate said in a fusion of his and Zatanna's voices.
As the leaguers roped up the remaining sorcerers, Robin and Artemis awoke.
"Did we win?" Robin said groggily.
"At a cost." Kaldur explained as Zatara walked up to Fate.
"Great Nabu, please release my daughter." Zatara 'gently' ordered.
"...no." Fate answered, shocking us all. "Witnessing the world needs Doctor Fate, and the girl's natural affinity for the arts makes her the perfect candidate."
"She's just a girl!" I exclaim.
"You can't do that!" Artemis agrees.
"She has a life of her own." Robin added.
"Kent would never allow you-""Kent Nelson did object strenuously, so I released his spirit to the afterlife. He is gone."
Shocked, Wally looked down; saddened by the news that his close friend had passed on for good.
"Take me instead." We all turned to see Zatara staring Fate straight in the eye. "My skills are already at their peak, my body more physically stronger and better able to withstand the strain of your power."
"All true..." Fate agreed. "But if I remove the helmet, what guarantee do I have that you will don it?"
"My word." Zatara said, opening his arms to Fate, both figuratively and literally. Fate lowered down, slowly removing the helmet and Zatanna's body reverted back to normal.
"Dad!" The girl exclaimed happily as she embraced her father. "Zatanna!"
After the two embraced for a long moment, but afterwards: Zatara placed a kiss on his daughter's forehead and pulled away, the helmet in hand and whispering 'I love you'. Zatara then turned to Batman. "Look after my little girl."
"You have my word." Batman promised.
"No!" Zatanna exclaimed. "Please! Dad!" This is my fault! Don't!"
Robin ran over to Zatanna, going to comfort her but she pushed him away. She tried to reach for her father, but it was too late as he donned the helmet and Fate took over his body.
As Fate disappeared through a magic portal, Robin, Artemis and I ran towards Zatanna's fallen figure and embrace her, trying to sooth her as she cried.
"Papa? Calvin?" I asked as I ran through the door. As I opened the door, I was happy to see my family embracing, Leo in the middle of a group hug. Laughing, I rushed over to them and joined the group hug.