Disclaimer:
Hawk: "Let's do it!"
Hawk & Dove: "Hank's World! Hank's World! Party time! EXCELLENT!"
Dove: "Well everyone. This week we've got a special treat for all of you!"
Hawk: "Please welcome our special guest: Booooster Gold!"
Carson show music plays in the background as Booster beams in waving at the camera and blowing kisses at it.
Dove rolls his eyes as Hank greets Booster and pulls a chair in from off screen.
Booster then suddenly gets nervous as he spies a familiar looking couch.
Booster: "Wait a minute…isn't this-"
Hank quickly dives at him and claps a hand over Booster's mouth.
Hawk: "Uh-no this is an undisclosed location."
Booster: "But it looks like-"
Hawk: "Un- disclosed…location!!"
Booster: "….uh….right."
Booster then takes his chair but looks nervously around the room as if something is going to jump out and attack him.
Hawk: "So Booster, what have you been up to lately in the world of superheroing?"
Don just glares at Hank.
Dove: "I don't even think 'superheroing' is a word, Hank."
Hawk: "Shove it, Don."
Booster: "Well I've been going on a lot more missions now. And there's even been talk about me getting my own Saturday morning show!"
Dove: "Cool! What's it going to be called?"
Booster: "Booster Gold:" he says with a big sweep of his hand "Defender of Gumdrop Valley!"
Both Hank and Don snort and try very hard not to laugh at this.
Booster glares at them.
Booster: "Shut up! I know it sounds a little lame, but it's a kid's show."
Hawk: "A little-"
Dove: "Hank….leave Michael to his disillusionment."
Booster: "My who, what?"
Dove: sigh "Never mind. So what do Skeets and Blue Beetle think about the new show?"
Booster: "Well….Beetle's bummed because the executives won't let him be on….something about giant bugs being too scary or something."
Hawk: "Yes- well…I'm sure Rainbow Bright and the My Little Ponies will offer you their time as guest stars."
Dove: "Uh…Hank. We're not really ones to talk. After all we have him on as a guest, remember?"
Hawk stops laughing.
Hawk: "..."
Booster rolls his eyes.
Booster: "You guys are just jealous. At least my show's going to be on cable."
Hawk: "….Touché."
Dove: "Anyway, so what's Skeets' part?"
Booster: "Well…he's still my sidekick. But the executives wanted to make him seem a bit more, kid friendly. Skeets! Come on out!"
Skeets of screen: "I do not think so, sir. This outfit is humiliating and degrading. I will have no more part in this."
Booster: "Skeets…think of the kids….you don't want to disappoint them, right?"
Skeets: "….Fine."
Skeets flys into frame dressed in a koala bear outfit. His glowing red eye looks at Booster annoyed.
Hawk, seeing this, falls off the couch and rolls around in laughter. Dove chokes down a laugh as he tries to finish up the scene.
Dove: "Well…that's very cute, Skeets. I'm sure the kids will love it. That's all for this week's show!"
Hawk: "HAHAHAHA! My spleen! You look like the Teddy Bear from Hell!"
Dove: "Uh…anyway. Mists owns nothing and now with the fic!"
-Trial and Error-
-Wally's POV-
Wally wasn't sure exactly why. But he was experiencing an almost euphoric kind of joy at the thought of mentoring Bruce.
Maybe it was all the training Batman had been subjecting him to on a weekly basis…
But he found the role reversal immensely satisfying.
After Shayera had woken Wally up at five o'dark thirty in the morning to the call of; "Come on, Bro. Early bird gets the worm!"
Wally made his way over to Bruce's room to wake him up. Now, waking up the Batman from slumber is terrifying enough, but to do it when he has super-speed …proved to be nearly down right suicidal.
Before Wally could even touch the man's arm to shake him awake, Bruce had sprung up from the covers and violently slammed him against the wall. He did this with such force that Bruce ended up cracking the drywall.
As Bruce stared at Wally's dust covered form in shock, a loud, angry voice bellowed, "I would like to reiterate: STOP DESTROYING MY PARENTS' HOUSE!"
"Lesson number one," coughed Wally with plaster dust falling around his head. "Slow down the velocity of your arm before you hit something!"
Bruce had the decency to look a little ashamed when he let Wally down from the wall.
"Sorry," he mumbled, grudgingly.
Wally massaged the crick in his neck as he painfully sat up.
"S'right, Bats. Just get in my spare costume and meet me outside, okay?" said the former speedster as he quickly made his get away. He had a feeling he knew why Bats attacked him like that.
Waking from a nightmare…or rather a horrific memory…was not fun.
…and he was going to say no more about it.
Needless to say, Wally had gained a whole new respect for Alfred in that moment. To face waking up that every morning took guts.
That ordeal was several hours ago, and now Wally felt fully recovered and was sitting on cloud nine.
When Bruce sped outside wearing Wally's Flash costume…it took everything he had not to laugh.
Bats of course saw this and immediately started to glare. "Ah-ah… you're pretending to be me, remember. The Flash doesn't glare…he smiles," Wally said drawing a smile line over his face with his finger.
Bruce growled a bit at this and proceeded to change his expression to a grin.
To say the expression looked sadistically frightening was an understatement.
"Bats," Wally exasperatedly sighed. "I meant a kind smile. Not a homicidal Joker smile!"
"Sorry kid, best I can do," said Bats with a shrug.
"Bats: 471, Wally: 468," thought Wally with a frown. And yes, he had included the manure incident in that tally. Mr. Kent had accidentally spilled the beans about that when
Wally spoke to him that morning about helping with Bruce's training. Whether the pile was to save his life or to make him look like a fool was irrelevant.
Bats was still going to pay.
"Uh-huh…sure, Bats. Well let's get started with your training," said Wally sarcastically as Mr. Kent stepped out of his barn carrying various large bags over his shoulder and a wheelbarrow full of manure.
Bruce's eyes went wide in a very Wally like manner.
"Morning, Bruce," said Mr. Kent jovially. "It was really nice of you and your friend to offer helping me out in the fields today."
Wally came up behind the frozen Bat-flash and gave him a pat on the back as he replied to Mr. Kent.
"It's our pleasure, sir. You and Martha opened your home to us, it's the least we can do to pay you back…Right, Bats?" asked Wally with a wicked tone to his voice.
Bruce then broke out of his stunned stupor and forced himself to grin. "Yes…it's-it's no trouble at all, Mr. Kent."
"Good boys, the both of you. Clark can't help me today 'cause he really needs to help John get control of his powers. Apparently the boy accidentally broke both my tiller and harvester yesterday while strength training. So it looks like the three of us will have to do it the old fashioned way."
Wally watched Bruce's twitching eye with rapture.
"That's okay Mr. Kent. Bruce has super-speed now. So between the three of us, it shouldn't take too long."
"Well, bless you boys anyway for helping out an old farmer," he replied sincerely and started to pick up the wheelbarrow.
Wally saw the embarrassed look just start to take over Bruce's face when the former Dark Knight suddenly jumped up and offered to help Mr. Kent with the wheelbarrow.
Later in the fields, when Bruce was taking a break under the shade of a tree…Wally sat down next to him with a smile.
"So?" he asked as he handed Bruce a water bottle.
"So what?" Bruce replied after taking a big swig. "I don't see what this is supposed to teach me, kid. Yes, I'm getting use to using your powers but-"
Wally laughed and gave him a light punch in the shoulder. "Bats…remember when I took a break from the League for a bit?"
Bruce nodded in response.
"Well, I needed to remind myself of just who and what I was fighting for. And being in the dark so long…facing monumental evil…you forget sometimes about what really matters in life. The Flash helps people in the light. Enjoy this opportunity, Bats. Allow people to see you as a person and thank you. You're not the Dark Knight right now. It's time you remember who Bruce Wayne is…."
Bruce just stared at Wally for a while. God he hoped his words sunk in. Bats was the most stubborn person he had ever met. If Bruce was going to be a believable Flash…he had to let go of trying to control everything and simply go with the flow.
Finally, Bruce looked away and sighed, "Fine…not sure what good it will do. But…I'll try."
"That's all I want…Flash," Wally said with a laugh and got up to stretch.
"Wally…" said Bruce looking down at the ground.
"Yes?"
"Did you have to volunteer us to fertilize the other fields, too?" Bats grumbled, lightly with a slight grin.
"Well, when I found out you knew so much about it: How could I resist?" he hissed and slapped Bat-flash on the back, hard.
The look on Bruce's face was priceless.
It was his, "I'll get you next time Joker" glare.
Wally, of course, ignored this and whistled happy as he walked away. All the while thinking, "Wally: 474, Bruce: 471."
-Shayera's POV-
"Face it John, it's hopeless," said Shayera with an exasperated sigh. John had been going on and on all morning about "Attuning one's mental disciplines" and "Surface thought" versus "Inner thought."
It all sounded like a bunch of bull to her.
They had been at it all morning and she still couldn't create a lasting sphere.
"Look," said GL as he straightened her arm, "After you create the image of the object in you're mind you need to keep feeding you're will into it to maintain it."
"Okay," Shayera growled and formed the image of the sphere in her mind again. She felt the energy of the Lantern's light build within her. In a way, it almost felt like how she called upon the energy in her mace; except this energy had greater depth and volume. It could be manipulated subtly in order to create a physical form. And in turn, took far more mental control.
The bright green energy shot out of the ring and formed a sphere. Shayera then pushed her will into it. Sweat poured down her face as she tried to regulate the flow. But just as it had happen the last three times, she pushed too hard and it ended up popping it like a bubble.
John caught Shayera as she was blasted backwards by the encoring explosion.
"Yom Shigureth! Why does that keep happening?" she screamed as John helped to right her.
"Because you're pushing too hard, Shayera. Just let a constant stream of thought flow through to maintain the form," replied John.
"Yeah, yeah I know. 'It's the mind, not the metal.' I hear you. And I swear, if you say 'Become one with the light,' again I'll slug you!" she said gruffly, brandishing her fist. It was then that she noticed that John had yet to remove his hand from her shoulder.
She gave him an inquisitive look as he placed his other hand gently on her waist.
"I…don't think Mari would approve of the way you're holding me right now…" Shayera whispered softly…as she started to lose herself in his warm, dark eyes. It was rare that she got to see them, usually they glowed green with the Lantern's light.
John then suddenly looked away. She caught the glimmer of hidden pain in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, John," she said, quickly apologizing. "I didn't mean-"
But John interrupted her, "No…it's just…Mari…and I aren't together anymore."
Shayera could hardly believe her ears. She felt her breath catch in her chest. Could it be? Had John finally made a choice? Did he really want a life with her?
But then she felt her eyes narrow. "No," she thought, "He wouldn't look this ashamed if he had done it himself."
"Who broke it off?" asked Shayera, coldly.
"I-"
"She did," she said with certainty. "Don't bother trying to lie to me, John. I can tell."
Shayera watched as John flinched at the coldness in her voice.
"Shayera- please. Let me just explain-"
"No, John," she said pulling away from his grasp.
GL let her, but he still tried to get her to listen, "Shayera, I understand-"
"No, John. You don't. This was not your choice. It was Mari's. She wanted more. And now that she's gone, I'm what's left!"
"Shayera! It's not-"
"It's not what, John?" she yelled in his face, barely keeping her tears at bay. She was strong. She would not cry. "What happens a few months down the road, when there's another Mari? An out so that you don't have to follow the future you saw? Don't you want a family? A real life, John. Or is it that you simply don't want it with me?"
And with that Shayera quickly turned and started to make her way back toward the house.
"Shayera! Please wait!" exclaimed John's strained voice as he feebly reached out his arm to stop her.
"No, I can't hear it now. Think hard about what you want, John. Because I love you, but I won't fight for your heart anymore if you don't truly love me."
And with that Shayera turned away and headed back inside.
-Clark's POV-
"So visiting the folks again, eh Smallville?" asked Lois over the phone.
Clark always smirked a little when she tried to raise his ire. It had become old routine between them over the years. There was just something fun and challenging about these arguments they had.
"Perry says you're running out of vacation days. Not that I mind…all the more headlines for me."
"Oh I see how it is," he said into the phone. "Can't get them on your own so you have to wait until I'm out town. That doesn't say much for your skills as a reporter, Lois."
"Watch it, hotshot," she growled menacingly. "I get the front page three times as often as you do."
"Sure, you do…" he laughed while twirling the phone cord around his finger. "But if I'm not mistaken, I'm the one that usually brings in the big name stories like the Sam Salon embezzlement scandal and Drexel's mob connections."
"Please, peanuts the lot of them. I took down Gregory Farlone, remember? Not to mention Ex- congressman Bezel and his drug trafficking ring."
"Yeah, and nearly got killed for it."
"Details, details, Smallville. Someone has to wash away the slime to get to the gritty truth."
"Yeah, Lois. But it was a close call that time. You shouldn't take chances like that," he replied gripping the bridge of his nose.
"Worried about me? Aw…what a softy. I'm touched, really."
"I'm serious, Lois."
"Yeah, yeah… So…everything alright on the home front?"
"I- what?" asked Clark, confused.
"Well… you already went to see your Ma and Pa just a little while ago…I was curious if anything was wrong…"
"Oh," replied Clark a little surprised. Lois never seemed that concerned about him personally before. But then again; she always had her own crass, roundabout way of showing people she cared. Lois was a very independent woman, and she kept her feelings and emotions close to her chest. He really admired the way she would stand up to the dominate males in her profession. But sometimes…he just wished she'd let go in front of him…
…Like she does for Superman.
Sometimes it really stunk playing second fiddle to yourself. But then again, having her in love with Clark Kent instead wouldn't make things any less complicated either.
But the thing was that when he thought of himself as a person…he was Clark.
Not Kal-El, not Son of Krypton, not Super-well, anything.
Clark Kent was the real him, faults and all. If Lois loved the real him, maybe it would make everything else easier to accept.
"Oh yeah, Ma and Pa are just fine. Dad needed some help in fields is all. It's harvesting time you know."
Lois just snorted at this. "If you say so, Farm-boy. Give them my regards, okay?"
"Sure!" laughed Clark a little nervously. "But I'd be careful, Lois. You actually sounded borderline, sentimental. Now who's going soft?"
"Whatever hotshot," she said gruffly. Then…suddenly, her voice became soft, almost a whisper. "Anytime you want to talk. Just…know that I'm here for you, okay?"
"I-" started Clark, shocked. Something seemed off with her. "I- sure. Of course, Lois. I-I've always known that."
"Good. Well I've got to get going. Perry wants my rough draft in an hour."
"Sure, Lois," said Clark hastily as he tried to lighten up the mood. "But you'd better watch out. 'Cause when I come back; I'll be there with a vengeance! Who knows, I just may get the exclusive with Superman this time instead of you. Little Miss Fancy-pants reporter!"
But Lois' usually retort of, "Not on your life, Smallville;" never came.
For a second…Clark thought the phone had disconnected.
"Lois…Lois, you still there?"
"What? Oh, yeah…Just got distracted is all. Better get on that article- Talk to you later, Clark," she said quickly and hung up the phone.
Clark just stared at the receiver for a while. He could have sworn…for a second there, Lois actually sounded…sad.
Oh yeah, something was definitely going on with her. God he was so tired of this; of all the secrets and lies. He wanted to tell her. More than anything. But he couldn't. If she knew, she'd only be at risk.
"Isn't she already at risk?" questioned that nagging little voice in his head. "She's already dating Superman. And most of your enemies already know that you care about her. She's already a target."
"No," he whispered to himself, "I'm doing this for her sake."
"Is that really why? Or are you just afraid that Lois can only love the image and not the man?" retorted his conscience, which sounded annoyingly like Bruce.
"Lois could never be that shallow."
"But what if she can't love, Clark? You've worked with her for over eight years now. Has she ever given any outward sign that she thought of you as anything more than a friend?"
Clark pushed that thought forcefully away. He couldn't deal with this right now. There was too much going on; he couldn't be distracted by this.
And so with that, he decided to go into the kitchen and do something productive. Like make coffee or something.
But no matter how hard he tried; that sly little smile Lois got when they were debating… just wouldn't leave his troubled mind.
"I made some coffee, everyone," announced Clark to the dinning room at large.
"Yes!" exclaimed Wally as he and the others made their way into the kitchen.
"How is the training going, Diana?" asked Bruce as he handed her a cup.
"Pretty well," she said as she shifted into her original human form. "I can shift now, but it is really taxing to stay that way for any long length of time." Diana then shifted back into alien form.
"Diana and I still have a long way to go," added J'onn as he reached for the pack of Oreo cookies on the counter.
Clark had to smother a laugh as he watched 'Diana' start to munch on the treat serenely.
"So Bruce," inquired the real Diana who now sat at the kitchen table. "I heard Clark is going to take over for you in Gotham as Batman. Why can't you just hide your powers when you go out on patrol?"
Clark turned to her with a frown as Bruce replied, "Because only someone with super-sped will be able to pose as the Flash. We've only been 'out of commission' for a few days and you heard how the villains have been acting up. The Flash's presence needs to be in Central to help keep the peace."
"Well…why can't Dick fill in for you?"
It was then that Clark's frown turned into a glare.
"Dick already has Bludhaven to worry about. Why Diana? You think I can't handle it?" replied Clark, defensively. Diana's orange eyes went wide with shame.
"Clark, I didn't-"
Oh yes, she did. It was written all over her face. Just because he didn't have powers anymore didn't make him worthless. He was a whole heck of a lot smarter than most people thought. Lois was just about the only one that treated him like an intellectual equal. Yeah, she did tease him about being a farm-boy, but at least she knew there was more to him than his outward persona displayed….
It really made him question sometimes how she still couldn't see that he was Superman.
But Clark shook that thought away.
"Look Diana," he said as he met her head-on, hoping the others would listen and get the point he was trying to make. "I'm quite apt at living without powers, in case you've forgotten. If I could survive being sent to an anti-utopian future, filled with giant bugs and other deadly things without any powers; then, I think I can handle being in Bats' shoes for awhile."
"I know that Clark. It's just- Bruce's villains are-"
"Diana," said Bruce, coldly. "Drop it."
And so the discussion ended, but the tension remained….
It was Wally who finally spoke up in the end, changing the subject.
"So anyway, yeah the switching costume thing works out for some of us. But I can't very well be Hawkgirl! I'm lacking some very important….assets for that," he said with a gesture to his chest.
Shayera had the good sense to smack him up the side of the head.
"Ow!" Wally exclaimed as the tension broke and everyone started to laugh.
"Well," said Clark putting his hand to his chin in thought. "I could do what I normally do, and send out my Super-bot to take care of things."
"You mean the one that has those terrible catch phrases?" asked John with a smirk.
"They're not all- ….Okay well maybe they are. But anyway, it looks like I'm covered," admitted Clark.
"And I can use the excuse of training a new recruit," added John, continuing the conversation. "As long as Shayera wears a mask and of course, a Lantern uniform, I think we'll be fine."
"What if someone questions about why you're not using your powers, GL?" asked Wally as he stole one of J'onn's Oreos.
"All I'll have to say is that my trainee needs experience. I doubt many people will notice as long as I can still fight."
"Maybe," said Bruce. "But be careful. If suspicion starts to arise I can make you a hologram that can at least simulate the Lantern's light."
John nodded in agreement. "Actually Bruce, it might be prudent for you to make it anyway. Better safe than sorry."
"So I guess that only leaves me, because Diana can shift into J'onn's fighting form and J'onn can just be Diana," Wally said with a scratch of his head.
"It might be best for you to come up with a whole new hero identity, Wally," grunted Bruce. "You can say you're covering Shayera's beat while she's recovering."
"Really?! Cool! That sounds like and awesome idea, Bats!" the former speedster exclaimed enthusiastically.
"But wait…where in the heck am I going to get a new costume from?" he asked with his wings drooping.
"Oh! I believe I could help out with that," said Martha Kent as she entered the kitchen and pinched Clark's cheek. "I make all of Clark's suits for him. Don't I, dear?"
"Ma!" whined Clark as he rubbed embarrassedly at his stinging cheek. "You weren't supposed to tell anyone that!"
God, his mother always made him feel like he was four years old.
"Oh hush-up, you. So…Wally, what do you say?"
"Sweet! That sounds great Mrs. Kent. Thank you!" he replied happily and jumped up to give her a quick hug.
As he let go he was already spouting off ideas. "Oooo…let's see… How about for colors: blue, red, and white. And… Oh! I got to think up a new name, too!"
"How 'bout, Hawkboy?" suggested Shayera with a sly grin.
"Quiet you!"
"Mega Ultra Chicken?"
"Grrr…"
"Ostrichman, Ostrichman: Sticks his head, in the sand!" she merrily sang.
"Not. Helping. Shy…" growled Wally, threateningly. "Now let's see….oh! I know! How about 'Phoenix?' That was always my favorite mythical animal," he finished with a snap of his fingers.
At hearing his choice of name though, John choked on his coffee and had to cover his mouth with a napkin.
"Odd..." thought Clark as he saw that Bruce noticed GL's reaction, too. It sounded like a perfectly fine name to him.
But then Shayera groaned, "Really? That name's been done to death: What about… 'Firebird?' Simple, yet powerful."
"Huh… You actually had a good suggestion in you, Shy! Will wonders never cease? Firebird it is then!" Wally exclaimed as Shayera got up from her seat next to Clark.
"Well you can discuss the specifics of your costume with Mrs. Kent later," she said as she slapped Wally on the back. "Come on chicken legs. We've got some mace practice to get in."
"Sweet! I- wait….What do you mean chicken legs?!" he yelled as Shayera hightailed outside.
"Get back here woman! I may not have my speed anymore, but I can still out run you!!"
And with a shake of his angry fist, Wally chased after her.
Clark just rolled his eyes and sighed. "Those two," he thought as his mother tapped him lightly on the shoulder.
"It's almost time for supper, sweetheart. Would you mind setting the table for me?"
"Oh, sure Ma. No problem," answered Clark as he saw Bruce drag GL off into one of the guest bedrooms.
Whatever was going on; Clark was sure Bruce would get to the bottom of it.
-Bruce's POV-
"Just what was that about?" asked Bruce coldly, after he closed the bedroom door.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," replied John.
He was so not in the mood for games. Bruce's glare intensified as he stared GL down.
"You nearly had a heart attack when Wally said the word 'Phoenix' and I want to know why, " he growled, menacingly.
"Look…I-I can't tell you Bruce. It's just the Guide thing…and now the Phoenix…It's probably just a coincidence, nothing more," he said defensively.
"A coincidence pertaining to what, Lantern?" reiterated Bruce, not backing down.
"Nothing, Bruce. Nothing at all," said GL coldly as he pushed past Bruce's imposing form and proceeded to exit out the door.
Bruce let out a massive sigh the second he was alone. Maybe he was being paranoid. If it really was something that big; John would tell them….Wouldn't he?
"He's lying you know?" said a familiar voice.
Bruce turned to face Guide, who sat contently on the foot of the guest bed.
"And just where the hell have you been?" grunted Bruce annoyed.
"Oh…here, there, everywhere…you know the drill," she replied airily. "Anyway, like I said; he's lying."
"Is that so?"
"Oh yes," she giggled, "He's actually very concerned. But he most likely won't tell you anything unless they give him permission."
"They?" asked Bruce, uncertainly. "You mean the 'Guardians of the Green Lantern Corps?'"
But Guide continued on, ignoring his question, "So…I doubt he'll give up anything soon. You might want to try Dr. Fate though… he might be more lenient with his information."
"The Corps and the Disciples of Fate are involved with this?" thought Bruce as Guide smiled slyly. Almost knowing exactly how her words were affecting him.
"Well, that's all the information I have for you right now, Bats," she laughed merrily.
"What you do with that information…" said Guide with a pause as she stared Bruce straight in the eye. "…is your choice."
And with that; Guide disappeared in a puff of smoke leaving one disgruntled Bat standing there to fume.
-Mordred's POV-
"And you say…that you know the location of a page of the Grimorum Arcanorum?" asked Morgan skeptically of the hooded figure before her.
"That is correct, Lady Morgan," replied the gentle voice of a woman.
Mordred exhaled another agonizing breath. The wheezing sound of his ancient lungs… the only noise he could make.
At first, when Mordred had been reduced to his curtain state; he had been furious. Since the age ten, when Morgan had cast her spells upon him, his mother's desire was his only wish. He had Arthur within his grasp…the king's enchanted blade skidded across the floor as Mordred dealt the final blow. If it hadn't been for Merlin and that accursed knight. It would have ended then…
Arthur's throne obtained, and his mother avenged.
A flash of red hot pain sliced though the boy's spine and out his chest. The knight's wide, horrified stare at the one who dealt the blow.
Mordred willed the memory away. It was unimportant. He was still alive after all…
Still alive… it seemed more curse than blessing now.
Over the years that followed…his mother became more and more obsessed with attaining power and restoring his rightful place as ruler of the mortal realm.
As his mother's hatred grew…so did his discontent. He wanted to be king…he wanted to grow, become a man, and finally, finally have control of his life.
Still, he wished to gain his mother's pride….the-the love she withheld. But it had been so long; he was tired of waiting. Mordred wanted a chance to rule, a time to shine. Once he was in control of the mortal realm, he would bring his mother back to see what a great leader he was. She would forgive him of his treachery…and finally….finally be at peace.
Yet again though, fate denied him his victory. The Justice League had somehow come back from the place he sent all the adults. The one called Batman voiced the doubt that circulated in his own mind…That after all these years he was still a stagnant, spoiled child…that would never become a man.
And so he broke the spell of eternal youth that his mother had cast. From there…things became blurred. He aged quickly…to the point that he could no longer move. And then, even as an adult, his mother still had to care for him.
His body froze up and became a prison for his sins. He went mad, trapped within an empty, lonely shell. Mordred's soul screamed, and screamed for release…but his mother could not hear him.
Being trapped within his own mind was his punishment. He had failed his mother; he was nothing now. All the lives he took over the years, preying on the innocent. The boy understood now what he and his mother had done to stay alive; the lives that they ruthlessly taken and shattered.
He deserved this.
Morgan would never be satisfied…Never be at peace. He understood that now…in the way that only an adult could. Strange…how he had grown more by being alone in his own mind, than he ever had with his mother.
And now there he sat, watching her speak to this cloaked being about a way to restore his youth through the use of this book.
"And you're just going to tell me where it is? No strings attached?" Morgan questioned.
"All the Guild asks is that I might stay and observe for as long as necessary," replied the mysterious being.
Morgan eyed the entity skeptically for a moment…then replied, "Very well…"
"The page may be found at the Midway Museum's Exhibition on 'Arthurian Legend' which opens tomorrow night," whispered the Guild member as she held up her hand.
Suddenly an orb of violet blue energy, surrounded by archaic words, appeared in her open palm.
"The fragment of the manuscript is protected by a magical barrier that can only be breached under a full moon. The spell I hold…shall allow you to do so," said the Guild member as she gently placed the orb in Morgan's hand.
His mother's hollow-eyed mask stared at the magical object for a time. And then said, "And I presume that the next full moon is tomorrow night, correct?"
"Yes, my Lady."
"The Justice League will attempt to thwart my efforts…"
"The Guild has offered to keep them busy….for the most part. But we can not guaranty there will be no interference."
"…I understand. Tomorrow night it is then. For now though, I must rest so that I might be at full strength," she said softly as she walked toward Mordred…and placed an empty kiss upon his head.
"Sweet dreams my little one…soon you will be young again," Morgan whispered…and retired to her chambers.
All the while…Mordred wondered if he wanted to be young again. Yes…he could speak and move again then, but did he deserve to? Would he loose the knowledge and self awareness that he had gained?
"That choice is up to you," replied an eerily gentle voice in his head.
Mordred's breath caught in his throat. This being could hear his thoughts!
"I- you- what do you mean?"
"You will soon have to make a choice, Mordred. I am here to help…and to listen. For it seems that your mother refuses to."
"How dare you! My mother cannot hear me. I have tried-"
"She has shut out your thoughts child. Just as she shut you out in the past. Your magic is strong Mordred, and your projected thoughts easy for any magical being to hear."
"She…even she would not be that cruel."
"Perhaps…but needless to say I am here. And I can hear you. I am here to listen, Mordred. Whatever you wish to discuss is entirely up to you."
Mordred was quite wary of this being…and yet, he could not pass up the chance. To simply speak and be heard again...
Freedom…at last… a chance to unburden his tortured soul.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Author's Notes: Well now what's the Guild up to? Man they're tricky. Whew! That was a long off I would like to thank: Neo Hartless, Dark Inu Fan, Miles (Hehehee! I found a way to make the Ostrich one work!), Jemand, Streak , and onepiecefreec for all their wonderful bird related puns. Thanks all of you once again. You were a big help.
And now, because I lack no originality whatsoever: Next Time!
Night at the Museum: Vixen goes to the museum's exhibit opening. And she runs into an interesting individual there. But the party is crashed by Morgan! With most members of the League tied up with Guild members it seems that the original seven must come out of hiding and kick some magical butt. But will they succeed?
All this and more, next time in The Double Edged Sword.
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