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Hawk & Dove: "Hank's World! Hank's World! Party time! EXCELLENT!"
Dove: "Welcome back everyone! This week's topic is…."
Hawk: "The Batman: Arkham Asylum Video Game!" He says as he holds up the game package.
Dove: "Hank and I give it two thumbs WAY up!"
The great and powerful Mists then suddenly appears on set.
Mists: "Why?"
Hawk: "Huh? Well first off you can play as Bats."
Mists: "You can do that in a lot of games."
Dove: "Ah…but see this one is fun, takes skill, has a great art style and a really good plot."
Mists narrows her eyes skeptically at Dove.
Mists: "How good?"
Dove: "As in Paul Dini wrote it, good."
Mists: "Hmm…that's pretty darn good… But…I'll wait until the price goes down…No reason to buy it right now. "
Mists starts to walk away.
Hawk: "Oh yeah! Some guys named….Kevin Con-roy and Mark Ha-mill do some voice work in it as well."
Mists freezes and starts to shake.
Dove: "Uh…Mists- you ok-"
Mists: "MINE!!!" She yells as she dives at the box being held in Hawk's hand.
Hawk: "GAHH! Insane author on the loose! HELP!"
Mists: "GiVes mE, my PrEcioUs! "
Dove: Sigh. "Here we go again. Once again Mists own nothing. Now on with the fic!"
-Night at the Museum-
-Mari's POV-
As Mari stepped out from the limo, her eyes were assaulted by a thousand bursts of light. They danced and pulsed like a fireworks display. The lights followed her every movement, capturing the shine of her copper dress and her gentle smile. Each one capturing glimpses of her beautiful form as she glided down the red carpet.
"Mari, darling!" called Lady Anita Rosling, Interviewer of the Stars.
"Lady, a pleasure as always," replied Mari, smiling at the stately British woman.
"I'll be going live in two, Mari. Mind staying for a quick interview?"
"Not at all, dear," answered the model sweetly, all the while her head was screaming for her to run away while she could. Anita was one perceptive woman. She worked for 'Fab' the Fabulous Life TV network. It specialized in providing viewers with the latest news and gossip from the fashion and entertainment world. Lady Rosling was known as the world's most charismatic viper. She could read people like books and knew just how to get the truth out of you…in the nicest manner of course. It was the good lady herself that first made the connection that Mari was the superhero, Vixen.
Not that Mari actually believed she had a chance in hell of keeping it a secret. She was a model after all, her picture everywhere. It would have been futile for her to try, so she chose not to even bother with the mask. It didn't take a genius to make the connection, but it sure took people a long time. Mari gave Anita an exclusive about her double life, and since then the supermodel had become the Lady's ratings goldmine.
Mari had actually hoped to attend this opening without a lot of fanfare, but it seemed that was simply not meant to be. And worst of all, she was here…without John. Oh how wonderfully scandalous the tabloids would find it. Anita's ratings will be through the roof. God, she didn't want this on her plate right now.
"And we're on in 3…2…1," counted down the camera-man.
"Hello my fellow 'Fabs.' I'm coming to you live from the Midway Museum. Tonight is the grand opening of their latest exhibition called 'Medieval Revival' focusing on the time period of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table," she said into her microphone.
"Now I know what you're all thinking, what the stars is Anita doing there? Well it seems quite a few starlets are attending this most intriguing event. Including a face I think most of you all know very well, Ms. Mari McCabe."
"Hello, 'Fabs' wonderful to be here," replied Mari with an elegant wave.
"Mari, darling… Tell me, what brings you to this event?"
"Well Anita, archeology has always been a hobby of mine. When the museum's curator sent me an invitation, I simply couldn't say no. Such an extensive collection of Arthurian period artifacts has not been gathered on this scale in over a century."
"Yes, how…cerebral. But anyway, where is the enigmatic Green Lantern this evening? Out saving the world again?"
This was it. Mari took a deep cleansing breath.
"No, Anita. Actually, GL and I aren't seeing each other any more."
"Oh my! You two have called it quits?" the lady asked with an exaggerated flare. "This wouldn't have anything to do with that Thanagarian harlot … would it?"
Mari's form went rigid. For all her hostility towards Shayera, Mari had come to respect the woman. She really didn't want the media dragging Hol's name through the mud again. "No, Shayera had nothing to do with this. It was a mutual decision between John and I, Lady. We just felt that it was time to move on."
"Yes…of course it was. Oh Mari dear…Well, don't you fret. I'm sure the eligible bachelors will be flocking to you in no time!"
"Yeah…can't wait," thought Mari cynically as the camera focused once again on the Lady. John was going to be torn apart by the press, but then he already knew that was coming. Hopefully some other celebrity scandal would break in a few days and this would all be old news.
But until then…
"You've heard it here first 'Fabs!' The hot and spicy, Mari McCabe is single once again. So now's the time to act, boys! ….We'll be right back after these messages."
"And…clear," said the camera-man as he cut the live feed.
"A charming interview as always Mari," said Lady Rosling as her hair and makeup crew pounced on her.
"It was my pleasure, Lady," replied Mari with a bow of her head as she quickly made her escape. The eyes of the media then focused on their next victim as Mari glided through the front doors of the museum and out of the public eye.
After partaking of some champagne and a bit of small talk, Mari retired to a fairly deserted section of the exhibit. Alone at last, she could finally have the freedom to examine the artifacts uninterrupted.
Mari made a conscious effort to stay away from the Tyrannosaurus Rex display. Being crushed beneath the millions of years old skeleton; did not endear her to it. Yes, the horrors of the first time she visited this museum were hard to forget. Deep down, she knew that was the night when she truly lost John. Mari never really found out what that Absorbacron had showed him, but his and Shayera's reaction were enough. When Carter Hall had sent a ticket to this event, with a letter of apology for her injuries; she simply couldn't pass up the chance to see the exhibition.
She had to give Carter credit. The displays were quite impressive. Ancient suits of armor stood immaculate under glass as if they were about to be used in battle. Grand tapestries with frayed edges covered the walls of the hall. The vibrancy of the ancient fabrics was astounding. The scenes on them, almost seemed to come to life. Music from the orchestra in the main hall floated throughout the whole museum, giving it an almost ethereal quality. Servers in period costume danced across the room like ghosts and Mari simply let herself become enveloped in the atmosphere.
That was until a surprised voice behind her said, "I…didn't really think you'd come."
Mari whirled around, startled out of her reverie. "Oh! Carter…hi. Sorry about that, you just took me by surprise."
The Curator of the Midway Museum gave her a shy smile. Mari could see the shame that lingered in those blue eyes. Not only over her injury, but over all the events that had led to the creation of Hawkman.
"Yeah…don't want the mad-stalker hawk to jump you," he replied self-deprecatingly.
"Here he goes again," thought Mari with a roll of her eyes. Most of the League didn't know about the events that led to Hawkman's existence. And those who did; tried their best to prove to Carter that they understood how the Absorbacron had messed with his mind and knew he wasn't crazy.
Mari decided to go with the lighthearted approach this time.
"As if you could take me," she scoffed in his face, causing him to smile in return.
"Point taken," he replied, "But seriously, Mari. I didn't think you'd come."
"And why not?" asked the supermodel as she and Carter walked further down the hall.
"Well…I didn't think this would be…you know, your kind of thing."
"Oh really," exclaimed Mari as she cocked an eyebrow at him. "And just what, pray tell, do you think my kind of thing, is?"
Carter visibly gulped under the intense woman's stare.
"Well-" he croaked, "Y-You know. Parties in France, Night clubs, Salsa Dancing…I thought you'd find this…dull- mundane."
Mari let out a very unladylike snort at this. "Oh honey, nothing could be further from the truth."
And with that Mari made her way over to the jewelry display. Her eyes wondered over the pieces intently as she continued speaking to Carter.
"I do enjoy the nightlife, but there is very little substance to it…Most of the models and other celebrities I know are not as fascinating as the tabloids make them out to be. Many of them are shallow…fake. Nothing more than beautiful trinkets to be admired and then tossed aside by society."
"That's…sad," said Carter walking up behind her and studying the piece as well.
"I know. I am quite determined not to become that. To be perfectly honest, if I wasn't making so much money I'd give it all up in a heartbeat."
"Then why don't you, money isn't everything you know."
At this Mari turned from the exhibit and looked into Carter's eyes. He wasn't trying to be condescending. No, she could see the earnest there. He was trying to help.
"Oh Carter," she sighed aloud, "I know that very well…"
Mari thumbed absently at her necklace as her mind drifted back to the little tent she used to share with her mother...and happier times. Carter snapped her out of the bittersweet memories when he suddenly said, "You know…I've been meaning to ask you. Where on earth did you find that necklace anyway?"
"This, my friend, is not just any 'old necklace,'" replied Mari with a wicked smile. "This just so happens to be the Tantu Totem, an ancient African artifact."
Carter's eyes went wide as he gasped, "You're kidding me." He leaned in close and stared at the piece of jewelry in wonder.
"That's the legendary hero, Tantu's totem? The one believed to be created by Anansi the Spider? The one said to give the wearer the powers of the animal kingdom? Historians around the world believe that to be just a legend," whispered Carter in awe as saw the necklace in a new light.
Mari, becoming a bit self-conscious under Carter's intense gazed; then slyly joked, "You know when men usually stare at my chest; it's for an entirely different reason."
Carter's head snapped right back up hearing this and began to blush as red as a tomato.
"Oh my! S-sorry, Mari. I- I didn't-"
Mari just sweetly laughed at him and patted his cheek, "That's quite all right, Carter. Truth be told, I find it very refreshing!"
Carter snorted at this and averted his eyes away from her as a small grin tugged at his lips.
"Yes…well. I guess I can understand that. But seriously Mari; how on earth do you know it's really Tantu's? It could be another magical conduit."
"Well first of all, I do happen to have a Bachelor's in Archeology and a Masters in African History. So I'm not just a novice, Mr. Hall," answered Mari with an air of dignity.
Carter let out a whistle. "You weren't kidding about this being your kind of thing, huh? Aren't you full of surprises, Ms. McCabe?"
"Oh honey, you don't know the half of it," she said playfully as she gave Carter a little shove.
Then, suddenly, Mari's face became somber. "Truth is, I probably wouldn't have gotten either those degrees in the first place if not for the totem," Mari whispered as she absently fiddled with the necklace again.
"How so?" Carter softly asked.
"Anthropology has always been more my thing than archeology."
"Ah yes… anthropology; the study of the evolution of human societies and cultures. Somehow, that seems to fit you quite well. Human culture is always moving, changing. Artifacts are merely the physical remains of one point in time. For one to give an object life, one must understand the social environment in which it was forged."
"Exactly!" exclaimed Mari. Her heart suddenly filled with such joy, she felt as if she would burst.
Carter understood.
Even John never truly understood why she enjoyed the social science so much.
"I have a Bachelor's in Anthropology as well. I'm working on my Masters in my spare time, but it is slow going with all my photo shoots and hero work."
The intellectual glint in Carter's eye nearly made her blush. And for Mari, that was quite the accomplishment. Hall wasn't looking at her as just an acquaintance anymore…
…but as a colleague. An equal in the profession. Someone who wasn't just visiting the museum to see pretty things from the past and glide on by. She understood what was housed in the museum. What it meant to the past and the future.
The wonder in his eyes, the unbridled joy she saw in them at the chance to share and expand his knowledge….thrilled her.
"But Mari," he asked after their long pause in conversation. "If anthropology was your real love, why go for archeology in the first place? And why stick with the modeling if you don't really enjoy it?"
Mari smiled sadly at his questions.
"Yes, Carter," she thought ruefully, "Why, indeed?"
"Don't get me wrong, Carter. I find some aspects to modeling to still be quite appealing… But the reality of it is that the degree and the job were both my 'means' to an end."
Carter's face then became confused.
"And just what 'end' would that be?" he asked in a hushed tone.
Mari let out a painful sigh, one that came from her very soul. She then looked down at the necklace and placed the fox head symbol into her palm.
John had been the only one she had ever told about her past. And she had a strong feeling Batman had pieced together the fragments of her shattered life, too.
Could she share something so deep and personal with Carter? Did she dare open the old wounds again?
"I was born in Zambesi, Africa. Part of the M'Changa province. My mother was a Zoologist and Environmentalist. She went to Africa in order to study and protect the wild life there. She fell in love with the priest of a small village, Reverend Richard Jiwe. Nine months later, my mother had me. My mother was a free spirit, she and my father never married. I traveled all around Africa with my mother, protecting wildlife and fighting off poachers as we went. She used to tell me stories at night, about my father…that he was in fact the descendant of Tantu…and that the powers he was said to have, came from the totem he wore round his neck."
"Mari, you don't-" gasped Carter. It was clear to her that he hadn't expected her answer to be so personal. That she didn't have to continue, if she didn't want to.
"Yes, Carter. I do," she whispered softly. "It helps me deal with it …When I was seven, my mother was killed by poachers… right before my eyes. From that point on I was sent to live with my father…and learned that the legend of the Tantu Totem was true. At the age of twelve, my father's half brother, General Maksai betrayed my father's trust by tricking him out of the totem. …And then killing him in cold blood. Luckily, Tantu was wise enough to ask Anansi to put a stipulation on the power of the totem when he created it. Only one whose intentions were to protect the innocent could use the totem's power. Because of Maksai's treachery, the power was now forever out of his grasp."
Carter stood in silence as Mari composed herself to continue.
"After that I was alone. The people of the village gave me odd jobs to do, so I had enough money so I could eat. It wasn't much, but it was enough to survive. I worked hard throughout the rest my education. My diligence paid off, I won several scholarships and went to the University of New York. I had decided long ago, that I would learn all I could about totem and someday, I would find a way to get it back from my uncle. So at the university, I studied African History and Archeology. While working towards my Bachelors degree I worked as a waitress in a small restaurant in Manhattan. One day, a woman showed up out of the blue and asked me if I had ever considered a career in modeling. So I figured, what the heck, I'd give it a shot. After I finished my Bachelor's degree, I found I had enough money saved up to go on for my Masters in African History. I could have stopped there, gone on with my life. But I owed it to my father and my ancestors to liberate the totem from evil hands. And so after I obtained my Masters degree, I started to model full time. Little by little I gained contacts, started talks with Zambesi's government. And when the time was right, I returned to Africa on the pretence of a trip. When I left, Maksai sat rotting in jail and I wore the Tantu Totem home as my prize."
"Wow…" said Carter in awe. "That's quite a past. I'm amazed that with how popular you are that the media hasn't discovered your real history."
"Most of what I told you is considered 'top secret' by both the Zambesian and American governments, thank goodness. The tabloids will never hear a word of it," replied Mari with a victorious laugh.
"Amen to that," said Carter. "And let me guess, after it was all over; you felt empty. You were living your entire life for that moment and then thought; 'now what?' You could have traveled the world with the money you had saved and become an anthropologist; studying peoples and cultures around the world. But instead, you chose to use the totem for what it was intended, to save lives…And the rest is history."
"Got it in one, sweetheart," replied Mari as Carter flashed his handsome smile her way.
Carter then extended his right arm for her to take. "Well my dear, I believe that story has definitely earned you the V.I.P tour of my museum."
"Oh really," said Mari slyly, appreciating the change in subject. "And just what special features does this 'tour' include?"
"Well my dear, first I'll take you behind the scenes to look at some artifacts that I've been examining. I'd like to hear you input on them. And by then, hopefully, most of the media will have left and I can show you around the more fascinating parts of the exhibition."
"That… sounds heavenly," replied Mari as she gently took his arm. Carter's blue eyes came to life as he gave her a glowing smile.
And as the two walked off together, Mari wistfully thought…maybe one bird-brained bachelor flocking to her side wasn't so bad.
Hours later, the large crowd at the opening had dispersed and only a few dozen spectators remained. Mari hadn't felt so…free in a very long time. It was fun spending time with Carter. She laughed lightly as she did a little twirl under the light of the full moon that shone through the skylight.
But she abruptly came to a stop when she caught the sight of the T-rex suspended over her.
"Mari," chided Carter gently, "It is the inanimate remains of a deceased creature. It isn't going to harm you."
"Yeah well…it found a way last time didn't it?" asked Mari as Carter just rolled his eyes and led her away from the fossilized skeleton.
"Here, I wanted to show you this…" said Carter as he led Mari to a glass display case on the other side of the room.
Mari's eyes went wide as she beheld the beautiful illustrated manuscripts held within.
"Goodness," she whispered in awe as she took in the calligraphic sweep of the handwritten lines, and the worn, but still colorful images drawn around the border.
"Carter…these are beautiful. But…their style, they appear to be much older than the Arthurian period."
"I know! We found them tucked in with a lot of other material that was collected from around 500 A.D. Several archeologists are convinced that they were drafted around that time, but not me. I'm still gathering research information in order to write a paper on it."
"I see.... and oh… What an exquisitely carved wooden box!" exclaimed Mari as she gazed at the encased artifact.
The box was made of a beautifully honey colored wood, the surface was etched with a detailed inner weaving design. On the top of the box was carved the small image of a cross….or perhaps maybe a sword. It was a little hard to tell.
"Yes, it is quite the piece of craftsman ship isn't it? The lock and hinges are made of iron overlaid with gold."
"So what did you find in it when you opened it?" asked Mari as she glanced at Carter with interest.
"Ah! See now that's the most interesting thing. We've tried everything we can think of to open it without harming the piece and it just won't budget."
"Odd…" said Mari as she squinted at the object as if to make the answer clearer.
"Yeah…if I didn't know better I'd-"
But the tinkle of shattering glass from the skylight interrupted Carter's reply.
"My, oh my," said the regal voice of Morgan Le Fey as she floated down through the eerie moonlight. "What an elaborate feast we have here. It truly is fit for a queen. …And since I'm from the time period being celebrated tonight; I feel very offended that I was not invited to attend."
And with a quick wave of her hand the suits of armor came to life and burst through their glass cases. The museum patrons screamed in fright and scattered as the medieval weapons began to fly.
"What a pity!" laughed Morgan in spite. Then with a yell of "Revivisco!" A green bolt of light came out of her hand and enveloped the fossilized dinosaur.
Carter quickly grabbed Mari's hand and pulled her towards the staff room.
"Come on, we can change in my office and call for help."
As the roar the newly revived beast shook the walls of the museum Mari called to Carter,
"Want to explain to me again how the inanimate remains of creatures can't harm me?"
"Reprimand me later, we've got a sorceress to stop!" yelled Carter in reply as chaos exploded around them.
-Wally's POV-
Wally glided gently above the vast corn fields of Smallville. The sun setting over the horizon was absolutely breathtaking. The colors blended and dance along the clouds as Wally flew up and through them. He giggled lightly as the water vapor caressed his skin.
"Brr!" he exclaimed as a shiver went through his whole body. As he wrapped his arms tight around his chest, he noticed the goose bumps forming on his arms.
"Funny, when I used to dream about flying through the clouds; I never thought of them as being cold," he whispered quietly to himself as he swooped down closer to the cornfield.
As he glided along, he stuck out his hand to feel the tops of the cornstalks. They felt soft to his touch and tickled as they sped across his hand. He laughed joyfully as he beat his wings hard to gain altitude. Wally watch in awe as the stalks spun and moved with the changes of the wind curtain.
It had been a long time since Wally felt this free. He remembered how as a young child, he had wanted more than anything to be able to fly. He used to watch the cornfields fly by the window of Granny Flash's old Volkswagen Bug as they drove home. The stalks would wave as they flew by on the road. He always wondered what it would look like from up above.
A deep frown then fell across Wally's face. As he grew older, the power of flight became more appealing…but for entirely different reasons. He flinched at the memory of his desperate need to escape from…well everything. Since he couldn't fly, he did the next best thing, he ran. He ran through his anger, he ran through his pain. And maybe…just maybe, if he ran fast enough he'd somehow take flight…and leave it all behind. Then, suddenly for no reason at all…he had become afraid of heights.
Or at least…for no reason he could remember.
Wally then lifted his hand to his forehead and rubbed lightly at his scar.
Cold, Fear, Wind, Fire, Pain!
The memory flashed by him in a second as the breath caught hard in his chest. He stopped and hovered in midair for a moment. The night he ended up at the orphanage...he still couldn't remember a damn thing from that night. And part of him was absolutely terrified to even try. All he'd ever get were quick flashes that he couldn't decipher…
But the strange thing was…that not all the flashes had to do with that night. In fact, there was much of his childhood from before the orphanage that he simply couldn't remember. Or…at least he had a feeling he couldn't remember. For the longest time, only two people had known he had this problem. J'onn and Fate… But now that he thought about it… possibly Ace as well. He still wasn't too sure what exactly she had seen when she entered his mind.
He was usually very good at hiding these -flashes.
That is…until today.
-Flashback-
"Okay, Bats," said Wally as he extended his arms. "You have to spin them real fast, in small, short circles, like this."
Wally demonstrated the motion and Bruce nodded and did the same.
"This will let you create small whirlwinds that you can use to blow an enemy back, push debris away, keep yourself from falling, or keeping crap from falling on you."
"Got it," grunted Bruce as he made little dust devils around his arms. And Wally took note of the small smile that Bats tried to hide as he was doing so.
"Good, your control is coming along nicely," said Wally as he as he watched the flow of motion. It really wasn't a surprise that Bruce didn't need much practice on his control. In fact, Bruce was the one who taught Wally a lot about controlling his powers through their weekly training sessions…which were still going on to this day.
"Now the most important thing about being the Flash to remember is not to be the aggressive type."
Bruce gave him a condescending look.
"Yeah Bats, I'm serious. I know you're usually busy with other stuff when we're in a fight. But in case you haven't noticed…which I'm sure you have, knowing how you like to review security tape footage of the League's fights in your spare time… Even before I started training with you, I normally made the enemy come to me; instead taking them out in one shot."
It was true, Wally was quite good at drawing the enemy's attention…not to mention aggression, through his taunting. And he knew his method was very effective. When an enemy threw a punch, he'd dodge and use his opponent's momentum or weapon against them.
"The only time I really take an aggressive stance is when we are fighting numerous people, something really freaking powerful, or when time is of the essence. And when I do that; I follow three simple rules," said Wally as he got into a fighting stance and closed his eyes.
Wally's voice then took on an almost rhythm quality, "When I use my speed, the first thing I do is take in everything in one glance. The people, the buildings, the trees, a piece of paper, a blade of grass…I take it all in one quick snapshot."
He could feel Bruce's eyes on him as he moved. "Next, I take note of everything I can use in the fight. Time slows down to a crawl and I set things in motion. Then in one quick burst, I act," and with that Wally spun around and stuck his fist quick and hard into the nearest oak tree.
Suddenly, Wally was overtaken by a memory…a person said with command,
"See! Assess! Strike!"
He saw a hand trust out with such force that it splinted the wood of the tree.
A small voice then cried out, "Stop, you're hurting it!"
Wally gasped as he quickly pulled his hand away from the bark of the tree and place it over his heart.
"That was the same voice," thought Wally, "The same one I heard the day that Guild member let those golems in the training area."
"Wally! Can you hear me? Kid, are you okay?" demanded the booming voice of Bruce Wayne.
"Huh? Uh…yeah, Bats," replied Wally breathlessly as he suddenly found himself able to breathe again.
Wally looked cautiously up into the intense, piercing blue eyes of one very pissed off Batman, "Just, what in the hell was that?"
"Crap," thought Wally, "Of all the people that would never let this go. I just had to have one in front of Bruce."
"…I don't know, Bats," he said coldly as he quickly straightened his back and pushed away from the tree.
"Bullshit," growled Bruce as he got right into Wally's face.
"Leave it alone, Bruce," said Wally with own level of spite.
"No," he replied coldly, "So you're going to tell me, right now, why you nearly passed out on me."
"I told you…I don't know why. I just-"
"Just, what?"
"I've had them for a long time. It's nothing to worry about."
"Them 'what,' kid?" Bats asked with a growl.
"Never-mind," said Wally angrily as he went to leave.
But Bruce, having his freaking powers, stopped him.
"God damn it, Wally. Most of the time I can't get you to shut up and now's the time you're quiet. You're one hell of a living contradiction," he grumbled.
Wally let out a short bark of laughter at hearing that.
"Don't I know it…" he whispered in reply as he lifted a hand under his bangs to scratch at his scar.
Bruce's mouth tightened into a line as he noticed Wally's action.
"Where did you get that scar?" asked Bruce as Wally's eyes snapped back to his.
"I. Don't. Know," repeated Wally slowly in his last feeble attempt to shake Bats off his tail.
And of course, it didn't work.
"Bull-" started to reply Bruce again as Wally finally snapped.
"Damn it, Bats! I'm serious! I can't remember!" yelled Wally into Bruce's face.
He saw the face of stone falter before him.
"Wait…What?"
Wally looked away from Bruce as he answered the question. "I…I have these flashbacks every once in a while…at least…I think they're flashbacks. I've been having them since well…I got this scar. Which, I might add…I can't remember how I got. All I know is that I had it when I arrived at the orphanage and it is probably why I can't remember most of my childhood before it. Happy?"
Bruce just stared at him in shock.
It took him a full minute to find his voice. "But- wait. You remember your Gran-"
"Yes," hissed Wally in an annoyed voice, "I can remember her. There- there are just some things that deep down I know are…blocked. And sometimes I get very…intense flashes about them. That's all."
Bruce stared at him for a moment before answering.
"Wally, if it's that big of a problem. Maybe you should ask J'onn to-"
At hearing this, the last thread of Wally's control snapped.
"God damn it, Bats! I already did! I knew there was no way to hide it from J'onn so I asked him for help. He told me there was nothing he could do, and that I shouldn't worry about it. I even had Dr. Fate try and he told the same damn thing. Now let it, drop Bruce!" yelled Wally as he turned around and stomped off.
"I- Wally, wait- "
"I'm going out for a fly. I'll be back later," he called over his shoulder as he took off into the air.
That had been several hours ago. And he still wasn't ready to go back and face Bruce yet. He knew the old Bat was just trying to help.
But Wally really didn't want help from others…not in regard to this anyway.
He snorted at this with a shake of his head and thought, "Man, that's creepy. I'm starting to sound like Bats. All dark, broody, and self-sufficient. I should really stop hanging out with him; he's a bad influence."
Wally let out a laugh as he felt the tension break in himself. He then beat his wings faster as he soared up into the now dark, night sky. The chilly air filled his lungs as he watch moon and stars bathe the world in their silvery glow. It was certainly a spectacular sight to behold.
And so, Wally spent several more hours reveling in the beauty that was nature…. as it slowly restored his peace of mind.
It was well passed midnight when he landed back on Mr. and Mrs. Kent's front porch.
The second he walked inside, he was assaulted by utter chaos.
"There you are!" exclaimed Clark in relief as he quickly rushed to meet Wally at the door, "We've been wondering where you were. Listen, there's a big problem. Morgan's wreaking havoc at the Midway Museum. Hawkman and Vixen are under attack and we're the only ones available to help."
"Wait, what?! We're nowhere near ready to fight her yet. Why can't the rest of the League help?"
"All the spare and reserve members are off fighting a few similarly dressed villains in black cloaks scattered across the globe."
"Black cloaks? The Guild?"
"We think so," said Clark as he motioned for Wally to follow him into the loud argument emitting from the living room. "It seems like they are creating a distraction so that Morgan can accomplish whatever she's out to do."
"But wait…I thought Bats said the little girl, what's her name… Guide, said they weren't on Morgan's side."
"Don't know," replied Clark with a shrug. "Maybe she was lying, maybe Morgan has something they want now, wouldn't be the first time."
"Yeah, but-" started Wally as the loud bang of a hand slamming down on the top of a table; cut his reply short.
"I'm a big girl, John! I can take care of myself in a fight, with or without powers!" yelled Shayera into GL's face.
"You can't go Shayera," yelled John back just as fiercely. "You don't have even the least bit of control over the Lantern's powers yet."
"So then I won't use them! Just give me a sword and point me in her direction."
"Shayera, you could set off your powers randomly without meaning to with the level of control you have right now. That is a side effect of emerald impudence!"
"What, again?!" exclaimed Wally as two identical death glares turned their sights onto him.
The former speedster flinched under their intensity.
"Ooo, I- uh…I'm… going to go… over there," he said exaggeratedly, pointing in the other direction.
Diana then took this opportunity to jump into the conversation, "Well if Shayera's going, then so am I!"
J'onn placed a stilling hand on her shoulder. "You don't have enough control over your mental shielding yet Diana. Battles are very intense expressions of emotions, the weight of them could shatter the shields you've just learned to establish and destroy your mind."
"But-"
"Enough," said Bats coldly from his removed corner of the room. "This is getting us nowhere, and we're wasting precious time. Clark and I will go because we already have costumes. J'onn, are you familiar enough with Diana's powers to fight?"
"I believe so Bruce. Diana's strength and flight work on similar principles to my own. I do not foresee any major problems in a short confrontation," replied J'onn fingering his golden lasso.
"Good, the rest of you stay here-"
"But!" exclaimed Wally and John at the same time.
Bruce whirled around and sent a glare back at them.
"No. I haven't finished the glow box for you yet John and without Shayera there to 'train,' your story is shot to hell. As for you Wally, you still don't have a costume so we can't-"
"Oh! You don't have to worry about that Bruce," interrupted Martha Kent as she chose just that moment to come into the room.
"Ma? What are you still doing up?" asked Clark of his mother.
"I just wanted to finish up the new costume for Wally. I had a feeling that he'd need it sooner or later," replied Martha with a wink to Wally as she placed the new costume into his hands.
"Mrs. Kent, you truly are a lifesaver," said Wally as he took the clothes from her and gave her a quick peak on the cheek.
Wally then turned to Bruce with a victorious smile. "Guess you no longer have an excuse as to why I can't go, Bats."
Bruce just glared at him for a moment before conceding.
"Fine. Just hurry up and changed."
"Yes!" exclaimed Wally in victory as he rushed off to try on his new threads…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Author's Notes:
"…"
YES! I- LIVE! Bwhahaha!
Ugh! Sorry this chapter took so long guys. Life has been sucking for the Mists lately and this chapter, with all of Mari's backstory, was just hard to write as well. I really wanted her telling of it to flow naturally, and I think it turned out quite well in the end.
And before anyone asks, the only thing I really made up were Mari's and her mother's degrees. The rest is my embellished rendition of Mari's backstory from the comics according to Wikipedia. I really wanted to get Mari's history out there. She was a pretty important character in JLU and I was always surprised that they never did an episode on it. Well anyway, here is her justice. And I hope this inspires a lot people out there to write some new Mari stories. Because there need to be more!
So…how are you all liking the Vixen/Hawkman romance? …Just to let you know I'll be throwing in a little Vigilante/Vixen in there later…so let me know your input on that okay? Poor Vixen, out of one love triangle and into another. XD
As for the people I told that this chapter was going to end differently than it did, the chapter just was getting way to long and taking too long to write. But hopefully the next one will be out MUCH sooner.
And now, next time!
Of Dreams and Dinosaurs: (Or as I like to call it: D & D) *snort* The battle goes down at the Midway Museum. How will our heroes utilize their new powers? Only time will tell…
All that and more, next time on: The Double Edged Sword.