I do not own X-men or Young Justice
*Xavier Institute for Higher Learning: November 12, 19:47*
Returning from their little Russian escapade Laura and Kitty found themselves staring down an angry Logan. They had just finished explaining where they'd been for the last two days. Needless to say, he was not happy.
"So not only did you put yourselves in danger Logan growled. "You stole my bike!" he then zeroed in on Laura. "And you went and clocked her."
Laura looked over at Kitty, who was now sporting a swollen cheek.
"It was a light hit" said Laura.
Logan's face softened into a smirk.
"Never been more sure I was right to pair you two together. And since you're such good friends now, you won't mind spending the next two weeks on extra chore duty."
Kitty groaned, while Laura took it in stride. Extra chores didn't seem so bad too her.
"Oh, and Laura, your Danger Room access is revoked."
Now that bothered her.
"Now I think the Blackbird could use a wash."
Smirk still on his face, Logan took some pleasure in getting payback for his bike. He was happy to leave the girls to their punishment when suddenly he vanished right before their eyes in a flash of light.
"Where did he go?" Kitty asked, not really looking for an answer.
It was just as well as Laura found herself speechless at the sudden disappearance of her father. Just as the girls' minds begin to process just what had happened, Laura picked up on a welcomed scent as Raven suddenly appeared in front of them, arriving in her signature style.
"What the hell?!" Kitty exclaimed.
Ignoring her outburst, Raven focused on Laura, who was hoping her friend had some answers.
"Laura something's happened."
*Mount Justice: November 12, 22:00*
Satellites and emergency calls from distraught children had revealed that anyone over the age of eighteen had vanished off the face of the Earth. The majority of the Team was out rescuing frightened young children, bringing them to the local high school, where the older teens would help look after them. This left Robin and Zatanna in the Cave, working to locate the source of the adults' disappearance.
"We've set up a refugee center at the high school gym" Wally reported over the radio. "Any luck on your end?"
"No" said Robin. "Can't raise the Batcave, the Hall of Justice, or the Watch…" he stopped, not wanting to reveal the Justice League's secret headquarters to Zatanna. "Or any adult hero, even Red Arrow."
"Guess we're on our own. Kid Flash out."
"Traditional media's offline" Zatanna reported. "but kids worldwide are all posting the same thing. Every adult, 18 or older has disappeared. The sorcery necessary to pull this off…scary big."
"And we need you to find its source" said Robin.
"How am I…"
"I pulled this footage" Robin called up a video of Zatara casting a spell. "It's your dad helping us locate Wotan and the Injustice League last month."
"But the-the words, I mean, that's only part of it" Zatanna said doubtfully. "The rest takes training and…Robin, I'm-I'm just not on Zatara's level."
"I know it's hard, but try to stay whelmed." Robin gave Zatanna a comforting smile. "We'll find your dad, Batman, all of them. It's what we do."
"Perhaps we can be of some help" came a voice Robin didn't recognize
Robin and Zatanna turned to face their intruder, surprised to find Laura standing there with Raven by her side.
"Nice to see you too, Laura" said Robin. "But who's this?"
"This is Raven. She's a friend" said Laura.
"You can trust her, Robin" said Zatanna. "In fact, I'd really appreciate the help." She gave Raven a grateful smile, feeling more confident with the support of an additional magic user.
"That is why Laura had us come here" said Raven.
With no argument from Robin, Raven and Zatanna left to begin preparations for Zatara's locator spell, leaving the boy wonder alone with Laura.
"Have to admit, it's surprising to see you here" said Robin. "Thought you said you were done with the Team?"
"Circumstances demanded it" said Laura. "You already know all of the adults have vanished. This of course includes those at the Institute. Everyone is frightened and the older students are struggling to keep things under control."
With the adults missing the children were understandably starting to panic and getting out of control. Adding the Xavier Institute and all of its metahuman students to the mix just makes the situation that much worse.
Honestly Laura wouldn't be surprised to return and find the Institute the ruins.
"Raven came to see if I knew anything."
"And then you brought her here" Robin finished. "Good thing too. Z's looking a lot more confident."
"Still something has to be done about the panicking children in the meanwhile" said Laura.
"Think I've got an idea for that." With his usual cheeky smile in place, Robin contacted Aqualad and Kid Flash. "Hey guys come back to the Cave. I think I've got something that might help give us some breathing room."
"Attention, children and teenagers of Earth. I am Aqualad. These are my friends Robin and Kid Flash."
"We're using Justice League tech to stream to every TV, radio, computer, and smartphone on the plant" Robin explained as their message was heard around the world, instantly getting the panicking populace's attention.
"We know you must be scared and angry" said Kid Flash. "We know with your parents missing there's a temptation to run wild. But please stay calm."
"We will find a way to bring the adults back but for now, the oldest among you must step up" said Aqualad.
"Take care of your younger siblings" Robin beseeched. "Take care of kids who have no one."
In Gotham City, the teenagers have started collecting younger children, helping them find their way to libraries and community centers, where they can keep them safe, fed, and warm.
"Protect them" said Kid Flash.
In Dakota City, a school bus was teetering on the edge of a bridge, moments away from falling over. Suddenly a young black woman with short spiky black hair, wearing a formfitting blue shirt with a partial hood covering her cheeks and forehead, and brown coveralls- arrives on the scene. Hovering in the air, the teenaged hero created a force bubble of kinetic energy underneath the bus, lifting it to safety.
"It is up to you" said Aqualad.
In New York, the students of the Xavier Institute have taken to the streets. Dressed in their training uniforms the students spread out over the city, using their powers to help wherever possible.
While their message was working to calm the children for now, the Team still had no solid plan on how to return the adults. Worried about their chances, Kid Flash found himself in the Cave's trophy room, staring at the Helmet of Fate.
"I finally got through to Atlantis" said Aqualad, as he entered the room. "No adults there either."
"So…just how desperate are we?" asked Kid, a crazy idea forming. "I mean the Helmet could definitely come in handy."
"Yes, but we both know that anyone who dons the Helmet and allows Nabu to possess him may never be released from being Doctor Fate."
"So…not that desperate."
"Not yet."
"Guys?" Kid and Aqualad turned to find Zatanna standing in the doorway. "We -We're to try my father's locator spell."
Gathered in the command center, the Team and Laura watched as Raven and Zatanna went to work casting Zatara's spell. Despite her initial doubts Zatanna was able to keep it together and with Raven's help the spell was a complete success.
"Coordinates locked" said Robin, once the young sorceresses spell marked it on the hollo-map. "Roanoke Island. You did it."
"It worked!" startled the teenaged heroes turned to see a small boy standing in the middle of the room.
"Where did you come from?" asked Aqualad, wondering how a child could possibly infiltrate the Cave. "Who are you?"
"He's Captain Marvel" said Laura, picking up his scent.
"Yeah, and I'm Speedy Gonzalez" Kid Flash said sarcastically. "Clearly you've lost your mind since you've been gone because Captain Marvel is not a…"
"Gee, Wally, do I really have to bring you nachos and pineapple juice to get on your good side?" the kid smirked.
"Ok so Captain Marvel's secret identity is a kid" said Robin, trying to process. "I am officially whelmed."
With that out of the way, Captain Marvel revealed to the Team that the spell at Roanoke Island had split the world into different dimensions. One world inhabited by children and the other containing adults and anyone over the age of eighteen.
Using his unique situation to their advantage the hero moved between the two worlds, using his forms of Captain Marvel and Billy Batson to coordinate between the Justice League and the Team. The League and the Team would make a simultaneous attack on Roanoke, and hope that with the defeat of their enemies the two worlds would merge back together.
It wasn't the most complex plan but it seemed like their best option. Just as Billy was about take his leave to join Batman and Zatara for the adults' part of the mission, Laura caught the boy's attention and pulled him aside.
"Uh what's up?" Billy asked uncertainly. It was the first time he'd really had any contact with the Laura and wasn't sure what to make of her.
"Billy, when you return to the other world. I'd like you to contact the Xavier Institute" said Laura. "Ask for Logan. Tell him I'm alright and I'd like him to help the League."
"Um…ok, who is he?"
"My…father" it was the first-time Laura had ever referred to Logan as such, it brought a warm feeling to her heart.
Before Billy could react to that surprising news, Laura left to join the others on the bioship.
*Roanoke Island: November 13, 00:01*
The team located the source of the spell at a crossroads in the exact center of the island. Keeping to the shadows they observed the situation. Standing inside a glowing pentagram, focusing on a golden gemstone was what appeared to be a scrawny teenaged boy with mop-top styled black hair in a with V-shaped bangs and devil-horns.
Resting at the boy's feet was a ginger furred striped cat.
"Should've known it'd be this brat" Kid Flash said over the mind link. Looking to Raven the speedster was about to identify the child for the new girl only for her to beat him to the punch.
"Klarion the Witch Boy. A Lord of Chaos" said Raven, already familiar with the boy.
"Have you fought him before?" asked Laura.
"No but he's had run ins with Jason in the past" she explained. "Lords of Chaos and Order require a sort of anchor in order to manifest themselves on the physical plane. That will be his weakness."
"When Dr. Fate possessed my body, he defeated Klarion by attacking the cat" said Kid Flash.
"Then we know our target" said Aqualad. "Robin. Artemis."
"Works for me" said Artemis, as she and Robin aimed their respective weapons. "I was never a cat person anyway."
Together with Robin, Artemis fired at Klarion. But the Witch Boy saw them coming, with a wave of his hand he conjured an energy shield, leaving their attacks to bounce off harmlessly.
"Is that the best you can do?" Klarion sneered.
Raising his hand Klarion released a bolt of lightning at Robin and Artemis, forcing them to dive for cover.
Keeping the pressure on, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Superboy, and Laura charged Klarion from all four paths. With a gesture, he conjured a dome of energy surrounding himself and the gemstone, knocking the four heroes back.
Zatanna then jumped into the fray, reciting an incantation, only for the spell to have no effect on the Lord of Chaos.
"Baby magic" Klarion scoffed, with a flick of his wrist, he released a shockwave sending Zatanna flying.
Unable to find the words to protect herself from what was sure to be a painful landing, Zatanna was grateful to find herself rescued by Superboy, who had rushed to his feet and caught her just before she hit the ground.
Klarion smiled sadistically as he eagerly waited to see what the young heroes would do next. He didn't have to wait long as Miss Martian made her move, telekinetically throwing boulders at the Witch Boy, only to shatter harmlessly against his barrier.
Unimpressed, Klarion turned to the Martian and released a torrent of magical flame from his mouth, driving M'gann away.
"It's over Klarion"
The Lord of Chaos turned to find Raven holding his precious cat.
"Stand down or we'll find out if cats really do have nine lives" Raven threatened.
"You should know better than to mess with the familiar to a Lord of Chaos" Klarion sneered, his eyes burning with rage. For a brief moment Klarion's features seemed to change, taking on a more demonic appearance, as he directed his magic towards his familiar.
"What?" Raven gasped, as she dropped the cat, watching as Teekl transformed into a grotesque, man-sized cat monster.
"Show them what you can do, Teekl."
Obeying his master's command, the monster cat swiped his claws at Raven, who just managed to protect herself with a wall of dark energy. But it was all she could do just to defend herself, as Teekl continued to claw at Raven's defenses, keeping her pinned down.
Seeing Raven in trouble, Laura rushed to help, her own claws drawn, she dived at Teekl, only for the transformed familiar to bat her away with a swipe of his paw.
"Laura!" Raven cried, as Teekl moved in for another strike at her friend. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"
At her command, dark energy washed over Teekl, and with a wave of her arm, Raven tossed the familiar aside, crashing into the side of Klarion's barrier, angering the Lord of Chaos, as for a moment his form flickered in and out of sight.
"Oh, you want to play rough!" Klarion growled, his hands igniting with crackling energy. Suddenly lighting burst forth from the gemstone, striking Klarion and breaking his concentration. "Ugh. So, you teamed up with the grownups. Teamwork is so overrated."
"I'm not so sure about that!" said Raven, her eyes glowing pure white. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"
Summoning all her strength, Raven's mystical energy took on a towering form of her namesake, covering the entire battlefield in the shadow, of its wings, it flew straight at Klarion overpowering the Lord of Chaos' barrier shattering it and the gemstone.
With the stone's destruction, its mystical energy was released in a blinding flash, as Klarion trapped in bonds of dark energy was joined by the unconscious sorcerers, that had helped him in his plot. And with them the Team was met with the welcomed sight of Batman, Zatara, Red Tornado, Captain Marvel, and to Laura's relief the Wolverine.
"They sure don't make evil immortal sorcerers like they used to" Klarion shrugged. With a snap of his fingers, he shattered his bonds. "Still it was fun while it lasted" calling Teekl to his side, Klarion opened a portal, but before he took his leave he had one last thing to say. "But I'm sure, there's lots more fun to come."
And with that he took his leave, leaving the heroes to wonder just what he was hinting at. But though they were all unnerved by the Chaos Lord's words, Laura couldn't help but notice he seemed to be focused on Raven in particular, and from the way her friend was clenching her fists in frustration, it was obvious she was thinking the same thing.