Dominic had taken J'onn's advice to heart. She knew she was supposed to fly, in fact she felt drawn to the sky. Finally, she gave in to her desires and took to the air as she once had. It was difficult to stay in the air. Despite her desires to go higher she stayed just above the tree tops. Dominic was careful to only fly when she was alone as Blood Moon had forbidden her to fly. She did end up getting caught and grounded quite a few times. For her that meant she wasn't allowed outside which meant not running or hunting either. She knew Rowena was just trying to keep her from getting hurt again and Dominic was tempted to give up flying again but strange things began to happen. The elements themselves seemed to be upset around her particularly when she was. Rowena was the only one of the pack who seemed to know what was going on.
"All dragons have elemental abilities as well as magic." She explained.
"So I'm causing this?" Dominic asked becoming frantic.
Rowena took the girl by the shoulders.
"You need to calm down. Your powers are tied to your emotions. OK?" Rowena asked.
"OK." Dominic nodded.
Dominic did her best to suppress her new elemental abilities but it often resulted in terrible migraines. Medicine did nothing to help and they only time they went away was when huge bursts her powers erupted from her. Thankfully no one was ever hurt. Dominic contemplated leaving for everyone's safety but she didn't get the chance. A migraine unlike any other she had experienced hit her. It felt as if someone was trying to crush her skull. Three were so many voices and they were all panicking. It was too much for her. Rowena found her unconscious against the side of a tree.
"Dominic!" Rowen shook the girl trying to wake her.
"Ro…we…na" the girl whispered opening her eyes.
Rowena was shocked to see they were not their usual green color. They were a glowing purple. Dominic closed her eyes losing consciousness again. Rowena carried the small girl back to the house. Much to the alpha's surprise the girl began chanting in a language she did not recognize as she laid her down. Dominic's skin became burning to the touch. This was magic Rowena realized. The she wolf could do nothing but watch and try to keep the girl cool as this spell took its course.
There came a knock on the door. Rowena went to answer the door while Sammy and Alex stayed with Dominic. She was surprised to see a man in a blue and gold costume and a very odd helmet that only revealed his grey eyes.
"Pardon the intrusion but I am looking for a draconidaes." He stated.
Rowena was taken aback by this and it showed.
"I don't know what you mean. Now if you don't mind I have a sick child to care for." Rowena stated shutting the door.
To her surprise he was standing behind her when she turned around. Rowena bared her sharp teeth and claws as her eyes turned gold.
"I am sorry but I do not have time to fight you." The man stated waving his hand.
Rowena found herself bound to an Egyptian Ankh made of light.
"Mom!" Alex yelled as he advanced on the intruder and found himself in the same situation as his mother. Sammy stepped in between the man and Dominic.
"Sammy get out of here!" Alex ordered as he struggled against the spell.
The little boy glared up at the man but there was something about him. He stepped aside. The man began to examine Dominic.
"What's wrong with my big sister?" He asked.
"There is a terrible evil trying to enter our world and she can feel it. She's connected to other dragons trying to push it back into its own world but this magic is overwhelming to her." The man informed him.
"Can you help her?" Sammy asked.
"Not here." He said picking the girl up and disappearing. The wolves were immediately released.
Dominic opened her eyes to find herself in a place she did not know with the strange man standing over her. She screamed as she pushed herself away from him.
"It's alright." The man assured.
But Dominic wasn't listening. She transformed into her dragon form and bared her sharp teeth. The man slowly moved towards her.
"Back off!" Dominic roared.
Much to both of their surprise he was sent flying back but he managed to right himself and land on his feet. A beam of light appeared around her and restrained her. Dominic struggled to no avail.
"I mean you no harm." He assured.
"Who are you and what did you do to my pack?" she demanded stopping her struggling.
"I am Doctor Fate and your pack is fine." He promised.
Dominic narrowed her eyes at him.
"You do not believe me?" Fate asked.
"No." Dominic stated.
Fate waved his hand producing an image of Rowena and her sons. Rowena looked extremely worried.
"Ok I believe you." Dominic sighed.
"Good because I need your help." Fate said releasing her.
As much as Dominic wanted to attack him and escape he had peaked her interest.
"There is an ancient being called Icthultu who once wrought havoc on this world. He was banished long ago to another dimension and is now attempting to return." Fate informed her.
"What does that have to do with me?" Dominic asked.
"Draconidaes are masters of interdimensional properties. All around the world draconidaes are trying to stop his advance but it's not enough. I need you to act as a focus and help us to close the portal permanently." Fate informed her.
"Why me?" Dominic asked. "I mean there must be a lot of stronger more experienced draconidaes than me and I don't even have my fire."
"They are more experienced yes but according to my spell you were the best for the ritual." Fate stated.
"I don't mean to sound rude but I think your spell is flawed. I can't even control my powers." Dominic sighed.
"Is that why you try to suppress it so much?" Fate asked.
Dominic looked away. "People tend to get hurt around me." She admitted.
Before either of them could say more a dark completed woman with long dark hair in a ponytail appeared. She had deep blue eyes and wore a yellow long sleeve top and jeans. Dominic took an involuntary step back at the site of this human.
"It's alright." Fate assured. "Inza is my wife.
Inza gave a warm smile before turning to Fate. "Kent your guests have arrived." She informed him.
"I'll be there momentarily." Fate assured.
Inza nodded before disappearing again.
"Can I count on you?" he asked.
Dominic was still very unsure about the man in front of her but did she really have a choice at this point.
"Yes." She finally nodded.
Fate teleported them to another room where Solomon Grundy and a man she did not recognize waited. The man had long blond hair and a hook for a hand. He was shirtless and wore a medallion with an odd symbol. Dominic flattened her ears in discomfort.
"Apologies for the delay." Fate stated.
"I have a kingdom to protect, keep me waiting again at your peril" The man threatened. His eyes turned to her. "If it was a dragon you needed, I could have brought you a better one."
A small growl escaped the young dragon as she narrowed her eyes at him but she remained silent. That had hurt her feelings The man didn't seem intimidated.
"There is none better for this task than her." Fate assured.
The man circled around her. "Doesn't look very strong." He commented.
"I don't need the approval of a human." She growled.
The man seemed to be taken aback by her comment.
"I am not a human!" he insisted raising his hook to her. "I am an Atlantean!"
Dominic growled louder this time baring her teeth as she prepared to attack.
"Let's not fight." Fate sighed.
The Atlantian backed off.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Grundy. I am Doctor Fate." He introduced himself.
Grundy looked nervous as he swallowed a mouthful of cookies.
"Girl gave Grundy the cookies." Grundy stated pointing at Inza.
"I've done what you've asked, now let's get on with it." The man with the hook demanded as he moved closer to Fate.
Dominic immediately moved away and stood next to Inza instead. Out of everyone she seemed the least intimidating.
"Soon." Fate promised "But first I have to make sure he truly is what they say."
"To much talking! Grundy bored! What does stupid magician want Grundy to do for his gold?" Grundy demanded.
"I need to know your origins. How did you come to be as you are?" Fate asked.
"Grundy doesn't remember. Grundy has always been Grundy." Grundy insisted.
"Doubtful perhaps a simple spell of revelation." Fate suggested placing his hand on Grundy's head.
While he was performing the spell. Dominic turned to Inza.
"What's an Atlantean?" she asked awkwardly.
"Atlantean's are a people who live deep within the ocean itself." Inza informed her.
"So like mermaids?" Dominic asked.
"In a sense, yes but Atlanteans have many different forms." Inza informed her.
"What about him?" noticing that the man with the hook was glaring at her. Inza must have noticed too.
"That is Aquaman, king of Atlantis." Inza said.
"He's a king? Oops." Dominic said immediately regretting her confrontation with him.
"He meets our purposes." Fate stated bringing her back to the present.
"Then we should begin immediately. The future of Atlantis is my only concern." Aquaman stated.
"No." Grundy refused. "Grundy want something."
"We're already agreed. You help us I give you the gold. Aquaman reminded him.
"Grundy not want gold!" he insisted pushing a chest full away. "Grundy wants what men took from him."
"That curse removed your soul." Fate realized.
"Grundy wants it back! Will magician help?" Grundy asked.
"I will do everything I can." Fate promised.
"If you help Grundy, Grundy will help you." Grundy stated.
Fate nodded. "Bring the trident. We still have preparations to complete." He requested.
They moved to another room that looked like it was in space itself. Dominic followed behind Aquaman.
"Your highness," she addressed. "I am sorry for calling you a human."
Aquaman glanced back at her.
"You are forgiven for that mistake but be honest you didn't know what an Atlantean was?" he asked.
"No I've never heard of your kind." She informed him.
"But you know what a mermaid is?" he questioned.
"Every little girl knows what a mermaid is." Dominic stated.
"Little girl?" Aquaman asked.
"I'm only nine." She informed him before moving to her spot in the ceremonial circle.
"Fate better be right about this." Aquaman growled not getting why the sorcerer had brought a child to help them.
Each of them were positioned at three separate points around the circle except Grundy who was tied down in the center.
"I warn you again, once the spell has begun I cannot stop." Fate cautioned.
"And the pain will be unbearable, you told us that before now get on with it." Aquaman commanded.
"Stupid magician, Grundy not care about pain. Grundy wants his reward." Grundy insisted.
Fate turned to Dominic but she simply nodded her approval too scared to actually speak.
"Very well the elements are gathered in a place of power." Fate stated as he began the spell. "A wizard of great knowledge, the trident of Poseidon, a draconidaes of significance and the forbearance of a dead man."
Dominic felt the spell he had put on her earlier to disconnect her from the other dragons lift. She could hear thousands of voices all chanting the same thing but they weren't in sync. Dominic began to chant the words they were saying and slowly the others were in sync with her as if they could hear her. She was only semiconscious of the pain she felt from the connection. Her eyes began to glow completely purple and a strange purple energy that moved like fire surrounded her as more voices joined in. Dominic wondered if they could feel her too. Her golden mane whipped around and electricity sparked off of her from the amount of magic flowing through hurt but she could take it. She had to.
Before they could complete the spell Superman, Wonder Woman a Hawkgirl barged in trying to stop the ceremony. Inza cast a shield to protect them but Hawkgirl smashed through it with her mace and deflected some of the shields energy back at Inza knocking her out. Fate tried one of his own disabling spells but Hawkgirl deflected it back as well making him stop the sealing spell. Some of the energy also hit Dominic making her lose focus on the thousands of other dragons. It quickly became a jumbled mess again and the pain increased had to clamp her jaws shut to keep from screaming out in pain.
"Do you realize what you've done? Leave here now!" Aquaman commanded.
"Not without Grundy and a good explanation." Superman demanded.
Dominic got to her feet. "You heard the King." She growled stepping between them and Grundy. "Go before you regret it."
The pain of the intense magic had heightened her aggression. Superman seemed the most shocked by her change in attitude since they had last met.
"Easy White Fire." Superman tried to calm as he stepped closer. "We don't want to have to hurt you."
"I warned you!" Dominic growled rising to her hind legs and slamming back down to the ground. an unseen force collided with the three leaguers sending them flying back.
"You've ruined everything!" Fate accused as they got back up. "Aquaman stop them. I'll try to improvise something but I must be allowed to concentrate. Dominic to me."
Dominic returned to Fate's side as Grundy and Aquaman confronted the Justice League. Fate tried to focus the spell through her but he couldn't concentrate.
"To much noise! Away!" he commanded sending managing to send everyone but Dominic and Hawkgirl away.
"Really not your day is it?" she commented charging at him but Dominic blocked her advance.
Hawkgirl swung her mace at the dragon but Dominic managed to grab her arm throwing her across the platform they were standing on. Before Hawkgirl could get back up Dominic was on top of her trying to pin her down with her weight. Hawkgirl used the handle of the mace to keep the dragon from biting and managed to shock her. Dominic pulled her head back giving Hawkgirl an opening to strike her in the side. The dragon was rolled away from the force of the impact gasping for air stunned from the electricity of the mace. Hawkgirl made another advance towards Fate before she could get back up.
"Where are my friends?" she demanded deflecting one of his attacks. "Bring them back or I'm going to find out what that bell on your head sounds like."
"You shouldn't make threats when you're so clearly outnumbered." Fate warned as copies of himself appeared.
She easily dealt with them before returning to the original.
"Running out of tricks?" she asked.
"Not entirely." Fate said as he conjured a giant stone golem.
Hakgirl managed to smash through it before moving on Fate again.
"Those runes, their Thanagarian." She noticed as she slammed into his shield. "What do you know about Thanaguard? Talk!"
She forced him back against a wall. By now Dominic had gotten back to her feet. She rushed between the two to shield fate from Hawkgirl's final blow but it was Wonder Woman who stopped her.
"That's enough!" Wonder Woman commanded grabbing her arm.
Superman threw an unconscious Grundy and Aquaman at their feet. Dominic growled ready for another confrontation but Fate motioned for her to step aside. She did so reluctantly.
"You've run out of choices. Tell us what you're doing now!" Superman demanded.
Before Fate could answer a hellish roar filled the air and a tear formed revealing Icthultu himself.
"We were trying to prevent that." Fate stated.
Dominic immediately began the chant again focusing the other dragons and directing the spell at the dimensional tear. It stopped advancing but it did not mend. Fate rose up beside her and began a different chant but he wasn't strong enough. It was only when Hawkgirl chanted with him using her mace like a wand did the portal close. Dominic stopped her own chant and they all descended.
"How could you possibly know that incantation?" Fate asked.
"Where I come from, it's the closest thing we have to a prayer." Hawkgirl informed him.
"Is it over?" Aquaman asked.
"No, only a beginning." Fate admitted. "It will rest then attack again. We must complete the original spell."
"You don't have the strength." Inza insisted.
"Nor do I have a choice." Fate countered.
"What is going on here? What was that thing?" Superman demanded.
"There's no time." Aquaman stated.
"Make time!" Wonder Woman insisted. "or are you scared because there's no water in here."
"We're not going to fight again are we?" Dominic asked still winded from the incantation.
"No I'll show you what you wish to know. " Fate showed them a history of the old ones and how their banishment from this dimension caused Atlantis to sink below the waves. "Already fishers have appeared allowing creatures from their world to gain access to ours." Fate informed them.
"When you interrupted, we her helping Fate cast a spell to bar their way." Aquaman stated.
"And why do you need White Fire?" Superman asked.
"Because I can connect all the dragons and focus them." Dominic informed him.
"We must now complete the ceremony." Fate insisted.
"I won't let you torture Grundy again." Wonder Woman protested.
"It's not exactly torture Diana. It's more like sacrifice." Hawkgirl corrected.
"How do you know so much about this?" Superman asked.
"My people used to worship Icthultu." Hawkgirl informed him.
"On Thanagar?" Superman questioned.
"The old ones are not bound by your understanding of geography." Fate stated.
"In return for his favors my ancestors made offerings to him." Hawkgirl told them.
"I can't believe anyone would cooperate with that thing." Aquaman stated.
"It was thousands of years ago. We were still a primitive culture." Hawkgirl insisted.
"With your knowledge, perhaps you can help with the ceremony." Fate suggested.
"Forget the ceremony. We're not sacrificing Grundy or anybody else." Superman protested.
"Grundy volunteered." Aquaman countered.
"I'm not sure he's competent to volunteer." Superman stated. "Does he even understand what you're asking of him?"
"Grundy understands." Grundy insisted. "Grundy helps magician, magician helps Grundy."
"I agree with Superman. There has to be another way." Wonder Woman protested.
"There is." Hawkgirl stated. "We go to Icthultu's world and kick his slimy…"
"Bird nose is right!" Grundy interrupted. "Fight not hide!"
"No we should stick to our original plan." Aquaman insisted.
"This may be better. It's more likely to work then simply recasting a broken spell." Fate suggested.
"It's a fool's errand. I joined with you to protect Atlantis." Aquaman reminded him.
"And let the rest of the world be hanged?" Fate demanded. "We need your power."
"So do my people. My place is with them" Aquaman insisted picking up the trident.
"Aquaman!" Fate begged.
"I have spoken." Aquaman stated.
"Very well." Fate gave in sending him home.
"Her too." Wonder Woman said nodding towards Dominic.
"No." Dominic stated firmly. "I'm going to help you guys whether you like it or not."
"You're just a kid. It's too dangerous." Superman insisted.
"My safety doesn't matter if the world ends!" Dominic protested.
"I have to agree with the young dragon." Fate interjected. "She is a powerful ally and can be of great help."
"If anything happens to her its on you." Superman threatened.
Fate nodded before turning to his wife.
"Inza I must ask you to remain here…"
"To be your anchor so you can find your way back." Inza finished.
"Prepare yourselves." Fate instructed as he teleported them to the strange world.
The sky was orange and rocks floated everywhere. The only ground that could be seen was the narrow strip they were standing on. It felt very strange as if there was something not right.
"I always thought it was a fable to scare children." Hawkgirl commented.
"I'll take point." Superman stated taking off.
"No!" Fate called using his magic to pull Superman back to the ground.
"What did you do that for?" Superman demanded.
"In this realm ground and sky are not always parallel. If we are separated, you could become hopelessly lost." Fate informed him.
"Alright so stay on the ground." Dominic thought to herself as they followed the path.
"I still don't see how your world could have fallen under the sway of Icthultu." Superman stated.
"Thanagar was a harsh place back then. Icthultu gave us agriculture, mathematics, philosophy, the foundations of our entire culture." Hawkgirl informed him.
"But something changed?" Superman questioned.
"You stopped believing in him." Wonder Woman stated.
"Yes, modern Thanagarians bow down to no higher power." Hawkgirl told them.
"I sense we are very near our goal." Fate called back.
Dominic could feel it too. A darkness that moved closer as they walked. Suddenly creatures appeared out of the rocks and ground with deafening screams. Fate tried to shield them but was pulled through the ground leaving them to defend themselves. Dominic did her best to strike at the creatures but the screams were so disorienting she couldn't do much. The only one who seemed to be holding their own was Grundy until he was knocked off the path. Hawkgirl dove for him and pulled him back up.
"Bird nose help Grundy? But Bird nose and her friends hate Grundy." Grundy said.
"Grundy help Bird nose so Bird nose help Grundy. Excuse me, Hawkgirl smash." She smiled destroying creatures with her mace.
By now everyone had figured out a way to effectively destroy the creatures.
"Everyone Ok?" Superman asked.
Everyone was and they moved on. Dominic stayed towards the back so no one would notice her trying to shake the ringing out of her ears.
"Let me ask you something, do you really gain strength when you call on your god?" Hawkgirl asked Wonder Woman.
"Of course I do. My beliefs sustain me." She confirmed.
"That must be comforting." Hawkgirl sighed.
"There are times when faith is all we have to rely on. I don't know how you can bare your weight all alone." Wonder Woman stated. "Great Hera!"
Giant creatures began to pass them heading towards a massive interdimensional tear.
"What is that?" Hawkgirl asked.
"The rift between this dimension and our own." Fate informed her. "My spell weakens. It is only a matter of time before it fails altogether.
"Then we stop them here." Superman suggested.
"Not all of us." Fate said. "You and Wonder Woman halt their advance. Dominic see if you can start to close the portal. The rest of us will take the battle to Icthultu."
He created a magical path for them to use and ordered them to stay on it. Dominic could still feel the other dragons just not as strongly. She felt their exhaustion as she began the chant for a third time as Wonder Woman and Superman kept the creatures off of her. She intensified her own chanting in hopes that they would understand that she needed their all. The spell surged through her like a massive lightning bolt striking the edge of the rift. It began to shrink slowly but it wasn't enough to close it completely. Suddenly creatures began coming back through the portal. Aquaman followed behind them.
"I think I can finish closing the portal with the trident but I need something to plug it." Aquaman called to the two leaguers.
"What could possibly be big enough…" Superman stopped short when he noticed a massive rock. "That might work."
He and Wonder Woman pushed it into the opening. Aquaman leapt to Dominic side and fired the trident at the rock. Their magics mixed reforming the rock into a kind of scar. Dominic all but collapsed as she was forced to shift back into human form. Aquaman caught her.
"I'm Ok." She lied as her vision darkened and she tasted blood but managed to get back to her feet.
"I can't hear the other dragons anymore so I think we did it." She managed to shift back to her dragon form with a great degree of difficulty.
Only Aquaman noticed her searching eyes and realized what had occurred.
"Let's find the others." Superman ordered.
"We'll catch up." Aquaman stated placing his hand on Dominic's shoulder.
The two leaguers left leaving the two of them alone.
"You are blind." Aquaman said as soon as they were out of his sight. It wasn't a question.
"I can't see anything." She confirmed.
"All that magic flowing through you came at a cost and I would suspect it's not just your eyes." Aquaman deduced.
"I will heal." Dominic assured as blood began to run from the side of her mouth. She quickly wiped it away.
"I have a great respect for your kind. I will guide you." the Atlantean king offered.
"Thank you, your highness." She nodded.
Aquaman was careful to keep her in the middle of the path do she wouldn't fall off the edge.
"Could you really hear all the dragons of the world?" he asked as they walked.
"I'm not sure if it was all of them but there were a lot of them. Why do you ask?" Dominic asked.
She was beginning to compensate her loss of sight with her hearing.
"As King of Atlantis I can hear the thoughts of the creatures of the sea. I thought since you could hear the thoughts of your people that you were in a similar position." He suggested.
"I'm nobody special." Dominic stated. Aquaman decided it was best not to argue with her though he had suspicions that she was more than she knew.
"How do you do it?" Dominic asked.
"Do what?" Aquaman questioned.
"How do you cope with all those thoughts. It was over whelming for me and there are many more creatures of the sea than dragons." Dominic stated.
"I learned long ago how to block them out when needed but yours does not seem to be a constant affliction." Aquaman commented.
"Only when the world is ending." She sighed.
Aquaman couldn't help but smile at her as they came upon the final battle with Icthultu. Aquaman leapt into battle. Dominic however moved more carefully. She could hear one of the creatures skittering towards her like a spider. It leapt into the air trying to stab her with its stinger but Dominic safely grabbed it in her teeth and bit it in half with her powerful jaws. She heard everyone running and followed the sound of their footsteps as Icthultu began to scream in agony. They ran into the giant squid only to find Grundy dying and Hawkgirl by his side. Dominic felt sorrow as she heard his final breath.
They returned to their dimension and held a funeral after which Aquaman pulled Fate away.
"She won't admit it but she's hurting and has become blind." Aquaman informed him.
"I suspected something was amiss. Having that much magic flowing through her could have easily killed her and yet she managed it three times." Fate stated. "I will do what I can to heal her."
Aquaman nodded before he strode over to Dominic. "Farewell young dragon." He said giving a slight bow.
Despite not being able to see this she gave a full bow to him as it was respectful. "Farewell your majesty."
Fate took Dominic back to his tower where Inza did her best to heal her.
"I managed to heal most of the damage to your internal organs but your eyes are another matter. Magic has its limits but they will heal on their own given time." Inza informed her.
"I understand and thank you for healing me." Dominic thanked.
"It is we who should be thanking you." Fate stated. "Without you we would not have been able to seal the breach."
"Happy to help." Dominic smiled.
"Take this." Fate said handing her a large book.
"What is it?" Dominic asked feeling the leather binding of the book.
"Something to help you with your growing abilities. It is very dangerous to both you and those around you for you to continue to suppress your powers." Fate warned.
Dominic nodded in thanks before he sent her home.
"Dominic?" she heard Rowena's voice gasp. Her alpha's arms wrapped around her.
"I'm Ok now alpha. Dominic promised. "I'm Ok."