Disclaimer: I do not own YJ, they belong to DC. I own Mia!
Mount Justice
August 19, 11:30 EDT
M'gann and Superboy were concerned at the moment because Mia still hadn't gotten up yet.
"Is she still asleep?"
"Yeah."
"Maybe one of us should check on her."
"I'll do it."
Superboy got up and heads to Mia's room. He knocks on the door but got no response so he knocks a little harder since Mia likes to listen to music when she paints and again no response. Suddenly he hears pants and mumblings from the room and he hears Mia's heartrate increasing so he forces his way in. Right in front of him was Mia tossing and turning, sweat soaking her bedsheets and clothes and her face showing signs of pain. Superboy quietly walks up to her bedside and tries to wake her up.
"Mia? Mia wake up."
When he touched her arm, Mia bolted right up and accidently sucker punching Superboy in the jaw. Mia takes a few minutes to calm herself and looks over to see Superboy touching his jaw.
"Superboy? W-what are you doing in my room? It's too early, go back to bed."
"I came to get you because you were still in bed and it's 11:30 in the morning by the way. Why'd you punch me?"
"Sorry. Reflex" Mia sheepishly smiles.
"Are you ok?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Cause your heartrate increased, the sheets are on the floor and you're covered in sweat."
Mia waves it off "Don't worry, it was just a nightmare."
"You want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
"Ok" Superboy turns to leave "Get dressed and come out, M'gann's worried about you."
"Give me five minutes."
Superboy leaves. Mia quickly changed into a navy blue tank top, denim shorts and blue sandals. She looks over to the calendar and saw the date. "Guess that's why I had that nightmare again" and she heads to the kitchen. Once she stepped foot in the kitchen something green envelops her in a tight hug.
"Heh heh, good morning to you too Meg" Mia chuckles.
"Oh Mia you're awake! When you missed breakfast, we got worried."
"We?"
"Yes."
A sly smile appeared on Mia's face and she looks over to Superboy who's watching TV. She walks up behind the sofa and hugs him.
"So you do care. Thanks Supey" Mia gives him a sibling kiss to the cheek then ruffles his hair.
He doesn't respond but a small smile did form on his face. For the rest of the day, the trio watched TV, had lunch, Mia gave them drawing lessons and relaxed for a bit until Kaldur, Wally and Artemis showed up.
19:39 EDT
The computer announced "Initiate-combat training" and the two powerhouses on the team started to train. The girls were off to the side watching the two boys fight and having a conversation.
"Kaldur's, uh, nice. Don't you think? Handsome. Commanding. You should totally ask him out" Artemis told M'gann.
"He's like a big brother to me. But do you know who would make the cutest couple? You and Wally" M'gann tells Artemis.
The girls look over to see Wally scarfing down a burrito.
"Why won't he ever chew with his mouth closed?" Mia pleads.
"You're so full of passion, and he's so full of, uh-of"
"It?"
"Got that right Artemis."
The girls laughed. This time M'gann and Artemis ganged up on Mia.
"What about you Mia?" M'gann asks.
"I think you and Kaldur would make a nice couple" Artemis says.
"I can't date any of the guys on the team."
"Why?" they asked.
"Because they're my brothers. Kaldur's like the first son of the family where he burdens himself with being responsible for everything and everyone, Superboy's the one in the rebellious phase but he's a softy on the inside and the Stupids aka Wally and Robin remind me of a couple of people I knew a long time ago" Mia smiles sadly "And I made myself the unofficial official big sister of the Team. It's my job to make sure that everyone's ok and that they have a good life, that's what big sister's do."
Artemis and M'gann didn't know what to say to that so they remind quiet and watched the sparring match.
Superboy places his foot behind Kaldur's ankle and tosses him over his shoulder.
"Fail- Aqualad."
"Black Canary taught me that" Superboy says wiping his hands.
"Go put on a shirt Supey" Mia states earning a playful glare from him.
Tornado comes out of his room and starts walking but stops when Wally appeared by him.
"Do you have a mission for us?"
"Mission assignments are the Batman's responsibility."
"Yeah. Well, the Batman's with the Robin doing the dynamic duo thing in Gotham, but you're headed somewhere, right? Hot date or a misión?"
"Wally, shut up" Mia retorts.
"If we can be of help…" Kaldur offers.
Tornado pulls up the holo-computer and shows a picture of an old man in a suit with a cane.
"This is Kent Nelson, a friend. He is 106 years old"
"Guy doesn't look a day over 90" Wally comments.
"And he has been missing for 23 days. Kent was a charter member of the Justice Society, the precursor to your mentors' Justice League"
"Of course. Nelson was Earth's Sorcerer Supreme. He was Doctor Fate" Kaldur exclaims.
Suddenly Mia felt a chill run up her spine and her blood ran cold "Why is that name so familiar?"
Wally scoffs "More like Doctor Fake. Guy knows a little advanced science and 'Dumbledores' it up to scare the bad guys and impress the babes" he told Artemis.
"Kent may simply be on one of his walkabouts, but he is caretaker to the Helmet of Fate, the source of the Doctor's mystic might, and it is unwise to leave such power unguarded"
"He's like the great sorcerer priests and priestesses of Mars. I'll be honored to help find him" M'gann says.
Wally quickly raises his hand "Me, too. So honored I can barely stand it. Magic rocks."
"Oh brother" Mia mumbles.
"Take this. It is the key to the Tower of Fate."
Kaldur takes the key from Tornado.
"What are the chances we both so admire the mystic arts?" Wally asks M'gann.
"Between slim to never" Mia retorts earning a high-five from Artemis.
They headed to the bioship and went to start their 'mission'. On the way there, Mia couldn't help but feel like this had something to do with today's date. "I'm sure I've heard the name Doctor Fate before, I just don't know where" Mia thought as she looks out the window.
"So, Wally, when did you first realize your honest affinity for sorcery?" Artemis asks.
"Well, I-I don't like to brag, but, uh, before I became Kid Flash, I seriously considered becoming a wizard myself."
"I call bs on that" Mia softly spoke not taking her eyes off the night sky.
Salem
August 19, 20:22 EDT
"We've reached Tornado's coordinates, but-" M'gann starts.
"Nothing's there" Superboy finishes.
"Take us down" Kaldur orders.
When the bioship landed, the hairs on the back of Mia's neck stood. She looks out the window and sees no one there so she rubs her neck and walks out the bioship. "Why do I get the feeling someone's watching us?" Mia went to walk by Superboy hoping it will make her feel safe but it didn't work. They made their way to the opening and stood there.
Wally does a quick search and came back stating "Nothing. This isn't simple camouflage."
"So what do you think, adaptive micro-opto-electronics combined with phase shifting?" Artemis suggests.
"Absolutely.." he sees M'gann "Not. Clearly mystic powers are at work here."
"Oh so close" Mia tells Artemis and she nods.
Behind them, three people appeared: a boy holding a cat, Kent tied up and a wannabe Zorro behind Kent were watching them.
"Hey, Abra Kadabra, aren't you using adaptive micro-opto-electronics and phase shifting?" the boy asks.
"Yes" Abra Kadabra solemnly states.
The Team continues to stare at the open field wondering where's the Tower. Mia knew it was there, she didn't know how but she did. "It's here, I just know it."
Kaldur looks down at the key "A test of faith. Stand behind me."
"Gladly" Mia states as she rubs her arms. "Why am I getting chills all of a sudden?"
Kaldur walks to the front of the group and inserts the key in the air. When he turned it, the Tower appeared. Everyone was stunned that the Tower magically appeared while Kaldur pushes the door and everyone enters. The door closes behind them and disappears.
"Uh, where'd the door go?" Superboy asks.
"Let's just hurry up and get this done. This place is giving me the creeps" Mia states.
Wally looks back at Mia "What, you scared?"
"Yes and I never get scared easily Wally. So if I'm scared, you should be too."
Suddenly a talking image of Kent appears before them "Greetings. You have entered with a key, but the Tower does not recognize you. Please state your purpose and intent."
Wally glances back at M'gann and proclaims "We are true believers, here to find Doctor Fate."
The image looked sad at Wally proclamation but before it disappeared, it saw Mia and a scowl forms on his face. Before Mia could say a word, she hunches over in pain as electricity courses through her body and she yells out. Next thing anyone knew, the floor gives out and they start falling into a pit of lava. Artemis takes out an arrow gun, shoots then grabs Kaldur, M'gann grabs Wally and uses her powers to keep them afloat, Superboy grabs onto the wall and slides down to the pit where his boots are burned off and Mia continues to fall but uses her powers to teleport back to the top and continues to fall.
"Those were my favorite boots. This Nelson guy better be worth it" Superboy complains.
"At. Least. You're. Not. Being. Electrocuted. Ahh" Mia states as she teleports and falls in a continuous loop.
"Mia how are you being electrocuted?" Kaldur asks.
"No. Clue. But. I. Don't. Think. The. Tower. Likes. Me."
"Why?"
"How. Should. I. Know." "I won't be able to keep this up for much longer. The electricity is making it harder to teleport."
"Having trouble…maintaining altitude. I'm so hot" M'gann states.
"You certainly are" Wally agrees.
"WALLY!" Artemis and Mia shouted.
"Hey, inches above sizzling death, I'm entitled to speak my mind."
"My physiology and M'gann's are susceptible to extreme heat. We must climb out quickly. Mia can you teleport all of us out?" Kaldur asks.
"Being. Electrocuted. At. The. Moment. Ask. Later."
"Hello, Megan. We never truly answered the question. Red Tornado sent us to see if Mr. Nelson and the Helmet were safe!"
A panel closes the lava pit and everyone lands ok except for Mia, she landed hard on her back with a loud thud. "That was close. A second later and I would've been deep fried" "Ow" she mutters then writhes in pain as the electricity continues to hurt her. Superboy helps her up and everyone looks at her wondering why she's still being electrocuted.
"This platform, it should be red-hot, but it is cool to the touch" Kaldur observes.
"Don't worry, Megalicious. I got you" Wally states.
"Enough! Your little 'Impress Megan At All Costs' game nearly got us all barbecued" Artemis exclaims.
"When did this become my fault?"
"When you lied to that whatever it was and called yourself a true believer."
"Couldn't have said it better myself Artemis" Mia states then groans and hiss as the voltage increased.
"Wally, you don't believe?" M'gann asks.
"Fine! Fine! I lied about believing in magic. But magic is the real lie, a major load."
"Wally, I studied for a year at the conservatory of sorcery in Atlantis. The mystic arts created the skin icons that power my water bearers" Kaldur says.
"Dude, you ever hear of bioelectricity? Hey, in primitive cultures fire was once considered magical, too. Today it's all just a bunch of tricks."
"You're pretty close-minded for a guy who can break the sound barrier in his sneakers" Artemis states.
"That's science. I recreated Flash's laboratory experiment, and here I am. Everything can be explained by science."
"Then h-how d-do you ex-explain m-me being elec-electrocuted all o-of a su-sudden?" Mia struggled to say.
"A sudden increase of electrons merged together creating an electric field around you. Like I said, everything can be explained by science."
"Are you ok Mia?" M'gann worriedly asks.
"Never better" she groans "I love the electric aftertaste in my mouth."
"Let us test that theory" Kaldur wen to open the hatch.
"Wait! The back-draft from the lava will roast us alive!" Wally exclaims.
Kaldur opens the door and snow appears.
"It's snow" M'gann smiles.
"Do you ever get tired of being wrong?" Artemis smugly asks Wally.
They jumped down landing on the snow covered ground easily but Mia is still being electrocuted and no one knows how to stop it, then the door disappears.
"Well?" Artemis asks.
"Ever hear of string theory? We're in a pocket dimension."
"You have an answer for everything don't you" Mia retorts.
"What's that?" M'gann asks.
Everyone turns to see a floating cane.
"Ooh. Maybe it's Nelson's magic wand" Wally sarcastically states.
"No you doofus. That's his magic floating cane, educate yourself" Mia uses the same tone of voice. "Maybe that thing can help me" Mia musters as much power as she could and teleports behind the cane grabbing it at the same time as Artemis and Wally.
"I got it! Ahh. I can't let go" Artemis and Wally said while Mia remained quiet.
The cane shot them up into the sky and disappears.
Abra Kadabra, Kent and the boy walk up some stairs in an endless maze while the boy continues to ask "Are we there yet?"
They stopped when Abra Kadabra states "Tell us how to find the helmet."
Kent smirks and Abra Kadabra takes off the collar around Kent's neck and tosses it behind him.
"Can't. Having too much fun" Kent smiles.
Abra Kadabra shoots electricity at Kent in anger "Still having fun?"
"Heh heh. I am. Zap him again or dump him off the side and watch him splat" the boy offers.
Abra Kadabra zaps Kent again. The cat meows at the boy.
"Ah, yes, yes. I suppose we might still need him."
Superrboy, Kaldur and M'gann continue their trek to find a way out.
"I don't understand Wally. It's almost like he needs to believe the impossible can't happen" M'gann says curiously.
"Wally uses his understanding of science to control what he cannot comprehend. Acknowledging the existence of magic would be to relinquish the last vestige of that control" Kaldur explains.
"If the Tower is ok with us being here then why is Mia still getting hurt?" M'gann asks.
"Only one way to find out" Superboy responds.
A door opens and a small flight of stairs appeared on top of a mountain not too far from them.
The other trio appear in the same staircase maze where Kent is. He notices them and smiles.
"Abra Kadabra" Wally states.
"Alakazam" Mia jokes.
"Well, would you look at that" Kent says.
Soon the cane glows as does Kent and Kent was reunited with his cane. "In here" and elevator doors appeared. All four quickly went inside and the doors closed before they got hit with magic.
As they make their way up, Mia softly moans in pain trying hard not to yell out.
"I'm Kent Nelson, by the way."
"No duh. Ow!" both Mia and Artemis elbowed Wally in the gut.
"I'm Artemis. Miss Manners here is Wally."
"And I'm Mia, the one being electrocuted."
"Oh dear, let's see if we can make it stop" Kent snaps his fingers and it disappears.
Mia sighs in relief and smiles at Kent "Thanks Mr. Nelson."
"You're quite welcome Mia. Well, we're up against an opponent with tremendous mystic power."
"Abra Kadabra?" Wally scoffs "Flash proved he uses futuristic technology to simulate magic. Guy's all show and no biz."
"Right you are."
"He is?" the girls asked.
"Abra is a charlatan. But Klarion, the Witch Boy, the kid with the cat, he's an actual Lord of Chaos, the ultimate enemy of a Lord of Order like Doctor Fate."
"Right. You're a Lord of Order" Wally skeptically states.
"Oh, no, not me. I'm just an old coot Fate used to put on until my wife Inza convinced me there could be more to life" Kent opens his pocket watch to see his wife's picture "Ah, she was a real pistol, that Inza. Anyhoo, Klarion's after the helmet. If he get's his sticky little mitts on it, he'll turn the planet into his own personal playground of pandemonium."
The four of them arrived and walked out of the elevator, walking towards a giant bell. Suddenly M'gann, Kaldur and Superboy appeared and Artemis went to check on them.
"Friends of yours?" Kent asks.
"More like family" Mia responds.
Abra Kadabra and Klarion appeared.
"Friends of yours?" Wally asks.
The three of them dodged another attack sent by Abra Kadabra. Kent hits the bell with his cane and they walked in with Klarion not too far behind. The trio appeared on the roof of the Tower and Mia finally sees the helmet and visibly pales.
"No" she softly said.
Kent turns to look at her with a sad face "You're a Fuentes aren't you Mia?"
"How'd you know?"
"Because you have the same eyes as your grandfather Pedro Fuentes."
"What?"
"You see, your grandfather was Doctor Fate for a short time until I took on the mantle. Unfortunately he died shortly after being Doctor Fate and the Lord of Order declared that none of Fuentes' descendants shall be allowed to enter the Tower of Fate" he sighs "Your mother never got to know about how a wonderful man he was and I'm sorry to hear about your mother Mia. I know today must be difficult for you."
"Mia what's he talking about?"
Mia doesn't answer and neither does Kent, so he went to grab the helmet but gets hit in the chest by Klarion's magic.
"Mr. Nelson!" the duo exclaims.
Wally catches him before he fell. Kent chants a spell and a bubble appears to protect them from Klarion.
"Not bad for a former 'Doctor Fake', eh, kid?" Kent told Wally.
Mia gasps as Kent falls to the ground and Wally catches him again.
"The bubble'll give you just enough time to do what you need to do."
"I have no idea what I need to do" Wally states.
"Have faith in what you can't explain. Believe in what you can no longer deny" Kent tells Wally.
He looks over to Mia with a smile "Mia you must let go of the past. What happened, happened. You cannot dwell on the past forever. I hereby declare that you, Amelia Rosa Fuentes Ramires, be allowed to enter the Tower of Fate for as long as you live. Be free Mia and bring your siblings to the path of good."
Kent lets out his last breath and dies in Wally's arms. Mia looks away crying and a flashback appears. Her house on fire, her mother stuck inside screaming and an annoying nasal laugh. Mia's eyes widen at the recognition of the sound when Klarion starts complaining. Her face turns hard and she spoke in a low voice.
"Stay here Wally and whatever you do, don't put on that helmet. I've got a Witch Boy to deal with."
"Mia are you crazy?! You can't-"
"Don't put on that helmet."
She teleports out of the bubble to face Klarion. Klarion does a double-take when he sees Mia and looked confused.
"Carmen? I thought I killed you."
"So it was you who killed my mother" Mia glares.
"Wait, you're not Carmen? Oh you must be her other daughter, you're the spitting image of your mother."
Mia growls "I'm going to give you hell for what you did to my mother" and she went in for the first strike.
She got him by surprise and managed to punch him square in the jaw drawing a little bit of blood. Klarion gingerly touches his lip then looks at his fingers to see blood on them. He looks up at Mia and a very cruel smile forms on his face.
"Looks like we're going to have some fun Teekl" he raises his hands at Mia "Let's see if you can put up a better fight than your mother. Shall we?"
"Gladly. Bring it on Cat Boy" Mia taunts.
Klarion chants a spell and red fire was aimed at Mia but she dodges it at the last second. She quickly gets up and ran towards him head on. Mia teleports then appears behind him and clings to his back like a monkey.
"Ah! Get it off, get it off!"
"Sorry Cat Boy but I'm not going anywhere."
Mia tightens her hold on Klarion. He claws at her arms and legs but she didn't loosen her grip one bit.
Wally's still in the bubble watching everything going down. He looks over to Kent's body then over to Mia trying to figure out what he was supposed to do. "What am I going to do?" Suddenly he hears M'gann's voice in his head.
"Wally, Mia we're in trouble. Tell Kent we need Doctor Fate. Aah!"
"Everyone's in trouble, I have to do something." He looks up at the helmet then glances at Mia. "I'm sorry Mia."
"I've had enough of you!"
Klarion recites a spell and directs it at Mia's back. She yells out in pain but held on. He repeats the spell several times before Mia finally lets go of his back. The last hit made her fall off his back and onto her side on the ground. She screams in pain when Klarion kicks her wounded back making him laugh giddily at her pain.
"Now that's more like it" he looks over to see Wally about to put on the helmet "Hey, dumb kid, you put that on, you may never get it off."
Mia looks over too and sees Wally slowly putting on the helmet and she starts crying.
"No."
The bubble disappears and Klarion shoots his magic at Wally while Mia screams.
"NO!"
Wally stood still trying to calm himself down.
"Ok, ok. No problem. I'm not here. I'm just delusional."
"Still don't believe?" Kent appears behind him "Seriously, kid, how'd you get so bullheaded in 15 short years?"
"But-but you're-you're-"
"Yep, but don't feel bad. Soon as this little brouhaha is over, my spirit will ascend, and I'll be reunited with my beloved Inza."
"O-oh. Ok. Wait. Does that mean that I'm-"
"Ah, you're alive, but your soul no longer controls your body. See, we're inside the helmet. You put it on, and my soul got sucked in, probably because I spent so many years serving its master."
"Master?"
"Nabu, the real Doctor Fate, one of them Lords of Order I told you about. He's the guy controlling your body now. Wanna watch?"
The fight between Fate and Klarion rages on while all Mia could do was watch from the sidelines. "Why Wally?" a few more tears escaped.
"Give it up Nabu! Order went out of style in the 20th century."
"This battle is pointless. You sought to take the helmet before it claimed a host, but you are too late."
"Shut it, you old fart!"
Klarion summoned two rock pillars and smashed Fate but he came out unharmed. Fate recites a spell at Klarion causing him to disappear and appear behind Fate. Mia notices and yells "Behind you!" but she was too late as Klarion manages to strike Fate in the back.
"Aah!" Wally falls to his knees in pain "What gives?"
"Well, it is your body."
"Then let me control it. With Fate's power and my speed-"
"Sorry, kid. Doesn't work that way. But you can see why I haven't put on the helmet in 65 years."
"And if Fate loses this fight?"
"You see Inza before I do."
Wally was shocked on the outside but he was terrified on the inside. "Oh no."
Klarion fires at Fate and he dodges it at the last second then puts up a shield but ends up getting hit again. As the fight continues, Mia struggled to sit up and when she did, she's using all of her willpower to keep herself up.
"Well…that's…a-a start" she breathes heavily.
Mia looks up to see Fate about to get hit with a geyser of Klarion's magic so she tries something she has never done before, teleporting attacks. She takes a deep breath, holds out her hand and concentrates. Her hands starts to shake then Mia moves the geyser with her hand and succeeded in moving it a few centimeters away from Fate.
Mia smiles at her accomplishment but she falls to the ground with a bloody nose and slowly started to lose consciousness. "Guess that took more out of me than I thought. At least I know I can do that, yay…"
"You're out of practice, Nabu, and that pathetic host body, zero affinity for the mystic arts."
Klarion summons lightening at Fate and he quickly puts up a shield to protect himself.
"Ooh. Rainbow power."
Teekl meows.
"I am paying attention, you stupid cat."
"Meow."
"In case you hadn't noticed, I'm winning."
"Meow."
"I'll deal with the girl later. She's not going anywhere."
Fate now knew what to do, so he dissipates the shield and lightening all together.
"It is difficult for a Lord of Order or Chaos to maintain a presence on the physical plane"
Klarion gets angry and starts firing his magic at Fate.
"I am bound to the helmet and use a human host. But that is not your way."
"You're babbling, Nabu."
"Am I?"
Fate shoots his magic at Teekl and gets a direct hit. Teekl gets thrown a few feet away and doesn't move.
Klarion yells out "Teekl! I can't believe you would assault a defenseless pussycat."
"We both know that creature is no cat, Witch Boy, and without your familiar, you have no anchor in this reality."
"Bully! Killjoy! Geezer!" Fate shoots at him "Holy carp" Klarion dodges it then picks up Teekl "We're outta here!" and leaves for good.
Mia groans a little and tries getting up. Once she got to her feet, she slowly walked over to Fate and went to give him a piece of her mind.
"Fate!" he looks over to her "Give him back now."
"No."
"Don't you dare take away my brother you soulless douchebag. You will not take another family member away from me."
"I will do as I wish Fuentes" he narrows his eyes at her.
"You got my grandfather killed before my mother ever got the chance to meet him."
"It was his fault. The fool got himself killed, not I."
"You were the one controlling his body, not him! It's your fault, you killed him!"
"Watch your tongue Fuentes or I'll-"
"Or what? Kill me? Go ahead! You'll be doing me a favor since my entire family is already dead!" Mia takes a deep breath before continuing "If you don't let Wally go now, the next time someone puts on the helmet I will personally remove it by force. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes! That's how we kick it on the Earthly plane. Uh, it's-it's over right? So why isn't Nabu taking off the helmet?"
"Because the Earth needs Doctor Fate. I will not release this body."
"He can't do that! Can he do that?"
"Can, but shouldn't. Nabu, this is not the right candidate. The kid's soul belongs to the world of science, not sorcery" Kent reasons.
"True, but I do not appreciate being permanently hidden away, useless, and isolated for decades at a time. Chaos must not be allowed to reign."
"That won't happen again. The boy'll take the helmet and make sure you're put to good use."
"Yeah, I swear."
"And in the meantime, I'll stick around, keep you company."
"Wait. What happened to you ascending, seeing Inza?"
"So you believe now, eh? Don't sweat it, kid. I'll spend a few millennia in here, then see Inza. That's the great thing about eternity" Kent looks at his wife's picture "It's eternal."
"The bargain is acceptable."
Out of nowhere, Wally and Kent heard Mia threaten Nabu.
"If you don't let Wally go now, the next time someone puts on the helmet I will personally remove it by force. Do I make myself clear?"
"Did she just threaten Nabu?" Kent asks.
"Yes she did. Mia has a thing for standing up to those who threaten her family."
Kent sighs "She's just like her mother, Carmen. She too was a hardhead but she had a big heart and looked after those she cares about, family and otherwise."
Wally remembers Mia saying that Klarion killed her mother. "Did Klarion kill her mother?"
"Yes he did. Exactly five years ago to the day" Wally looks down "Don't worry, Amelia's strong she'll get through it. Now some free advice before you go. Find your own little Spitfire, one who won't let you get away with nothin', for example, that-"
Wally takes off the helmet and sees Mia crying right in front of him.
"Wally?"
He nods and she hugs him tightly like he was going to disappear again.
"You're back. I thought I was going to lose you too" she cries in his chest.
"It's ok Mia, you won't be losing me that easily."
She looks up at him to see a cheeky smile and she responds with a watery smile. The duo walked over to Kent's body and bowed their heads in respect. Wally places the pocket watch back in Kent's hand while Mia places a tender kiss on his forehead.
"Thanks you Mr. Nelson for bringing my brother back."
Wally helped Mia back up on her feet and carries her on his back.
"I'm glad you're back Wally."
"Me too. I can't believe you did it again."
Mia chuckles "Of course. No one messes with my family, no matter who they are or how powerful they are. Just promise me something."
"What?"
"Don't let anyone put on the helmet."
"But Mia…"
"Please Wally. The thought of losing someone to Fate is the worst thing that could happen to me."
Wally was silent for a few minutes "Alright Mia, I promise."
Mount Justice
August 20, 03:48 EDT
Wally walks to the shelf and places the helmet next to Chesire's mask. Artemis appears at the door and clears her throat to grab his attention.
"You never said what happened to you when you put on the helmet."
"Energy from the thing rewrote my brain's beta waves. I was bioscripted into becoming Doctor Fate for a few minutes. No big."
"Wait. You're still claiming there's no such thing as magic?" *scoffs* "If that's how you feel, why keep it at all?"
"Souvenir" he gives her a smug look.
"Geek!" and she leaves the room.
Wally looks back at the helmet and remembers what Kent told him "Find your own little Spitfire, one who won't let you get away with nothin'." Wally looks down then notices M'gann walking by.
"Hello, Megan. Guess who bought us 2 tickets to a magic show."
"WALLY! Stop trying to impress Meg right this second or so help me I'm sending you to Oa!" Mia shouts from the Med Bay.
She lets out a sigh as she mentally prepares herself for the treatment. As she lays on her stomach, Canary was getting the equipment she needed to treat Mia's wound.
"Mia how did you hear about Oa?" she quickly asks.
"Green Lantern told me one time."
"Which one?"
"The one that's good friends with Flash." (A/N: Green Lantern Hal Jordan)
"Oh…him."
Mia laughs a little "He's nice. I like him."
Superboy arrives in time and sat next to Mia.
"Hey Canary, are you sure I can't get any anesthetics?"
"I'm sorry Mia, you can't."
"Aw man" Mia pouts a little.
Superboy lightly chuckles at the face she made.
"And what are you laughing at?"
"You" she moans "From where I'm at, it's funny to see the Almighty Mia whine like a 5 year old."
"Shut up and let me hold your hand."
He takes hold of her hand and gives it a light squeeze.
"I'm ready."
"This will sting" and Canary wasn't lying.
Mia squeezes Superboy's hand tightly and let's out an ear piercing scream. The procedure lasted for three hours and when Canary was finally done, Mia was relieved. Canary gave her a small dose of morphine and Superboy heads to bed. As she continued to lay on her stomach, Mia remembers her mother's death as it flashes before her eyes again.
"I'm so sorry Mami. I couldn't save you" she sniffles a little.
A knock was heard and she cranes her neck to see who it was "Come in."
Wally pokes his head in with a small smile.
"Hey Mia, how you feeling?"
"Better now" she plasters on a fake smile.
Wally frowns a little and walks in holding a cup of chocolate milk with a straw in it. He places the cup in front of Mia and she takes a few sips.
"Mia you don't have to lie to me. How are you really feeling?"
Mia does her best to keep the tears in but a few of them escaped. She starts off whimpering then softly cries her heart out. Wally places the cup on the nightstand and brushes her hair out of her face.
"Mia, what happened to your mom?"
All he heard was the sound of her crying and sniffles. After a few minutes, she took a deep breath and told the story of her mother's death.
"It happened 5 years ago when I was 12, I went to pick up my siblings from a friend of my dad's just before dinner. It was dark by the time I made it back to the house with my siblings when I saw that it was on fire and the neighbors were trying to put it out. I told them to stay put and went to go save my mom. Just as I reached the front door, I heard my mom yelling inside.
'Don't you dare touch my children Witch Boy. If you want to kill someone, kill me.'
Then I heard an annoying nasal laugh and shortly after I hear my mother's scream as the fire fully engulfed the house. I got pushed back by the force of the fire and earned a few scars from it then I tried to get back to the house but one of the neighbors held me back and other people had to hold my siblings back too. 'It's too late, she's gone. I'm sorry Little Rosa' they told me. Afterwards, I took care of my siblings by making sure that they went to school, had food to eat and did everything that a mother had to do to raise kids."
"But Mia you were too young to raise them by yourself. Why didn't you stay with relatives?" "So that's why she acts so motherly" Wally looks at her with a heartbroken look.
"My parents didn't have any siblings and my grandparents died before my parents got married, they only had each other. When I was born they were so happy and when my siblings were born, they couldn't stop smiling. We were one big happy family but after losing my parents, I did my best to keep us going and it was going well until we were kidnapped."
"What?!" Wally quickly got up to his feet "Did I hear that right?" "When did this happen?! How did you escape?! Wait…what about your siblings? What happened to them?"
Mia lets out a dark chuckle and Wally looks at her like she went mad. His stunned face formed into one of brotherly concern.
"Mia, you can tell me" he softly said.
"Sorry Wall-man, that's a story for another time" she lets out a tired sigh "I haven't slept a wink and I'm really tired. Can you let me sleep, please?"
Wally was hesitant but eventually left the room. When he got to the door, he turns around to look at Mia with a small smile.
"Hey Mi."
"Yeah?"
"If you need someone to talk to, just give me a call no matter what time it is. Ok?"
Mia smiles back "Thanks Wally."
He nods and leaves her room. As he made his way to the zeta tubes, he pulls out his phone and speed dialed someone who could help. Wally smiles when the person picked up.
"Hey Uncle Barry, I need to talk to you and Aunt Iris about something."