Disclaimer: I do not own YJ, they belong to DC. I own Mia!
Roanoke Island
November 5, 19:46 EDT
"How about here?" Klarion asks.
"Meow."
Teekl jumps out of his arms.
"Finally."
Klarion takes out a gem and places it in the middle of the crossroad. Soon a magical seal appears on the ground and he walks out of the seal.
"Time to get the old band back together. Wotan. Blackbriar Thorn. Felix Faust. Wizard. Now….heh-heh! Let's put on a show. Oh, Countess make sure you watch and take notes."
A young girl wearing a black dress appears behind him and smirks.
"Of course."
Klarion and the other sorcerers started to chant an incantation. Countess watches intently as Teekl came by and lets her pet him.
"This is going to be fun."
Mount Justice
November 5, 19:47 EDT
Conner walks out of the bioship carrying two boxes on his shoulder while M'gann levitates the rest.
"Did you get everything?" Batman asks.
"Everything on your list, Batman, plus groceries."
"Cookie fixins?" Wally happily asks.
"Snickerdoodle" M'gann answers.
"Babe, you rock my world."
"Hey Meg, did you get the stuff I asked for?" Mia asks.
"Sure did, it's in this box. I also got you some cookie dough ice cream."
"Thanks" Mia smiles.
Conner and Kaldur were tightening the straps on some of the crates when Artemis and Zatanna arrived in the hangar.
"Glad your back, Zatanna. Does this mean you're officially joining the Team?"
The girls saw Zatara chant a spell to levitate some crates while Tornado got the rest of the crates.
"I don't know. Zatara's so overprotective I mean, just getting him to let me visit takes a full day's wheedling. I wish he'd just give me a little space."
Just like that, the three Leaguers disappeared from the hangar.
"Dad!" Zatanna yells grabbing everyone's attention.
"What the hell just happened?!" Mia shouts.
"I-I don't know they just disappeared. W-where's my dad?!"
"Don't worry Zatanna, we'll find him" Robin assures her.
While they're coming up with theories about where they went, Mia felt a chill run down her spine. "I've got a bad feeling about this."
Roanoke Island
November 5, 19:47 EDT
Back on Roanoke Island, the four sorcerers disappeared, leaving only Klarion and Countess. "And so it begins. Better be on your toes dear sister cause karma is coming to get you." Countess starts to practice her magic so she would be ready for the upcoming battle.
Fawcett City
November 5, 18:47 CDT
'Today in Fawcett City Captain Marvel defeated an attack by the creatures known as Ibac and Sabbac' Cat Grant reports.
Billy's uncle was ruffling his hair when he suddenly disappears. Billy quickly jumps onto the couch.
"Uncle Dudley! Don't know which of my enemies is behind this but I know a job for Captain Marvel when I see one. Shaz…" he looks at the TV and saw that Cat Grant was gone too "Whoa. Looks like Uncle D isn't the only one gone missing."
"Look out!"
The sound of a car crashing caught Billy's attention and he quickly looks out his window.
"Are you okay?"
"Forget me. Where's mommy?" the girl points to where their mother was.
Billy walked away from the window "All the grownups are gone. And Cap's a grownup. If I change I could disappear, too."
At the cave, Robin and Zatanna were set up in the mission room trying to find any information about where the adults disappeared to.
'We've set up a refugee center at the high school gym. Any luck with-' Wally asks.
"No. Can't raise the Batcave, the Hall of Justice, or the watch…or any adult hero, even Red Arrow" Robin explains.
'Well that's such a shame, really it is' Mia gave her two cents.
"Mia…"
'What? I'm just trying to lighten the mood. Oops, gotta go. Blink out.'
'Guess we're on our own. Kid Flash out.'
"Traditional media's offline 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."
"How am I-"
"I pulled this footage. It's your dad helping us locate Wotan and the Injustice League last month."
Robin plays the footage for her.
"But the-the words, I mean, that's only part of it. 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. We'll find your dad, Batman, all of them. That's what we do."
Happy Harbor
November 5, 20:19 EDT
Out in town, the rest are finding kids and taking them to the high school. Mia and Conner team up to look for them. Already, Mia has two babies in her arms, a seven year old on her back and two six year olds clinging onto her legs. Conner tried to take a few of the kids but Mia wouldn't let him and that's when they hear a baby crying.
They followed the sound to a blue car and Conner rips the door open. He unbuckles the kid and holds him in his arms. The little boy was unsure but he saw the "S" and he was better.
"Aw you look so cute Con."
"At least I don't look like a jungle gym" Conner counters.
Mia shrugs "What can I say? I like kids and they like me. Now come on, we better take them to the high school."
They started walking back to the school's gym, picking up a few more kids on the way. M'gann was able to scare off some troublemakers and was about to head inside when Wally shows up with a toddler in his arms. They head inside and saw Artemis singing to a group of kids.
~"Twinkle twinkle little star. Um…Yes sir yes sir three bags full"~
The kids laughed "That's not 'Twinkle twinkle'. That's 'Baa baa black sheep'."
~"Um…Oh! Q, R, S, T, U, V"~
"That's ABCs!" they laughed again.
Artemis stood up and saw Wally and M'gann. The little boy in Wally's arm hands him his sippy cup.
"Oh, for me? Thank you."
"Did you call home?" Artemis asks Wally.
"No answer."
"You could zeta there."
"I've been collecting kids all day. I don't need to see another empty house."
The door opens to reveal Conner covered in three kids while Mia had five.
"Got three more."
"And I've got five. Who wants to help get some of these munchkins off me?"
A familiar voice spoke "Let me help you."
"Oh thank" she turns to see Andy "You."
"No problem. Come here kiddo" he grabs the kid on Mia's back then looks at her strangely.
"What?" Mia tries to act innocent.
"Sorry but you look like someone I know."
"Really? Who?" "Thank god he doesn't recognize me"
"A girl who went here but she moved two months ago to live with her uncle."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's alright. I'm sure she's happy. Hey let me take the rest of them."
"You sure?"
"Positive, you've done enough."
"Thanks."
Andy took the babies and had the other kids follow him to the group.
"Bye Andy" she whispers as a single tear strolls down her cheek.
"You ok?"
She quickly wipes the tear away and looks at Conner "Yeah I'm good. C'mon lets go find more kids."
That's what they did for a while until they went back to the cave.
Billy ran across the street to get to a zeta entrance.
"Okay, Batson, make sure the coast is clear and…Go!"
He makes his way to an out of order photo booth and gets in.
"Captain Marvel, 1-5" and nothing happens so he does it again "Captain Marvel, 1-5. Override H-O-J/Watchtower priority red! Captain Marvel, 1-5!"
The computer scans him "Not recognized. Access denied."
Billy groans and leaves the booth. As he walks past an electronics store, the TVs turn on showing Kaludr, Wally and Robin in their suits.
'Attention, children and teenagers of Earth I am Aqualad. These are my friends Robin and Kid Flash.'
'We are using Justice League tech to cast and stream to every TV, radio, computer and smartphone on the planet' Robin explains.
'We know you must be scared and angry. We know, with you parents missing there's a temptation to run wild. But, please, stay calm' Wally reasons.
'We will find a way to bring the adults back but for now, the oldest among you must step up' Kaldur states.
'Take care of your younger siblings. Take care of kids who have no one.'
'Protect them.'
'It is up to you.'
After watching the broadcast, Billy heads straight for the airstrip.
"It's up to Billy Batson to find a way to the cave…" he climbs over the fence "No matter the risk."
'Please help in any way you can' Wally urges.
"Which is how, exactly?" a young girl asks.
"That depends" she turns around to see Billy "Do you have a pilot's license?"
Back at the cave, Wally was staring at the helmet when Kaldur walks in.
"I finally got through to Atlantis. No adults there, either."
"So…just how desperate are we?" the duo look at the helmet again "I mean, this thing could definitely come in handy."
"Yes, but we both know 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. However if we decide to use it, we must make sure that Mia never finds out."
"Yeah, she'd have our heads if she ever found out."
"Guys?" they turned to see Zatanna "I-I'm ready to try my father's locator spell."
All three headed to the mission room to get started. Robin pulls up the holo-globe and Zatanna starts the spell.
"Etocal retnecipe fo yrecros!"
"Coordinates locked. Roanoke Island. You did it" Robin states.
"Nice job Zatanna" Mia smiles "Now why do I get the feeling that something big is about to go down?"
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this."
"You did the right thing, Amber. I know I don't look like much but I have to get to Happy Harbor to help."
"We're almost there. Should arrive just after midnight on my birthday" Amber says looking at her watch.
"Wait, you're telling me you turn 18 at midnight?" Amber disappears "I'll take that as a yes."
Roanoke Island
November 5, 19:47 EDT
As the sorcerers continue the spell, Klarion and Countess disappear this time. All four of them went on with the spell according to plan.
Mount Justice
November 5, 19:47 EDT
"Cookie fixins?"
"Snickerdoodle."
"Babe, you rock my world."
"Tup hcae meti ni sti reporp ecalp!" Zatara chants and places the boxes away.
"I'm glad you brought Zatanna, old friend. Does this mean you'll allow her to join the Team?" Batman wonders.
"I do not know. Zatanna's so…" *sighs* "My only child. I wish I could get used to the idea that she's, uh, growing up."
This time the Team disappears.
"Zatanna!"
Soon every adult on the planet starts freaking out about their kids disappearing.
"Dude, who taught you how to-"
"My son! My son's gone!"
'Worldwide reports are all the same. Every child under the age of 18 has disappeared. Parents are desperate for answers from secular and religious leaders from the heroes at the Justice League and from scientists at facilities like STAR Labs' Cat reports.
Gotham City
November 5, 22:07 EDT
"Those eggheads in there know what happened to our kids!"
"For all we know, they're responsible! Make them tell us the truth!" a blond man yells.
All of the parents outside STAR Labs agreed and started to march towards the building. The man who riled them up smirks and disappears into the crowd.
"Innocents of Gotham, please return to your homes. Rest assured, the best minds here and throughout the world are working on this and only this. Everything possible is being done to recover your…our children. Violence will not get them back. So all you're creating is a dangerous distraction form what really matters here tonight" Gordon states.
During the time Gordon was trying to calm the parents, the Riddler walks out of STAR Labs with a briefcase in his hand unnoticed. He gets into a getaway car with Sportsmaster at the wheel and the two drive off into the night.
At the cave, Zatara and Batman are in the trophy room looking at the helmet.
"So…how desperate are we?" Zatara asks.
"I informed the Watchtower you located the focal point at Roanoke. But the rest of the League is deployed to avert the chaos. Tornado, you and I are on our own."
"I would do anything to get my daughter back."
"Yes…but we both know there are many ways for your to lose her."
"So…not that desperate. Not yet. The entire League is unavailable?"
"Except perhaps for Captain Marvel. He's missing."
Happy Harbor
November 6, 00:01 EDT
Billy's trying to fly the plane but he's not doing so well.
"I can't. If I say it, I'll be an adult. And maybe disappear forever! Captain Marvel may have the courage of Achilles but Billy Batson…has the courage of Billy Batson. Shazam!"
He successfully turns into Marvel.
"Whoa! Hey, I didn't disappear!" Amber screams as she continues to fall to her death "Amber!"
Marvel quickly flies down and catches her. "Gotcha!"
"Recognized: Captain Marvel, 1-5."
Batman and Zatara turn to see Marvel coming in.
"Alright, guys, I'm here to…" he sees his fellow Leaguers and quickly hugs them "You're back! Is it over? Where's the Team?"
"Haven't you heard? Every child in the world has-"
"Zatara, wait. Captain, where have you been?"
"On a world without grownups. Holy Moley, there are two worlds."
"Two dimensions. One for adults-" Batman concludes.
"And one for kids" Marvel finishes.
"And you can travel between them?"
"I think I can. I-I know I can. Shazam!"
Thunder strikes and Marvel turns back into Billy.
"It works!"
The Team was shocked and they crowded around Billy.
"Where did you come from? Who are you?" Kaldur asks.
Before Billy spoke, Mia squats down and looks at him straight in the eye.
Narrowing her eyes she asks "Smile for me."
Billy does and Mia smirks at the sight of the familiar dimples on Billy's face.
"I know those dimples anywhere" "Hey Cap."
"That can't be Captain Marvel" Conner states.
"Quick, read my mind."
M'gann reads his mind and gasps at the truth.
"He is Captain Marvel."
"Yeah, and I'm Speedy Gonzalez. Look, just because he believes he's Cap-"
"Gee, Wally, do I really have to bring you nachos and pineapple juice to get on your good side?" Billy asks in a smug tone.
Everyone goes quiet until Mia breaks it by laughing.
"Ha! He called you out Wally" she hugs Billy "Oh that was great Cap. You should be like this more often."
When Mia had calmed down, everyone got serious. Billy started to travel between the two dimensions so each dimension could "talk" to the other with Billy as the messenger.
"There will be threats in both dimensions and we may not be familiar with our opponents" Batman states.
"But the key to this mission is a coordinated simultaneous attack" Kaldur says.
"Agreed, our best chance against sorcery is to strike fast, disrupt their efforts."
"And hope the two dimensions merge naturally back into one."
On Roanoke Island, Klarion sensed something coming at him so he raises a shield in time to block bird-arangs and arrows. Countess knew that it was time so she hides in the shadows, waiting for her target to show.
"That's the best you can do?"
Artemis and Robin were stunned then Klarion throws a red magic bolt at the duo. Conner, Wally and Kaldur came in at different sides ready to pound him but Klarion raises a dome shield to protect himself. The boys ran into the shield and bounced off it.
"Etativel mih ffo eht margatnep!" Zatanna chants but it didn't work.
"Huh. Baby magic. Fi ehs stnaw ot etativel os yldab, tel reh."
Zatanna was tossed into the sky.
"Hey Cat Boy!" Klarion turns to look at Mia "Bring it."
"Oh I don't have to but I know someone who does."
"Ekirts reh nwod" a new voice spoke.
Soon Mia gets hit in the chest by a very powerful spell causing her to scream in pain. She lifts her gaze to see someone she hadn't seen in three years.
"Ana Sophia?" Mia whispers.
"The name's Countess of Chaos to you" Ana glares.
As the battle with Klarion continues, Mia tries to talk some sense into her little sister.
"Ana, what happened to you? Why are you with Klarion? He killed Mom!"
"I don't have to explain myself to you and the only reason why Mom's dead is because she was an idiot for turning down Klarion's offer."
Mia was stunned then scowls at Ana. She quickly teleports in front of her sister and slaps her across the face. Grabbing onto Ana's shoulders, Mia shakes her.
"Ana Sophia Celestia Fuentes Ramires! Don't you ever speak ill of our mother! What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Ana starts to laugh "Nothing's wrong with me. I know the truth about everything. You abandoned us! We had to fend for ourselves against Ra's al Ghul and when he went after me, our brothers protected me. Do you know what their reward was?" Mia was silent "Death, that was their reward and I was left alone. Later I found out that I have magic and Klarion shows up. He took care of me the last three years a lot better than you ever did. Now you're going to pay."
"But Ana, none of that is true! I didn't abandoned you, I thought you were killed by Ra's al Ghul's blade but it was an illusion created by Klarion. And the boys are still alive, I've seen them with my own two eyes. Please Ana you have to believe me!"
"Enough!"
A ring of magic energy forms around Ana and is shot outward hitting Mia in the process. Mia gets flung back a few feet and hits the ground hard.
"I'm going to end your miserable and pathetic life. Say hello to Mami and Papi for me Lia. Ekirts reh nwod redrah!"
A more powerful spell strikes Mia again causing her to yell out in pain.
In the adult dimension, Marvel and Batman start to attack as well as Red Tornado.
"Nommus eht gninthgil!" Zatara chants.
A large bolt of lightning strikes down on the sorcerers but it was soon redirected into the gem at the center of the pentagram.
"So you teamed up with the grownups. Teamwork is so overrated" Klarion states.
He directs the lightning from the gem at Kaldur, Artemis and Robin. Robin and Artemis were knocked out cold while Kaldur remains strong.
"Artemis! Robin!" Zatanna saw that Kaldur was starting to lose, Wally got zapped and Mia was still getting hit with magic "Temleh fo Etaf, laever flesruoy!"
The helmet appears underneath a hollow rock.
Wizard levitates two large boulders and sends them at Marvel who just punches the boulders to bits. Before Marvel could attack, Zatara stops him.
"Captain, wait. That mystic gem 'Ambrejin Berdu' is the conduit of this sorcery. Without it, nothing may keep apart two worlds meant to be one."
"I'll tell the Team. Shazam!"
"It's the…" Billy's mouth was covered by M'gann's hand.
"Don't shout, Billy. I've linked you telepathically to the others."
"That's so cool. I mean, it's the gem, at the center of the pentagram. Destroy it, and we win."
"That's all I needed to know" Zatanna picks up the helmet.
"Zatanna!" Kaldur shouts.
"Stop!" Wally yells.
"Damn it, don't do it Zatanna! Aaahh!" Mia cringes in pain.
"Who said you could talk? Take that" Ana shoots a spell at Mia again.
Zatanna puts on the helmet and becomes Doctor Fate.
"Klarion! This ends now."
Klarion scowls at Fate.
"Billy tell Zatara" M'gann orders.
"And hurry" Mia screams in pain.
"Right, yeah. Shazam!" and Billy was gone.
"Mia!" Wally ran towards Mia but was quickly encased in a box.
"Sorry lover boy but this is a family affair. Knirhs."
The box Wally's trapped in, slowly starts to shrink and will eventually kill him.
"Wally."
"I'll be alright Mia" Wally lied.
Mia looks at Ana with a determined look "That's enough" "That's enough!"
She quickly teleports Wally out of the box and redirects the attack right back at Ana. Just as she did this, blood starts to flow out of her nose but she doesn't bother wiping it away.
"Get a taste of your own medicine Ana."
"Mia, you got this?"
"Go, Wally. It's time I taught my sister some manners."
"Wait. That's your-"
"Wally, now!"
Mia turns her attention back at Ana and goes in for the punch. Although Ana has been practicing magic for three years and is currently learning from the Lord of Chaos himself, it was no match to the experience Mia has under her belt; two years of being trained by the League of Shadows, three years of training with Ted and now this.
"Get this through your thick skull. I. Didn't. Abandoned. You!"
Mia throws one last punch at Ana that sent her flying while at the same time the dome shield around Klarion slowly disappears. Fate traps him for the time being so Wally can grab the gem and toss it to Fate. Fate catches it and chants "Yam eht owt emoceb eno ecno erom!" The two dimensions merged back into one and the sorcerers were defeated except for Klarion.
"Boy, they sure don't make evil immortal sorcerers like they used to. Oh, well" Klarion snaps his fingers and his chains were broken "Fun while it lasted. Teekl! Countess, time to go home."
Teekl runs into Klarion's arms and Ana smirks at Mia.
"See ya later sis" and a portal appears beneath her and she falls in it.
"NO!" Mia pounds the ground just after the portal closes "Damn it! I lost her again."
"Aren't you going to stop him?" Wally asks.
"To what end? Klarion is chaso personified. He cannot be contained and neither can the girl."
Mia looks up at Fate in shock then growls as she marches over.
"Fate!"
Fate looks down at Mia "What do you want Fuentes?"
"How long? How long did you know that she's been with that murderer?!"
"Long enough."
Mia growls again and went to punch Fate but Conner held her back.
"Supey let me go now!"
"No."
"Fate!" Zatara shouts "Great Nabu, release my daughter."
"No. Hear what the helmet wants in these hours. The world needs Doctor Fate and the girl's natural affinity for the mystic arts makes her the perfect candidate."
"You can't do that!" Artemis shouts.
"She has her own life to live!" Robin yells.
"Kent would never allow you-" Fate cuts Wally off.
"Kent Nelson did object, strenuously so I released his spirit to the afterlife. He is gone."
"Oh no he didn't" Mia lifts her legs and throws her entire weight down flipping Conner over her back in the process.
"Fate release her now! I swear to every deity in this goddamn universe that I will take that damn helmet of yours off" Mia shouts.
"You wouldn't dare" Fate glares.
"Try me."
She teleports right behind him and grabs hold of the helmet. When her hands touched the helmet, it started to defend itself against Mia's attempt. A continuous surge of magic attacks Mia but she stays strong.
"Let's get this damn helmet off" Mia starts pulling the helmet while everyone else stares in shock.
"Blink, stop!" Kaldur orders.
"Stop before you get yourself killed" Wally warns.
"Don't do it!" Robin yells.
"Just let go" Artemis begs.
"Please" M'gann pleads.
"I-I won't s-stop. I've-I've had en-enough of this-this guy r-ruining everyone's l-lives. H-he's n-not go-going to do it again, n-not on my-my watch" Mia struggles to say as she tries to forcefully remove the helmet.
She felt it budge and smiles at her progress but Fate also felt the budge and sprang into action.
"Enough! You have meddled with my plans long enough Fuentes and for that you will be severely punished."
"Bring it doc. I can handle whatever you dish out, I've got a high tolerance for pain."
"We shall see Fuentes. Ekam reh eviler reh tsrow seiromem!"
Then Mia relives every single worst memory she has and she cries out in pain causing her to let go of the helmet and fall. Wally quickly catches her and looks at his soon to be cousin worriedly.
"Mia" he whispers.
"Make them stop. I don't want to relive their deaths" Mia mutters.
Wally glares at Fate and before he could retaliate, Zatara steps up.
"Take me instead. My skills are already at their peak. My body is physically stronger, better able to withstand the strain of your power" Zatara reasons.
"All true. But if I remove the helmet what guarantee have I that you will don it?"
"My word. Ekat em daetsni."
Fate lowers himself and stood in front of Zatara. As the helmet was taken off, Zatanna opens her eyes to see Zatara.
"Dad!"
"Zatanna!" the two magicians hugged "Remember…I love you" he kisses her forehead then takes the helmet and looks to Batman "Take care of my girl."
"You have my word."
Zatara starts to put on the helmet.
"No, please! This was my fault! Dad, don't! Dad!"
"I've got to stop him" Mia thought as she lifts her hand at Zatara. Just as she was about to teleport the helmet, her mother's death flashes before her eyes and Mia holds her head in pain as hot tears stream down her face. Soon Zatara becomes Doctor Fate.
"Leave these to the Fate" he and the villains vanish, leaving behind a brokenhearted Zatanna.
Wally runs back to his house and he quickly walks in.
"Mom? Dad?"
His parents walk in and they had a big family hug.
In Fawcett City, Billy returns to the apartment and hugs Uncle Dudley.
Artemis hugs her mom in Gotham City and Mia quickly teleports to Battery Park.
"Uncle Ted?" Mia appears inside the boxing ring.
Ted walks out of his office to see Mia standing in the ring.
"Mia" he runs to the ring and jumps over the rope before engulfing her in a big hug "Are you ok Kid?"
"I'm better now" Mia buries her face in his chest as she starts to cry.
Mount Justice
November 7, 09:16 EST
Wally places the sippy cup on the shelf with a smile but it quickly turns into a frown. "I need to talk to Mia." The girls and Robin were helping Zatanna move in.
"And my room's right next door, if you need anything" M'gann says.
"Don't forget I'm right across the hall" Mia adds.
"Thanks, I, uh, could use a little alone time, okay?"
"Of course" Artemis says.
All four left Zatanna's room then before Mia could even walk into her room, Wally zooms by and takes her to the beach so the two of them could talk.
"What the hell Wally?!"
"Mia, what were you thinking? Do you have any idea how reckless you were yesterday?!"
"I wasn't being-"
"You totally were! You know better than to forcefully remove Fate's helmet yet you still did it. Why?!"
"I wasn't going to let him get away with tearing up another family. Guess I failed anyway."
"It was still reckless and stupid. There's no way that I'm letting you do something that stupid ever again for as long as I live. Do I make myself clear?!"
Mia was stunned for a bit then casually walks over and hugs him.
"Crystal. I'm sorry Wally" Mia mutters.
Wally hugs her back and sighs. "You need to stop before you get yourself killed Mia."
In an undisclosed location, the Light was having a meeting.
Klarion laughs "Happy?"
"Oui, mon amie. Your distraction though a little extreme was tres effective" Riddler and Sportsmaster show up with the briefcase "Amid your trademarked chaos, no one will notice the absence of our prize. And in time, we will bring it into the light" The Brain states.