Disclaimer-I do not own Naruto or DC, Marvel or any other comics, games or manga, which I used while writing this...unfortunately.
Note: found a good cover image for my fic, all rights reserved.
Dark Sorcerer.
Chapter VII.
Your past will find you… sooner or later… So keep the place on your wall, where you place the cut off heads of your enemies, ready for new trophies.
Naruto Von Doom, sharpening his weapons before the duel with Jiraya.
Konoha. Hokage's cabinet.
Tsunade looked at the two men, who stood in her office, aside from now retired Sarutobi, Jiraya and Kakashi bared the most blame for current situation with Naruto. If both had been doing their duties right…
But past is the past and right now Tsunade needed the skills of those two. Judging by the rumors she gathered and information she received from Sasuke, Naruto settled really well in the other world, now king of country with an army of metal warriors at his back and call, he was too independent and dangerous to deal like others often did with rouge jinchuricki.
Killing him will lead to too much political mess, kidnapping is nearly impossible. So, Tsunade decided to send the ones, who were to blame for such situation in first place.
Jiraya… whose perverse nature kept him away and the one who blamed Naruto for Minato's death. Kakashi… who envied Naruto for being his sensei's true son.
They will either bring him back or die trying. That she was sure in.
"Kakashi… Jiraya… From you two, alongside the old fossils this mess started. Now it is time for you to deal with it." Said she.
"What must we do?" asked Jiraya.
"Go through the gates. Find Naruto or Doctor Doom, as he calls himself now. Beat him up until he surrenders, or use another means to subdue him, or just simply kill him. Village need the demon vessel inside our walls. Not out."
Both of them nodded, Jiraya with grim expression, Kakashi with a smirk, hidden by his mask.
Unknown location.
Aresia looked how waves hit the board of the ship. Since she became the leader of the and the high priestess of the Cult of Ares, which still existed inside the Amazon society, she decided that, like Hippolyta, she needed allies.
Her spies in outside world, which were always sent by the cult, from century to century, gathered the information, which led to the organization, that opposed Doom and others.
Cabal.
They waited for her right when she left the ship.
Vandal Savage. Brain. Queen Bee. Lex Luthor. Ra's Al Ghul.
They made a welcoming gesture.
Now she, Aresia, was one of them.
Unknown place. Several weeks later.
Jiraya looked over the reports, given to him by his spies. He didn't expect this mission to be easy, but he had never expected it to be that hard.
Getting inside the country was feat of its own, breaching the security inside and evading an army of doombots was nearly impossible and then there still was castle's security and Naruto… well not Naruto anymore, Dr. Doom.
The Tyrant of Latveria.
Jiraya knew, when the fight was lost even before the start, that's why he survived for so long, his talent to see such situations and evade them ensured this. But right now he was forced to deal with such situation, moreover it was the one, which he made by himself.
To Kakashi no such dilemma existed. He wanted to get in, kill the bastard and let his sensei rest in peace.
He never though that in peace will rest he.
Castle Doom. With Naruto.
Nearly all members gathered together, but this time, one more empty seat was placed near the table.
"My dear friends, started he, today, there is one more member in our little circle and finally, a woman. Please, treat her well, or she will kick your asses, Hipollyta. Queen of Themiscyra."
"Doom, you present her like a prized warrior on arena, please greet a lady, properly. A bit of a courtesy will not hurt." said Dracul.
"Son of a Dragon, speaking about manners and courtesy." Said Aquaman. "What is happening to this world."
"Maybe it is changing to the better, Arthur? You are Arthur, after all, Atlanna's firstborn." Said Hippolyta, slowly walking to her seat.
"You knew my mother?" raised his brow Arthur.
"Yes…" answered Hippolyta. "we were allies once. Before… her marriage to the king."
Aquaman became silent after these words, banishment of his mother, by the king's decree, was still something that he wasn't prepared to talk about. The fact that all searches for his mother were in vain… didn't boost his mood in right direction.
"Anyway." Said Teth-Adam. "We need to decide our course of action. Justice League slowly gathers the power. Cabal attacks all, who aren't on their side, or just oppose the core members. It will be a matter of days, till their interests shall cross with ours. And I don't want to deal with all their shit when we could have stopped them before they could have done something!"
Table barely survived when his fist connected with it, but enchantments managed to hold the nearly godly power. Fortunately, Naruto had enough mastery of arcane arts to prepare for his nasty temper.
"Gentlemen… and lady." Started the king of Latveria. "We stand before the global problem. Global enough to destroy this world to atomic dust. Society of insane people and murders, who believe themselves to be higher and better, than others, wishes to take not only our lives and freedoms, but also set course for evolution of entire humankind. They see themselves as gods. And we must become their godslayers."
Unknown location. Laboratory of Doctor Strange.
Strange looked at the results of the another experiment on the screen of the monitor. Many years has passed since he stepped his path. Many failures, many losses. He started as 'short man, with big ambitions' and now he works for those, who will shape the history of humankind.
Just like he dreamed.
Men-Beasts were failed project, Titan also didn't give him what he wanted, but this time… yes maybe this time he will manage to fix that genetic mistakes that shackle humanity.
Hugo walked to armored door and tapped a password on the lock. It slowly opened, letting him get inside. Huge was greatly honored, when Lex Luthor appointed him as head scientist in one of his project, as he said: "You have a talent in monster creation, Hugo. So do not disappoint me. Especially with all that alien tech that I gathered for you." And Hugo did as he was asked.
Looking at the large tank, where floated, large, muscular, grey-skinned humanoid figure, he smiled, as other scientists worked over it.
He was asked to make a monster.
And he made one.
Meanwhile, his sponsor, Lex Luthor was creating another master plan to deal with the Superman. Since kryptonite and science failed him and he needed said stone and other vitamin injection for his own use, he decided to use magic against the Blue Boyscout.
However, the relic found by his mystics, may have emitted the great deal of power, but was absolutely useless in utilizing said power. So, Lex sat in his chair, in front of the strangely shaped cross, which held enough power, to deal with the Superman, yet he had absolutely no idea, how to use it.
Until…
"Do you need something… Mister Luther?"
Voice had absolutely no source, and seemed to talk right in his head, which scared Luthor quite greatly, he had spent a lot of time, protecting his mind from the different kinds of invaders, who can manipulate people at their will.
But that unknown voice… or rather its owner, easily pierced all defenses that he, and other members of the Cabal, helped each other to create.
"Who are you? Where are you?" asked looking around.
"On the table." Was his answer.
Luthor turned to the table and to his shock cross glowed with eerie blue light. He saw how circles opened and closed, like somebody was looking throght the cross, opening and closing his or her eyes.
"I'm Tenebrus, The Binder. I serve the King Beneath The Black. And Tenebrae have a proposition for you, Lex Luthor." said the voice.
"What do you want?" asked Luthor.
"We want the champion; we want the dead. Bring us the champion and Tenebrae will give you what you wish. Power to slay your enemy, army to instate your rule, world to conquer and war to test your weapons." said Tenebrus.
"Who do you want? And how can I do it?" asked Luther.
"This artifact is a key. It is a portal to the universe where my master dwell. You will open the door. You will bring us the one called Solomon Grundy. And you will lead the armies of Tenebrae into battle." Lex took the cross in his hands and images of another earth flooded his mind.
In this version of Earth, the Second World War ravaged the Earth. He saw different versions of meta-humans, protecting or destroying the Earth. He saw Berlin where Joker's Daughter prepared to made a pact with Tenebrae, he saw Edward Nigma, who made and remade different weapons.
He also saw many others. He looked in the way of Gotham, but haven't found any trace of Batman. In Metropolis there was no trace of Superman. But he could sense the kriptonian through the cross, definitely there was someone there, someone, who he needed to get rid of.
"You will have Grundy, meanwhile… prepare my army!"
With Naruto. Unknown time later.
He felt how magic was twisting, shaping into new form, under the mad will of one man. And this madness was very familiar to him. Lex Luthor is hard to forget, his insanity is even harder to. This time, he also heard the call to gathering, not to his usual one, with the members of Illuminati, but to the one in the Tower of Fate. With wave of his hand he disappeared in the green glow of portal.
When Naruto appeared in the Tower of Fate, he had found that except the owner, there were a lot of guests. Raven, daughter of Trigon and one of the most powerful mages of her generation. Zatanna, smart and brave, not as powerful as Raven, but certainly still dangerous. Near Raven sat a girl with grey skin, with very noticeable hairstyle, it seemed like horns, and her hair being pink made it even more extravagant. Jinx, the Mage of Bad Luck.
Near her sat another grey-skinned girl, with red and black hair, dressed in the goth clothes sat near her. As Naruto deduced, it was Argent, heroine from New Zealand. He himself appeared on the right sight of Doctor Fate. On his left side sat his trusty wife, Inza.
One of the seats was given to the female magician in the red cape with red marks on her face, who constantly gripped the three-eyed metal skull in her hands. Pandora. To Naruto's right, without a doubt, to try to subdue him, if something happens, sat Jason Blood.
On one of the seats was a living plant, seriously, that's how you can describe Dr. Alec Holland if you wished. His massive figure hovered over them, like a grim reminder of what will happen, if they will not behave.
On the last seat was the man, who Naruto greatly despised, who he wanted to see dead, strangled by his own hands or burned to a crisp by his plasma bolts. John Constantine. The bastard of bastards. Only one, who he wanted dead just because he didn't like him.
It was rather strange. Constantine was a bastard, but their paths have never crossed. The hatred between them started at their first meeting. Like the knight and the dragon, they quickly understood that none of them will rest, while other still breathed.
Actually something like that happened between Naruto and Fate too, but to a lesser degree, that's why Naruto rarely left Latveria. His ability to made friends, enemies and frenemies alike was as handy as it was dangerous.
But this time all these people decided to cooperate and place their differences behind them, at least for a time.
"I thank you, for answering my call. All of you had felt the recent disturbance and this alone was enough to trouble me. But something else happened, something that forced me to ask for your help." said Fate.
"Cut the crap already, Fate." Said Constantine, who had already place his legs on the table and lightened his cigarette. "And tell us already what happened."
In response, Fate just raised his hand and a golden sphere appeared in it. "At first the several crimes happened, to a naked and inexperienced eye they couldn't be linked together. But to us…"
"Hmm…" said Naruto. "If I remember correctly all this metals are needed in different magical rituals. But all they, had one more thing in common: they can transfer and keep the magical energy. Whatever the one, who was behind this, tried, it is something big, the number of materials stolen speaks about this. I cannot even imagine what they try to build, let alone, how will they start it. Whatever it will be it will need a lot of energy."
"This isn't the most interesting thing that happened. Solomon Grundy was kidnapped." said Doctor Fate.
Room instantly became silent.
"What do you mean, kidnapped?" asked Zatanna. "He several foot tall undead and nearly unstoppable zombie."
"Whoever did it was powerful and skilled, footage from several crime places and different… things that we had found on the destroyed hiding place of Grundy, proved that it has been done by the same group of people."
"But who will need to kidnap Solomon Grundy?" asked Raven.
"Wrong question." said Naruto. "Why that someone needed to kidnap Solomon Grundy, will be the correct question."
One of the wastelands used by Lexcorp to test new weapons.
Lex Luthor was happy, finally for the long period of time, he had a really good chance to deal with the Superman… if of course his partner will hold his word. Lex placed the case, that he carried on the table in his tent. Inside was an injector with the strange green liquid.
As he injected himself, he felt how power surged through his veins, slowly Lex left the tent and went to the one of the big trailers. Inside one was the sedated, if such term can be applied to zombies, Solomon Grundy, inside the other one…
Lex slowly got inside the trailer and placed his legs in the special device, instantly different machines clad them into massive armored boots. His spine, chest and arms, soon everything was clad in the green and violet armor.
He stepped out of his trailer prepared to meet his benefactor.
Slowly, he went to the giant gates, guarded by the Vixens.
"Are you sure that this must be done, Luther?" asked Cheetah.
"Mr. President, Cheetah, you still work for me, if of course you don't want any trouble with the law, meta-human control or animal control." said Luthor. "I should have punished you for such a show of blatant disrespect and distrust. But fortunately for you, you are quite good at what you do. So I will let it slide… for now."
Cheetah tched and became silent, she wanted to be done with it and return to her apartment, to her research and her friend. Young lawyer was smart, beautiful and was a good listener. She was her best friend and two strong women they found a lot of things to speak about, which they shared in common. Cheetah was interested in the law, miss Prince – in her biology research. And both liked cats.
The only thing that they cannot agree upon was their view on life. Cheetah believed that if you will not help yourself nobody will, Diana believed in helping others and second chances. But both had too much respect to each other to start the argument over something like this.
Sometimes Cheetah found herself looking at her in much more intimate way than it was supposed to be. Damn all these animal hormones! It looked like after her transformation something twisted in her psyche and hormonal balance.
When she first found this, Cheetah freaked out and panicked, but it was long time ago. Now she once again armed herself with her scientific knowledge and tried to create the vaccine. She believed that what that strange cult did to her was the aftereffect of some strange mutagen, like all scientists, doctor Barbara Ann Minerva didn't believe in magic.
Yoga helped her to calm down her body and mind, different other teachings and several deep meditations taught her control, now she wasn't afraid that she will lose control and rock her only friend's bones, while they were drinking tea on kitchen.
Hand on her shoulder returned her to reality, ripping her from pleasant thoughts about Diana Prince. Thalia stretched her hand in the direction of the gates, where was Lex Luthor in his battle suit.
Gates, made by the instructions given by Tenebrus seemed to be completely black and perfectly clean, but it was just an illusion. In reality this arc was covered in magical runes and words of languages long forgotten.
"Use the cross." said the voice in his head, and Luther obliged raising the cross over his head, blue lightning struck from the cross into the gates. All symbols and letters glowed with blue light, consuming the energy of the artifact. "This is it. The artifact is synchronized with the gates. Use it to get our world. Bring us our champion."
"Don't worry." thought Luther. "I will do it."
"Good. Now attach the cross to your armor. It will activate at your will."
Luther placed the cross on his stomach and it instantly melted with his armor. Lex get inside the trailer and using his enhanced strength get Grundy out of it. He touched the cross and left with the bright blue flash.
Tower of Fate.
"They had left." said Doctor Fate.
"We all can sense this, good doctor." Said Naruto. "But the question is, to which dimension, to which earth?"
"I think I can help you with this." said a voice from the door. Woman dressed like a sorceress, with a long violet hair and a tattoo on her neck, stepped inside the room.
"Tala." Said Doom. "Faust's former apprentice. What do you wish."
"Right now all struck deals and join some kind of alliances. I wish to join yours." said she.
"We are not even officially gathered." said Raven.
"Oh, Raven, my dear, we both know what those words mean. You need a help and I can provide it. But in return, you must invite me in your little inner circle. My work for government slowly strangled my research in magical area. I need to return to it." said she. "And the fact that two most powerful mages on Earth are here is also a plus."
"As I hate to say it… and you know how big my pride is… we need her." Said Doom.
"As I hate to say it… Doom is right." followed him Doctor Fate. "We will get you in circle, or whatever you think we are, if your information is worthy."
"Oh I have much more than pesky information." said Tala, getting a glass with glowing black rock inside. "I brought you... magic."
Several days later every member of the new circle of mages finally managed to pinpoint the source of the strange energy.
"Well…" said Doom. "Since we all decided to tug in. We need a name for ourselves."
"I already have one, said Fate. From this moment on, through us are recreated the Sentinels of Magic." And before everyone in the room, even Tala, appeared the magical watch, the symbol of the Sentinel.
"Good. Now let's move on and kick some asses." said Doom.