I apologize for the long wait, writing this chapter was extremely difficult. Anyway I hope you like this new chapter.
Happy Harbor
It was early morning, and dawn had not yet set. From the shadows of the tree line, just below the mountainside, a figure stepped out from the shadows with a chunk of debris, "So this is where you are?" John Dee smiled as he got into position.
John stepped back and focused his power to track Michael's Sarcophagus.
Concentrating on his magic, he foresaw the mountain's interior, an entire base hidden before him. He found the location, "I have you now Michael." John said as he smiled with a foul glare. Stepping out from the tree line he slithered his way into the base.
Mt. Justice
Batman called the whole team early in the morning, "Hey Kara." Connor waved at his cousin as he and Trevor exited the zeta tubes.
"Connor!" Kara flew over to give him a fist bump.
"Trevor glad you're up and ready." M'gann smiled as he flew up to her.
"Thanks, Batman gave a call for some special training." Trevor explained.
The Zeta Tubes rang as it called out Wally West and Artemis as they arrived.
"Artemis!" Kara waved.
Wally ran over to M'gann, "And how's your morning, Green Cutie?" Wally flirted with a smirk.
"Dude, you seriously have no chance at having her." Trevor gave his snarky comment to Wally as his usual move.
"OK Wonder Brat knock it off I already told you, me and Artemis is not happening." Wally glared at Trevor.
"Oh come on I've seen the way you look at her sometimes and the way she looks at you. You two are starting to respect each other to a certain degree. Even Miss Martian thinks you two would be good together we all do, not just me and Kara. Oh and for I didn't even mention Artemis this time, you did that yourself this time." Trevor giggled with a smile.
Trevor could hear a bell ding in Wally's head, "Ohhh." Wally realized, "Point still stands though."
"Yeah, whatever." Kara brushed him off.
Batman and Robin arrived to greet the team and with J'onn Jones.
"Uncle John, what's this training session you mentioned?" M'gann asked.
Batman housed six cots for the team as he pulled out a holographic of the scenario, "We're going to put you all in an artificial reality to test your abilities in a League-level scenario.
"What exactly is a League-Level scenario? Are we talking like a major supervillain attack or an all-out invasion, because that level varies?" Trevor questioned.
"Trevor, Kara, unfortunately, you two will not attend the simulation. We have another matter we need to discuss regarding Michael." Batman stated in his stern, dark demeanor.
"That would explain the six cots when there're eight of us." Kara added, pointing to them.
"What what do you mean we can't go into the simulation? It sounds like fun." Wonder Boy stomped in frustration.
"I assure you Wonder Boy, it will not be fun, at all. Right now, you and Kara are the only two who've had direct contact with Michael Nelson, and he needs help." Batman said.
"Okay, what's the problem?" Trevor collected himself from his outburst.
"J'onn prep the link for the other six." Batman said as the rest of the team prepared to dive into the simulation. He escorted the other two to Michael's current location, "Zatara will be arriving soon to assist with the extraction." Batman answered.
"What about Zatanna?" Kara asked, "She's his friend. Shouldn't she be here too?"
"That's not relevant, Kara. For now, we must focus on getting Michael out, safe and healthy." Batman explained keeping things straight and forward.
"Okay. How long till Zatara gets here?" Trevor asked.
"Recognized Zatara 11" The Zeta tube called Zatara as he stepped out, and just in the skin of the zeta beams pull, someone else hopped out behind Zatara.
"Zatanna?" Robin called.
"Hey guys." Zatanna waved. He saw most of her new friends getting ready for the simulation.
"I thought you were grounded?" Trevor asked which rendered Robin to thump him on the head.
"She is, but it would seem that isn't going to stop her." Zatara said.
"Michael isn't doing well, no way you can keep me from helping." Zatanna said then looked to her father.
Before the other six members went under their simulation, Batman gave the kids the rundown on the main screen. A few news report photos of Michael on the day of the attack were shown along with images of John Dee. The main image of focus was the Sarcophagus, "When Kent Nelson put his grandson in the sarcophagus he told me it was damaged. He did his best to repair it but he feared it wouldn't be able to hold up, and I ran some tests on the sarcophagus's condition and its repairs are failing." Batman showed the team the three main points of the source of the damage.
Zatara explained further, "Instead of repairing his mind it's beginning to destroy it. We need to pull him out now."
"Oh no." Trevor mumbled under his breath.
"J'onn will remain here with all of you, Trevor and Kara you're with me and Zataro." Batman said, they divided the team and both parties began their duties.
J'onn readied the other six members and they began their simulation while Kara, Trevor, and Zatanna followed Zataro and Batman.
"So how are we going to get him out of this, we can't just crack open the box and expect him to be fit and healthy, and how are we gonna repair what parts of his mind are not repaired when we do?" Trevor said as they walked down to the medical wing.
"Wait why can't we do that?" Kara asked. "I mean I could just go in there and break it open right now with my powers."
"NO!" Zatara shouted. He rustled up his collar and huffed to clear his throat, "To answer your second question, Trevor, we're going to repair those pieces ourselves. I'm going to cast a spell that will place the three of us into Michael's mind. Once there we must find the fragments and remove them."
"Wait, why are we doing this, we're the youngest members of the team. Why can't you do this alone?" Trevor asked.
"True, but the two of you are the only ones he knows after the incident, and we can't risk my daughter given her presence it could trigger those unrepaired memories to break." Zatara explained.
"No offense Zatara but this is crazy, I'm willing to help someone in need but journeying into someones mind in an attempt to heal him is stretching it. Don't you think?" Kara questioned.
"But Kara, Michael needs our help. He's helped us twice, we owe him." Trevor reminded her.
"I'm not saying I won't do it, but even you have to agree that this is the most insane thing we've ever done." Kara stated.
"I know it is, but nobody said this job would be easy." Trevor explained.
"Do not fear, both of you will come under no harm under my watch. On that you have my word." Zatara swore.
The five of them entered the room where Michael was resting in the medical wing of the fortress. Zataro assembled a vial of dark ink, and drew a circle around the As they set the spell with the ingredients assembled around the Sarcophagus, Zatara was ready with Kara and Trevor to dive into Michael's mind.
"gnirB htrof ruoy edalb drol fo epoH." Zatara cited as Michael's blade was pulled through the sarcophagus like how M'gann can phase through walls.
Before they could dive into Michael's mind, Zatara sensed the powers of another magic user nearby, but he also sense dark magic. "Everyone back!" Zatara pushed the two kids away as a red portal erupted beside them, and a flurry of red lightning was struck from inside.
Zatara was able to deflect the attack easily, but the damage in this condensed space was not easy to dismiss. The man behind this intrusion walked through the red portal, casually saying, "Zatara, haven't seen you in a while, is your daughter good?"
"Dr. Destiny!" Zatara said, then held out his rod, as glowing symbols popped from behind him, "ekirtS nwod gninthgil nopu ylohnu gnieb!" Zatara's spell shot straight for the intruder.
Batman stepped up and dropped a smoke bomb on Dr. Destiny. With him blind and coughing, Batman could land a few punches.
Kara and Trevor were still down, using Michael's Sarcophagus for cover. They wanted to help but Destiny overpowered them last time they encountered him. Theres nothing they could do. They saw Zatanna on the other side of the doorway at the far end of the room, "Zatanna," Kara yelled over to her, "Help us. We need to save him."
Zatanna looked at her father while he was busy with Dr. Destiny. She was scared, this was the man who went toe to toe with Dr. Fate, yet hesitating didn't seem a better option.
Before she could decide what to do, she noticed Michael's blade started moving towards the kids, Trevor caught it with ease. Zatanna noticed the glow from the blade, like it was calling to her.
"Our choices are what makes our Fate." A quote Zatanna remembered from Michael, she wasn't sure if that was all her or a message from the blade, but she didn't care.
She took in a breath with a stern look and cited, "ekomS gnirb em ot epoH!" Zatanna was wrapped in smoke and disappeared briefly until she reappeared near the kids.
"Alright you two, do what I say and we can win this." Zatanna told as she took the blade from Trevor.
"What's your plan?" Trevor asked. "We tried fighting this guy once but he trapped us, a God and a Kryptonian. We can't fight him."
"We're not going to fight him. We're gonna wake up Michael, we need to reassemble the fragments of his mind then awaken him." Zatanna explained.
"But we need Zatara's-" Zatanna's explanation was halted when a force of light surrounded the three.
"Grab hold of the blade." A voice called to the three.
The three recognized the voice, it wasn't Michael's or Zatara's, "The Lord of Hope." Trevor called.
"All three of you take the blade so we can help our friend." The Lord of Hope requested.
Kara and Trevor took hold of Michael's blade tightly and as the light grew brighter around them the sounds of conflict began to fade. The winds and debris from the medical room became less noticeable.
Trevor was the first to open his eyes, "By the Fates!" Trevor was shocked, "Everyone look."
Kara and Zatanna opened their eyes next and were just as jaw-dropped as Trevor. They were in a structure that was all to familiar with everyone here.
"This is the Tower of Fate." Trevor looked around.
Zatanna looked around as Kara approached the nearby coffee table with Michael's blade in hand.
"If only KF were here to see this, he'd have no excuse." Kara chuckled.
As Zatanna looked over some old photos she noticed a faint chuckle up the stairs, "This isn't just the tower of fate." Zatanna walked up with Kara and Trevor following behind. They arrived at the main room, and found two kids chasing each other with smiles and laughs of plenty, "These are Michael's memories."
"Is that you and Michael?" Kara asked as she watched the two kids have fun around the tower's main room.
"Yeah, we were probably around seven here." Zatanna smiled at the fond memories playing around them.
"Hey Zatanna, wanna go explore the library?" Young Michael asked.
"Yeah let's go." Young Zatanna cheered as the two exited the room.
"So what do we do?" Trevor asked.
Zatanna looked over at the blade she's carrying, and laughed a little, "Here Trevor, it's in better hands with you." she gave Trevor his friends blade.
Between the three of them a pillar of light gleamed at the center, "Lord of Hope." Zatanna said.
"Lady Zatanna, Kara, Trevor. I am Omniel, the Lord Hope. I'm here to guide you but my help will be limited. Michael's fractures in his damaged mind will not be easy to reach. I can take you to their locations, but how you reach the fractures will be up to the three of you." The Lord of Hope explained.
"Better than nothing, how do we get to the first fracture?" Trevor said with confidence.
"The first memory is this way, stay behind me, one wrong move and you may find yourself in the wrong memory." Omniel explained.
"So it's like those cartoons I watched where you just open a door and find yourself in another memory?" Wonder Boy asked.
"Aw, I loved those old cartoons." Zatanna said.
The three followed closely as the Lord of Hope guided them across from what felt like an entire labyrinth.
"It's like a maze in here." Kara spoke out loud.
"I'm curious what will happen if we get hurt, will our minds be hurt?" Wonder Boy asked.
"Yes you will be hurt, and yes you can die in here, so I suggest you be on your guard Young Amazon." The Lord of Hope advised.
"OK, can you tell us what we could face here?" Trevor asked.
"No, I cannot intervene, I already violated the rules just by being here, but this is not where Michael dies." Omniel halted as he finished his claim to the three.
"What is it?" Kara asked.
The Lord of Hope lay stiff like a frozen corpse to the presence nearby, until he twitched his finger "This way," he pointed at the nearest door.
The three followed and were found in another memory, "Is this?" Zatanna asked as she heard her younger self around the corner of the hallway.
"Ready or not here I come!" Young Zatanna cheered.
"Aww, you're playing hide and seek." Kara cooed at the scene.
"This is freaky, like Tower of Fate freaky, hey can they see us?" Trevor asked as he reached for young Zatanna, "What the?" Trevor questioned as his hand went through the memory of Zatanna.
"They're memories you can't touch them so that should answer your question." Zatanna explained.
The three watched the younger Zatanna look through every nook and cranny for younger Michael. She went over to a cabinet where the older Zatanna waited for her to open. Out came Michael with scary looking mask sending Zatanna jumping out of her skin.
"Michael!" Younger Zatanna yipped with anger, "That was mean!"
Michael laughed as he placed the mask back over the cabinet, "Sorry, sorry."
Michael walked over to her and gave her a candy bar to make amends, "Thank you, Michael." Zatanna smiled away her anger at the recent scare. Just then the next part of this came, young Zatanna looked at the candy bar and her eyes widened in surprise. "Wait this is my favorite how did you get this they don't even make these anymore?"
"It was not easy finding it, but I was hoping we can split it." Michael said smiling.
"Well, since you worked really hard." Young Zatanna took the candy bar and broke it in half
"Aww you two were so cute." Kara cooed at the memory.
"Things were a lot easier back then." Zatanna admitted. They watched as the memory versions of themselves ran to another room.
"Sir, how much longer to the first piece?" Kara asked the lord of Hope.
"We're getting close to the first damaged memory once we're there you must reassemble the memory. Look for a red shard the size of a book." he explained.
"Okay good." Trevor said feeling more confident knowing what they are looking for.
The three followed Omniel through a final door at the end of an endless hall of doors, "Here we are, from here on it is up to you to repair the damages, I will be waiting for you at the end of the core. Good luck children." He opened the door and waved the three heroes across the other side.
This particular location was different, the exterior took a similar look like the Tower of Fate was shattered, and a lot of chunks of the area were cracked with only pockets of darkness.
"Dear God." Zatanna muttered astounded by their surroundings.
"OK, so what do we do?" Trevor asked.
At the distance, there was a pillar of red light, "The Lord of Hope said to look for a red shard of glass. I guess we can start over there." Kara pointed out.
"Okay, but stay close, so can the two of you give me a lift?" Zatanna requested.
"OK, hold out your hands." Trevor ordered, he and Kara took both sides and they flew forward to the gleaming red pillar of light.
The rumbling of thunder erupted around this unknown place, "How is there thunder in here?" Kara asked.
"Is it thunder or is it the cracks of the Sarcophagus?" Trevor asked in return for Kara's question.
"Either way, all the more reason to hurry." Zatanna answered with sheer determination in her tone..
"OK we need to grab it!" Trevor exclaimed then landed closer to the red pillar of light. Zatanna walked over to the shard and then snatched it. The three of them then waited for something bad to happen and to their surprise, nothing happened. "Huh."
Trevor then looked at the shard and a thought came into his mind, "Is it just me or does this feel too easy?"
The three were about to make the flight back to where they came from, but the swishing and swirling red liquid started surrounding them, "What in the world?" Trevor stood between Kara and Zatanna, all three back to back as the red liquid rose to take the shapes of lean, tall figures. "I just had to ask, didn't I?!"
"GIVE US THE SHARD!" The first to take full form from the red liquid reached his hand out, the liquid suddenly hardened into some crystal form. The rest of the figures punched their fists together to display their strength, "The Lord of Hope dies today!"
"Over my dead body!" Trevor hissed pulling out his sword, along with Trevor's sword.
"Then die with him as he drowns in his mire." The first "Crystallized Mire" crunched his fist and charged straight for the Shard held by Zatanna.
Trevor cut clean straight through the crystal mire's fist, and sliced straight down it's whole body. Cleaving the figure in two. The remains fizzled back to liquid form and faded away. Supergirl punched straight through each crystal mire, ripping them limb from limb, even using one to beat another mire in the face.
"C'mon we need to hurry!" Zatanna yelled at the two. The two took hold of Zatanna and they sped out of the way and towards the exit. The mire behind them quickly reverted to liquid form and was speeding its way toward them.
"What are those things?" Kara yelled as they were seconds away from the exit.
"Fly faster, ask later!" Trevor yelled as they picked up speed straight through the exit, landing safely on a soft layer of a sheet. No bad aches from their landing, in fact the soft catch managed to reduce the impact.
"Ah I knew that would be helpful." The Lord of Hope smiled as the three started to realize the sheets they landed on were his robes.
"Sir, what were those things ?" Kara asked.
"That was the opposite of Hope. Those creatures were all of his negative thoughts. His doubt, he is fighting us, inhibiting you from healing his mind." He answered vaguely.
"No." Trevor wasn't fully buying it, "I get most of what you said, but those thoughts were keen on killing Michael, as if it's someone else."
"Valid assumption, dear Amazon, bring me the shard." The Lord of Hope requested which Zatanna gave him. He takes the red shard and compresses it until it shatters in his own hands. As soon as he does that the area around them changes. They're not in the same time of the original memory where they started.
"Woah. It looks like his mind is healing." Trevor said then looked around.
"You have repaired this part of his mind, only two shards remain but know that these two will not be as easy as this one to acquire. I will lead you to the next shard. Now follow we are running out of time." The Lord of Hope explained.
"I'm sorry, running out of time?" Zatanna Asked.
"In case you've forgotten, Michael is in mortal danger as are all of you if he dies when you're all in his mind. If he dies then you will all die and your bodies will be motionless husks." The Lord of Hope explained as he guided them through another memory. Their location was different
"Alright, let's get moving." Trevor marched forward, and halted for a moment when he and the others saw where they were. "Zatanna you know Michael more than any of us, do you recognize this memory?"
"Trevor." Kara looked at him with saddened eyes as she insisted with a silent finger over her lips.
Kara pointed at Zatanna as she was silent from Trevor's question. The two walked over and found her staring at a nearby casket,
"Here lies Sindella Zatara. Beloved Wife, and Mother."
"Oh, this is your mother's funeral." Trevor muttered, then placed a hand on Zatanna's shoulder to comfort her, Kara did the same. "I'm sorry this must be hard for you to see."
All of a sudden, the sound of a child whimpering caught their attention as the memory transcended. The three of them looked to see a little girl all teary-eyed in the library of the Tower.
"It's me." Zatanna said sullenly at the sight before her, "I remember this." the new younger version of Zatanna was a bit taller than before, she was twelve when her mother died.
Across the room, the three noticed the younger Michael walking towards the younger Zatanna. He looked about the same age as her, he held something in the back of his hand. Trevor looked around him and saw it as a dead sunflower.
Younger Michael walked over to younger Zatanna and her eyes were red from all the crying. The loss of a parent is a terrible thing especially for a kid, Michael lost his parents, he knows how it feels.
"Hey Michael." the younger Zatanna greeted in a depressing tone, rubbing away the tears from her face. "It's nice that you're here."
"Of course I'm here, your my best friend and I'll always be there for you." Michael promised, shortly after he held out the dead sunflower. Zatanna looked at the flower in confusion then was about to say something but Michael held up a finger to stop her. Michael then waved his hand over the flower then recited an ancient incantation, "Oshna, veru drikol!" and the dead flower bloomed beautifully before her eyes. The flower even started to glow from the petals.
Zatanna watched the entire scene play out all over again and it warmed her on the inside. Even Kara and Trevor smiled at the scene.
"Okay that was pretty cool." Trevor had to admit.
Suddenly Micheal looked a little weak touching his head and letting out a groan. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine just that using these spells drains your energy a little, just glad that was a single flower." Michael explained.
Zatanna looked at the memory and said. "He was so sweet. Even when I was in a bad place he did his best to cheer me up."
"Sounds like you care more about him than just as a friend." Kara noticed.
"It seemed like it at first, but…" Zatanna trailed off as she knew what was about to happen next as the memory progressed.
The memory progressed and the three found themselves outside the tower with Michael and his grandfather, Kent Nelson standing before Zatanna and her father, Zatara.
"I understand what needs to be done, I still hope you'll find time to visit." Kent nodded in doubt of his words.
Both kids didn't look very fond of what was happening, and neither of them didn't make eye contact with their relatives they just kept looking at each other knowing that this may be the last time they see eachother for a while.
"After what happened…" Zatara paused for a moment, for his late wife, "I need to keep her safe, i've spent enough time away from my little girl." He looked down at Zatanna and patted her back, "Zatanna dear, it's time to go." She didn't look up at him as the two prepared to leave, but she hesitated for a moment and ran back to give Michael one last hug.
"I'll miss you, Michael." Zatanna said as she wept on his shoulder.
"I'll miss you too." Michael said holding his tears back, keeping himself composed.
Zatanna looked at him and then kissed him on the cheek. "Goodbye." She turned back on him and walked towards her father.
"C'mon Michael, I'll have supper ready." Kent patted his grandson's back.
He didn't respond to his grandfather; he just kept his eyes on Zatanna until he vanished from his sight. Kent held Michael close, "I'm sorry, Michael. You'll see her again, trust me."
Michael just leaned his head on his grandfather, "Okay." Michael said.
Zatanna walked closer to the younger Michael and knelt before him, he wanted to pat his head, but he was just a memory. Soon after the three noticed the memory became still, and another gateway opened before them.
"Ah, here is the second memory shard." The Lord of Hope appeared and waved the three inside.
"Let's go." Zatanna said after taking deep breaths from all of the trips down memory lane so far.
She took the lead this time but before they could approach the shard a force of crystalized red liquid morphed from behind them, "Oh no." Omniel was shocked at the sight.
The creature held the shard and then spoke. "You will not succeed in your mission, you will only succeed in meeting a devastating end!"
"Don't count on it!" Omniel summoned a blade similar to Michael's but it was much bigger, and majestic compared, "My old enemy. Surrender the shard."
"What is this thing?" Trevor asked, "This isn't some reflection of just Michael, you're something else." he pointed at the tall lean red figure.
"Smart boy, little Amazon, your kind is beneath me. I am Thelevaluth, where there is Order there is Chaos, where there is Hope there is…"
"Despair." Zatanna finished his line. She took a stance, along with Kara, and Trevor, "Stand back Omniel, you must not interfere. You have violated the rules twice, if you violate them a third time you know what will happen."
Omniel looked down on the three, and reverted his blade away, "Very well." He held back and allowed his three guests to fight in his place.
"Always one to know where the edge is, Hope." Thelevaluth hissed.
"No, I just know where to put my bets." Omniel said with a faint glare of intimidation towards Thelevaluth.
"Let's kick his butt!" Trevor wielded both blades and struck first at the crystalized being. He charged at the creature then delivered a powerful blast from Michael's sword followed by a precise strike with his own Amazon sword.
Kara was about to strike beside Trevor, but Thelvaluth swiped her away with his red crystal tentacle.
"yortseD der slatsyrc!" Zatanna chanted as he threw her magic over at Thelvaluth. However, Thelvaluth blocked her spell with ease.
"Child's play, dear girl." Thelvaluth boasted with pride, and with a wave of his hand one of his crystal tentacles swept her off her feet. Kara quickly flew over to her while Trevor kept him occupied.
"What do we do?" Trevor asked.
"You don't need to defeat Thelvaluth, just get that shard from him." Omniel hinted.
An idea suddenly came into her head, there's a spell her father told her but it can't be performed unless she had one thing, the blood of a god. However it never said it needed the blood of a full god luckily for them they have a hybrid god with them, "Trevor, come here I need you right now!"
"Alright, Kara, hold him off." Trevor pointed at Thelevaluth.
With that Kara took over the fight then Trevor ran over to Zatanna. "OK what do you need?"
Zatanna just grabbed Trevors hand, took Michael's blade then lightly pressed it into his hand. "Ah, what are you doing?!"
"I need a drop of your blood." Zatanna said then took a dab of his blood then began reciting the spell. "NI EHT EMAN FO EHT YLOH ECNALAB I HSINAB UOY SDROL."
With that Zatanna unleashed a powerful blast wave that made Thelvaluth vanish but also made Omniel vanish as well. Wasting no time Trevor ran over to the shard and then crushed it into a million pieces with his strength.
As soon as that was done the area around then suddenly began healing.
"Okay, two out of three shards. We're getting closer." Zatanna looked around to see the red crystal substances deteriorating.
"One thing I don't understand, why is this Lord of Despair even here anyway, what does he want?" Trevor asked.
"The Lords of Hope and Despair have always been at war with each other for as long as the concept of good and evil exists." Zatanna explained.
The three looked around and found themselves in a new memory, though given the evidence on the nearby calendar it was a closer memory than the others, "We're only a year before today." Trevor said.
Kara then asked. "Wait is this the memory when his mind was shattered by Dr. Destiny?"
"It is, I recognize the date." Zatanna looked at the calendar.
"So how's Catholic School?" Michael asked over a big mirror that's linked to a reflection of Zatanna from a year ago.
"It's honestly, rather dull, but it's not so bad." Zatanna answered, "Been a while, Michael." She smiled.
"A lot longer than it feels, c'mon let's not sulk on this past year, how are you? What's been happening?" Michael asked.
"It's been great, been putting together a suit for myself. If ever dad needs my help out there." Zatanna pulled out a standard magician's wand you can find in a costume shop, and took a bow, "Emit ot yrt eht wen kool!"
A wisp of smoke emitted from her feet and covered her entire form and vanished just as quick as it appeared. She changed into the same suit she wore when she fought with the team against Red Tornado's siblings.
"You look great!" Michael was in awe of his friends new look. Even had a slight blush filling his cheeks.
"Thanks." She looked a bit taken back from that response, not to mention the look on his face.
"Question, do you have a top hat?" Michael asked.
"I don't have a top hat, that's all my father's style." Zatanna cringed at the idea and set it aside.
Michael was shocked and even had his jaw drop in a goofy look at the notion, "Wha! Zatanna Zataro, no great magician is complete without a dope lookin top hat. Take me, hold on." Michael stood before the mirror, and cited his enchantment, "Shozmak verookah!" Michael chanted with his hands up, and his body went up in smoke same as Zatanna and revealed his own look.
The Smoke dissipated and revealed his design. It was the same as when Kara and Trevor last saw him at the Tower of Fate. A dark long coat with a sleek victorian fashion vibe in his character, and the cherry on top was the complimenting black Top Hat adorned with his grim, and entrancing skull mask.
"Holy, Michael, you look…" Zatanna was speechless to the get up in front of her for his friend.
"Like a real show stopper!" Michael did a pose with his blade out with it's sheath.
The real Zatanna watched the two as the memories of them laughed away their problems.
"If I recall you wore a top hat when we took down T.O. Morrow's bots." Trevor walked up to Zatanna.
"Yeah, let the memory resume and you'll see why." Zatanna turned away from the memory as it hastened the time in the conversion.
"So, Zatanna, me and grandpa Nelson will be in town where you're at, was wondering if you wanted to catch up in person." Michael suggested.
"I don't know, Michael, school is not giving me…" Zatanna hesitated in her words, and looked back at Michael, "Y-you know what, screw the studies, let's meet up. Studies can wait a day." she smiled at Michael and they both looked ecstatic to the news.
"Good to hear! It'll be nice to meet up in person." Michael praised.
"It's been a whole year since we met, and its not often we can speak to one another." Zatanna smiled as she wished her attire back to her original clothes.
The memories around the three of them dissipated and realigned to what looked like a small restaurant in downtown New York.
"This was the restaurant we were going to meet." Zatanna remembered, but she was nowhere to be seen in the memory.
"This must be an exclusive memory." Kara looked around.
As they saw Michael waiting on his old friend to visit, an interesting figure walked into the restaurant. He carried a black hoodie and a red undershirt. His silent and morbid aura felt like trouble compared to other people around him.
"Hello, young man, may I have this seat?" The man asked Michael.
He looked at the man and he was not to be trusted just at the mere sight of him and his hinting smile under his stare, "What do you want John Dee?" Michael asked.
"I didn't know we were on a full-name basis, Michael Nelson." John chuckled with a more visible smile.
"Your work is not so secret as it may seem." Michael clenched his fist tight as the rest of his body was on the verge of quivering.
John took a seat across Michael knowing his stern look before him is a facade of his fear.
As the three watched the scene Zatanna held her restraint as hard as she could but she was on the verge of giving the memory of John Dee a good fist in the haw. Trevor and Kara had to keep firm hands on her to remind her it's just a memory.
"Then you know what I can do to you if you stand in my way, your grandfather owes me answers, and you can either cooperate, or things will get ugly, and I mean very ugly." John had no room for mercy in his words if things don't go his way, "So are we going to do the smart thing or are we going to make things hard?" Dr. Destiny asked as he was nearing his true form.
Zatanna nearly couldn't bear to watch any further, but then from the view of Michael's memory she and the others noticed a faint image outside the window. It was Zatanna herself, "What the?" Zatanna was shocked to the perspective. She saw Michael notice her memory version as well and looked back at Dr. Destiny.
Michael stood from his seat and looked up at the mad wizard, "No." He said with no more to say.
Dr. Destiny nodded in disappointment, "Such arrogance." he said simply and then threw Michael out the window with such strong force with his magic. Rendering the entire restaurant's front shattered.
"I was just across the street from that explosion, one inch closer and it could've grazed my cheek." Zatanna explained her side of that event.
The memory transitioned further into the fight, near the end it would seem. Unfortunately, the red shard was not found yet, but it is most likely near. Dr. Destiny had Michael restrained and was inches away from piercing his mind, "Last chance, kid. Bring me your grandfather and I will at least make your psyche reparable."
Zatanna watched Michael struggle to even speak, but his determination still showed in his face. He looked at Dr. Destiny with a look saying 'I'm not telling you a damn thing.' Knowing Michale wasn't gona break the doctor chuckled. "Well then… you've made your choice. I may not have your grandfather today but he will remember this for the rest of his life."
Dr. Destiny struck the final blow to shatter Michael's mind in irreparable proportions. Michael's screams were awful as if the pain could be felt by the three of them as they bore witness to the scene before them.
And yet… It was in that moment the final shard was found, "This one's mine." Zatanna said as she reached for the last shard.
But… before her hand could touch the shard a hand snatched her away and it was revealed to be Thelvaluth who returned from her blood spell.
"Omniel isn't here to help you lot this time." Thelvaluth hissed as she stared deep into Zatanna's eyes.
Kara and Trevor were about to assist but a slew of red crystal tentacles entrapped the two of them.
Before Thelvaluth could finish them a faint ray of light held him back as if he was restrained.
Thelvulah laughed. "Omniel, you have only condemned yourself now. Such an arrogant piece of shit you've become in our war. It's only a matter of time now, the other lords will imprison you forever. You have disrupted the balance long enough." Thelvaluth smiled as Omniel manifested before everyone.
"You're right, I have, but I'm not the only one." Omniel smiled as a sense of responsibility was arriving before everyone.
Just then the three noticed a wave of chains slowly began to wrap around the lord of hope. The moment of triumph for the Lord of Despair was brief as the same chains wrapped around himself along Omniel.
"No!" Thelvaluth shouted in sheer ignorance, "I will not have this, you hear me, I will not this! You will not hold me! I will find my way back!" Thelvaluth swore as Omniel accepted his fate, knowing they both being banished to this plane of existence.
"Destroy the last shard now!" Omniel shouted as he was being dragged out. Zatanna reached for the shard from the memory and handed it to both Trevor and Kara, "Destroy it!" Zatanna pleaded to the two strongest and only friends she had in this desperate moment.
The two took the shard and crushed it with their bare hands, and the memory around them suddenly ascended to a blinding light.
Then something unexpected to happened, a portal opened and a figure came walking through. The person who came through made Zatanna bring her hands up to her mouth in surprise.
"Michael?"
"Hey Zatanna, thanks for saving me… for all the good it will do." Michael said in a rather grim tone.
"What? What do you mean?" Zatanna asked surprised to hear him say that.
"Don't you get it, I don't want to be healed! I was trying to stop you but you kept persisting. Anyway, you should leave now before I'm killed." Michael said then turned back..
The words from her oldest friend struck her like bricks sinking into her stomach. Her skin dropped cold to the shock, "No." she stuttered as if in denial.
Wonder Boy then stepped up. "I don't understand, why are you so willing to lay down and die?!"
"Because if I awaken, I'll be all alone, my grandfather, my only remaining family is gone now. In the time I spent in this thing, I kept thinking of how I let him down. How the last thing I remember kept racing in my mind on repeat like chasing a windmill never stopping." Michael explained. "Even now an entity I've come to call a friend has been imprisoned."
Michael then transformed the world around them showing them what was happening outside of his mind. "You are out of time, Dr. Destiny has defeated your father and is about to perform the final blow. It's time for you to leave."
Micheal then recited a spell then cast it at the kids and they vanished from his and Zatanna's sight.
Soon after, Kara and Trevor woke up back in the medical wing of the fortress, "Michael!" Trevor screamed turning back to see Dr. Destiny on the verge of defeating Zatara. Kara followed and noticed Zatanna's body knowing she was still in Michael's mind.
"Oh no." Kara was getting worried, "If he does what he says, she'll die too!"
Trevor turned to Dr. Destiny and said to Kara. "We need help with Dr. Destiny, we can't go back but we can buy some time."
Wonder Boy pulled out his sword, and left Michael's blade with Zatanna. Kara stood beside him and then charged straight into the fight.
"Zatanna, you need to leave time is running out. Your friends won't be able to fend off Dr. Destiny for long." Michael explained.
"You think I'm just gonna let you end your life here? Just like that?" Zatanna asked, taken aback at the very idea. "You have been there for me so many times and I'll be damned if I'm gonna abandon you when you need me most."
"Zatanna-"
Shortly for a moment his sight started to consider, until a surge of red crystals began spreading all over the area around them, rapidly. The red mire started spreading all around the two of them, "Zatanna, you need to go."
"There's no way I'm leaving you, Michael." Zatanna said.
"But you're going to die." Michael looked at her as the mire began creeping up to their feet.
"Then so be it. What's it gonna be Michael, are you gonna come back with me, or are we both gonna die here? We both know I'm not leaving." Zatanna argued.
Michael contemplated his next move carefully, he didn't want to kill Zatanna. That's the last thing he could do to her, "How's the group of people who've been watching over me?" Michael asked.
"They're hoping to meet you after all this time." Zatanna smiled as he looked straight at Michael, "Michael I know you feel alone, but your not alone. You were there for me when my mother died, I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you with Dr. Destiny, but if you'll let me I can show you a memory of my own."
Michael was hesitant but he nodded, "Very well." Zatanna took hold of the moment and casted another powerful spell, "laeveR a wen evitcepsrep." Zatanna waved her hands and began floating as the area around them transcended back to the city of New York just after the fight with Dr. Destiny and Dr. Fate.
"What is this?" Michael asked.
"This is the aftermath of the fight." Zatanna explained as her memory version came to view with the memory version of Michael in a state of spasms and speaking utter nonsense.
"Michael!" Zatanna raced over to Michael.
Traces of blood came pouring through his ears and nose, Michael couldn't speak properly or move at all on his own. Zatanna swept away the debris covering his whole body with a simple wave off, given she was getting used to non-verbal magic on simple things. She knelt and grabbed his shoulders and cradled his head, "Michael, it's going to be okay!" she tried to reach him, but he wouldn't respond let alone make eye contact with her.
"No, please, Michael." she turned his gaze over to her but there was nothing. She couldn't hold back anymore, she held him tight as she let out her tears for him.
"Dear, Zatanna. Daughter of Sindell Zataro." Someone in a deep tone spoke to her. As she wiped away the tears, and the dangling strands of hair over her face she saw it was Omniel himself
From a distance, the real Michael and Zatanna watched as this played out before their eyes, "I have no memory of this." Michael stepped closer.
"You shouldn't your mind was shattered." Zatanna said as she walked closer to Michael, "After this, Omniel worked with your grandfather to set you up in that sarcophagus you're currently in."
As all this information sank in another memory began to meld around them, "You have another memory?"
Zatanna was confused a little, "I mean not one that I could think of."
The two quickly found themselves in a new memory, "Wait, this one's recent." Zatanna realized where they were. They were back in the medical wing at the fortress. Before the two of them was Zatanna herself lighting a few candles.
"I came here to visit just five days ago." Zatanna remembered.
They walked closer and heard the memory of Zatanna kneeling her head on Michael's Sarcophagus, "esaelp nruter ot em. esaelP nruter ot em. esaelP nruter ot em." she prayed.
Looking deep in thought, Michael took a deep breath with a new fire in his eyes, "Okay, I'm ready to wke up now."
"Really?" Zatanna was overjoyed at the news.
"I am, we got a lot more to catch up on it seems." Michael smiled.
"Not yet, when we wake up, John Dee is waiting outside, my father is fending him off, and hopefully Kara and Trevor are helping." Zatanna explained what's waiting for them on the other side.
The name sent a wave of anger in his body, he fumed out through his nose and looked back at Zatanna, "Don't worry, leave him to me. I have a plan, and it's payback time."
Michael then started glowing the light became so bright that it woke up Zatanna back in the medical wing. She quickly stepped up and readied herself, "dloH kcab eht ylohnu secrof!"
"Zatanna!" Trevor cheered as he saw her stand.
Kara followed but were taken back into the fight as Dr. Destiny was about to send more sharp bone spikes towards them, some laced with Kryptonite.
"Get down!" Trevor dove over Kara to shield her from the kryptonite. The sharp pain was bearable enough for the moment, but he can still fight.
"You two keep back." Zatara sweeped them away, as he conjured a barrier to protect the kids behind him.
"Such wasted potential you could've been better than this Zatara." Dr. Destiny hoisted more magic at his disposal and sent a rift of dark energy through the entire room. All of the people in the room, Zatara, Batman, Wonder Boy, Supergirl, Zatanna were caught by the conjuration.
Dr. Destiny approached Michael in the sarcophagus and prepared to deliver the killing blow, but Michael's eyes suddenly opened and he quickly cast a spell. A field around Dr. Destiny formed and he was unable to move. "What? I cannot move."
"Of course you can't, this is a powerful field, even a powerful person like you will need time to break this." Michael said floating out of the sarcophagus, magically changing into his outfit. "It won't hold you for long but luckily I have enough time for this."
Michael then recited a spell then directed it at Dr. Destiny's head, "Vara, crawna, in'vilock." Dr. Destiny screamed in pain then finally fell to his knees. Michael then recited another spell and with the twirl of his blade, he opened a portal then Kicking Dr. Destiny through it. He then quickly closed the portal. Everything then went quiet as Dr. Destiny was now gone, Michael's outfit then vanished, then he fell to the floor. Thankfully Zatanna caught him before he hit the ground.
Trevor and Kara went over to tend to Zatara while Zatanna helped Michael ease his way back to the ground, "What did you do?" Zatanna asked.
"I used all my energy for two spells. A trapping spell, and a memory erasing spell." Michael explained weakly, panting heavily as he rested in Zatanna's arms.
After the calm arrived after the storm of Dr. Destiny, the realization finally simmered around everyone. Michael is finally awake and better on the inside.
For a moment, Zatanna didn't want to let him go, but she could feel him tap her arms, "Zatanna, you can let me go now. I'm okay now."
"Right." Zatanna quickly helped him up, with a light blush on her cheeks.
Michael tried, keyword 'tried' to stand up but he just fell back to the floor. Then Micheal looked to see his once heathy physique now shriveled and shrunken. The time in that thing has taken it's toll on him physically.
"Well maybe not physically, just yet." Zatanna said as she caught him again. She helped him up then placed him into a nearby wheelchair.
"Hey Michael, good to see you better." Kara waved at him, walking towards him.
"Kara, nice to meet you, I mean nice to officially meet the two of you."
"Here, Michael." Trevor offered to settle him into the chair.
"Thanks, it's Trevor, right?" Michael asked.
That question made Trevor chuckle, "Well, I'm glad you remember me." he siad then patted his back. "You know I'm surprised nobody else except us know Destiny was…"
"You okay, Trevor?" Zatanna asked him.
"Something's off." Trevor felt weird, like he had a sudden surge of sorrow from his mind, "Do you feel this?"
"Yeah I feel it too, is that M'gann?" Kara asked as she started rubbing her head.
"What are you guys feeling?" Michael asked.
"We should check on the team." Trevor insisted. He and Zatanna walked out, while Kara stayed behind to help Michael haul his wheelchair out.
"Where are we going?" Michael asked Kara.
"We're going to check on the rest of the team." Kara said as she caught up with Trevor and Zatanna.
Zatarra teleported beside them as they arrived at the main room of the Team's headquarters, they found the other six members of the team looking like they just came out of a horror show.
"Connor, you okay." Kara walked over to her cousin as he was sulking with Wolf. She came up and sat beside him.
"You're all alive!" M'gann cheered as she realized they were all okay.
"What happened in there?" Batman asked as he helped J'onn keep him from falling.
"The exercise, it all wen't wrong." J'onn held his head the pain was excruciatingly daunting.
"Excercise?" Robin asked.
Trevor looked at him rather clueless, "You guys don't remember?" he asked.
"Try to remember." Batman ordered, stepped closer to Martian Manhunter, "What you experienced was a training exercise. Manhunter psychically linked the six of you within an artifcial reality. You all knew this going in. What you didn't know was that it was a train for failure excercise. No matter what the team accomplished the scenario was designed to grow worse. Still, you were aware nothing was real including the deaths of the entire Justice League."
"That is why you hardly grieved even when Wolf, Kara and Trevor were disintigrated before your eyes." J'onn carried the conversation from here.
"I'm sory what?" Trevor asked completely stuped by that last part.
"But all that changed when Artemis died. Though consciously, Miss Martian knew it was not real, her subconscious mind could not make that distinction. She forgot it was only an excercise, and her subconscious took control, making all of you forget too." J'onn explained the scenario on M'gann's part.
"Uh, I'm, I'm so sorry." M'gann apologized to everyone.
"Me and Trevor felt a huge spike like of that same power while in the medical wing. We came to see what was going on."
In the back, Zatanna and Michael kept quiet to avoid interrupting the bigger problem in the room, "Maybe I should've woken up on a better day." Michael whispered.
"Shh, just keep quiet." Zatanna hushed.
"This isn't her fault." Conner retorted to J'onn.
"We tried. but M'gann had a death grip on the scenario. Even Artemis, who should have awakened upon her death was so convinced she had passed she slipped into a coma. I realized I would have to wrestle control from Miss Martian's subconscious from within. But upon entering the reality I was overwhelmed by your collective emotion. There was too much... noise to think clearly to remember why I was there. The deaths of Aqulad and Superboy helped. But only when the mothership exploded, and Robin and Kid Flash were silenced did my mind clear enough to remember my true purpose to shock M'gann out of the exercise before your comas became permanent. My apologies. I had no idea a training exercise could be so dangerous... So damaging." J'onn said solemnly then noticed her niece crying from the whole story. Captain Marvel saw this then went to comfort her wrapping his arms around her.
Trevor walked over to Kara, and tapped her shoulder. She noticed and he nodded with a look that said 'we should give them space', and she nodded in agreement. Michael and Zatanna noticed the two kids and walked up to them, "We should go, give them some space."
Michael and Zatanna agreed indefinitely, "Any places that's wheelchair friendly?" Michael asked.
"I know a place." Trevor walked over to Zataro, "Hey you good if we take Zatanna, and Michael, seems we're not needed right now." Trevor requested. Zataro looked at her daughter, and she waved at him along with Michael.
"Can I trust you won't kidnap my daughter? Or her friend?" Zataro asked reminding the kids about their last time with Zatanna.
"Yes." Kara answered.
"Very well." Zataro answered with an approving smile.
"C'mon guys! We can take the Zeta tubes anywhere, and I know just the place." Trevor said as the four of them left through the Zeta tubes.
Pizza Place
To give the team some space, Trevor, Kara, Zatanna, and Michael decided to go to a pizza place together. Luckily Trevor knew one of the best places in Washington, "Washington, haven't been here in years." Michael smiled until he noticed a flier near the museum, "Hey Zatanna, can you wheel me over there?"
"Sure." Zatanna pushed him further over to the news written on the flier, "They're moving the History of War Display exhibit to New York. It's featuring the blade of Beowulf." Michael said, astonished.
"So where's this Pizza place you told us about Trevor?" Kara asked.
"It's not far, just a couple of blocks." Trevor answered.
"Is it that one your Dad took us to a while ago?" Kara asked.
Trevor shook his head. "No, this one's even better, even has cool video games. But, I keep getting kicked out from those because I keep winning too much. It's not my fault my powers and training make it so easy to win."
"Not sure pizza would be good for me, after sleeping for so long, as much as I wouldn't mind." Michael added. He chuckled at the notion while looking around the busy city bustle around him.
The group walked further down the road, they found pizza place, Trevor was looking forward to showing them.
"This is it? It's amazing!" Zatanna said, the dazzling neon lights showered the block with so many colors.
"Isn't it just beautiful!" Trevor said. The rest of the group were absolutely bedazzled by just the front of it, "Welcome to Playtime Pizza!" Trevor said ecstatic to show the three of them.
Inside the arcade was pretty exquisite, neon signs for all the games, even a pizza buffet of all kinds of dishes, "Well it definitely delivers what's shown outside." Kara said as the four of them found a seat.
They ordered their drinks and were about to go selection for tonight, "C'mon let's hit the buffet." Trevor said.
"Why don't you guys go on ahead, I think I'm gonna hang back. Doubt there's anything for me up there." Michael rejected.
"Oh c'mon Michael, the man out of the box! A whole year, let's live it up." Trevor said with an excited smile.
"C'mon I'll get ya something simple. Trevor's right, it's been two years." Zatanna patted his back. The gleam in her eyes made him realize this was something she is truly grateful to have.
The tension made him chuckle and lift his mood a little, "Okay, something easy to eat, and not much of it." He surrendered to her friend's expectations.
"You got it." Zatanna assured.
The three left for the buffet while Michael stayed behind.
The assortment of pizza's and deserts were absolutely to die for. At the main area with all the customers attending their meals there looks to be a stage area.
"What's that over there?" Kara asked.
"Dunno, that's actually new." Trevor claimed.
The three of them returned with more food than they could even imagine to eat, "Big eaters." Michael smiled.
"Well mostly me, I have a high metabolism." Kara smiled wide in response.
Just then the lights started to fade, just barely to highlight the spotlight. A man in a bright-colored tail coat, and a thick mustache, "Attention all playtime pizza players, and attendees, how would you all like to try and have a hand at giving our customers a soothing song for their enjoyment? And if that doesn't sound exciting, how about this, if any one of you can wow our volunteer judges before me. You and your party dine for free along with a two hundred dollar gift card for all of your gaming desires." The promoter set down the microphone and welcomed anyone willing to try.
Hearing this Michael's expression lit up. "Zatanna, my friend, get me to that piano!"
"Michael, you sure? You just woke up." Zatan a was a little worried, but Michael was persistent.
"I may be weak but I can still play a decent melody." Michael said then hauled his wheelchair over to the piano.
"Well looks like we have a volunteer, what's your name sir? Please allow me to help." The announcer escorted Michael to the piano, and held the microphone to his mouth.
"My name is Michael Nelson, sir." He introduced himself. "I came here to hang out with an old friend I haven't seen in a couple of years and two new friends I just made. They did alot for me in the short time i've known them so what better way to thank them than by showing my talent and give them a free lunch."
"Give a warm welcome to Michael Nelson everybody!" The promoter arose a loud applause from the audience. "Alright Mr. Nelson show the audience what you can do and if they love what they hear then the prize could be yours."
Michael turned around and waved at everyone. He wheeled closer then cracked his knuckles, and popped his neck both ways, and opened his fingers.
For some the piano was an instrument, but for Michael, it was like his fingers were dancing on a stage. His tune sent swirls of melodic harmony in the entire room.
"He's been playing piano since he was seven." Zatanna explained as the graceful music flowed from Michael's instrument.
Michael's melodies flowed through the restaurant entrapping the audience in his great rhythms. A few minutes longer and the finale of his song left people in a moment of silence, and then the whole building ended with a definite applause. All three of the Judges gave Michael tens.
"Well I think we have a definite answer on today's winner." The promoter said on the mic as he returned his own applause to the audience. "Congratulations Michael Nelson, you have won the grand prize. You and your friends can eat for free and two hundred dollars in arcade tokens."
Trevor, Kara and Zatanna raced over Michael and held his hands up in victory.
While the applauds and praises finally died down from time, the four resumed their feasting all for free.
"Best day ever!" Trevor cheered with a soda in hand.
"And we haven't even got to the arcade yet!" Kara laughed at her best friend.
"Any games a man in a wheelchair can play?" Michael asked.
"Oh, I'm definitely gonna get kicked out again." Trevor said to himself.
The promoter returned with their promised amount of game tokens, "Alright you four, enjoy the arcade."
Kara and Trevor were about to go hit the arcade, but stopped to look back at Michael and Zatanna, "You're not going with us?" Trevor asked.
"We'll catch up. Was hoping to talk a little." Michael assured.
"We have two years of missed time to catch up on." Zatanna winked at the kids.
"Okay. We'll save you some tokens." Kara smiled as she and Trevor left.
Leaving the two at the table, the silence was a little awkward, "When I last saw you, it was back at the coffee shop. Just before… before HE did what happened."
"I saw that memory. Earlier before." Zatanna answered coldly.
"Did things get better after… After I went out?" Michael asked.
"Took some time, but I eventually worked my way back to my same self." Zatanna explained.
"Good…" Michael looked at her and realized this chat isn't very good, so far, "You know what, I have a better idea. Do you think this place has a pinball machine? If I recall, I had the better score."
The memories of their last time at a placement this made Zatanna smile, "Oh it's on!"
From a distance, Trevor and Kara were watching them laugh together as Zatannas pushed him towards the arcade section, "Those two are cute." Kara snickered.
Even after two years, as much as they owe each other to talk. Words wouldn't be enough. Two friends reunited, and they needed to have some fun. Making their way to the nearest pinball machine Michael and Zatanna competed for the higher score.
Kara and Trevor stood behind to root for the two as they were dead set on winning over one another.
"Oh yeah!" Zatanna jumped in cheers as she finished her round with the winning score compared to the two, "I win!"
Michael clapped along with Trevor and Kara, "Alright, lets see what else we can do."
"C'mon we have more tokens to spend, let's rack up some tickets tonight!" Trevor built up the four of them.
The rest of the evening was very well spent and their bellies full from the free buffet, "Alright, how many tickets did we mass?" Michael asked.
Trevor and Kara placed countless tickets on the table but they had sad looks. "We got kicked out, the games were too easy for us."
"Well at least this time was free." Michael said tried to cheer up the two.
The four of them massed more tickets than ever, they could buy lots of the prizes ok the wall.
"Might as well take what prizes we can have." Kara suggested.
The four returned with lots of prizes from all the tickets they amassed. The team was still sulking at the training program. Zatanna hauled Michael and was worried for the rest of the team as she saw them all.
"I take it your night out was beneficial." Batman said as he walked up to the group.
"Batman. Been a while." Michael greeted the caped crusader.
"Michael Nelson, good to see you are awake at last. But you're weak you'll need phsycial therapy to get you back on your feet."
"Straight to business as usual. But, you are correct. I think I know somebody who can help me out wth that. I can give her a call tomorrow." Michael said with a confident smile.
"Wait are you referring to Asa?" Zatanna asked.
"I am. My grandfather had a favor with her. I guess with him gone, that favor will now pass to me." Michael suggested.
"Very well, we have a room set for you down the hall. As for the rest of you, you've had a rough time. You should all get some rest." Batman said to everyone.
The team stood and left for their dorms. None of them said a peep and just left.
"Are they gonna be alright?" Zatanna asked.
"It will take them time to bring them out of this but they are strong." Batman assured her.
"Okay. C'mon Michael, let me take you to your room." Zatanna said, and she pushed him forward.
Flying toward the team, Kara wanted to see her cousin, "Conner?" She was truly worried for him.
"Not right now." Conner shoved her concern away. Trevor caught up and patted her shoulder and nodded with a solemn face that told her, 'Give him time.
Zatanna pushed Michael down the hall and found his room with his name on it, "Thanks Zatanna, I'll take it from here." Michael assured, and he looked at her before she could leave.
"What?" Zatanna asked.
"Just realizing, it's good to be back. I think I'm gonna like being with this team." Michael smiled.
"Alright, I better get back to dad." Zatanna walked over and gave him another hug, "I missed you so much." She smiled, her best friend is awake and back in her life. She quickly brushed herself away from him and recomposed herself, "I'll swing by tomorrow to see how your therapy is going, tomorrow."
"Thanks, Zatanna." Michael smiled as she left him to his new home. Looking around the place his new room was rather empty, "Definitely needs redecorating when I'm back on my feet." he smiled as he hauled himself with his hands to bed.
Outside our existence
"So Thelevaluth, your sure down in the dumps." Klarion laughed while petting his cat.
"Shut up, Klarion, I just need to plan this out. That boy carries Omniel's powers now. He made sure to pass on his abilities before he and you were imprisoned."
"True but he isn't aware he has them so you have nothing to worry about for now." Klarion added.
"Yes, for now, but I need to find someone to pass my powers, a world without despair is a world we cannot abide." Thelevaluth paced the floor on the other side of the cell.
"If I may, I might be able to find a few candidates. How about this, you find your candidates, and when he or she is ready, you'll owe me a favor." Klarion hissed at the Lord of Despair.
Thelavaluth walked closer to Klarion, and glared, "Will I owe you a favor, or will I owe your precious Light a favor?"
Klarion glared with a hint of flames in his eyes.
I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter of Young Justice Wonder Boy, it was super hard writing. Anyway please leave reviews I love hearing what people think of my stories.
I'd also like to thank Dr. Archangel for helping me finish this chapter.