Madison Clements had no idea about other timelines or what could have been.
She knew that she had originally sought out the pair of Sophia Hess and Emma Barnes in order to be one of the "queen bitches" that held some power and protection in the sort of school she was attending.
She also knew that when Taylor Hebert had started doing the local scene, that the girl had serious talent. Some student off at Arcadia but there were a lot of people really good at music who never amounted to much for whatever the reason. She hadn't thought about the subject, maybe it was luck or connections or some other quality.
The first clue that she'd maybe hitched her wagon to less-than-ideal horses was one of these little venues off the Boardwalk, the Parthenon. Just a really sizable bar, the kind that also had grilled food, and had a lot of musicians go through and play the stage. Okay, the stage was actually pretty big and it was more of a food court. Close enough, right? It had been going for years, and every so often they got someone with a name she'd actually recognize.
Madison had come in one day to find that Emma was ripping into two girls and Sophia was running interference. The whole thing because apparently Taylor Hebert was doing some concert event there and the two had been talking about it. Madison hadn't saw the big deal but had gone along with it because that was her role in the group.
Then had come the plans to graffiti the hell out of the Parthenon before the event. She had gone along with it because that was expected of her, but even Sophia had looked less than enthusiastic about the idea.
Still, they had done it. And then they'd fled ahead of a bunch of cops because that place was NOT in a bad part of town.
Madison had flinched on seeing cops slowing down around her for over a month after that, but they'd just gone on to the usual things after that.
Then the announcement of a new member of New Wave back at the end of January 2010. Codename Spellsinger.
Emma had taken one look at the girl, dismissed her costume as tacky off-the-racks and the girl herself as a beanpole, then stopped dead in her tracks. Emma had grabbed the newspaper out of Julie's hands, stared for a good minute and a half, then practically exploded. She'd screamed, she'd yelled, she'd carried on. She'd been dragged to the nearest girl's bathroom by Sophia.
People had been asking Madison what the heck THAT was about but Madison Clements had not a clue.
When Emma reappeared, it had been to tell everyone that Spellsinger was worthless and weak and wouldn't amount to anything. That the only way she got any press or gigs was giving blow jobs to promoters. That she turned tricks for air time. Oh, and that Spellsinger was actually her childhood friend Taylor Hebert.
That was the first time that she'd actually seen Sophia Hess angry with Emma Barnes. Openly angry and referencing this as something they'd discussed.
That had set a bit of a pattern over the past year. Spellsinger out on patrol with New Wave? Attention-seeking behavior for someone with no talent. Spellsinger put a whole group of Empire thugs to sleep with a lullaby so they could be arrested? Well, they were probably on drugs or something. The Empire kids had asked Emma about Spellsinger's secret identity and she'd told them again and that had been the second time that Sophia Hess had blown up at Emma.
It had resulted in a large group of Empire 88's rank-and-file storming the Dockworker's Union. Apparently a fair number of the Dockworkers had guns so it wasn't completely one-sided but it hadn't looked good. People had been recording and been ready to make their goodbyes. Followed by at least two swiveling to cover it as a girl started to play a song.
Then the Winged Hussars arrived. Charging down a spectral mountainside, getting more solid as they came, armored calvary with their own guns and lances. A freight train of pain coming straight out of some Lord of The Rings re-enactment.
Even the students that were children of the Empire had mixed feelings about that. On the one hand, it was some of their own families that had gotten trampled. On the other hand everyone agreed that Polish calvary rising from the grave to defend an area and drive invaders off looked suitably epic.
So then Spellsinger showed up at various clinics and played songs of healing and of peace and of things being fixed. Emma would go on about how it was all a publicity stunt and the patients were actually fake. Protests from students whose family members were doing better since then were openly scoffed at. Spellsingers showed up at one of Parian's puppet shows and provided special effects. Tinkertech holograms and Parian was in on it, again according to Emma. Hill Street Biker Gang stopping her in the street and an impromptu concert? Nothing of consequence, just rumors from a bunch of drugged-up bikers.
March had Taylor Hebert giving a concert of her own at the Parthenon. No magic. Not so much as a spark. Talent though. Got a lot of good reviews from everyone except that guy at the Tribune but that guy never gave good reviews.
Emma gave a lot of hate towards that, in fact she'd been out front of the place yelling at people for going to see "Tayslut" (her insult of the month) and suggesting they were only there in hopes she'd give them after-concert activities. (This was also the first time Emma had been arrested and hauled off after she assaulted with her sign someone selling t-shirts.)
Madison had seen Sophia wearing a shirt about being thrown to the wolves and returning leading the pack. Everyone avoided commenting where they'd heard THAT bit of lyrics before as it would just lead to Emma losing it again.
It had continued, everyone knew Emma Barnes on the subject of Spellsinger and Taylor Hebert, so whenever there was a bit of news on those subjects people grew quiet when Emma was around.
Don't set off crazy people with connections. Even when those connections were kind of strained and falling apart.
Which was the state of affairs until July 15 2010 when Behemoth attacked the Volga Hydroelectric Station.
At which point Emma was ignored by everyone because everyone wanted to talk about THAT.
The first Endbringer to be ended. Not driven off with heavy loss of life. Six cape deaths, mainly from trying to keep Behemoth's attention off Spellsinger. Seventeen civilian deaths from people who didn't get out of the way. One whose cellphone footage was recovered who had died right after giving the "don't forget to like and subscribe" spiel. Before she'd gotten smooshed.
Behemoth had been EATEN.
The pattern had briefly been broken as apparently that had not been on whatever plan the Endbringers had going.
Emma, as everyone could have predicted, went damn close to incandescent and whatever pull she had with the administration had lapsed. She had charges still pending (battery against a t-shirt merchant, public disorderly) and got a new suspension of one week.
Everything had eventually turned back to normal. Gradually. Talk went back to sports teams and who was sleeping with who and celebrity gossip.
The Fallen had shown up at the school, kidnapped Emma, and demanded Spellsinger give herself up or her former best friend would be killed by the bomb she'd been strapped to.
"Rip and Tear," was now a meme and Lietenant Cynthia Anderson of Brockton Bay SWAT was now a local celebrity. When she'd mentioned none of her clothes fit anymore since she was now five inches taller and had put on some muscle she hadn't had before becoming something called a Doomslayer - she'd gotten free outfits from a number of local stores and even offers from overseas to enhance her wardrobe.
Also a lot of envy and wishes that they'd been there or that Spellsinger would do that to them.
Emma had gone quiet after that, for which a LOT of people were grateful.
Endbringer Sirens going off made her wonder what now.
* PRT ENE HQ *
* December 6, 2010 *
"Where is it? Which Endbringer?" asked Director Emily Piggot as the conference call went through.
"Uncertain - we're plotting it now," came Dragon's voice over the line. "Simurgh."
Armsmaster's voice was next. "Looks like United States Eastern Seaboard. Current track anywhere from North Carolina to Boston."
"I'm checking for anything that might be within the Simurgh's usual targeting pattern, but not coming up with anything so far," put in Dragon.
Director Wilkins from the New York branch looked at something on a screen before commenting herself. "The only thing I've got showing in New York for today is the new attempt at The World's Biggest Flea Market. I suppose it's possible someone got ahold of some Tinkertech but..."
Several other Directors in the suspected target area all stated negatives.
"Uhm, there's one thing, only requires a small deviation from projected paths," said Director Abscom.
"Who?" asked more than one of the Directors.
"Director Abscom. Temporary Acting Director of PRT Virginia Beach. There's a suspected String Theory lab somewhere in Chincoteague."
"Where the hell is Virginia Beach?"
"Where the hell is Chincoteague?"
"The only other thing in my area that could be a target is Doctor Madblood," said Director Abscom.
"Doctor Madblood?" asked Rebecca Costa-Brown, the Chief Director pulling something up on a different screen.
"He's actually an Architect Tinker with the limitation that all his devices look like something from bad sci-fi movies," said Abscom. "I put a call in to see what he was last working on and it was an electronic cow fence."
"So that's unlikely," said Rebecca Costa-Brown. "Why haven't you located the lab if there is one?"
"We've looked, but not found anything," said Director Abscom.
"Confirmed," said Dragon. "Latest course predictions give us an 80% she's heading for Chincoteague Island."
"Director Abscom, have your people onsite start the evacuation immediately." Chief Director Costa-Brown checked the estimated time counter. "Less than ten minutes. Get everyone ready."
* Chincoteague Island *
"I'm still not sure about attending, Endbringer Truce to the side and all," said Uber.
"Yeah, I know, but the analysis equipment I put together need something major to go with," answered Leet as he unboxed equipment and began extending antennae and folding out sensors.
"Only reason I didn't veto it was because the Endsinger herself said something about wanting us to hear it," said Uber, getting the BFG ready. "You think this will work?"
"It should," said Leet. "Outer shell is the only thing that looks similar. Internals are completely different."
"She's playing... oh. Oh. Oh!" Uber looked up from where he'd been watching the charge bar slowly fill. "That song."
"It's weird, she started playing a viola, then went to the flute, but now I hear a full orchestra going on and she's switching to her electric guitar," said Leet.
"We're getting this recorded, right?" asked Uber, feeling more enthusiastic but also more nervous.
"Snitch is up and running," agreed Leet.
"Estuans interius!" sang Spellsinger. "Ira vehementi! Estuans interius! Ira vehementi!"
Leet and Uber didn't even bother not trying to sing along. "Sephiroth! SEPHIROTH!"
The Simurgh was less than a mile off at this point, the air ignited around her as she strove to reach the single point she couldn't see.
(SCHIIIINNNNG!)
"You look like you're mocking Mother. I don't think I care for that."
(SCHIIINNNNG! SCHNICK!)
The Simurgh began to tumble, one piece after another going in slightly different trajectories.
A single wing had broken off and was attempting to flee. Uber shot it. The green sphere impacted the wing and caused it to stop as green lightning crawled along the surfaces.
Sephiroth looked from that to the crowd below, looking disdainful with his own one wing spread in the air. He didn't even look at the Simurgh's wing before slicing it and some sphere within it in half.
Spellsinger finished the song, and looked as relieved as anyone else when the figure faded away.
Of course, that still left fragments of Simurgh tumbling along at supersonic speeds so there was still a bit of a clean up.
* Not very far away *
"So. Behemoth gone. Simurgh gone. Any idea why David dropped into a coma?"
"No idea. Looks like some sort of power interaction."
"So what about bringing Spellsinger in?"
"I think we'd have to be very careful about how we do it, and how much to tell her. She might well be of use against him."
* Much much later *
She'd played "Green Onions" and "Joy" first, building up charge. Now she switched and Taylor's voice rolled across the plains.
"Where have all the good men gone,
"And where are all the gods?
"Where's the streetwise Hercules,
"To fight the rising odds?"
A circular portal opened behind her, and a size Huge man stepped out, the skin of a lion hanging like a cape and a rough-hewn sword in his hands.
"Isn't there a white knight,
"Upon a fiery steed?"
Another portal opened, a fiery skeleton upon a likewise fiery motorcycle emerging and settling into place alongside the giant.
"This is the day we're calling out,
"For the help we surely need!"
Circular portals began opening up all along the plain, which had Scion stare at them as this was NOT how it usually went.
"We need some heroes!
"We're holding out for heroes,
"To deal with the strength of his might!
"They've got to be strong,
"And they've got to be fast,
"And they have to be fresh for the fight!"
The Justice League stared for a moment at the golden man, then at the presence of the Avengers across the way.
Scion blasted them with a golden beam that should have made a hole the size of a city.
A forcefield from Susan Storm deflected it skyward and Thor summoned a storm.
Captain America threw his shield, Superman grabbed it and added a lot of velocity.
"So, this guy is really strong?" asked Son Goku, sounding excited.
"Analyzing," said Sailor Mercury to the Senshi with her. Sailor Venus had to be bopped on the head as she was distracted by all the beefcake around her.
"I need some heroes!
"I'm holding out for heroes till the morning light,
"They've got to be sure,
"It's got to be soon,
"And they've got to be larger than life.
"Larger than life."
Taylor's voice was sounding strained as she sang, but she continued to play even as some musically inclined heroes began to sing along or accompany her, adding to the sound.
"Autobots. To defend all Earths. Transform!"
"Shazam!" (BOOM!)
There was a grinding-thumping noise as a blue box appeared near Taylor just in time for its forcefield to intercept a bolt of green energy.
"Your orders, Ainz-sama?" "The golden man offends me. Not the spiky haired one, the other one. You have my permission to cut loose on him. Demonstrate the power of Nazarick!"
"Somewhere after midnight,
"In some wild fantasy,
"Please be within my reach,
"To save the Earths I plea!"
A flying battleship cruised through one of the larger circles, locking on and firing a salvo at the golden man who was trying to shoot at everything.
The Enterprise locked its own weapons on and began firing phasers and photon torpedoes.
Scion vanished, leaving a small hole in space/time behind.
Doctor Strange exchanged a nod with Doctor Fate and the two used their magic to grab that hole and expand it much larger.
"HULK SMASH!" declared a large green fellow as he did a running leap into the hole.
"For once, I can't argue with the big green guy," noted Iron Man as he followed.
"Be nice to cut loose for a change," agreed Superman.
"I need the heroes!
"I'm holding out for the heroes who can end this fight,
"They've got to be strong, they've got to be fast,
"They've got to stand against Scion's might."
"Sparkling Wide Pressure!" "World Shaking!" "Wait, we're calling out attacks? Uhm. Magical lightning!" "Oh, nice. Can I get your number? We can compare notes." "Jupiter? Destroy evil alien now, flirt later."
"Scorching Ray of Gy-Gax!" "Strange, you don't need to call out your spells." "When in Rome, Fate." "Ah, well then. Chains of Order!"
"Captain! Yamato is asking if they can have the specs on our photon torpedoes." "Tell them it's a deal if they can give us details on whatever those deck guns are shooting. I'd love to spring those on the Borg next time we meet."
Bruce Lee nodded to Chuck Norris, they turned to face walls of pulsing organic crystals.
Kenshiro cracked his knuckles and did the same.
Joseph Joestar hmphed and his Stand appeared behind him.
"Wa-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!"
"Ora ora ora!"
"Ah-TA!"
Doctor Curlyhair nodded to Bounceback as they went on to carve their own paths of destruction, while a Taylor entirely clad in black on the back of Ghost Rider's fiery motorcycle pointed out where hellfire could do the most damage.
A set of lizard-like humanoids followed a lizardy Taylor and took notes as they joined in on the mayhem.
* Two weeks later *
"She woke up, but the strain to her power... she'll never be able to do that again."
Rebecca Costa-Brown relaxed slightly, but managed not to show it. "Good. She has done a great service to humanity, retiring with honors on an Earth of her choosing sounds entirely reasonable."
* One week after settling in on Earth Zed-5 *
"Look, I'm fine, Amy," said Taylor into the phone. "I just exhausted my ability to spellsing, that's all. Otherwise I'm the same as ever. Right. Well, it was good hearing from you. I'm establishing my singing career over here and I'll send tickets to the first concert. Bye."
Her father raised an eyebrow as she put the phone away.
"The truth doesn't want to be free if everyone is more comfortable with a lie," said Taylor with a shrug. "I don't need those people from Cauldron looking too close. Besides, it's a partial truth. I don't think I can do that level again. Singing crops healthy, singing the weather to calm it down? Why of course, I couldn't have anything to do with that. Could I?"
"You spent way too much time with those witches," said Danny Hebert. "Fair enough you learned and use their own tricks though."
"Weird how they never think that could happen," admitted Taylor as she went outside and started strumming a tune.
Had to keep in practice after all.