Part II
"SHAZAM!"
The wizard's champion spoke the magic word and a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky. It struck the lightning symbol on his powerful chest, then crackled and split into five smaller bolts to strike his super siblings.
Quicker than the eye can blink, the six superheroes transformed back into their true forms: six kids ranging in age from elementary school (Darla) to high school freshmen (Billy and Freddy) to high school senior (Mary). They stood together in the grassy, fenced-in backyard of the group home they shared with their foster parents, Rosa and Victor Vasquez; a family of circumstance rather than blood. But, a family, just the same: Mary Bromfield; Pedro Peña; Freddy Freeman; Eugene Choi; Darla Dudley; and Billy Batson, the most recent addition to their group.
Pedro touched his smooth round face, glanced down at his flabby body, and sighed. "Still a long way to go…" He bent down and lifted a metal forearm crutch from the grass. "Here, Freddy."
"Thanks, man," Freddy said in his reedy, adolescent voice, accepting the crutch and slipping his arm into the cuff. "One second you can fly, you know? And then…" He shrugged, looking as sadly resigned as Pedro as he gripped the handle. "But hey, we did good, right? I mean, that was the biggest bad guy yet! Well, if you don't count those creepy, smoky sin monsters that Sivana guy kept in his demon eye."
"Yeah," Eugene piped up, his dark eyes gleaming behind his glasses. "We took down all those sin monsters, and now they're frozen in stone! Just a bunch of stupid statues lining the hall of our lair!"
Darla laughed and raced between her taller siblings to latch onto Billy's hand. "We don't ever have to be scared of monsters," she said. "Because we're a super-family. Right, Billy?"
"You bet, kiddo," Billy said, affectionately ruffling her short pigtails.
Mary gave Billy a proud smile, then turned it on the rest of the kids. "I don't know about you guys, but after all that action I think I'm ready for a little downtime. How about I make us some popcorn and hot chocolate, and we all watch a movie?"
"Batman," Freddy said. "If we're watching a movie, it's gotta be Batman. There's this new animated one, where they've got him fighting the Shredder and Ra's al Ghul with the Ninja Turtles from New York. It sounds so nuts, it's gotta be good!"
"I'm game," Pedro said, launching a few air punches. "Maybe we could pick up some skills."
"Yeah!" Eugene cheered. "I think we've earned a few hours screen time. After all, it's not like Rosa and Victor can say we didn't get enough fresh air today."
"Darla? Billy?" Mary asked. "Batman vs. Shredder OK with you?"
"Sure, whatever," Billy said. "I've got homework anyway, so I'll just do it in the living room with you guys."
"Homework?" Freddy recoiled. "Billy, what the heck is wrong with you? We're going to be watching Batman. Batman!"
"Cartoon Batman," Billy countered. He cast his gaze down and sighed. "But, yeah, it doesn't matter. Being with you guys is what counts. I can finish the worksheets later."
"Oh my god," Freddy scoffed. "When did you become such a cheese?"
Billy straightened. "I'm not a cheese!" he retorted. "There's nothing cheesy about doing your homework, or spending time with your family."
"Gah!" Freddy choked. "Dude, do you even hear yourself?" He pointed. "You've changed. Those powers have changed you, messed with your brain!"
"They have not!"
"Oh, come on!" Freddy said. "When you first got here, you were like, you didn't care about anything. Running away, blowing off school. Stealing my Superman bullet! Now it's like, you raise your hand for every question!"
"So what?" Billy said, stepping closer. "What are you trying to say?"
"Hey, hey, guys, let's tone this down," Mary said. "Freddy, you know Billy was really hurting when he came to us. Hurting and angry at the world. We all know what that's like. We know how awful it is feeling that you're totally alone. That no one cares...that no one wants you. Not really."
"We care," Darla said, hugging Billy's arm.
"That's right, Darla. We do," she said.
Freddy puffed his cheeks and blew out an exasperated sigh. Mary shot him a very pointed look.
"A lot of people out there don't get this," she said, "but I think you have to feel safe before you can let yourself care. Like, truly care. About others, about school, about anything outside yourself. If we have that... Then, Billy's right. There's nothing cheesy about it."
"Good grief..." Freddy muttered. "I'm surrounded by nerds."
"Good," Eugene said, giving Freddy's arm a sharp nudge with his elbow. "Maybe some of our smarts will rub off on you!"
"Ha ha," Freddy sneered.
"Let's go in the house," Pedro said, already edging for the door.
"Guys," Eugene said, "is the movie up on Amazon or Netflix or what?"
"I don't know," Freddy snapped irritably. "You'll have to check."
Darla squeezed Billy's hand.
"What?" he asked.
"Batman is seriously scary!" she said. "But I like Robin. He's sooo cute! If he's in the movie, I'm in!"
"He's in the movie, Darla," Freddy said, sharing an eye-roll with Pedro, and the little girl let out a happy squee!
The kids laughed and even Freddy's expression softened a bit. Darla and Eugene raced for the door with Mary and Pedro close behind. Billy started to shuffle after them, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his bright red hoodie, but Freddy called him back.
"Look, man," he said. "I'm sorry I got snappy. It's just...today aside, I thought we'd be doing way more hero stuff and lots less, well, homework, you know? I mean, we're not, like, regular kids anymore. We're superheros now! So, why—?"
"Why stay in school?" Billy said. "Is that what you're asking? Is that really what you think this is all about?"
"What? No, of course not!" Freddy said. "But... We faced down a monster today, right? We saved the city with super powers and it's like, I don't even have a name, you know? I mean, 'The Shazam Family' is great and all, and of course you're 'Shazam' now, the marvelous captain of lightning and thunder and whatever, but what about me, and the rest of us? We can't all be shouting our real names in the middle of a battle – that would wreck any hope of protecting our real identities!"
"You're right. I've actually been thinking about that," Billy said, looking thoughtful. "Let's bring it up inside. See if the others—"
"Forget inside!" Freddy said. "We've got a lair, man!"
Billy shook his head.
"The Rock of Eternity isn't a clubhouse, Freddy. It's a serious place, with serious magic. We can't just go hang out there whenever we feel like it."
"Why not?" Freddy protested. "The place is yours now, isn't it? The wizard guy left it all to you. And there's those stone thrones there, like – like Cair Paravel in Narnia, only we're the ones who get to be adult heroes! And we know that six of those thrones are for us, Billy. That's confirmed. We're the Shazam Family now!"
"Look, we'll go back soon, I promise," Billy said. "I just think, with that big paper coming up and everything, it's better if we—"
"Forget the stupid school stuff!" Freddy exclaimed. "Since when do you care so much anyway!"
"It's not that bad," Billy said. "I actually like my topic, and—"
"Stop. Just stop," Freddy said. "Just tell me: when's soon?"
"Spring break," Billy said. "We'll go back as soon as school's out. All of us. Presentations will be over then and we'll have the whole week before Easter to explore the place and figure out— Ach!" he winced and raised his hands to his head. "Oh, whoa… Freddy, do…do you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Freddy said, frowning as he stared around the empty yard. "What's going on?"
Billy straightened slowly and blinked, a look of pure awe taking over his face. "Holy moley," he whispered.
"Billy?" Freddy demanded. "Billy, come on, man, this isn't funny. Tell me what's happening! What do you hear!"
"They want me…that is, they…they want the captain…" Billy blinked and stared at him, his eyes wide and shining. "Holy moley…! Freddy, I've gotta go. Tell the others sorry I can't make the movie, but I'll try to be back for dinner, OK? Don't let Rosa and Victor worry! SHAZAM!"
A bolt of lightning shot to Earth and Freddy had to shield his eyes.
"Billy, no," he shouted, his voice cracking as the red-and-gold suited superhero his best friend had become flew into the sky. "Billy, come on! At least let me come too!"
"Sorry, can't," Shazam called over his broad shoulder, his adult voice deep and resonant. "Not yet. The invitation was for me alone. But, I'll talk to the guys, see if I can get you in. The whole gang! I promise!"
"In what! Where are you going!"
"…the Justice League…!" Freddy heard on the wind as the hero vanished into the distance.
"The… The Ju..Ju..Jus… No… No way…! Gak!" Freddy choked for real and found himself coughing, stumbling in shock across the uneven grass to the back door.
"Freddy, there you are," Mary called from the kitchen, over the sound of popping popcorn. "What's keeping you guys? We're almost ready to start the movie."
"Movie. Pffaw," Freddy snorted, his voice still hoarse from his coughing fit. "How'm I supposed to watch a stupid cartoon movie when Billy gets to go meet the actual Batman!"
"What? What are you talking about?" Mary asked, suddenly concerned. "Did something happen? Did that Ibac guy escape?"
"Nah." Freddy cleared his throat, a spike of raw envy making his fists and features clench. "Seems like Billy got a call from the Justice League. The. Justice. League! Well, Shazam did. Captain Marvelous Lightning Bolts! But not us. Not me. They only wanted him!"
"Well, I guess that makes sense," Mary said, and Freddy stared at her, slack-jawed.
"How can you say that!" he exclaimed, waving his arm. "Billy gets an invitation, and we don't? How is that even slightly fair!"
"I'd say it's damn fair," Mary said so sternly that Freddy blinked. "The wizard gave his powers to him, Freddy, not us. It was Billy's choice to share that power. He didn't have to. And, if the Justice League wants to talk to him, I trust Shazam to be our spokesperson. Our captain."
"Right," Freddy scoffed. "And, what? We're just, like, his freakin' lieutenants now?"
Mary clasped Freddy's arm and looked him straight in the eye.
"Freddy," she said. "This is a good thing. It means the heroes are watching. That they think we've been doing a good job for our city and its people. Even if we don't get invitations, we should all be proud of that. Remember, we're still a family, Freddy. A team."
Freddy smirked. "And if I went in the living room right now and told everybody what I just told you—"
"Don't!" Mary snapped, shooting him a sharp glare. "Not yet. We'll wait for Billy to come back, find out what he has to say. Then, we'll tell the team."
"Like a couple of good lieutenants…" Freddy mumbled.
"Just like that," Mary said, and pulled the steaming popcorn bag out of the microwave. "Quick, get the bowls. This is really hot."
"Whatever…" Freddy scowled bitterly, but did as he'd been told, his inner heart still seething.
Meanwhile…
In another part of time and space, in a realm carved from many dimensions, a malformed statue creaked and groaned in its rocky alcove: one of seven depictions of the cardinal sins of humankind. Pride and Greed, Gluttony and Lust, Wrath and Sloth – all were there, locked in stone. But not dormant. Never dormant.
Eerie whispers echoed in the hall…cloudy images and half-formed thoughts…and the seventh statue's eyes glowed green.
It was just a moment – only a moment. But Mister Mind took note, as he noted most things.
"Envy…" he cackled, the sound from his voicebox tinny and strange. "Of course, it would be Envy…"
To Be Continued...
References include - Shazam! (movie); Shazam! Volume 1, by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank; Batman The Brave and the Bold: The Malicious Mr. Mind; Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. (Clive Staples) Lewis.
Your reviews and comments are always welcome! Thank you so much for reading! :D
