Kaldur: I thought we were doing 'Downtime'?
Omarnosian10: We are; I renamed it because of some massive changes I made.
Artemis: What about my transferring schools?
Omarnosian10: It'll be done in a time skip between this chapter and the next one. ON WITH THE SHOW!
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or Power Rangers. All rights go to Brandon Vietti, Greg Wiesman, and Saban. Before editing, portions of this chapter belongs to JokerCyclone. I only own Josh, his OC upgrades, and most of his rogues. Ownerships of OC Power Ranger teams are in Profile.
Chapter 9: Below
(Gotham Warehouse)
For her first mission, Jasmine has to admit that it's a lot messier and colder than one would usually expect. Of course, that could be because of the mission objective, but not in general. Presently, a majority of the Team is tasked with tracking down a creature made of a mud-like substance; it was initially assumed to be a Lenopan until the samples Batman and Robin brought proved otherwise. What was found in the substance was mutated human DNA and, according to Batman, chemicals commonly found in a Lazarus Pit. Whipping up a specialized device to track it, they found that it led them to the sewers… and ended in a pile of snow. Kid Flash (having gone through the suspension), Aqualad, and Robin briefly panicked, thinking that one of the ice villains escaped. A quick check-in relieved them that none did… and worry about an unknown element (no pun intended). Fortunately, the cryokinetic left a trail of snow and footprints to follow.
"Can someone tell me why our team leader ain't here?" sighed Kid Flash, unable to rush ahead since he might risk slipping on the snow. It also didn't help that Batman got the Team up very early for the mission.
"If you didn't open your big mouth, you would've known." retorted Robin. And that's not involving the fact that Artemis isn't here either.
"Professor Paradox requested Omni-Ranger's aid for a mission in a different universe," explained Aqualad.
"Why didn't this Paradox guy ask for the whole Team?" asked Kid Flash.
"Omni-Ranger said something similar and Paradox told him that it's a three-person job and he already went to the other two needed," answered Robin.
"Fortunately, Paradox assured him that from our perspective, the mission will only take a small number of days," assured Aqualad.
"Still wish I went with him," grumbled Superboy.
"The trail ends here…" noted Miss Martian. Refocusing on the mission, they hid behind various objects for cover when their eyes laid on the source.
"Let me out! Let me out!" The creature that the Team was initially chasing is trapped in a yellow cube-shaped energy cage, barely reforming every few seconds before the cage ignited with electricity and deformed him again.
"Hush, pig! You belong to the Society now!" laughed a creature that reminded Jasmine of Fossilador from Kira Ford's memories, except it was almost as light as snow with ice spikes adorned over the body. Mist came out of his breath every time he spoke. He walked ahead of the cage, which Cyversed Bruisers pulled. Bruisers are large, bottom-heavy creatures with predominantly black skin. Its feet curl up at the toes and its conical arms end in round, silver, mitten-like hands. Its head is spherical and sports two long antennae that hook upward sharply. The Bruiser's midsection is black with green highlights and is lined by triangular patterns resembling teeth. Its green eyes are set in a happy expression and the Unversed symbol is emblazoned on its belly.
"The Society?" echoed Kid Flash.
"I think I heard that bounty hunter back at Santa Prisca mentioned it," recalled Superboy.
"We'll worry about this Society later. The mission just got more complicated," noted Robin.
"So do we need to rescue the mud creature or let them have him?" asked Miss Martian, confused. Equally, they turned to Aqualad; their second-in-command acting as leader in Josh's absence. However, the Atlantean's mind is far from the present, his gaze aimed at the Cyversed's leader's spikes. Worried, most of the present Team repeated his codename to snap their current leader out of it. The only one not trying, however…
"You're not taking him anywhere! Coeus Axe, full power!" A black energy slash came from the shadows and struck the cage. In an instant, it shattered on impact.
"I'm free!" The mud creature laughed, reforming into a human shape… only to be flash-frozen by the Cyversed leader's ice breath.
"Who dares to break the subject out?!" screeched the ice creature. Stepping out of the shadows is Jasmine in a Black Ranger suit. The left side of her torso, boots, fingers, collar, and sleeves are darker than the rest of her suit. Her gloves, chest, and left shoulder arrow are edged in red. She has silver shoulderpads, wrist braces, and a belt buckle. Her helmet resembles a red-eyed canine with a visor in its mouth and a silver mouthguard below it. In her hand is a black tri-bladed axe with a dog head on each blade.
"Hyperforce Black!"
"A Ranger?!" screeched the ice creature. Cover blown, the rest of the Team rushed out of the shadows, engaging in combat with the Bruisers. Superboy went ahead and threw a punch at the leader. Much to his surprise, while the creature was pushed back, he merely laughed the attack off.
"Weak! (Superboy's eyes widen) Let me show you a real attack! Doom Freeze!" breathed the creature before letting out a life-sized blizzard that consumed the clone. In mere moments, he's submerged in an iceberg.
"Superboy!" The sight worried the Team; if the creature could take a Kryptonian-powered punch unscathed, what chances do they have? Desperate, while on top of a Bruiser, Robin threw a birdarang at the creature. Imagine everyone's surprise when it leaves behind a cut on the creature's face. Roaring, it stepped back, rubbing the cut.
"That actually hurt it?!" gawked Robin, dodging a Bruiser's swing. He then leaped off the Bruiser he was on before the birdarang he left on its back exploded and knocked it down.
"Let me try!" hummed Miss Martian, invisible and unseen by the Bruisers. Using her telekinesis, she lifted the thrown birdarang and swung it across the creature's chest. Oddly enough, it shattered on impact.
"So its face is its weakness, got it!" nodded Kid Flash before rushing over and delivering a spin-kick. The head was knocked back, releasing a pained grunt. Before the speedster could start his speedy assault, the creature swept his legs with his tail. Kid Flash falls onto his butt.
"Doom Freeze!" The speedster only went to his knee when the creature's attack left him in the same state as Superboy. Speaking of the clone…
"HYAH! (breaks free from ice) Round 2, you walking bag of bones!" snarled Superboy, rushing at the creature and punching his face. Unlike Kid Flash's strike, the attack did nothing.
"The name's Freezadon, runt! And have another taste of my Doom Freeze!" laughed the creature, freezing Superboy again.
"So Kid Flash and Robin can hurt the thing, but Superboy and I can't?" pondered Miss Martian, pushing Bruisers into each other.
"Let me give attacking this thing a try," suggested Hyperforce Black before giving out a battle cry, swinging her axe across Freezadon's stomach. He grunted and held it before facing the Ranger.
"Doom Freeze!"
"Coeus Shield!" Combining the blades into a Cerberus-themed shield, Hyperforce Black used it to block the blizzard. When it dissipated, Hyperforce Black was surrounded by ice, her shield stuck in front of her. While she tried to pull it free, Freezadon approached her and slashed her down.
"Jasmine!" The Team was surrounded by Bruisers from all sides, unable to help their newest and fallen teammate. Just as Hyperfoce Black pushed herself up, Freezadon stomped her back, pushing her down.
"The Society will enjoy your destruction, Black Ranger!" laughed the monster. Ice gathered around his arm, forming a large blade.
"Enjoy this!" Before Freezadon can plunge the arm blade down, a blue portal suddenly forms in the middle of the air, with a blue blur escaping it soon after and dashing across the monster, knocking him back. Hyperforce Black took out a yellow/silver sidearm without looking at a gift horse in the mouth.
"Hyperforce Blade Blaster, fire!" Energy blasts pushed Freezadon further back. Around him, the blue blur knocked away the Bruisers too close to the Team before landing in front of the ice monster, revealing itself.
"Stealth of the Ninja! Ninja Steel Blue!"
"Josh!" The Team cheered and gathered behind their previously absent leader.
"I take it your mission was a success?" asked Aqualad, relieved.
"Better than expected. (nods) Now, Miss Martian, can you catch me up on the situation?" requested Ninja Steel Blue, putting a five-pointed Ninja Power Star in his Star Blade. Nodding, Miss Martian did so thanks to the training her leader supervised with Kid Flash.
"So that's the mission. Element Star: Ninja Fire Attack!" Ninja Steel Blue swung his blade, releasing an arc of flames that melted the ice in the area and freed his teammates and his sister's weapon, which she picked up.
"Ha, you think one more Ranger will make a difference?!" chuckled Freezadon, remaining Bruisers huddling behind him. Before his teammates could defend him, Ninja Steel Blue raised his right arm. On the wrist is a brace with a Power Star Jasmine hasn't seen before; it's navy and similar to Lion Fire, except with a whale face in place, the 'super' kanji on the forehead, and the gold flames replaced with silver watery waves.
"Trust me, Freezadon. This 'new' Ranger's got more tricks up his sleeve than you can believe. (Power Star starts glowing with watery energy) Whale Water Power! Ninja Spin!" Ninja Steel Blue spun the Power Star. A watery blue aura came off it, and then his body before the energy solidified into water that wrapped around before exploding, revealing white/blue samurai-like armor on Ninja Steel Blue's suit. An additional helmet forms on Ninja Steel Blue's, a silver whale face similar to the Power Star on his forehead except lacking the kanji. It briefly turned realistic, giving off a whale call.
"Out of the water and into the war! Whale Water Blue!"
"Amazing…" awed Miss Martian. Aqualad nodded, feeling a presence akin to his King coming from the armor.
"Never saw that before," noted Hyperforce Black, getting behind her brother. Feeling power similar yet different to Lion Fire course through his body, Ninja Steel Blue clenched his fists before facing Freezadon.
"I'm only giving you one chance to surrender before I go all out. I suggest you take it." offered the Blue Ranger.
"You think some fancy armor scares me? (scoffs) Bruisers, attack!" ordered Freezadon. The Cyversed hollered before rushing toward Ninja Steel Blue.
"Alright, don't say I didn't warn you. Water Spout!" The whale face on Ninja Steel Blue's helmet glowed blue before a large stream of pressurized water emerged. Turning his head, Ninja Steel Blue directed the attack and destroyed all the Bruisers that came close.
"All those Unversed with one attack?! Aqualad, remind me not to get on your king's bad side." gulped Kid Flash. The Atlantean absentmindedly nods.
"Water, huh? Let me show you the superiority of ice! Doom Freeze!" roared Freezadon before breathing the blizzard. Calm in the fast of the weather attack, the Blue Ranger merely snapped his fingers.
"Scald!" A smaller water attack emerged from the whale face decoration, this one steaming. When it collided with the ice attack, steam erupted from the collision.
"Aw man, I can't see anything!" whined Robin, trying to wave off the steam. Suddenly, something shattering is heard. Worried, Miss Martian swept the steam away with a wave of telekinesis. Freezadon is revealed with a shattered arm blade over Ninja Steel Blue's back when the steam is gone.
"Impossible…" gawked Freezadon before being backhanded into a wall by Ninja Steel Blue.
"Attacking an opponent from behind… (faces Freezadon) How despicable of you? (takes Whale Water Power Star from Morpher and puts it in Star Blade) Whale Water Armor Star, Lock In! (blade glows blue with water spirals surrounding it) Ninja Spin! Whale Water Hydro Strike!" cried Ninja Steel Blue, lifting the sword. The energy and water expanded into a large spectral version of the blade with water spiraling around it. With a battle cry, Ninja Steel Blue swung it down, cutting through Freezadon.
"This isn't over Rangers! I won't be the last Pawn the Society will create! Enjoy your peace while you can!" screamed the ice monster before falling onto his back and exploding. Lowering his sword, Ninja Steel Blue turned his back on his fallen foe, ignorant of a blue/white energy orb flying out of the explosion.
"Show's over. Team wins!"
(Mount Justice)
When Batman arrived with a special containment device, the creature (which Robin named Clayface) was sent to a STAR Labs facility so they could study and attempt to cure him. When everyone returned to the base, the Rangers demorphed, being the only ones not covered in snow or drenched in melted ice.
"I need to talk to Aqualad. Alone. (looked over the drenched Team) The rest of you, hit the showers and head home," ordered Batman. In another life, Conner would've remarked that he was home; however, with his recent stays at the Fortress and Clark's apartment, that's beginning to change.
"Good luck, buddy…" muttered Robin before most of the Team headed into the cave, leaving the young Atlantean alone with the Dark Knight… or so the former thought.
"Batman, I am sorry you had to intervene. I know the team performed poorly, but—" sighed Aqualad.
"The Team performed adequately, especially given the unforeseen circumstances. The problem was you. (Aqualad averts eye contact) You were lucky Omni-Ranger returned when he did or the mission would've ended in failure… but we don't count on luck in this profession. You were acting command at the time, and you were distracted." berated Batman.
"No, you are— (pauses, taking deep breath) You are… correct. Lately, I have not even been convinced that I belong to the surface world. For years, it was all I could think about. But now that I am here, I find myself yearning for Atlantis now more than ever." revealed Aqualad.
"Atlantis, or someone you left behind? (Aqualad's eyes widen) A word of advice: you can split your time between the land and the sea, but not your heart. Either you're here 100 percent, or you need to walk away. Make a decision, Kaldur, and make it soon. Before one of them pays the price." offered Batman before walking away, leaving Aqualad to think on his words. In deep thought, he was unaware of two pairs of unseen footsteps leaving behind him.
(Hours later)
The last thing Kaldur was expecting after his preparation to head to Atlantis was to meet most of his teammates standing in front of a Zeta-Tube in new uniforms.
"Who's ready for a little underwater vacay?!" hollowed Robin, garbed in a black space-like helmet with a red transparent visor showing his mask, blue long sleeves and pants, and black plastic gloves and flippers. Other than that, he's in his uniform shirt.
(A/N: Design is inspired by Water Suit from Lego Batman games)
"I can't wait to see Atlantis!" cheered Miss Martian; the only one in her regular uniform except she has gills on her neck.
"Hope this new suit works." huffed Superboy, folding his arms. He's garbed in a black armored scuba suit with his cyan emblem on the torso. His limbs are covered in similar-colored armor, and his head is protected with a yellow dome. Connected to it are a pair of yellow scuba tanks on his back.
(A/N: Design is inspired by Superman's DCAU scuba suit)
"Hey Josh, how does my suit look?" grinned Artemis, dragging her arm down her leg. She's garbed in a scuba suit similar to Robin's with her color scheme and a sort of blue fabric covering where her skin was exposed in her normal suit.
"The suit looks good on you." Like almost usual, Josh is clad in a new Ranger suit. It's red with the sleeves' lower half and the helmet's white. A navy/white wave image is on his chest, the high-end touching a gold shark emblem on his left pectoral. The visor on his helmet is rimmed in gold and shaped like the maw of a shark. The eye designs above the visor are gold as well. This is Ocean Charge Red.
"I'm pretty sure 'good' is not what she's going for brother." Jasmine is also clad in a new Ranger suit. It's light blue, almost cyan. Her helmet had a dorsal fin above her head and two smaller fins along the sides of the helmet, purple eyes formed at the top of her helmet as small divots along the side of the helmet made gill shapes. Her visor is wide and oval-like. Black lines formed along the front of her suit, creating a shark image with its jaws wide open. She is DNA Blue.
"What are you all doing here?" blinked Kaldur.
"It was Jasmine's idea after we listened in on your conversation." sighed Ocean Charge Red. Kaldur's eyes widen.
"How did you—"
"Two of our Ranger suits come with the civilian power of invisibility," explained DNA Blue.
"They told us you've been feeling homesick recently." frowned Miss Martian, offering a hug. Sighing, Kaldur accepted it.
"You heard correct; I have not been in Atlantis for months and wish to relieve my homesickness as you call it." nodded Kaldur, relieved. He doesn't want them to know the other reason.
"Figured, plus I've been wanting to see Atlantis for ages." smiled Robin.
"I already called Aquaman and he cleared us all for permission to enter his kingdom," assured Ocean Charge Red. Kaldur sighed in relief. That is one problem 'nipped in the bud' as the surface world would say. Now for the other…
"Why is Wally not present?"
"He's with his family preparing to celebrate first Flash's birthday," answered Robin.
"That, and we didn't bother telling him. Putting the guy in a place filled with the closest things to mermaids is a recipe for disaster." sighed Artemis. Kaldur pulled a face, a scenario popping up in his head of the speedster making moves on her.
"That is a wise decision."
(Poseidonis)
Recognized: Robin, B—01. Aqualad, B—02. Miss Martian, B—04, Superboy, B—05. Omni-Ranger, B—06. Artemis, B—07. DNA Blue, B—08.
Going straight from the air of the Mount Justice Zeta Tube to the aquatic atmosphere of Atlantis was a bit of a shock, but the Rangers and the SIC only needed a second. The others, on the other hand, needed more time to get used to their new environment.
"Man, even the Gotham waters weren't this deep." awed Robin.
"Wait, I just realized something; none of us speak Atlantean. How are we gonna talk to the people here?" blinked Artemis.
"Don't worry; our physical comms are fitted with translator tech based on my Plumber Badge. To the Atlanteans, we'll be speaking their language, but to us, we'll only hear English," assured Ocean Charge Red.
"You thought of everything, have you?" smiled Miss Martian.
"I try." shrugged the Red Ranger. It was then that Aquaman approached the Team, smiling at them.
"Greetings, Kaldur'ahm. (apprentice salutes) And friends." nodded Aquaman.
"Your Majesty." bowed the Team.
"Now, before we begin, I believe we need to go over a couple of rules. (clears throat) There will be no photography or video recording of any kind unless provided by my Kingdom." started Aquaman. At once, the universe-born Team stared at Robin.
"What're you looking at me for?!" frowned the Boy Wonder.
"Your mentor's one of the most paranoid people on the planet, you tell us." retorted Superboy. Robin winces.
"Don't worry Conner; I already checked his suit for cameras and bugs of any kind and found none," assured Ocean Charge Red.
"Yeah… ever since the last Scarecrow attack, he's been dialing down on the paranoia and started seeing Black Canary for therapy. It's a slow process, but it's working so far," revealed Robin.
"Ah, I've encountered that man once when he attempted to sell his fear toxins to Black Manta; he is not a foe to be underestimated. (shakes head) Speaking of Black Manta; given his human origins, the other and last rule is that either as a group or individually, you will be escorted by Aqualad or an appointed member of the Council." understood Aquaman.
"Aw, even down here, we can't get away from someone babysitting us," whined Robin.
"We're guests, Robin. Show some respect." scolded Ocean Charge Red. Chuckling, Aquaman started leading them to his kingdom.
"The Queen and I are hosting an intimate dinner tonight. Will you attend?" asked Aquaman. While most of the Team nodded out of respect, his sidekick hesitated.
"Your Majesty, there is… someone special I was hoping to see today," blushed Kaldur. Before Robin could make a teasing remark, Artemis punched his arm. Ocean Charge Red nodded to the archer in gratitude.
"You may bring a friend." chuckled Aquaman.
"Thank you, My King." bowed Kaldur.
"Until tonight." With that, the veteran and Team went their separate ways; Aquaman to the royal chambers and Kaldur leading his teammates into the city, giving them an impromptu tour of the place. As the Atlantean did, he swept his eyes across Atlantis. How long had it been since he'd been back? It had only been six months since his last visit, yet it felt like it had been years since he'd swam over the bright lights of Poseidonis, navigated the crowded shops of the bazaar, and listened to the song of the sirens. And the sea… while the second-in-command would often go for a swim along the ocean that bordered the cities, the feel of the water was nothing compared to that of Atlantis. Maybe it was the lack of any pollutants or fuel residue, the lack of ships in the water, the ocean depths… or maybe it was just the fact that this was his true home, but breathing in the seawater of Atlantis made him feel more content than he had in months. His true home… was it really Atlantis he had missed, or someone he had left behind? Perhaps Batman had been more right than even he knew, something Kaldur was quickly realizing as he led his teammates to the Conservatory of Sorcery. He passed several students; some he recognized, such as the gifted mermaid Lori Lemaris, but there were others he didn't recognize, such as a boy from one of the more amphibious subspecies practicing manipulating a snake made of water.
"It truly has been a while…" mumbled Kaldur. Unnoticed by him, his teammates were getting stares and pointed fingers from the residents. They schooled their face; Josh having told them of his first experiences on different planets to prepare for this.
"Kaldur!" They turned to see what appeared to be an anthropomorphic squid swimming towards him, clad in a black/navy tunic with bright blue markings. Ocean Charge Red held a wince, almost reminded of Vilgax the Conqueror.
"Topo, is that you?" smiled Kaldur.
"(nods) You know, I almost didn't expect to see you again, what with all the amazing adventures you're having on the surface! (notices Team members) Are these your friends from the surface?" asked Topo excitedly.
"Hel~lo, Topo. You can call me M'gann M'orzz or Miss Martian!" greeted the Martian, shaking Topo's hand.
"Call me Superboy." nodded the clone, his lips twitching upward.
"Robin of Gotham." smiled the Boy Wonder.
"Artemis, the team's resident archer." greeted the archer.
"DNA Blue; the newest addition to Kaldur's circle." giggled the Blue Ranger.
"In this suit, I'm Ocean Charge Red. I'm the group leader while Kaldur's the second-in-command." finished the leader.
"Wow, people from beyond the surface; I've never thought I meet one, much less two of you. (Miss Martian and Superboy smile) And Robin, as in the apprentice that inspired King Orin to take his own?" asked Topo.
"I didn't know that." gawked Robin.
"I withheld the information to prevent the inflation of your ego," revealed Kaldur. Robin slumped. Yeah, that sounds like something that would've happened in the early days.
"And Artemis, as in the Goddess of the Hunt?" awed Topo.
"I'm not the actual goddess; I'm just named after her." defused the archer.
"And the Power Ranger; tales of you defeating Eel and Marine Marauder have echoed down here for weeks." finished Topo.
"I didn't do it alone," said Ocean Charge Red humbly. The octopus-like Atlantean is starting to remind him of how Ben described Jimmy Jones to him.
"Oh, I've gotta show you something. C'mon!" beckoned Topo. The Team followed him over to what looked like a mural of Aquaman fighting a man in a purple fish-like suit covering most of his body with glowing red eyes.
"Who's that?" asked Artemis. Topo held up a hand.
"I've been working on this ever since you left. It's not quite finished yet, but it's almost there!" Toppo took a deep breath and recited a spell, and the Team watched as the mural came to life, telling the story of how Kaldur and Garth (a black-haired, purple-eyed Atlantean) had saved Aquaman from the villain called Ocean-Master. That had been the day Kaldur's life had changed forever, as that convinced the king to extend an offer of apprenticeship to the two young sorcerers. Garth had declined to remain in Atlantis, but Kaldur had leaped at the opportunity, becoming Aqualad and joining his king on the surface.
"Whoa…" awed the Team at witnessing a depiction of their SIC's origin. Kaldur couldn't help but smile as he remembered the proudest moment of his life, so deep in thought he accidentally ignored Toppo.
"So uh, what do you think?" asked Topo, stirring Kaldur out of his thoughts.
"It's amazing!" cheered Miss Martian before the SIC could answer.
"It's almost like a planetarium!" added Robin. Secretly, he's extra glad that Wally isn't here or the speedster might start a war with his denial of magic.
"Can't wait for the finished version," admitted Conner, arms folded.
"They are all correct; you have improved tremendously since I have last seen you." smiled Kaldur.
"T—thank you, everyone." nodded Topo, blushing after every compliment.
"If you ever want a job on the surface, I'd think you make a killing in the movie business." smiled Artemis. Topo paled before Kaldur placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It is an expression; she means your work would be popular in that particular industry. (Topo sighs in relief) Also… do you know where I can find Tula?" asked Kaldur. His teammates get confused at the name.
'Who?'
"Oh, she's up in the roof, with Garth," answered Topo, nodding in the direction. Nodding in thanks, Kaldur swam up, followed by his teammates. They eventually see the end of a battle between Garth and a yellow-clad girl with short red hair and aquamarine eyes overseen by a green-eyed woman with long red hair clad in a royal green dress and a gold tiara.
'Now I'm really glad Wally isn't here.' sighed Robin; if it wasn't the denial of magic, the speedster would make moves on the queen. Once the girl caught sight of them (particularly Kaldur), she swam up to them, hugging the SIC.
"Kaldur!"
"Tula, Garth! It is good to see you. (turns to the teacher) Apologies, my Queen. I did not mean to interrupt." apologized the sidekick.
"It is fine, Kaldur. I have another class to teach anyway. Why don't you three use the opportunity to catch up and make new friends?" beckoned the queen before swimming off and leaving the teens alone. After a round of introductions, Garth clapped Kaldur on the shoulder.
"It is good to see you, Kaldur. Clearly, surface life agrees with you," noted Garth. Unlike him, Kaldur's gained much more muscle since their last meeting. He would've been envious if it wasn't for a certain detail.
"It has not been that long since I've been here. It's only been—" started Kaldur before syncing with Garth. "Six months,"
"Six months?! Kaldur, where have you been living this whole time?!" gasped Miss Martian, the Team looking at their Atlantean teammate in surprise. The SIC shifted his eyes around.
"I… have been living with my King on the surface," answered Kaldur.
"Then why did you never visit? It's not like the Team had a 'no going home' policy." added Ocean Charge Red.
"I… have been so busy with my duties as Aqualad that I neglected the time." sighed Kaldur.
"Join the club," muttered Robin. The Team exchanged glances, taking mental notes to make time for their civilian lives.
"Anyway, then I shall have to make up for lost time. Tula, the Royal Family has invited me to dinner tonight at the Royal Palace. Would you like to accompany me? (Tula and Garth exchange a glance) I am sorry, Garth. Were I able to invite you, I—" realized Kaldur.
"I made my choice long ago, just as you made yours," assured Garth. Tula cleared her throat.
"I hate to cut this short, Kaldur, but Garth and I have another class we must attend." notified the redhead.
"Of course. Will I see you tonight?" nodded Kaldur, and she looked unsure for a moment.
"…I will," hesitated Tula. The two swam off, leaving the Team alone.
"…Huh." blinked Robin.
"What?" asked Artemis.
"Gotta admit, I thought Kaldur was gay all these years," confessed Robin bluntly, getting wide-eyed stares.
"Wh—Why would you assume that?!" blushed the Atlantean.
"Dude, every time Wally tries to use you for a wingman, you never showed any kind of interest in the girls he tried flirting with," answered Robin.
"That does not mean—"
"And when he showed off his Playboy magazines, you didn't even so much as flinch when he shoved them into your face," added Robin.
"He has what?!" growled Ocean Charge Red, a malicious red aura flaring from his body. Fear crept through his teammates' bodies except for his sister, who sighed and shook her head instead.
'Wally, it was nice knowing you.'
(Hours later, Royal Chambers)
"…and then Diana takes the missile, slams it in front of Luthor's mech, and goes 'I think you dropped this.'" recalled Arthur, getting laughs from the table. "I swear, I've never seen anyone turn that pale before."
"You've obviously never met Mr. Freeze." drawled Robin, biting into his food. Fortunately for the airbreathers, a select few Atlanteans conjured air bubbles for them so they could enjoy the dinner. The only ones lacking are Miss Martian and the Rangers, the latter two with their helmets removed.
"Which one?" quirked Artemis.
"There are multiple?" frowned Josh. The only one he knows of is Victor Fries; one of the very few Gotham rogues he could sympathize with.
"Only two; the original is cured, reformed, and living with his cured wife on parole, and the second one's a theme-park mogul that copied his mutation for immortality," explained Robin. Josh frowned, having faced a small number of immortal enemies, and knowing the cons of such a thing.
"With every story you tell, I become more and more convinced that the surface world is simply an elaborate carnival," shook Orm; Arthur's dark-haired younger half-brother garbed in a red tunic. Josh doesn't know why, but his gut's telling him that something's off about the younger prince.
"This is amazing!" chirped Miss Martian, eating her second plate.
"I had no idea Atlantis food is this good." squealed Jasmine, eating the desert. Unlike her brother, she has a large sweet tooth. Superboy had to resist staring at the frosting on Jasmine's lips, focusing on his plate of Atlantean meat.
"(chuckles) If you think our dining is good, then you should hear about our scientists. Speaking of which, the echinoderm we found…" rambled Orm. As he did so, Kaldur resisted the urge to inform Tula of his decision for a few reasons; one of which is Conner and Jasmine's superhearing. Another is the fact that his tea— no, his friends came to support him. While he's grateful for it, a part of him is also frustrated because it is not helping with his decision on where to stay. Struggling with these thoughts, he was out of it until his king tapped his glass with a fork.
"Everyone, I have an announcement to make." said the Leaguer. Mera stood up beside him.
"The Gods have smiled upon us. I am with child," announced Mera, rubbing her stomach. Tula broke into a smile.
"That is wonderful news!" She exclaimed, swimming over to wrap her teacher in a hug. Squealing, Miss Martian and Jasmine joined the hug. Rolling her eyes, Artemis looked away… hiding her trembling arms.
"Congratulations! (swims to and shakes Arthur's hand) A heir to the throne at last!" cheered Kaldur.
*SMASH!*
Kaldur's head met the seafloor. Almost the whole table became wide-eyed.
"Did you forget who else is an heir to the throne?!" scowled Josh, gesturing to Orm. For split seconds, the Ranger could've sworn he saw hatred, then surprise, and finally, gratitude in the prince's eyes. Realizing his folly, Kaldur recovered, rubbing his head.
"You are right. I apologize, Prince Orm. (bows) I did not mean—" fumbled Kaldur.
"No fear Kaldur. No one can be more thrilled at this news than I!" waved Orm, giving his half-brother a man-hug. Sighing in relief, Kaldur kept rubbing where Josh struck him.
'I see that Josh is not 'all bark and no bite' as some surface dwellers would day.'
"Thank you, brother. (returns hug) Thanks to you all!" laughed Arthur. All around them, the attendants and palace guards who had heard the news also reveled in the announcement. The news of a child was a show of good fortune no matter the culture and Atlantean culture was no different; no doubt, several bouts of festivities would spring up in the days to come once word got around. Well, festivities and… other such machinations that came with being royalty. Suddenly, Arthur's belt emblem beeped.
"Superman to Aquaman. League emergency in Tokyo Bay. Rendezvous at the Watch Tower." informed the Kryptonian hero.
"(sighs) Time to return to the carnival… (taps belt) Understood. I'm on my way." informed Aquaman before cutting off. He gestured for Kaldur and Josh to follow him as they exited the dining hall. The Ranger puts his helmet back on.
"Congratulations, my King. This is truly a momentous occasion," repeated Kaldur.
"Thank you, Kaldur. (frowns) Batman has informed me of your dilemma," informed Aquaman.
"…Ah. I wondered when this would come up…" sighed Kaldur.
"Trust me, Kaldur, I and several Leaguers know from personal experience what it is like to live there and love our homes," stated Aquaman as they approached the Zeta Tube.
"And several Plumbers to boot," added Ocean Charge Red.
"How do you deal with it? How do you know where to go? What to choose?" asked Kaldur.
"Even I do not know the answer to that." sighed Aquaman, activating the Tube.
Recognized: Aquaman, 06.
"I trust you to make the right decision. We will talk more when I return." And with that, Aquaman vanished into the light, leaving the Teammates alone.
"What about you Josh? Until Jasmine joined the Team, you must have felt similar to me," asked Kaldur.
"Given that Jasmine was my only link home after I got my powers, that's true. In my approach, I think of the potential long-term effects of this job," offered Ocean Charge Red.
"Would you care to elaborate?" hummed Kaldur.
"Sure. (swims back with Kaldur) For example, remember our Santa Prisca mission? (Kaldur nods) Think of that Ocean-Master guy dosed with that Kobra-Venom we found." started Ocean Charge Red. Kaldur paled. That battle was quite difficult, even with two-on-one against the rogue Atlantean. If the villain or like-minded people had that formula in their veins…
"Chaos would ensue." While he doubts Ocean-Master would try to get it considering how prideful he is, the scenario isn't impossible.
"Maybe. Another example would be Amazo; if Ivo was obsessed with the android getting powers of the whole League, what'd you think he has it do to get Aquaman's?" asked the Ranger.
"A city-wide hostage situation, especially with the android's heat-vision." frowned Kaldur.
"There's a quote one of my greatest allies told me in one of our few encounters he got from his grandfather; 'If you stop a battle, you prevent a war'. War may be pushing it, but the sentiment's there." advised Ocean Charge Red. The words buzzed in the SIC's mind.
'Stop a battle, prevent a war,'
(Minutes later, Poseidonis)
"Thisn't gonna be good," sighed DNA Blue, the Team watching Kaldur talk to Tula at a garden out of hearing range.
"What are you talking about?" asked Artemis; her and others with their helmets back on.
"Tula's already in a relationship… with Garth," revealed DNA Blue. This surprised her teammates.
"How'd you know?!" gawked Robin.
"I'm an actress, Boy Wonder. I can see the signs," answered DNA Blue.
"You're right, this is not gonna end well." winced Miss Martian. Worried, Artemis swam to her leader's sister.
"Any chance your brother's single?" hoped the archer.
"He had a girlfriend (Miss Martian and Artemis wince) But from the letters he sent, she died several months ago…" revealed DNA Blue sadly. Her teammates exchanged looks, remembering what their leader told them during the Fog mission. Without a doubt in their mind, they're both the same person.
"Did he ever tell you how it happened?" asked Superboy, curious.
"If you're talking about the cover story, then it's a mugging gone wrong. If you want the truth… I don't have it." slumped DNA Blue. Right after it seemed Kaldur was told the news, explosions rocked throughout the underwater city.
"Oh my god…" gasped Miss Martian.
"Robin." One word was all that was needed for the Boy Wonder to check his comms.
"That's a negative; communication with the surface is down." frowned Robin.
"If that's the case, then we're the only line of defense this city's got. Let's go, Team!" ordered Ocean Charge Red, swimming into the chaos. The Team followed, with Aqualad and Tula noticing a moment later and pursuing. Finding those responsible to be black-armored warriors with red highlights (Aqualad identified them as Manta Troopers), they took them down as they went. Fortunately for the non-powered, their gear was also specialized for underwater combat, so they had almost no trouble keeping up with their teammates. They eventually reached the Conservatory, where they found Queen Mera, Prince Orm, and several palace guards doing combat against a squad of Troopers and…
"So this is what qualifies as this world's queen of Atlantis?" Leading them is an anthropomorphic flounder in a blue hazmat suit with one eye outside the helmet.
(Design is owned by protoman17)
"Who the heck is the fishy Captain Atom knockoff?" asked Artemis, bewildered. Robin checked his glove computer, thankful that the villain files were accessible offline.
"Got something from the MVCDB—"
"The what?" blinked Tula.
"The multiversal criminal database; something I prepped after our tussle with Eighteight," explained Ocean Charge Red.
"Good thing too. That's Atomic Flounder; a criminal from a different Earth that the Ranger's friend occasionally visits. He's got his powers from a nuclear experiment gone wrong." started Robin.
"It had to be an experiment gone wrong." groaned Artemis.
"From what little is known about him, the guy's more like Atomic Skull than Captain Atom in terms of power set," noted Robin.
"Good thing I'm radiation-proof," smirked Superboy.
"Unfortunately, the rest of us have no protection against radiation." frowned Aqualad.
"But we do… kinda," noted DNA Blue, gesturing to herself and her brother. They, along with Superboy, went in, heading towards Atomic Flounder while the rest started dealing with the Troopers.
~Battle Song: Believe in Myself by Natewantstobattle~
"Ah, if it isn't this world's Barnacle Boy?" laughed the flounder when noticing Aqualad before belching a radiation geyser.
"Barnacle Boy?!" gasped Aqualad, dodging the geyser and changing targets.
"Likely a hero in his world. Ocean Lance!" Ocean Charge Red brought out a white, double-sided, gold/navy-bladed staff that resembles the Power Lance.
"Don't leave me out of this! DNA Buster!" DNA Blue took out her sidearm; it had a white handle and base with two blocks on the top. One is red with an Eagle, Shark, and Lion image; the other is blue with a Tiger and Elephant image. A square-shaped barrel came out of the blue block before block-shaped energy blasts came out of it and hit Atomic Flounder. Much to their surprise, they were absorbed and the radioactive villain gained some bulk.
"Thanks for the snack, 'hero'." laughed Atomic Flounder, his body glowing toxic green.
"Energy absorption… That's a new one." hissed Ocean Charge Red, slashing at Atomic Flounder with his Lance. Grunting in pain, the villain threw a punch that Superboy swooped in to catch. Growling, Atomic Flounder opened his mouth to belch another blast… only for Superboy to thrust a palm onto his lower jaw.
"Don't you know it's rude to burp in public?" grinned Superboy before delivering a punch to his gut. At the same time, Ocean Charge Red thrusts his Lance at the villain's face. These attacks, plus the buildup of energy from the attempted blast, led to an explosion between them that launched Atomic Flounder into the ocean floor.
~Pause Song~
"Tula!" Looking, everyone sees Garth approaching his girlfriend. Noticing eyes off him, and barely conscious, Atomic Flounder stayed awake to fire one last nuclear belch at the purple-eyed Atlantean… which almost went unnoticed.
"Garth, look out!" Tula barely managed to shove him to the side before getting hit square in the chest by the belch.
"Tula, no!" cried out Aqualad. Below them, Atomic Flounder's eyes closed, unconscious. Nearing the villain, Ocean Charge Red restrained him with energy cuffs that prevented absorption. Double-checking, he approached his allies, seeing Garth clutch Tula close to his chest.
"Is she—?"
"No, she is breathing. I… I do not believe her injuries are life-threatening." Garth reassured Aqualad. Looking over the redhead Atlantean, Robin sighed in relief at spotting no abnormalities; having read that Atomic Flounder can mutate others. The Queen and Prince approached the group, having finished the last of the Troopers.
"Surface communications are down," reported Prince Orm, standing between his sister-in-law and the teens, pistol at the ready. "We cannot reach King Orin! Summon more troops to the palace—"
"—The palace was not the only target. I witnessed explosions in sectors 1, 2, 3, and 5," interjected Garth.
"If Atomic Flounder is any indication, the Troopers in those sectors might have their own leaders," noted Ocean Charge Red. The others nodded in agreement before curiosity came to the Boy Wonder.
"What's at 4 and 6?" questioned Robin.
"We do not have a designated sixth or above sector. As for sector 4… (eyes widen) The science center!" realized Aqualad.
"Where your giant starfish is located?" recalled Artemis, remembering the dinner details.
"Correct, archer. (nods) This is but a diversion. (looks over burning city) But with the King away, I must protect the Queen and the heir." frowned Orm.
"I need no protection! Go!" retorted Mera.
"Your Highness, let my team and I protect the city in your place." offered Ocean Charge Red.
"I don't doubt your power, but if there are more surprises like Atomic Flounder, you need backup," added Artemis. Mera gave paused. She hasn't considered that.
"They are right, my Queen. This battle is ours!" nodded Aqualad, gesturing to his teammates.
"And mine!" nodded Garth.
"…Your place is with Tula." retorted Aqualad, his voice subconsciously cold/bitter. Garth's face turned surprised. Ocean Charge Red cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention and preventing an argument from occurring.
"Alright, time for a battle plan. (everyone gets serious) Given that you call them 'Manta Troopers', I'm guessing Black Manta is in charge of these crooks? (Atlanteans nod) In that case, Aqualad, Garth, you're with me; we'll be heading to the center where he'll most likely be. (they share uneasy glances) Sister, along with Prince Orm, you'll be safeguarding both the Queen and Tula. (DNA Blue pouts and folds her arms) The rest takes a sector each; rescue anyone in trouble, and take care of any enemies in your areas. Just because Black Manta is after the echinoderm doesn't mean his people are likely to have a similar agenda." ordered Ocean Charge Red. His teammates and Garth nod, with the royals looking at him, impressed.
'The way he's taking charge… it's almost as if he's a king himself.'
(Poseidonis Science Center)
Black Manta, a man in armor more advanced than his Troopers with a manta-shaped helmet and large red eyepieces, watched as his troopers finished securing the remainder of the ropes and clips to the iceberg, and saw the two soldiers return from patrol and began inspecting the ropes fastened to the ice. Not unusual in and of itself… had it not been for something he kept from his Troopers about their armor's security.
~Continue Song~
"Impressive, is it not… Aqualad?" Both troopers immediately spun around and opened fire, only for Manta's optic laser blasts to destroy both weapons. The explosion knocked them back. Aqualad removed his helmet and activated his water bearers to block two blasts with water swords. Manta fired again, and Aqualad converted one of the swords into a lasso like Wonder Woman's just in time to grab a soldier and use him as a shield.
'Thank you Jasmine for the suggestion.'
"Such a waste. Do you truly have no ambition beyond serving that fool of a king?" laughed Black Manta.
"If it is foolish to devote my life to others, then I would rather die a fool than live as a monster." glared Aqualad.
"Then I will kill you just like the others, starting with him!" bellowed Manta, firing a blast at Garth, who was still struggling with his helmet. Aqualad pulled him behind a pillar just before the explosion destroyed the wall behind his friend, and shoved Garth against the pillar.
"Get your head in the game, Garth!" ordered the SIC, the irony of it not lost on him, and he resumed the battle, using his water bearers against Manta's soldiers. Garth took a deep breath and began to focus, his eyes glowing blue as he held his hands together.
"I summon the power of the Tempest!" A blue ball of energy began to form in Garth's hands. Garth emerged from behind the pillar and threw it at the invaders, the ball exploding into a vortex that started to tear through the chamber, sucking up any troopers that got in its way. Black Manta narrowed his eyes before noticing…
"Where did the package go?!" growled the villain, looking around. His eyes eventually caught the iceberg (or what was left of it) in the mouth of a large red, mechanical shark with smoke-colored lenses and armed with black beam cannons and torpedos.
(A/N: Think 1983 Warshark Zoid, but red)
"NO!" Black Manta prepared to chase the Zord, but Aqualad interfered with a water arrow.
"Your battle is with me," smirked Aqualad, creating two water Power Swords. Growling, Black Manta extended his wrist blades and engaged in combat, but not before delivering words to his Troopers.
"Pursue package in Manta-Flyer! Capture at all costs!" Nodding, several went into a black submarine/fighter jet hybrid before chasing. Frowning, Aqualad tapped his comms while holding off against a wrist blade.
"Aqualad to Ocean Charge Red, you are being followed by Troopers in Manta's ship." warned the hero.
"Thanks for the warning." Driving the Red Shark Ocean Zord with submarine-like controls, the Ranger nodded. Spotting the Flyer in his rearview, he piloted the Zord to a nearby canyon. As he expected, it followed him in. With a few maneuvers, the Ocean Zord eventually lost the Flyer.
"Where did it go?" asked a Trooper, the Flyer's headlights activating. Behind them, the Shark Zord descended, cannons lighting up.
"Shark Cannons, Fire!" Red energy beams were launched and struck one of the Flyer's wings, forcing it to dive. Panicked, the Troopers evacuated it and then swam away.
"Cowards!" growled Black Manta before getting slashed by a water Nebula Spear.
"No, smart." taunted Aqualad. It was then that the villain noticed the Zord swimming towards him. Feeling outmatched by the machine, he tapped his gauntlet. His optics flashed very brightly, blinding Aqualad, Garth, and Ocean Charge Red, who spun the Zord almost wildly to prevent the villain from stealing the iceberg. When their eyes healed, Black Manta was nowhere in sight.
~End Song~
"Gone!" growled Ocean Charge Red, the Zord steadying itself and lowering the iceberg back to the center.
"Do not worry, Omni-Ranger. We shall capture him in our next encounter," assured Aqualad. Coming out of the Zord, Ocean Charge Red sighed before the machine was dismissed.
"You have interesting friends, Kaldur." smiled Garth. His friend smiled back.
"Yes, I do."
(Royal Palace, the next day)
"Our city was attacked, and our forces were ravaged, but at the end of it all, Atlantis still stands," said Aquaman, looking over his family, the Team, and Kaldur's friends. Unlike them, his uniform has rips and tears from a battle the previous day. If it wasn't for Zatara's healing spell, he would've had to stay at the Watchtower infirmary. At the moment, he only requires the Trident of Poseidon as a crutch until he completely recovers.
(A/N: It is not Ocean-Master's Trident of Neptune. It's a completely different artifact)
"But not unscathed." sighed DNA Blue, looking at an Atlantean hospital with patients getting rushed in… and a morgue getting filled.
"It is not your fault, young one. If anyone is to blame, it is Black Manta and his associates. (shakes head) Also, as king, I thank you for protecting our home to the best of your ability. And as a man, I thank you for protecting what is most important to me." congratulated the King, placing his hands on Mera's stomach.
"Speaking of his associates, do you have any idea why they allied with Black Manta?" asked Kaldur to his leader. Said associates being Atomic Flounder, Sinister Slug (a human adult-sized gray sea slug with red eyes and wears a green suit with a purple collar and a golden triangle on it), Jumbo Shrimp (a muscular red anthropomorphic shrimp that wears a green ski mask and belt, along with a white shirt), the Moth (a small muscular anthropomorphic moth in a light tan/pale green suit that Robin compared to Killer Moth's… and found his voice vaguely familiar), and finally, Kelp Thing (a muscular adult man in a green suit of various shades and snail-like eyestalks).
"From what I got, they thought without 'that troublesome sponge and friends' here, they figured they'd raid this place as a warm-up for taking over their version of Atlantis," answered Superboy. Aquaman frowned, remembering the Crime Syndicate. He was one of the very few Leaguers at the time that hadn't faced their counterparts. He doesn't know if he should find that relieving or unsatisfying.
"I don't know whether to find that offensive or flattering." sighed Mera. She and Orm have been told about the Crime Syndicate by the husband. They felt curious, yet dreadful, at the thought of meeting their counterparts from that Earth.
"In the meantime, I think you should take this. (gestures to iceberg) It requires further study, but with Atlantis in the state that it is in and the science center in ruins…" sighed Orm.
"It will not be safe here. (nods) I will contact Star Labs, and we will make arrangements for it. (looks at Kaldur) Have you… made your decision?" asked Aquaman. Eyes widened, Kaldur looked at his teammates… and saw saddened looks from most of them.
"You knew?"
"I thought we'd spend our last day as a team together." smiled Miss Martian sadly.
"Figured we'd see you go out with a bang." shrugged Superboy.
"Martian spoke for us all." nodded Robin.
"I might've known you for a little while, but I'll cherish our time together," admitted DNA Blue. Artemis nodded in agreement.
'Everyone…' Looking at his team—no, his second family, Kaldur felt a surge of emotions go through him. At first, with the revelation of Tula and Garth's relationship, he felt bitter and, dare he say it, vengeful, against the surface for keeping him from his love. But after everything today, especially with the Team supporting him and not holding his homesickness against him, those negative feelings were replaced with positive ones. At this moment, he never felt more sure of his decision.
"I appreciate the sentiment… but I am not leaving this Team anytime soon." smiled Ka—Aqualad. Cheers and other positive responses came, including Miss Martian hugging him while Robin gave him a high-five. Smiling at the sight, Aquaman nodded before swimming off with his family.
"You all go ahead. I'll stay and bring the specimen to Star Labs," ordered Ocean Charge Red, bringing out his Zord. Nodding, the Team began to approach the Zeta Tube, only for a certain couple to swim ahead.
"Kaldur, I… that is, we…" frowned Tula, attempting to apologize. Aqualad only put a hand on both their shoulders.
"If I was truly upset that you found happiness with each other, then I could not call myself your friend," assured Aqualad. Tula smiled. The three friends shared a hug, while most of the Team entered the Tube, sensing a moment.
Recognized: Robin, B—01. Miss Martian, B—04, Superboy, B—05. Artemis, B—07. DNA Blue, B—08.
Before following his teammates, Aqualad looked at Garth.
"Have you ever wondered what it would have been like had I remained here, and you had become Aqualad?" asked Aqualad. In another life, Garth would've denied it in an attempt not to rub salt in the wound, but after everything the surface-dwellers did, he couldn't help but be honest.
"Truthfully, there were moments." nodded Garth. Aqualad smiled in appreciation and nodded.
"As have I. Perhaps one day, we will meet counterparts that went through that and see what has become of the decision." assumed Aqualad. Garth chuckles.
"Perhaps someday."
(Mount Justice)
Returning and demorphing, Josh wandered the halls… with the power out for some reason. Cautious, Josh summoned a DNA Buster and watched his step. Eventually entering the main area…
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
Jumping, it took all of Josh's will not to pull the trigger when the lights came on and he was greeted by the Team (ugh, including Wally, who's wearing a power-inhibiting headband), Zatanna, Zatara, and most of his Ranger allies. Everyone has party hats on and a few have blowers. In the center of the room is a table with a cake on it, decorated in layers of red, blue, yellow, green, and pink frosting with lightning-bolt patterns on top. A pair of candles stick on top, modeled after numbers 1 and 7. Gratitude, happiness, and a flush of other emotions coursed through Josh's veins. At random, he expressed one.
"I've been gone for barely an hour, how did you have time to set this up?" asked the leader.
"You have us to thank for that!" chimed Cruise.
"While you were on your otherworldly mission, we told everyone about your upcoming milestone and made plans in advance," revealed Steel.
"Your trip below gave us plenty of time to set all this up!" cheered Titana. With a snap of his fingers, Zatara lit up the candles.
"One more year until adulthood… where has all the time gone?!" cried Alpha 5; his very first Ranger ally. The red/blue/gold robot took out a handkerchief and blew into it in sorrow. Beside him, Circuit (a navy mechanical owl), RIC (a black/white mechanical wolf), Tensou (a rover-like robot), Navi, Redbot (a red Zord-like robot), Smash, Leonel (a yellow lion-like Zordroid with black dreadlock-like cables), and Avird (a red/white mechanical bird) followed suite, tears escaping their eyes.
"Get ahold of yourselves!" shouted Tyrex; a red Zordroid with dinosaur features. Shaking his head with some allies at their antics, Josh neared the cake. He can smell the strawberry with vanilla filling underneath the multicolored frosting. Once he got close enough, the others began singing the "Happy Birthday" song. Closing his eyes, Josh relished the moment and contemplated on his birthday wish. Once the song ended, he blew out the candles.
'I wish… for a world where everyone gets the happiness they deserve.'
Psycho-Pawn Database (origin, gender, theme, weapon, element)
Freezadon: Canonically the first Psycho-Pawn Josh has ever faced, created by Psycho White and Blue to contain Clayface. Male. Arctic version of Fossilador. None. Ice
Arsonyx: A Psycho-Pawn exclusive to this universe, created by Psycho Red and Black as a field test. Male. Monstrous version of Heatblast. None. Fire/Earth
Dick: Really, his birthday's on August 28?
Kaldur: What is wrong with that day?
Wally: It was the same day the Power Rangers franchise started in 1993.
Conner: Captain America was born on July 4 and nobody makes a fuss with him about it.
Dick: True.
Omarnosian10: Before anybody says anything, the PPD part is only exclusive to stories with the Psycho Society as major antagonists. And in case anyone's wondering, here are what I believe to be the best colors for each member; future or otherwise.
Robin: Blue (because of his future role as Nightwing)
Kid Flash: White (because of his Flash suit having that instead of yellow)
Aqualad: Red
Superboy: Black
Miss Martian: Pink (not because of her White Martian form, but because of her personality)
Artemis: Yellow (because of similarities with Trini Kwan and Gia Moran)
Jinx: Purple
Zatanna: Purple
Red Arrow: Crimson
Rocket: Navy
Omarnosian10: The Justice League's won't be revealed for a while.
Dick: Good. Also, why did you bring Spongebob villains into the story?
Omarnosian10: A sorta callback to the very first Spongebob Squarepants game I played; The Yellow Avenger.
Artemis: Isn't that for PSP and DS?
Omarnosian10: I got it for the former. And before you complain about your scuba suit Artemis, I tried looking up variations of Green Arrow scuba suits for inspiration and found nothing. If I included Wally, it likely would've been similar.
Kaldur: I appreciate you bringing them to Atlantis, but what of—
Omarnosian10: Don't worry, it'll be an offscreen thing and referenced.
Kaldur: Thank Poseidon.
Wally: Will we be seeing any more of the Spongebob villains?
Omarnosian10: Debatable. That's all for now. SMOKEBOMB!