𝙼𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚎, 𝚁𝚑𝚘𝚍𝚎 𝙸𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍
𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟻𝚝𝚑, 𝟷𝟿:𝟺𝟽 𝙴𝙳𝚃

Staring down at my hands and letting my gaze trail up my arms and legs, I twisted them back and forth to see new angles of the costume I wore. My mirror was in front of me, but it couldn't seem to capture the magic of the real thing in my eyes.

We were long since overdue for a new costume, and I had to say this one was totally worth the wait. It fit right. It seemed like the old one just never existed at all. Like this one had been there in its place the whole time. Or, I guess a better way to put it was that the other costume was just a placeholder for this one.

A black body suit that clung tightly to the skin with extra padding to places like the back of my legs and under my arms where veins and muscle tissue were. A short, long-sleeved hunting jacket colored in a tan beige paired nicely with the black combat boots that kept my feet comfy. Red lines ran down the suit like veins and almost glowed. The areas they sectioned off were a darker black. Fingerless gloves covered my hands and Robin's old silver utility belt hugged my waist nicely. Filled to the brim with standard equipment from the Batcave.

The last thing of note was indeed the most beautiful and impressive. The symbol on my chest. Made out of those same red lines was a mechanical heart of sorts, with different branching-off patterns that almost made it seem like it was cut in half. It had the initials FS, for Failsafe.

It was perfect.

I was absolutely giddy. I found myself bouncing around and the widest smile broke its way out onto my face. I had to show this off to Robin. He's going to love it!

I raced out of the room and down the hall quickly, searching every room I could think he would be in. The others were still out shopping, I think, so he had to be around here somewhere. He wasn't in the kitchen or living room, not in the lobby either. I yelled into the boy's locker room to see if he was in there. Nope.

"Robin! Robin!" I hollered down the halls, going to check the gym next. And if he wasn't in there, the pool.

I was just about to turn the corner down the hallway with the gym when a figure around my height came out of the shadows. I screamed, and instinctively my hand rose up to slap the figure and curled into myself defensively. The figure grabbed my hand, not rough and fast, but soft and with care.

My eyes that had screwed shut opened fast and wide and breathlessly I cursed at them, "I..! You, Dick!"

The person I had been searching for, Robin, was right in front of me. Sunglasses adorned his frowning face as he slowly let go of my hand. He was wearing his regular clothes, this time in a red hoodie and darker jeans. His hair swept over his forehead, covering his eyebrows. But by the way, his skin creased, I could tell he'd raised them. Clearly unimpressed with me.

I didn't care though.

"Why are you yelling? I'm right here. And not so loud," He hissed, looking around before continuing. "I know it can be mistaken for a swear, but you did use my name."

I lifted up my arms and felt the excited smile return to my face. "Robin! Look! Isn't it great? I love it! Dontcha just love it?!"

I modeled the outfit for him, twisting around so he could see the sides and stuff as he observed me.

"I feel like a real hero now. With a suit and a secret identity." I lifted up my hands to make circles around my face, imitating a mask. I saw a smile grace my younger friend's face.

"It looks good. Are you going to add a mask?" At the question I lowered my hands and straightened up, shaking my head. "Nah, I don't really think I'm a mask person."

I waved it off, "I don't think it suits me, personally."

He nodded in acknowledgment. I wonder if he thought the same way about me. I could ask, but honestly, the answer didn't really matter.

"It suits you. I'm glad you like it so much." He offered, scanning the outfit again. I pouted, crossing my arms.

"I'm asking for your opinion, not mine," I told him, smacking the side of his arm. He shifted in place, before answering me.

"Uh, okay. Well, I already told you I liked it. What else am I supposed to say?" His voice cracked and his hand shot up to cover his mouth. There was the faintest dusting of blush over his face. I found that funny, who would be so embarrassed over a voice crack? Dork.

"No, you didn't," I argued.

"I told you I thought it looked good, didn't I?" He shot back, baffled. I snickered, it was fun to talk to Robin. And even more fun to tease him. His eyebrow quirked up and the blush on his face got darker. "...Are you wearing the belt I gave you?"

Oh, I know what this is. I felt an evil smile to match my devious spirit descend upon me as I thought to tease the poor lad. I shot out my leg and showed him my combat boots. "I  thought it just completed the look. Goes great with the silver on my boots."

His gaze shot down to look at what I was pointing out before I shoved my face close to his. "It's not a problem I'm wearing the belt you gave me, right? Or is the baby bird too embarrassed to have a girl wearing his things? Should I show you my ankles next?"

He pushed me away in embarrassment, my intended effect. "Oh, shove off, (Y/n). You're the worst."

I giggled evilly, "Sorry Rob, but maybe you should try not to be so easy to mess with."

"Why do you always have to turn happy moments into the tormenting Robin parade?" He huffed, crossing his arms. But he wasn't really mad.

"Because that's fun, and happy, for me. And Barbara." I paused for a moment. "And probably Wally too."

"Wowie,  Robin," I gasped, hands shooting up to the sides of my face, "Do all your friends hate you?!"

Despite his best effort not to be phased by it, Robin's lips quirked and he let out a snort. I laughed, and my friend joined in after telling me to, "Shut up."

As I let out my laughter, I found my breath being taken out of my throat, fast. Like lightning. It left my esophagus feeling dry and rough. I tried to inhale again, sharply, but nothing came into my lungs.

An immeasurable pain racked my chest and I raised my hands up to tightly grip the fabric on top of it, finding little grip. It wasn't my clothes constricting my breath, but something inside of me that I couldn't reach.

My heart.

The pain spread fast and strong. My legs buckled under the pressure and I fell to the floor. I cried out, that cry turning into a scream as it felt like my body– every last molecule– was being ripped apart in different directions.

'F– Failsafe!' I called in confusion and pain. It felt like my chest was going to burn away and my heart was going to melt. I struggled to gasp for my next breath and found that I still couldn't get any air.

My legs felt weak and I could barely feel my arms. My eyes drifted off and I couldn't tell if they were open or closed. Every nerve ending felt like it was firing off, receptors all picking up the same thing: pain. I couldn't see, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't hear. All I could do was scream.

'What, what's happening?' I questioned, weakly. Failsafe was barely there, I could barely feel her, but she was there.

'The crystal, Klarion–' she tried but there was just too much blocking us, 'magic in the air...'

'And?! Stay with me!'

'Physically here with you, the magic can't decide which dimension we belong. Not powerful enough, on its own, split us...' Failsafe's speech was getting broken up, maybe by the way the pain blocked my concentration or from the splitting occurring in my body. 'Have to abide, by the dimensions rules. Child and adult, I– I can, save us both...'

"Then do it!" I yelled, losing all the air I had left in my lungs. A moment later, air finally invaded my lungs. It was a welcome invasion.

I gasped, taking in all of the oxygen I could get. My vision was blurry and I was dizzy from oxygen deprivation, but I was alive. I was alive.

My chest still burned with active pain, but it was dulling. Along with the rest of the pain inflicted on my body.

"(Y/n)!" Robin's voice cut through the haze that had taken over me. I tried looking in the direction of his voice, but all I found was a blurry shape of concern. Sat on his knees right next to my quivering form. "Are you okay?!"

"Urngh." Gracefully, I responded to him. "I don't even have a quip for that one. That's how much I hate that shit."

I groaned, hauling myself up on my elbows. "Fuckin' hurt like hell."

Robin sighed in relief, "You're okay."

"Did you not just hear me? How rude." I complained, trying to get myself on my butt. It took more effort out of my exhausted bones, but I managed to do it slowly. Robin grabbed my arm softly, making sure I moved slow and steady.

"If you weren't okay," Robin started, scoffing, "We wouldn't be having this conversation so quickly."

"Asshole," I muttered. He heard me though, being so close. And I could feel the cold gaze of his glare through his sunglasses. It wasn't a glare of annoyance or offense though. Just one of concern.

"There is something wrong though. That sudden surge of pain wasn't for nothing." I told him, huffing. I'm exhausted from less than a minute of, albeit intense, pain. "My connection to Failsafe's barely there. And before the pain subsided she said that we had to 'abide by the rules of the dimension.'"

Robin nodded along. "So what would that mean, exactly?"

I realized up until this point I hadn't really shared much about Failsafe and my connection with Robin. Or anyone really. But it wasn't the time right now to start.

"She mentioned children and adults. And something that could affect us like that? I'd place a fair few bets on one thing."

"Magic." We both said together at the same time. We both looked at each other, and I just knew we were both making eye contact. Determined.

"Call Zatanna."

"Don't have to, she and Zatarra were supposed to visit today." He said, on the same page as me in a heartbeat.

"Well, that's just convenient."

"More convenient than the five minutes it would've taken to call her and get her through a Zeta tube?" He sassed back.

"...Well, yeah." I blinked, pausing dumbly before shaking my head. "Alright, you get changed and I'll go grab our Priscilla Khong. Meet back in the lobby so we can figure things out, yeah?"

"Yeah." With a nod from both of us, we launched off the floor and both went in opposite directions. Robin toward the locker rooms, and me toward the ship dock near the kitchen. If I was going to find anybody, I was going to find them there, unloading groceries.

A couple of hallways down this way, a left here, a right there, and I was at the dock. Slamming straight into Megan, who was accompanied by Zatanna, Artemis, Kaldur, Wally, and Connor.

Huh, well that was quick. It really took no effort at all to find them. Great.

"Megan!" I exclaimed to the first person closest to me, "There's something wrong!"

Megan also started saying stuff too. "(Y/n)! Where's Robin? Something terrible is happening. We need the whole team together—"

"Magic!" We both told each other our sides of the story at the same time. "The adults are missing!"

I stopped, processing what she said. I blinked, then blinked again.

"Missing? Like, like, missing? ...Gone?" I asked, baffled. I brought up my hands and made the gesture for an explosion, "Like, poof?"

"Yes, missing." Artemis insisted. I took in a deep breath, nodding in acknowledgment.

"Uh, well, okay then," I said, scratching the back of my neck. "So, what's the plan?"

Kaldur stepped up, "We do research. Find out how much of the League is gone, the radius, and why we weren't affected."

"It could be teleportation. But then that wouldn't explain why we weren't taken too. Maybe it was specific? But who would want to take just Batman, Red Tornado, and Zatarra?" Wally added on, tapping his foot incessantly with his super speed.

"Failsafe's gone too," I informed my team members. "Before she disappeared she mentioned kids and adults. And dimensions' too."

I turned my focus to Zatanna, "Me and Robin were thinking magic. Does any of this ring any bells?"

Zatanna thought about it for less than a second before shaking her head, shoulders slumping. "No... But the sorcery to pull that off, scary big."

I nodded in solemn agreement. Alerted by the comm link in my ear going off. I brought my fingers up to pick up the message I received. Robin's voice met my ears, "Hey, we have a bigger problem than we thought."

"Yeah? What is it?" I replied, biting my bottom lip nervously.

"I checked all the news outlets and blogs over the internet, every adult is gone."

"Straight up? All of them?"

"Across the world."

My stomach dropped. Based on the information I got from Failsafe, that made sense. But it was still nerve-racking to hear. I looked to Kaldur, telling Robin, "'Kay, thanks, Rob. Out."

The next words out of my mouth were very simple, and vulnerable. "What do we do?"

Kaldur stepped up, stating simply what the plan was. "Damage control."

____________

Wally's voice cut in from over the radio, virtually set up by Robin using the cave computer's system. "We've set up a refugee center at the high school gym. Any luck with...?"

Zatanna was next to me, flipping through kid's blogs as I tried more traditional media. No reports there. But I was finding live streams from kids, all titled different things, but all the same. No adults. Some voiced how cool they thought it was, and what they could get away with. Others were streaming how absolutely horrified they were, and how they didn't want to be alone.

I knew that feeling all too well.

I sighed, shaking my shoulders to relieve the stress. Sending the most concerning streams out to the Team to prevent any crimes and to see to any truly stressed and or terrified child.

"No. Can't raise the Batcave, the Hall of Justice, or the Watch... Or any adult hero. Even Red Arrow." Robin said, defeated. I looked over at him, seeing how his shoulders slumped. Still, he kept working. We weren't defeated yet.

"Guess we're on our own. Kid Flash, out." Wally reported. I could hear the drop in his voice. We still had hope, but not much. This was a worldwide crisis. The first time the Team has ever had to deal with something of this scale together. And we didn't have the League, or Failsafe, as a safety net this time.

"Traditional media's off-line. But kids worldwide are all posting the same thing. Every adult 18 or older has disappeared." Zatanna could barely choke out the last part as she told Robin and me about what she learned through her research. I nodded.

Everyone seemed in the dumps right now. It was hard not to feel that way, knowing that we had no leads whatsoever. There were a lot of evil magicians out there, and even more evil fucks who might try something during a crisis like this.

"And we need you to find its source." Robin turned to her, declaring with absolute confidence.

Zatanna was baffled, and I saw her turn a shade paler than she'd been. "How am I...?"

Robin didn't stop to let her process what he'd said, typing something on the virtual keyboard and bringing up a video. It was Batman and Zatarra. I recognize that! "I pulled this footage. It's your dad helping us locate Wotan and the Injustice League last month."

Zatarra lifted up his hands and cane and recited the words backward, causing a red dot to appear on the map in the exact location we needed to defeat the Injustice League. "Etacol retnecipe fo yrecros! There."

Zatanna walked forward, behind Robin, and tore her eyes from the screen. It must be hard to look at the image of her parent when she saw him disappear right in front of her. I'm sure Robin was trying to cope with it too. My heart panged, and I thought about my parents. They have to be okay. They will be okay.

"But– but the words, I mean, that's only part of it. The rest takes training and, Robin, I'm just not on Zatara's level." Zatanna stuttered, curling into herself, unsure. I placed a hand on her shoulder, hoping to ground her. But I don't think I was any help.

"I know it's hard, but try to stay whelmed. We'll find your dad, Batman, all of them. That's what we do." Robin comforted her with a smile. It made me feel relieved without even being directed toward me. And Zatanna seemed to relax too. I even saw the faint coat of blush appear on her cheeks as she caught his smile.

Ooooh! Does Zatanna have a thing for Robin? I wonder, does Little Bird Blue feel the same? Bird Blue? I guess Robin would be Little Bird Red. But then again there is such a thing as a Blue Bird. But I can't just call him Little Bird Robin. That doesn't make any sense. Little Robin? I don't think he would like that very much.

Nevermind! That doesn't matter right now. Robin and Zatanna turned back to their work while I was distracted. Zatanna trying to perfect the spell, and Robin, gathering info. I looked back at my monitor with all the live streams and the updates. And I started to think.

How do we make these kids feel like they're not alone? I thought about how Robin's words comforted both me and Zatanna. And how we could make sure as many kids as we could would hear them. Before long, I had my answer.

I turned to Robin, watching as he continued typing. "Hey, Rob?"

"Yeah?" He said, continuing with what he was doing.

"Any chance you could broadcast to the whole world?"

He turned around, curiosity piqued, I suppose. He raised an eyebrow at me. "Yeah, if I used Justice League tech that'd be no problem. What're you thinking?"

I smiled, "Make a call to Wally and Kaldur. Let's do some damage control."

It took two comm links and a discussion over them to get the two back here, in costume. The plan was very simple: have the well-known 'sidekicks' talk to the children. Give them some comforting words and then transition into encouragement. Encouragement to get through this, encouragement to do good, encouragement to help others.

I sat on the side with a still-stressed Zatanna and thought that the boys were doing pretty good.

Kaldur brought the authoritative voice to the table, capturing the children's attention. "Attention, children, and teenagers of Earth. I am Aqualad. These are my friends, Robin and Kid Flash."

Then Robin would explain the situation to deescalate the alarm. "We are using Justice League tech to cast and stream to every TV, radio, computer, and smartphone on the planet."

Wally, with his charismatic and soothing voice, would be the moral compass. He suited the role much better than the darkly dressed, more in the shadows Robin. Everyone knew Kid Flash. Everyone liked him. "We know you must be scared and angry. We know with your parents missing, there's a temptation to run wild. But, please, stay calm."

"We will find a way to bring the adults back. But for now, the oldest among you must step up." Kaldur advised.

"Take care of your younger siblings. Take care of kids who have no one." Robin added.

"Protect them," Wally said.

"It is up to you. Please, help in any way you can." Aqualad ended the broadcast with those words. As soon as the recording ended, I clapped for the boys.

"Great job, I think that was fantastic!" I cheered. Wally took the praise while bumping shoulders with Robin, who seemed more reluctant to do so. Kaldur approached me.

"It was a great plan, (Y/n). Thank you."

I kicked the air, "Thanks, I know. I'm the best."

Despite my outward display of confidence, there was something in the air that I didn't want to speak aloud. Something I didn't want to think about.

What happens when Zatanna does that locator spell and we go fight the bad guy? Do I go too, or will they leave me here?

I looked up at Kaldur and found I had to ask while the others were distracted. Talking amongst themselves. "Hey, Kaldur? Can I talk to you, alone?"

He raised his eyebrow but followed me as I took a few steps back. Leading him to the opposite side of the room. The only one who would be able to hear us over here was Connor, and he wasn't here yet.

"What happens when we locate whoever's done this? I just– I don't have any powers. I don't want to get in anyone's way. Are you going to bring me, even without Failsafe?" I watched as Kaldur's eyes grew soft and he placed a heavy hand on my shoulder.

"(Y/n), you've more than proven yourself capable without Failsafe. You're not alone. But if it feels too much, for anyone, there is no shame in retreating and regrouping." His words of comfort, though brief, gave me a surge of confidence. My Team believed in me the same way I believed in them.

I can do this. Without Failsafe.

I'm a hero too.

Kaldur and I broke apart, and I waltzed over to Robin. Zatanna was going over the footage again, taking a deep breath in. Wally had disappeared somewhere else in the cave.

Megan and Connor appeared from the zeta tubes. "Hey guys! How'd it go out there?"

Megan smiled, coming in with her arms behind her back. She was clad in her regular street clothes, but as soon as she was in the safety of the cave mouth, her skin morphed green and her clothes became her hero outfit. Connor had already flipped his shirt around to reveal the Super symbol.

Robin waved too. And I realized Zatanna had disappeared as well.

"The children were just great," Megan gushed. "So adorable."

Connor grunted. But I could tell he wasn't angry. It was a grunt of agreement.

Megan corrected herself, "Oh, but it's terrible that their parents are gone. We need to hurry up and find them."

Artemis came through the zeta tube, already suited up. She looked defeated, with her shoulders slumped and gaze downcast. "I was already expecting it. But seeing home empty too..."

She sighed heavily, unable to finish the sentence. I sympathized with her.

She slid down the cave wall onto the floor, and I came to join my down friend. Megan sat down too. We didn't talk, but both their presences felt nice.

Finally sitting down made me realize how tired I still was from earlier. How my bones felt heavy and every movement felt slower. My heart was beating too rapidly for no reason, and now that I wasn't using my limbs, they seemed to be falling asleep.

It was like my energy was being drained out of me just by... being. I exhaled, feeling all the air leave my lungs before I took in a deep breath again. It reminded me of when I did the same earlier. I closed my eyes, leaning against the wall. I stayed like that until Zatanna returned, with Kaldur and Wally in tow.

"Robin," She said, coming over from across the lobby. "I'm ready."

She had a wand in her hand. And upon Robin's nod of acknowledgment, she took a wide stance and raised her hands up. Wand pointed toward the projection of Earth the Boy Wonder had pulled up.

"Etacol retnecipe fo yrecros!" The globe circled until finally, a red dot landed on Roanoke Island, USA. It wasn't as fast as when Zatarra did it, but she'd done it. The same complicated spell as her father.

I was so jealous. I wanted to do magic too. But as Failsafe kept beating me over the head with the information, I couldn't as long as I was attached to her in any capacity. Couldn't even wear the helmet of Fate if I tried. Apparently, I wouldn't even be able to get the thing over my head. Like some type of video game.

"Coordinates locked. Roanoke Island." Robin declared, saving it before typing it in. He looked up at Zatanna with a victorious smile, the air around him exuding happiness. "You did it."

"I guess now it's time to think of a strategy?" I asked out into the open air. Everyone seemed to agree, and Kaldur grouped us up in the center to go over our plans.

In order to come up with a plan, knowing our adversary is the most crucial detail. I haven't met many mages in my time as a hero, especially those that could pull some like this off. And even less that would possibly still be called a child. But one sprang to mind. It put a certain distaste in my mouth.

"I might be wrong, feel free to shoot me down," I started in the lull of talking. "But can I hazard a guess to say we might be dealing with Witch Boy, Klarion again?"

"Honestly?" Wally replied, "I was thinking the same thing too."

"A Lord of Chaos would have the magic necessary to pull a stunt like this off..." Kaldur agreed. Zatanna nodded in agreement.

"So, how do we defeat a Lord of Chaos?" My question wasn't met with a verbal answer. But a flash of lightning.

"It works." Billy's familiar voice cut through the air and we all turned around to see the small, hoodie-clad ten-year-old looking at his hands in amazement.

"Oh, hey Billy. What took you so long?" I questioned casually. The dots connecting in my mind. That flash of lightning must've been him turning back to a child, which means he came from wherever the adults and Failsafe went.

"Where did you come from? Who are you?" Kaldur asked.

Nice to know it's possible to travel between wherever they are and here. Maybe it would be possible for us to go there? But that would contradict what Failsafe said. So maybe not.

"Quick! Read my mind." I started slowly tuning the others out. My thoughts became rambly as I remembered something important.

...Could I go there? I looked down at my hands in thought. I had the power too. It hadn't been very long since I got my powers, and even less since I started training with them. But I could disperse now. Not long enough to jump dimensions like I did the first time, or move like Failsafe said I could try to do. But maybe if I forced it...

"He's Captain Marvel." Megan gasped.

My hand's molecules became shaky and came apart, turning into the swirling, deep royal blue and void-like purple mist. But I snapped out of it before it went too far. Now wasn't the time to start experimenting. I might not be able to come back.

Wally scoffed, "Yeah, and I'm Speedy Gonzales. Look, just because he believes he's Cap–"

Billy shut him up with a suave tone to his voice as he victoriously said, "Gee, Wally, do I really have to bring you nachos and pineapple juice to get on your good side?"

I snorted, trying to hold back my laugh. "He got you there, Wally."

"Oh, shut up!" Wally exclaimed, embarrassed. Robin chuckled too, not missing the chance to revel in making fun of his best friend. And really, isn't that true friendship? Making fun of your friends at every opportunity?

"So if Captain Marvel can travel in between worlds," Artemis cut through the confusing mood we'd set up, "then we can communicate with the adults, can't we?"

"I think so." Billy said, "Let me try! Shazam!"

A bolt of lightning came from the skies. Passing through the solid mountain of rock, cutting through everything in its way to strike Billy. When it disappeared, so did he.

When he returned, he conveyed to us what Batman had told him, "There will be threats in both dimensions... but we are familiar with our opponents."

Billy explained everything Batman had told him, about the sorcerers the adults would have to face, about Klarion on our side, and even the Ambejin Verdu crystal we would have to target. It all sounded too sure and detailed to be speculation or a bit of recon.

There was only one resource they could have possibly gotten all that from, and it warmed my heart that she had helped without my pushing her. She was changing, doing better as she said.

"Then the key to this mission is a coordinated, simultaneous attack." Aqualad sent Billy back with our reply.

"Agreed. Our best chance against sorcery is to strike fast, and disrupt their efforts." Again, back and forth we sent Bily, who restated each and every word of the conversation. It looked like going back and forth was giving him quite a sweat. I felt sorry for him.

"And hope the two dimensions merge naturally back into one," Kaldur said, punching into his palms. That was the end of the conversation, as Billy didn't return. It was time to go. The Team would meet the League there, getting to Roanoke by Bioship.

"So, time to kick some ass?"

"You bet."

_________

Klarion the Witch Boy was still in the freaky pentagram, his cat, Teekl, walking off around the edges of it. Not straying too far from her master. Artemis shot an arrow at him, which split into three upon firing. And Robin hurled three batarangs at him. Without even chanting, Klarion blocked them.

From behind the Witch boy, I threw some batarangs. Hoping that their distraction would allow me to hit him in the back. But a shield appeared behind him, and I watched as his head shifted to face me, the rest of his body morphing after. A moment later, lightning shot out of his hands and I had to roll out of the way to avoid it.

"That's the best you can do?" He teased us, and I saw that while he was attacking me he'd shot out the red lightning at Robin and Artemis as well.

Kid Flash ran past me as he, Aqualad, and Superboy all charged. Intending to take him on with numbers. But they were sent flying back by a quick casted forcefield.

From my east, Zatanna appeared, covering Superboy as she attacked the forcefield with a spell. "Etativel mih ffo eht margatnep!"

Klarion scoffed, "Heh, baby magic."

He flicked his wrist and chanted a much longer spell than Zatanna at half the speed. "Fi ehs stnaw ot etativel os yldab, tel reh."

Zatanna screamed, being sent flying into the air at an amazing speed. She was only barely caught by Superboy.

I readied some more batarangs, feeling them in my hands before charging. Sending all of them in one hand at the forcefield. They bounced right off without any damage to the bubble. Megan tried hurling rocks from above, but she was met with Klarion unhinging his jaw and sending a wave of red fire toward where she was. She was able to dodge his blast by flying out of the way.

I saw Artemis ready her bow, aiming it away from Klarion. I followed her eye line, seeing the cat licking its paw outside of the circle. I can't believe I missed that! I remember, back when we were on the Tower of Fate's roof, Failsafe went for the cat. So did Doctor Fate.

I threw the batarangs at it, watching in surprise as Artemis's arrow turned into yarn and the batarangs into cat treats.

"...What the fuck?" I hissed. Klarion muttered something to himself, raising his arms near his familiar. A second later, the cat wasn't a cat anymore. That thing was the size of two tigers. It reminded me of one of those animals the Brain had experimented with. I shivered, I almost died in that godforsaken forest.

Teekl immediately pounced on Superboy, clobbering him to the ground. How are we supposed to handle something like that, Klarion's supposed weak point, if it's busy playing ball with our strongest member?!

The gem in the center of the pentagram reacted to... something. Lightning it seemed. It must've come from the adult's side. It sizzled and crackled, emitting a strange noise. Klarion looked down at it, seemingly unbothered.

"Ah, so you teamed up with the grumps. Teamwork is so overrated." He sent the lightning out of the crystal, the rays homing in on each of us and attacking. I screamed, feeling the full brunt of the natural element crack down on my chest.

It felt like my molecules were splitting apart. And not in the fun powers way. I was brought down to the ground, the lightning stopped as I fell. My gaze was blurry and I felt like I just got roasted for Thanksgiving dinner. But despite that pain, despite the exhaustion I'd been feeling since this all began, I hauled myself up.

We need to get rid of that crystal. But that isn't going to happen if we can't get past the barrier and Klarion. We can't get through Teekl to strike. So what we really need is a distraction. Billy's voice cut through our minds telepathically, stating with finality what I already knew.

There was a blinding light from across the field, bright and yellow. Someone had summoned Doctor Fate.

Which meant it was go-time. I ran toward the forcefield with all the energy I could muster and felt my molecules break apart. I closed my eyes and braced my arms before jumping. Disappearing into the air as a cloud of purple mist.

When I opened them again, the world was different. No one was around and everything seemed disaturated. I was inside the pentagram, the gem in the center. I tried to pull at it. But it wouldn't budge. Some rocks moved in the air, bouncing off a forcefield. Still, no one was there. Time was still moving, though.

I saw a hole burrowed deep into the ground a few feet away and knew I had to go back. I broke through the forcefield, but now came the hard part. Going back and being the distraction so others could nab the gem.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, focusing on where I wanted to go and be. I brought my hand up and stood in the position I thought I needed to be in and felt myself convert back into a cloud of molecule mist.

I brought the hand I raised up forward, reforming just in time to latch on to Klarion's face and put all the force I could into sending him off balance and keeping him down, with him distracted I started using the moves Canary taught us, high kick, punch, kick again. My assault seemed to work enough to lower the field, but Klarion didn't take the beating lying down. He kicked me in the torso, air leaving my lungs as I flew back.

It was enough though. With Klarion distracted and the forcefield down, Doctor Fate was able to restrain Klarion while Kid Flash retrieved the crystal gem, throwing it up to the flying Fate, who was able to recite the spell needed to combine our worlds again.

"Yam eht owt emoceb eno ecno erom!"

Around Klarion, four adult sorcerers appeared, falling from their knees to the ground and passing out. Before I could crumble to the ground too, I found myself standing far away from where I was previously, in the pentagram. Failsafe's familiar presence had returned to me.

Well, that was exhausting...

_________
𝙼𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚎, 𝚁𝚑𝚘𝚍𝚎 𝙸𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍
𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟻𝚝𝚑, 𝟸𝟶:𝟶𝟽 𝙴𝙳𝚃

"Oh, shove off, (Y/n). You're the worst."

An evil giggle left (Y/n)'s lips as she reveled in her teasing of the boy, "Sorry Rob, but maybe you should try not to be so easy to mess with."

"Why do you always have to turn happy moments into the tormenting Robin parade?" He huffed, crossing his arms. But he wasn't really as upset as he conveyed. That was how it worked when one teased the other, they acted more hurt than they really were. Whether for the purposes of making the other feel worse, or better, I still had no clue.

"Because that's fun, and happy, for me. And Barbara." (Y/n) paused, thinking. "And probably Wally too."

"Wowie,  Robin," She gasped, hands shooting up to the sides of her face, "Do all your friends hate you?!"

Despite his best effort not to be phased by it, Robin's lips quirked and he let out a snort. (Y/n) laughed, and the Boy Wonder joined in after telling her to, "Shut up."

I didn't quite understand the joke. (Y/n) didn't hate Robin. Why would she tell him that she did? Another thing I just didn't understand about humans. And probably never would. It sounded like a better use of their time to say what they truly meant to one another. But it made them happy in the moment, so I will refrain from commenting about it in the future.

She continued to laugh, the jaunty air leaving her chest. Her laugh was contagious, and I thought all was well as they shared the moment. But the air in our lungs started to turn into fire, accelerating its growth and spreading wildly in my chest. There was no new air to replace it, and I felt my lungs still. An immeasurable pain racked my chest, a burning that did not come from the heart itself. And I knew it was the connection we shared. The physical link that tied me to this world. To (Y/n).

The pain spread and I couldn't compensate, my legs buckled under the pressure and I just barely kept myself up by a knee. I cried out, biting my lip to stop any more from escaping. It felt like my body was being ripped apart from the inside. But I had to stay strong and get my message across to (Y/n) before it was too late. I could feel it in the air. The cause of this immense pain.

Magic. Chaos.

'F– Failsafe!' (Y/n) screamed in my head. I tried with every ounce of my being to answer her back. But the connection was fizzling apart before my very eyes. Snapping with the dimensional lines. My message might not be able to get through. 'What, what's happening?'

'The crystal, Klarion is using the Ambrejin Verdu to split the dimensions. I can feel the magic in the air, it's happening as we speak!"

'And?! ...With me!' The connection between us was not fading, but being broken up by the magic. Trying to cleanly separate us in the lines of the new worlds. But it wasn't working. Because we were not able to be taken apart by such means. That was outside even my control now. And the fact the very fabric of our beings would have to be torn apart as the same happened to the world meant I had to act quickly, decisively. And a bit rash. 

'I can't be physically here with you, because I'm in your heart the magic can't decide which dimension we belong to. And it isn't powerful enough on its own to split us.' I explained, adding on. 'We have to abide by the dimensions rules. Child and adult both. Don't worry, I can save us both. Separate us myself, if only superficially.'

There was no air left in my lungs. A stabbing pain was invading my heart and my body felt sluggish. But I concentrated all I could on my powers, though it was only tricking reality. I could separate our minds and morph this body to fit this dimension while allowing (Y/n) as much autonomy as I could muster.

The pain subsided in all but my chest, which burned with the magic constricting it. My body started returning to normal, and I felt my eyelids become heavy, and my body fell numbly onto the ground. Spread out on my back, I took heavy breaths. Slowly, very slowly, I felt more of myself fading away...

Heavy footsteps had my eyelids jolt back awake, but I found I could not lift my body. The noises that were once metallic, stopped. And I found myself peering up at Red Tornado.

"Tornado?" I questioned, my voice raspy with disuse and the sleep that had overtaken me without my permission. It was that revelation that allowed me to snap my body up onto my knees, turning to peer up at the Leaguer.

"Failsafe." The android acknowledged me, albeit his tone indicated the slightest slip of surprise.

"How long?" I asked, hurriedly. I tried rushing myself to get on my feet but wobbled and struggled to find my equilibrium. I groaned, not liking the ensuing headache and dizziness it caused me.

It took me a moment to get used to what I did. But when I found my balance, I turned from Tornado and hung my head in shame, taking a shaky breath. Once again I had broken a rule of (Y/n)'s I'd promised to follow.

It was for the good of the mission. But, she told me never to morph her body. However, to abide by this dimension's rules I had to age her body up. To imitate adults, I made her body one as well.

Still, I felt guilt well up in me. I swallowed it down. There were many things in my life cycle to feel guilty about. I couldn't let it wear me down now. She'd understand.

"So you are aware." Tornado cut me from my self-deprecating thoughts. Walking closer to me and placing a hand on my back, leading me down the hall toward the lobby.

"Every child in the world has disappeared. We have no information as to why." He explained. I nodded, that sounded exactly like it did in my memories.

"The rest of the League is out, doing damage control. Up until now, only you and Captain Marvel have been unaccounted for."

"I assume the rest of the League's been dispatched for damage control?"

"Correct."

"I have information about the current situation. We need to gather and create a plan." I offered as we made it to the hall. My voice carried off the mountain walls, causing Zatarra and Batman to turn their attention to us.

"Failsafe?" Batman questioned, checking me over with narrowed slits. I nodded. This new form felt weird too.

"Failsafe?!" Zatarra exclaimed, stepping forward. "If you're here, then, Zatanna! How is she?"

I shook my head, "I didn't come from where the children are. So I cannot tell you what you wish to know, unfortunately, Zatarra. As it is, my connection to (Y/n) is very faint and strained. But at least I can say that she's okay. Which most likely means the others are as well."

It was all I could offer the ailing parent. I wish I could tell him more, but I didn't know any more than that. (Y/n)'s memories and mine were not the same, never had been. And we had never talked about this night more than beyond her fight with Klarion and the instance of the Between.

Batman met my eye as I continued to the more pressing matter at hand. "The Lord of Chaos Klarion is behind this. He's using the powers of Felix Faust, Black Briar Thorn, Wizard, and Wotan to separate children and adults into their own dimensions using the..."

My eyeline shifted to Zatarra, "You called it the Ambrejin Verdu?"

The magician mumbled something under his breath as he recognized the name, trying to decipher where he knew it from. He brought a gloved hand under his chin and thought for a moment. "The Ambrejin has considerable separation powers on its own. It's infamous for its abilities, but very hard to obtain and control. It requires a steady stream of magic at a very potent level. But if our foes are who you say, then it's entirely possible they could fissure the dimensions into two. Especially if Klarion is involved."

I nodded, and Batman took the lead. "So our number one priority is getting the crystal and restoring the dimensions."

"That's correct." I averted my eyes, contemplating admitting this to Batman directly. But it was better to say it now than amid battle.

"I may not be as effective in combat as usual. This spell is weighing me down immensely." My entire body felt heavy and every movement was slower already. It felt many times worse than when (Y/n) and I were separated last time. My bones felt creaky and dense, and my heartbeat was rapidly increasing dangerously.

It wasn't the weakness of my body that was slowing me down, but the other way around. My body was simply reacting to my own weakness. Making obvious my symptoms. In terms of power, it's sapping them away. Me away. My life force was draining from the chaos magic that now affected me, powering up the crystal Klarion struck my chest with. If this lasted for an extended period...

"I can still fight. But in terms of directness, that will remain to be seen." I concluded.

"Then we need to come up with a plan of action." Red Tornado advised.

I paused, crossing my arms and letting my gaze fall on each of the men. "We should wait for Captain Marvel."

"Captain Marvel is still unaccounted for," Batman stated, crossing his arms too.

Zatarra added in a rush, "And time is of the essence."

I understood that he wanted his daughter back. And I'm sure Batman wanted Robin back as well. I wanted (Y/n) returned safely. And I know time is of the essence. Quite literally speaking, too. My essence.

But in games that require time, there's always a waiting period. I almost felt a smile come to my face, remembering how I was taught that. I refrained from it, however, so as to not give the wrong impression.

"We need to wait for him so we can coordinate with the Team." As soon as the words came from my lips, the Cave computer read off Captain Marvel's name and identification code. A moment later, he flew in, presumably from the back entrance.

"All right, guys, I'm here to..." The child with the power to turn into an adult dropped to the floor, a wide smile taking over his features. "You're back. Is it over? Where's the Team?"

As he asked, his expression shifted to confusion upon finding his gaze centered on me. I looked him up and down as he did the same, acquainting ourselves.

Neither Zatarra nor Tornado was in the loop so to speak about Billy Batson, aka Captain Marvel, so it was quite understandable for the magician to take a step forward and angrily exclaim, "Haven't you heard?! Every child in the world has–"

Even though it was understandable, I couldn't justify the reason for his aggression toward Captain Marvel. His daughter was gone, that much was regrettable. But there was nothing to be done in antagonizing teammates. Right now, we all need to work together.

Yet another thing these adults, (Y/n), and the Team have taught me, I mused nostalgically.

"Zatarra, wait." Batman was quick to shut it down. Turning the conversation around to gather information, or knowing Captain Marvel's true identity, perhaps he did not want to see Zatarra yell at such a young child for something that wasn't his fault. Both sounded likely. "Captain, where have you been?"

"On a world without grown-ups." The realization hit Captain Marvel's face like the lightning he uses to transform. His face did nothing to hide such a thing. Captain Marvel was a very confident, open person. He was near allies and young, not weary of the world yet. It was only natural out of every League member he was the most easy to read. I liked that about him. It made it easier to hold conversations. It made it easier to understand the little things about being human that I couldn't get from anyone else.

He slapped the top of his head as if to quell a forming headache and looked between us all. He didn't seem to know what to do with himself as he said valuable information. "Holy moly, there are two worlds!"

"Two dimensions. One for adults..." Batman started to say, but Captain Marvel finished, "And one for kids."

"And you can travel between them?" Zatarra pushed. I could feel the anxiety and desperation coming off of him in waves, wanting to know if his daughter was alright.

Captain Marvel smiled, "I think I can. I know I can!"

The red-clad hero backed up, throwing his arms up and yelling out into the open air in confidence. "Shazam!"

Lightning consumed him, and Captain Marvel disappeared. He didn't return for quite a few moments, but when he did come back, he came with a message from the children. Communication via him and his ability to cross-travel between dimensions.

Batman sent his reply quickly, recognizing the importance of the skill. "There will be threats in both dimensions... but we are familiar with our opponents."

The adult went on to explain to Captain Marvel, who would then tell the Team, who was responsible for this, and what we should be aiming for based on the information I had given to them earlier. Captain Marvel disappeared and returned with a message from Aqualad.

"Then the key to this mission is a coordinated, simultaneous attack."

Captain Marvel was given a message back and was struck by lightning at his command once more. Briefly, for a moment, I wondered if all of that might've been painful or exhausting. But Captain Marvel seemed fine, so I suppose even if it had once caused him pain, he was used to it by now.

"Agreed. Our best chance against sorcery is to strike fast, and disrupt their efforts."

"And hope the two dimensions merge naturally back into one." Once Captain Marvel finished his message, we knew there was nothing more to be said. He did not return to the children. We needed him on this side where we were weakened and without numbers.

It was time to go. Batman would take his plane with Zatarra, and the three of us remaining would fly. The Team would meet us there by Miss Martian's bioship.

Batman gave us the order, "Move out."

___________

In the center of an old, dirt path four-way crossing, surrounded by leafless dead trees sat the pentagram with the four mages. Black Briar Thorn, Wizard, Wotan, and Felix Faust all stood in the circle at equal measured distances. They were despondent from all stimuli around them as they kept chanting the same phrase. Magic for splitting the dimensions.

Captain Marvel and Batman went in first, dropping from the skies and trees respectively. Batman was quick to stand up after jumping down, throwing a batarang at Black Briar Thorn who managed to dodge. It seems our arrival has woken them from their trance.

The mage lifted his hand and with his command, plants sprouted from the ground and carried him high off of it. I landed beside the sorcerer, knowing I couldn't help Batman remove the vines but I could disrupt the source.

In this battle of magic, I was of no use anymore. Where once my natural immunity would have been vital, I now carry a weakness. Even attempting to remove plants infused with it would cause me more harm than Batman wriggling out himself.

I threw a punch at Black Briar Thorn, once he was able to duck out of the way of just barely. But it was in this action that I noticed something. He'd yet to move his feet from the circle he stood at.

I swung a low kick at the magician, which hit him in the legs. He let out a cry of pain, but did not move. Instead, plants rose up from the ground beside the circle and attempted to wrap themselves around me. I jumped out of the way, having seen them coming. Something Batman unfortunately did not have.

I ducked out of the way in time for Felix Faust to spit fire from his mouth to attack Red Tornado, who'd been using his namesake as a weapon. I took the opportunity and went for a clean kick to his torso. Feliz Faust let out a noise of disgruntled pain and surprise, being caught off balance. He fell to the ground, still in his circle. But for a split moment, the pentagram itself phased from reality.

It was dependent on the casters to stay up. Their concentration, their magic, and their presence inside the circle. I informed the others of my discovery, "They can't move!"

Zatarra acknowledged what I was trying to say, using my information to cast a powerful spell that required precision normally. With a few words, the clouds rolled in and the sky disappeared as thunderstruck and lightning hit all four mages. They cried out in pain, stunned by the powerful attack.

In an attempt to save its caster from harm, the magic-sapping crystal absorbed the lightning from the attack into itself. With all four wizards stunned and the crystal in my reach, it would've been the perfect opportunity to grab the crystal and run. But I couldn't touch it, the fear of what the magic would do to me made me paralyzed.

The magicians rose together, almost in tandem. Wizard attacked Captain Marvel by hurling rocks the hero easily managed to punch through, Batman broke out from his vine restraints to attack Black Briar Thorn in hand-to-hand combat, while Felix Faust was dealing with Red Tornado. I tried my hand at Wotan, throwing two punches and then twisting around for a kick, but he caught me off guard and sent me flying with a high-speed incantation.

I grunted as I was thrown in the air, rolling around as if I were stuck in zero gravity. I managed to stabilize myself just in time to avoid my head being skewered by a thick tree branch. Before I could readjust myself and turn right side up, out of the corner of my eye I saw lightning hit Captain Marvel before he disappeared. Zatarra had been next to him but moved himself farther into the sky to cast another spell.

I may not be able to fight using my powers directly against magic, but I could use my powers as momentum to do more punishing attacks. I lifted up stray boulders from the ground, throwing them at Wotan. The power faded as it came into contact with the pentagram's magical field, but the weight and gravity did the work to make the rocks a successful diversion against the sorcerer for my real attack. Dropping to the ground, I lifted a tree from the ground with all the strength I could muster into my body and chucked it at Wotan full force. The wizard was too distracted defending himself from the rocks to realize what I had done, and I managed to clobber not only him, but the sorcerer beside him as well.

The sorcerers cried out in pain, phasing through reality for a moment after impact, and the tree fell on the inside of the circle. The two sorcerers were still there, disgruntled, but not seriously injured.

It was then that I realized why they couldn't leave the circle. And why they seemed so altered earlier. They were illusions, created by Klarion's chaos magic. It's then that I started to question whether it was magic that harmed me or just Klarion's chaos magic. I had been assuming the worst this entire time and tested it with the four sorcerers here today, but if they were a product of Klarion, that test would have skewed results.

Wotan prepared himself to attack again while my allies kept the others busy, but the battle was disrupted as Captain Marvel shot out from the ground in the middle of the circle, breaking through the dirt and topsoil, and the tree, to grab the Ambrejin Verdu and throw it to Zatarra. "Zatarra, catch!"

Zatarra floated over on his magical platform, catching the gem and bringing it closer to his chest as he chanted the invocation. "Yam eht owt emoceb eno ecno erom!"

The gem glowed a bright white light from its golden coloring and in a flash, the world came to come together into one. I felt (Y/n)'s presence return to me and my body morphed back to how it was always supposed to be. A strong young fourteen-year-old hero.

'Failsafe! Your back!' (Y/n)'s excitement and happiness raced through my veins. And I smiled. It was nice to have her back.

'You missed a lot, it was so cool! I beat up Klarion just as Canary taught us, and then I phased through dimensions! Just like I did the last time, but on purpose this time!' She told me excitedly. I nodded along, though the motion was more for me than it was for her.

In the pentagram's center, Klarion appeared magically tied inside of an ankh. Around him, the sorcerers fell to their knees, disappearing as Klarion snapped his fingers and brushed himself off. The ankh disappeared too, and he grabbed Teekl to vanish. "Fun while it lasted, Teekl!"

He called his cat over, which as I found was monstrous in size and had been viciously fighting Superboy with his back to the floor. At her master's call, the cat turned back to normal and jumped into his arms. Superboy sighed in relief.

'I see. It seems I did miss much. I'm afraid my story isn't as thrilling as yours.'

'That's okay.' Without my input, our shoulders shrugged. 'Oh, I just remembered to mention this, I went to a really strange dimension...'

I wanted to listen to the rest of what (Y/n) had to say right here and now, genuinely intrigued about what she viewed as 'strange' instead of 'interesting'. But as I watched Klarion pet his cat, creating a portal for escape. He turned back to someone, his eye line trailing up into the air. I found myself following his gaze to see a familiar figure in a familiar attire.

Doctor Fate. In a young woman's body. A young magician with long black hair stood tall over me. Zatanna.

Why...? I shook my head. The why does not particularly matter at the moment. What matters is that it has been done. I have a bad feeling about this. I think it might take more than a talk to persuade Doctor Fate to release Zatanna.

"See you later, Armadillos! Unless I see you first." With his cackled-ridden goodbye, Klarion jumped through the portal and disappeared. I couldn't help but think letting Klarion go was a mistake. I just couldn't seem to find a reason why. He was a Lord of Chaos, there was no containing him.

Kid Flash rushed over, sharing his sentiments with the Lord of Order. "Aren't you going to stop him?!"

Doctor Fate replied with the same logic I had been thinking of just moments before. But he shared much more conviction in it than I did. "To what end? Klarion is chaos personified. He cannot be contained."

I walked over as Batman and Tornado finished examining the leftover magical remains from the pentagram, which had disappeared now that its caster vanished. Captain Marvel went to tend to the injured Robin, who groaned as he was helped up.

"Did we win?" He asked, hopeful but still too groggy to process the entirety of the situation.

Aqualad answered him nonetheless. "At a cost."

Zatarra walked closer to Fate, spreading out his arms in a desperate plea to the Lord of Order. A show to please him. One that would fall on unyielding will. "Fate! Great Nabu, release my daughter."

"No. Witness the havoc wrought in these hours. The world needs Doctor Fate. And the girl's natural affinity for the mystic arts... makes her the perfect candidate." The shock on the magician's face was quick and brutal. An unpleasant thing to see to a man who'd done nothing to deserve the kind of heartbreak I'm sure Nabu knew he was inflicting. Until recently, I would have made the same decision. But I was not human and had never felt that emotion before. Nabu had been human once and always has been.

It was different now. I had felt what Zatarra was feeling now. And Nabu was ignoring the pain he was causing.

"You can't do that," Artemis yelled, enraged.

Behind her, Robin shouted back, "She has her own life to live!"

"Kent would never allow you..." Wally argued, using such a familiar and powerful connection. But I could see it clearly, reflected in truth, in Fate. He'd been cast aside. Now he has done the same.

"Kent Nelson did object strenuously. So I released his spirit to the afterlife. He is gone." It hurt. For the first time, I could admit that when thinking about Kent Nelson. My only solace in the death of his physical body was that he was still somehow there in the helmet. I'd never meet him or see him again, but he was there.

Billion Years, Million Stars, Thousand Lives, Kent Nelson. Hundred Meanings, Tens of Reasons, One Fate.

I swallowed back the sorrow Fate's statement had given me and stepped forward. I stood behind Zatarra and put a hand on his shoulder. "Giovanni Zatarra, I request you stand back."

Wordlessly, the magician did as instructed. And I walked until I was a few paces away from him. Standing above the hovering Fate. I inhaled deeply and clearly, making sure what I was about to say was plain as day to hear.

"As Guardian of the Scales, One of those that Judge All, Defender of the Innocent and Executioner of the Guilty, I order you, Nabu, son of Marduk, Lord of Order Doctor Fate, to release Zatanna Zatarra under the clause of a breached contract. Remove your helmet, or may your recompense be placed upon the Scales."

"No." Doctor Fate declared with finality. I stood my ground and swallowed the lump that built up in my throat at his defiance. He wasn't disobeying me because he needed a host that badly. Not even because he believed wholeheartedly that he was correct. No, this wasn't an appeal.

Fate knows.

"I, Nabu, Lord of Order Doctor Fate, do not recognize your order, Guardian. You have no authority to speak on the Scales' behalf. As you deny the Judgement of the Scales and defy the Will of the Universe."

Fate has always known.

And that means the rest know by now as well. If the Lords of Order won't recognize me anymore, it's only a matter of time before the Lords of Chaos do the same. If they haven't collectively decided to already. And if that was the case, then they would definitely come for me soon.

Just like Zatanna, it seems both of our time is running out.

I closed my eyes and stepped back, showing all I acknowledged Fate's words. I spelled it out, clearly, for the one I'm sure wouldn't understand it. "There is nothing more I can do."

It was (Y/n) who hissed at me instead. 'Failsafe! What are you doing?! Stand your ground! Fight him if you have to. That's Zatanna! He's taking away Zatanna's life right before your eyes.'

'I can't do anything more. It's not within my power anymore.'

'I thought you said you changed. That you were going to do better.' Instead of bargaining with me, she'd turned to blatant accusation and anger. I grit my teeth, trying to breathe through the argument.

'You can't expect me to change within a day. It's only been so long. I'm trying.'

'Doesn't look like that to me.' She shot back bitterly. I almost bit my tongue.

'It's not that simple.' The effortless rejection of my one, true, and only chance to stop Fate by someone so close to me made me so angry that I had to clench my fists to avoid lashing out. I could physically feel our amygdala start pumping hormones. My blood boiled, and my chest started to burn.

'Stop.' My declaration was powerful and charged. 'Drop it! Okay? I did what I could. My friend—' It was not me who stopped my rant before I went too far. Said too much.

It was Zatarra's voice that cut through the haze. As he stepped forward, past me.

"Take me instead." His voice was dripping with a subdued last hope. "My skills are already at their peak. My body is physically stronger, better able to withstand the strain of your power."

"All true. But if I remove the helmet, what guarantee have I you will don it?" Doctor Fate's and Zatanna's voices were flushed together, just separate enough to have the words feel wrong. Zatanna would trust her father with anything in the world if she had to. To hear even her voice posit otherwise, felt wrong.

Zatarra put forth with no hesitation and all his confidence, a simple but powerful and effective answer. "My word."

To prove himself to Fate, he chanted a spell I did not know. And it convinced the Lord of Order to float down and take off the helmet.

Zatanna opened her eyes, in front of her father. For what might be the last time.

"Dad!" She smiled and embraced him. Had Fate not let her see or hear what was going on in the outside world? And was that cruelty or mercy?

"Zatanna." He held her for only a moment before parting from her, whispering something only she was meant to hear before taking the helmet from her hands.

"Take care of my girl." Zatarra turned to Batman as Zatanna looked between both of them, confused.

Batman stood strong and rigid, but stated clearly, "You have my word."

At the exchange, Zatanna seemed to realize what was going on. Begging and pleading with her father as he raised the helmet over his head. Robin tried to help her, but she shook him off. "No, please. This was my fault. Dad, don't. Dad!"

The helmet had been dawned, and without even so much as a glance at his last host, Doctor Fate launched into the air. "Leave this to Fate."

He disappeared in a glowing bright light, and with him, the magic still permeating through the air left its traces as well.

Zatanna fell to the ground, sobbing and broken. Wallace, Robin, and Artemis came to her aid. But there was nothing for her friends to do that would help her at that moment. Except maybe, be there. And I couldn't say if that was something she truly needed.

Things may have worked out in the end for Zatanna's life. But it would never be the same. Something was taken, and in its place was not something that could ever fill the emptiness.

For a moment, just a moment, I felt a kinship with Zatanna.

And in that same moment, it felt as if Giovanni Zatarra had been my friend. Instead of the person who took his place.

And just as Fate had come for them. The Scales would come for me.

_______________
𝙼𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚎, 𝚁𝚑𝚘𝚍𝚎 𝙸𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍
𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟾𝚝𝚑, 𝟶𝟼:𝟻𝟹 𝙴𝙳𝚃

I stopped by Zatanna's room before school. It had already been three days since... Well... And we had taken turns being by her side since. Just taking care of her and stuff. But today was Monday, the first school day since then. Obviously, she wasn't going. But I was still concerned because today was the first day we wouldn't be regularly available for her.

I tapped on the door frame to alert her I was there as it automatically opened. She was sitting on her bed, only making the briefest eye movement to show that she acknowledged I was there.

"Hey," I said softly. "I'm going to school now. So, if you need anything. I guess ask Tornado first, huh?"

My lackluster attempt at humor fell on deaf ears. I tried not to frown. I didn't take it personally. But I was concerned for her. "But seriously. If you need something or something happens, or, or just something. And you don't want Tornado to know, or you can't tell, or even it has nothing to do with that or anything. Or even if you're just lonely! Just call me... I'll come."

It was a clumsy offer, but I hoped she got the jist. I just wanted to be there for my friend. But I couldn't figure out a way to word that in the way I wanted.

"...Thanks," Zatanna said, turning away from me and further into her room. I sighed, hoping she didn't hear. I wanted to believe she would be okay. But I knew that could be farther from the truth right now.

I turned on my heel and was about to exit her doorway, but something stopped me. I turned back and told her the honest truth.

"It's not pity." My statement seemed to spark her attention from the way she jolted, so I continued. "I'm not helping you or caring for you out of pity, or sadness, or because we're friends."

I sucked in a breath and finished, "I'm helping you because I understand how you're feeling right now. And if I could ease your burden, even for just a second. It'd be worth it. Because I wish I had someone to do that for me."

With all I had to say done, I turned back on my heel and headed down the hall. Smoothing out my uniform and hauling my backpack up on my shoulder, I got ready for another day of school.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I found myself fishing my pockets for it. It was a text. From Zatanna.

(Thanks.)

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Hello everyone! Normally I don't leave author's notes on the text because I don't like them being added at the end. I think it just doesn't look nice and ruins the legitimacy of my text. But I wanted to talk with you about something.

I took down the Failsafe; Extra Content book on my profile, I just didn't like how it felt. I only want to keep actual stories on my account. So thank you for understanding. If you left comments on there for the Q&A, I saved them, don't worry. I also want to apologize for putting the Q&A information in a separate work. That was kinda dumb. If you want important information, by the way, my announcement page on Wattpad is mostly filled with updates.

But I have decided when we're going to do the Q&A. Comment on any chapter your questions and they'll be answered when Chapter 26 goes up. Plenty of time! Any character is available to ask, as long as they're from season 1. And I'm up for answering questions too. I didn't think you had any for me, but I've received some. If it's a question answered in the text, I probably won't answer unless it's to clarify.

Thank you for reading this, and Failsafe. Have a great day!