A hidden cave on Themyscria...Seven thrones guarded the Rock of Eternity, but only one was occupied. The man's long white beard reached all the way down to his feet. His skin and bones were pale and weak. His staff was in his right hand; it glowed with a faint yellow light. He looked on the waters of the scrying pool below him, and saw the battle of three warriors.
"Fools. They fight a war they do not understand."
He tried to stand, but his trembling old bones betrayed him, and he collapsed. His staff rolled away from him. Sighing in weariness, he crawled to it. forcing him to crawl towards it. With an effort, he grasped it. Slowly and painfully, he used it to pull himself up."I'm getting too old for this."
--
Krypton, three days later...A boy stood on the street, watching the hologram give it's update on recent events.
"...And so, Prrincess Diana of the Amazons shall meet our Great Leader Jor-El today to sign the Trinity Document. The ceremony will be witnessed by few, though of course it will be recorded for the historical archives.”A voiced called to the boy; it was his good friend, Den-Zar. "Bati-Son! Come on! You're going to miss the ceremony!"
Den-Zar motioned Bati-Son to follow him, and two boys rushed to the ceremonial garden, where Diana Prince and Jor-El were signing the treaty.
Kal-El and Lara stand a good five feet from Jor-El, while Batman similarly flanked Diana.
Bati-Son’s eyes widened. "Is
that...?"
"Yup. That's Batman alright. What do you think's going on between him and the Princess?"
"I think they're just good friends."
"Ha! Yeah, I guess you're right."
The boys watched the ceremony in silence, until..suddenly,. five droids crashed down on top of the guards surrounding Jor-El and Diana! The droids leapt at Diana while fighting off the guards. An Amazonian soldier grabbed her spear and stabbed a droid in the chest, but was shot down by another. Bati-Son noticed that Kal-El pulled his mother to safety, reatreating into the buildings.
Bati-Son and Den-Zar backed up, away from the battle, until they bumped into someone. They turned to find Superman with his arms crossed, looking down upon them.
"Go. NOW!"
The boys obeyed his command and rush away. But then, Bati-Son skittered to a stop. He looked back, listening to the screams and sounds of battle.
"Bati-Son! You heard Superman, we have to get out of here!"
Bati-Son ran back to assist Superman in the battle. Dreams of glory danced through his head.
"BATI-SON!" Den-Zar pleaded, but it was no good.
Bati-Son saw a dead Amazon on the ground beneath him. Beside her body was her spear. Driven by boldness and desperation,the boy lifted it and thew it at the nearest droid. The spear struck the droid, but to no effect. It turned it’s head and looked at Bati-Son, then advanced on him raising it’s arm. Full of fear, Bati-Son nevertheless threw a punch. The droid grabbed him by the wrist, but before it could strike, Bati-Son vanished. It was as though he had never even been there.
Before the droid’s positronic brain could process what had happened, Superman’s fist punched through it.
--
Elsewhere...Bati-Son sat up. He found himself in a vast cave. He looked around with wide eyes. He had no idea where he was.
"COME HERE, BOY!"
Bati-Son blinked in astonishment, looking around for the source of the voice.
"Don't just stand there! WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME!"
Bati-Son thought hte vocie was coming from his right. He started walking in that direction. On his way he saw seven statues. They depicted the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man. Pride, Envy, Greed, Anger, Sloth, Gluttony, and finally Lust.
"Pay attention to the task at hand, boy!"
Bati-Son found himself drawn forward, towards the voice.. He saw no one in the darkness of the cave at first...then suddenly, torches lit it up. From a throne there came a few coughs. An old man sat there; with each cough, a few sparks of electricity sputtered forth.
"Wh-who are you?"
"I... I am the wizard called--" the old man coughed into his hand. "called SHAZAM!" Lightning struck the ground as he pronounced his name. "And in my time of need, I have summoned YOU, Bati-Son, to succeed me in protecting the Rock of Eternity, source of all magic!"
"But... but why?"
"Because in all of my years, I have never seen a young boy, wish to take justice into his own hands for the greater good of his home. Now, before--" the old man coughed once more, painfully. "Before my time comes, I wish to grant you my powers. Now... say my name."
Bati-son was uncertain. "I don't know, I realise you're my elder but... I really don't know who you are.”
"Then I shall show you all I know!"
A bolt of lightning struck Bati-Son, but instead of hurting him, it showed him the past...
--
Earth, 2013The wizard was still seated at his throne, but appeared much younger.
But then.... an explosion! The roof of the cave collapsed. Three Thanagarians flew in and came at Shazam. But Shazam struck first; electricity shoots from his hands, dropping two of the Thanagarians. He e fired another bolt at the third wingman, but the Thanagarian reflected it back at him. The bolt struck Shazam without effect, but it took a large chunk out of his throne. Shazam advanced on the Thanagarian. Undanted, the wingman swung it at Shazam’s face...but the wizard grabbed it with both hands, sending his power coursing through it....and into the Thanagarian. The man twitched and writhed....and collapsed. The wizard took a deep breath.
"The Rock of Eternity is no longer safe here,” Shazam said.
"I couldn't agree more,” a new voice agreed. A figure stepped out from the shadows and into the light.
Shazam was startled, but then he recognized the newcomer. "Spectre."
"Yes. I bring you a message from Dr. Fate."
"Of course. How goes his progress on the portal?"
The Spectre looked away from the wizard's eyes. He reaches beneath his cloak and pulls out a golden helmet and hands it to Shazam. Shazam gasped.
"His fight was not in vain, wizard. He saved my soul in order to give you this message."
"What? What message?"
"The portal.... it would be impossible even for him to create such a large portal. It would not be enough to send back an entire army."
Shazam fell back onto his throne, grasping his chest in shock and desperation. “No...”
"However, there is a way to save the Rock of Eternity."
"I never imagined I would have to do this."
"You must. The Rock is no longer safe, you said it yourself."
Shazam nodded grimly and began to make sorcerous passes with his hands. The cave began to tremble, and the Spectre used his powers to pass through it, to the outside.
The cave rose, higher and higher into the sky. The Spectre watched the wizard lift it to space, then turned and did battle with the waves of Thanagarians. They knew their fellow wingmen had failed, and were determined to finish the job. Spectre used his power to grow to the full, collosal size he was capable of, and crushed the Thanagarians that attacked.
But even the Spirit of Vengeance has limits, and the Thanagarian were many. So very many. They were fanatic, and determined, and unafraid to die, so long as they wont the battle.
Eventually their sheer numbers overpowered him, and the Spirit of Vengance departed, seeking a new host. The Specter was utterly destroyed.
Shazam stared down from on high in horror. "No..."
--
Three Years later...The cave floated through space. The journey had aged Shazam more than it should, and now he was old before his time. He sat in his throne, eyes closed. The cave approached a planet, covered in green beauty. The cave heated up as it shot down towards the planet. The cave smashed into the planet, forming a smouldering crater.
But as Shazam awakened, he knew the crater would heal, and nature would overgrow the cave in it’s new home. That was part of the plan.
--
Now...Bati-Son fell to the ground, gasping for breath.
"Now you see what you must do. You must protect the Rock of Eternity in my place, and perhaps you shall prove better than myself."
"But wizard... who were those flying men?"
Shazam looks away. "Thanagarians. They destroyed Earth in their quest to conquer it. They had hoped to take the Rock of Eternity and use it as a weapon of mass destruction. You shall soon battle them. I cannot tell you when, but I know it will be soon. Now, please... say my name, and with meaning."
Bati-Son closes his eyes for a moment and quietly said the word.
"Shazam!"A bolt of lightning struck him. He screamed, not in pain, but in fear of what was happening to him. His body grew, becoming that of an adult, and Kryptonian armor formed around him. Smoke engulfed him, then slowly faded away.
"You are now Captain Marvel, protector of Krypton and the Rock of Eternity. Your powers are unlike those of the Green Lanterns, Batman or Wonder Woman. They are unique. You now control the power of Lightning, and your strength is equal to that of the Batman. I can trust that you will succeed where I failed. But fear not Bati-Son, you shall never be alone."
Captain Marvel reached towards the Wizard in confusion. "Wizard, wait! I do not understand..."
The wizard begins to fade, leaving only his cloak. "You shall never be alone Bati-Son.... never..."
The cloak fell to the ground, dust floating from the wizard's ashes. Captain Marvel stood confused, holding the cloak in his hands. He looked from the wizard's cloak to the Rock of Eternity, and realized his destiny.
Can I truly protect Krypton? Am I up to this?Captain Marvel flew through the cave and out the exit. He stopped for a view of the amazing civilization of the Amazons. Then he flew away, riding the lighting back towards Krypton.
To be continued!Let us know what you think
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