24

Chapter XXIV: Misplaced.

Last Time.

He looked at Greta and smiled. "We'll make sure you'll get a proper burial." Greta smiled before going back to her grave.

"Hey, look at this." Naruto sheathed the sword before walking over and saw Abel's shop with the neon sign in the window with all but 'Secret' being burnt out. "Must have been the last thing Greta saw."

Naruto raised an eyebrow before jumping over the fence followed by the girls. He walked into the store and saw a man in the shadows. "You're Abel right?" The man nodded before walking out. Abel has black hair with a beard and a blue suit.

"Yes. Zatara's told me about you Naruto. I see you brought the sword." Naruto nodded as he dropped it on the counter.

"Yeah. Zatara told me about you too... Have you been able to find anyone for the Helmet of Fate?"

Able shook his head as he puts the sword away. "No. Your spy, Xanadu, is too inexperienced. Constantine flat out said no. And Jason wouldn't be able to do it because of his... Other half. Everyone else that I can think of is also too old or too inexperienced to handle Nabu's power. I'll help with the burial of that Greta... I thought I heard screaming that day. But I was too preoccupied to get out of the shop."

Naruto nodded before walking out with the girls. As they left the shop, a calm wind blew by, and the building changed into a broken down one.

"Well then... Let's go girls." Naruto said walking to Harm's house as the Police, and Firemen came over to it.

Now.

Belle Reve; November 1, 21:08 CDT.

A topless Crystal was slammed against the wall of the conjugal visit room by Naruto, who also didn't have a shirt on, and was making out with her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him as he grabbed her ass making her moan. He started kissing her neck, and collarbone having her grip him harder.

"Yes. Yes! Ravish me, you beast!" She moaned out before using her left foot to push her off the wall. Naruto walked backward and fell back on the bed having her laugh.

"Okay Crystal, ease up for a sec. Is there anything new you can tell me?" She pouted as she laid on his chest between his legs.

"Oh alright... on the eleventh we're going to attack the country with an ice fortress. But I'll turn it do-" She stopped as Naruto shook his head.

"No... We don't want to blow your cover. The only reason they're trusting you now is that I used a Genjutsu (Illusion Technique) to make everyone think the cold knocked them out." He rubbed her back making her sigh contently. "Wow, that was quite a relaxed breath. Who'd have thought it only took a bit of expert tongue work to tame 'The' Killer Frost."

She bit his shoulder making him jump. "Shut up! The only thing that'll tame me is when we finally do the deed." She sat up and straddled him as he puts his hands on her hips.

"We'll do 'It' soon Crystal. I just want to wait for the right time. Like, say, after you are released on parole at your next hearing?" Crystal's eyes widened.

"What?" He grinned at her reaction.

"Well, with my testimony to your aid in quelling the jailbreak a while back. Add that to my personal recommendation, your odds of release go up two-fold." She looked down at him before speaking.

"Why are you doing all this, Kage? Looking to keep your Ice Queen all to yourself?" she asked. He raises his hand and cups her cheek, even as she freezes to this new gentle sensation.

"Because when I look at you, I don't see a villainess. Just a woman who's had more than a few bad experiences, both with the world and with men. I believe if you had even one good experience with both, you could truly become your namesake. A beautiful, shining Crystal." Crystal just sat there, shocked at the words that were spoken to her. "But that sounds a little corny doesn't it?" He asked.

She took his hands in hers. "Oh no, not at all, in fact..." She then placed his hands on her bare breasts. "It's actually a real turn-on." She finished with a smirk.

Roanoke Island; November 5, 19:46 EDT.

Klarion walked to a crossroads in a forest before pulling out a gold gem and placed it on the ground. A large pentagram formed around the gem before Klarion spoke up. "Time for the old band to get together." His eyes glowed as he stepped out, and a circle formed under him. "Wotan." Wotan appeared beside him. "Blackbriar Thorn." Another 'Man' appeared beside Wotan.

Blackbriar Thorn's skin is brown and appears to be made of some form of a plant. He has a white beard and fierce red eyes. His entire attire evokes nature. He's wearing twig sandals, a long dark green skirt resembling foliage, and a ragged brown open vest.

Another man appeared beside Blackbriar. "Wizard."

Wizard is dressed in a Victorian fashion. Underneath his large brown cloak, he has a steel blue waistcoat and a white cravat. He's wearing brown pleated trousers and is holding a cane with a golden knob. He also has a black top hat. He has gray hair, which he has in muttonchops

A final man appeared beside Wizard. "And Felix Faust."

Felix Faust is a tall Caucasian male with a lean face and deep eyes. He's wearing a headdress made up of a golden coronet and black cloth covering his hair and part of his cheeks. He's wearing a black long sleeve undershirt that goes up to his neck with large metal bands on his torso. Over it, he wears a blue tunic that goes up until his knees and is held in place by a golden sash.

"Now... Let's put on a show." Klarion said before they started chanting a spell.

Mount Justice; November 5, 19:47 EDT.

Naruto, wearing his red trench coat with a black shirt, and jeans walked with Artemis and Zatanna in their street clothes, before passing Mary who was carrying boxes to them. "So are you able to join, Zatanna?" Naruto asked as she sighed.

"No... It takes a lot of begging just to get these day passes from my dad." Zatanna said as they walked to the hangar and saw the Team with Batman, Zatara, and Red Tornado helping unload the Bio-Ship of boxes.

"I'm sure I can help with that," Naruto replied as Zatanna smiled.

"Oh really?" she asked with a smirk and raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, really. You're not the only one who has a way with words. Besides, you showed me and Artemis the courtesy of sharing your home when we needed help. The least I can do is help get you a permanent place on this team."

Zatanna couldn't keep the blush on her cheeks down. "You'd really go through the trouble of convincing my dad, just for me?" she asked, with a bit of hope in her voice.

"If it'll make you happy, then yes. For all the women in my life, their happiness is the only reward I'll ever want." He said with a toothy grin.

She smiled and leaped at him for a hug, only to fall to the floor as Naruto, along with the rest of the League disappearing. "Naruto!" Artemis yelled out as the Team looked around for the others.

Fawcett City; November 5, 18:47 CDT.

Billy was watching Cat Grant talk about Captain Marvel and his partner, Mary Marvel, with his uncle before Dudley disappeared. "Uncle Dudley?! Don't know which of my enemies are behind this but... Sha-!" He stopped when he saw that Cat was also gone, and heard other kids from outside calling for their parents. "It's not just uncle Dudley..."

"All the grown-ups... And Cap's a grown-up. If I change, I could disappear too. I better find Mary." He ran out of his apartment and snuck past the kids as he went through a fence, and into an old photo booth. "OK Captain Marvel, 15." Nothing happened before Billy glared. "Captain Marvel, 15! Override HOJ-Watchtower 'Code Red' Captain Marvel, 15."

A camera came out of the screen and scanned Billy. "Not Recognized, Access Denied."

Billy scoffed before walking out, and down the street past a TV store where the Team came up and delivered a message around the world to the kids. "The Team! But how do I get to Mount Justice?" Billy asked himself before seeing a pamphlet for flying lessons taught by a teen airplane pilot.

Happy Harbor High School; November 5, 20:55 EDT.

Megan and Kori are in their disguises as Wally brought a toddler into the Gym where Stephanie is singing to a group of children. "Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are." She continued to sing as they walked over. The toddler Wally's holding gave him his Sippy cup.

"Oh, for me? Thanks."

"Did you call home?" Stephanie asked as Artemis walked over to them holding a baby girl.

"No answer."

Stephanie sighed before speaking. "You could have sped over there."

Wally sighed as he looked down. "I've been picking kids up all day... I don't need to see another empty house today."

Conner walked in with three kids climbing on him. "Got three more."

Donna walked in behind him, with two kids gripping her hands in fear, tears threatening to fall. She then knelt before them, her hands on their shoulders. "Hey, I know you're both scared, but don't worry. The Heroes of Earth will bring your parents back real soon. Until then, we all have to be brave, both for us and our parents. Can you both do that for me?"

The kids wiped their tears away and nodded to her. Donna smiled at them and walked toward Wally. "Kaldur and Robin are ready to send that global message. Said they wanted you to join them." She whispered to him. He nodded and then sped off.

Fawcett City; November 5, 21:25 CDT.

Billy stopped at an airplane hangar and walked inside where he saw a teen girl watching the message from the Team. "How am I going to help?" She asked herself before Billy spoke up.

"I know how."

A few hours later, Amber looked at her watch and smiled. "Should arrive just after midnight, on my birthday."

Once hearing this, Billy's eyes widened before looking over to an empty seat. He got out of his seat to take control of the airplane so he won't plummet to his death. "Oh man, oh man! What do I do, what do I do?!" He asked himself in a panic. "Captain Marvel has the courage of Achilles... But Billy Batson... Has the courage of Billy Batson."

"SHAZAM!"

CRACK!

Marvel dropped as the plane disappeared before smiling. "Hey, I didn't disappear!" He suddenly heard screaming before looking down and saw Amber falling. "Amber!" He flew after her and caught her.

Mount Justice; November 5, 19:47 EDT.

Naruto smiled as Zatanna leaped at him, only for her to disappear. "Zatanna?" He looked to his left and saw Artemis was gone. "Artemis! M'gann! Donna!" Naruto yelled as the teens disappeared leaving only him… And the adults. Suddenly, an alarm went off showing everyone under the age of eighteen has disappeared around the World. "Well shit." Naruto cursed as unsealed his black coat, and switched clothes.

Most of the League members soon left heading to their designated cities to at least help with crowd control and settle down riots while the rest stayed behind on the Watchtower and at the Cave. "Any ideas on who's behind this?" Naruto asked looking at Jim Gordon at S.T.A.R. Lab located in Gotham City, holding down a mob before hearing his phone ring.

"Hello?" He said before hearing Paula. "I know Paula, she just disappeared... It must be a magical villain that did this. We'll get her back, I promise." He narrowed his eyes as he saw Lawrence Crock and Arthur Brown agitate the mob. "So... they're a part of this."

Shortly after doing as much as he can on his end, he returned to the Cave as Zatara and Batman walked to where Wally keeps his souvenirs of the Team's previous missions.

Naruto looked at his watch and saw it read '12:01 AM.' before hearing Marvel fly in. "OK guys, I'm here no..." He trailed off seeing Zatara, Batman, and Naruto. "You're here!" He flew over and hugged them. After a quick discussion, Marvel deduced that there are two Worlds, one for both adults and one for teens/kids. Marvel soon stood back and shouted.

"SHAZAM!"

A bolt of lightning hit him, and Billy looked up to see the Team. "It worked! Quick read my mind." Miss Martian did that as Mary walked over, and sighed.

"SHAZAM!"

She transformed back into her original form making the Team minus Artemis and Miss Martian's eyes widen at her. "These are our true forms... We 'grow' when we become Captain Marvel and Mary Marvel."

After Billy went back and forth between 'Worlds' so the Team, and League can make a plan, Naruto noticed the worried look on Zatara before they left for Roanoke Island.

Roanoke Island, Kid's World.

Spoiler and Robin threw shurikens at Klarion as Artemis shot arrows at him before he hit them with lightning. Kid Flash and Superboy ran to him, only to hit a reddish-orange shield before Zatanna dropped down behind him, and spoke a spell. "Etativel mih ffo eht margatnep. (Levitate Him Off The Pentagram)!"

Nothing happened, but she was suddenly thrown in the air by Klarion. Wonder Girl flew by and caught her before she fell onto the ground. Both Mary and Miss Martian attacked with rocks and flew by to punch the shield before Klarion shot fire at them. Mary landed before stopping an attack by Teekl, who transformed into a large saber-toothed tiger.

She grunted before flying up in the air, and then dropped down, creating a crater. "Temleh fo Etaf, laever flesruoy! (Helmet Of Fate Reveal Yourself)!" Mary looked to see Zatanna pick up the Helmet of Fate, and put it on.

"Zatanna, wait!"

She yelled out right before being hit by lightning coming out of the crystal. Suddenly, she and everyone else on the Team heard Billy's voice in their minds.

"Destroy the crystal, and we win!"

Adult's World, Earlier.

Naruto landed in a crouch in front of the adult Sorcerers before glaring at them as the others dropped down also. Naruto went through hand seals before blowing fire in the shape of a dragon as Zatara attacked with lightning. Naruto notices the attacks get sucked into the crystal.

He looked to see Marvel disappear before going into his Bijū cloak and dashed to the Sorcerers. He created multiple ethereal hands before grabbing all the Sorcerers and bringing them together before picking up the crystal and threw it to Zatara. "Yam eht owt emocb eno ecomo erom! (May The Two Become One Once More)!"

Suddenly, Naruto saw the Team with Zatanna flying high in the air dressed as Dr. Fate. "No... No, no, no!" He said, dispersing his cloak after the Sorcerers were tied up, and walked over. "Nabu! Let her go!" Nabu/Zatanna looked down at him.

"No." She said her voice distorted making Naruto narrow his eyes as Zatara walked over. "Witnessing the havoc wrought in these hours. The World needs Dr. Fate." Naruto nodded before speaking up.

"But Zatanna's a beginner! She wouldn't be able to handle your full power! Kent would nev-" Naruto was interrupted by Nabu/Zatanna.

"Kent Nelson did object, strenuously. So I released his spirit to the afterlife. He is gone." Naruto sighed before looking up.

"Then take me... I can handle your power until we find someone else. You said so yourself, that I would be the perfect host when I first came here because I was strongly in tune with magic."

"True... But we wouldn't bond, and I don't trust you to keep the Helmet on. Besides you're too hotheaded, brash, and don't think before attacking. Not to mention..." As Nabu/Zatanna continued on about Naruto's 'faults', Naruto started to grind his teeth before exploding.

"Okay, you know what? Fu-" He stopped as Zatara used a spell to wrap his mouth shut with wrapping.

Naruto continues to argue with his mouth shut as Zatara looked up at his daughter/Nabu. "Then take me... My body's stronger. My powers are at their peak." Nabu/Zatanna looked down at him.

"All true... But how do I know you will keep your word?" She asked as Naruto pulled the wrapping off.

"Because a parent would go to extreme lengths to protect their child."

"Ekat em daetsni (Take Me Instead.)" Zatara gave his oath as Nabu/Zatanna flew down, and pulled the Helmet off.

"Dad!" Zatanna exclaimed as Zatara took the Helmet, and kissed her head.

"Remember, I love you." Naruto walked over to them, and Zatara looked at him. "Look after her." Naruto nodded before placing a hand on Zatanna's shoulder.

"With my life."

Zatara puts on the helmet having Naruto hold Zatanna back. "No, please! This was my fault! Dad, don't! DAD!" In a flash of light, Dr. Fate turned around and took the Sorcerers away. Zatanna cried into Naruto's shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her waist, and held her head with the other.

Gotham City, Naruto's Penthouse; November 6, 20:05 EDT.

Naruto, wearing a white sleeveless shirt and his pajama bottoms, walked into his bedroom to the door connecting to the next room. He soon grabbed his nose to keep from having a nosebleed. The reason being, that Diana has her back to him looking at the mirror in her room wearing nothing but red panties. "Sorry." He said as she smiled, and turned around.

She did nothing to hide as she walked over to him. "Oh, don't be." She said giving him a kiss making him blush as she pressed her chest on him. She turned around and grabbed his shirt to pull him towards the bathroom. "Now come on... I've got our shower all ready." Naruto dumbly nodded as he watched her swaying ass.

When they got to the shower, Diana removed her panties and looked over her shoulder at a gawking Naruto. "Well? I've shown you mine." she turned around, wrapped her arms around his waist, and whispered in his ear, "Now you show me yours." Naruto snapped out of his stupor and removed his shirt.

He stopped and looked at her, seeing a slight eagerness in her eyes. "Listen, Diana, I just need to know if you really want to do this. Cause once we do, you'll be stuck with me for life," he said to her.

She smiled and said. "Stuck with the kindest and most honorable man in Man's World? How will I ever live with myself?"

Naruto smirked, "Okay, if you're sure." He then removed his pants, resulting in a shocked gasp from Diana.

"BY THE GODS!"

Naruto walked forward, placed his hands on her hips, and pushed her gently into the shower. "I hope you're ready for a test of endurance, Princess," he whispered. Diana could only moan into a kiss, as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Mount Justice; November 7, 09:16 EST.

Naruto, in his street clothes, dropped a box in Zatanna's room as M'gann talked to her about lending an ear if she needs it. "Thanks... Could I have a moment?" Zatanna asked as everyone, but Naruto, looked at her for a moment before they left.

Naruto turned before Zatanna grabbed his wrist. "Can you wait? I... I don't want to be alone." Naruto nodded before they sat on her bed, and hugged her as she cried.

Unknown Location.

The Brain looked at the television monitors with the Light members on each as Klarion on one smiled. "Happy?" He asked before the Brain spoke up. "

Oui monsieur... Your distraction was effective. They never notice that our agents were at S.T.A.R. Labs, and we got the... Specimen." He finished as The Riddler, Cluemaster, and Sportsmaster walked into the room.

Riddler came upon the central table in the room before setting down an advanced suitcase. Once opened, it revealed a severed tentacle from the creature that was once being studied at the Atlantis Science Institute. "And in time... We'll bring it into the Light."

To Be Continued.