Zodiac (DC)

We were violently hurled out of the factory, crashing onto the pier with a bone-jarring impact. I winced as my head collided with the unforgiving concrete curb, while Superboy, annoyingly resilient with his Kryptonian durability, began to stir beside me.

Summoning the mystical energy of the horse talisman, I hastened the healing process, the soothing power coursing through my body like a cool wave, alleviating the pain.

"So, any bright ideas, or are we just winging it against a guy who controls the wind?" I quipped, eyeing Superboy.

He growled, "Yeah I'm going to make scrap metal out of this guy. That's my plan."

An idea sprang to mind as I reached for a talisman from my belt. "Here, this talisman grants you the gift of flight. Distract him while I get in close. I have something that might take him down. But remember, it's a loaner. I'll need it back after the fight."

Superboy examined the talisman with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "This little rock can make me fly?"

"It's not just a piece of rock. It's a piece of magic rock. Simply focus on levitating, and it'll do the rest. Just be cautious; it's not indestructible," I cautioned.

He nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. "I'll be careful."

I prayed silently for our impromptu plan to succeed, hoping the talismans would respond to him as they did to me, though I hadn't tested them thoroughly. Since I permitted him to use them, they should work for him, or at least I hoped so.

Hadn't had time to test it out.

"Wait, take this too," I tossed him another talisman. "It's a bit trickier to use, but it'll be worth it."

"What does this one do?" Superboy asked, raising an eyebrow.

I grinned mischievously. "Laser eyes."

The glint in his eyes and the manic grin that followed assured me that Mr. Twister was in for a rough ride. With Superboy already levitating, I focused on my preparations.

Gripping two talismans tightly, I braced myself for what was to come. It was time to unleash the dragon.

So, I started to focus on my part of the plan. I grabbed two talismans off my belt and took a deep breath. Damn, this is going to suck.

Superboy, now equipped with the Rooster talisman, soared above, ready to distract Twister. I took a moment to focus on my plan, hoping the talismans I handed him would work as intended.

"Hey, over here, windy guy!" Superboy shouted, drawing Twister's attention. The villain turned, unleashing a gust of wind toward Superboy, who skillfully maneuvered through the air, avoiding the attack. Superboy engaged Twister in a whirlwind aerial skirmish while taking potshots at him using the talisman's power, creating powerful rays from his eyes.

Meanwhile, I harnessed the power of the Rabbit talisman, enhancing my agility and speed.

Bounding toward the factory, I activated the Ox talisman, propelling myself onto the rooftop. Twister focused his attention on Superboy, unleashing powerful gusts of wind.

Taking advantage of the distraction, I activated the Rabbit talisman, enhancing my speed and agility.

I sprinted towards the factory, weaving through debris. As I approached, I activated the Ox talisman enhancing my jumping ability, propelling myself onto the factory roof.

Superboy continued to engage Twister, dodging and deflecting wind attacks.

Now on the roof, I pulled out two talismans, the Monkey and Dragon. I drew upon the Monkey and Dragon talismans.

The transformation was arduous but exhilarating as my body elongated, scales sprouted from my skin, and flames danced within my mouth.

I started getting bigger, as my limbs stretched and gained mass, emerald green scales started to poke out of my flesh at the shoulders, more emerging down my chest and arms and towards my neck before laying flat against my skin, locking together as they spread down towards my waist and finished covering my hands, ending in sharp looking claws. I was nearly twenty feet tall now and getting even more bulky.

Flames were growing from my mouth turning to yellow from their previous dull orange after I first activated the dragon talisman, which I knew meant they were heating up.

Precieving me as the bigger threat he stopped trying to hit Superboy and focused on me. That would have been the time for Superboy to attack Twister while he was distracted, but I had a feeling Superboy was just as startled by my transformation. I guess I should have given him a heads up.

" Is this grown up enough for you?" I growled.

" So, the child wasn't really a child but a monster in disguise." Mr. Twister said, before lifting his arms. " Oh well, I think I can spare some time to slay a beast."

It seems he had stopped holding back, judging by the brewing storm in the sky. With a mighty roar, I leapt at Twister, who shifted his focus to me. 

As Twister conjured a raging storm, I stood my ground, enduring his onslaught with gritted teeth. I advanced methodically, closing the distance with each determined step.

His twisters and lightning blasts kept rocking me backwards, but I had my feet under me and withstood albeit with pain. I stopped trying to stand, plunging my hands down into the road as I kept methodically advancing. Our showdown intensified, each blow reverberating with raw power. Eventually, I managed to reach him.

"My turn," I growled, launching a devastating strike that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Twister retaliated with lightning blasts, momentarily stunning me. However, I pressed on, relentless in my pursuit.

With superhuman strength and inhuman agility, I flew past Twister with a flick of my hind legs, launching myself at him with all the force and speed I could muster. He fell down and crashed into a stack of scrap metal, denting it in the process. But he managed to get up again and charge up another blast.

I rolled away and kicked off one of the piles before springing upward again. Using this move, I dodged around, keeping Twister at bay until I landed on the pile and used its momentum to flip back over Twister.

Finally, seizing an opening, I unleashed a barrage of attacks, culminating in a ferocious blow that left Twister reeling, his metallic form battered and broken.

I brought my arm to his waist and then swung a vicious backhand blow at him way too fast to dodge, a fireball detonating as I struck him in the shoulder.

At the same time, he let out another lightning blast, which left me dazzled for a moment as he flew away from me, spinning freely across the pier.

The smoke cleared and my eyes focused on his metal form and the groves my claws left behind. The left part of his shoulder mount was torn off and judging by the occasional twitching and sparking it seemed I had damaged something important. 

Landing gracefully beside him, I grabbed hold of him. Using his arms against his sides, I forced my weight onto him and lifted him up, flipping him to the ground. I landed on top of him and wrapped my legs firmly around his waist, holding on tightly. I then proceeded to squeeze, but he overcharged a lightning attack and blasted me away.

Another quick application of the Horse talisman's power and the momentary blindness and pain started to fade away.

My eyes focused on Twister, who had lifted into the air as I moved slowly towards him.

" You think this is enough to defeat me? I'll show you what true power feels like."

Mr. Twister lifted his arms in the air and a thunderstorm of truly epic proportions was brewing and numerous twisters started appearing all around us.

Seeing that he was standing still in the air trying to gather enough energy to perform an attack. Superboy didn't dally and seized the opportunity. He blasted him with lasers from his eyes, while I unleashed a torrent of dragon breath igniting the tornado that surrounded Mr.Twister, encasing him in a firestorm.

That seemed to do it, as with a crash. Mr. Twister fell from the sky and into a pile of debris. Superboy landed beside me, looking impressed.

I reverted to my human form, slightly drained from the talisman's power.

"I got to admit when you said had something to put him down. That was not what I was expecting. We should spar sometime, it was obvious you weren't used to that form. " He remarked, a smirk playing on his face.

"Sure thing. Let's get him back to the League first. We need to find out who's behind all this. Then we can figure out a new training schedule." I said.

Suddenly we could see an airship closing in on us. It landed and moments later, Aqualad, Robin, Kid Flash, and Miss Martian streamed out of the alien ship. Superboy walked towards them.

"You guys are late for the party, we already took care of the guy."

" Aw, man we missed it? If you guys had let me run ahead, I would have made it before it was over." Kid Flash complained.

" Enough Kid Flash. We are a team, you can't just rush ahead on your own, especially into an unknown situation. It's dangerous and irresponsible." He turned to us. " What's the situation, we came as fast we could but unfortunately getting the team together took a bit of time," Aqualad said.

" It's okay he was a little tough, but we managed to take him down. The guy seems like some sort of android, but I don't know if he is actually sentient or being remotely controlled." I explained.

I also filled him in on the rest of the details and with Superboy chiming in with comments regarding his parts of the fight, it was not long before the whole team was up to speed.

Aqualad nodded, " You both did well. I'll speak with my King about moving into the headquarters on a semi-permanent basis and handing out some of my responsibilities back at Atlantis to someone else.

I recommend those of you who don't plan on moving in to at least make more time for the team. Superboy and Zodiac shouldn't have had to face this villain on their own. This is a failing I don't plan on happening again." 

" I'll try to cut time on my patrol time in Gotham. Batman has got it handled anyway and I think this team needs me more." Robin said.

" Me too, between school, patrols, and training with Flash I don't if I'll be able to spend as much time. But, I'll make it happen." Kid Flash said.

" I'll talk to Uncle John about moving back. I want to be a part of this team and I don't have school to worry about. Besides Uncle John is busy most of the time, so it won't cut into our training time." Miss Martian said.

Aqualad pleased with their answers smiled and he wasn't the only one who did so. I guess it'll be more fun with more people around.

(Chapter End)

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