Lightning Strikes: The Magic Words - Billy Batson

1 - An Unexpected Guest

"I'm bored!" huffed Eugene.

"Me too!" agreed Darla. "I wanna fight some crime!" She threw some punches in the air.

"Speak for yourselves," said Freddy. "I'm having a great time!" He was flying around, twisting and twirling in the air. As often as he could now, thanks to his powers, Freddy Freeman was taking flight. 

"Besides, no crime to fight is a good thing," reminded Mary. "It means things are good and safe out there."

"Yeah, thanks to us!" cheered Darla. "Cause we're superheroes!"

"Yeah we are!" Freddy shared in her excitement and they high-fived.

The siblings were hanging out in their new favourite spot: their lair in the Rock of Eternity, left to them by the wizard, Shazam, after he had passed on his power to Billy, who had then shared it with his siblings.

"Mary's right," Pedro agreed with her. "But we need to be ready for when there is crime to fight!" True to his words, he was lifting weights. He and Freddy were the only ones still in their SHAZAM forms. 

"You're right," agreed Billy. "And we will be ready."

"Did you hear that?" Mary asked suddenly, getting to her feet.

"Hear what?" 

"Shh!"

Everyone fell still and silent, and listened. There was certainty a sound - a crackling it seemed - coming from deep in the lair. 

"SHAZAM!" The rest of the siblings powered up - all whispering the magic word - as they crept deeper into the vast cavern, following the sound as it grew louder with their approach. 

"There!" Freddy hissed, pointing up ahead.

One of the cavern's many doors - closed like all the others, hiding various secrets - was flickering, as if something was going on behind it. 

"Should we open in?" whispered Eugene as they all stopped before it - none too close, that is.

"Not it!" echoed a chorus of voices.

"Wimps." Darla strode forward with confidence.

"Darla, no!" cried Mary.

The youngest sibling didn't have the chance to open it though, for it shot open itself, revealing a figure. 

The young woman now facing them was dressed in silvery-white armour with a cloak, and a crown atop her head of flaming red hair. She was partially hunched over, as though in great pain, and her face, cloak, and armour were all stained with grime.  

"T-they're c-coming," she rasped, staring at the six siblings with wide, scared eyes. Then she collapsed, falling to the ground right at their feet. 

---------------------------------

The newcomer was out cold. Picking her up as carefully as he  could, Billy brought her over to a raised flat stone across the cavern and lay her there.

"SHAZAM." The word was once again spoken in unison, in soft voices as to not disturb their new guest. Her appearance was still very dirty, but she looked peaceful now. 

"Look," Billy said, pointing to the symbol of the lightning bolt on the front of the woman's armour, which glowed dimly.  "It's the same as ours."

"Billy, stop," said Mary.  "It looks like you're pointing to her boobs."

Billy immediately dropped his hand.  "No! I'm just saying she has the same symbol as us."

"Maybe she's a superhero like us," Darla cried excitedly.

Billy turned to his brother.  "Freddy, you're our superhero expert - any thoughts."

Freddy shook his head.  "None. She's a mystery."

"Do you think she's okay?" Darla asked, her face falling as she looked at the woman. "She didn't seem very okay."

"'They're coming'" Mary repeated the woman's choked out words.  "I wonder who she was talking about." They were all wondering the same. 

Billy nodded.  "I don't know. I guess we'll just have to ask her when she wakes up."

(Hello and welcome to my latest story! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this first chapter! :))