Ignite [Book Three In The "Fire And Lightning" Series]

Chapter Forty-Five- Home

June 8, 2018. 11:30.
Watchtower.
~~Willow~~

The Watchtower was instantly a flurry of activity, with Leaguers rushing every which-way to welcome us back. Superman, to everyone's surprise (except Batman's, perhaps) hugged Superboy tightly, and M'gann embraced her uncle, surrounded by the four kids who'd been living with them.

"Bridget!" A voice shouted from over by the computers.

She and I spun around, looking to the sound of the voice.

"Roy!" She screamed, speeding across the room without hesitation and kissing him. Somehow, Arsenal had access to the Watchtower, and by the look of his computer screens, he'd been trying to help the League find out where Olivia and Connor had disappeared to.

"Wait." Batman said. He had hardly raised his voice, but everyone was instantly quiet just the same.

"Where is the Flash?"

My heart clenched, feeling like ice, and Wally stumbled against Artemis.

Oliver sighed, holding Olivia tightly. "He's dead, Bruce."

"Zoom was there. He killed him." Bridget said in a quiet voice. Arsenal gently stroked her hair to comfort her.

Silence slowly took over the Watchtower, mourning the fallen Leaguer.

My eyes were drawn towards the memorial garden. Ted Kord wouldn't be the only League memorial in there anymore.

Emma yelped in the silence, startling everyone in the vicinity.

"What is it?" Batman was at her side in an instant.

"The stone...it's warm." She said in disbelief. "Really warm."

"What stone?" Hawkwoman asked, sounding extremely concerned for her protege.

Nightwing looked at Batman seriously. "The Ever Stone."

For a second, the Dark Knight's placid expression flickered; I couldn't tell if it was fear or just surprise that we'd found it before he had.

Terra and Tammy looked at the stone in Emma's hand, and I pushed through the crowd surrounding them to get a good look. I could almost sense the heat radiating off it, and it seemed to be glowing brighter than when Tammy had plucked it from Luthor's suit.

"Team debrief in five." Batman was saying to the team and it's surviving League chaperones, but the four of us weren't listening.

Together, Tammy, Terra and I reached out to touch the stone. I could almost hear a tapping sound echoing from within.

Something was trying to get out.

No, not something.

Someone.

We touched it at the same time, and for a second I thought it was a huge mistake. A wave of light exploded through the Watchtower, knocking everyone else off their feet. We tried to let go, try to stop what was happening, but none of us could let go. I was actually surprised that we could each grip the stone at the same time.

My head was thrown back, and I could feel my wings growing, spreading to their full height. Emma was doing the same thing, squeezing her eyes shut tightly, as if it hurt to spread her wings. the same yellow light that had formed a ring around the mission room was circling Terra and Tammy, who had their eyes squeezed shut like Emma.

"What's happening?" Finch cried as Captain Marvel tried to shelter her and Rachel.

Olivia, however, seemed to know exactly what was happening. She slowly got to her feet, even with how small she was compared to the wind resistance.