Watchtower Meeting Room - Three Hours After Scheduled Time
(3rd person POV)
The meeting room aboard the Justice League Watchtower hummed with quiet energy, its curved walls gleaming with the same advanced technology that kept the orbital station functioning. The massive circular table dominated the center of the chamber, its polished surface reflecting the soft blue glow of the holographic displays that monitored Earth's surface far below. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the curve of Earth painted a stunning backdrop of blue oceans and swirling white clouds against the infinite black of space.
Superman sat in his usual position, his cape draped over the back of his chair, hands folded on the table as he engaged in quiet conversation with Wonder Woman. The Amazon warrior's armor caught the ambient light, and she nodded thoughtfully at something the Man of Steel had said. To her right, Batman remained characteristically silent, his cowled figure a study in controlled stillness as his white lenses reflected the data streams flowing across his display.
Aquaman leaned back in his chair, his trident resting against the table's edge, discussing oceanic patrol routes with Martian Manhunter, whose red eyes occasionally flicked toward the main viewscreen showing global surveillance feeds. The Flash drummed his fingers against the table's surface slowly, for him creating a barely audible rhythm that seemed to match his restless energy. Green Lantern Hal Jordan manipulated a small construct between his hands, a miniature Earth that he spun lazily while half-listening to the conversations around him.
Black Canary and Hawkwoman had claimed seats near the room's communication console, their heads bent together as they reviewed recent mission reports. The soft murmur of their voices mixed with the ambient hum of the station's systems. Nearby, Shazam despite his imposing physical presence sat with the eager posture of someone still relatively new to these gatherings, occasionally glancing around the room with barely concealed wonder.
At the far end of the table, Dr. Fate sat in meditative silence his golden helmet reflecting the starlight streaming through the windows. The Lord of Order's presence always seemed to add weight to any gathering, and even the normally chatty League members spoke in more subdued tones when he was present.
"Where is he?" Flash asked, glancing at the chronometer display on the wall. "Constantine called this meeting thirty minutes ago."
"Patience Barry" Superman said with a slight smile. "You know how John operates. He'll arrive when he's ready."
Batman's gravelly voice cut through the chatter. "He said it was urgent."
As if summoned by their conversation, the meeting room's entrance hissed open. John Constantine stepped through, his trademark tan trench coat wrinkled and stained, his tie loosened and hanging askew. His disheveled blonde hair looked like he'd run his hands through it repeatedly, and dark circles shadowed his eyes. Behind him, Zatanna Zatara followed, her stage magician's outfit pristine in contrast to Constantine's rumpled appearance. Her dark hair was pulled back neatly, but worry lines creased her usually composed features. She moved to stand beside John, one hand resting lightly on his shoulder in a gesture of support.
"'Bout bloody time." Constantine muttered in his Liverpool accent, pulling out a chair and dropping into it with a heavy sigh. He rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands, then looked up at the assembled heroes. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Had to make sure I wasn't followed."
Zatanna took the seat next to him, her concerned gaze never leaving the occult detective. "John's been through quite an ordeal" she said softly.
Superman leaned forward, his expression growing serious. "What happened, John? Your message was... cryptic."
Constantine reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a small presentation remote. He held it up and nodded toward Batman. "Thanks for setting this up, Bats. Going to need the visual aids for this one."
Batman pressed a series of controls on his armrest, and the room's main holographic display activated, showing a blank presentation screen. The overhead lights dimmed automatically, focusing attention on the display area.
Constantine clicked the remote, and the Justice League logo appeared briefly before transitioning to a title slide: "The Fair Lands Incident"
"Right" Constantine began, his voice taking on the tone of someone delivering a briefing he'd rather not be giving. "Last week, I had an unexpected encounter with an old acquaintance. Goes by the name Neron."
"Bastard ambushed me outside my flat in London" Constantine continued, clicking to the next slide, which showed a swirling portal of sickly yellow and red energy. "One minute I'm having a perfectly reasonable day, next thing I know I'm being dragged through a rift."
The slide changed again, showing an artistic rendering of a fantastical landscape ranging from twisted trees with silver bark, floating islands connected by bridges of what appeared to be solidified moonlight, and creatures that seemed to be made of living shadow and starlight.
"Welcome to the Fair Lands" Constantine said dryly. "Think Alice in Wonderland but with more murder and considerably worse madness."
Wonder Woman studied the image intently. "The Fair Lands... I've heard whispers of such a place in the old stories. A realm where magic flows like water and reality bends to will and whim."
"Got it in one, Princess" Constantine replied. "Neron dumped me there as punishment for interfering with one of his schemes. Thought he was being clever, leaving me stranded in a place where the rules of our reality don't apply."
Dr. Fate's metallic voice resonated through the room. "The Fair Lands exist in a state of flux between dimensions. Few mortals have ever entered and returned."
"Yeah, well, I'm not most mortals" Constantine said with a humorless smile. He clicked the remote again, and the display showed what appeared to be security footage of a crack in the air itself a jagged tear in reality that pulsed with unstable energy.
"This is where it gets interesting" Constantine continued, his tone growing more serious. "I managed to find my way out—don't ask me how it involved some magic and a deal I'd rather not discuss. But when I tore open the exit portal, I should have been able to seal it behind me."
He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Should have. But look at this."
The footage showed Constantine stepping through the crack in reality, which then which fully closed, only after he turned around the crack started to react strangely. It slowly begin widening again, as if being pulled open by invisible hands only to stop when it became large enough to be visible easily.
Flash leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "It's opening on its own?"
"That's not possible," Green Lantern said, his ring glowing faintly as he accessed its knowledge banks. "Dimensional rifts don't just reopen without a catalyst."
Constantine's expression grew grim. "Exactly. Something's pulling it open from the other side. Something with enough power to overcome the natural dimensional barriers and keep it open."
Batman's voice cut through the murmur of concerned voices. "How long has it been open?"
"Three days and counting" Constantine replied. "It's small now maybe the size of a manhole cover but thankfully its not growing."
Aquaman frowned. "What exactly are we dealing with here? What's in the Fair Lands that we need to be concerned about?"
Constantine was quiet for a moment before he rubbed the back of his neck. "The Fair Lands aren't just another dimension or reality. They're a place where stories have power, where archetypes and myths walk around as real as you or me. The beings there... they don't think like us. They operate on rules that normal humans would struggle to understand and symbolism more than logic."
He clicked to another slide, showing artistic renderings of various creatures some beautiful, some terrifying, all clearly not of Earth.
"Fae lords who can rewrite reality with a well-crafted words, beasts that feed on fear and grow stronger from it. Living storms that chase travelers across endless plains. And those are just the ones I heard about personally."
Constantine paused, running a hand through his hair. "But that's not even the worst part. While I was there, I had an encounter with one of the locals, This thing and I'm quoting here warned me about something called a 'Chaos Queen Fae' being in the Fair Lands. Said it would 'herald the unmaking of realms' and other cheerful predictions about reality coming undone.
The room fell silent. Several League members exchanged worried glances, but all eyes eventually turned to Dr. Fate, whose golden helmet seemed to pulse faintly in the dimmed lighting.
"Doctor" Superman said carefully, "you're our expert on threats like these. Have you heard of anything like this?"
Dr. Fate was quiet for a long moment, his metallic voice taking on an even more somber tone when he finally spoke. "The Lords of Chaos and Order have existed since the dawn of creation, maintaining the balance between structure and entropy across all realities. If a Chaos Queen has indeed emerged in the Fair Lands..."
He paused, seeming to commune with forces beyond mortal understanding.
"I cannot say with certainty whether this entity is connected to the Lords of Chaos I serve to balance. The Fair Lands operate under different cosmic principles than our reality. However, the very designation of 'Chaos Queen' suggests a being of immense destructive potential one that could indeed threaten the stability of multiple dimensions."
Flash drummed his fingers nervously. "So what's our move? Do we try to close the portal? Mount an expedition to investigate?"
"That's... complicated" Constantine said, his voice taking on an even more troubled tone. "Because there's something else. Something I didn't mention in my initial report."
He reached into his coat pocket again, this time withdrawing several sheets of ordinary looking paper.
"Before anyone starts panicking about contagion" Constantine said, noting the immediate tension that rippled through the room, "my first stop after getting back was to visit our resident genius here." He nodded toward Batman. "Spent the better part of two days in one of his containment facilities while he ran every test known to science and a few that probably violate several international treaties."
Batman's gravelly voice confirmed the account. "Full biological, magical contamination protocols. No signs of infectious agents, but..." He paused, his white lenses reflecting the ambient light. "The readings were inconclusive. Whatever's affecting Constantine operates on principles we don't fully understand."
"Comforting" Flash muttered, though he leaned forward with curiosity rather than backing away.
Constantine began passing the papers around the table. "These are copies of what appears in my vision whenever I make a request for 'system'. Somehow it always materializes no matter where I am."
Superman was the first to examine the documents, his enhanced vision immediately cataloging every detail. The front page was formatted like something from a tabletop role-playing game, but with an odd level of precision and detail:
________________________________________
John Constantine
"Magician, Occult Detective, and Professional Bastard"
Titles & Epithets
Heaven's Least Favorite Son -- Rejected by Hell, unwelcome in Heaven; the man no afterlife wants
Race: Variant Human
Class: [PENDING]
Background: Charlatan
Alignment: Chaotic good
Level: [PENDING]
Ability Scores
STR 8 -- [Locked] DEX 14 -- [Locked] CON 15 (14 base +1 feat) -- [Locked] INT 17 (16 base +1 race) -- [Locked] WIS 12 -- [Locked] CHA 16 -- [Locked]
Skills & Proficiencies
Saving Throws: Constitution, Charisma Skills: Arcana, [PENDING](expertise), Investigation (expertise), Insight, Stealth, [PENDING]
[System Message: Please wait 8766 hours for full system access]
________________________________________________________
Wonder Woman studied her version of the document, her brow furrowing. "This level of detail... it knows things about you that would require intimate knowledge of your capabilities and experiences."
"Including some rather unflattering assessments" Constantine noted dryly, lighting a cigarette despite the no-smoking policy. "Though I can't argue with the 'Professional Bastard' designation."
Batman took the documents next, his analytical mind immediately processing the implications. "The formatting suggests a game-like interface, but the accuracy of the personal information indicates active observation and analysis. Someone or something has been studying you, John."
Superman flipped to the back page and there in stark digital font that seemed to pulse faintly w was a countdown timer:
8,766:42:17
Below it, in smaller text was an odd meter that explained nothing.
[SATURATION: 0%]
"It's counting down from a year" Superman said quietly, his voice carrying the weight of the discovery. "In hours, minutes, and seconds."
"The countdown" Shazam observed, his features creased with worry. "What happens when it reaches zero?"
Constantine shrugged, but the casual gesture didn't hide the tension in his shoulders. "Could be when whatever process started becomes irreversible. Could be when I stop being John Constantine and become something else entirely."
Constantine stubbed out his cigarette and immediately lit another. "Here's what we know for certain: I've been marked by something from the Fair Lands and we have less than a year to figure out how to stop it. The question is..."
He looked around the table at Earth's mightiest heroes.
"What are we going to do about it?"
_______________________________
The Fair Lands - Deep Forest
The morning air in the Fair Lands carried a different quality than the earthly atmosphere. Somehow it was thicker, more alive, as if each breath contained not just oxygen but possibility itself. Ivory walked along a winding path through the ancient forest, her footsteps silent on the carpet of luminescent moss that seemed to glow faintly in response to her presence.
The three dryad children accompanied her, their bare feet leaving faint traces of golden pollen with each step. They moved with the fluid grace of creatures born from nature itself, their very being harmonized with the ecosystem around them.
The tallest of the three, who barely reached Ivory's waist walked to her left, her small hand clasped securely in Ivory's wooden fingers. Her hair was a marvel to behold, the living vines woven together seemed to flow delicately in the wind with green leaves sprouting throughout the auburn strands.
To Ivory's right, the middle child held her other hand her touch was warm and surprisingly strong. This one bore bark-like patterns along her arms and legs the natural armor-like markings spiraling in elegant whorls that seemed to shift and flow as she walked. Her eyes, large and bright green, frequently darted upward to watch Jack Frost as he floated alongside them.
Jack meanwhile drifted through the air with casual grace his form flickering occasionally when he drifted through something in his way, the children when they saw that occur would laugh and try to make him flicker again. The middle child would occasionally reach out with her free hand, trying to touch Jack's coat or catch his fingers that he danced just out of her reach.
"She's fascinated by you" Ivory observed, watching the child's unsuccessful attempts to interact with Jack's form.
Jack grinned, deliberately wiggling his fingers right outside of the child's reach. "Kid's got good taste. Though I have to admit, it's weird being the invisible imaginary friend so soon again."
The smallest of the three children had bounded ahead, her energy seemingly inexhaustible. Barely waist-high even to her sisters, she moved through the forest like a tiny force of nature. Her hair was adorned with petals that curled and bloomed in real-time—a crown of blossoms that shifted from morning glories to tiny roses to forget-me-nots as her mood changed. Currently, they were a cheerful yellow, matching her obvious delight in their forest walk.
She darted between the massive tree trunks, gathering flowers, interesting stones, and curiously shaped twigs. Her small hands worked with surprising dexterity, weaving her collection into something that was taking shape as they walked.
"What do you think she's making?" Ivory asked.
Jack floated closer to observe the child's handiwork. "Looks like... a crown? Or maybe a bracelet. Hard to tell what she is crafting it could turn into anything until she settles."
Between the ancient trees, glimpses of movement caught the eye, Zerglings maintaining a protective perimeter around their small group. The creatures moved with predatory grace, their chitinous bodies blending surprisingly well with the shadows and undergrowth as they protected the group from any animals that ventured in their direction.
The tallest child tugged gently on Ivory's hand, drawing her attention to a cluster of flowers growing in a spiral pattern around the base of an enormous oak. The blooms were unlike anything from Earth their petals seemed to be made of crystallized starlight, and they chimed softly in harmonious tones when the breeze touched them.
The child's eyes lit up with excitement as she pointed at the musical flowers, then began pulling Ivory's hand in that direction with the determined enthusiasm only children could muster.
Ivory smiled, allowing herself to be led toward the enchanting display. "Alright, alright, I'm coming" she said with gentle amusement, glancing at Jack as they moved. "She's got quite the grip for someone made of bark and dreams."
Jack floated alongside them, grinning at the sight. "Kid knows what she wants. I respect that in a person, even a tiny magical tree person."
The child's excitement was infectious, and soon the other two sisters were drawn by their sibling's enthusiasm. The middle child released Ivory's other hand to skip ahead, her bark-patterned arms reaching out to touch the crystalline petals. The smallest one abandoned her flower-gathering expedition entirely, her petal crown now sporting excited pink blooms that matched her curiosity. As they reached the base of the ancient oak, all three children gathered around the singing flowers with reverent wonder. The musical blooms responded to their presence, their chimes growing softer and more melodious.
"They're beautiful" Ivory murmured, kneeling down to examine the flowers more closely. Each bloom was a masterpiece of natural artistry, with petals that caught and refracted light like living prisms.
The tallest child tugged on Ivory's sleeve, then pointed to a soft patch of moss beside the flower spiral. When Ivory looked confused, the child gently pressed down on Ivory's shoulder with both small hands, her meaning clear.
"I think she wants you to lie down" Jack observed, his tone amused. "Looks like you're about to become part of their art project."
Ivory laughed softly and obliged, settling down on the cushiony moss. The surface was surprisingly comfortable, seeming to mold itself to support her body perfectly. Above her, the ancient oak's branches formed a natural canopy, filtering the ethereal light of the Fair Lands into dancing patterns of gold and green.
The moment Ivory was settled, all three children sprang into action with the coordinated efficiency of a well-rehearsed team. The tallest carefully began plucking the singing flowers, their chimes creating a gentle melody as she worked. The middle child gathered armfuls of the moss-like groundcover, her bark-patterned hands moving with surprising dexterity. The smallest darted around collecting fallen petals and interesting leaves, her flower crown now a riot of colors reflecting her excitement.
The children moved around Ivory with purposeful intent, occasionally glancing at each other and nodding as if confirming some unspoken plan. The tallest began placing the crystalline flowers along Ivory's arms and across her torso, each bloom adding its voice to a growing symphony. The middle child wove the silvery moss between the flowers, creating intricate patterns that seemed to shift and flow with their own inner light.
The smallest child was the artist of the group, stepping back frequently to observe their work, tilting her head this way and that before darting forward to adjust a petal here or add a splash of color there. Her additions were whimsical touches—a cluster of tiny blue flowers around Ivory's wooden wrist, a crown of golden leaves to complement the circlet she'd made earlier.
As they worked, the children played with each other in a way that only siblings could. The middle child would tickle the smallest when she got too serious about her artistic vision, causing eruptions of silent giggles that made her petal crown burst into rainbow colors. The tallest would gently redirect her sisters when they got distracted, but always with patient smiles and soft touches.
The tallest child placed the final flower, a particularly large bloom that chimed like a tiny bell, right over Ivory's heart. Then all three children stepped back to admire their handiwork, clasping their hands together in obvious delight.
Ivory was now covered in a living tapestry of crystalline flowers, silvery moss, and delicate leaves. The arrangement wasn't random—there was an artistry to it, a pattern that seemed to flow and dance even as she lay still. The flowers chimed softly in harmony, creating a gentle lullaby that seemed to resonate with the magic of the forest itself.
"You look like a fairy tale" Jack said softly. "Like something out of a storybook about forest queens and magical gardens."
The smallest child suddenly had an idea, evident in the way her eyes widened and her crown burst into excited purple blooms. She scampered over to a nearby patch of flowers and began gathering them quickly, weaving them together as she worked. Her sisters watched with interest, then began helping, creating what appeared to be small floral bracelets.
Soon they were back at Ivory's side, gently lifting her hands to slide the flower bracelets onto her wrists. The middle child created one for each of her sisters as well, and they all held up their decorated wrists together, comparing their handiwork with obvious pride.
The scene was peaceful, timeless, and filled with the kind of innocent joy that Ivory hadn't experienced since her own childhood. Lying there among the singing flowers, surrounded by children made of dreams and magic, she felt something deep within her settle and calm.
"This is nice" she murmured, not wanting to disturb the moment but feeling compelled to share the thought.
Jack nodded, his usual sarcasm nowhere to be found. "Yeah. It really is."