Chapter Text
The air was thick with ancient magic, heavy, clinging to the skin as if it had a life of its own. Wally could only gasp, his lungs burning as his gaze fixed on Klarion's figure, imposing himself at the tower's peak like a hurricane of chaos. He wielded his magic brutally, attacking relentlessly with the chaos of a whirlwind that distorted everything in its path and showed no signs of stopping.
Beside him, Kent Nelson barely managed to stay on his feet, his breathing weak and his magic wearing thin, unable to protect them from Klarion. The firmness with which he'd started the battle seemed to have vanished, worsening with each enemy attack. You could see it in the old man's eyes—he didn't have much time left.
-The bubble will give you enough time to do what you need to do - Kent said barely in a weak whisper, leaving behind what once was.
Wally could barely understand what was happening, his mind racing as fast as it could. Time for what? What did he mean? What did he have to do? He looked ahead once more, watching Klarion's attack that wouldn't let them go, getting closer and closer as fear settled in the air.
-I have no idea what I need to do - he managed to respond with barely any strength.
Desperation lodged in his bones—no, maybe it was fear or perhaps confusion. He, the fastest member of his team, had been trapped, helpless against the enemy. But that wasn't the worst part, what caused such feelings, but rather having to watch Kent crumble, dying in his arms, without being able to do absolutely anything.
However, amidst all that confusion, a voice emerged through the telepathic link he had—it was M'gann.
-Wally, tell Kent we need Dr. Fate.
The voice anchored him amid everything happening around him, but Kent brought him back to reality by grabbing his arm, making Wally focus his gaze on him again.
-Have faith in what you cannot explain... Believe in what you can no longer deny - he whispered with a weak smile, as if he knew something Wally seemed to ignore.
So he raised his gaze to that helmet that gleamed golden, blinding, almost as if saying that was the answer, while Klarion seemed to infiltrate the bubble, slowly destroying the barrier.
Everything seemed to stop for an instant—only he and the helmet remained, which wasn't just magic, it was something he didn't understand and that terrified him. His hand trembled and the movement seemed eternal until he reached the object.
-A test of faith... - he murmured.
And he put it on. Everything suddenly became light, a light so bright it enveloped him, pierced through him and seemed to create and destroy at the same time, until shortly after, only darkness remained.
He didn't know if he was falling, floating, or what was happening—it was a bewildering sensation as if he were in a dream he couldn't control. He opened his eyes and could only find himself facing the void, a deep darkness illuminated only by that light falling on him as if he were standing in the middle of a stage.
-It's okay, it's okay, no problem. I'm not here. I'm just delirious - Wally said, trying to convince himself though it didn't seem to work.
-Still don't believe? - a familiar voice replied - Seriously, kid, how did you manage to become so stubborn in fifteen short years?
Wally would turn sharply to look at him—Kent. The relief of seeing him was great but at the same time...
-Ah... but you're... you're...
-Yes. But don't feel bad. As soon as this little disturbance is over, my spirit will ascend and I'll reunite with my beloved Inza.
-Okay... Wait. Does that mean I'm...?
-No. You're alive. But your soul no longer controls your body. We're inside the helmet. You put it on, and my soul entered it, perhaps because I spent many years serving its master.
-Master?
-Nabu, the true Doctor Fate, a Lord of Order. He controls your body now.
An opening would appear in what was once just the void, showing as if opening the curtain of the performance how Doctor Fate fought against Klarion. It was his own body fighting, feeling the pain of each blow he gave, each blow he received, like an echo that traversed the physical to reach his consciousness, his soul.
However, he didn't control it—it was and yet wasn't his body, he was the protagonist of this play but at the same time he wasn't in command. It was terrifying, confusing, and so unreal. What had been his body seemed to no longer belong to him.
And when everything ended, when Klarion escaped and everything calmed down again, all Dr. Fate did was stay there, doing nothing, immobile like a statue. He wasn't taking off the helmet. He said not a word, not a single sound, which began to make Wally nervous—something was settling in his chest and seemed like a wave that kept hitting him with more and more anxiety.
-So... why isn't Nabu taking off the helmet?
The answer wouldn't come from Kent, but would make its way from the darkness—a voice that was everywhere, a cold, ancient, and imposing voice.
-Because Earth needs Dr. Fate. I will not release this body.
-He can't do that! Can he? - Wally would shout in alarm, looking at Kent, hoping he could stop Nabu or convince him somehow.
-He can, but he shouldn't - Kent would say - Nabu, this isn't the right candidate. The boy's soul belongs to the world of science, not sorcery.
-True, but I don't like living hidden, useless, and isolated for decades. Chaos must not be allowed to reign.
Kent would step forward, trying to negotiate with Nabu, but it didn't work.
Wally would finally feel the weight that came with the helmet—the silence, the destiny—it had fallen upon him and before he realized it, he was alone. There was no one beside him anymore, just the void, alone, trapped.