InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Moriarity was real."

It occurs to Shazam that he probably should have asked more questions about what is going on. Weird weather doesn't really let him mentally prepare for anything that is to come. Especially not when he hasn't even become aware of anything that weird in all the flying around he has been doing. He would think a crisis that has the whole Justice League and more scrambling would be more... noticeable.

Moving in at great speed, Lady Krypton collides with him nearly head on, slamming him in the face with an elbow and grasping him by the throat before he gets anywhere.

Okay. He's noticing something now.

"What do you think you're doing here?"

"Hrrk!" Shazam finds that strangling and asking questions is a little counterproductive. "Really wishing... I asked more... questions! ...You?!"

Lady Krypton is obviously not in any mood for Shazam's sense of humor. He can tell why -- not exactly why, but a rough estimate. There is definitely something wrong with her. It isn't quite possession and isn't magical in nature, but something has definitely warped her sensibilities. That would have been nice to know before coming here.

Her fist slamming into his face reverberates like thunder. The only sound the accompanies the kneeing that follows is the very uncomfortable one he makes himself. Finally, both of her fists swing in unison into his back like sledgehammers. He blasts into the ground before he can even try to stop himself.

There is something very familiar about all this.

Shazam sputters out some leaves and dirt as he pulls himself out of the moist pit of soil and roots he has just been driven into. He's a total twip. This is somehow the Power Man trick all over again, and he has flown right into it... again. If that's the case, it isn't going to turn out the same as it did last time. This time is going to be different.

Lady Krypton lands nearby and drags him up by the golden rope tying on his cape, readying to dish out some more.

"...Shazam."

As it goes, the lightning slams down at his command. Lady Krypton is blasted by it along with him and goes flying back into some trees. Shazam -- now just Vince -- is unscathed by it. His feet drop back to the ground, and he takes a step back upon uneven ground. He sinks backwards, teeters and is toppled by a root, failing to see anything to grab onto and tumbling down a hill into the river with a splash.

See? That was different.