Three Months Ago
Mitch Anderson walked out of the back entrance of the diner he worked at, taking the garbage to the dumpster in the alley. A light rain had started to fall as Mitch realized he came to work without a jacket and would have to walk home in the rain. Quickly tossing the bag into the dumpster, the young man rushed back inside before the rain started to get heavier.
Within moments, Tommy Ventura peeked out from behind a garbage can and climbed into the dumpster to hopefully find some food that was still intact. Having been abandoned by his parents, this had become Tommy's only means of survival for the last few weeks. Food, clothing, shelter, Tommy had to scrounge for everything he needed now.
As Tommy found a mostly uneaten burger, two figures appeared at the end of the alley. An old Southern gentlemen and a young boy using a crutch to walk.
"He's in here," the boy said.
"Good work, Tiny Tim," the King of Fables said as he approached the dumpster, watching Tommy eat anything he found that was still edible. "This is no way for a boy to survive."
Tommy looked up, realizing he had no place to run. "Please, Mister, I haven't eaten in days."
"Climb out of the dumpster, boy, I'll take you to a place where there's food and a warm bed. If you're willing to work for it, that is,"
"I'll do anything," Tommy said as he climbed out of the dumpster. As soon as his ragged shoes touched the ground, Tim put his hand to Tommy's forehead, putting him in a trance. The King pulled a book out of his jacket, flipping through it until he found the page he was looking for.
"Then let's not waste any more time, shall we?"
Mitch Anderson walked out of the back entrance of the diner he worked at, taking the garbage to the dumpster in the alley. A light rain had started to fall as Mitch realized he came to work without a jacket and would have to walk home in the rain. Quickly tossing the bag into the dumpster, the young man rushed back inside before the rain started to get heavier.
Within moments, Tommy Ventura peeked out from behind a garbage can and climbed into the dumpster to hopefully find some food that was still intact. Having been abandoned by his parents, this had become Tommy's only means of survival for the last few weeks. Food, clothing, shelter, Tommy had to scrounge for everything he needed now.
As Tommy found a mostly uneaten burger, two figures appeared at the end of the alley. An old Southern gentlemen and a young boy using a crutch to walk.
"He's in here," the boy said.
"Good work, Tiny Tim," the King of Fables said as he approached the dumpster, watching Tommy eat anything he found that was still edible. "This is no way for a boy to survive."
Tommy looked up, realizing he had no place to run. "Please, Mister, I haven't eaten in days."
"Climb out of the dumpster, boy, I'll take you to a place where there's food and a warm bed. If you're willing to work for it, that is,"
"I'll do anything," Tommy said as he climbed out of the dumpster. As soon as his ragged shoes touched the ground, Tim put his hand to Tommy's forehead, putting him in a trance. The King pulled a book out of his jacket, flipping through it until he found the page he was looking for.
"Then let's not waste any more time, shall we?"
ISSUE #15 (June 2018)
Written by Tobias Christopher Featuring: Superman
Power Boy
Lois Lane
Toyman
Superboy
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"THE KING OF FABLES - PART TWO"Today
Metropolis "And in other news, police are still searching for missing child Richard Jason White," the reporter said over the t.v. playing in the window of a pawn shop." Richard disappeared three weeks ago while on a field trip with his class. If you have information or have seen Richard, please call the missing persons hotline at—" "You okay, son?" Superman asked as he flew alongside Power Boy in the skies of Metropolis while they headed home. "It's just hard blocking out all the people who are crying out for help," Chris Kent told him, who had taken the name Power Boy. "How do you do it, Pa?" "I don't," Superman told him. "I can hear every cry, every shriek, every moment of every day." "Doesn't it bother you that you can't save everyone?" "Immensely," Superman said sadly. "At point I did try to be everywhere at once through robotic duplicates, but it didn't quite work out for the best. We do the best with what we're given, Chris. We try to make this world a better place, and hopefully inspire others to do the same. I know it's hard to try to ignore the constant voices begging for help, and knowing when to go and when to stay. But you're a fine young man, I know you're going to do great." "You know, with you, me, Connor and Jon, we can save four times as many people now, right?" "That's what I like to hear," Superman said as they returned to the farm house. "Jon? Is your homework done? Maybe we can go for some Chinese." "That's weird, he usually comes running when he hears we're having takeout," Chris said. "Jon?" "Something's not right," Superman said as he looked down at the floor, seeing some dirt. He used his supervision to pick up two sets of footprints, both leading out the door. "Jon's footprints. He left without his shoes." "So it was either an emergency or he forced into going," Chris said. "No signs of a struggle, it looks like Jon left willingly," Superman said. "He left a note," Chris said as he looked at the table. "He said he went over to Tommy's." "I don't know a Tommy," Superman told him. "And Jon knows better than to take off without shoes or calling one of us first. I'm going to find him. You stay here in case he comes back or if Lois calls." "Want me to make something up to her?" Superman started laughing. "That's a good one, son. But seriously, never lie to Lois. I'm the Man of Steel and even I fear her wrath if she gets upset." England "Are you okay, your highness?" Lois asked as she helped Prince Frederick up. Just moments earlier, the young prince was nearly assassinated by a hidden attacker. "Yes, I'm fine," Frederick said as he looked at the guards. "Put the palace on alert, an assassin is on the grounds! My little brother is the top priority! Did you not hear me, guards?" "I hate to break it to you, your highness, but those aren't your guards," Lois said, realizing they were life-sized toy soldiers dressed like the palace guards. They raised their rifles and prepared to fire as Lois quickly pushed a shelf over onto one, knocking the rest down like dominos. "Sorry about the property damage." "It's only material possessions, I only fear for my brother," Frederick said as they ran out into the hall. "I don't understand, what just happened?" "I think I know," Lois said, realizing she left her purse behind, along with a tracking beacon for Superman. "My purse, I can call for help." "No time, I'm afraid, those things might be after Vigo!" Frederick said as he ran ahead. Upstairs, twelve-year-old Vigo was reading a book at his desk when something snuck in. The boy looked up to see a man wearing a giant grinning doll head standing over him. "Who are you?" the boy asked. "A new playmate," the Toyman said in a soft voice. "Would you like to play with me?" Moments later as Frederick and Lois burst into the room, the bed was empty and Vigo was gone. "No!" Frederick shouted, unaware that a dozen of the tin toy soldiers were up the stairs, fully armed and ready to kill the Prince. "Four little Lost Boys, all under my command," the King of Fables said. "Tommy, go and check on your new brother, make sure he's liking his new wardrobe. Huck, Tim, it's time we started to plan for the big score." "Father, someone approaches," Tiny Tim said. "And he's powerful, more powerful than anyone we've encountered." "It's not how much power you have, boy," the King said. "It's how you use the power you have to take down your enemy. Get ready." A knock suddenly came at the shack door as the King of Fables opened it, seeing Clark Kent standing there. "I'm sorry to interrupt whatever you were doing, but I'm Clark Kent, your neighbor up the road," Clark said. "My son left a note saying he was coming to visit his friend Tommy." "I say, sir, it's only me and my two sons here," the King said. "Huck, Timothy, have you seen any other boys here tonight?" "No, sir," Huck told him. "No one but us." Listening to their heartbeats, Clark knew instantly that they were lying. And that's when he spotted Jon's clothes on the floor, including his favorite Wonder Woman t-shirt. "Hey, those are my son's--" Clark started to say before Huck rushed him, knocking Clark a good ten feet across the ground and into the grass. "Sorry, sir, I have to do this," Huck said as he grabbed Clark's leg and swung the hero around, sending him flying over the trees. "I knew we weren't going to live here long," the King said. "We'd better start packing before--" As the King closed the door and turned around, he saw Superman floating in the living room. "Where is the Kent boy?" Superman asked, trying to stay calm. If it were anyone else's child, he'd still have an air of calmness about him, but this wasn't any other kid. This was HIS child. "Don't make me ask you again." Huck went to rush him again, but this time Superman used his vision to burn a hole in the floor for Huck to fall through. If he was as strong as he appeared to be, he'd land just fine in the basement. "Wow, those are some mighty fine abilities you have there," the King said. "Mighty fine. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the King of Fables." "Kind of Fables, is it?" Superman asked. "Any relation to the Queen of Fables?" "I do believe that you've had the honor of meeting my sister," the King told him. "How is the old girl?" Before he could say another word, Superman lifted him up by the collar. "The Kent boy, now!" "Of course," the King said. "Oh, Peter!" Jon appeared in the bedroom doorway, wearing a costume made of fig leaves, with a shoulder strap going from his hip to to shoulder. He had a dagger in a holster at his side. "Yes, father?" "Jon?" Superman asked as he dropped the King. "What did they do to you?" "My name is Peter, and I'm now the leader of the Lost Boys," Jon said as he drew his dagger out. "You have assaulted the King of Fables. For this you must pay!" Jon flew angrily at Superman with the dagger, stabbing it into his chest, only for the blade to bend. "What manner of sorcery is this?" "Jon, listen to me," Superman said as he put his hands on the boy's shoulders. "You are not Peter Pan, you are Jonathan Samuel Kent. You have to remember." "I only know what the King allows me to, and nothing more," Jon said as he flipped Superman over his shoulder. "And if he deems you an enemy, then so must I." Superman quickly got up and stared at the boy. "I won't fight you, Jon." "You won't have to," Tim said as he grabbed Superman's hand. It took more concentration than normal, but Superman soon fell unconscious. "What do we do with him, father?" Jon asked. "Leave him, it's time we left this town anyway," the King said. "I have four of the most powerful boys in this city, but we're not done yet. Not by a longshot. I've heard tale of a boy with incredible speed that lives in Central City. We'll go there to recruit more Lost Boys." "What about the big score?" Tim asked. "Soon enough, Tiny Tim," the King told him. "Boys, pack up, we need to be long gone before this one recovers." "What is wrong, brother?" Jon asked as he looked up at Tommy. "Nothing, it's just... you're not like you were before I brought you here," Tommy told him. "You were more fun and a lot nicer. I liked that version of Jon." "Jon is gone," Jon said. "I'm Peter now. And like you, I only obey the King." "Yeah," Tommy said. "Right." Jon woke up on a beach, staring up at three other boys that had watched him arrive. "Tommy?" Jon asked. "How do you know my name?" Tommy asked as he helped Jon up. "Did that creepy old guy get you, too?" "How did we get here?" Jon asked. "And how do we get home?" "We don't," Tommy said. "That's Ricky and that's Dean. And from what we can tell, this is Neverland. I think we're inside that old guy's book." "He's swapping our souls for the boys in his storybook, it's enchanted," Dean said, the boy who went by Tiny Tim in the real world. "This is all my fault. I should have fought harder when he got me, but I let my guard down. Now that guy's got my body and my powers. He can put anyone under his control, no matter how powerful as long as he has that book." "Powers?" Jon asked. "We all had powers in the real world even before the King did this to us," Tommy told him. "That's why he targeted us. He's looking for kids with powers." "For what?" Jon asked. "He's building an army," Ricky said, the boy who was going by Huck, who was already pretty tall for a thirteen-year-old. "To do what?" "What do you think?" Tim asked. "He's going to get dozens of us together. Then he's going to take out the heroes and take over the world. Earth is going to be his personal storybook, and the Lost Boys are going to help him do it. Once he gets enough of us together, he's going to destroy the Justice League." "How many Lost Boys does he have now?" Jon asked as Tommy pointed toward the trees, where over two dozen boys were emerging. TO BE CONTINUED... |
"Clark?" Martha asked as he knocked on Clark's bedroom door. "It's been two days. I think it's time you came out of your room."
"I can't," Clark told her. "My best friend got hurt because of me. I shouldn't have let Lana's brothers talk me into going into that cave. The only reason Pete was there was because he was trying to help me. And now he's hurt." "Clark, what happened in that cave was not your fault, you had no idea that those awful boys were so psychotic," Martha said as she put an arm around him. "And you did get Pete out of there before something worse happened. You're a good friend, and right now you should be with him." "What about my chores?" "The new farmhand has been handling everything while your father recovers," Martha said. "That young man has been a Godsend. We even let him move into the barn to help him save money for an apartment." "Ma, I could easily fill in for Dad and it wouldn't cost us a cent," Clark told her. "You have enough on your plate without a fulltime job," Martha said. "Go, be with Pete and give him your support. I made a care basket for him that I want you to give to his parents. Let them know that if they need anything at all, we're there for them." Whitney had stopped by to see Clark, instead finding the new farmhand, Jason Teague. Jason was baling hay while shirtless, wearing a cowboy hat and workgloves. "Did the Kents hire a farmhand?" Whitney asked as Jason turned around. "It's--- it's you," Whitney whispered in quiet awe. "Jason Teague? The greatest football player to come out of Smallville High? You're the most legendary legend ever! You hold the record for most touchdowns scored in a single game! You even beat that Bundy guy's record!" "I see I have a fan," Jason said as he shook Whitney's hand. "I take it you play, too?" "Starting quarterback for Smallville High," Whitney told him. "Nowhere as good as you, though, but I'd like to at least be in that general area." "Tell you what, Whitney, I got some free time this weekend, why don't you come by Saturday morning and we'll see what you got? Maybe I can give you some pointers on your game." "Really? You'd help me get better?" "Hey, us Smallville boys have to stick together, right?" Jason laughed. "See you Saturday, kid." Pete was in his hospital bed, just staring down at his paralyzed legs. He was trying desperately to wiggle his toes, but as hard as he focused, he just couldn't do it. And the more he tried, the more frustrated he'd become. "Please," Pete begged to one as he sat alone in the empty room, now on the verge of tears. "Just one toe. Please." "Looks like someone needs some TLC," Lana said as she walked in wearing a candy striper's uniform. "What are you wearing?" Pete asked, now trying to sound tougher. "I'm a volunteer here," Lana told him. "I couldn't let you ride your stay out here alone, could I? After all, you saved my life." "It was nothing, I'd never let anything happen to you," Pete told her. "I'm just glad that you're okay. Have you talked to Clark? I haven't seen him since I woke up here." "He's taking this pretty hard, he blames himself for you getting hurt," Lana told him. "Clark didn't do this to me," Pete told her. "He got me out of there before the cave-in got worse. I was there because my best friend needed me. I'd do it again it meant I had to save you and Clark. It's just too bad that I'm useless to everyone now." "I know my best buddy didn't just say that," Whitney said as he walked in with a large stuffed teddy bear. "This was the only thing the gift shop had that wasn't pink and girly. And you are not useless. I'm counting on you to be in the bleachers for all my football games in the fall." "Football, something else I'll never get to play again," Pete said sadly. "Hey, stop talking like that," Clark said as he walked in. "I'm sorry I haven't been around lately, it's just--" "I don't blame you for this," Pete said. "I went in knowing that I might get hurt. My friend was in trouble, I know you'd do the same for me." "You know I would," Clark told him. "When do you get to go home?" "As soon the as the doctors know whether this is permanent or not," Pete told him. "If it's temporary, I get to go through painful physical therapy for six months If it's not--" "Then your friends have your back," Whitney promised him. "I'll build wheelchair ramps all over town if I have to." "And me and my dad can help install one of those chair lifts on your staircase to get you up and down the stairs at home," Clark told him. "And I can get the cheerleaders to do weekend car washes to raise money for anything the school needs to make it more accessible or handicapped students," Lana said. "See?" Clark said. "No matter what happens, we're with you every step of the way." It was then that the doctor appeared at the door with Pete's test results. As he closed the door to tell Pete the news, a deafening silence was heard for several seconds before the reactions came. TO BE CONTINUED... |