#concept scene

John Constantine has just defeated Wonder Woman and is now able to focus his attention on Darkseid.

“You’ll pay for what you’ve done.” He grinds out through clenched teeth, he begins summoning power to attack the tyrant. The ruler of Apokolips barely acknowledges him as he hurls his fiery spell. There’s a resounding explosion as the fire makes contact... but not with Darkseid. The smoke clears to reveal a glowing blue shield protecting the monster. John feels the hair on the back of his neck stand straight up as power he’s only felt once crackles through the air. There floating down into the throne room is none other than Zatanna. The one person John has missed above all others.

“Zee...” Darkseid scoffs.

“Her mind is gone wretched magician. You think Darkseid would leave one such as this to be free? No. I bent her will to mine and now she will kill you.” John can barely react as the Sorceress supreme lays down mystical fury. Energy swirls and archs destroying anything except the flimsy shield John has thrown up. The sheer force of her magic throws him backwards.

“Constantine!” Raven cries out as the stone cracks beneath him. He’s pretty sure he’s cracked a rib as well.

“Raven... get out” John chokes out between gasps. They’ll never survive both parademons and Zatanna’s full power. Even if they did they’d still have to take out Darkseid. They were losing all over again.

Raven is suddenly by his side. Or maybe she’d been there a while John didn’t know. But suddenly he could breathe again.

“Kid I’m not kidding, we’re out of our weight class.” Another bolt of mystic energy rains down on them. Raven’s shield does a slightly better job but the strain is obvious.

“You have to go.”

“I won’t leave you behind!” Raven shouts struggling to hold of the magic as it grows steadily stronger.

“You must. I can’t leave her... not again.” John says as tears prick his eyes. He angrily wipes the bastards away. He can goad Darkseid on, something about hiding behind a woman. Letting mortals handle the work of gods or something equally upsetting to an egomaniac. He might die in the process but at least everyone will be safe. Besides the world didn’t need little Johnny anyway.

“You’re wrong!” John forgot the kid could sense emotion.

“I still have one trick up my sleeve. Just like you taught me.”

“What’re you-?”

“Azarath... metrion... ZINTHOS!” She shouts and just like that her dark magic shield swirls and shoots right down Zatanna’s beam of energy and strikes her right in the head. She screams and the attack halts as Raven collapses next to John.

“Oh raven... what’ve you done?” Darkseid stands his omega beams fixed on the teo of them only for a magic blast to send him all the way across the room. John stares at Zee as she clutches her head. Eyes glowing blue with rage.

“John, tend to the girl who just saved my mind. Darkseid is mine.”

Inktober 13 (Oct 2017)

John: I bloddy new a team would never work!

Zee: John calm down we can-

John: No! Damnit Zee. I tried to tell you, All of you! I’m no good for a team because everyone around me always gets hurt!

A beat of silence

Zee:... you mean like newcastle?

Johns face softens and a few tears come to his eyes. Zee walks closer and puts a hand on his shoulder while they others look beaten as well. Xanadu is staring at a crystal ball, swampthing is tending plants that were destroyed in the battle. Boston is drifting close to the ground. Orchid has arms crossed as she looks down. Zatanna see’s all this.

Zee: look, we’re alive. We survived, together. We may have lost but we are not defeated.

Zatanna walks over to swamp thing. She places a hand on his back and extends her hand

Zee: Hsinelper.

The plants that were damaged regrow and bloom beautiful flowers.

Zee: We are strong together. We need each other if we want to stop our enemies from succeeding. John with you using that clever brain of yours, nothing can stop us.

She looks around at the forlorn people

Zee: we are some of the most powerful magic users in the world. Xanadu, your visions weren’t wrong. We will stop them. You just thought it’d be sooner.

Xanadu smirks at that.

Zee: John I know you fear you’re a curse to be around. And that’s only true when you’re drunk

Boston laughs quietly and John gets a small twitch at the lips

Zee: you’re afraid you’ll get is all killed but it was your plan that saved us. Let us regroup. We can still do this. We’ve seen what they can do. Now we’ll be ready.

Xanadu: what if they beat us again?

Zee: They won’t.

Orchid: how can you be so sure? So confident.

Zatanna smiles.

Zee: it’s the stage presence mostly, I’ve had lots of practice.

Boston: stage presence won’t be enough

Zee: maybe not but what is magic?

Xanadu: the impossible?

Zatanna: No, magic is will made real. We shape reality with our power. And our enemies just tried to shatter ours. I say fuck that. Not only are we powerful, but we’re all stubborn as hell. Are you going to let them beat us again.

Xanadu stands

Xanadu: I will not

Orchid: Neither will I.

Swamp thing turns from his plants

Swamp thing: For the green... and for you.

Boston: eh what the hell. I’m in.

John stares at them and shakes his head as he lights a cigarette.

John: you’re all crazy bastards. The lot o ya. But might as well go out with a bang.

Zatanna smiles

Zee: Alright team. Let’s kick some ass and save the world.