"Hey all you listeners out there in Fawcett City. its that time again.. K-WHZ Radio's own Diamond Dodger is going off the air till t'morrow.. join me same time same station an' I'll blow all your speakers out.now I'm sendin' Billy in here all you ladies keep your hands to yourself.. he don't need to be corrupted. Billy will be takin' over after this song by those other teen screams. 2-dream." With a flick of the wrist and the smack of a button soon K-WHZ radio was filled with the sound of banal unthreatening post pubescent pop. Painless.. the kind of thing that parents could be completely relaxed about letting their kids listen too.. after all, what was more harmless than songs about first love and sweet dreams. Which Billy Batson couldn't help but muse, 'Was every song that 2-dream ever sang was about' 

The teen tugged on the baseball cap as he waited for the booth to empty. Dodger took his sweet time, and well even though he put on this huge show of being a jerk on the air. He was a nice old guy. Dodger came out of the studio and rubbed his balding head, "Afternoon Billy, how'd you do on your history test."

"Fine Dodger. Aced it. You were right.. he did decide to cover more about the economic causes behind the Civil war.. " Billy Batson grinned down at the old man, it had taken forever for the boy to stop sirring him and of course the Mr. Stuff. But well.. he's relaxed a little since being there."Good good.. tell your sister I said hello.. I'm going on home t' Bev.." With that Dodger stepped to the side and moved along. Billy slid easily into the booth settling down to those few preshow rituals he did have. Turn on the phone lines, kick off his sneakers and flick his ball cap about backwards. He gave a wave to Em the engineer and slouched back into the seat just as the music ended. A hand switched on the mic and the next words came out as a kind of a gentle rhythm of one long used to doing this.. "And this is Billy Batson.. your teen about town."

". your teen about town.. I hope you all had a great weekend and your Monday isn't getting you ."

The hand dropped right off the edge of the Radio and gave a sigh of relief. She wasn't too late. Cool. Mary Bromfield dropped back onto her bed trying to ignore the fact that she had a pile of schoolwork to do.. and of course she could probably be doing some of her chores. And then of course there was the alter ego stuff she could be doing.. but right now.. there was nothing more that she wanted to do than listen to her brother. He said he had something special planned for today's show.. and heck. She can afford a couple hours to kill. If anything this very special girl could afford the time and just relax.

She slid her feet from her sneakers and rolled over to grab at her calc, the textbook opening easily. Few hours then she was meeting with a friend.

The familiar voice continued to come from the radio, "We'll have more from Fate's Niece,  Wet Kookie, and other of your favorite hits coming up.. I've got more letters to Captain Marvel and his responses. Even have a story of my own about the good Captain and the other Marvels. Now its 4 o'clock and your listening to K-WHZ.."

".it's 4 o'clock and your listening to K-WHZ.."

Freddy Freeman groaned and leaned on his brace. Only four o' clock. he shuffled the papers again putting them back into order. The Magazines had their rocks to keep them from blowing away. But it seemed like this day would never end. It was all dragging. The teen was bored, it was easy to get that way at a newsstand. But still. It seemed worse than normal. He read all the papers.. read the magazines.. listened to the radio. Chatted about current events.. he'd much rather feel the rush and get out and be CM3 for a while. Do some butt kicking out in Fawcett.. though.. even heroes have to eat. Or possibly date.. he still wasn't sure if he was going out with Mary.. or if they were just going to be hanging together.. ahh well. Still spending time with her was just as good. and hopefully it would be time with her with out her brother. Jeeez Billy could be something a jerk at times.

"Anyways those letters.. Samantha so you know Cap's shoe size is a Ten. And he does like macaroni and cheese but he likes the kind you get in the box
with the powder cheese not the gooey cheese.now.. lately.. I've been getting a lot of requests."

"..now..lately.. I've been getting a lot of requests.about the Good Captain.. what's the day like for him. what goes on.. so well.. I talked to the captain about it.. and he felt it would be better for someone with first hand experience to relate the day with him and the other Marvels.. no sorry kids.. don't have Captain Marvel here.. but I can do the next best thing. The good Captain was kind enough to let me spend the day with him.."

 This will be fun. He won't have to say the Captain this .. or the Captain that so often. No wait he still will.. but at least he'll be able to talk with an air of authority.

"Captain Marvel has a job like anyone of us out there in this world. And he finds sometimes it can be tedious and other times it can be fun. But like most heroes, his coworkers work around him not knowing who is in their midst. And he likes it that way.. it gives him some normalcy in the world."

 Billy had to wonder here.was he ever normal. Or was this part of his life going to come for him no matter what. If his parents hadn't been killed by Black Adam.. if Mary didn't get lost.. would he have become who he is today..would he have been struck by that thunderbolt. If he asked the Wizard he's pretty sure there would be some sort of a  response that would leave his head scratching forever. Normal life is probably more elusive than he really knows. Between work, school, and being Captain Marvel it was amazing he got to see his sister at all. Probably oughta give Mary a call.

"Now don't give me a call begging me to tell you where he works. can't do that. I gave the man my word.  And again, Darla, Molly, Betsy.. he can't marry you." Billy continued letting his voice started into the story, "Alright now lets continue our special treat. the cap took me on patrol with him this week. He used his powers to let me fly next to him high above Fawcett City. I could see it all, its amazing. The city practically sparkles with life.

The city does sparkle. The movement of cars below on the highways and roads add a glitter that is hard to explain to someone who has never seen it from above. Each car catching sunshine and throwing it right back upwards. If you asked Billy, the one thing he would never get used to about his powers.. it was the flying. That moment where his body takes to the sky, his stomach plummets for a moment then its all above the world. Away from the city below away from ordinary. Its not floating because you constantly feel the teasing tug of gravity against your body. You may escape it but it still was there.. always ready for mistakes.

There were mistakes abounding this day. One of which resulted in the scene that unfolded now. A figure in white and gold plummeted from the sky. The Female Captain Marvel, or Mary Marvel to some, had taken an unexpected blow from something. Fortunate is putting it minor that CM3 was roaming the same sky.

"MARY!"

 With a swift move resulting from the speed of Mercury, he rocketed himself over to catch the slender heroine in his arms. She fell against him like a rock and he found himself streaking downwards due to her impact. There was no time he was plunging towards the city. No time to stop. Rooftops incoming. He rolled backwards cradling the girl on his chest. The Bank of Fawcett was the first building he hit, his body ricocheting from the roof there creating a rather sizeable crack in it. Shards of stone fell towards the ground.

 People screamed in panic. One slab hit a  car crushing the hood, in the middle of traffic. The yells brought the attention of someone else known to protect the city. This third member of the trio known as the Marvel Family. The Captain. Captain Marvel swooped in and placed himself between the falling debris and the people below.

"MOVE! Get to safety now.." It had smelled of magic the whole thing. IT had been like a beacon summoning him to this locale. His hands reached up and caught a great mass of gray rubble.  Those that he couldn't catch would collide with his body, exploding into grit. He gnashed his teeth together and moved to deposit what he'd caught on he nearest rooftop. The red clad warrior streaked across the afternoon sky and came up near the target. CMJ was sprawled out awkwardly while the girl clad in white and gold leaned up her hands pressed to her head. She blinked a bit as if trying to get a grasp on what had happened.

"Mary! Are you okay.. what happened?"

He never got an answer from her, as she opened her mouth to reply the words she had been forming never came out. Instead, "Watch out!" came from her too late as giant crystalline talons wrapped about his body yanking him skyward.

"Now you have to understand how big this thing was.. the captain had dropped me on a rooftop for my own safety. He's always looking out for other people, but I really wanted to see it. Anyways the Captain was held firm. The talons wrapped about his body. Each of these massive nails were the size of one of Captain Marvel's legs. They were like Tree trunks. I really thought there was no way out for him, but man if there is one thing the captain knows how to do.. its surprise me."

Billy's voice came across the radio in those friendly tones. His voice easily capturing his terror and fright at the event. Mary  had to laugh at that. He was a great actor. Probably comes from trying not to show he's a kid inside that grown up body of his. She flipped another page easily drifting back to the day. The bird had hit her pretty hard. "Mmm yeah. looked like a giant crystal vulture.. weirdness.."

 Mary Marvel blinked upwards watching her brother being carried away by the escapee from the glass menagerie. She reached over and immediately pushed against the blue clad hero, "Junior! C'mon! Cap needs us.."

"Ceeeeeeeemmmmmmtree." Was Captain Marvel Junior's response. He wasn't going to be of much use to anyone for a while yet.

 The female Captain Marvel gave a slight snort of derision and staggered upwards barely resting on her feet before pursuing after their opponent. What kind of thing was this.. what one of their enemies would send this to Fawcett City. Tad ostentatious wasn't it.

There she spotted her brother held in the creature's grasp. She poured on the speed. If it was gonna sneak attack her, she felt no need to hold back on herself. She was within range in a keystone second and her fist slammed into the bird's naked head. It didn't shatter. It didn't crack, bend, or snap. It just jerked with the force of the blow. It was enough at the time though. It was just enough.

Captain Marvel pushed free from the grasp of the beast. However it was more likely that it was knocked away from him. Its talons only managing to hold onto the cape leaving a tattered tear as he pulled the rest of the way free.

"What is that thing Mary.."

"Don't know, but its coming back this WAY!" Sure enough the great bird was racing back towards the duo of heroes. Gleaming talons outstretched and giant maw opened wide. Its voice shrieking towards its prey with all the painful beauty of nails on a chalk board. The vibrations shook them hard forcing them to shield their ears with their hands. It was disorientating, the noise setting them for a loop. Mary was quick, while not ready but quick. She just swung out with her leg and connected with the sound of a crystal being struck by a hammer. A few delicate crystalline feathers fell from the vulture's immense body. It was enough to startle the creature into silence, Captain Marvel didn't hesitate and with his hands clasped  together..

'clasped together slammed them into the condor-like monster's jaw. More and more chips flicked off the bird. Mary Marvel again reached back to strike a blow.'

"Darn right Mary Marvel. She was all out that day." Freddy Freeman idly reached into his pocket and again dragged his thumb slowly across the object there. It was thin as a playing card and when held to the light acted as a prism releasing color. He gave a light curse as he felt his skin catch on the edge of the quill, he shook his hand out and again thought back to that day.

Captain Marvel Junior pressed his hand to his side feeling as if he was torn into three. "Damn." He leaned up and took several breaths, gazing down between his knees. "Oh that sucked.." The sounds caught his attention at last something like glass and the cry of a beast. There Mary and Billy were slamming into this .. huge.. huge. huge glass vulture. "Cool." Well actually its not cool but it is. How can you not see something like this and not appreciate it for what it is. His two best friends in the world working together to take down a huge bird. However he clenched his jaw and the best option came to him in a rush of thought.

Mary's fists continued to chip away at the bird, slender shards of material broke away from the creature. Captain Marvel worked as well trying to reduce the bird into slag, but it was taking too long. It was too much. Especially when the bird was the size of a 737.

'All the Marvels struggled valiantly. Each blow-pounded square into the beast but it wasn't enough. How could it be. It was so large so massive."

A noise interrupted the tale, Mary scowled at the additional punctuation of the doorbell being rung again. She glanced at the time, her parents wouldn't be home yet. 'Probably a delivery or something.' The girl hopped off the bed wanting to get back to her studying and listening to her brother's show as soon as possible. The doorbell rang again.

"I'm Coming!" The girls steps took her lightly down the stairs a scowl adorned her face. It rang again as she undid the bolt, "Hold on, hold on."

"Hello there Mary Marvel.."

"You."

She opened her mouth again the word coming, "Sha.." She never got to finish it. A soft mist filled the air and Mary Bromfield clutched at her throat gasping desperately, trying to breathe.. trying to finish that word but all she could do was try and gulp at the air. It was if something was squeezing her vocal cords shut.

"Painful isn't it..don't worry Mary. this is the first step of your  destiny." There was no chance to evade or duck. A pipe collided with her head and she went down. "A glorious new Destiny."

'So there they were.. alone battling against the creature that had come to reign terror down on Fawcett City.'

 Freddy rolled his eyes as he flipped through a magazine, "C'mon Billy.. end it already. Mary won't answer the phone till you're done.  Get to the 'And the Day is saved.. thanks to the Marvel Family.."  He drummed his fingers against the counter top knowing the next part of the story that was to come.

CM3 stared upwards his eyes rapt on the battle above. Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel, their fists echoing with great blows into the crystalline bird. Her uniform bore evidence from the fight each mark left from shards of diamond-like material. His gut clenched as he watched the battle another breath and he was in the air. He had but one thought to help them, he knew that the one plan he had was an insanely stupid one. Insane is enough. Mary would probably shake him for it. He'd deserve it. A knowing grin slipped across the young hero's face, "Boy am I gonna deserve it." He rocketed swiftly upwards with a single-minded intent.

 Mary caught a glimpse of the boy racing towards them and she was glad for it. Surely together the three of them would be able to take out this monster. She kept working at the beast, glittering shards falling against her. The mystical energies making it harder for her to fight the bird. Blood flowed along the surface of her hands from where the slivers of glass had cut her. It was painful but she had other things to worry about. 

Captain Marvel didn't notice wounds. He didn't notice the pain from the pieces of glass penetrating his hands. Yeah he's super tough, but when there's a powerful magic racing through the creature some damage is going to happen to him. He didn't notice CM3 however he was the first to hear that cry of his friend.

"CAPTAIN MARVEL."

A lightning bolt came from the heaven's racing towards CM3 he'd managed to work himself directly below the bird and as the lightning streaked downwards it struck the giant vulture flowing through into the young hero turning him into Freddy Freeman. As this happened the powers that he used as Captain Marvel Junior, left his body sweeping towards both Mary and Billy. They didn't even react as their fists slammed into the crystal monster each up to almost full strength. Together in one motion they had connected and with the addition of the mystical lightning it exploded into a mess of iridescent powder to sprinkle upon the city on the breezes.

"Freddy! You idiot!" Right on Cue the boy grinned to himself. He floated above the city for a second in free fall before he started to plummet. Now.. to rescue himself.. or let Mary do all the work.

She was next to him before he could stop grinning like an idiot, "Say it Freddy Freeman or I'll let you fall."

He laughed like an idiot for a moment then finally said the word transforming him back into CM3 settling into a hover next to Mary returning towards Captain Marvel. She slugged a fist into the teen's arm, "You idiot, Junior. Do something like that again and I'll flatten you.."

He gave a mock salute, "Yeah well I can't promise anything, ma'am."

"Ha! Funny."

Captain Marvel arched his eyebrows down at CM3 trying to look serious in that fashion of his, but the boyish smile crawled across his face leaving him to say, "Thanks Freddy.."

"So that's the show kids.. I'll be back t'morrow same time. Next up is Kaycee After Dark.. she's got a lot of prizes.. for those who guess the super secret answer to today's Trivia Question."

Billy finally was able to get up and stretch. He was tired. He was ready to go back to the Bromsfields' and crash. As he trudged out the station one of the receptionists waved him down, "Billy.. you have a call on line. Sounds important."

He took the phone lightly and waited for the gushing or whatever to begin but this wasn't what he expected at all.

"Billy.. its Nora.." He automatically started to greet the woman but there was no chance to do so her shaken and panicked voice continued. Something had gone wrong and worse. "Its Mary.. she's gone.. the house was empty.. the door was wide open.. There's no sign of her. She's gone Billy."

NEXT MONTH: Mary Mary, Where did you GO!? Who's got her? And can Cap and CM3 find her before her new Destiny. What Glorious Destiny is in store for the girl?