700/Making the Grade

Making the Grade
Date of Scene:	30 May 2017
Location:	Metropolis
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Shazam, Flash

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Shazam has posed:
It's an enjoyable afternoon in late spring, and young Billy Batson is hanging out with his heroes--and closest allies--in the Hall of Justice.

"Gee, Flash," the teen says, "the Speed Force sure does sound a lot like magic...but I'm not sure I'd ever be able to try and tap into it. Well, not /me/ but, you know."

He offers a glass of lemonade to the speedster.

"I can't wait for summer. I'm hoping, though, that my 'extracurricular' activities won't hurt me too much. In fact, we should be finding out real soon. What day is it, again?"

Billy looks to the nearest calendar and thinks for a moment.

"Oh, no!" he exclaims. "The report cards should be arriving in the mail /today/! If I don't get it first, I might be grounded--and that would mean no more Captain Marvel for at least a month!"

Flash has posed:
Taking the glass of lemonade, Barry takes a sip. "Thanks, Billy. I don't think that there is really anything 'magical' about the Speed Force, but there is so much I don't know about it. Its origins are a mystery, so who knows...it very well could be. I guess there would only be one way to make sure if you could tap it."

He watches Billy walk over to the calendar and arches a brow, letting out a little chuckle. "Did you do so badly that you are going to have to hide your report card? You do know that would only delay the inevitable. Your folks are going to ask or find out one way or the other....still."

He takes another quaff from the glass of lemonade and then sets it down, "Why don't we see just how fast you can go, and see if you can tap into the Speed Force. I'll race you."

Shazam has posed:
"That's just it!" Billy exclaims, slapping his forehead. "I've been so busy, I can't remember!"

"It'll be a race, all right. And it'll be one that I can't afford either of us to lose!"

The boy throws back his head and cries his magic word: "S H A Z A M !"

A localized bolt of lightning strikes the boy, and in a burst of light and smoke, he becomes the World's Mightiest Mortal!

"Let's go, Flash!" Captain Marvel says in a voice far cheerier than Billy's. "There's no time to lose!"

Aided by the speed of Mercury, Marvel races out the front door of the Hall of Justice, his white cape fluttering behind him.

Flash has posed:
Flash watches the young boy change into Captian Marvel and just shakes his head. He will never really get used to that fact that one of the Leagues power hitters is just a young boy in a man's body.

"Oh, I woudn't worry about it too much, Captain. I am sure one of us can make it before the mail arrives."

He watches as Marvel dashes out the door, giving the magical marvel a head start as Barry finishes the last of his lemonade, and then as arcs of energy and lighting start to transverse over his body, he zips off to catch up.

Shazam has posed:
As Captain Marvel races down the streets of New Troy, he maneuvers as best he can through the world moving at a glacial pace all around him.

There's a mail carrier down the block, but Shazam's champion takes a brief detour to shift a woman jaywalking, her view blocked by the grocery bags in her arms, out of the way of a car driven by someone paying more attention to their smartphone.

He makes it half a block up in a matter of milliseconds, but again changes his trajectory to fly up into the air and catch a piano being moved whose lifting cord has snapped. Captain Marvel lowers it to the sidewalk and wipes his brow. "Whew!" he exclaims.

Then, he returns to his goal. Finally reaching the mail carrier, he deftly sifts through the man's bag.

Frowning, Captain Marvel looks back in the direction from which he came. "Flash!" he shouts, speaking at the same speed as his movement, "it's not here! The letter could be with any mail carrier in the city!"

Flash has posed:
Catching up to Captain Marvel isn't a feat for the Scarlet Speedster, he is within earshot a few seconds after he left, and smiles softly as a chuckle escapes.

"I'm sure it will be fine, Marvel. I'll take the west side, and you take the east. I'll meet you in the middle and we will see who manages to come up with it."

Barry zips of towards the west, adding an extra burst of speed as he starts to search out the mail carries, paying careful attention not to let his wake spread the mail around like feathers in a windstorm.

Shazam has posed:
The lantern-jawed hero nods and takes off toward the east, zipping back and forth across the streets to locate Billy Batson's report card.

Along the way, Captain Marvel spends most of his time slowing down to put out a fire, stop a pair of individuals sticking up a convenience store, turn a tourist with a map in the correct direction, and pick up the litter in a community park.

All of this, while done at super-speed, still takes precious time. And Captain Marvel finds himself with empty hands after racing up and down the east side of town.

Eventually, he returns toward the city center, scratching his head. "Where is that letter?" he asks himself.

Flash has posed:
The Flash, not having as much emotional investment in finding the report card takes his time. Likely, if he really wanted to push things Barry could have searched Billy and his side in a less than a second, but that kind of speed carries its own problems.

No, Barry takes his time, and even then he is amazingly fast. As Billy stops crime and picks up trash, the Flash catches a window washer who fell from his perch, created a wind barrier to stop a runway car, and even saved a cat from a tree.

Still, the search is fruitless. He returns to the city center and shrugs a shoulder as he comes across the Captian. "Didn't find a thing...you sure it was today?"

Shazam has posed:
With eyes widening in realization, Captain Marvel blinks slowly. "Of /course/!" he shouts, clapping the Flash on the shoulder. "It must not have been mailed yet! It's still at school, going out tomorrow!"

Captain Marvel begins taking off, looking over his shoulder to the Flash. "We're not too late! Race you there!" he adds, offering a broad smile to the fastest man alive.

Flash has posed:
He can't help himself, the grin that forms on The Flashes face is one that spreads from ear to ear. He lets out a laugh as Marvel rushes off, shaking his head a little bit at the absurdity that they are racing around the city looking for a report card.

Still, he chases after his 'young' friend, tapping him on the shoulder and then zipping forward, leading Billy in the race by juuuust a few steps..and then slowing down as they reach the school to let Marvel win by a hair.

Shazam has posed:
While the Flash might be having fun, Captain Marvel really is pushing himself to his limit, striving to keep up with a man who's entirely relaxed at this speed.

Moments later, the two arrive in the front office of Billy's school, and the champion of Shazam zips about the 'out' box for mail.

"Flash!" he calls while catching a breath. "It--it's not here!"

With a concerned expression falling over his face, Captain Marvel shakes his head. "That means there's only one place it can be..."

He takes off, as fast as lightning, toward the orphanage where Billy Batson resides.

Flash has posed:
Again, the Scarlet Speedster laughs with a shake of his head as he chases after Captain Marvel.

"Marvel, I'm sure it will be ok. You have the wisdom of Solomon, right? I'm sure grades will reflect that."

The Flash keeps pace with the Magical Mighty Mortal, the speeds they are going not much more than a normal jog for the Fastest Man Alive. "What subject are you worried about?"

Shazam has posed:
Captain Marvel can't help but laugh under his breath. "Phys Ed, believe it or not!" he says, stopping behind a tree in the front yard of the house.

"Wait here a minute," he says to the Flash. Then, he steps away and shouts, "S H A Z A M !"

Where Captain Marvel once stood now stands young Billy Batson.

"Just a minute," he says quietly, and begins toward the front door.

However, the house mother opens said door and puts one hand on her hip. "Billy Batson!" she says sternly. "/There/ you are--I thought that commotion might be you."

She holds up a piece of paper. "Your principal just emailed me your report card, young man..."

Billy swallows a lump in his throat.

"...and I've just got to say, we're so proud of you that we're having ice cream after dinner tonight!" the woman says, bursting into laughter.

"Is that a friend in the yard?" she asks. "Does he want ice cream, too?"

Flash has posed:
In the blink of an eye, the fastest man alive changes into his civilian garb and Barry Allen walks out from behind the tree. He grins and smiles with a wave, "Yes ma'am, I'm a friend of Billy's, and I would love some ice cream. I just hope it doesn't go to my waist...have to watch those calories you know."

Shazam has posed:
"Of course, of course," the woman says, motioning Billy and his friend to enter the house.

"This is my pal Barry," Billy says. "He's a scientist!"

"Well, I'm sure that's why you did so well in science. It's nice to have such smart friends, isn't it?" she asks.

"Now, go wash up, the both of you. And remember to clear your plate before you go after any of that ice cream."

"Yes, ma'am!" Billy says cheerfully.

Flash has posed:
Barry grins, clapping Billy on the shoulder. "See, I told you that you had nothing to worry about, Billy. But it was good to get out for some exercise...and hey, ice cream!"