The Misadventures of Ultra Girl!-3 by Lynceus Johanna Constantine has a lot of enemies, and now one of them has taken Alison! Never fear...Ultra Girl is here?!

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Disclaimer: I make no claims to any character or image owned or under copyright by another party, nor do I intend on profiting in any way from their use. The Comics Retcon Universe concept is the creative property of Lilith Langtree.

Liverpool, England

Normally, finding my sister wouldn't be too hard. But when she didn't answer any of the calls or texts I sent her, I started to get worried. You know how people say that twins have some kind of ESP? I've always thought it was a load of bull. Hell, despite appearances, Alison and I aren't even identical twins!

And yet, I couldn't shake the feeling something bad had happened to my older sister. I knew the best way to find her would be to find that loser Johanna Constantine. From what Ali had told me, just about everyone in Liverpool knows Jo. Of course, knowing someone doesn't mean you like them very much- Johanna wasn't going to win any popularity contests, that's for sure!

After the fourth time someone slammed a door in my face, I was starting to get desperate, when a cab pulls up right on the curb, and the driver, a forty-ish (I think) looking man jumps out. “Bloody 'ell, Alison! Where have you been?”

I frown, trying to remember something. “Wait, you're Chas, aren't you?” Alison had told me all about 'Chas' Chandler, who was probably the only real friend Johanna had. Lucky him.

“Well, yeah, who the 'ell else would I be? You ok, Ali girl?”

“I'm not Alison, I'm her sister, Alena.”

“Oh Christ, then you don't know...uh...” He suddenly got nervous.

“Mr. Chandler, I suggest you start talking. You say you know my sister, so believe me when I say this. I'm the dangerous one.”

Chas gulped. “Now hold on, I didn't say I wouldn't...maybe we could get in my cab while I take you to see Jo?”

“It's a start.”

Royal Liverpool University Hospital

Every time I'd seen Johanna Constantine before, she'd been strong and confident. To a fault. Now, however, she looked a lot older, tired, and beaten. She had been crying, and from the bandages, in pretty bad shape. There was a bruise on her cheek, and bandages on her head and arm. Her vitals looked strong, but she looked...broken.

She perked up just for a moment when I came in. “...Ali?”

I never had a chance to speak. “Alena. I...I screwed up.”

I wanted to be angry at Johanna. I really did. But for some reason, seeing her like that... “What happened to Alison?”

She sighed. “I tried to tell her that followin' me about would just get her hurt...she never listened.”

“Johanna. Tell me what happened to my sister.” It was taking all that I had to keep calm.

“Neat trick, makin' yer eyes glow like that, luv.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Orange. Funny, I thought green was your color.”

I frowned. “It's...complicated. Ali?”

“Yeah. Fuck, I wish I could have a smoke. Chas?”

“Jo, you quit, remember?”

“Oh yeah. Fuck.” She raised her good hand. “Ok, so here's the deal. There's this guy, Boggs. Calls himself, get this 'The Magician'. We tangled once or twice, and I might have left him in a bind. Ok, I did. Anyways, he shows up wanting me to lead him to someone. I told him to stick it up his arse, sideways. So he and his boys give me a beating. Which I'm fine with, not the first time. But Alison shows up to...rescue me.”

She looked ill. “She's a smart girl, but she's not ready to take on a real magic-user. He took her, and let me go. Said if I didn't do what he wanted, he...” She trailed off.

Orange flames appeared around me. I couldn't hold it in any longer. “What was it he wanted you to do?!”

She gave me a sad look. “Tell him where to find Illyana.”

Fuck. Magik was the Sorceress Supreme...well sort of. Anyways, I couldn't blame Johanna for not wanting to betray her- even if that was his usual M.O.. But this Boggs guy was going to pay. “Where is she?”

“Not sure, really. He said he'd be in touch when I got out of here.”

“Johanna...I...I want to hurt this guy.”

“Me too, luv. Hey, hold onto that feeling. Maybe I can do somethin'.”

“Jo, you need to rest, I...”

“Chas. You and me been mates for a long time. I don't deserve a friend like you, with all that's happened to you 'cuz of me. But I...I gotta do this.”

Chas nodded. “Ok Jo.”

Johanna sat up and began chanting something. I could feel tendrils of energy moving towards me. The instant they made contact, they were absorbed by my aura, and I understood.

Jo blinked. “What the hell?!”

“It's ok. I know what I need to. I'll find her.” I phased right through the wall and flew out, changing into my Ultra Girl persona. I didn't really feel like explaining how my powers let me 'eat' magic. At least, not now.

Merseyside, England

The spell was designed to lead me towards the object of my desire. In this case, “The Magician” and my sister. The Orange Power Ring had given me a new ability, allowing me to consume magic, something I'd discovered by accident when I stripped the enchantment right off of my old bracers.

Doing so let me, I don't know, grok the spell somehow. It's hard to explain. I'm not a spellcaster, but if I 'eat' a spell, I can use my own magical energies to copy it. Which is why I'm still super-strong as Ultra Girl. Lianna knew one or two spells- while the Guardians didn't think much of magic as a whole, she'd studied it once. After she casted the ones she knew at me, I know had the ability to use them. Sort of.

Like I said, it's weird. I can't really do much with a 'fire-and-forget' spell. But if it's an enchantment, or an ongoing effect, like the strength-enhancement of my bracers, or this divination spell Jo used, I could replicate and power it. Only one effect at a time, though. Magic is weird, it's always changing and shifting. Maybe if I had the training, I could keep more than one spell up, but who knows?

I felt myself led to an old warehouse, and somehow, I 'knew' this was the place. I didn't even try to be subtle about it, I just phased right in through the roof. I hit a magical ward of some kind, but my Power Ring just leeched all the energy right out of it. I didn't know the limits of this ability yet, and if I was going to fight a full magic-user, I really didn't care to.

“Rose, Thorn!” The girls simply appeared, wearing versions of my Ultra Girl outfit.

“Yes Mother?” Rose looked concerned.

“We gonna kick some ass now?” Thorn glowered. I haven't the heart to tell her how cute she looks when she does that.

“Yes, but first, I need you both to find Aunt Alison while I make a distraction.”

Not that I had to do much, already some men were yelling and pointing at me. And drawing guns. Large guns. So much for England's firearms control laws!

I dropped down the ground as quickly as I could, increasing my mass while adding extra power to my force field. It's a trick I'd seen Doris use, and I was rewarded with a slight earth tremor that knocked the men off their feet. I couldn't quite match Giganta, but it was still impressive.

“Alright, I'm only going to say this once! I'm here for Alison Scott! Hand her over, or prepare to get your butts kicked by a girl!”

A handsome man with red hair stepped into view. He was wearing a tight black tee-shirt that showed off his muscles, and black slacks. Maybe most girls would be attracted to him, but I just thought he looked like a smug jerk. And I planned to wipe that smirk right off his face!

“Well, this is interesting. How on Earth does Johanna know Ultra Girl, I wonder?”

“You must be Boggs. The girl, or I turn this place into scrap metal. And I don't really care if you're in it when I'm done.”

He laughed and made a gesture, hurling a bolt of lightning at me! Aw jeez, not this again!

The electricity hit my force field, and I got one hell of a shock, even though my Ring was able to consume most of the magical energy. If that had hit me, I could have died! I launched myself at him, and his eyes widened just a bit in surprise.

I'd caught him off-guard, but not by enough, as he conjured a wall of white light. Which I ran into, and bounced off of. I growled and held out my hand, touching the wall. My Ring glowed, and the wall began to flicker.

“What...how are you...stop that!” He dispelled the barrier before I could finish the job. That was interesting. He didn't want me to destroy his spell. Why was that?

“Not so confident now, are you?” I moved forward and swung my fist at his head.

Just my luck, the guy was some kind of martial artist. He grabbed my arm, sidestepped, and I felt his foot touch mine. And then I was flying forward! Thing is, I may not know how to fight, but I do know how to fly- I can literally stop on a dime, and that's what I did just then, pivoting in place to face him.

“You present an interesting challenge, however, this ends now.” He held up his hand, and I could see a glimmering chain in his grasp which led deeper into the warehouse. “The girl's life is bound to this chain. Cease and desist, or else...”

Before my eyes, the chain flickered and vanished. Good girls! They must have absorbed the spell when they saw it was able to hurt Alison!

The Magician gasped, and staggered back, obviously stunned. He must invest a part of himself into his spells, losing them like that is painful to him! Not that it mattered now- I flew forward and grabbed him by the neck.

“Listen up, you magical jackass! You better forget all about the Sorceress, Alison, and Johanna! Swear! Swear you won't pursue them, or I'll crush your damn throat!” The orange flames of my aura wrapped around my hand, and he shrieked when they touched him, as if they were literally burning him!

“I swear, I swear! Make it stop!”

I dropped him, and just stared at my hand. My power had tried to...consume him alive! I shivered. Larfleeze could literally steal someone's identity, creating an Orange Lantern copy of them. Realizing I could do something similar scared the hell out of me- I'm not a killer!

“Ok, hold up, who are you girls, exactly?”

I turned to see Alison flanked by Rose and Thorn. “Wellll...I guess you could say...” Rose was biting her lower lip.

“We're Alena's daughters. Jeez, get with the program, will you?” Thorn sneered.

“Daughters?! What the fuck...” Alison then noticed me for the first time. “Ultra Girl? Wait, I thought my...” I could almost see the light bulb over her head as Ali put two and two together.

“Alena?! You...!”

I gave Boggs a kick (I noticed his henchman were running like hell) as I walked over to her. “Not now, I'll explain later, I promise.”

“You better believe you will!”

Apartment of Francis Chandler

Apparently the flat that Jo and Alison shared had been trashed by Boggs (I found out his name was Elliot. Elliot?!), so when we sprung Jo out of the Hospital, we ended up at Mr. Chandler's place. Alison kept giving Rose and Thorn odd looks while I told my story.

I didn't comment on how closely Ali and Jo were sitting. I don't really dislike Johanna..but she was trouble with a capital 'T'. Something my sister didn't need much help getting into!

But..I knew Alison loved the bitch, so what could I do?

“Damn it, Alena! You should have told me what was going on! And don't give me that crap about trying to protect me! I get enough of that from this one!” She elbowed Jo, who groaned in pain.

“Ali, 'luv, I just got out of the hospital, could you try not to break me?”

“Quiet, I'm still mad at you too. A little.” Alison then kissed Jo, and I swear, the temperature in the room went up a few degrees.

“I'm sorry. I know it was wrong, but...I was scared. Really scared. That John Stewart guy...he beat me in like, two seconds. I...I couldn't get away from him. And there's more than just him. A lot more.”

“Jade would have protected you. She's got, like, an army now.”

I looked away. “Yeah...”

“Wait a minute. You? Jade's #1 fangirl? You, of all people, don't trust her?” Alison raised her eyebrow.

“I...I know it sounds stupid, but...”

Ali started to laugh. “Oh God! I don't believe it! My sister is finally making sense!”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Alena...look, I had reservations about this whole 'super team' thing from the get go. Jade is just too good to be true, you know? Never talking about herself, always keeping us at a distance, while being Miss Perfect all the time? But you, ha! You practically worshipped the ground she walked on!”

“I...” I wasn't sure what to say. Part of me wanted to defend Jade even now- deep down, I didn't believe Jade was a bad person. Far from it! And yet, I couldn't deny her actions of late had me worried.

Alison sighed. “Sorry, being abducted kind of put me on edge a bit. Plus I was worried about you, Sis.”

“I know. I'm worried about me too.”

“Well, now maybe we can figure out what to do next.”

I scratched the back of my neck. “Well, um, actually, we need to go back home.”

“What? Why?!”

“Dad wants to see us.”

Alison got an odd look on her face. “Dad? But...no. No way.”

“Mom says if she refuses, he might try to challenge her for custody.”

“The fuck he will! I'd like to see him find me!”

Jo gently touched Alison on the arm. “Love. He might not be able to find you, but he could cause trouble for your Mum.”

“Fuck. Wait a second though, how are we going to do this? I mean, you're a girl now!”

I grinned at her. “Yeah, too bad I don't know anyone who could disguise themselves as Alan.”

“Well, maybe Miss Mars could...oh.” She smacked herself on the forehead. “Duh. So you'll pretend to be me? That should be good.”

I shrugged. “What else can we do?”

Alison got up and sat next to me, giving me a tight hug. “Only the best we can, Sis. Ok, but Jo's coming with us. I want Mom to meet her anyways.”

“Now wait just a minute, don't I get a say in this?”

Thorn grinned. “I'm going to take a wild guess and say...no.”

Rose giggled. “Thorn! Be nice!”

Alison looked at me. “They kind of remind me of someone.”

“Yeah. Us!”

“Huh. Never thought I'd be an aunt this young. So any other problems you need big sister to help with?”

I felt my cheeks burn. “Uh...well, actually, there's this girl...”