For Linda Danvers, better known as Supergirl-currently trapped in the past during World War II as the super-heroine Glory, everything had gone to Hell.

One minute she'd been standing there, preparing for Dark Angel to attack her in this Nazi stronghold in the south of Bialya while Silverhawk and Miss America were incapacitated. The next purple lightning from the hands of Dark Angel had turned the world to fire by unlocked her dormant earth-angel powers.

Her thoughts were not clear through the burning; the only thing that was clear was Dark Angel's deep deadly laughter as the evil spirit possessing the body of Baroness Paula Von Gunter towered above the burning writhing form.

"Burn earth-bound angel! Burn!" Dark Angel cackled madly.

The pain was terrific; Linda felt it in every particle of her being. Every nerve ending, every muscle, everything burned. She heard screaming, but was in too much pain to realize that it was her own.

Dark Angel continued cackling watching the burning mass of Linda as she thrashed against the stone floor of the Nazi castle that was the Nazi's base of operations here in Bialya.

Behind Dark Angel, Silverhawk began to stir.

"Supergirl?" He wasn't sure if it was her or not, but he did know that she had the powers of an earth-bound angel at her disposal. One of those was angelic fire. He remembered that from their previous meeting in the future, the one that had yet to occur for her. There was no other sign of her and she would not abandon them. The thrashing figure consumed by fire must be her.

He glanced at Miss America, but the raven-haired beauty was still unconscious. The blood had stopped seeping from her mouth and nose-but bruises were beginning to darken on her face and one of her arms was lying at a weird angle. Dark Angel would have had to catch her off-guard to leave her incapacitated this way.

Silverhawk looked at the armed guards, who were all paying attention to the burning form Dark Angel towered above. None of them were looking at him or Miss America. He nudged the woman lightly, and she groaned lightly. Her eyes blinked open and she looked up at Silverhawk, before she could say a word he put his finger to his lips to silence her. Miss America nodded to say she understood. She slowly pulled herself up to a crouch beside Silverhawk, focusing her attention on their enemies and the burning form.

"I could easily transmute them," Miss America whispered.

"I think that burning person is Glory. But I'm not sure. I don't think it's normal fire either." Silverhawk said in a low voice.

"I know I can't carry her burning like that. I could try transmuting the fire into something else. Water? Although it might possibly drown her."

"I don't know if you could. I'm pretty sure the fire is magic based. And magic is unpredictable."

"We could definitely try." Miss America replied, "My powers have been getting stronger over the past few months. I can do a couple different transmutations, and maintain them for up to twenty minutes. I can take care of those soldiers easily enough. And it would give us time to figure out the nature of the fire."

"If Hippolyta were there, her lasso might help draw the fire away." Silverhawk said thoughtfully.

"Well, she's not. And from Glory's screams, it sounds like she is in incredible pain. We need to do something." Miss America replied.

He cursed her in German and produced a pistol, firing a shot off in Hippolyta's direction. With her right arm, Hippolyta bounced the bullet away harmlessly and ripped the gun from the Nazi pilot's hand, tossing it away. It sailed through the air, disappearing in the distance. Panicking, the pilot ejected; he was tossed up into the air. Hippolyta climbed into the plane's cockpit, watching as the pilot drifted safely to the sea below.

Seizing the controls, Hippolyta began firing the plane's guns at the fifth plane in the formation. The bullets punched holes through it's wings as Hippolyta manipulated the controls to carry the plane in sharp arcs evading it's fire. With holes through the wing, the pilot lost control and plummeted to the sea.

"Invisible Plane, come to!" Hippolyta called the plane, which easily escaped the Nazi planes engaging it.

She hopped from the Nazi plane to her plane; flying away as the abandoned plane flew straight into the area the three fighter planes were. The abandoned plane slammed into one of the planes, causing both planes to explode. The other two planes escaped damage and turned their attention to Hippolyta who was visible on the wing of her plane.

Hippolyta removed her tiara and tossed it. It smashed the glass hatch covering the cockpit before returning to Hippolyta's outstretched hand. She then used her golden lasso to ensnare the pilot and pull him from the plane. The man screamed out in horror as he flew through the air toward Hippolyta. Catching the man, Hippolyta pulled his parachutes cord and then pushed him toward the sea.

"Have a nice journey." Hippolyta said as the man flew off the wing and drifted to the emerald sea below.

The final plane turned it's attention toward Hippolyta, flying toward her.

Between Hippolyta and the plane, there was a wax and wane in the air and suddenly an energy pattern arose, causing the air to sparkle and crackle. It was in a star-like shape, and Hippolyta found something about the shape familiar although she was not sure what it was. In the center of the star-shape was Kara of Argo City and Blackstarr. Kara was in the costume she wore as the Golden Age Power Girl, although the costume was torn and ripped in places. She swung a fist toward Blackstarr, hitting the woman in the face and causing Blackstarr to fire bolts of cosmic energy at Power Girl.

"KARA!" Hippolyta shouted.

The blonde turned her gaze to Hippolyta for just one moment. She said something, but the words were swallowed by the sound of the energy star-shape crackling about and the cosmic energy blazing from Blackstarr's hands.

"WHAT?" Hippolyta shouted back; but both Power Girl and Blackstarr had disappeared, leaving behind only the sparkling star-shape. The Nazi plane hit the star-shape and disappeared instantly too.

"What in Hera's name just happened here?" Hippolyta asked, bringing the Invisible Plane closer to the crackling energy-star. She tentatively placed the blade of her sword into the energy form. The energy backlash knocked Hippolyta back and sent her flying off the wing of the plane.

The plane swooped down without prompting to rescue Hippolyta, closing around her.

"To the Nazi stronghold." Hippolyta commanded the plane. "We'll return to this spot later. Supergirl must be alerted."

"Linda…"

The voice was ghostly and hard to hear through the flames consuming her, but it was there and she recognized it.

"Wally?"

"Linda. Come to my voice."

"Wally. I can't. It hurts."

The fire filled every particle of her being. To her eyes, the world was red and angry. Linda closed her eyes, forcing them shut tightly. And then there was darkness.

"Open your eyes Linda."

Linda blinked her eyes open and found herself in a stark white room with Wally looking up at her.

"Hey there Linda. Long time no see." He smiled up at here.

"I don't understand." Linda said. She was dressed in the outfit she'd been wearing back when Supergirl and Linda had merged becoming who they were now.

"It's complicated." Wally said.

"But you said the earth-angel powers were gone." Linda said, "You told me that you had needed them."

"Well, I did. And here I have to admit to a little subterfuge on my part. I did really borrow your powers. And I didn't give them back. But, that's where things get tricky. The Earth-Angel powers you used to possess are in no way related to the Earth-Angel powers you now have. The entity you currently host is destined for major things. You will eventually decide the course of a great battle."

"What great battle?"

"I can't tell you that Linda. Some things you will have to just be there to experience. And the result of that great battle is something no one, not even I can see. But, the key to winning it, if you do in fact win it, will be your Earth-Angel powers. That is part of the reason you were selected as a vessel for them, the reason the merge with Linda Danvers was allowed. In fact circumstances were manipulated so that you could be home to the Earth-Angel powers and evolve into who you're supposed to be."

"I don't understand."

"Forces conspired to make Supergirl less than what you were supposed to be, what you once were, so that you could not fulfill your destiny. And without Supergirl, the threat you are destined to face cannot be stopped. Superman cannot stop it. Wonder Woman can't stop it. The Spectre can't stop it. Only Supergirl. That is the unfortunate nature of destiny." Wally grinned at her, "Those forces that conspired to make Supergirl less, actually prevented through their manipulations the creation of Supergirl. Luckily, other agents stepped in and created circumstances that would lead to Supergirl. This is how we ended up with Matrix."

Linda noticed to her side that Matrix had appeared, in the protoplasmic form she'd been reverted to when the Kryptonian criminals of the Pocket Universe had tried to kill her. Pink and blobby, shapeless and less than happy. The protoplasmic form looked neither male nor female.

"But, Supergirl by herself was just Matrix. And while Matrix meant well, Matrix was lacking a soul. She was far more human than most humans are, but there was no soul. Without a soul, Matrix could have never properly attained the destiny that awaits Supergirl. Linda Lee Danvers was a flawed girl with a tarnished soul. Her soul was very bright and very strong, but she'd lost her humanity. It had been stolen through circumstance and the way of the world. Before the manipulations, Linda Danvers was a vital part of Supergirl." Wally continued.

Linda and Matrix both stood, following behind Wally.

"What do you mean?" Linda and Matrix asked in unison.

"Before they manipulated things to prevent Supergirl, Linda Danvers and Supergirl were one and the same. They couldn't prevent Linda Danvers completely either. The other agents stepped in again and made sure there was a Linda Danvers." Wally continued, "Now there was the problem that neither Linda nor Matrix were complete. They were facets that needed to be together to be Supergirl. And those agents who stepped in to make sure that certain manipulations were made stepped back in to make sure that Supergirl and Linda Danvers became one again. Which is why circumstances dictated the merge."

Wally came to a stop, and Linda and Matrix stopped behind him. Wally extended his arms, his hands open and a rectangular window opened before them. In it they saw the earth-bound angel before them. It was in the form of a woman.

"This is the first Earth-bound Angel." Wally said quietly.

Linda and Matrix watched in awe.

"The earth-bound angel. She represents the power of fire and is a force for retribution and justice. She has been since before humans walked the earth. When Cain finally faced his final day, it was the Earth-bound Angel of Fire who came for him."

Wally turned and looked at Matrix and Linda. "This is where it gets interesting. There was a need for a new Earth-bound Angel. And Supergirl needed more power. Goings on in Leesburg had drawn very powerful forces to it. Those manipulating from higher above, moved Linda Danvers into the center of this activity, making her the epicenter for it. For a limited time the Earth-bound Angel was funneled into Supergirl, with those from higher above knowing that the unique nature of the Matrix and Linda Danvers merge would build a stronger more powerful Supergirl-even after the Earth-bound Angel left that form."

"I do think she is going to burn herself alive." Dark Angel cooed.

"Now." Silverhawk shouted.

Miss America transmuted all the soldiers filling the communications room she'd come into earlier to destroy into white mice.

Dark Angel spun around facing Miss America and Silverhawk.

Silverhawk hurtled through the air toward her, his silver-plated wings slicing through the air.

A bolt of blue electricity shot from her hand, slamming into Silverhawk and knocking him back, slamming him into the machinery in charge of communications that Miss America had not been able to dismantle before Dark Angel and the soldiers had pounced on her. It crackled about him. The energy continued flowing into Silverhawk, pinning him against the ruined machinery. He struggled against it, but the lightning was too powerful.

"Oh that's hardly fair." Miss America said, transmuting the lightning energy into giant daisies that floated harmlessly to the ground.

Dark Angel turned her attention to Miss America.

"So you want to play now woman? You are just a pale shadow of Wonder Woman; you always have been, always will be. No real identity of your own. In fifty years who is going to remember you? No one that is who! But they'll remember Wonder Woman!" Dark Angel cackled. She tossed a fireball at Miss America.

Before it reached her, Miss America transmuted it into tumbleweed. She then focused her power on Dark Angel, transforming her into a raven statue.

"Well, that should keep you out of the way for a little while."

She turned her attention to the still burning Linda. She went over to the girl and used her powers. Or more precisely tried to use her power. The fire did not respond and only flared out, setting her cape on fire. Miss America let out a scream and quickly transmuted the fire consuming her cape into snow. Once the fire was gone she inspected the char marks on her cape.

"Weird. I can transmute it when it's on me, but on Linda I can't." Miss America frowned deeply. She attempted turning air molecules into water, but the water did nothing to extinguish the flames as it rained down.

Miss America turned her attention to Silverhawk. He was unconscious, his metal armor still warm and tingly with static.

She shook Silverhawk lightly, "Silverhawk?" There was no response. Miss America realized that she didn't even know his real name.

"What did I miss?"

Miss America turned to see Wonder Woman standing in the hallway leading into the communications room, hands on her hips, her golden lasso glowing warmly in the dark shadowy interior of the castle.

"Oh, thank God you're here." Miss America sighed.

"I died?" Linda asked.

"Supergirl died. But the enemy was gravely wounded. And because of it, others were able to defeat him. Without her sacrifice, the enemy would not have been defeated." Wally said. "But, his secret agents remained. And they knew that he would be reborn in the universe that was recreated after his defeat. They knew that Supergirl struck a fatal blow from which the enemy never truly recovered. And they knew that she would destroy him again."

"So they uncreated me?" Linda frowned.

"They fixed it so that Supergirl never was. Superman was the only survivor of Krypton's destruction. His cousin Kara Zor-El never was."

"I was Superman's cousin?"

"Yes, you were. Once upon a reality. And the two of you feel that erased connection, even if it's not there. Why else would the two of you share such a closeness?"

"I thought he felt some shame at the destruction of the Pocket Universe Matrix came from and that Matrix was so badly wounded at the conclusion of his battle there." Linda hesitated. "Who manipulated us out of existence?"

"That is something I can't tell you." Wally said, "I would if I could Linda, Matrix. But, I can only explain certain things. Your true enemies and your various benefactors must reveal themselves to you. I can only do my part."

"Some one went to a lot of trouble to stop there from being a Supergirl." Linda said, "It stands to reason that same person or people could be what is keeping us trapped here in the past."

"Again, Linda, that is something I cannot talk about with you."

"But if you're God, why can't you tell me?"

"Because Linda. Some things have to be learned first hand and when it is time. You have a massive journey ahead of you still before the secrets can be shared." Wally shrugged. "I led you to believe your Angel powers were gone because you are not yet ready to wield them on your own. Before when you were the Earth-bound Angel, there were forces to keep you in check. You were part of an order. With these powers, you are on your own. You do not answer to any higher authority, other than your own conscience."

From the images before them, a woman composed of flame stepped. A bright and blazing S-shield burned on her chest.

"Dark Angel has unleashed that dormant part of you. And you are not entirely ready for the power. You are not quite strong enough. But, there is no choice for you but to be ready. Either be ready for it, or it will destroy you. Your body and soul will both be burned to cinders and the great battle you were destined to fight will be lost in that moment. And existence will be undone." Wally said.

The flaming woman looked at Linda.

"A series test is being presented to you now Linda."

"I am tired of being tested. I am tired of the problems. Life is so complicated. I've lost so much already. And I'm trapped in the past, with no way to get home. I don't know how much more I can take." Linda moaned. She could feel herself burning still; realizing that Wally had somehow transported her mind away, to this place. "I'm tired of the chaos that has informed my life since Matrix and I merged."

"Life was never really good for me until we became one." Matrix said, speaking out finally. "And it wasn't really good for you either Linda. Don't you realize that as separate entities we never felt complete? We always felt alone? But once we were together, we were complete. Finally everything seemed right. The way it was supposed to be."

"You did not truly exist until you and Matrix joined. Because as I said, there was no Linda and there was no Matrix. Not until you were one. Then there was Supergirl, Matrix was the humanity and Linda was the soul. Even before you were uncreated, this was how it was. When Matrix was called Kara Zor-El." Wally added.

"We left behind our darkness when we became one." Matrix told Linda. "There has been darkness since, but it isn't within us. It is around us."

"I am the final piece." The burning woman said. "You will need me to prevent the horrible destiny that awaits."

Linda and Matrix looked at her.

"Together the three of us will join. Our trinity will create the ultimate Earth-bound Angel. And give you the power to destroy our enemy when he finally reveals himself. You have seen him in your dreams, Linda. As have you Matrix. You know his face, even if you cannot remember it."

"My head is going to feel awfully crowded." Linda said.

"Once the three of us have combined, we will only be one. There will be no differentiating between us. We will be Supergirl---Linda Lee Danvers." The burning woman said.

Matrix and Linda looked to Wally.

"Your journey only begins if you accept. The universe is made of positive and negative forces. The negative have long conspired to prevent Supergirl's existence and who you are truly meant to be. The positive forces are now beginning to reassert themselves, and they are presenting you with the beginning of an arduous journey." Wally said, smiling. "You're up to it if it helps any."

The burning woman reached out to them.

"Evolution is never easy Supergirl." The burning woman said.

"Well… here goes everything." Linda sighed, taking Matrix's hand. She and Matrix then each took one hand of the burning woman.

There was a brilliant flash and flare of light, and the white room they stood in burned away.

Linda and Matrix and the fire woman screamed, their individual screams blurring into one.

It felt like their souls broke and then rejoined after reshaping. Linda felt pain that she could have never imaged, and the places where she and Matrix had blended into one could be felt-fissures in their souls. Interconnected intricately. The fire seemed to burn down deep, melting those fissures, scorching their souls until they were completely totally one without any lines invisible or visible joining them. The fire danced over it, seeping down deep into the soul and leaving it with a heavenly glow.

"Dark Angel blasted you good with lightning." Miss America said. The communications equipment in the room was completely destroyed. Smoke rose up from the equipment in dark rivers.

Silverhawk groaned, "That would explain why I feel crispy under my armor."

Across the room Linda was still burning, Wonder Woman stood above her looking down perplexed. Hippolyta unloosed the golden lasso from her hip and lassoed Linda's burning form.

Hippolyta screamed as the fire shoot through the golden lariat, sending a high level of feedback along the line and knocking her on her butt. Miss America and Silverhawk rushed over to Hippolyta, finding her sitting up and shaking her head. There were singe marks on her hands from where the lasso had burned her.

"Guess that's not going to work either." Miss America said helping Hippolyta up. "I tried transmuting the flames. That didn't work either."

"By Zeus." Hippolyta cautiously picked up the golden lasso, which had worked it's way free of Linda's burning form once she'd let go of it. She looped it back at her hip. "That fire courses with the power of a god."

"Well, it's not burning us." Miss America said, "Just Glory. The magic properties of it must be what prevented it from transmuting. I'm not sure how my powers work with mystical type stuff."

"Speaking of transmuting…" Silverhawk let the sentence trail off as the mice filling the room reverted back to Nazi soldiers.

"Great." Miss America spun around, attempting to transmute them again. But it didn't work. "I think I'm tapped out. Trying to transmute the fire and then my cape so quickly after Dark Angel and those soldiers…"

"No worries." Silverhawk told her, "I think we can handle them."

"I think we'll do all right." Wonder Woman unsheathed her sword. "In fact, I'd say we'll do more than all right."

"But, they aren't the only transmutations about to revert." Miss America said, turning her attention to the raven statue that was beginning to vibrate and sparkle the way all of her transmutations did before reverting to their true forms.

Dark Angel stood fully restored.

"That was interesting Wonder Woman-lite." Dark Angel said to Miss America. "But it didn't last. And now I have some interesting things for you."

"You have nothing of the sort Dark Angel! This is the time that I shall defeat you once and for all." Wonder Woman pointed her sword at the wandering spirit.

"After all this time, you should realize that it's not going to be that easy Hippolyta." Dark Angel cackled. Lightning and energy began dancing all around Dark Angel, making the air alive with her negative energy.

"I think it will be easier than you expect."

Every one turned to see Linda standing there, the fire dancing from her eyes and giant wings of fire blazing from her back. Her fists were clenched at her side. The air began to dance with fire.

TO BE CONTINUED