AN: Hey y'all! I'm really really excited to finally start posting this story!
Just for reference, this story exists in an Avatar universe, but Aang and his gang never existed. I also took some liberties and there are some changes within the Avatar Universe.
I do not own Arrow or ATLA!
Prologue
1307
"Daddy! Daddy, look!" She ran into the cavernous room, giggling loudly. She moved as quickly as her short legs would let her, making her way to the stoic man seated at the center table.
The room was shrouded in darkness, except for the flickering torches lining the walls and the few candles settled on the table.
He glanced down, scoffing before immediately returning his gaze to the maps laid out in front of him. "Not now."
But she wasn't to be deterred. Clearly filled to the brim with energy, she ran a quick circle around the table her father was seated at, her chestnut curls flying behind her.
She restlessly tugged on his robes, finally forcing him to give her his attention. "Daddy, look! I'm you! Or Issy!" And with that, she gave him a toothy grin and held out her palms. Before he could roll his eyes or scold her once again, a flame suddenly engulfed the young girl's hand.
In a matter of seconds, it was no longer a small flame, but a roaring fire, at least three times the size of the young princess's head. The fire hid her face from him, but he could clearly hear her amused and fascinated giggles.
He immediately stood up, the force great enough to knock his chair over. "Felicity!" His roar was enough for the fire to extinguish, and he was left staring wildly at his daughter, who was smiling proudly.
"Will you love me now?" She asked innocently. He responded by roughly grabbing her by the collar of her robe, dragging her along the hallways in their palace.
"Daddy, slow down!" But he didn't listen, not shortening his wide strides.
"You! Find Princess Isabel, and send her to the tower!" He growled to the only servant they passed on their way. The frail man cowered, nodding frantically.
"As you wish, Lord Darhk." And with that, they were back on their way, entering the restricted area of the palace.
The young girl looked around curiously, excited to see the new rooms, but confused as to why her father seemed so upset. After climbing countless stairs, she was finally shoved into an empty room, where she was left as the door slammed loudly behind her.
She pouted as she took in the empty room, but quickly found entertainment in the single window offered. It was like she could see the whole kingdom! Her daydreams took over, until she finally heard voices outside the door. She scrambled over, trying to hear what was being said.
"What's the trouble, father?" She heard her favorite, well, only sister ask.
"The girl. She stands in your way of inheriting the thrown." Despite the seriousness in her father's voice, she heard Isabel laugh incredulously.
"Felicity? Father, she is only four!" The disbelief was clear in her voice.
"Daughter, do not underestimate her."
"She is nothing but the daughter of one of your mistresses, daughter of a whore! How dare you imply she is a threat to my rightful crown?!" She cried out bitterly.
Felicity cringed as she could hear a resounding slap through the door.
"Your arrogance makes you a fool. She may be young, but her power within is great. She was able to conjure fire, today."
She heard her sister scoff. "Father, I could do that at four as well."
"Yes Isabel, but yours was the size of a pea," He spat out. "With training, her powers could easily surpass yours in little time." This finally rendered the princess silent. "If the people were to realize, they would call for her to be Crowned Princess, and strip you as the crowned heir."
"So what are we to do? Kill her?"
"No, no. She is but a child." For a minute there was silence. "We will tell the people the princess has an illness and cannot roam outside, that she is a sad little thing, born without fire inside."
"Won't they call you weak? For bearing a child with no bending ability?"
"They wouldn't dream of it. They've seen what I am capable of, they won't forget. And neither should you, girl."
Felicity scrambled away from the door, wishing she could understand what her sister and father were talking about, as she heard the door finally unlatch. The only family she had stepped in, ice in their eyes.
"Child," Her father crouched down, coming face to face with her. "'The trick you showed me today," She nodded eagerly, immediately holding out her palms and preparing to repeat it. "Stop." Her father grabbed her hands tightly. "You are never to do it again, understand?"
"Why? You and Isabel do!" She pouted, wanting to do her trick again.
"No! Creating fire… your ability makes you a freak, a monster. Do you understand, child? No one will love you, if they see it." She slowly nodded, all her excitement from earlier immediately draining in fear and disappointment.
"Good." He swiftly stood up. "This will be your room from now on. You enjoy the window, don't you?" She quietly nodded. "Then you are not to leave this room unless summoned. Do not disappoint me, girl." And with that, her only living family members swept out of the room, leaving her alone in the dark empty tower.
1317
A loud shout had him bolting out of his bed, instinctually bending the ground into a defensive blockade around his bed. He surveyed the room as he gasped for air, quickly seeing there was no immediate threat. But the moment he allowed his hearing to come back in focus, he could hear multiple shouts from outside his doors.
Thea. He had to get to his sister. Throwing his doors open, he was met with chaos. Flames were licking the furniture, and he could see servants running around, trying to help. Ignoring it all, he quickly made his way to his sister's room, preventing the fire from reaching him by forming rock blockades.
Trying to move quickly, he kicked in Thea's door, immediately making his way to her bedside.
"Thea!" He shook her awake, nearly impressed that she had been able to sleep through all the chaos. "We have to go!" As she slowly gained consciousness, he had no choice but to throw her small body over his shoulder. He had to focus on getting them out. But just as he stepped out of the room, he felt a pinch in his neck, and suddenly succumbed to the darkness.
"You can't do this Malcolm! You can't unbalance the world like this!" Oliver blinked, slowly gaining consciousness. As the room finally came into focus, he realized he was lying on the floor, both his hands and feet bound. He would be unable to earth bend he realized.
He abruptly sat up when he saw his parents similarly bound, kneeling in front of… Malcolm Merlyn? Merlyn was one of his father's most trusted advisors, and also the father of his best friend, Tommy. Oliver tried to make sense of what he was seeing, as he also tried to break from his restraints. Taking another sweep around the room, he felt a chill run down his spine as he realized Thea was missing.
"No Robert. I'm bringing the world back into balance, by getting rid of that weak, cowardly nation! They don't deserve to live!" Oliver watched as Malcolm paced, clearly losing his mind.
"Malcolm! Rebecca wouldn't have wanted this! She was one of them-" Malcolm roared, lashing out and slapping Moira.
"Do not speak her name. I don't care if that's where her origins lay, if it wasn't for them, she would still be alive!"
"Mom," Oliver called softly, trying to shuffle his way to his sobbing mother.
"At least let my children live," Robert pleaded to deaf ears.
Malcolm simply shook his head. "The Queen blood line ends today. If my plan is to succeed, I need to be the sole ruler of the Earth Nation."
"Besides, it would be a shame to allow Oliver to live, as he'd only live as an outcast." Oliver growled, straining and trying to break free of his restraints. Malcolm shook his head once again. "No point in trying, boy. Even if you were to break those bonds, I've drugged all of you. I managed to find quite an interesting plant, it's powers strong enough to permanently wipe away any trace of bending ability."
Moira gasped in shock, refusing to believe his words.
"Little Ollie would be pretty miserable, trying to survive out there without being able to bend." He taunted, clearly enjoying the power he held.
"This is crazy, Malcolm. You've let grief warp your mind. Nothing good will come from this!" Robert pleaded, trying to reach his old friend.
"Shut up! I know exactly what I'm doing!" He laughed manically. "Look, I'll even show you an action of good will. I guess he's no threat, just a spoiled brat, who won't survive a day without his title or bending." He made his way to Oliver, quickly cutting his restraints loose.
The moment he was able to, Oliver took a swing, narrowly missing as Malcolm dodged it.
"Tsk tsk, Ollie. I did this as kind gesture, don't bite the hand that feeds you."
"Oliver! Leave, get out of here!" His mother begged.
"No! I won't just leave you here with this psycho. I won't leave you here to die." He growled, refusing to even contemplate it.
"Oliver, go now! You need to find Thea. You need to right these wrongs. Survive, and save the city!" Robert pleaded. The words finally made it through his ears. Thea. If he died here tonight, there was no way to guarantee her safety.
"Please Oliver, please." His mother asked, her sobs finally subsiding.
He took a step back, realizing what he had to do. Merlyn had the upper hand, with his ability to bend plus the sword he had strapped to his side. So he had to make it out, make it back to his little sister, and avenge his family.
"We love you Oliver. Now go make us proud." His father held his gaze, nodding in approval.
"I will," Oliver choked out, as he spun and escaped the fortress he once called home.
1319
"What's it like out there, Digg?" She asked, staring longingly out the window.
"Cruel. It's a cold world out there, princess." He responded, not moving from his post by her door.
"I don't believe that." She sighed, trying to imagine what it must be like to step foot on grass, or to bathe in a running river. "The world is too colorful, too beautiful. I can't believe that all people are so terrible." She chuckled softly. "They can't all be like father."
They sat in silence a moment longer, until Felicity held out her palms and breathed deeply. She created a soothing fire, giving it life through her breath.
"Princess.." Diggle shook his head disapprovingly, but a fond smile told her he wouldn't be outing her secret any time soon.
"Oh, please Digg. My father locked me away before he had the chance to realize I was a genius. I'm well aware of why I'm actually banished up here."
She gleefully played with her fireball until Diggle approached her.
"Felicity. We can't let your father find you like this."
She rolled her eyes, but extinguished the fire. "Please, when was the last time I obeyed the Fire Lord's orders?"
"You mean you're staying locked up here on your own free will?" He teased.
She pouted. "Touché." She walked back over to the window before turning back to her friend. "Please Diggle. Let me go out there."
He shook his head sadly. "You know I can't."
She nodded, pasting on a forced smile. "You're right, why would I wanna go out there anyways? Everyone already thinks I'm a freak, and my only two friends, you and Thea, are here." Her guard, and her maid. The only people she was allowed to interact with were her only friends in this lonely world.
"Thank you, princess." He suddenly said, bowing slightly.
"For what?"
"I'm aware that you're more than capable of escaping this tower alone, yet you choose not to." He replied solemnly. They sat in silence for a moment.
"My father is a cruel man. I don't want to imagine what he would do to a guard that allowed his prisoner to escape." Diggle slowly returned to his post, looking anywhere but at the girl.
"I lied earlier." She raised a brow, unsure of what he was talking about. "The world is a little less cruel, a little less cold, as long as your bright spirit is still fighting."
She grinned, nodding thankfully, before returning once again to her window, dreaming about the day she would be free.
1322
The grip on his bow tightened as he observed the scene taking place in his city.
He had finally returned to Starling, after a long, gruesome five years away. It had been difficult, adjusting to a life without bending abilities, but he had been lucky. He had found Yao Fei and Shado. His new training had prepared him, and he was ready now. He would stop Malcolm, and keep his promise to his parents.
He watched in disgust as a little boy was cornered by at least three members of the Guard.
"Boy, there's no use in running. You know what the punishment for stealing is." The leader of the trio sneered. The Starling City Emblem was pinned proudly on his armor, and Oliver had to fight the urge to swoop down and rip it off. This fool brought nothing but shame to Starling.
"Please, my sister is hungry!" The boy cried as he backed further into a corner. The milling townsfolk stood by, watching in fear and pity. Many were shaking their heads, but were too fearful of the Guard to interfere.
The guards only laughed, infuriating the boy. With a shout, he stomped the ground, sending a wave of rocks toward the Guard. But he was no match, as the Guard in command morphed all the pebbles into one large boulder.
Laughing, he gestured for the others to bind the boy. "Stealing is a serious crime here, and Lord Merlyn has no tolerance. Your punishment will be the crushing of your hands." The guard leisurely stated, hovering the boulder above the shaking boy's hands.
He had seen enough. Taking a deep breath, he released one of his specialized arrows. It hit the boulder, breaking it into nothing but dust so the boy would not be harmed. He quickly released three more arrows before anyone could react, all which bound the hands of the confused Guards.
Swinging down, he landed directly in front of the furious trio. As the townsfolk watched in awe, he released another arrow, binding the three together. The last thing the terrified guards heard before getting knocked out was a low growl, "You have failed this city."
AN: Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know what you think, and stop by to say hi on tumblr .com
