The Next Generation

The Audition:

A handsome boy swims in the high school pool at record speed, he has been swimming at least 20 laps in less than one minute. He isn't tired and hasn't taken a break, until he sees a reflection of someone else's feet standing above him. He pops his head out and notices it is Sean, his best friend. The boy in the pool is half naked with chiseled, statue of David-like abs, has long brown hair, and striking blue eyes. The boy standing above him is average height, average looking, and carrying a briefcase.

"Josh, did you forget what today was?" Suddenly a light-bulb goes off in his head and he realizes why today is so important. "Come on we have to go, or she is going to be pissed!" So without any warning, Sean grabs his hand and leads the way to the auditorium.

A shy yet gorgeous teenage girl sits at the piano rehearsing the song in her head. She gets more nervous, with her face turning red as more and more people pour into the auditorium. She didn't expect this many people to come, but when your mom is the face of the city, who would expect anything less? The only problem is that out of all the people coming into the auditorium, none of them were who she really wanted to be.

A few hours ago…

"So sweetie, you excited for your audition today?" The same girl that was in the auditorium was now sitting at her dining room table in her beautiful apartment high rise. Her handsome father came over bringing her a plentiful breakfast of eggs, cantaloupe, and lightly buttered toast.

"Do you think she'll even come?" She looked over at the television screen as her mother was the headline of the local news, a usual sight as of late. Her beautiful mother Lana Lang, a heroine saving another life from a burning building. Her father turned off the TV because he didn't want his daughter to be watching that.

"I'm sure she'll try her best. Just remember it's not the end of the world if you don't get this audition."

"So I'll be known as Lana Lang's daughter for the rest of my life then." She took one look at her food and started getting ready for school as she didn't feel like eating anymore.

Present…

A very attractive young athlete runs through the busy streets of Metropolis City with two hot coffee's and freshly baked scones in his hand. He takes a look around and notices no one is watching, so he waits a minute and runs faster than a speeding bullet. An old stout man turns around from getting his coffee just as this happens and gets hit by the gust of trailing wind, spilling his coffee. He yells in Italian wondering what on Earth just happened. Everyone was in the auditorium including Josh, soaking wet, and Sean who was looking around for Henry. The girl at the podium was also looking for Henry and suddenly someone came through the doors, but it wasn't him. It was Mr. Thatcher carrying a briefcase and asking his shy, small assistant for the papers. Everybody turned their heads to see the very talented Smallville play writer, who happened to be a former Smallville High student. At the age of seventeen he wrote his first screenplay which was turned into one of the hottest play on Broadway street in NYC, it even won a TONY. Lately he has been producing TV shows and finally wrote a new screenplay for Broadway, which the young girl is auditioning for today.

"Willa Lang?"

"Yes, sir that's me!" Willa looked stunned at the young superstar, who is still only 23 years old and already has an impressive resume and recognition in theater.

"Lang, are you Lana Lang's daughter?" Willa and her closest friends rolled their eyes, knowing how much she hates being asked that question.

"Yes, she is my mother."

"Tell me why is the daughter of the face of Metropolis City and Smallville auditioning for a play? Especially when she has the whole world at her hands?"

"I'd like to make my own name for myself. I don't want to be riding my mother's coattails my entire life." She still was scanning the auditorium now searching for two people. Josh turned to his left and saw Brianna, the top girl at this school who was also auditioning for this play. He could tell she was planning something but he couldn't tell what.

"So what will you be singing for us?"

"I will be singing my own version of 'Maps' by Maroon 5." Suddenly a loud shutting of the auditorium doors, made everybody turn.

"What on Earth was that?" He turned around and saw a young man, come walking down the aisle to his friends. "I hate it when people come late, it is such a distraction. What if the young girl was singing and your loud boisterous noise ruined her audition?" The boy turned red like a bright ripe tomato.

"Sorry, sir. There was a lot of traffic."

"In that traffic did you spill coffee all over yourself?" He was talking about the giant spill on his red sweater vest. "As soon as young… Sorry what is your name?"

"Henry."

"As soon as young Henry takes his seat." Henry sat right next to Josh.

"Dude what took you so long?" Josh whispered to the embarrassed boy, as Henry to a look down at his wet friend.

"It looks like I'm not the only one who came late." Making a sarcastic tone.

"Well at least I made it before Mr. Thatcher came?"

"Alright, Willa whenever you are ready?"

"Willa Lang, auditioning for the roll of Samantha Harris, for the play 'Without a Boy." She started playing the beginning notes of 'Maps' on the piano, it was a much softer version than the song on the radio. "I got a taste of the sweet life…" Suddenly after she started singing something went wrong with her piano, one key wasn't tuned right. She started over again, the same thing happened at the same part, everybody was wondering what was going on. "Sorry there must be something wrong with the piano."

"Is there something wrong with the piano? Or can you just not play the piano?" Mr. Thatcher asked.

"I can play the piano, I've been playing it since I was seven years old."

"Well do you have a tape of your song?"

"No sorry I wasn't preparing for this to happen."

"First rule of theater, always be prepared for everything. I guess you'll just have to do it acapella." So she sat in the middle of the stage with everyone staring at her, she was nervous enough as it is, she didn't need this either. She started singing, and she was singing extremely well. She was very emotional during the song because it meant a lot to her, Henry was starting to realize why. Suddenly something wasn't feeling right and she began to choke, but not on purpose. Every time she tried to sing nothing came out, "Willa what is happening now?"

"Sorry sir I don't know, this never happens." She tried singing from the same part she stopped and still nothing happened. Josh heard some whispered laughing a few seats down and saw that it was Brianna, not only Willa's worst enemy but also Josh's ex girlfriend. Willa heard the laughing as well and saw where it was coming from. Suddenly there was too much pressure, she cracked and ran out of the auditorium.

"Well that was a complete waste of my time. Is there anyone else who is auditioning today? No, no one… Well then have a good rest of your day." He left and suddenly Henry got up from his seat to talk to Mr. Thatcher.

"Sir, if you could just give her another chance? This rarely ever happens."

"I don't give second chances, coffee boy, she flipped and lost her chance. Don't think she gets special privileges because her mother is Lana Lang." With that he left the building, leaving Henry in shock. On the other side of the auditorium, Josh was chasing down Brianna.

"Brianna! Dammit, Brianna slow down!" He finally grabbed hold of him. "Why on Earth would you do that? You know how much this audition means to her!"

"I have no clue what you are talking about Josh. I had nothing to do with that, that was all her! Everyone thinks she is so perfect, well now people will see the reality that she is just like the rest of us." Brianna left and Josh was more upset now than ever. He looked at the stage hoping Willa was still there, but she wasn't."

"Where is she?" He asked Sean.

"Where do you think she is?" Henry was now with Josh and Sean all worried about their friend Willa. They were now standing outside of the girl's bathroom on the first floor of Smallville High. They were knocking on the door madly hoping she would come out. "Willa, please come out! You can't stay hidden in the bathroom all day." Suddenly a shy girl game out of the bathroom.

"Are you guys looking for Willa?" They nod at the girl they didn't even know existed. "I saw her when I came in the bathroom, but she left through the window. She looked terrified."

"Dammit!"

"Poor girl, having everybody know her because of her mom and one day she decides to do something for herself and suddenly she freezes." With that the young girl left as the boys tried to think of where she could be. Willa was sitting on top of a windmill in the middle of Crest Field. It was freezing cold, Willa was wearing a short sleeved black shirt and jean skirt, with no leggings. She was pretty cold with her eyes watering from not only crying but the high winds on top of this windmill. She was overlooking the city which she lived, the city where her mother was probably saving another life. A fast movement was coming towards the windmill, and suddenly Henry was on top of the windmill with Willa. He noticed how cold she was and put his letterman jacket around her shoulders. She turned around and looked at her ex boyfriend, suddenly crying in her arms.

"It's ok… It's alright, everything will be alright."

"No Henry, it's not. I was completely embarrassed in front of the entire student body. It's not alright, the one thing that I was actually looking forward to now is non-existent. Because we all know Brianna always gets what she wants… Can you just take me home?" Henry didn't want to, but he picked her up and started running. She was now back in her high-rise apartment frustrated and mad at the world.

Kidnapped:

Willa was in her room throwing things into a night-bag as if she was going to stay the night at someone's house. Her father came in the apartment very beat and tired, it looked like it was a rough day at the police department. Not only was her mother a vigilante, but her father was chief of police for Metropolis P.D. He heard slamming drawers in his daughter's room and immediately walked over there. He could tell she was frustrated and upset at something, immediately thinking it was the audition.

"Will!" She was throwing clothes in the air trying to look for something.

"Where is it? Where is it?"

"Willa? What is going on?" She turned around and all her father saw were streaks of black makeup running down her face. It looked like she had been crying for hours, she was going to ignore him but he stopped her before she got the chance. "Willa! How'd the audition go?"

"How does it look like it went?" She kept looking around the room like a mad-woman.

"What happened sweetheart, was your mother there?"

"No, of course she wasn't but I knew that was going to be a given. What I didn't know was going to happen, was that I was going to choke."

"Choke, sweetheart I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault dad. It's Brianna's fault." He looked extremely confused.

"Brianna? What did she do to… "

"She used her power to stop me from singing or playing the piano, but dad I really don't want to relive that moment. I need to find my lightning bolt necklace!" Her father noticed the glittering gold lightning bolt shining in the light, hanging on her jewelry tree. His eyes began to water because her older sister and his first daughter gave her that jewelry stand for her sixteenth birthday.

Two Years Ago…

Sean, Henry, Josh, and even Brianna were all standing in the middle of the living room with beautiful Lana Lang, Willa's father Michael, and gorgeous sister Nina. Nina was someone Willa always looked up to, she never used her powers for anything, she would save people by doing good in their lives like volunteering at the local shelter or working with inner city kids. Willa admired her un-selfishness, and hoped that one day she could be exactly like her sister. Suddenly a handsome boy came inside the apartment within a flash blowing out the candles and papers everywhere.

"Is she out yet?"

"No Barry, she's not… I don't know what's taking her so long." As soon as Barry came rushing in Henry got extremely annoyed, even though he was with Willa he knew the two of them had a bond that would never be broken.

"Maybe you should talk to her Barry, I think she might be nervous for some reason." Everybody looked at Lana thinking that she was crazy, Henry rolled her eyes he was never really excepted into the family because of who his dad was.

"I actually think that Nina would be the best person to talk to her now." Barry looked over at Henry hoping he would appreciate that.

"Ok I'll go see what's taking so long." She grabbed a brightly colored pink box with a gold bow, two of Willa's favorite colors. Nina was absolutely stunning; big blonde curly hair, emerald green eyes, and glowing golden skin. She looked more like her father than Lana and Willa looked more like Lana than Michael. She was wearing a beautiful powder blue spaghetti stripped dress and white pumps. She knocked on her sister's door, hoping she would come out. "Willa… Willa is everything ok?" She came in through the door and saw her young sister throwing clothes everywhere making a mess in her room. "WILLA!" Willa turned around looking at her striking older sister carrying a huge present. "What is going on here? It looks like you turned this place upside down."

"I'm trying to look for a different outfit, I don't think this one is good enough."

"Willa you look gorgeous, that dress looks amazing on you! It shows off your curves."

"I know but Henry sent me a text saying that something special was going to happen tonight. I want everything to be perfect."

"Wow, he did? Do you think?" Being sisters who knew what they were always thinking Willa knew what she was about to ask.

"Yeah I think so."

"Wow, do you think you are ready?"

"I don't know I mean I love him I really do. We both said that we love each other and honestly I don't think I can see myself with anybody else."

"Really not even Barry? Because I kind of invited him tonight."

"He's here? Great, that's just great? This night is going to be a nightmare, you know how much Henry hates Barry."

"I know I kind of forgot about that, but Barry has been wanting to see you. He's been asking about you a lot lately."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Whatever happened with you two anyways, you were so perfect for each other."

"I honestly don't know, I guess he was more into saving people's lives than spending time with me. But I can't think of him right now, I have to be thinking about Henry. Especially if what I think is going to happen actually happens."

"Well I think mom pissed Henry off because she offered that Barry come in here to see what was taking so long. But enough about Henry and Barry, I think my present might be able to calm you down." She handed out the brightly colored package to her slightly annoyed sister. Willa tore the wrapping paper a part, opened the box and smiled right away. It was the beautiful carved Willow tree that she has always wanted since she saw it at the wood shop in Smallville.

"Nina thank you so much! It is exactly what I wanted!"

"I'm glad you like it, except now I'm starting to think I should've gotten you a box of condoms instead of a jewelry holder.

"No this is perfect I absolutely love it! I guess now we can leave, I'm in a much better mood." They smiled and hugged each other. Lana was glad to see both of her daughter's coming out of the room, especially to see Willa smiling and happy to see her friends. "Sorry I took so long guys, I was having a little moment."

"It's good as long as the birthday girl is alright!" Barry said immediately hugging her, making an awkward air in the room. She went over straight to Henry because she could tell he was very annoyed at her family right now. She wrapped her arm around his waist giving him a hug and kiss.

"You alright babe?" He whispered.

"Yeah I'm good now."

"Alright picture time!" Lana exclaimed, after a couple hundred snapshots they were finally able to go. "Alright kids be safe, and please be home by midnight!"

Present…

Willa was now sitting in a depressing white hospital room where her sister was lying on her bed being supported by a breathing tube. Even when she was lying in a bed with her eyes closed wearing the ugliest hospital gown in the world, her sister Nina was still as gorgeous as ever. She looked down at her coffee sad to see her very promising sister barely even alive.

"Hey, sis. I know it's been a while since I last came to visit. But It's been very dangerous to come to Star City lately with the Queen riots going on. The truth is this day has probably been the worst day of my life, since the accident and I really need to talk to you." She looked outside at Star City, hearing sirens go off every three minutes. "My audition went horrible, Brianna used her powers to screw up my voice and I was embarrassed in front of the entire student body. Oh and not to mention our mother didn't even come to see me." She looked down at her sister hoping for some sort of movement, some sort of recognition that Nina knew she was there, but nothing happened. "On the bright side I think Henry and I are getting closer together, he really put me at ease much like he did when I was having problems with Barry. I know you guys were never really fans of Henry and I dating but he is nothing like his father. He barely even uses his powers now because he thinks if he does he thinks it'll make him be more like his father." Suddenly a very handsome young intern comes into the room to change her IV bag.

"Hi, sorry I didn't think anyone was in here. I'm just here to change her IV."

"It's ok. Does anyone ever come to see her? Do you know how she is doing?"

"A police officer usually comes here every Friday night and a young boy who wears glasses and carries a briefcase comes here frequently." The only person who Willa knew that carries a briefcase and wears glasses was Barry, and the police officer had to be her father. "She's just like every other coma patient I have seen. Not a lot of progress and only here because her family won't let her move on."

"We won't let her move on because we think she is strong enough to come out of this!"

"Sorry I didn't realize you are related to her, she doesn't get that many visitors."

"It's ok, you don't have to be sorry. I'm not even sure how I feel about her being in this position because I know that if it were me she would think it would be best to just turn off the monitors."

"Why won't you tell your parents that."

"I've been trying to for the past two years." Another doctor came in.

"Sorry Mrs. Lang but visiting hours are over."

"Ok I'll leave."

"Do you have anyone to drive you back to Metropolis?"

"No I think I was going to stay the night here."

"Ok be careful, there has been a lot of crime out on the streets because of the Queen riots."

"I'll be fine, but thank you for the concern." She kissed Nina's forehead and left a tin box full of cookies on the table, hoping that the smell of white chocolate chip cookies would wake her up. Willa went to the back of the hospital, because she knew if she was by herself at night in Star City she would be mugged. Star City has been a mess ever since the billionaire mogul Oliver Queen was kidnapped a few months ago. He was an inspiration to the city hoping to bring more jobs to the city that was going downhill economically. But because he was kidnapped the city has been enraged and getting back at Luthor Corp who are the main suspects for kidnapping him. What no one knew was that Oliver Queen was also the famed vigilante Green Arrow. He has always been a role model to Willa and Nina helping out their family whenever Lana would be off saving the people of Metropolis. He was like their Uncle, especially since he was Sean and Brianna's father.

Anyway Willa knew that she had to be careful walking around the streets of Star City alone and she knew only one other person who would come to her rescue. She took out her cell phone and went through her address book to the second person in her phone, Barry Allen. Just as he was about to call him, a mugger from behind stabbed her neck with some sort of drug making her unconscious and fall to the ground. A couple of other guys covered with masks helped pick her up and threw her into the truck. Barry had finally answered the phone, but it was too late.

"Willa? Hello Willa, is that you? Willa?" Barry was in the control center of Star Labs with Cisco and Caitlin. One of the masked men grabbed the phone and hung up, getting in the front seat of the truck and driving off. "That's really weird."

"Was that Willa?" Barry nodded his head as Cisco asked concerned.

"Yeah, but she only calls me if something really goes wrong. Something must've happened because she hung up, and she never hangs up on me." Caitlin and Cisco looked at each other and back at Barry concerned for their old friend.