Note: This story takes place after the Green Lantern episode 'Dark Matter.' I do not own any of the characters, nor am I doing this for profit. Please enjoy! (p.s. I only wrote this story, because an idea would not leave me alone, see if you can spot it ^_^)
A New Hope
Hal stared at the letter in his hand once more; he was reclining in his chair, which was in his living room. He was taking a vacation from his job as a test pilot. He was also taking a break from his other job as well. His other job was being a Green Lantern, which was made up of many species throughout the galaxy; each member had a ring and a lantern. The lanterns served as a power source for the rings. The reason for the break from both jobs was so that he could help Carol with the planning of their wedding. He had proposed to her six months ago, and now they were adding the finishing touches to the wedding. Hal pulled out the letter once more;
Dear Green Lantern, and Red Lantern Razer,
The Council would like to invite the Green Lanterns and their families to Oa. We will be celebrating the defeat of the Anti-monitor, and we will be extending our alliance to the Star Sapphire Corps as well as the Blue Lantern Corps. We will celebrate on Oa on the date enclosed with this letter.
Signed Head of the Green Lantern Council,
Appa Ali Apsa.
Hal turned over the letter, the date of the meeting was on the back. He was going to go; he had not seen his friend Kilowog in six months. Kilowog was a huge humanoid pig-like alien, who had joined Hal on his missions in Frontier Space. Another friend he had not seen in a year was Razer. Razer was another humanoid alien that Hal had met and became friends with. His friend had stayed in contact during that time, but it was not the same.
"He would be around twenty now, we should throw him a birthday party next time we see him." Hal mused.
"Hal! I'm home, and I got this letter, you may want to see it."
Hal looked up and saw his fiancé Carol enter the room. She gave him a quick kiss, before settling herself on the arm of the chair Hal was sitting on. She handed him the letter, and leaned against him as he read it out loud.
Dear Ladies of the Star Sapphires
We have been invited by the Council of the Green Lanterns to attend a gathering. This gathering will celebrate the defeat of the Anti-monitor, and be our chance to extend a hand of friendship to our fellow ring bearers. All Star Sapphires will meet on the date enclosed in this letter. We shall make our way to Oa as a group.
May love always light your way,
Queen Aga'po
"Want to go? I think it will do us both good to see our friends. We haven't seen them in six months, and I know I want to catch up with the other Sapphires, and invite them to our wedding." Carol told him.
"You read my mind babe."
Hal smiled and kissed Carol on her lips.
Before Hal knew it, the day of the gathering had arrived. Carol and he had slept during the day, so they could be awake during the gathering. It would be say on Oa, while it was night on the Earth.
"See you at the gathering Hal."
Carol leaned in, and kissed him on the cheek. She changed into her Star Sapphire suit. Her black hair became long, and a mask appeared around her blue eyes. While she changed a pink portal opened, and with a smile, Carol went through it to join her comrades. Hal changed into his Green Lantern suit and flew to Oa in the cover of night. He spotted two other green streaks that joined him from Earth. One was Guy Gardner, and the other was the newest Green Lantern Jon Stewart. The three made their way to Oa.
"I see that you are as pathetic as usual Jordon." Guy snorted when he saw him.
"Says the one that isn't part of the Justice League." Hal replied.
Guy glared at him, and flew on ahead. Hal, Guy, and Jon reached Oa at the same time. As they landed, Hal spotted Kilowog, and walked over to him. Hal and the two Green Lanterns that joined him were among the first group to arrive on Oa. More Green Lanterns were arriving as Hal approached Kilowog.
"Hey Jordon, long time no see. Hear from the kid?"
"Not recently, he became kind of quiet in the last two months."
"I hope he comes to the gathering. So, how have you been?"
"I proposed to Carol, we are going to get married soon. That reminds me, here is an invitation to it."
Hal handed the invitation to Kilowog, who took it. Kilowog put the letter in his pocket, and before he knew it, he was on the receiving end of one of Kilowog's bone-crushing hugs. Hal tried to squirm away, but Kilowog had a firm grip on him.
"Kilowog, c-can't b-breath…"
"Sorry."
Kilowog let him go with a sheepish grin. Hal gave his friend a lop-sided grin in response. Hal opened his mouth to ask how Kilowog had been, but was interrupted by Appa.
"Green Lanterns assemble."
Hal, Kilowog, and the early Green Lanterns went to line up in front of him.
"The Blue Lanterns and the Star Sapphires are on their way to attend this gathering. We will greet them professionally and with dignity. I do not give them the wrong impression."
Hal noticed that Appa was glaring at him.
"I will be on my best behavior sir."
"Let's hope so." Appa replied, before turning to the other Lanterns. "We have taken the time to assemble you all into proper groups, and we have assigned you to those groups."
After twenty minutes everyone was assembled into a group, it took a bit longer, because the other Green Lanterns were still arriving. The Groups were split into four, two on each side of the pathway their guests would take when they arrived. Kilowog was in the group across from Hal and further down, he would be among the first to greet their guests. Hal was closer to where Appa could keep an eye on him, and that meant that he would be among the last to greet their guests. Hal spotted Jon across from him, and if he craned his neck, he could see Guy in the first group on the same side as him. Salaak, another Green Lantern, would introduce the groups as they arrived.
"Introducing Queen Aga'po, and the rest of the Star Sapphires."
Hal watched as Queen Aga'po and the rest of the Star Sapphires walk down the path the Green Lanterns made. Hal saw Carol among them; she gave him a wink before following the rest of the group. Hal saw Kilowog blow a kiss towards his girlfriend Galia. Hal also noticed that some of the guys were watching the Sapphires' backsides. A quick glare from the Guardians made them stop.
"Welcome, Queen Aga'po, leader of the Star Sapphires." Appa greeted her.
"Thank you for accommodating us Guardian Appa."
Queen Aga'po and the rest of the Star Sapphires joined the Guardians as they waited for the Blue Lanterns.
"So, those are the Blue Lanterns." A Green Lantern spoke up from Hal's left.
Hal turned from checking his fiancé out, and turned to correct him, but stopped when he saw a group of people wearing blue cloaks. Hal noted that there were more Blue Lanterns then there was a year ago, and the only ones that did not wear the cloaks were the original Blue Lantern founders. The founders were Ganthet, Saint Walker, and Brother Warth. Ganthet had been part of the Guardians, but had been exiled for showing empathy for other beings.
"Saint Walker, how are you buddy?" Kilowog's voice sounded from further down the path.
Kilowog grabbed Saint Walker in a bone-crushing hug. After he let the Blue Lantern go, his voice lowered, and Hal could no longer hear them. Kilowog seemed to be asking Saint Walker a question. The Blue Lantern said something in response, and gave Kilowog a wink. As the group in blue continued on their way to greet the Guardians, Kilowog seemed to be looking for something.
"AAHH!"
Hal turned his head from watching the Blue Lanterns approach the Guardians to see who screamed. Kilowog had another Blue Lantern in a bone-crushing hug, but Hal did not recognize them. The poor Blue Lantern squirmed in his grasp, but was unable to get free.
"Please release me; this is not an appropriate time." The Blue Lantern pleaded.
Hal froze, he recognized that voice, and before he could stop himself he was running towards Kilowog.
"What are you doing Green Lantern Hal, Green Lantern Kilowog, release that Blue Lantern!" Appa shouted.
Hal ignored him and hugged the Blue Lantern along with Kilowog. The Blue Lantern was now sandwiched between the two of them. The Blue Lantern tried to squirm away from them, but they refused to release him. Hal was vaguely aware that Appa had flown next to him, along with someone else. That person was an amused Ganthet.
"Release him at once!" Appa told them. "If you do not release him, you will be demoted!"
"Let them be, they have not seen their friend for a long time." Ganthet responded. "Now let us proceed with the gathering, I am sure you have a feast planned for us."
With a final glare, Appa left the trio and went to join the others once more.
"Hal, Kilowog, my friends, let me go; I am unable to draw breath." The Blue Lantern told them.
Kilowog and Hal released him. The trio ignored the proceedings while they caught up. Hal knew he and Kilowog would pay for it later, but he did not really care at the moment. The Blue Lantern pulled down his hood, and Hal got a proper look at his friend.
Razer had changed since Hal had seen him a year ago. The Red Lantern armor was completely gone, only to be replaced with a new outfit. Razer now wore a black shirt with black pants, over that he wore a dark blue tunic, and he wore blue sleeves that started at his wrists and ended at his elbows at an angle. The blue tunic had black patterns on it that had traces of his red lantern outfit, as well as well as a small section dedicated to Aya. What was the most surprising to Hal is that Razer no longer wore a helmet, or any head covering for that matter. Razer had pointed ears, and white hair that was currently disheveled due to their hug attack on him.
"Looking good Razer, the blue looks better on you then red did." Hal told him.
Kilowog pointed at Razer's chest.
"Looks like Razer has Aya's pattern here."
"Speaking of Aya, have you found her yet?" Hal asked.
"No, it seems that I am not destined to find her at this moment in time, but I have not given up my search. I have, however, found something that I did not know still existed."
"What's that?" Kilowog asked.
Razer gave him a small smile.
"I found my parents, I had thought they died long ago, but I found them on my journey. I will tell you all about it at the banquet; it seems that the three of us are late."
Hal looked up, sure enough; it was just the three of them.
"Appa is going to have my head!" Hal exclaimed running towards the banquet hall.
Behind him Razer looked over to Kilowog.
"Why is Guardian Appa so annoyed with him?"
"Hal played an April fool's joke on him, it's a type of Earth tradition it seems, and let's just say Appa spent two weeks as a purple guardian."
"I am sure Ganthet would find this story most amusing."
"Yeah, and you can tell him all about it when we go to the banquet." Kilowog turned to look at Razer. "You are also going to tell us all about your travels and your parents."
Kilowog and Razer both walked to the banquet, they three friends had a year's worth of catching up.
TO BE CONTINUED?
Note: This is intended to be a one-shot, but I will continue if there is enough interest. I wrote this after watching the finale episode "Dark Matter." Thank you for reading. ^_^