The Light and the Dark of the Moon

Summary:

Years ago, two daughters were born to families deep within the circle of the Shadows. Both girls were dealt harsh hands, their training sessions pushing their human forms beyond the limitations of the average human being. The darkness in their lives seemed everlasting, no hope for any sense of normality.

Except the only good thing that had: each other.

Follow both girls as they travel the paths laid before them.

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice nor the titles to my chapters, as they are song titles from various Rock bands I love to listen to

Pairings: Obviously, I will be pairing Wally/Artemis together, because they make such a cute couple. Hunter is female, and will be paired with Red Arrow later in the story, but the JL and YJ don't know this yet, as Artemis is trying to conceal any details to Hunter's identity.

Author's Note: This story is a work in progress, and the only thing I am changing in the YJ series is the fact that Roy will be knowledgeable of Artemis' origins, yet still protective of the YJ team, as he doesn't quite trust her yet. Roy and Hunter won't meet until the eventual meeting of Cheshire in Targets, as both have motive to chase after the assassin. This will eventually bridge the gap between Roy and Artemis to a sibling-relationship, as they both will view Oliver/Green Arrow as a paternal figure. Please leave a review, and the prologue is rather short, but I'm only starting it. No flames, for I do have pyromaniacs as friends and they just LOVE fire! LOL. Thanks for reading.

Prologue- Your Betrayal

Cheshire. Tigress. Hunter. While they may have been young, they were the most promising trio within the League of Shadows. Cheshire, talented with poisons and enjoyed torturing her victims for information. Tigress, talented long range fighter and quick intellect kept them from being caught. Hunter, master of all close-range combat and known to take out a target without ever making a sound.

It was a mission like every other. Break into the company building- Tigress hacking the mainframe, Chesire taking out any guards and Hunter sneaking into the company vault. They didn't care about the man being some big-shot CEO of Queen Industries. In their minds, this guy is lucky termination wasn't printed in the mission outline.

"I'm in the mainframe, and damn this guy has a serious knack for technology," Tigress comments over the communicator. "Alright, Hunter, the item we need is in a secret vault in the basement. There seems to be a series of guards posted, but they're only armed with tasers."

"On it," Cheshire replies coyly, Tigress practically hearing the sadistic smile in her voice.

"No terminations, Chess. There can be no traces of us here," Hunter's curt tone remarks pointedly over the communicator.

"Whatever you say boss," Cheshire retorts in a sing-song voice.

Tigress inwardly sighs. She knew without a doubt that Hunter couldn't stand Cheshire. The two of them clashed against each other at the most improper moments. Ignoring the churning sensation in her stomach as she listens to Cheshire rendering the guards unconscious, probably through poison, Tigress begins to point Hunter in the right direction.

Within twenty minutes, Hunter called out that the mission was done and the three race out of the large building. Running through the dark alleys, the trio duck into the shadows, but Hunter and Tigress come to a stop when Cheshire halts in place. The poison-assassin kicks out visciously, knocking the lead box out of Hunter's grasp and catches it within her own.

"What are you doing, Chess? We don't have time for this," Tigress seeths as Cheshire takes a step back from the two.

"I'm sick of coming in second to Hunter, and you just can't keep up. If you want to live, I suggest you catch me first," Cheshire retorts before leaping onto the fire escape above her head.

Hunter is quick to follow, Tigress not far behind, the duo chasing Cheshire across the rooftops of Star City. Hunter tackles Cheshire across the roof of a building, the lead box having been kicked from the grinning girl's hand, sliding along the rooftop. Cheshire scrambles to her feet, aiming for the box, when a leg hooks between her own and knocks her off balance. Hunter delivers a quick kick to the ribs, glowing green eyes glaring at Cheshire.

"What's wrong with you, Chess? You know if any of us come back without proof of a successful mission, we're dead," Tigress growls from beside Hunter, "Look at what they did to mom."

"That woman can hardly be considered my mother, Tigress," Cheshire argues, "and they wouldn't kill you. I know you have information off of the Queen Industries mainframe copied onto the drive. Hunter is the only one facing a death penalty."

Before the other two can comment, two arrows hit the rooftop between Cheshire and Hunter. Seeing the familiar green and red clad archers, Cheshire snatches up the lead box and leaps over the edge of the building. Hunter quickly grabs Tigress' hand and pulls her along when the red archer chased after Cheshire, leaving the older one to them.

Rooftop after rooftop. Dark alley after dark alley. The two companions crouch in the shadows casted by a nearby building. Tigress tries to swallow the fear rising in her chest and instantly tenses as familiar green eyes pierce into her own blue.

"Remember, back on that day, when we both admitted this wasn't the life we wanted?" Tigress' eyes widen in surprise, but she nods carefully, "Today is the day you are released from the Shadows."

"What? Hunter-"

Her argument is cut off by a single finger gently placed on her lips, "Tigress, lets not argue the facts, you're going to get caught if we make a run for it. Let them catch you. Tell this League of Do-Gooders everything you know and don't look back."

Tigress nods, understanding Hunter's point, "Alright. Here."

Seeing the drive offered, Hunter stares for a moment before a shake of the head is given to Tigress, the drive pushed back into her palm, "Take it. Use it as an Olive Branch."

"If you go back with nothing, they will kill you," Tigress argues.

"I can't let you continue living like this. I can take care of myself, always have, but I can't keep an eye out for us both with the Shadows breathing down our necks," Hunter surprises Tigress by pulling her into an embrace, "I will miss you, Goddess, but we must part ways for now. Once I get a new identy, I will find you."

Tigress opens her mouth to reply, but her temple is greeted by Hunter's fist, her world turning black. Hunter gives Tigress one last glance before disappearing within the shadows, a green-clad archer landing on the ground not a moment later. Green Arrow, Star City's very own hero vigilante, stared down at the unconscious teenager.

Hearing the footsteps fall behind him, he glances up to see his prodigy, Speedy, walking up to him, "The one named Cheshire got away. Who is this?"

"I don't know," Green Arrow comments as he leans down to pick up the frail body in his arms, "but we will find out."

"You can't be serious!"

Ignoring his adopted son's exclamation, Green Arrow carefully pulls the girl into his chest, "She may have valuable information for the League and I can't leave a teenager unconscious in an alley."

The dark, blue-grey eyes of Tigress open, her head lifting her chin off of her chest as she looks around the plain, boring room she was being held in. Her ankles and wrists bound to the chair, which seemed to be bolted to the floor, leaves her with no way out. Feeling the lack of a mask on her face, she inhaled deeply as she realized there would be no running from this.

"You're awake," a voice comments as the door to the room opens.

She watches silently as the infamous Batman and Green Arrow step into the room, neither of their expressions giving much away. Batman takes a seat at the table across from her, Green Arrow leaning against the wall behind Gotham City's very own vigilante.

"Artemis Crock. Youngest daughter of Paula and Lawrence Crock, otherwise known as the Huntress and Sportsmaster. Fifteen years of age and known as Tigress, an assassin-in-training who specializes in computer hacking and long-ranged weaponry."

The blonde stares at Batman blankly before bowing her head, "Yes."

"What were you after in the Queen Industries building?" Batman asks, his gaze never leaving the girl's face.

Artemis shrugs, "I can't tell you. All I know is of a lead box, said to be very important to the Shadows in their fight against the Justice League."

"Why did your team leave you behind, unconscious, in an alley?" Green Arrow asks from behind Batman.

Artemis snorts, "Team? That's no team. A team looks out for each other. Each member strengthens another's weakness. We were never a team. We were just good at what we did individually so the Shadows believed us to become the most dominating team of assassins when we came-to-age."

"Why were you left behind?" Batman repeats.

Artemis stares down at her bound hands, "I'm not as fast as Hunter, or as cunning as Cheshire. I'm technically the weakest link. Cheshire sabotaged the mission in order to place herself higher in the Shadows' ranks. Hunter knows I didn't ask to be a part of the Shadows, we were both born into it. I didn't want to disappoint my father and Hunter has no place to go. Hunter somehow knew I wanted out and gave me the option after Cheshire's betrayal."

"And you plan on switching sides? Just like that?" Green Arrow asks, obviously not believing a word she was saying.

Artemis sighs sadly, "I don't want any part of anything. I want to live a normal life, but I can't help but think Hunter is going to be in a lot of trouble and I want to return the favor some day."

"You want to save your friend?" Green Arrow summarizes.

Nodding, Artemis gives a sad smile, "Hunter has always been the only person I could talk to. The last time I told my father I wanted no part of the Shadows, he put my mother in a wheelchair. Cheshire just doesn't care who she hurts. Hunter was always like me, not wanting to be there, but having no where to turn to. I would do anything to help Hunter."

"We can't release you to the public just yet," Batman says after a moment of silence, "You will need to stay under supervision until we can deem your words truthful. Arrow, how about you?"

"For the time being, I don't see why not," Green Arrow replies.

After the cuffs are removed from her wrists, Artemis reaches into her secret pocket on the inside of her shirt and pulls out the drive, placing it on the table, "This is the information the Shadows were after, but I figured there's no use going back, so take it."

Batman picks up the drive as Artemis is escorted out of the room.

The flourescent light caused the green eyes to glow eeriely in the shadows of the dimly lit room. The steady, rhythmic beeps fill the silent air as Hunter watches over the figure lying in the bed. Hunter had already glanced through the medical file hanging from the foot board of the bed. The doctors deemed recovering impossible, and yet, Hunter often exceeded the expectations of the impossible.

Changes would be made, beginning with the figure lying in the hospital bed.