Author's Note: Hey YJ Readers! Originally, I posted this up on Quizilla, but after editing the hell out of it, I decided to post it up here. I really hope you guys will enjoy this. On another note, I hope you guys will enjoy my OC and I really hope she's not Mary-Sue because I spent a couple of months editing the hell out of her also. If there is anything that I should fix, please mention it to me on the reviews.

Disclaimer:
I do not own Young Justice
Young Justice belongs to Greg Weisman, Brandon Vietti, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Animation, and DC Entertainment
Ariane Prince/Shadow Heart belongs to me

Chapter 1: Genesis

WASHINGTON, D.C.
July 4, 12:00 EDT

I stood under the hot July sun, along with my mentor. We were both posing with our hands resting on our hips and our legs spread apart. The occasional flash from a tourist would blind me a bit, but I didn't let that bother me... Well not as much as something else that was bothering me.

"Okay. Forget this," I broke my previous pose and instead crossed my arms defiantly, leaned on one leg, and puffed my cheeks out in agitation, "where the hell are they?"

My mentor, Wonder Woman – yes my mentor is Wonder Woman. How is she my mentor? I'll tell that some other time – sighed at my impatience and broke her pose also. "There have been attacks in Gotham City, Star City, Pearl Harbor, and Central City."

I narrowed my eyes. "So I'm guessing that we weren't deployed."

My mentor smiled slightly. "Exactly."

I threw my hands up in exasperation. "Gah! Damn those lucky butts!"

"I'm hurt Shade. I thought you loved me?"

I turned around irritably. "Shut up, bird brain."

Wonder Woman tsked at me playfully, "Now, now, Shade. Do not do anything rash in front of Batman that will compromise your position to becoming a League Member."

Robin laughed at me. Annoyed, I walked towards him and slapped him upside the head.

"Get a room kiddies." Robin and I followed the familiarly agitated voice and saw Speedy with his mentor Green Arrow.

I smirked lightly. "Oh hush now Speedster. Your 18 and yet you still don't have a girlfriend yet." I snaked my arms around Robin's neck while he wrapped his arms comfortably around my waist. "Now me and Boy Wonder here-"

"-we could happen anytime," Robin finished my sentence for me and we both grinned cheekily as Speedy only crossed his arms and grumbled quietly to himself.

Arrow laughed heartily at us and patted Speedy on the back.

"Do not let them hurt you, Speedy." Robin and I both let go of each other and looked towards Aqualad.

Speedy merely scoffed at the idea of getting hurt by me and Robin, AKA, the Devious Preteen Duo. "In fact, I'm not hurt by their stupid play of 'lovey dovey' mush. Girls are too annoying to deal with and are easily able to compromise one's identity."

I ignored the fact that Speedy had just decided to be sexist and just smirked more at his ignorance. "You say that now, but I have a feeling you will find some girl who will grab those words and stuff them up your uptight butt, not that it's already uptight with that stick that seems to be up there all the time." To my satisfaction, Speedy fumed more and I turned to Robin and high fived him enthusiastically.

Wonder Woman coughed slightly to get our attention. "Comments aside, are you guys not excited?"

All of us looked at the beautiful hall before us.

"Today is the day."

"Welcome to the Hall of Justice."

"Head Quarters of the Justice League."

"Aw man!"

I turned around with all the rest of the group and saw two blurs, respectively yellow and red, approaching us at a superhuman speed.

"I knew we would be the last ones here."

I turned to Robin and laughed at Kid while the rest of them just shook their head.

"Is that Batman?"

"Oh! I see Flash and Flash Jr.!"

"Um, his name is Speedy, duh."

"No! Speedy is Green Arrow's sidekick."

"Well that makes no sense."

I tried keeping a straight face, but with all the comments from our fans is making it impossible to. The emotions radiating from Robin, Kid, and Speedy weren't helping either. It's too funny hearing your fellow sidekicks being called the wrong alias.

Wonder Woman placed her hand on my shoulder, calming me instantly. "You grew up so much since the first day you asked me to train you to become my partner, Shadow Heart."

I smiled, feeling my mentor's, no, my mother's warmth radiating into my senses.

"You did a fine job in raising her," Batman praised.

"I'm glad we're all here," Aqualad stated.

"Have all five sidekicks been to the same place at the same time?" Kid Flash asked.

"Don't call us sidekicks. Not after today," Speedy spewed bitterly.

I shivered slightly at Speedy's bitterness.

"Sorry. First time at the Hall. I'm a little overwhelmed." Kid Flash rubbed the back of his head.

Robin looked at Kid Flash incredulously. "You're overwhelmed, Freeze was underwhelmed. Why isn't anyone ever just whelmed?"

I looked at Robin unimpressed with his vocabulary play. "Cause it's not a word bird brain." Robin huffed in return.

We walked inside the gates and were behold by the grand golden statues of the founder of the Justice League.

"Wow. . ." I said awestruck.

"Oh. Maybe that's why," Robin mumbled with eyes wide open.

We stopped in front of a door and waited for it to slide open. Red Tornado and Martian Manhunter stepped forward when it opened.

"Robin, Speedy, Shadow Heart, Aqualad, Kid Flash, welcome," Manhunter welcomed.

I stepped back a bit to let Robin and Kid bro fist.

"You now have unlimited access to the gym, our fully stocked galley, and of course, our library," Manhunter explained.

Flash turned around and swept his arms out in a welcoming gesture. "Make yourselves at home."

We all sat down with me taking the fourth and last seat next to Aqualad and in front if Robin, leaving Speedy the only one standing.

"Quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of four ice villains attacking on the same day." Batman turned to us. "We shouldn't be long."

We watched as the Computer scanned the League Members.

"That's it?" I looked at Speedy from my spot. "You promised us a real look inside. Not a glorified backstage pass." Speedy crossed his arms.

"It is a first step," Wonder Woman clarified, "You have been granted access few others get."

"Oh really." Speedy gestured to the balcony that held many tourists. "Who cares which side of the glass we're on!"

"Roy," Green Arrow stepped towards his partner, "you just need to be patient."

"What I need is respect," Speedy demanded. He turned to us and explained further his frustrations. "They're treating us like kids! Worse, like sidekicks." He emphasized the word 'sidekicks' like it was a sin in and therefore of itself. "We deserve better than this," he reasoned.

I looked uncomfortably at Kid, Aqualad, and Robin, feeling the awkwardness in our silence of listening to the present predicament. We looked back to Speedy.

"You're kidding right?" Speedy asked disbelievingly. "You're playing their game? Why! Because you think they play fair! Today was supposed to be the day," he punched the air in aggregation, "step one to becoming full-fledged members of the League."

"Well sure," Kid said uncertainly, "but I thought step one was the tour of the HQ?"

"Except the Hall isn't the League's real HQ!" We sat up in our seats surprised. "I bet they didn't tell you that this is a false front for tourists and a pit stop for catching zeta beam tubes to the real thing." The League members shifted around uncomfortably at Speedy's knowledge. "An orbiting satellite called the Watchtower."

Arrow turned around nervously to a peeved Batman, whose stance literally spoke 'Explain the meaning of this.'

"I know, I know, but I thought maybe we could make an exception?" Arrow said meekly. Batman narrowed his eyes dangerously. Arrow frowned. "Or not."

"You're not helping your cause here, son." Aquaman stepped forward. "Stand down. Or-"

"Or what!" Speedy rudely interrupted. "You'll send me to my room? And I'm not your son." He looked to Arrow. "I'm not even his. I thought I was his partner, but not anymore." Speedy took his hat off and threw it on the ground. I gasped silently in surprised. Speedy stormed past us. "I guess they're right about you. You're not ready."

We all stood up and watched as Speedy walked away, not even bothering to look back at us. The room was left with overbearing tension.

The Computer beeped to life as soon as Speedy left. On the screen was Superman. "Superman to Justice League. There's been an explosion at Project Cadmus. It's on fire," he said.

Batman approached the computer. "I've had my suspicions on Cadmus. This may present the perfect opportunity to-"

Batman was cut off by yet another incoming transmission from the Computer. "Zatara to Justice League." Batman looked at the smaller screen that had popped up. "Wotan is planning to blot out the sun, requesting full League response!"

"Superman?"

"It's a small fire," Superman explained, "local authorities have it under control."

"Then Cadmus can wait." Batman pressed a button on the computer. "All League Members rendezvous at Zatara's coordinates. Batman out."

We, Kid, Robin, Aqualad, and I, approached our mentors.

Batman turned around to look at us. "Stay put."

"What?" Robin started. "Why?"

Aquaman, Flash, and Wonder Woman approached us.

"This is a League mission."

"You're not trained-"

Kid interrupted his mentor. "Since when!"

"I meant you're not trained to work with this team." Flash gestured to himself, Batman, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman to emphasize his statement.

"There will be other missions. When you're ready."

"But for now, stay put." Batman's last two words left a chill up my spine.

Wonder Woman made eye contact with me and nodded. "We will talk about this later when we get home, Shadow Heart." She looked at the others beside me. "For now just stay with them." I sighed and nodded.

Red Tornado stayed behind and looked at us with his expressionless metallic face. Seeing as he was going to be the last ones to leave, he turned and entered the zeta tube with the rest of the League. The shutting of the sliding doors echoed hollowly around us.

Kid furrowed his eyebrows. "When we're ready? How are we ever supposed to be ready when they treat us like, like sidekicks." He threw his hands up in the air and swung them down quickly in frustration at the word 'sidekicks'.

Aqualad looked to the side crestfallen. "My mentor, my King. I thought he trusted me."

"Trust? They don't even trust us with the basics! They've got a secret HQ in space!"

I cringed at the thought of my mother lying to me. "Mother. . . Is there anything else that they aren't telling us?"

Robin sighed. "I have a better question. Why didn't we leave with Speedy."

We all looked away uncertainly.

"What is Project Cadmus?" Aqualad asked.

"Don't know," Robin smiled mischievously, "but I can find out." Robin turned to the Computer and started entering various codes.

"Access denied."

"Heh. Wanna bet?" Robin typed in some more strings of commands and codes. A folder on the screen appeared and opened, revealing characters that were quickly changing.

"Whoa, how are you doing that?" Kid asked amazed.

"Same system as the Batcave," Robin said smugly.

"So, is that what you do in your spare time, Rob?" I asked mischievously.

"When Batman's not there," Robin simply replied.

The screen blinked 'access denied' until finally it blinked 'access granted'.

"All right," Robin started, "Project Cadmus. Genetics lab, here in DC. That's all there is."

"I can see why Batsy is suspicious about this. Some genetics lab with nothing but a name." I looked at Robin. "There's not even a record of what they're even doing in there?"

Robin typed some more. "No. Nothing's coming up." I frowned.

"But if Batman's suspicious, maybe we should investigate," Robin suggested furtively.

"Solve their case before they do," Aqualad summed up. "It would be poetic justice."

"Hey, they're all about justice," Robin chuckled.

Aqualad breathed out heavily. "But they said stay put."

For the blotting out the sun mission," Robin reasoned, "not this!"

"Wait. A-are you going Cadmus?" Kid grabbed Robin's shoulder. "Because if you're going, I'm going." They both looked at us and smiled cheekily.

"Just like that? We are a team on a mission?"

"We didn't come for a play date."

Then they all looked at me. I looked back at them.

"Well?" Robin asked.

I smirked. "If mom said that I have to stay with you guys, I guess that means I have to go to."

Aqualad smiled. "Let's go."

It wasn't too long when we arrived at Cadmus. Sirens were wailing all around the area and the cries of distant voices from the two-story building were heard.

"Stay put! We will get you out!" Suddenly there was an explosion behind the two elderly scientists.

"Kid go." Aqualad instructed.

Kid immediately headed towards the falling scientists, running up the wall and quickly grabbed them, hefting them onto the roof before scrambling and finally falling until he was able to catch hold of the open window.

"It's what his name. Flash Boy!"

I doubled over laughing.

"Kid Flash!" Kid shouted from over his shoulder.

"So smooth," Robin said smugly.

"We need a plan." Aqualad looked to the spot where Robin was at, but found that he had disappeared.

"Don't worry about him. He already ran ahead as usual," I stated.

"Does he always run ahead?"

Before I could reply, Robin's laugh echoed around us. We both looked to the building and saw Robin flipping fancifully his way towards the building, grabbing Kid and helping him up when he landed on the window.

"We better get going also, Aqualad."

Aqualad nodded and ran to the two firefighters holding the hose.

"I need to borrow that!" Aqualad grabbed his water-bearers and used the water from the hose to create a platform. I held on to Aqualad for balance and slowly walked around him so that I was in front of him. The water platform rose and edged towards the roof where the scientists were.

"Step aboard, now!"

I grabbed their outstretched hands and helped them on to the water platform. Aqualad let the platform go down and jumped onto the same window Robin and Kid jumped through. As soon as he landed on the ledge, I jumped beside him and went inside.

"Nice of you guys to help," I said bitterly.

"You guys handled it," Robin stated matter of factly. "Besides, we're here to investigate. Poetic justice, remember?"

I shrugged as Aqualad walked away. I looked over Robin's shoulder to see what he was doing.

"Anything that could quell Batman's suspicions?" I asked.

"Not really anything important. The files I'm finding are mainly about stuff you would find about the Human Genome Project."

I thought about it for a while. "It makes sense I guess."

Robin, Kid, and I straightened our backs in alarm when we heard an elevator door close. Kid immediately ran to where Aqualad was.

"Elevators should be locked down," Kid stated.

Robin and I caught up to them and looked to the elevator.

Robin ran past Aqualad and pressed the down button on the elevator. "This is wrong." A holographic screen popped up from Robin's glove.

We approached him and looked at the screen also.

"Thought so," He muttered. "This is a high speed express elevator."

"What the hell is it doing in a two story building then?" I asked.

Aqualad shook his head. "What I saw does not belong in a two story building." I looked at Aqualad thoughtfully.

Aqualad walked to the elevator doors and pried them open. Inside the elevator were numerous sub floors.

"That's why there's an express elevator," Robin explained as if he already knew. Then again, he probably did.

Robin shot a hook up to the ceiling of the elevator shaft and slid down the rope. The remaining three of us looked at each other and followed the Boy Wonder.

"SL 18, SL 20, SL 21." I counted.

Robin's voice echoed through the shaft, interrupting my counting, "I'm at the end of my rope."

I landed on the hook at the bottom and grabbed Robin's hand, which pulled me on to the ledge.

After making sure I wouldn't fall, Robin accessed his glove computer. "Bypassing security. . . There! Go!"

Aqualad opened the elevator door that read SL 26. We all walked inside and were greeted by a long hallway.

"Welcome to Project Cadmus. . ."

Also, please review! If there's one thing Quizilla fails at, it's that there is not a review section. I really want to improve in my writing and the only way it will is if you guys review! Anyways, hope ya'll enjoyed it!

Till next time YJ Readers!

~DoubleRaineBow~