An Apprentice's Future
By: Malaizjan De Jesus & Reina Grayson
Author's Note: This is the climatic installment of the Batman Beyond Saga. Everything is coming together and this is the crossover fic. If you're a fan of either this series or Young Justice, than you will enjoy this! I am going to list the theme songs to various DC tv series and most of the theme songs can be found on Music of DC Comics: 75th Anniversary, which is available now, and the YJ Theme song is on its own album titled: Young Justice, which is also available. So if you don't have them, I suggest you go and buy them both!
Chapter 1
Cue Music: Batman Beyond Theme (Track 13 of Music of DC Comics)
My name is Rave. I'm going into the past to save my future. I'm co-leader of the JLU's covert team.
Our team has been fighting the Legion of Doom for some time now.
They managed to take out our Flash (Wally West) and now they rule as a result. 88% of the world is under their control. The people of Earth are being enslaved.
I have to save Uncle Wally.
As I pull on my black and purple streaked wig, I caught the eye of my mate in the mirror. He's Kevin Kent, the eldest son of Uncle Conner and Aunt M'gann. We mated in this crisis.
I know, bad timing.
'I don't want you to go.' Kevin thought to her.
'We've been over this. I have to go. I'm the only one who ever trained with Uncle Wally in the Speedforce.'
Kevin frowned. He looked so much like his dad when he did that. ' You're not a speedster! You need Brian!'
"Brian's comatose, you know that. It was the only way to keep him alive." I stared intently at him. And he changed appearance. He changed into Slade. I took a breath.
"Meygan?" Kevin was at my side instantly. "What's wrong?"
There was a knock on our door.
Saved by a knock.
My wig in place, I answered the door.
It was our teammate, my partner in this mission. My bond-brother Archeron. "It's time," he said.
Kevin and I followed him out. I had to keep myself calm. Going on this mission will be tough without me being fully recovered from the Fear Toxin…
They were ready.
Rave and Archeron.
The remaining aged heroes learned that Stalker went to the past to take out Flamebird and Red Arrow. The two had to stop him from doing that. Gear held out the means to save their Flash: two titanium-made bracelets that would create a barrier to protect the non-speedster from the effects of the Speed Force. Gear, his son Syfon, Max and Tim Drake worked to create it from the S.T.A.R. Labs designs.
Tigress didn't want her only child gone. She already lost Wally to the LOD. She didn't want to lose Archeron too.
"Ok, you two. Stop Stalker, save Wally and get back here," Dick told them. But he looked at his daughter with worry.
Rave wondered if her dad knew she wasn't recovered. "Got it, Dad." Meygan's eyes then rolled into her head and she collapsed.
When Icicle Junior came for the through those double doors, there were groans all around. The villain should have retired decades ago.
"Cameron, go home," Drow told him. "You're ancient."
"I will ice your ass!" Cameron retorted.
A shot rang out. A bullet hole right between the eyes.
Icicle Jr. went down.
Talia/Ra's a'Ghul blew on the smoke coming from her gun. "Send the next one."
Yami just sighed. He was so taken by her.
"I wanted to do that," Star Sapphire complained.
"Sorry. The next one is yours."
Meygan blinked. She groaned.
"Printesa?"(Princess) Dick whispered to his daughter.
"Sunt bine (I'm alright)," she said in Romanian, sitting up. "The timeline changes are affecting me. We have to hurry."
Artemis let go of her son. "Be careful, Vincent." She then kissed Vincent on the cheek.
"Mom…" Vincent said, embarrassed as he wiped away his mom's lip gloss from his cheek. "Don't worry. I will."
Meyga took Vincent's hand and gave Kevin a smile. 'I love you, my Kryptonian Prince.' She then teleported the two of them to the past.
The Time Ribbons that flow and ebb through the timestream were overwhelmed with their gravity. Vincent couldn't really breathe. But Meygan was breathing for them both with no difficulty. Travelling through the stream was dangerous for if the ribbons catch you, they would crush you. Meygan's demon powers kept them safe. She was ready to save Flash. And do it before her timeline was forever altered.
In the past…
All was quiet among the teens in Watchtower.
A month ago, they had lost of their own…
One of the first protégés…
Wally West, the first Kid Flash.
The fight for the world was brutal.
He was just trying to help his uncle and cousin. And that cost him his life.
Dick and Reiena, aka Nightwing and Flamebird, were feeling his lost the most. Their best friend, their partner in crime (prank-wise), their brother…torn from them as if he was a mere feather in a snow storm. They had been the most quiet since they returned 3 days ago. Their smiles were gone.
Poor Barbara, aka Batgirl, couldn't cheer the twins up. When Jason died, their pain was deep But this was different. Wally left a hole in their souls and it was never going to be filled.
Tim missed Wally already. True, he didn't know Wally as well as the twins but he always had a smile ready for the young Robin.
The one still the most affected after a month was Bart, the new Kid Flash. He should have been the one to die; he didn't belong in the past. "So not crash," he had mumbled for the millionth time. The future speedster was leaning up against a far wall, watching everyone, not moving, not vibrating; doing nothing. What a way to crash the mode.
Artemis was curled up in a corner. Her heart was still filled with pain, both physical and emotional. She loved Wally and never got to tell him. The words burned in her heart. Why did he have to go and leave her behind? Why couldn't he come back to her like he had promised? This was unfair! She had her piece of Heaven in Wally and now he was gone. She couldn't move on without him…
Reiena moved away from her twin. The fire controller needed some air, sort her feelings out. She had to find the strength to tell her best friend good-bye in her heart.
A slight sound.
The smallest of sounds.
Flamebird turned her head to hear it again.
"Flamebird?" Aqualad asked. He took the entire team off of active duty. The last few missions had close calls so he knew Wally's death was the reason for that.
Stalker grinned. Thanks to the cloaking of the Time Belt created by Luthor, he was in a position to take Flamebird by surprise. Wally West was dead. Now it was her turn. And then Red Arrow.
A small chuckle. The slightest sound of a blade leaving its sheath. A moment to pause; to bask in the victory.
To kill the heroes.
Who knew a speedster's death would have given the Legion of Doom in under 3 days?
Back in the future…
Claire stared out at the landscape before her. The red skies reminded her of home. Her power of the Star Sapphire was near to bursting because of her love.
A human had her heart. An assassin in his own right; Ian Montgomery.
Slade was the one that came onto her first. But she knew of Slade Wilson; of Deathstroke. He was hoping to use her to get the LOD. But she was in love with Ian. And he returned her love in secret. So when she told Ian what Slade was planning, he came up with a plan to stop the man that took so much from his family.
The door slid open and she smiled. Seconds later, arms held her close. "Ian."
"Right now, I'm Slade." Ian deactivated the image inducer device and he was himself again. He removed his mask. She had seen his face before-his true face- so there was no need to hide it. "Darkin retuned with a few lackeys of his own. We may want to hold those auditions after all. In fact, if Slade does his job, we will officially win in 4 days."
"I'm glade." Star Sapphire turned in his arms, smiling. "How much longer before your plan is put into action?"
"4 days." Ian leaned down to kiss her. "Now, I've neglected you long enough." He lifted the tall woman into his arms and moved toward their bed.
Near the Headquarters of the LOD, Coon Rapids, MN…
Airhawk, Shock, Robin, Eclipse and Miracle snuck toward the high walls of the HQ of the LOD. Airhawk wore his Thanagarian armor; Robin wore his modified suit with the modified green cape; Shock actually found those flying discs his dad once used; Eclipse changed her skin to Caucasian and her costume to black with a red 'S'( a black unitard with long sleeves, a black skirt with red tights and black boots.) The red 'S' stood out.
But Molly…Molly was wearing a costume. It covered her from head to toe; there was no skin exposed. She reached up to her ear. "We're here. Where to?"
"The computer pinpointed their location to the southeast corner section, third floor."
"Eclipse, link us up," Molly said, butterflies in her stomach.
'Everyone ready?' Molly asked mentally.
The rest of the team sounded off.
'Let's go.'
The 5 members of Beta Squad headed for the rear of the building. Molly saw her reflection- and paused.
Her in a modified Red X suit.
Yeah, the peace-lover, the non-fighter Molly Greyson, in the Zynothium-diluted powered black suit with the aqua-blue gloves, utility belt and mask. There was a red X on the forehead of the mask, which looked more like a Phantom of the Opera mask than a skull. The short cape ended at her waist, the inside aqua-blue.
Her dad was going to ground her for life.
But Molly had to bring hope back to everyone. And this was the only way to do it; to rescue the captured heroes. She reached up to her ear. "Grandpa, I'm scared."
"You're doing fine, Molly. You can do this. I believe in you."
Molly sighed. "Alla i ddim credo fy mod yn gwneud hyn (I can't believe I'm doing this)" she said in Welsh. She ran to catch up with her team.
Back In the Past…
Flamebird knew something didn't feel right. Wally was a slow speedster, compared to Flash and Impulse. But not that slow. She happened to see a shadow loom over her for 2 seconds. That was all she needed. Flamebird moved quietly and gracefully to her right as Stalker came down with a punch into the floor. He was solid and visible when Flamebird rose to her feet. She created eskrima fire sticks and stared down this intruder.
Aqualad, Kid Flash (Bart), Tigress, Robin (Tim), Batgirl and Nightwing were on this fight, all battle ready to take him on.
"Who are you?" Reiena asked. This person was in a gray & black version of Deathstroke's costume, which gave her a sinking feeling in her stomach.
"A traveler." He stood up and went immediately into a fighting stance. "Now be a dear and let me kill you."
Reiena merely glared at him.
In The Future, at Watchtower, at the same time…
Syfon, the son of Gear, came from the Weight Room, confused. He couldn't find the core members of Beta Squad, a team he was once on. Dick, Tim and Jason had a schedule for the team. Beta Squad was supposed to be in the Weight Room. The new members of Beta- Siren, Blue Beetle IV and Komos were doing hand-to-hand combat practice with Superboy. Alpha Squad was going a training session with Gear, Static and Black Canary, who came out of retirement to help train the new generation for their fight against the LOD.
But Molly, Luna, Andrew, Virgil Jr. and Eric were missing.
Billy walked by the former Dark Knight's room. He thought he heard voices so he pressed his ear on the door. IN just a few minutes, he took off to find Nightwing.
The kids did something stupid. And the original Batman was helping them!
Back in the past…
Slade/Ian went for Reiena with a quick fervor as he dodged water from Aqualad. Reiena's fiery eskrima sticks met his short blades. But Slade/Ian kicked her in the stomach and as she was pushed back, threw down smoke pellets to disorient everyone.
The youngest one, Robin III, was the first to be taken out with a well-placed hit to the back of his head with the hilt of the short blade.
Then he went to Tigress. The blonde archer caught the leg coming at her but got punched in the face, not once but twice. Her nose was broken on the second punch. As she grabbed her nose, Slade/Ian punched her in the gut and then put her in a sleeper hold, knocking her out in seconds.
Batgirl was tougher but she screamed when after her counter attack, he broke her arm at the elbow.
Impulse, now Kid Flash, ran through the smoke. Slade/Ian used the blow dart portion of his modified gun to nail him in the neck, taking him down.
Aqualad landed a few hits but he was knocked out with a lucky shot to the temple as he stopped a few throwing stars with his forearm.
The smoke thinned out and Flamebird came at him. He still had the strange gun in his hand. But he hooked it to his waist in a mere second and met her in counter moves that kept them stalemated.
Dick joined the pair, but this guy, who Dick was convinced was Deathstroke, countered him as well in a high paced fight that seemed more like a dance than a fight.
Slade/Ian then saw Reiena ready to toss a fireball at him so as she did, he kicked Dick right into it as he countered a series of punches and kicks from him.
Nightwing cried out.
He went down.
"Nightwing!" Flamebird cried.
"Slade/Ian was on her in a second. He took a hand and twisted it before snapping it in the opposite direction. As she cried out, he kicked her in the temple and she went down in a hurry.
He unhooked the odd gun, the one with the crossbow attached and dart blower on top and aimed it at Flamebird's head. "Time to destroy your family. Starting with Red Bird."
**Oh boy! Can the team handle another death of a teammate? How will the timeline change now? Stay tuned! **