Dedicated to IronicVeghead

Artemis was left in a state of being frozen. Everything was becoming numb, and she knew it had to be something with the chains- Wally was no better, after all. He was clearly in distress as movement was disabled. She could only watch with hardened eyes as the Team turned to them, frowning with concern. She looked at Robin, who mouthed something to her which rang in her head whilst her (and Wally's) sphere was lowered down into the ground from the platforms below them.

Stay Traught.

Before she was completely swallowed up by the ground, she noticed a big television screen being lowered from the roof in the place of where her sphere was. She pieced together that it was probably to send the video image to the Team from her next challenge. Black surrounded her as she felt herself being lowered, seeing and hearing nothing. Her body soon began to tingle all over and she numbly registered that the chains were slipping off her gradually.

She blinked rapidly as colours began to arise around her, blinding her momentarily. The colours began to make shapes- tall oak trees, a sparkling diamond blue lake, a dark blue sky, sparkling stars, a glinting white moon and swaying patches of grass. Immediately, she was standing up alert as the last remainder of the chains disappeared. She studied the area, making sure she didn't miss a thing. The lake and stars were too sparkly, the grass was swaying in all different directions which was definitely not natural and there was something above the trees which she couldn't quite see- but it was definitely there. She noticed, with irony, that the moon made a crescent shape. Artemis, Goddess Of The Hunt And Moon.

She turned around to get a better look at the darker side of the arena (could it be called that?), and that's when she knew she was in deep trouble. Kid Flash was chained to a tree which was covered by yet another sound proof sphere, his eyes boring right into hers. His mouth was moving, but she couldn't decipher his words correctly. It was too dark to see him- he was chained on possibly the most un-lit tree in the damn arena. And the damn sphere around him wasn't helping. He seemed to pick up on this, and instead of words, his mouth tilted upwards.

A smile. And in that moment, Artemis knew she needed to win this. She needed to push through whatever the hell was thrown at her and make sure it never breathed again. She needed to make sure that she could see that smile again- because she knew Wally wouldn't exactly be smiling whilst he was being tortured.

But he wouldn't be tortured. She was going to win this, and she was going to fight her way through every inch of it. Just to see that stupid, ridiculous smile again.

'Since when did you turn into some cheesy romantic?' An inward voice told her, and she almost snapped at herself to shut the hell up.

Stay Traught.

Right, traught. She was totally traught- right, yeah, sure. No problem. She breathed in sharply, forcing herself to snap her senses back into reality as the sphere slowly began to disappear from the top downwards. She didn't dare move, not to Wally or to the speaker which was lowering itself from the sky.

No- not the sky. The top of the clear dome which surrounded the arena. She tensed as the speaker began to play audio.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Martians, Kryptonians, Atlanteans and other species, welcome to the first challenge featuring the lovely archer heroine- Artemis!"

There was no applause or cheers. She wasn't exactly surprised.

"Let the first challenge begin! The first one to fall is declared the loser!" She whirled back around immediately; making sure Wally was still okay. He was, well, except for his widened eyes which clearly showed the words of 'oh, crap.'

She followed his gaze, turning back around to see a figure approaching in the distance. Her eyes narrowed, trying to work out the silhouette.

Her eyes widened- knowing who he was before he was even in close vision range. The way he held himself, his build…. She groaned. Right, of course.

Stay Traught!

"So… Here for a family reunion, dad?" Venom laced her words. Trust her damn father to rock up to one of these things. She was met with a soft rustle of the wind.

She swore she could hear Wally's thoughts at this point- 'What's this clown doing here? I swear, if he hurts Artemis...'

She couldn't exactly check if those thoughts were correct, as her attention was completely on the approaching figure. The silhouette kept walking steadily towards her. She beat him once- she could- would do it again. This time, completely by herself and the stick lying at her feet. She looked at him directly as he threw it across the ground, and she swore she could see his smirk beyond the mask.

"Just like old times, then?" She tried to taunt him- distract him. Be on the upper hand or something.

She needed to win this.

She watched as he took stance, and she noticed something was different. Not just that he just wouldn't speak, but she could see something was just off. She frowned, thrown off by this difference.

Stay Traught!

She took a sharp breath in, picking up the pathetic stick. Better than nothing, at least- and at least she knew how to adapt. Right, she could adapt to this. She could adapt to his differences as well. She exhaled slowly, releasing the tension building up within every crook of her body and charged.

She could see his smirk widen behind his mask, but she didn't slow down. And that's when he began to walk forward, Artemis going for an attempt to spring off his shoulder to land behind him. She had a doubt in her mind, because this trick never worked with her dad, but it was her only thought. Throwing the stick like a spear at him to distract him, she managed to take advantage to spring up and actually manage to spring off his shoulder, turning mid-air to face him and quickly sweep out her left leg, knocking his legs out from beneath him.

No way in two hells should that have worked; Artemis frowned, seeing him getting up. There were no grunts, no moans or threats.

Why is he silent?

She studied him, eyeing him for any more details. And that's when someone else's voice entered her mind from a distant memory.

"The very thing putting us in danger is the only thing giving us a chance."

And then she understood. This was not her father. This was some silent hollow replica of Sportsmaster, who had his looks and even his slight personality- But not his fight. Not his skills. And that was her only chance of actually winning this.

And she smiled, "So, dad, just you and me now. Like it's always been." She wasn't met with a response, but she didn't mind. She wasn't focused on that- she was focused on taking her chance and running with it.

Artemis could see that the replica was more determined than ever, a fury blazing across his eyes- setting alight his next action. Soundlessly he leaped at her and she went to dodge- but he changed tactics too quickly for Artemis to react. He managed to kick her in the right side- hitting her ribs whilst doing so. She wheezed –winded- as she stumbled back, clutching her side. She knew a good blow could do more than hurt- it could shake any good fighter and end up disrupting their attacks. She growled, knowing her ribs were bruised and they would definitely be sore.

Oh, how she wished for her arrows.

She watched her fath- the replica move, beginning to go for another attack. Her side was beginning to flame like the anger that she saw in the replica's eyes, making her rethink anything too dangerous. But she had to. She needed to win this.

Ignoring the fire which was now her right side, Artemis managed to close in and get in a few good punches and kicks before she was forced back. They were both determined, and Artemis really just couldn't help thinking, "It's genetic."

He had eventually faltered after he seemed to misjudge an attack, and she took this to her advantage. Sweaty, exhausted, sore and trying to move without setting her side alight, she went for the final move.

Stay Traught!

Managing to deliver a kick to the ribs (Payback!), winding him, she managed to knock the lights out from him, delivering a blow upside to his chin. Sweeping her leg out once again, he fell to the ground and he didn't get up.

She watched as the replica began to dissolve, blowing away into the wind. She was exhausted, and she was totally going to get at the League for making them do this stupid mission which led them to this hell.

"Ladies and gentlemen- our first challenge winner! Artemis, the amazing archer!" She only barely registered the booming words, falling against a tree and trying not to add fuel to the fire which was her right side. She blinked away any blurriness left in her eyes, seeing that Wally's sphere was retracting down and his chains were slipping away.

Immediately, she felt him at her side- worry in every crease of his face. She smiled, "I'm going to beat this guy up," she muttered- not able to raise her voice any higher.
Wally returned the smile, and that's when Artemis knew all the pain was worth it. Because he was smiling- he was okay, and so was she.

"You shall be rewarded, Artemis, for your victory. Please stand in the middle of the arena... Alone." The last part was added as soon as Wally took a couple of steps to follow her, and immediately he was arguing with the idea.
She kissed him- emotions flooding through their lips. Worry, exhaustion, pain and relief. She parted, quickly shuffling to the desired area. Her fingers were twitching- needing to fulfil the desire –the need- of holding a bow.

She couldn't stop the small smile that appeared as a platform unfolded on the ground in front of her, another cliché stage rising up. And with it rose her bow.

Not a bow. Her bow. And her arrows.

Artemis couldn't stop her feet as they move forward. She didn't want to, either. She grasped the bow- immediately feeling safer. More secure. Less naked. She slid the quiver on which was loaded with her arrows over her shoulder.
She whirled as she heard a startled yelp, trying to locate the red haired speedster who had clearly made the sound.

"Kid Flash?" She asked hesitantly, immediately lining up an arrow when she was met with silence. She noticed with annoyance that they weren't her arrows- they were sharper. She whirled around again, and that's when she narrowed her eyes. The boy in question was standing there- but his posture screamed that he was distressed. Heavy on the dis.

She attempted to relax, standing in position and not flinching- not even when the speaker began to blare again.

"I see you are enjoying your award, young victor. But here's the thing. You've beaten my minion, and that just won't stand, no no. See, I want you now to suffer what it's like when a team member is hurt. And here's the bliss- if you don't do what I order, you will both end up dead. Now listen,"

Yeah, that voice was really getting on her nerves.

"You will use your award to complete this next task. You must use your award to hurt Kid Flash- specifically somewhere on either leg. Don't even think about cheating- You are both standing on very thin ground, which would just be a shame if it were to... Collapse from under you."

A sinister laugh filled the air, and Artemis was ready to fire an arrow at the speaker to just shut the stupid voice up. She took a deep breath, studying Wally. Her arms dropped slightly as his words registered.

She had to shoot Wally.

No, no, no! Her eyes widened, her grip on the bow loosening as her muscles seemed to go haywire alongside her thoughts.

And then she could make out that stupid, goofy smile on his face. And it was not okay to see him smile- not like this. Not in some messed up situation like this where she had to aim the fricken arrow at him- the damn sharp arrows which weren't even hers. Shoot him in the fricken leg, which was not okay because it was taking away his ability to walk, to stand and to run.

'It's okay,' He seemed to mouth, but damnit Wally, it is not okay!

"You have 20 seconds, archer. Time runs short," The voice snapped her back to reality and she growled. She didn't have a choice.

And her only reasonable conclusion was to do it. Bile threatened to rise in her throat as she realized what she was about to do, but she knew no mercy would be granted if she threw up.

She mouthed an, 'I'm sorry,' to which he just shrugged. He was okay- but she definitely wasn't. She needed to focus. She could not afford to miss this shot- she had seven seconds remaining. Aiming, while trying not to throw up, she focused on her target. The biceps. She narrowed down on her target. She knew her vision and concentration weren't great at that moment and she could not afford to miss. That was the worse, possible solution- they'd both end up dead. She had to focus.

Stay Traught!

She let the arrow loose and she kept her stormy eyes locked with his green ones- having a conversation without words.
His eyes drifted down- breaking their conversation- as he took a step back, immediately looking at the already bleeding wound. Pain was evident on his face.

And her guilt seemed to build so high she ended up having to look away as he pulled out the arrow. His gloved hands pressed to the wound, and he began walking/limping to her with a smile.

Why was he smiling? He shouldn't be able to smile! She had just gone and... And...
Her thoughts turned to mush alongside her muscles- the bow clattering to the ground.

"It's okay, it's okay," He was beside her, holding her as she whispered the same words over and over again.

I'm sorry.

"Babe, it's okay."
She didn't bother calling him out on the lie.

They were separated again, entrapped once again in their spheres. She had been deprived of her rewards after she got some 'play time' with them. But she didn't touch them. She threw them at the ground in frustration, then at the shrubbery surrounding them. They were lost- and she was glad. She didn't ever want to see that damn bow again- or those sharp arrows which weren't even hers.

She should be glad they were eventually separated- she didn't need to look at the wound that she had created anymore. They sunk through the ground, chained inside their sphere, and then began to arise up. Once again, they were surrounded by a painfully familiar room.
Everyone, she knew, was looking at her. At him. Assessing them. Studying. She didn't bother opening her eyes to see this. She knew it- she could simply just feel it.

"Ah, seems that was quite the entertainment! And we're only just getting started! Oh well, on with the show!"

Her eyes opened when the chains retracted, shifting to see Wally's sphere. He was pale- his freckles standing out more against his skin. He, like her, was only just opening his eyes from his slouched position. His eyes flittered to hers, and she had to will herself not to look at his leg which he was pressing a gloved hand to.

Stay Traught!

But, she had to admit, she'd rather be dead. But she knew it would be too hard, too unfair for everyone else. Her eyes flitted around the room as the lights dimmed once again.

"Time for our selection of Challenge Two!" The spheres began to glow like last time- eventually just becoming a blur. "And our next Challenger is..."

Clearly, I am not the best at fightscenes x]

There we go, basically 5 pages of Spitfire. I am aware Artemis may seem a bit OOC, but really, how else would you react to shooting your boyfriend in the leg?

Poor Wally.

Next chapter will be in someone else's perspective. Submit who you'd like to see be challenged!

Your reviews blew me away last time, so how about you go and do it again? Please? ^^ (Again, nothing too mean :))

Oh, and dedicated to IronicVeghead for giving me some ideas and allowing me to bounce a couple of ideas off her :D

-Kayla :D

(Oh, I'm also looking for anyone who'd like to do a cover ^^)