Chapter 8: Desolation
COAST CITY
"So it wasn't you at all, it was Artemis?" Athena asked looking at the floor.
"It was Artemis. The arrow you explained to me was nothing like my own" Roy said holding onto the glass of coke. Athena kept on looking at the floor a bit disappointed.
"You can still join the team, I'd love for you to be in the team" Athena said now looking at Roy. He sighed and shook his head standing up.
"Athena you know I can't, if I did I'd be proving them correct." He said looking at Athena who was now a little bit upset. It seems that all of their conversations turn out with Athena getting angry and or upset. She sighed and nodded.
"I understand" she came to the conclusion. Athena knew that there was no way she can persuade him into joining the team, no matter how much she nagged, he wouldn't join. She understood why he didn't want to join, he didn't want to prove everyone right. Roy was about to leave but Athena quickly ran up to him and gave him a hug. He was shocked by this, shocked that she actually did hug him and how spontaneous it was but he realised why and hugged her back. He left, with her by herself. No Hal. Hal was off saving the world. Roy left to go home or to fight crime. It was just Athena. It was always just Athena.
MOUNT JUSTICE
Athena was late at meeting up with everyone and she had come into Kaldur who was lying on the ground. Red Tornado came into the cave from his room and everyone was asking about the new mission as Batman was out fighting crime with Robin.
"This is Kent Nelson, a friend. He is one hundred and six years old" Red Tornado brought up an old man with a suit and cane. Wally commented on his age and Athena sighed rolling her eyes. "And he has been missing for twenty-three days. Kent was a charter member of the Justice Society. Precursor to your mentors of the Justice League." Kaldur had a light bulb idea, commenting on how Nelson was Dr. Fate. "Kent might be on one of his walk abouts but he is care taker to the helmet of fate the source of Doctor Mystic Might. It is unwise to leave such power unguarded." Wally was being sarcastic in magic and everything and only doing it to impress Megan.
"This will be exciting. I love magic and sorcery" Athena said with a smile looking at Megan. Wally was now more eager. Athena believed that Wally was over Athena and looking towards Megan more but from many run-ins with the boy it seems he hasn't.
"Take this it is the key to the Tower of Fate" Red Tornado said handing it to Athena who gladly accepted it. She nodded her head and said a small thank you. Wally looked at Megan and Athena.
"What are the chances we both so admire the mystic arts." Wally said and the two girls giggled as they walked off to get ready to find Kent Nelson.
Whilst in the Bio-Ship, Wally was asked about his interest in sorcery. Athena sighed.
SALEM
They arrived at Red Tornado's coordinates but nothing was there. Athena was shocked and wondered how there was nothing. Wally looked around the place but there was nothing, of course still believing that magic wasn't real and putting on a show for Athena and Megan. Athena looked around the place wondering what was happening. Athena looked at the key and noticed the word 'insert'. She believed in magic so much, so maybe this was her test.
"Stand behind me everyone" Athena said with everyone agreeing. She walked towards the open air and insert the key for it to be revealed a tall brick castle. Everyone was shocked, even Athena but she knew that this was right. She opened it and they all walked inside with the door closing behind them.
"Where's the door?" Connor questioned. A holographic image of Kent showed itself.
"Greetings, you entered with a key but the tower does not recognise you. Please state your purpose and intent" Athena was about to say something before Wally stepped in trying to show off.
"We are true believers here to find Doctor Fate!" Nelson gave a frown and quickly disappeared. There was a rumble and the floor boards fell beneath the team with them all falling quickly. Athena was scared, if it wasn't spiders it was falling. She was terrible with falling and she couldn't think. They were quick to latch onto something with Athena trying to get her ring to work, but it wasn't working and she couldn't figure out why. She quickly grabbed onto a ledge that was hanging out. Athena was sweating badly, she wasn't feeling too good and she didn't know why. It was odd. Megan answered the question and the lava went away so there was now a cool platform. Athena fell from her grip only to be caught by Superboy.
"Athena is out. We need to wake her up" Connor said, and slowly Athena was being woken up from screaming. She sighed and rubbed her head.
"I-I'm sorry. It was really hot and I couldn't stand the heat, and I-" she paused and looked at everyone who was looking at Wally rather angry. "What, happened?" She asked confused.
"Wally doesn't believe in magic and was only doing this to impress both Megan and yourself" Artemis said annoyed. Athena looked at Wally upset.
"How can you not Kid? I believe in science as well as magic"
"Stop calling me Kid for crying out loud. I'm not a kid!" Wally was now angry at Athena. "I'm only three years younger than you."
They went through a door at the end of the platform and it was snowing. They moved their bodies so now they went through the door and were in a winter world. Athena smiled. She loved the winter. Maybe her English was showing, but still… Megan noticed a cane with both Artemis and Wally picking it up and vanishing. The rest of them didn't know what happened and shrugged it off continuing off to find Kent.
"I don't understand Wally, it's almost like he needs to believe the impossible can't happen." Megan said as she followed Athena walking through the winter wasteland.
"Wally uses his understanding of science to control what he cannot comprehend. Acknowledging the existence of magic would be to relinquish the last vestige of that control" Kaldur replied. They four of them noticed another door on top of a mountain wondering where that would lead them.
"It's Wally being Wally. He doesn't keep an open mind like you and I" Athena said to her friend with a smile and a bump of the shoulder. They walked towards the door with Athena, Connor and Kaldur falling onto the ground and Megan gracefully descents on to the same floor. Athena groaned as she hit the ground. There as a flash of lightning and Athena was pushed out of the way. The tall man who was left behind had Athena first in an electric bowl, with Connor next, then Kaldur and Artemis afterwards and lastly Megan. Athena felt worthless that she couldn't help her friends. Crying in pain.
She didn't feel the pain anymore, slowly standing up Connor punched the now naked tall man out. Athena felt better now but she knew that being a leader wasn't her thing. She knew what to do.
MOUNT JUSTICE – A DAY LATER
"I have arranged this quick meeting to tell you that I cannot be the leader for this team. I lead this team and I don't protect you all as well as I should as a leader on our last mission. So I'm giving my position as leader to Kaldur. I feel like that last mission he performed well than what I would have as a leader." She looked at the ground, she finished making eye contact with everyone and she really didn't want to see their opinions of her resigning as leader, however no one spoke. Everyone was silent. Athena finally lifted her head up and started to walk towards Kaldur giving him a handshake and a hug. "You will lead this team to victory" she said giving a weak smile. She looked at everyone still holding the weak smile before nodding towards everyone. "That is all" They all left with Kaldur and Athena standing opposite of each other. Kaldur looked from the floor up to Athena's face.
"But Athena why?" He asked her confused.
"My ring wasn't working at the time and I believe it was because I was scared, because I didn't have the will to save us all. I couldn't save us all from the lava and I couldn't save us all from Abra Kadabra when he held us in that electric bowl. I believe your skills are far better than mine Kaldur, plus I have to devote my power on a ring and an emotion, however you're Aqualad" she gave him a smile.
"You cannot be serious Ena" Athena shook her head. Ena was his personal nickname for her, she never hated it and in fact loved it when he first called her that when she opened to him her secret identity. These two were fast friends when they first met.
"No Kaldur, you take it. You should of when we were defeating Bane. You knew this time would come" she added sighing and giving her friend another hug. "I just didn't realise it'd be soon enough"
COAST CITY
Athena slumped on her bed and sighed. She wasn't feeling great. She felt that she had let everyone down and this made her sad. Pouting she didn't move and she lied on her back. Hal ran into her room and looked at Athena with a stern face. He was in his Green Lantern outfit and sighed.
"What are you doing Athena?" He asked keeping his stern look.
"Wallowing in self-pity, angry, upset" Athena was now listing words that somewhat described her emotional position at the time.
"We have to defeat the Red Lantern Tandi!" Hal said quickly that Athena didn't even hear much of it only 'Red Lantern'. Athena shook her head.
"I can't." She sighed before speaking again "I can't get my ring to work and I've powered it. I do not have the will power." Athena was greatly upset about this as she had wanted to fight someone other than that for the team. She wanted to fight with Hal again, something out of space. Maybe next time.
"I will call for John then" with that he left and Athena lied in her bed, alone, lonely and worthless.
It was a couple of days before Athena was ready. Even then she wasn't ready. Hal was out with the Justice League and it was just her again. There was a knock on the door and Athena slumped from her bed and walked over to the door opening it. It was Roy. He was in his civilian outfit.
"The team told me what happened" he said. He brought out a small box of tea and she gave him a warm smile hugging him tightly with Roy hugging back. Their relationship has evolved greatly since Robin, Wally, Kaldur, himself and herself were almost a part of The Justice League.
"I'm hopeless" she broke the embrace and put the tea on the coffee table and sat on the couch. Athena was still in her pyjamas at 2 in the afternoon, but she wasn't embarrassed that Roy could see her, all she wore was a Green t-shirt and black leggings. It wasn't like she was in a bra and undies. Roy sat down next to her and rubbed her back.
"No you're not Athena. Stop thinking like that. You just had a bad day – we all have those days" he gave her a small smile showing her affection that he had never shown for her.
"You're supposed to say that, you're my friend" were they really friends. Roy hadn't thought for a second that they were friends, well in recent times, but previous years where they would fight someone of course they were friends. However, now it was the first time that he had heard what their relationship was. Roy continued to rub her back.
"Stop thinking like this Athena. You have the power of will – you can think of so many things that I could never do. Plus, you're awesome. Athena. You're amazing at what you do. You should never do it, and your negative emotions should never get in the way of them!" Roy admitted. He said more than he thought of. It all spewed out. It was the correct way anyways.
"You really think?" Athena asked for reassurance. Roy nodded.
"I don't think, I know" he tapped his head and gave a smile. 'You know, I'm not that bad at giving advice. Maybe I should do this all the time' Roy thought. Athena stood up and smiled.
"You're the best Roy" he stands up and they both embrace again, this time the longest she has ever given him. She also gave him a kiss on the cheek before getting her ring and deciding to go Mount Justice and see if they had a new assignment. Roy noticed the Joy Athena had and left before she could say goodbye to him. He left and put his hands in his pockets sighing to himself not having the courage to express how he really felt about her.
AUTHORS NOTE: YAY I FINALLY HAVE THIS OUT! I've got a SAC (a huge test) tomorrow (or today) so I should really sleep. I hope you enjoyed it. Oh, did you see End Game the other day? I was bawling so freaking hard. If you haven't – you should!
