A/N: Hey guys. Happy New Years! And Merry-Belated Christmas! Happy-Belated Hanukkah! Or Happy-Belated Kwanzaa!
I know it's been a while. But I have not forgotten about you. Just extremely busy with school. I'm changing classes for one period, so that might make my schedule less complicated. Still have 3 AP classes so not entirely sure if it will make a difference.
Anywho…with finals coming up, I most likely won't be updating, just cramming and studying. Sadly, I cannot finish anything this weekend. I've started Part 2, but I'm still far from being done.
On a happier note, I have been checking in frequently, more than usual, and I'm happy to see how popular the stories getting. I haven't forgotten about you guys.
Oh and for those of you who read Gender Switch, too, never fear. The next chapter is literally done, the only thing left to did is for me to revise it.
Anywho…
Onto zee chapter! ^_^
METROPOLIS
AUGUST 3, 07:38 EDT
Bruce Wayne had been busy checking his accounts, just to monitor out of curiosity. His thoughts were distracted, however, when he heard the sound of honking and screeching tires. The sound of metal scraping and crunching resulted in him rising from his
seat to look out his stainless glass windows (benefits to owning the tall Wayne buildings, is eagle-eye view).
His gaze had found the school bus almost immediately. The second it was pushed over the edge – growing nearer and nearer to dangling status – he turned back to his desk and opened the gold figurine statue's head. A red button could be seen surrounded
by a small portion of silver metallic. A single push and a drawer in his desk opened up to reveal his uniform. The dark gray color open to his gaze with the clear, signature black bat symbol on in the center.
Thunder sounded – at least that's what he sounded like when he broke the sound barrier.
Mr. Wayne turned from his desk, pausing in his mindset to suit up and eyed the bridge once more; right as the Man of Steel came rocketing forward, after breaking the sound barrier.
Superman, clad in his signature red and blue, went straight for the bridge. He swerved a little, not seeing to the bus first, but the stability of the bridge. He lost sight of him when he went under the bridge. He didn't miss how the extreme tremors settled,
for the most part.
Bruce's eyes were still on the bus, unsure of how Superman intended to handle both. A smaller thundering sound took place, but it was heard none the less.
A moment later, Superboy was falling, or rather landing, from the sky. He hit the bridge hard, after hopping off of one of the structures standing high, and a few tremors took place once more. That didn't faze the teen clone as he took off straight towards,
the bus, his hands latching onto the bumper of the bus, as he struggled to pull it backwards, away from the water that waited below (Bruce at this point had grabbed his specialized binoculars).
He hadn't noticed it before, but he realized, the boy had gone for a white car at first, which was also close to toppling over the edge, but he'd done an almost unnoticeable, change in course for the bus instead. His question was answered however when
a girl with raven hair flew down from the sky.
Ephyra.
She went straight for the white car Superboy had neglected and grabbed it by the bumper, pulling it back. When it was safely away from the edge she moved a couple other cars to safety, before spotting a struggling Superboy trying to pull the bus back.
The vehicle was slipping forward, slowly dragging the Boy of Steel with it. As Ephyra closed in, Superboy slowly began taking steps back, finding firm ground.
His victory of saving the children was cut short as suddenly the bus lifted, to reveal Superman underneath.
Without realizing it, Bruce felt his shoulders, then his entire body, loosen. The threat was over; but that wasn't enough to make him put down the binoculars.
Once the bus was safely on the ground, he watched, Superboy get up, with a stiff posture – clearly agitated, and Ephyra, well…when didn't she look livid? She landed and strode up behind Superboy, her arms crossed over his chest as she eyed the Man of
Steel coldly.
He wished he could hear, but he'd have to stick with body language for now – though he could tell the words weren't all friendly.
Ephyra was practically near growling like a feral beast.
The day had been decently normal until this debacle. Superboy had insisted on patrolling Metropolis. Despite his attitude towards Superman, she could tell he wanted his attention and for the life of her, she couldn't entirely understand why.
That brought her to now; glaring murderously at Superman while she strode up to him, behind Superboy.
"I had that," Superboy said coming to a stop in front of Superman, a few inches away.
For a moment she glanced over at the bus and noticed kids, and even the bus driver, were glued to the windows with awe-filled and wide-eyed expressions. She slightly regretted not wearing her superhero get up. Oh well, there was bound to be plenty of
other girls with raven hair and blonde streaks, that wore Wonder Woman shirts and blue jeans, with black boots. She was torn from those thoughts as Superman's voice drew her back to reality, her gaze moving back to the clone and donor.
"I didn't want to the chance," Superman said levelly but there was very slight disdain in his voice. "As it is, your landing could have destabilized the entire bridge," he said disapprovingly.
Butthole.
"It didn't," Superboy replied in an indignant, but somehow, calm tone.
Superman's eyes only narrowed. "But it could have; we don't yet know the limits of your powers."
Suddenly any negative or hostile aura about Superboy dissipated. He tilted his eyed, eyeing the ground, "Well maybe…you could…you know…" – he said not entirely finishing his sentence as he looked back up at Superman – "help me figure that
out." His tone was soft and gentle. She knew his eyes had to be imploring – she'd never seem pleading, that just wasn't her fellow clone's way.
Something in her popped, as if she felt sudden hope, when she saw Superman do the same movement – tilting his head and glancing away. That hope immediately evaporated as Superman looked back at Superboy, with a hard stare. "Batman's got that covered,"
he replies awkwardly, but in a final tone.
She could hear the faint beeping and knew it was an ear com when Superman reached up to press his ear with two fingers.
"Yeah, I know but – "
Superboy was cut off as Superman answered, completely ignoring the boy. "Superman," he answered.
He paused for a moment and turned to the side as whoever was on the other side spoke. "Wait, Arrow, slow down; what's attacking?" He paused once more. "No, I'm definitely available," he said turning away from Superboy entirely and
looking out across the water from which he'd arrived. "Coordinates," he prompted, "Acknowledged; on my way."
Ephyra was glaring at Superman with flaming daggers in her eyes. Superman didn't seem to notice because his fingers fell away from his ear and he glanced back at Superboy.
"Sorry, Super, boy," he said awkwardly, pronouncing his name as if it was two separate words. "Duty calls," he says pivoting on one foot and levitating, before skyrocketing, smoothly, upward and away into the sky, leaving Superboy
to stare after him.
Bruce could only watch the interaction grimly as a conversation took place and the Man of Steel departed. He hadn't missed the look on Superboy's face either. He couldn't help but crack a smile either as Superboy caught Ephyra's ankle, as she had attempted
to lunge, if not fly after, Superman.
At the least the boy wasn't completely alone.
He picked up his phone and pressed the numbers that made up Superman's zeta-tube verification. He held it to his ear and waited before it picked up.
"Already got the alert, Bruce," Superman said loftily with a determined edge, as if he hadn't just held up a bridge, a bus, and had an awkward conversation with his neglected clone.
"I know, Clark," Bruce replies, his gaze watching the Superman's red cape glide over the water. "But we need to talk," he says seriously.
MOUNT JUSTICE
AUGUST 3, 13:06 EDT
"Recognized: Superboy B04; Ephyra B05."
When Ephyra materialized, she followed after Superboy, feeling the same anger and frustration that he did.
She realized that the team was in the center of the room, playing holographic air hockey. How fun for them – guess everyone didn't mind not doing missions then.
Superboy was clearly not in the mood for talking because he strode straight forward, through their holographic game, causing it to disappear, and didn't respond to Miss Martian's greeting.
"Hi, Superboy," the green girl said in a friendly tone, her smile bright and welcoming. She always seemed to light up when she saw him and it was disturbing. "How was Metropolis?"
When she didn't receive a response, her eyebrows furrowed slightly to a sad frown, and her smile fell away.
A small clearing of a feminine throat took place, causing Kid Flash to turn around to the source, the other's just looking to the source.
Ephyra stopped in her stride to follow Superboy and paused spotting Black Canary, and her gaze brightened.
"Ready for training everyone," she asked, walking from the shadows with Martian Manhunter by her side.
"Black Canary," Miss Martian greeted, "Uncle J'onn!" she exclaimed. She quickly walked forward, stopping when she'd given her uncle a hug.
Ephyra glanced at Superboy but he was too busy on the opposite side of the room, glaring at the floor – brooding. Her gaze went away from him, despite the tugging in her heart and she looked back to Black Canary and Martian Manhunter.
Martian Manhunter had pulled back slightly and rested a hand on his neice's shoulder, "M'Gann," he replies in greeting. "I was…in the neighborhood. So, I thought I'd see how you were adjusting."
Miss Martian began a bit uneasy, before her tone became steadier. "Um…a few bumps, but I'm learning," she says in a chipper tone, offering him a smile.
"That's all I can ask," Martian Manhunter replied.
The smile made Ephyra want to barf. It slowly irritated her though when she noticed Superboy glance over his shoulder towards the duo.
Superboy, you know –
Don't bother. Superboy interjected. Doesn't matter.
Superboy started walking off, to his room, to wander, or go to the gym to put a hole in something. Black Canary had other plans.
"Stick around," Black Canary called to him; it was a command.
Superboy stopped and then turned around, arms crossing over his chest, irritation clearly written across his gaze.
"Class is in session," Black Canary states, walking forward to the center of the room. The floor beneath her lit up into luminescent pale-blue, white. It spread until it filled up half the room, forming a circle.
"I consider it an honor to be your teacher," she replies walking forward a few steps and then turning, giving Superboy her back, and facing the others. Her hands gripped the edge of her short, chest-high jacket. "I'll throw a lot at you,"
she informs them. She takes off her jacket. "Everything I've learned from my own mentor," she says before letting out a small hiss of pain, going stiff as one of her arm bends to get out of the sleeve, "and my own bruises."
Ephyra noticed one of her arms had a bandage wrapped around the bicep area.
"What happened?" asked Miss Martian, concerned.
Black Canary had been holding her bruise, before letting the hand fall away. "The job," she replies curtly, before tossing her jacket over her shoulder and onto the floor.
"Now, combat is about controlling conflict; putting the battle on your terms," she explains setting her hands on her hips. "You should always be acting – never reacting." Shortly after those words, a pretty smile graced her lips. "I'll
need a sparring partner," she says in a sultry tone.
"Right here, yeah," Kid Flash speaks up enthusiastically.
Not to her surprise, Kid Idiot, volunteered first – while still eating his banana of course (keeping the charm). Of course, it was expected when you were Kid Flash and your instructor looked like Black Canary, dressed in a style of a black leotard with
gray leggings, black, fingerless, arm-length gloves, and a black choker. Not to mention, she wasn'thard on the eyes; blonde hair and steely blue eyes, with a roman nose and full lips.
Ephyra rolled her eyes and watched as he took a bite of his banana. "After this," he says in a cocky tone, tossing his banana skin, "swoosh." He raises a finger suggestively, his tone shifting to sly and flirtatious, "I'll show
you some of my moves."
Black Canary had raised an eyebrow at his words and mannerisms, and a smile came to her lips as she lowered her head just a little, looking determined.
Without warning, she swung forward – lightning fast – with a right hook that Kid Flash blocked with a raised forearm. She swung forward as if she was going to make contact with him, with her left fist, butdropped low, sweeping his legs out from
underneath him with her leg, one hand planted on the ground.
Kid Flash hit the floor hard with a grunt. Only Ephyra, Superboy and Martian Manhunter, looked unbothered by how hard she did so. Superboy just looked unimpressed, and Martian Manhunter probably knew what to expect like Ephyra did. Black Canary was much
gentler than Wonder Woman – that definitely said something.
A low humming, mixed with pinging, sound came from the floor, as a blue circle appeared beneath Kid Flash. An attached memo beside it, reading: KID FLASH STATUS: FAIL.
"H-hurts so good," Kid Flash replied in a strained tone.
"Good block," Black Canary said, as Kid Flash started to sit up. She held out a hand and pulled him up when he accepted it, "But did anyone see what he did wrong?"
Robin gleefully answered her question without hesitation. "Oo! Oo!" He says raising a hand, no further than the height of his neck. "He hit on teacher and got served?"
Ephyra couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips – Kid Flash couldn't share her amusement.
"Dude!" he said clearly embarrassed.
"He allowed me to dictate the terms of – "
" – Oh please," Superboy said irritably, interrupting. His arms remained crossed over his chest, even as Black Canary turned to the side to look at him.
Ephyra narrowed her eyes at him. Superboy, stop. She's only teaching us how to get better, and she's not exactly a light weight.
I don't care.
Superboy –
"With my powers the battle's always on my terms," he says aloud, pointing to his chest with his thumb, his arms uncrossing. "I'm a living weapon," he states, gripping his fists together. "And this is a waste of my time,"
he says in a bit of a nasty tone.
Black Canary had turned around fully and only smirked. "Prove it," she said; her challenge clear.
Superboy looked a bit startled at her words – raising an eyebrow momentarily – but strode forward, over to her. When he reached her, he stopped a couple inches away (Kid Flash chose that moment to back away).
For a second they just stared at each other; Black Canary's hands on her hips and Superboy's arms were crossed.
Simultaneously, as if synced at the mind, they both got into their respective fighting, crouch forms; fists raised at the ready.
Without warning, Superboy took the first swing, surging forward with all his strength (at least that's what it looked like from the sound he made). Black Canary dodged slightly to the side and gripped his forearm with both her hands. In a single movement,
she threw her weight forward and let go, sending Superboy flying across the training pad near the outer rim of it.
A loud thud took place as he hit the floor, back first. Everyone winced, including Ephyra. Robin, however just found it amusing and his laughing outburst, and pointing finger proved it. He received an elbow from Aqualad and covered his mouth with both
his hands to try and muffle it, which did little.
The floor next to Superboy read the same as Kid Flash's, except it said SUPERBOY.
Superboy rose from the floor, hunched over a bit, his expression now angry, teeth clenched together as he seemed to glare a hole straight through Black Canary. The growl he made was loud and clear, his fists clenched, shoulders squared.
Black Canary seemed oblivious, but at the same time, not oblivious. "You're angry; good. But don't react." She says trying to show him her point and reason. "Channel that anger and – "
She didn't get a chance to finish because Superboy had already started forward once again with a frustrated war cry, winding his body back to the side and then forward to throw a punch. Black Canary was ready for him, because she lunged forward to meet
him.
She flipped up and over him, landing on her feet, with her back turned to his, leaving him grasping thin air. She ducked low, right as he twisted his midsection to deliver a back swing and missed. She went with the movement of her duck and spun, flicking
out her leg again, knocking him off his feet.
He smashed to the floor again with a thud.
SUPERBOY STATUS: FAIL
Ephyra felt bad for her fellow clone, as did the others; excluding Robin of course, who was clasping his gloved hands over his mouth again to fail at muffling his laughter.
Superboy got to his feet, and waved her hand away. "That's it; I'm done."
"Training is mandatory," she said resting a hand on his shoulder that he swatted off, turning on her, glaring. The training floor lost its glow and looks gray – normal. They seemed to stare at each other (for Superboy that was a glare), until
the holographic big screen emanated into view. Batman was there, with a narrowed, cowl.
"Batman to The Cave," he said. "Five hours ago, a new menace attacked Green Arrow and Black Canary." A miniature screen popped up, conjoined to the big one, and it was fuzzy at first with white lettering at the bottom, reading: INCOMING
SATELLITE FEED.
The miniature screen gave view to a weird looking android, resembling a man with elven-like ears. He had a peach complexion for skin and green pants. His hair was an organish-red, and he had red eyes. He looked like he meant business.
"The attacker was capable of studying then duplicating the powers and the abilities of its opponents." The screen then showed a video of Superman flying towards the android, only for it to grab hold of his arm and sling him around like a ragdoll.
The Man of Steel was used to smack Red Tornado out of the way with ease. Flash could be seen running up from one corner of the screen only to be smacked out of the way. A bat-a-rang could be seen cutting through the air, swerving to meet the android,
only for the android to let go of Superman, sending him flying, and then focusing on the bat-a-rang. A second later, laser beams shot out of his eyes destroying the small projectile with a small explosion. The screen was pressed pause as Batman continued
speaking; the Team was a bit floored.
"Arrow called in reinforcements which nearly proved disastrous, as our foe gained more and more power with each new combatant."
"Woah," Kid Flash whispers, eyes glued to the screen like the rest of his teammates. "One guy with the powers of the entire League?"
Ephyra didn't know what to say. This thing was worse than Dr. Desmond.
"In the end," Batman said speaking again, "it took eight Leaguers four hours to defeat and dismantle the android."
"Android?" Robin echoes. "W-Who made it, T.O. Morrow," Robin asks quickly, taking a couple steps forward.
"Good guess, Robin, but Red Tornado doesn't think so," Batman replies.
"The technology bares the signature of Professor IVO," Martian Manhunter adds in.
"IVO," Aqualad echoes. "But IVO's dead…"
Black Canary glances over her shoulder at Aqualad, "So we all thought – or hoped."
She looked back to the screen when Batman spoke up. "To make certain this threat is permanently neutralized, we're sending two trucks carrying the android's parts to two separate STAAR Labs facilities in Boston and New York, for immediate evaluation,"
he explains. "Every precaution is being taken."
"We'll have four additional decoy trucks to create confusion in case IVO, or anyone tries to recover the remains," Batman informs them. "You will split into undercover teams and safeguard the two real trucks."
"Yes!" Kid Flash says excitedly, "Road trip."
"So now we take out your trash," Superboy asks flippantly.
Ephyra blinks a few times; unable to believe he said that. Usually, he was…okay, he did something of relatable behavior like that before when the League tried telling them at Cadmus that they couldn't do superhero work, but that had been because…
Damn you, Superman.
"You have something better to do," Batman questions in a cool tone.
A small beeping sound took place from next to her and she glanced at Aqualad, as he pulled out a small device. "Coordinates received," he tells Batman. "On our way."
Ephyra took flight with Miss Martian, while the others ran off to the hangar.
Ephyra paused at the opening of a hall and glanced over his shoulder to see Black Canary grab Superboy's arm.
He turned around and eyed her for a moment, until she spoke.
"When you're ready, I'll be here," she says gently.
Superboy gives her a look, but not one of hostility. He turns and then notices Ephyra waiting and hurries after the others.
Ephyra watches him go before glancing at Black Canary and offering the woman a smile, who returned it. She flew after Superboy and then smiled just a little, the excitement of a new mission lightening the mood (at least for her).
Did I forget to mention her mentor is Wildcat, A.K.A. Ted? Ephyra asks in an amused tone. Superboy only grunts. You didn't do so well against Ted, so what made you think you'd take Black Canary down?
Shut up. He growls over their link.
Ephyra's only response is laughter.
A/N: Hey guys, so here's the new chapter.
This is just the first part of Schooled. The second is on the way. Finally! The mission begins.
Anyways, what did you think? Not a lot of Ephyra, seemed strictly based on the episode and Superboy. I promise it will speed up a bit by the next chapter.
Like it? Love it? Hate it?
Be sure to comment and let me know.
Anyways, until next time. ^_^
Hope you enjoyed it. ^_^