Hello again, everyone! SuperHeroTimeFan is back with another new chapter! I would like to thank Flaming Dragon and Izanagi God for reviewing and sending their compliments. As for Kota and Juno appearing, Logan GC and I will let anyone know if that happens. Juno hasn't made an appearance, but in Chapter 8, Kota and Maris made a brief appearance. This chapter will clear up who will turn to the Dark Side, considering no one was curious about Black Arrow from Chapter 1. Anyways, here is Chapter 14. Enjoy!
Chapter 14: Devils of Darkness, Angels of Light
Gotham City, November 13th 2222 hours
The wind tossed itself around the city of Gotham. Bruce Wayne closed the windows to Wayne Manor as Dick Grayson closed his bedroom windows as well. The young boy walked over to his mentor with concerned looks on both of their faces.
"I thought that the Ice guys were the cause of the storms." He said to his mentor. "They were suspects, but Warden Strange told us that they were in prison the whole time." He explained to the ward. "So something's bigger at play here." Robin pointed out. "Yes." Batman replied. "The storm's also acting up. I've never seem a fog so dark before." He added on, looking to a sudden black cloud in the distance.
Meanwhile, Artemis and Paula were working their hardest to fortify the apartment from the storm. As they finished closing up all the windows, the lights flickered off as all light surged away. "I've got it!" Artemis yelled as she activated her lightsaber. Paula stood impressed. Artemis then shot lightning at the light bulbs and their power came back. "How did you do that?" Her mother asked Artemis as she deactivated her lightsaber and brought out candles. "Galen taught me." She replied. "My lightning's still weak." She added. "We'd better get some rest for tomorrow." Paula reminded her daughter. "Okay. Good night then, Mom." Artemis bid her mother as she stretched.
Artemis let out a yawn as she entered her room. As Artemis finished her shower, she walked over to her bed. All of a sudden, her window flew open. Artemis clenched her robe and closed the window shut. When she looked out, the black mist covering the Windy City disappeared. Strange. She thought to herself. After shrugging it off, Artemis tucked herself into bed and fell into a deep sleep.
Unbeknownst to her, a man was watching her. He was clad in a black cloak with white skin and red veins on his face. His eyes were a hash yellow and he had a strange stone dagger at his side. As he smirked evilly, he reached his hand into Artemis' head, causing her to moan. Knowing he was on the right track, he vanished himself into her mental state.
Artemis watched herself kissing Galen at the time after the training exercise. As she smiled at the sight, a voice entered her head. "Enjoy this while you can, Artemis. Your life will soon be ruined." Artemis looked around and saw herself walking towards her. "My life goes on forever. No one will end it for me." She quipped back. "You obviously have no idea how much your life will change." The doppelgänger spat back. "Your friends will betray you, your leader will murder you, you will obliterate Mount Justice, and Galen WILL kill you when he has the chance!" She added on. "LIES!" Artemis yelled back angrily.
The other Artemis laughed creepily. "Then see your future! Know what is to come! Know. Your. Self!" She sadistically yelled. Black mist formed around Artemis as her twin vanished in it. Artemis clenched her head and closed her eyes. She could hear Cheshire's sadistic little cackle, a lightsaber stabbing and many other sounds. "I WILL NOT LOOK!" She yelled. She couldn't resist as her eyes opened. Everything was a hellish nightmare now. "Someone on your team doesn't trust you!"Cheshire taunted as Red Arrow shot an arrow at her. "You're insecure and a jerk!" Kid Flash's voice echoed. She could see the Team angrily glaring at her as well as a sai drop. "Welcome back!" Aqualad evilly said. His sword was in her chest. "I don't hear a heartbeat!" Superboy's voice came out. As she opened her eyes, she could see the explosion of Mount Justice. Artemis dropped to the ground after the final vision unveiled itself. "This is for your own good!" Galen yelled as he stabbed her with his and her lightsabers. More visions appeared as she succumbed to the darkness. "No, no, no, no." She said quietly. A black fire engulfed around her as she fell to her knees. "NOOOOOOOO!" She finally yelled out as a cackle echoed and the face of Black Arrow appeared in front of her.
Artemis sobbed greatly as a layer of darkness covered her. When she opened her eyes, she was at some sort of volcanic area. She looked around and walked to the lava. She stood aghast and paralysed as she saw a reflection of herself. She was clad in a black redeco of her suit. Her bow was red and her insignia was a horrifying shade of yellow, as well as her eyes. She removed her mask and saw black blood veins connecting from her neck to her eyes. As she placed the mask back on, she noticed her belt had the weapons of the Team. She had a water-bearer, birdarang, sai, javelin, wand, Galen's lightsaber and her own crossbow. What was missing was her own lightsaber. She felt a long, metallic object on her back. A long katana was mounted behind her.
After inspecting herself, she could see a girl walking toward her. Her suit was similar to Starkiller's, except the grey lining was replaced with grass green. As the hooded girl activated her lightsaber, Artemis realized it was hers. She conjured her long sword and angrily attacked.
She was using a Juyo fighting style. Not even she knew what was making her so aggressive to master this style. She slashed and thrust, but then girl was using a Soresu defensive stance. Artemis shrieked and screamed as she attempted to destroy the strong position. She could notice the sorrow and pity in the girl's eyes, but continued to attack. She smirked when she saw the adolescent female's defence weakening. Artemis lunged an unusual strong amount of Force lightning at the girl. Her lightsaber fell from her hands, but she blocked the shocks. Artemis had no idea where the power was coming from, but she still pressed on.
She granted that the girl was strong. The hooded girl used her powers to send the lightning back at Artemis, much to her surprise. Both surges of powerful lightning sent the two flying across the area. Artemis was sent into the lava. She was about to fall in until she grew a single wing. Artemis stood surprised and that's when realization hit her. I'm not Artemis, I'm Black Arrow! She thought to herself. As the girl recovered, Black Arrow threw herself at her. The girl attempted to recover again until Black Arrow sent a torrent of lightning at her.
She then used a powerful Force-grip to lift her off the ground. Black Arrow looked into her blue eyes once again. "Kill me, so you can destroy yourself!" She pleaded. Black Arrow started to chuckle. The chuckle turned into laughter as it finally became a sinister cackle. She threw her to the ground and struck at her. The girl blocked the blade and went on the offensive streak. Black Arrow chuckled as she fought back. The two engaged in a blade-lock and the girl disarmed her of the sword. Black Arrow chuckled even more as she whipped out the water-bearer and lashed out at her. The girl went back on defence as Black Arrow threw a birdarang at her elbow. She then used a sai to stab at her other elbow. She used the wand to send a tremendous torrent of lightning at her and the javelin to attack her knees. As she fell to the ground, Black Arrow used the crossbow to pin her to the wall. She then threw Galen's lightsaber into her thigh. Black Arrow flew up and grabbed her katana and started to stab at the girl like a ravage animal. After skewering her, Black Arrow was infuriated to see that she was still alive. She then grabbed her lightsaber and prepared to stab her again. "Kill me and destroy yourself!" She said once again. Artemis angrily stabbed the girl's heart. The girl dropped and fell to the ground.
Black Arrow gasped to see what was under the hood once the robe fell off. It was her! The setting changed to her first dream, a room full of her dead team-mates. As she reverted to Artemis, Black Arrow appeared before her. "You have finally killed the whole Team. The cycle is now complete!" Black Arrow congratulated her in a distorted voice of her own and a deep male voice. "Are you satisfied with this deed, Artemis?" Another voice came out. Artemis and Black Arrow turned to see another version of herself in a white and blue-colored redeco of her suit. Her voice was calm and serene. Artemis saw everything flash before her and heard more voices. "Angelic Arrow." "Black Arrow." "Darkness." "Light." "You can never escape me!"
Gotham City, November 14 0416 hours
Artemis woke with a start. She looked at the clock and saw it was 4:16 AM. She was sweating and wiped off the sweat from her head. She then looked to the mirror. There was a reflection of Black Arrow. As she seemed to hear a cackle come from the reflection, Artemis angrily ran towards the mirror. With one massive punch, she shattered the mirror. Artemis hyperventilated in anger and let out an enormous scream, breaking all of the glass in range.
Meanwhile, Robin could hear the scream. Who IS that? He worryingly thought to himself.
Aqualad and Kid Flash heard it as well. Both in their respective places went out to hear it clearly.
Mount Justice, 0424 hours
As Galen, Connor, M'gann, and Zatanna slept, they all woke up and heard a scream of terror. Galen stood in shock. He knew who it was. The name screamed to him in his mind. Artemis!
This is actually the darkest chapter I've written. This is also one of the longest I've ever written too. If anyone is still confused about who will turn, please Private Message me. Remember: review and rate. This event will coincide with Logan GC's A New Destiny. I hope you enjoyed this. This is SuperHeroTimeFan signing off and have an excellent 2013!