Chapter 20: It Can't Be

Nightwing wakes up and he's not in the cave, he's standing alone in a white room.

'Where am I?'

A scream echoes around the room, Nightwing tries to find the source of the scream but no one's there. He tries to take a step but something's wrong, he can't move. In fact he can't move at all; his wrists and ankles feel like they're strapped down. Then, out of nowhere, 11 see-through pods appear; they're big enough to fit a human being. They just float there, but Nightwing gasped when he saw the inside. The 11 players lay there in a clear liquid with their ankles and wrists strapped down.

"Shadow!" he yelled hoping she'll wake up. "Shadow! Wake up!"

The pods levitated away, except for three: Sky, Gil, and Saill. Sky opens her eyes, Nightwing kept thinking that she's dead. Sky releases her binds and got out of the pod, she stood in front of Nightwing.

"Hello Nightwing."

"Sky?"

"Yes, and I know you're confuse but we don't have much time."

"What do you mean?"

"Nightwing, the Death Games are going to end today."

"What?"

"Ki is going to end the games today."

"Why?"

"Cause he feels threatened by you and Shadow."

"Again I have to ask, why?"

"Because the love you two have for each other."

"Sky, I still don't understand."

"I know, but soon you will."

"But Sky, this doesn't make any sense. You're dead."

"No, I'm not. That's what they want you to believe."

"Who?"

"The…" She pauses, realization creasing her features. "Oh no, they know I'm talking to you!"

"Who? Sky! Who?!"

"There's no time. Nightwing, you'll probably forget this dream but remember this; things aren't what they seem."

Nightwing opened his eyes and he was breathing heavily. He's in the cave with the others and Shadow is sleeping in his arms. A smile forms on his face knowing that she's safe, but something is bothering him.

'Did I have a nightmare? No, if I did, I would have known it. Considering my history of nightmares.'

He looks at Shadow and watches how she sleeps peacefully. Than something hit him:

"Cause he feels threatened by you and Shadow."

'Sky, but she's dead.'

"…remember this; things aren't what they seem."

Nightwing sits up carefully as to not awaken Shadow. He rubs his head. He got out of the sleeping bag and went to his canteen. Nightwing washes his face and took a long drink than he decided to make breakfast before they have to leave. As he was cooking, Shadow and everybody woke up.

"Morning," said Shadow as she gives Nightwing a peck to the cheek.

"Morning," he said with a big smile.

"Hey, I thought I was the cook," said Kindle with a sleepy smile.

Nightwing gives a small chuckle, "Sorry, I thought I should let you sleep more."

"Thanks, but I'll take over from here."

"Ok, if that makes you happy."

Kindle took over and finished making breakfast, than they went over the plan. After they finished eating, they packed all their gear and left the cave. Nightwing leads the way with Shadow by his side and Pazitor on his shoulder. He secretly hopes he can keep him as a pet when the Death Games are over. This reminds him of Superboy asking if he can keep Wolf and Sphere. He misses everybody back on Earth.

"Nightwing?" said Shadow with concern in her voice.

"Yeah?"

"You seem like something is bothering you."

"No Shadow, I just…" He considered making an excuse, but he loved her too much. The truth would do.

"I had a strange dream, but I can't remember it. It's been bugging me."

"That's weird, maybe it's nothing."

"Maybe, but something is telling me otherwise." They stop talking because they reached the destination point. "Ok let's put the plan into action."

"I don't think Buzz is here," said Scar.

"He's here, just waiting for us to make the first move," said Shadow.

"Shadow may be right so be careful," said Nightwing. "Is everybody ready?"

"Let's do this," said Kale.

They split up, Nightwing and Shadow hid behind some bushes and they took a peak. There's a giant tent and boxes of items, each have the names of the players. Shadow makes a bird call than Zals came out of her hiding spot and ran across the open field. She grabbed her box and ran out of there.

"Nothing happen to her," said Shadow.

"We have two more people to go," said Nightwing. "Hopefully it'll go smoothly like it did for Zals."

Kindle runs to her box and got the heck out of there.

"One more," said Shadow.

Mac jumps out of the bushes and runs to his box. He did it all spy like in Nightwing's opinion, but Mac looks really goofy. Mac reminds Nightwing of Wally; his best friend… really more of a brother. He missed his jokes, pranks, and his goofy smile.

'I can't wait to go home,' he thought as the feeling of homesickness hits him. He looks at Shadow. 'I wonder if she'll go with me?'

"Shadow can I ask you something?"

"Now?"

"Please."

"Ok, what is it?"

"When our plan succeeds what are you going to do?'

Shadow is caught off guard by the question, "Honestly? I don't know."

"Would you go back to Laska?"

"No, if the people won't accept me. I don't see the point going back."

"Shadow will you…"

Nightwing was cut off by Scar's signal. They watch as a stone hit the round and BOOOM! 'Landmines' is what Nightwing thinks and the next person to go is Shadow.

"Please be careful Shadow," Nightwing said as he pulls her in his arms.

"I will," she said and hugs him than gives a kiss on his sweet lips; in her opinion.

Shadow leaves Nightwing, but before she took another step; she looks at the field. She notices light glowing circles on the ground, but they disappear. Shadow takes out her favorite and put it between her teeth. Than she jumps in the air and lands in a handstand, carefully got on her feet and scanned the field. Nightwing catches a smile twitching on her face, she continues to flip around till she finally made it to the tent. Shadow gives a high pitch whistle. Nightwing, Scar, and Jen came out of their hiding spots; Nightwing flips his way about a few feet away from Shadow. Scar did the same and Jen stayed. Shadow grabs Jen's box than tosses it to Nightwing; he tosses it to Scar, who tosses it to Jen. They repeated this process two more times.

"Last one," said Shadow and tosses it.

Once the box made it to Jen, the others made their way back but Nightwing stops.

"Nightwing, what's wrong?" asked Scar.

"Sshh." Nightwing listens very carefully than…

BAM!

Nightwing, Shadow, and Scar watch as Jen fell to the ground with blood oozing out of her back. Scar's eyes widen in anger and hurt; Buzz is standing there with a gun in his hand.

"It's nice seeing you guys again," he said so coldly.

"How dare you!" Scar yells in anger.

"What? I was only following the rules to the game."

"Buzz what's wrong with you? She didn't get to defend herself!" yelled Shadow.

"I don't care. Let's see, we have three people in a minefield. This is too easy."

"Buzz, whatever you're planning. Please let Shadow and Scar go, you can take me."

"No Nightwing!" yelled Shadow.

"Sorry Nightwing, it's best to kill everybody now."

Buzz shoots; the bullet is covered in blue fire, it flies past Scar and Nightwing. It hit Shadow in her left shoulder; she screams in pain and falls backwards. Nightwing ran and grabs Shadow's right arm, cause if she hit the ground she would have died. As he pulls her in his arms something came to him.

"Ki is going to end the games today."

"No," said Nightwing.

"What?" asked Shadow.

"Shadow we have to get out of here."

"Why?"

"The games are ending today."

"What? How do you know for sure?"

"It's that dream I had. We need to go now! Scar we need to get out of here!" yelled Nightwing as he picked up Shadow bridal style.

"I'm not going anywhere," growled Scar.

"Scar, we need to go," said Shadow.

"You go, this bastard killed her!"

"Scar killing him won't bring her back," Nightwing tries to reason with him.

"I don't care! I love her!"

Before Nightwing or Shadow could say anything to stop him, Scar steps on a landmine and boom! Nightwing quickly got Shadow to stand up and made sure they didn't move, than they see what's left of Scar and it wasn't pretty. Pieces of Scar are spread out; Shadow looks away and hid in Nightwing's chest, they see an arm, a leg, and so much blood. Buzz begins to make his way towards them, but Nightwing pushes Shadow behind him.

"Stay away from us," he growls.

"What are you going to do? Kill me?"

"I will never kill."

Shadow became afraid for Nightwing's life. Buzz's voice was so cold…

"Really? How about you Shadow? Are you going to kill me?"

"No!" she yelled, and moaned in pain at the same time because of her shoulder.

"Why? I heard on your planet, that you killed so many people. Did she tell you that Nightwing? "

"Shadow?" Nightwing asked wondering if it's true.

"Nightwing believe me, I'm trained to kill, but I haven't killed anyone. I've only injured them."

"Do you believe her Nightwing? Or me?"

Nightwing stares at her, even though he couldn't see her eyes; he could tell in her face that she's telling the truth."I believe her. Shadow, no matter what you did in your past, we can get over it together."

He took her gloved hand in his. Nightwing smiles and can feel the warmth from her hand like in the parade. He looks up at Shadow; she's crying and has a smile that reaches her ears. He smiles as big as her than he says loud enough for Buzz to hear:

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Shadow wants to wrap her arms around him, but with her wound and all. They lean in and give a passionate kiss.

"NO!"

They broke the kiss and Nightwing pulls Shadow close to him. Buzz looks around confused. Than the trees disappear and everything became white. Nightwing notices Mac, Zals, Kale, and Kindle; they're in a white square room but there are no doors or windows.

"What happened?" asked Zals.

"Where are we?" asked Kindle.

"Nightwing, wake up," said a familiar voice.

Nightwing's head begins to ache in pain; he squeezes his eyes shut but something happens. The voices of his friends and Buzz are gone and Shadow…Shadow wasn't in his arms anymore. He begins to panic and he can't open his eyes.

'What's going on? Shadow? Where is she?'

"Nightwing wake up!"

'Sky? But she's dead or maybe…'

"Wake up!"