Disclaimer: I do not own DC Comics or the CW TV shows Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow or any other characters or elements pertaining to the mentioned franchises.
The Lair
"What a sore loser." Henry grumbled.
"Be glad we're not dealing with the Riddler." Barbara noted.
"Good point. What's the sitrep, Babs?"
"Deathstroke and Huntress are dealing with a bunch of Ghosts pillaging the eastern part of town. Speedy, Arsenal and Spartan are in Crescent Circle in the Glades taking care of the gangbangers in there. The rest is looking for Darhk. It's chaos out there."
Henry picked up his phone as he noticed it was his sister calling. "Nicky?"
"Hank, I'm in an evacuation bus outside the town!" Nicole panicked.
Henry tensed as a pit of dread formed in his stomach. "What?! What the hell are you doing in Star City? Where's Riley?"
Barbara went on full alert mode as she turned to Henry, worried.
"I left him at Commissioner Gordon's house, I wanted to check in on you yesterday but it's a mess out here… I don't know what…" Suddenly, he heard his sister scream on the other side. "Agh!"
"Nicky? Nicky!" Henry hung up his phone and kicked the table. "Damn it!"
"What is she doing here?" Barbara asked, worried.
"Checking in on her little dumbass brother!" Henry growled. "Guessing with all that mess going on, Bruce has forgotten to keep tabs on her."
"Jesus…" Barbara whispered as Henry went to grab his gun and his gear. "Wait, you can't go out there!"
"I'm not gonna leave her out there to die!"
Barbara got up from her chair. "Stop being a hero, Hank! I'll call…"
"It's my sister, Babs! The only way you're gonna stop me is if you kill me and we both know you won't do it!" Henry snapped as Barbara glared at him.
"Then you don't know Ollie at all." Sara stepped up. "If anyone can save her, it's him. You don't have to be the hero all the time." Henry seethed as he looked into Sara's eyes. "You're not alone in this anymore. No one of us is." She held his hand gently as he felt himself deflate.
"Fine."
Star City
Batmobile was chasing down the Ghosts in their armored trucks as it fired electromagnetic discs, disabling the vehicles and the Ghosts went out, firing at the Batmobile but it fired rubber bullets, taking them all down. Batman then jumped out and engaged the remaining Ghosts in close combat, assisting Talia, who was trying to fend them off with her sword.
"Like old times, is it, dear?"
"And here I thought your father doesn't mess around!"
Suddenly, they were taken down by arrows from above as a bunch of warriors in black suits and masks jumped down, with Nyssa al Ghul in charge.
"Did you think I'd let you have all the fun, dear sister?"
"Batman, Green Arrow needs your help on 5th!" Oracle ordered.
"You'll be OK?" Batman asked the al Ghul sisters.
"We'll handle it!"
The Ghosts were rounding up civilians as hostages, getting them all on their knees, ready to execute them as they aimed their guns at them before the Huntress, Katana and Speedy jumped down, engaging them and swiftly taking them down.
Nicole was restrained to a chair in an abandoned warehouse as outside was a bunch of mobsters and suddenly there were sounds of gunshots and smashing outside as she tensed and the large mobster behind her turned on a flamethrower.
Arsenal deflected an attack of a gangster wielding a knife with his bow as he fired a grapnel arrow to a nearby crate and pulled it as it flew at the gangsters in front of him, taking them down while Deathstroke sliced through one mobster and another and their combined attacks were no match for his peak physique and superior close combat skills as the bones cracked and the blood poured as Huntress shot down the ones in the distance.
Deathstroke, Huntress and Arsenal burst in the room where Nicole was through the walls as Arsenal aimed his bow at the gangster holding a flamethrower and Deathstroke grabbed another gangster, holding his rifle and restraining him.
"Drop it." The gangster with a flamethrower warned as he aimed at Nicole, who paled. "I said, drop it! I'll kill her! Believe me, I'll do it!"
Deathstroke glanced at Arsenal and Huntress, who gave him an imperceptive nod as he turned to the gangster with a flamethrower. "I believe you." He pulled the trigger, hitting the gas tank of the flamethrower as the gangster turned the flamethrower towards the leaking gas, igniting it as Arsenal fired a grapnel arrow, pulling Nicole towards him as she yelped and getting her to the ground to cover her from explosion and Huntress took cover behind a pillar. Luckily, it didn't burn him and Deathstroke was protected by his armor.
"It's OK." Arsenal assured Nicole. "We're friends of your brother."
"I figured." Nicole trembled, chuckling weakly. "You wear a mask."
Green Arrow, Spartan and Batman were on the street, fighting the Ghosts as Green Arrow kept notching one arrow by another and Spartan fired from his gun before a tank showed up in the street and they panicked.
"Everybody take cover!" Green Arrow yelled as they went off the street as the tank fired but it exploded in the middle of the street as a girl in red cape and skirt and blue suit showed up and they all stared at her.
"Is she with you?" Green Arrow asked Batman.
"I thought she was with you." Batman stared before a bolt of lightning circled around, dismantling the tank as the Ghost fell down and Flash knocked him out.
"This guy is with me." Green Arrow quipped. "What are you doing here?"
"Do you seriously have to ask?" Flash asked sarcastically as he stretched his arms around the street before turning to the girl in blue suit. "And I brought a friend. Supergirl, Green Arrow and…"
"Batman." Supergirl nodded. "We actually have a you on our Earth."
"Multiple dimensions?" Batman deduced as he turned to the Flash, who nodded.
"Yeah, you're as smart as our Bruce is." Supergirl muttered.
The Lair
"This is all going too easily." Barbara said.
"What the hell is Darhk playing at?" Henry muttered.
Arsenal accompanied Nicole to the lair who rushed to her brother and hugged him in relief.
"Jesus, thank God you're OK."
"Yeah. Likewise." Suddenly, she punched him in his face as the bones cracked and Barbara was suddenly measuring how far was the elevator from the computer while Arsenal and Sara tensed.
Henry just groaned as he readjusted his bleeding nose. "OK, I deserve that."
"You deserve far worse than that, Henry Samuel Fyff!" Nicole snarled. "How many times have I told you that working with Oliver Queen is just million times more trouble?"
"Nicky…" Henry spoke up before his sister slapped him in his face, shutting him up.
"I'm gonna yell at you later. Right now, I'm just glad you're OK."
Barbara just sighed in relief as Arsenal approached her. "She knows?"
"Hank's good at keeping secrets but not from her, there are only few little things about him that she does not know." Barbara nodded.
"Would it be bad if she freaked out?" Arsenal asked.
"At least it's not Laurel blowing up on him." Sara quipped as she saw the look on Nicole's face, the very same one that Laurel has when she's very angry.
"Or Thea." Arsenal nodded in agreement quickly, glad that Henry's sister wasn't turning her rage at them.
"Oh, you haven't seen Nicky explode yet." Barbara mocked. "And pray that you won't have to."
"When I get my hands on Oliver Queen, he will be very sorry." Nicole snarled and Barbara suddenly started to be honestly worried about him. As the old saying says: "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
Star City
Green Arrow was knocked down on the ground by Werner Zytle before he was shot down by Huntress. The Emerald Archer brushed the dirt off and got himself up as he smirked. "I had that."
"Sure you did. Now be a good damsel in distress and bestow a kiss on your gallant hero." She approached him and was about to kiss him as he grabbed her by her shoulders.
"Play nice, Helena."
"You're not playing at all." Huntress retorted.
"No." Green Arrow shook his head. "Not anymore."
"What do you mean?" Huntress asked as Green Arrow walked past her.
"It means that it's the end… we can't… I can't…" Green Arrow paused.
"Because you love Laurel. I understand." Huntress said sadly.
"It's not just that." Green Arrow said as he looked at the devastation. "I thought that having a high moral ground was more important than doing whatever it takes to save lives… and where did it lead… sometimes, the only way to fight the darkness, is to be the darkness. That's not who I wanted to be… but if it all leads to this, then I'm going where none of you should follow me… and this city deserves a better hero. A better legend. I rose from the ashes of the Arrow and maybe it's time something rose from the ashes of the Green Arrow… someone worse, who is willing to do whatever it takes… and I'm not sure if I can be that person."
"Some things you can't do alone, Oliver." Huntress neared him as she embraced him tightly and kissed him. "I wish things had gone differently between us… there could have been more to us… but I don't regret a single moment of what we had."
"Neither do I."
"But you love Laurel more, do you?" Green Arrow nodded. "So… I guess this is goodbye."
"Guess so." He kissed her as they let the moment sink in before she let him go.
"I was never for the hero gig. I want to help you but… I also want to live." Huntress said.
"I understand." Green Arrow nodded as she kissed him.
"Goodbye, Ollie." Huntress said as she sat on her bike.
"Goodbye, Helena."
The team kept on clearing Star City as they took down most of the Ghosts while some of them retreated and they all returned to the lair, converging and planning.
"Thank God." Sara embraced Laurel.
"They just won't give up but they've retreated, so now we can finally focus on finding Darhk." Oliver ordered.
"Oliver Queen?" Nicole asked from behind Oliver as he turned around, only to receive a punch in his jaw. "That's for dragging my brother into your mess again." She snarled as Oliver chuckled. Then she punched him in his face as he stumbled back. "And that's for putting me in danger."
"I'm guessing you're Nicole. Henry's sister." Oliver said as she chuckled.
"You've got a lot worse coming when this is over, Oliver Jonas Queen."
"I don't doubt that." Oliver shrugged, used to wrath of scorned women over the years.
"Wow, and here I thought I have short temper." Laurel quipped as Slade smirked and Sara and Thea nodded.
"I like her already." Slade smiled at Henry's sister.
"I think that this attack was a distraction." Batman noted as Talia and Nyssa nodded in agreement.
"Mr. Darhk never makes a move without a valid reason, whatever he has planned, he wanted to preoccupy us while setting his plan in motion."
"The question is, what is he up to and what does he want?"
Thea then looked around frantically. "Wait, where's Roy?"
"I thought he was with you two." Laurel looked at Slade and Tatsu.
"He was trying to help some stragglers on Daleyville, said he would catch up with us." Slade explained.
"And you left him alone?" Thea snarled at Slade.
"He was more stubborn than the kid here is." He shrugged, looking at Oliver as he, Laurel, Diggle, Henry, Sara and Thea groaned, unsurprised by Roy's recklessness.
"We've searched." Barry explained as he turned to Kara.
"Wherever he is, we can't find him. I used X-Ray vision to scour the city but wherever he is, it must be covered with lead."
Barbara turned on the live feed as she looked in horror. "Guys, you might want to see this."
On the screen was Damien Darhk, with bloodied Arsenal on his knees as he was aiming his gun at him, and at his side was Quentin Lance.
"Well, while you were busy disposing of my men, look who I found." Darhk smirked as everyone shot the screen death glares. "I'm going to say this just once. Green Arrow will surrender himself to me in the City Hall, alone, if he does not want me to paint the walls with his friend's brains and the dearest Captain Lance here. You have one hour. Come alone, unarmed, or I will kill them both."
"Don't listen to him! Forget about me!" Arsenal ordered as the live feed ended.
"Dad…" Sara whispered.
"That bastard!" Thea snarled.
"This is a trap." Batman said.
"You can't go there alone like that, kid. He'll kill you all." Slade disagreed.
"It's the most heavily fortified position in Star City." Talia nodded.
"Our scouts tried to get in but Darhk's magical defenses prevented them from getting in." Nyssa agreed. "You cannot honestly believe that either one of you will make it out alive."
"It's Roy's life at stake." Oliver said. "I already had to throw him over the board to save myself. I can't do it again."
"He will know if anyone else tries to get in. He's placed some magical defenses around. I asked Constantine and Zatanna but they won't breach them in time." Nyssa said.
"You can't commit suicide, Ollie." Laurel begged, the conversation she had with him two years ago after his mother's death replaying in her head.
"I'm not throwing Roy overboard!" Thea disagreed.
"And what other options we have?!" Henry intervened.
Oliver turned to Barry and Kara. "We tried but it's like there's some force field around that place."
"I hate magic." Oliver grumbled. "If… if this is the only way, then… I guess it's goodbye."
The tears started to form in Thea's eyes as she shook her head, holding her brother's hand. "No. No, you can't. Ollie, there has to be another way. We can figure something else…"
"We don't have time! And I'm not discussing this!" Oliver snapped.
"Ollie, no…" Laurel hugged him, turning to Diggle, who was always able to find middle ground but he couldn't find it this time either as Henry just stared in despair and no one of their allies couldn't see a way out of this either.
Waverider
"And this was it, right?" Ray asked. "This was…"
Oliver nodded grimly.
Present, City Hall
Green Arrow drove his bike in front of City Hall as the Ghosts aimed at him and he raised his hands in surrender.
"Search him, find any trackers on him and take his weapons." They confiscated his bow and quiver and patted him down to make sure he was not bugged as they restrained him to a gurney and dragged him upstairs, where the camera was ready in the mayor's office and Quentin and Arsenal, who was restrained and on his knees were staring in disbelief as their friend was being dragged like that.
Darhk laughed as he looked at the dragged archer. "Well, I'm hungry as a wolf. As long as you wear that hood, you provide hope, and as long as your friends are alive, you have something to fight for. And I'm going to rob you of all of it. And as they will stare into your eyes, failure will have a face and a name. You've broken me and humiliated me… now I'm going to same thing to you." He turned around to face Quentin. "Captain Lance, if you will do the honors."
"Screw you." Quentin sneered. "I'm done listening to you." Darhk sighed as he shot at Arsenal's arm, causing for him to fall down. "You bastard!" Quentin snarled and glared at Darhk.
"Take off his hood and the mask, or the next shot will go through his brain."
"It's OK." Green Arrow assured him.
"No! You know what that means if I do it!" Quentin said, in his eyes remorse as they were getting wet.
"It will be over, I know. You have to trust me, Quentin."
"They will hunt you… forever… you will not be able to hide…" Quentin said as he approached the archer, grabbing the hood slowly. "I'm sorry… for everything… ever since you returned." He said honestly, regretting every bad thing he has ever said or done to Oliver and his friends and family ever since he has returned from Lian Yu as the hair was revealed and then he reached to the eye mask, taking it off slowly.
The Lair
Laurel, in her arms sobbing Thea, Diggle biting his nails, Barbara, Bruce, Slade, Talia, Nyssa, Barry, Kara, Tatsu, Nicole, Henry and Sara, who was desperately holding his hand were watching in despair as their friend was being unmasked to the world.
A.R.G.U.S. HQ
Lyla was watching desperately the screen as one of the agents approached her.
"Director Michaels, Thomas Merlyn escaped."
"What? How?"
"He must have feigned death, they found him passed out on the floor in his cell, there was no heartbeat, when they went to check in on him, he took the guards out and bolted."
"Did you send agents after him?"
"They have no clues to follow."
Then she turned to the screen as the headline said: "OLIVER QUEEN IS THE GREEN ARROW" as Quentin unmasked the vigilante.
City Hall
"Now they see you as who you really are. Powerless. Human. Mortal." Darhk laughed as he turned to the camera. "Do you understand now? There is no savior. No more hope. No more Green Arrow… and I win." He turned to Oliver, touching his breast as he started to drain him as Oliver paled, while in his mind flashed every meaningful moment of his life… his relationships with Tommy, Laurel, Sara, Diggle, Thea, Henry, Felicity… his friends… the tragedies he endured… death of his mother, loss of Sara, his father's suicide…
Somehow, the overwhelming emotions, love, friendships, these strong feelings helped him regain the strength as Darhk couldn't drain life force from him anymore.
"You will… never… defeat me like this!" Oliver snarled.
"That's not possible!" Darhk growled as he pulled out a knife but suddenly, a flying arrow robbed him of his weapon as in the door stood Tommy Merlyn, with a black hood on, with a bow and quiver, as he notched another arrow, firing at the restraints on which was Oliver as he freed himself from the gurney and engaged Darhk in fist fight, knocking him on the ground and grabbing an arrow from the floor before grabbing Darhk. "What are you going to do now, Oliver? Stop posturing." He mocked. "We both know you can't do it. You spared the life of the man who killed your own mother."
"You almost killed my friends countless of times. You killed tens of thousands of innocent people." Oliver shot back. "With Slade Wilson I had a choice. This time, I don't." He drove the arrow through Darhk's heart as he grinned for a few moments before Oliver pulled the arrow out, letting Darhk go as he fell down on the floor, dead.
He turned to Tommy, who stood there, with sincere remorse in his eyes as Quentin bandaged Arsenal's wound with his jacket before he approached the camera and turned it off, looking at Oliver.
"I'm sorry… for everything." Quentin said. "Everything I've said and done to you ever since you returned from Lian Yu… it all came down to this…"
"It's OK, Quentin. Really." Oliver said as he put on his mask and the hood before turning to Tommy, as in his eyes was a look of his best friend. "Thank you, Tommy."
"You've saved my life many times. About time I returned the favor." Tommy nodded.
Quentin stared at Tommy in disbelief briefly before chuckling. "I'm not even gonna ask how is it possible that you're alive but… thanks for showing up, Merlyn."
"You're welcome, Captain." Tommy nodded.
"Look after him, Quentin." He turned to injured Roy before turning to the window. "Look after them all. Whatever happens, you'll always be my family."
"What happens next?" Quentin asked.
"You were there when I started. Now, you will see how will I end it." Oliver said as he approached Tommy. "You can come with me, Tommy." He offered.
"I'm sorry but… no." Tommy shook his head. "I'm… too damaged, Ollie."
"We can help you…"
"Maybe… but I need some time to figure this out on my own. But maybe one day… I'll meet you, Laurel, Sara and Thea again."
"Maybe." Oliver nodded.
"Oliver… I…"
"It's OK. I forgive you. You're my brother, Tommy. And nothing will ever change that." Oliver said as he walked away with injured Arsenal.
The vigilantes continued cleaning Star City of the Ghosts and the remaining criminals as Green Arrow was accompanying the last remaining of them to SCPD, where Lieutenant Pike apprehended them.
"Thanks. Your assist is appreciated." Green Arrow nodded as he was walking away but stopped as Pike spoke up again. "So, Oliver Queen, huh? If it's all the same to you, I'll stick to the Green Arrow."
Oliver smiled as he fired a grapnel arrow, flying to the roof.
"We're done, Barbara."
"Laurel and everyone's done too, they're waiting for you."
"No. Leave the lair, now. I'm initiating Protocol Broken Arrow."
"Are you sure about this, Ollie?" Laurel asked.
"I have to. It's the only way to protect you all."
"OK." Barbara nodded. "It will be ready when you return."
"Just make sure you won't be there when I come back." Oliver said.
"Fine. And Oliver? For what it's worth, it's been an honor to work by your side." Barbara said honestly.
"Likewise, Barbara."
Oliver landed on the roof of his campaign office as the reporters were waiting for a statement of the unmasked vigilante. The helicopter saw him enter a secret elevator as the camera was on him but in a few moments, the lights flickered and exploded as the building started to partially crumble and turn into ruins and rubble.
So, what do you guys think about it? The next chapter will be a concluding epilogue to the story.
Please review and let me know if you are enjoying this so far.
With regards
Bl4ckHunter