Chapter 21: The End
AN: I'm back! Back again, for this story's final chapter!
So, to those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving, hope you had fun! I didn't celebrate it the normal way, because part of my family is Native American and I am Native American/Indian, and the real reason Thanksgiving exists is to celebrate the murdered Native Americans and the food those killed Native Americans had were shared around the European camps. Not the glorified cartoon version of Native Americans and Settlers sharing a large table and enjoying food together, that's fake. Just look at American History, the REAL history. Anyway, I had chicken instead of Turkey just to be rebellious. ;)
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Robindanewsie: Waaaaa? Amazing writer? Where? *looks around* Oh, you're talking about yourself? Cause your the only wonderful and amazing writer I can see. I'm glad I could make you happy :)
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Thief was not happy. A heartwarming meeting? Sure, but for HOURS? Seriously? It didn't make what was coming any easier.
After the crying and the kisses (Ew), Dick wanted to show his newer family around his home, BUT after entering the training room ran into some problems. The Justice League wanted answers. And Thief started to become impatient with all of the questions. Yes, her name is really T-H-I-E-F. Get used to it. No she will not share her real name. Buzz off. Yes Assana is Atlantian but has never lived in Atlantis. Go figure. No Crystal is not normal. She can and will blow your head off. Stay away. Yes the Twins aren't human, they are from another world. No she can't pronounce the world's name, or their species, believe her, she's tried. (The Twins slowly pronounced their species, but only Megan is even close.) Yes Mayu is half Kryptonian half Martian. No she's magically teleported here (sarcasm). Yes she was brought here (Assana's real answer). Yes Tigerlily is a magic wielder like many mystic people on Earth. No I don't know a real title for what she is. Magician? Witch? Enchantress? Spell caster?
Thief was too on edge. They had to confront this and get this over with… but how to move the conversation in that direction…?
Thief had an idea. While they started talking about Pokemon and stuff, something about Sun versus Moon, Thief wandered into the ring area.
As everyone turned curiously toward her, she began to sing softly, her voice echoing through the cave. (Song is 'FNAF Sister Location - The Musical by Random Encounters! I DO NOT OWN!)
"Trapped beneath the ground,"
Only a few members of the League and Young Justice were watching her, but most importantly her team and Dickie watched as she slowly walked around in a circle, like a caged beast.
"Locked away where we won't be found,
No one knows we're here
But the day draws near,"
By now, everyone was watching Thief sing and pace in a circle, like a mesmerizing snake charmer with the Heroes as the snakes.
"I will leave this place
Ending all the fears I faced."
Thief punctuated her actions by turning suddenly on her heels to face her silent audience.
"If I could go free,
Would they, come recapture me?!"
She struck without warning, punching the wall. Not a scratch on the wall, but her hands slightly scraped and beginning to bleed.
"And I won't forgive the pain
Or forget the years
Full of blood and tears."
Thief held out her slightly bleeding hands toward her fellow Apprentices. Crystal and Dick looked concerned at the sight of blood, but the others wondered what she was doing.
"No more shocks and burns,
She continued,
"No more tests
No more lessons learned."
She spat out with venom clear in her voice, the Apprentices flinching at the reminder of the scars and unjust lessons they suffered. Some of the League members, like Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, and Black Canary noticed.
"Here we draw the line
Etched in blood of mine."
Thief broke her circle's border to walk among her audience, meeting the eyes of Heroes with a clear challenge in her gaze and stance.
"I would risk it all
For a chance to breach these walls,
I would roll the dice
Offer any sacrifice
And I won't live one more day with these broken gears
Full of blood and tears."
She stops in front of Batman, only to turn away and sing with her voice full of pain. As she began her prowl back, she spoke defiantly, with her posture giving away her fight along with her voice.
"So Baby, no more crying!
Only chaos
No relying
On someone to save us!"
The Apprentices flinched at the challenge she threw out to the Heroes. Thief continued on, ignoring the dawning recognition.
"If you only knew
All the things that I've been through
If I had your soul
Would it lift me from this hole?
Be my hands forever stained with a thousand smears
She held out her hands to them as if asking for help, for proof that her hands were really covered in blood. Her voice was quiet, and she continued.
"Full of blood and…"
She stopped, and everything was eerily still. Only for Thief to look straight up and scream, singing with pure pain evident in her voice,
"TEARS!"
She concluded, with the silence crushing the air in the room. Some of her audience members were crying, like Captain Marvel. Others were stone faced, like Batman. Her fellow Apprentices were ready to leap to her defense, but no one questioned her. Instead, it was Thief who broke the silence.
"None of you will ever truly understand what we've been through. Only we can help each other. However, it is clear that one of us, Richard, is distracted. He loves you, and wants to have both worlds."
Thief pauses. Now or never.
"However, reality isn't set up that way. We have to make a choice. Do we risk our lives with you, go into hiding, or end our Master's rein? I say we vote on our next actions." Thief said, addressing her Apprentices.
Thye all froze, finally understanding what Thief was doing. She was baring their loyalties, and challenging them at the same time. She was giving them a choice and an out.
Dick was nearly in tears, scared of what was happening. Mayu and Tigerlily noticed first, then Assana. Crystal was talking quietly to herself, saying words but making no sounds.
In the end, it was Tigerlily who stepped up.
"I am loyal to family. After everything we've been through, we are family. Richard included, without a doubt. If these people," She nodded to the Heroes, "Are apart of his family, then they can be family too. We just need to give them a chance to be family first. I'm staying with Richard and if he's staying with Heroes then fine, sign me up for being a Hero. But I don't do tights." She spoke sharply, crossing her arms in her own challenge. Dick began to really cry as he lept down from Hal's lap to give her a surprise hug. Tigerlily was surprised until she heard him whispering "thank you, thank you" to her. Then she just gave up and hugged him back, squeezing him gently to reassure him that she was here to stay.
Mayu tossed her head back and snorted. "Obviously." She moved to stand behind Tigerlily and Dick, only to reach over and briefly hold Dick's hang soothingly.
The Twins looked at each other, having some kind of silent conversation. Jack stepped forward. "As long as we are welcome, we have no problem remaining on Earth." Zach followed with, "We may need some help with geography though." They floated over to the building team.
Thief watched, along with the Heroes, with guarded eyes, giving nothing away.
Assana looked down at Crystal, and spoke up. "I have never seen Atlantis, and would like to very much. Being a Hero, would be wonderful, but healing and magic is my true calling. I would like to search Atlantis for a proper teacher. I would love to remain close to my family." She said smiling, hoping they wouldn't mind her being different. Of course, no one did. She remained next to Crystal as it was her turn.
Crystal stepped forward, but hesitated. She looked to Thief for translation for her signing, but Thief signed back "Speak." So Crystal took a deep breath in, and out slowly, before starting. "I-I'm afraid. I don't know how well I would do, b-but I'm sure I'd l-love to be a hero. I want to stay with my f-family. My real family." She gestured toward all the other Apprentices.
Assana gently lead her over, where immediately Crystal hugged Dick. They started hugging and crying together, which was so cute and sad at the same time.
Thief however, remained unmoved.
Tigerlily noticed and glared.
"Well, Hana? You got what you wanted yet? We're staying, if the Heroes want us to."
Green Lantern spoke up. "Of course. We'd love to have you." But his eyes remained glued to Richard. His to-be son.
Thief turned her head toward Tigerlily. She bowed it for a moment before saying. "I had hope so, to make this easier."
Her team looked at her, confused. 'This'?
She spoke clearly. "I'm leaving."
Those two words hit everyone in the room harder than anything else. Dick began to cry again, but with real sadness this time. He barely got out, "W-w-why?"
That nearly broke Thief, but she remained determined.
"I don't feel like I belong here just yet. I still need to figure some things out. Besides, I want to make sure they never do anything like this again." Thief had a fire in her eye, and the Apprentices shivered at what she was implying.
Tigerlily glared at her, refusing to let it go. Ignoring everyone, she marched up to Thief and grabbed the collar of her shirt.
"So you're leaving? Just like that? And what do you hope to accomplish, WAYNE?!" She shouted in Thief's face.
The Bat's froze, not daring to believe their ears. Thief paled, before glaring back with pure rage.
"Do. Not. Call. Me. That. EVER." She spoke clearly, clenching her teeth together in rage.
"Or what?" Tigerlily challenged.
Thief grabbed her arm holding Thief's shirt and twisted her body, throwing Tigerlily against the wall. Tigerlily wasn't expecting her to actually do anything, so she was thrown and landed with a thud.
Thief whipped out knives and help them like daggers.
The challenge in her voice could've froze an ocean. "Try me."
Tigerlily jumped to her feet, and crouched forward, ready to fight. She glared and opened her mouth to speak. Thief's grip on the knives tightened.
Assana jumped in the gap between them, and stood at the ready. "Enough. If Thief is leaving, it is her choice." She spoke with a final tone.
Thief and Tigerlily slowly relaxed.
Thief glared around the room. "I'm leaving, and there's nothing no one can say to stop me. If you want, I can drop by from time to time, or if not I'll stay away. I do need to know now though."
Crystal immediately ran up to Thief and nodded. "We want to see you again! Please come back every once in a while, okay?" She spoke quickly, scared of losing her big sister. Dick joined her nodding while crying. Mayu huffed in agreement, Assana nodded slightly, the Twins pouted "Who will team up with us without you?", and Tigerlily said nothing.
Thief smiled down at the two young ones attached to her legs and hugged them back.
"I will return, then. No offense to you Heroes, but I need my space." She addressed the mostly silent audience.
Green Arrow was the one to nod, and say "Everyone needs a break from time to time."
So the Zeta Tube was set up, good byes were said, and Thief left her family. Dick watched her leave with wide eyes, uncomprehending.
-5 weeks later-
Dear Thief,
We hope you're well. We haven't seen you in a while. This is just a follow up letter to let you know how everyone has been without you. Everyone misses you terribly, I hope you know.
The Bat's have been poking around, asking questions about you. We told them the truth, about where you came from and who your parents are. We figured they would've found out eventually anyway, so may as well, right? It seemed to shock them, Batman especially. The Nightwing fellow actually needed to sit down. I think they weren't expecting someone from their city going through that? We have no idea. Richard did, but he refuses to say anything but 'shocking news for them'. Well, we saw that.
Anyway, onto the rest of us. Speaking of Richard, he apparently was adopted officially! His father is Green Lantern, who knew? He seemed to slowly adapt, and we were there to help. Around the clock, everyone takes the 'buddy system', to help with paranoia and nightmares. Last time I was over at Richard's place, his mother was so nice, and tried to refuse my help, despite being pregnant! I couldn't accept that. His wounds are healing, Thief. Inside and out.
Crystal, however, has moved in with Black Canary and Green Arrow. She is being trained by both Black Canary and Superwoman! She couldn't be happier. Her walk is a little straighter everyday. She speaks clearly and meets people's eyes with less fear. Just last night, I even heard her singing.
The Twins are… Well, troublesome and playful as always. They get into arguments with Red Arrow and Kid Flash, but over playful things, like which Pokemon game is better and which Harry Potter movie was sadder. They all agree on Comic books and Percy Jackson, which scares me. I hope I won't have to stop any floods anytime soon. They live… I'm not sure where it is they live, as they were taken in by Captain Marvel of all the League Members.
Mayu is getting along splendidly with Miss Martian, Megan and Superboy, Connor. They are teaching her and she teaches them. It was pretty funny to watch her try to speak telepathically, to be honest. It gave everyone a headache though. She lives with them in the Cave, so I see her every time I stop by, which is quite often.
As for me, Kaldur and Aquaman were kind enough to take me to Atlantis. It is so wonderful, Thief. I have no words. Then I learn that I am the daughter of one of the Queen's cousins. Aquaman and Queen were delighted and took me in, so I may learn aquatic magic. I expressed my eagerness for healing, and the Queen was kind but insistent that I know to defend myself. I know she's right, but I can't contain my excitement for lesson's on health and healing.
I hope this reaches you, for when Cheshire stops by I will give it to her and hope she brings it to you. She claimed to not know where you are, but I know you two, close like sisters. Or something similar. I hope you will write back, or even better, stop by as promised. I want you to know we were given a name for our little team. Should the need ever arise, the Rebellious Apprentices will step up!
With love,
Assana
So, here's the official end for The Rebellious Apprentices! I hope I did something right, despite my many mistakes, and you enjoyed it regardless. Thank you for all of the support! If you enjoy this, I will let you know I will be writing a three part story about what happens to Thief alone. I didn't feel like it fit in this story. But, Dickie got his happy ending! One final time, Thank you!