Hello readers
So, I had for a couple of different story ideas put into one.
Quick canon changes on the background is Oliver dated Sara with them having a healthy pre island relationship meaning no cheating on Oliver's part or the other issues Oliver/Laurel had in canon.
Also, Sara had listened to Oliver with leaving The Amazo and managing to swim back to the submarine for escaping the island with Anatoly.
I want to thank Stand with Ward and Queen, Aragorn II Elessar and ArlyssTolero for their help on this.
For the rest well you will discover below.
apartment during April 2009
Closing the door Sara Lance sighs tiredly because of having to once again go pick her father up from a bar and curses her mother for leaving. Because this should not be Laurel or hers's responsibility. Plus, it caused her to miss a job interview as well, not that she has had much luck there, the two weeks she has been back.
The last bar she worked at got thrown out for breaking the arm of some dirtbag who was getting to close with a woman rejecting his advances. Not to mention two years behind on schooling, which she never got the best scores regardless and technology college for right now is out.
Heading over to the light switch Sara flips it getting nothing. Flipping it again though still nothing Sara concerned feels fear creeping up her spine pushes it down, with heading to the drawer where she keeps the handgun dad gave her. Learned from Ivo's freighter and Lian Yu knows this feeling keeps one alive. Only upon gripping the cabinet, Sara feels a white cloth pressed over her nose, drenched in Chloroform.
Reaching up Sara grabs the arm with trying to force it off but not much success changes tactics. Pressing her feet against the cabinet Sara forces herself backward disorienting the man enough so she breaks free, with grabbing the lamp from the table smashes Hadrian Wolcott over the head with it.
Stumbling back Wolcott pulls out a knife, manages to grab ahold of Sara's head despite her clawing at his hands he stabs her in the side with it. Only a black arrow enters the man's back causing the would-be killer to start coughing up blood while staggering away. Reaching down Sara filled with rage and intending to put the man down grabs the lamp kicks Wolcott in his left knee sending Wolcott to the ground, before bashing the would-be killer's head in.
Rising to her feet Sara staggering back, drops the lamp while clutching her wound in pain glances at her hand, which can tell from the streetlight it's covered with blood. Looking over Sara sees a man emerge from the darkness wearing black robes mixed in with armor, a hood covering his head, compound bow in his right hand and what appears to be a sword strapped to his left side.
As the man starts to move forward Sara steps back intending to flee when the person instead of approaching removes the hood covering his head. Sara winces but even in the streetlight coming in can get a decent idea of who this person is.
"Mr. Merlyn?" Sara asks in shock.
"Yes, let me help you before you bleed to death," Malcolm says.
"Afterwards I want answers" Sara replies.
Malcolm merely nods with moving over, and before Sara can stop him injects her in the neck by a small tranquilizer causing Sara to pass out in a few moments. Glancing around Malcolm will have an SCPD contact of his come over to dispose of the body belonging to The Huntsman, and make it look like nothing happened here.
Right now, as Malcolm knows picking up Sara's out cold body, he needs to get Sara Lance medical help. Because he will not let the woman perish. Especially at the hands of scum to come out of The Glades. Not like Rebecca did, not again Malcolm vows.
Inside a spare bedroom at Merlyn Mansion
Groaning Sara slowly blinks coming to with immediately feeling her side, only to find a cloth shirt. Lifting the shirt slightly Sara finds her wound covered in a bandage and glancing around cautiously goes to get up, only as Malcolm comes in entering through a door quickly walks over placing a hand on her arm. Now Malcolm is wearing casual black dress slacks, shoes and a white dress shirt with the first few buttons undone.
"Don't move much, just rest for now" Malcolm kindly instructs.
"Alright," Sara says laying back on the very cozy bed, "Guessing you had one of your doctors' patch me up?"
"Yes, and don't worry about Dr. Green letting anyone know, she's been on family pay role for years. Green knows when to keep her mouth closed" Malcolm says.
"Even when it goes against her oaths?" Sara asks.
"She's on retainer like Tom Hagen from the Godfather," Malcolm says.
"You making film references? Wow, it's been a long time since seeing this from a man who used to be fondly referred to as Uncle" Sara replies then winces "Sorry, I didn't mean to insult you following when your wife died."
Shaking his head "No it's okay, I have not the best person following my wife's passing. Rebecca would be most disappointed in me. Besides one thing I've always found endearing from you or your sister is your blunt honesty" Malcolm says, "Not many people in the kind of world I live in daily give that."
"Yeah, Ollie would always say how refreshing it is, didn't even get that from his parents" Sara replies then "Thank you for rescuing me."
"Your welcome" Malcolm replies.
"How did you even know I was in trouble?" Sara asks.
"Let's just say I got knowledge of it from a less than savory source" Malcolm replies.
He decides against going into the details of hearing about it from Kirk Adamson, a person on The List who decided to hire a hitman to remove Sara Lance. Mostly from Sara exposing his daughter's sexually abusing young teenagers in college. And Malcolm knows will be paying a visit to Kirk Adamson later to make sure scum like him pays dearly. Regardless of Kirk's position on The List.
"Fair enough. My next question, where did you even get the equipment, I saw you in?" Sara asks.
Letting out a sigh Malcolm sits down on the bed nearby with staring out into space until beginning his tale.
"After my wife had died at the hands of some scum, lying there bleeding to death while nobody in The Glades she gave her life for refused to help…" Malcolm says old anger surfacing before burying it "About a year later I left for a place called Nanda Parbat."
Meanwhile, Sara can only gasp in horror at how Rebecca Merlyn, a woman who was a very caring aunt to Ollie, her sister, and even Thea, dying like that. Sara feels her heart go out to Malcolm in sympathy, no wonder he's so closed off and angry at the people who refused to help.
"It was there I met a man named Ras al Ghul, where I became someone different and shed my old life for two years. I became his horseman tasked with carrying out his most important missions" Malcolm replies "Nearly lost my soul to darkness."
"You mean he had you killing people for him?" Sara asks.
"Yes," Malcolm replies.
Nods absently Sara does not know what to say to that, and besides, she can relate from the things Ivo had her do under his control. Sara remembers how Ivo made it like he was a savior keeping her safe, only for that to be nothing more than lies. Briefly, Sara considers Merlyn doing the same, but the difference is Merlyn's, not Ivo. She knows Mr. Merlyn more than she did Ivo or even Slade.
"When I came back home I along with Robert Queen, and others created a group called Tempest to make The Glades a better place. We first began bribing the city's corrupt elite into being more generous which did not go very far. For two reasons the slowness of our methods and The Glades does not want to be saved. Eventually, Robert and I developed a new Undertaking" Malcolm says.
"And it is?" Sara asks.
"I'll tell you later. What I need to tell you now is the Queen's Gambit was no accident. A ship on the outside of a storm like that does not simply go down" Malcolm says.
"What?" Sara exclaims in shock.
"Yes," Malcolm replies.
"By who?" Sara asks in anger, Ollie and she spent two years in hell. Whoever this person is will pay.
"A man called Derk Reston along with his family was unhappy Robert closed down the factory in The Glades and decided to exact revenge. I had the Gambit found and recovered. Derk Reston with his family met justice I assure you" Malcolm replies coldly.
"Good they deserve to die," Sara says viciously.
Raising an eyebrow "Very unlike the upstanding daughter raised by Quentin Lance" Malcolm points out.
"Who just survived nearly getting kidnapped and have already suffered through two years of hell" Sara replies shuttering "And discovered Ollie who I loved dearly has been murdered all because of low life scum that was upset they got laid off. I'm not feeling very upstanding right now."
"The man who attacked you, called The Huntsman was a cannibalistic assassin from The Glades," Malcolm says simply.
"No shock there" Sara replies cynically "I'm starting to wonder between them not caring Aunt Rebecca was dying, begging for help, Derk Reston or producing such evil as The Huntsman if they are even worth it."
Malcolm inwardly has a smile across his features because Ms. Lance certainly shows potential, just like Oliver did who one time nearly beat a paparazzi to death when the scum bag had gotten a little too friendly with his kid sister.
Unlike his pathetic son who can't show any interest in anything other than partying or women. Despite Oliver's partying habits, he could tell Oliver did that as more of a mask to rebel against who his parents wanted. And showed intelligence for wanting to apply himself, case in point Malcolm reflects for how Oliver got kicked out of four Ivy League colleges. Not once for failing grades, rather kept high grades. He just lacked purpose in his life. Although from the vague information Sara did give from the island they ended up on, Oliver did find that purpose with losing the party boy self.
A purpose he will never get to find because of Derk Reston. Malcolm scowls from missing Oliver and his best friend who did become fully on board with the Undertaking. Robert was going overseas to acquire the holdings to The Glades as a backup plan in case, he was unable to carry on with the Undertaking.
Suddenly Malcolm is interrupted in his thoughts when Sara speaks.
"Can you train me?" Sara asks.
"Yes, but I warn you I won't go easy on you. I'll put you through hell" Malcolm says frankly.
"I've already been there" Sara replies grimly.
"Yes, that time away was a crucible for you on its own. Once you get better from that injury we can begin" Malcolm says.
Nodding "I want in on your plans for whatever this Tempest is" Sara replies.
"While as pleased as I am on upon hearing this, are you sure? Because what Tempest is, what its mission is will not be handing out goodwill bags to those in The Glades" Malcolm says caringly at the younger woman.
"I'm sure" Sara replies firmly.
Nodding "I'll give you a few days to think over that before I begin making those arrangements. Just in case you change your mind, Ms. Lance but regardless know this even if you don't, I will train you regardless" Malcolm says.
"Thank you and please call me Sara" the woman replies.
"Of course, Sara and please call me Malcolm if you wish," Malcolm says lightly grinning "Get some sleep."
Three years later in the basement of a casino in Krasnoyarsk, Russia during June 2012
A bloodied, and bruised Oliver, with his hands bound by rope, is in a wooden chair flanked by two Bratva goons holding him in place, while Ishmael Gregor is standing there looking angry.
"I'm done asking," Gregor says pulling out a handgun "Follow me or die."
"Go to hell and take Kovar with you" Oliver growls.
"Very well" Gregor replies.
Only as Gregor is about to fire sounds of fighting are heard from upstairs. Without being told the two Bratva men go rushing up the stairs only the door is already open by the time they get there. A woman is standing there wearing black pants with a corset under an open, textured black leather jacket. Sara has a domino mask on her face and a utility belt with two pouches on her sides. Dark-colored gloves on Sara's hands.
Initially disabling the first man with a kick to his jaw breaking it, Sara puts him in a headlock snapping his neck. As the second man throws a punch easily dodging it, Sara pulls out a knife slashing his throat open spraying blood everywhere. The two men fall to the ground with the so-called fight over in less than three minutes.
Meanwhile, Gregor grabbing Oliver hauls him to his feet with over near the stairs and raising his handgun at the intruder. With practiced ease, The Canary throws the knife right into Gregor's head killing the Bratva leader nearly instantly.
As Gregor slumps backward Oliver reaching down pulls the knife out of Ishmael's head and uses it to slice his bonds. However, he keeps it in his hand in case needing to use it as a weapon against this new person, whoever she is. Only as The Canary gets closer with removing her mask Oliver drops the knife in shock.
"Sara?" Oliver asks in hope this is not a dream.
"Yeah Ollie it's me," Sara says walking over.
Standing within a few feet of each other after so many years and staring into each other's eyes Oliver reaches out grabbing Sara with pulling her close. Leaning down Oliver kisses Sara on her lips who despite the brief surprise quickly returns it as they kiss longingly and frantically. After a moment they break apart, simply staring at each other until movement draws their attention to the doorway.
They see Malcolm in League of Assassins gear walk down the steps, and Oliver realizes since Sara is not reacting for whoever he must be an ally. However, the former party boy turned ruthless survivor looks on in shock when the person removes his hood for revealing the face of…
"Mr. Merlyn?" Oliver asks in surprise.
"Yeah it's me, come on let's get you out of here and somewhere safe" Malcolm replies.
"We will explain everything once we get out of here," Sara says.
"Okay," Oliver replies.
In pain, Oliver puts an arm around Malcolm's shoulders and Sara's as they start making their way up the stairs.
"Are you worried about anybody seeing you without your masks?" Oliver asks.
"No, they are all to dead" Malcolm replies.
"Oh," Oliver says.
Hope you all enjoyed this and leave a review letting me know what you think.
Yeah, I figured to get Sara into being willing to let innocent people in The Glades get killed something like Huntsman attacking her would need to occur. Including the start of darkness from The Amazo, and Lian Yu.
Plus, with things like Robert being fully on board with the Undertaking it's a different earth anyway.
For those wondering, I will be using Oliver like he was in the season 5 flashbacks, and yes that means Oliver will be on board with the Undertaking. Because he would be like Helena Bertinelli or Vincent Sobel and not care about the innocents killed.
Given Marc Guggenheim and the other writers don't get what Oliver who skinned a man alive for practice would be like. Utter morons.
Which for those wondering yes, I do have permission from ArlyssTolero to use his OC of The Huntsman.
Until next time