A/N: Okay, so, it's been a while. A few things that I need to say.

First, this is the final chapter of this story. Reason for that is listed in the bottom-side A/N.

Second, the only part of the finale I liked was the flashback to Oliver being a bad-ass, and that was soured by the fact that their 'series retcon' bullshit allows them to paint Oliver as a psychopath like they've been doing since Season 5, even though anyone who watches Season 1 knows he had elements of heroism even then!

Third: the finale's kind of made my love of Arrow wane, and I might take a break from writing it for a while. I've been thinking of doing something with Smallville for a while. So, the sequel to this story is gonna be a little ways off, more than likely.

Okay, so that was all related to the finale. Go figure. It pissed me off.

Chapter Seventeen

Oliver Queen smiled sadly as he shook Barry's hand. "It was nice seeing you again, Barry," Oliver said quietly.

"It was great seeing you alive, man," Barry told him. "You sure you can't come with us? I think Star City could use the Green Arrow."

"Star City on Earth-1 already has protectors," Oliver replied. "I leave Star City here on Earth-38, and I leave it defenseless. Thanks to you having Cisco whip up that extrapolator to go between Star City and National City, I can protect my city as needed and fight the war against Cadmus." Barry smiled sadly but nodded and Oliver moved on, shaking Caitlin's hand.

"Always a pleasure, Caitlin, and keep Barry safe out there, will you?"

"You can count on it. Good luck, Oliver," Caitlin said with a smile.

Ray Palmer was up next. "Seems like a lifetime ago I was crippling your suit after you decided to try and bring me in," Oliver said with a chuckle. "We've come a long way. You've grown as a hero, Ray. I know you'll do right by Star City because you already did when Felicity tried to force you to make the choice between me and the city. Always remember… the city, the mission, comes first. Everything else is secondary."

"I will," Ray said. "But if you ever need any help here with Cadmus, just send word and I'll be here, even if I'm alone."

"He won't be alone," Laurel said softly as Oliver turned his attention to her. "I already thought I lost you once, Ollie, and the last words we had spoken to each other were in anger. I didn't like leaving things like that. I wish you would come back with us, so that we can get everything settled, but I know you have a life here that you can't just give up. I just hope you'll visit one day."

"One day, maybe," Oliver said politely, not really seeing any reason for him to go back to Earth-1; everything that he cared about was here, now. "But for now, I'm certain Star City on Earth-1 is in good hands. And Laurel? Don't let John push you around. He's a good man, but he loses sight of the trees for the forest. He's a big picture man who forgets the little movements that make everything work. You've never forgotten the little guy. If you have to, go rogue. Do what you feel is right, not what someone else, be it John or even Felicity, thinks is right. Your heart has never led you astray. Trust in it." Laurel blinked back tears as she drew Oliver into a hug. Oliver returned it one-armed, feeling unsure about how his words had come across. He didn't want to give Laurel the wrong idea, after all; but he knew her heart would lead her down the right path, always.

Oliver stepped back and rejoined Lena and Kara, his hand entwining with Lena's, as Barry activated the extrapolator. One by one, the heroes from Earth-1 disappeared through the dimensional breach. The breach closed behind them, signaling the end of one chapter but the beginning of another.

Oliver turned to Lena and cupped her face in his hands. "I should be getting back to Star City myself," he said quietly. "The criminal and corrupt are probably starting to get brave without Green Arrow to harry them."

"At least now you have no excuse not to stop by any time," Lena said, wrapping her arms up around his neck.

"I'll stop by as often as I can," Oliver replied quietly. "But to fight Cadmus, I'm going to have to embrace an older version of myself. One that does exactly what I told Ray to do. Put the mission first, with everything else coming secondary." Oliver kissed Lena softly, pulling away slightly and leaning his forehead against hers. "Never doubt my love for you, even when I grow distant," he whispered.

"I won't," she whispered back.

Oliver turned his gaze to Kara. "If you ever need to talk…" he said, trailing off leadingly.

"I know who to call," Kara nodded with a ghost of her old, cheerful smile.

Oliver smiled softly in return and then headed for the exit. For this trip back to Star City, at least, he needed to go the old-fashioned way.

*DC*

Oliver entered the office of his therapist, Dr. Green, and took a seat across from her. "I'm glad you called, Oliver," Dr. Green said. "You've been facing a lot this past week and I haven't heard from you. I was getting worried that you were trying to deal with everything on your own."

"I did move in that direction," Oliver admitted. "But not for the reasons you think. Facing my old friends was easier, though perhaps that was because Speedy wasn't with them. The only one who I had a long-term relationship with was Laurel, and I was able to handle that one."

"So what is it that had you thinking of, for lack of a better term, relapsing?"

"Supergirl," Oliver replied. "Specifically, the torture she endured at the hands of Slade Wilson. I know Slade. He hides behind cool professionalism, but I have no doubt he enjoyed every minute of it. From the sounds of it, Superman has foiled more than one of his directives; torturing the 'weaker' Kryptonian probably got him excited in more ways than one."

"You know your Slade, not this Slade," Dr. Green reminded him.

"I've found that there's not a great deal of change in between universes, Dr. Green," Oliver replied. "I was a little more flamboyant on my world than this world's Oliver was. Laurel and Dinah could be twins in every way imaginable, as could Tommy and my best friend. The only thing that doesn't seem to be the same is my family being involved in some clandestine plot."

"So, what brings you here?" Dr. Green asked.

"I wanted to thank you," Oliver replied calmly. "Over the past two years, you've helped me through some truly difficult times as I prepared to launch a new crusade against criminality and corruption. You are as much responsible for the Green Arrow's victories as I am, because without your help I never would've felt ready to take on the criminal and corrupt of Star City on this new Earth." Oliver fell silent for a moment. "But all good things must inevitably come to an end. To fight Cadmus, I'm going to have to dig a little deeper and rediscover the man that survived five years in hell. Only that man can take the fight to Cadmus and win. And I can't do that, if I'm going to therapy. This will be our last session. Know that it gives me no pleasure. I've come to enjoy our sessions. But the mission comes first. Goodbye, Dr. Green." Oliver rose from his chair and was out of the room before Dr. Green could even form a response.

*DC*

Oliver found himself back at the Queen Mansion for Sunday dinner a few days later. As everyone sat down to eat, Oliver remained standing. "If I could have everyone's attention for a moment?" he asked, and the families quieted, looking up at him. "A few days ago, I made some comments that I'm sure most of you found disturbing. Spending some time helping Supergirl deal with what she experienced helped me as well. I guess I'm not completely over the torture that I've endured, and I let that cloud my judgment. I'm sorry if I frightened any of you with my talk of using my old skills to take the fight to Cadmus."

"You did worry us, and I'm relieved that you're not planning anything of the sort anymore, Oliver," Moira said, certainly looking relieved. Robert was looking relieved as well.

"So, what will you be doing?" Mia asked.

"Re-doubling my efforts to help out the poor and disenfranchised," Oliver replied, "and making sure to provide outreach to any alien residents of Star City. That's all I can do. I've arranged for Kara Danvers, Lena's friend, to take over the day-to-day operations for my National City shelter once its completed."

"That's wonderful news, I remember Miss Danvers," Rebecca said. "A very compassionate young woman."

"She is," Oliver agreed. "More than most people can possibly imagine."

*DC*

Oliver entered his lair in Star City, feeling tired. He knew he had risked a lot by telling Dr. Green his intentions to bring back his old nature; by all rights she should report him to the police. But he suspected she would keep his secret, just as she had done when he had chosen to become the Green Arrow.

Oliver sat down at the computer bank and began tweaking a search algorithm to seek out any signs of Cadmus in Star City. The battle would begin here, on his home turf. He would make it clear that Cadmus was unwelcome in Star City with extreme prejudice. A small part of him asked whether he still had it in him to do what was necessary; it had been a long time since he had killed in cold blood. He knew nothing less would send the message he needed to send to Cadmus and Lillian Luthor.

A hissing noise disrupted his concentration and he turned to face the dimensional breach that had opened up. Barry Allen walked through. "Something I can do for you, Barry?" Oliver asked.

"Oliver, I need you to come back to Earth-1 with me," Barry said quietly. Oliver turned, a look of protest already on his face, but the somber expression on Barry's face gave him pause. "Oliver… It's Thea. She's dying. We haven't told her, told anyone, about you. But if anyone deserves to be there, to be by her side… it's her brother."

Oliver swallowed as images of his little sister flashed through his mind. His last words to her had been harsh and unforgiving; he didn't want to leave it like that. Especially if she really was dying. But the very reason he didn't want to leave things like they were was also the reason that it might not be best. "The last time we spoke, I said some pretty unforgivable things, Barry," Oliver said quietly. "I don't know if she'll want to see me."

"Trust me, Oliver, if you don't talk to her out of fear of what might happen, you will regret it for the rest of your life," Barry said quietly.

Oliver closed his eyes and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed his mother's number. "Mom," he said quietly when she answered. "I'm going to be gone for a little while. I have to go back to Earth-1. It's Thea. She's dying. I can't just leave things the way they were."

"I-I understand, sweetheart," Moira said on the other end of the line. "We'll be waiting for you to come back."

"I shouldn't be long," Oliver said quietly. "I have a lot to live for here. I'll come back, no matter how long it takes me. I love you, Mom."

"I-I love you, too, Oliver," Moira half-sobbed before ending the call.

Oliver turned to face Barry. "I need to pack a few things at my apartment," he said quietly. Barry nodded and followed Oliver out of the lair. As the door closed behind them, Oliver couldn't help but think of that old saying: as one door closes, another opens…

A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed this final chapter for The Emerald Queen.

One of the reasons I decided to end the story here and not just keep going is because the second story arc is much more of an Arrow/Flash crossover with very little, if any, crossover from Supergirl/Earth-38. I don't know how long it's going to be, just that it will involve Oliver helping against H.I.V.E.

This story was originally going to be ending with Oliver rescuing Kara from Cadmus, with the actual war against Cadmus being a new story on its own. I just had to change how this story ended since I changed how Kara got free from Cadmus. This story was never going to be one that was all in one storyline. I don't write that way. I envy writers who can.