Mythical
Chapter 1
Reunion
Author's note: This story starts after episode 16 of season 6 of Arrow and explains some plot holes in previous seasons. So forget what you've watched after, enjoy what this is now and enjoy the adventure!
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The Labyrinth, Thanatos Guild secret compound, Hindu Kush Mountains, early spring 2018
Athena changed the bandage on the wound Thea Queen had given her. The pain was still there, but she was definitely on the mend. She took a sip of her healing herbs and sighed as she remembered the events of the past several years. Nyssa Al Ghul, always sticking her nose where it didn't belong. And Al Saher's daughter... Such a disappointment. But the person she felt most angry with was herself. How could she allow all this to happen?
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After they'd resurrected Sara Lance and Nyssa had destroyed the Lazarus Pit, Malcolm started to suspect she might have allies within the League and secretly gathering more. He was well aware that his sudden elevation from Enemy of the League to its leader didn't go over well with many warriors. Despite the fact that Nyssa was now imprisoned for her deed, her influence remained palpable. Malcolm formed a secret organization of his own, taking in only those he trusted completely. He called it the Thanatos Guild. It's chief members were Athena, Tigressa and Malcolm's most trusted warriors, some of whom he'd brought with him when he took over as Resh: Emily Carson - his Beloved and co-ruler, her friend Sabrina Snow, a mercenary and Malcolm's first Lieutenant. There were also people from outside the League, allies Malcolm had acquired over the years. They would meet in secret in a forgotten compound near Nanda Parbat Malcolm had discovered when he first became a member of the League, which, due to the yet unconfirmed number of its twisting corridors, Malcolm decided to call the Labyrinth. Their main goal was to discover other Pits, which, according to ancient League lore, were scattered all over the globe. Their other goals were to weed out Nyssa's allies and to find a way to repair the damaged Pit in Nanda Parbat and enhance it.
Soon, other problems started to appear. Malcolm could not let go of his former life - he kept returning to Star City, trying to mend his relationship with his estranged daughter, helping Oliver Queen fight his battles. Athena confronted him about this repeatedly, at one point she even accused him of neglecting the League's interests, risking his life for a man that despised him and a girl that disowned him as a father. They argued, but Malcolm never punished her for her outbursts, knowing she was doing this out of loyalty.
Then the unimaginable happened. After Malcolm was maimed and dethroned as Resh Al Ghul by Oliver Queen and Nyssa disbanded the League, the Guild escaped to the Labirynth, but Al Saher was still blinded by his love for Thea, which diverted his focus from the Guild's goals. The research had dragged on for months at a snail's pace, with Malcolm disappearing for weeks on end to cooperate with Oliver Queen's greatest enemy, Damien Dark. His lust for vengeance and his obsession about Thea completely clouded his judgment. Then, he decided to turn against Dahrk and helped Oliver defeat him, but still was scorned for his effort and rejected.
He disappeared completely, along with Emily, returning a few weeks later to continue the research, but he was even more of a shadow of himself than before, still hell-bent on making Thea forgive him. When they received news she had been kidnapped by another one of Oliver's enemies, Malcolm rushed to help them without a moment's hesitation, taking Emily and his closest allies with him.
And he was killed, leaving them abandoned with a broken empire, shattered dreams and no idea what to do next. The rest of the team's status was MIA, possibly KIA, or even worse: traitors. Athena was loath to assume the worst, but her training had taught her just that, so she reluctantly put out the order to capture them and bring them back to explain themselves.
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Athena was pulled out of her reverie by a knock on the door.
"We've managed to apprehend Emily Carson," one of the guards said.
"Bring her in," Athena ordered.
"Hera," Athena said as the woman was dragged in, then dropped to the floor.
"You know I never fully accepted this nickname. I do not share your affinity for Greek mythology. Always preferred the Romans. And I don't appreciate being put in chains."
Emily made a sudden movement and shattered her shackles as if they were mere plastic instead of steel, then rose to her feet. "You forget your place, Athena. I am Al Saher's consort and the rightful ruler of the Guild."
Athena whipped out her sword and put the tip to Emily's neck.
"Stop the playacting, Athena," Emily spat, clearly unafraid. "I was there when Malcolm perished, forced to listen to the final words of the love of my life on commlinks, too far to get to him in time before he had to sacrifice himself for that ungrateful, irresponsible brat of his on Lian Yu. While you were where? Here, in exile, 'holding down the fort', cowering next to the remnants of what Nyssa Al Ghul had laid to waste when she disbanded the League!"
Emily reached out and grabbed the blade, squeezing it until it drew blood, showing no signs of pain. "So are we to go on with this grandstanding charade, or continue our conversation, like the friends we have been for years?" She asked in a calmer tone.
Athena sheathed her sword. She gestured for Emily to sit with her at the table. The servants poured them goblets of wine. Athena ordered one of them to bring some bandages for Emily's wound. They obliged within seconds.
"If we'd been such good friends, Her- Emily, then why did you and Al Saher repeatedly shut me out for years and refused to listen to my advice about Oliver Queen and his sister?" Athena demanded. "Look at how it ended!" she added in a wistful tone.
"I know," Emily said in a low voice. "But you know just as well as I do that wild horses wouldn't stop Malcolm from coming to their rescue, no matter how much they berated and humiliated him. All I could do was be there for him and try to protect him as best I could, even from himself. And on that wretched Island, I failed." Emily stared into her goblet with a haunted gaze.
"It's been months now, Emily. Where were you all this time?" Athena asked. "Grieving?"
"Yes. For a while I was completely paralyzed. My entire world was shattered. There were moments when I seriously considered ending myself," Emily admitted as she let the servant dress her wound.
"You should have come back here," Athena said. "I was grieving too."
Emily shook her head. "No, I couldn't come back. As you know, there are several stages of grief: denial, bargaining, depression, anger and acceptance. When I reached anger, the paralysis was finally gone and I decided I would NEVER reach the final stage, because I DO NOT and WILL NOT accept Malcolm being gone."
"So what did you do?"
Emily took a small sip of her wine. "A little bit of observing, for a start," she replied with a dark smile.
"Observing, as in spying, infiltrating?" You've always been particularly skilled at this," Athena complimented her.
"Yes, among other things... I did what needed to be done."
Emily started to elaborate. "I went undercover, spying on the Green Arrow and his precious sister. And it was horrid, Athena. I mean, Thea was slightly mopey about Al Saher's sacrifice for maybe a second, then moved on as if nothing had ever happened. Her brother was no better, and it really sickens me.
"I saw Thea become a hypocrite, which I think she's always been anyway, only now she is honing her skills, apparently.
"I saw Oliver try to be a mayor and fail abominably in the face of the many threats to the city he always so adamantly claimed he wants to protect.
"And this new team of recruits he's gathered? Don't even get me started on that!"
Emily huffed and took a sip of her wine.
"Still the same passionate Emily Carson," Athena smiled. "I'm glad to have you back, friend."
"I'm glad to be back."
"For a while there, I even suspected you were a traitor, Athena admitted.
Emily's blue eyes turned to steel, but it couldn't hide the hurt she felt at the accusation. She put her goblet on the table with a bang and stood up, towering over the other woman.
"How could you even entertain such a thought?! I would give my very life for Malcolm, right this instant, no questions asked. Athena, if you believe that I would ever turn against him then you don't know me at all! So go ahead and cut me open, bleed me dry. I'd rather die a thousand deaths than be accused of such nonsense!"
"Hera, Emily, Ems, calm down," Athena said, putting an arm on her friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry. The news of Al Saher's death clouded my judgement for a very long time. I couldn't think clearly and.. my grief, my anger, my... despair had me grasping at straws, no matter how ridiculous they seemed. Please forgive me, Hera, I was foolish."
Emily looked at her and sat back in her chair. "I know what you must have been feeling, Athena," she said in a calmer tone. I'd probably have reacted the same way, had I been in your place. It took me a while to regain even a modicum of reason after I returned from Lian Yu. Let's put this... misunderstanding behind us and focus on what could really turn the tide our way."
Athena nodded in agreement.
"So, about your observations," Athena started. "Thea Queen seems hell-bent on defying Al Saher's legacy."
"She seems hellbent on obliterating his legacy," Emily corrected. "However, it's more than that," she took a gulp of her wine. "I witnessed Malcolm rescuing her time and time again, but all she was and is doing is thwarting his plans, because she's too stupid to understand the greater purpose. Now, she and Nyssa are on a quest to destroy the remaining Lazarus Pits, and the Lazarus Pit is what brought her back to life! Bloodlust or whatnot, our Thanatos Guild was always meant to bring LIFE back, in a healthy form, not an evil one they think it is. We need to make them understand it! We were working on it with Malcolm, on methods to improve the Pits, make the resurrection process safe. Then stupid Nyssa came along."
Athena lowered her head in shame. "It is my fault she and Thea have the map to the Pits' location now. I was not vigilant enough and some of her spies found out about the Guild's existence. I went after the map Al Saher had made, but I was not strong enough to fight Nyssa and and her allies and they out-manouvered me. I'm pathetic."
Emily touched her arm gently. "You are not pathetic. And the game is not lost, Athena."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"We fight on, despite all odds, just as Malcolm always taught us."
Athena rose from her chair and put and object on the table. It was a silver pendant in the shape of a bow - the symbol of the leader of the Thanatos Guild.
"It is yours, Emily. "With Malcolm gone, you are the leader now."
"Only until he returns," Emily smiled as she put the pendant on.
"What?" Athena exclaimed.
"Let's say I have a few aces up my sleeve."
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Author's note: Cliffhanger, people, always love those, right? Chapter inspired by the episode 16, I have not yet watched the others. I like the character of Athena and hate the way Thea is going about Malcolm's legacy. My other stories are still very much in the works.
I would appreciate your opinion on this!