Ferris Aircraft HQ, October 17, 8:23 PM
Carol Ferris has just come off from a long day of work. She had a lot on her plate between the schematics of the Earth-Mars communications satellite, arguing with the board of directors about how to use the donation from Wayne Enterprises and trying to find a sufficient eco-friendly substitute for jet fuel. Needless to say all she wishes for is a good night's rest.
Opening the door to her office she found Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern waiting for her.
That good night's rest is going to have to wait.
She quickly closed the door behind her and she quickly hissed, "What the hell, Hal?"
"I'm sorry Carol but we wouldn't have come here if it weren't urgent." Hal said as his Green Lantern uniform disappeared revealing his civilian clothing.
"We're in need of your assistance." Wonder Woman declared.
Carol raises her hands, "My ring slinging days are over."
"The vault behind the painting over your desk says otherwise." Batman quickly replied.
Rolling her eyes she walked around her desk and gently removed the painting that concealed a vault, "I can't exactly get rid of it." She typed in the number code before it swung open revealing a Star Sapphire ring and power battery. Looking back at the heroes she asked, "What's this about?"
A video appeared on Carol's office computer. She leaned over her chair and saw a team of young heroes laying down on slabs, "Yesterday during a mental simulation one of our own, Wonder Warrior, disappeared." She saw a violet light consume the Amazon before it died out revealing that he had disappeared, "Upon further inspection we found this at the center of the light." The video zoomed in and focused on the light revealing a Star Sapphire ring.
"What kind of simulation was this?" Carol asked, noticing tears streaming down Wonder Warrior's resting face.
"A failsafe simulation." Superman answered, "Should the Justice League fall we'd need to know that the younger heroes are prepared to take up the front."
Carol is beginning to feel more and more uncomfortable with this. Wonder Woman stepped forward, "Please, Carol, we need your help to retrieve my son."
Carol sighed before she stood up straight, "It isn't as simple as that. I can't just fly to Zamaron, pick him up and come back."
"Why not?" Superman asked curiously.
"There's a process with this. Recruiting a Star Sapphire is a lot different than a Green Lantern's recruitment." She looked at the screen and at Wonder Warrior's tears, "The ring seeks out those who have a hole in their heart and know the loss of love. It fills that hole with the violet light of love; sometimes it can even alter the mind and personality of the ring bearer."
"What do you mean by alter?" Batman asked.
Carol sighed before she turned around and picked up her ring, "He'll slowly be molded into an emotional state where he'll be willing to abide by the Corps code."
"He'll be a mindless soldier." Superman muttered.
"Not exactly." Carol replied, "Think of it as skipping the phases of grief all the way to acceptance. By the end of it he'll think that the Corps is all he has left." She explained before slipping on the ring, "Tell me, what was the last thing he saw before the ring took him."
Batman answered, "Martian Manhunter explained that he thinks that the Earth has been invaded and that his friends and boyfriend are all dead."
Carol gave the Dark Knight a silent look of judgment before she replied, "You're lucky he felt despair rather than rage, you would've had another Atrocitus on your hands." She then sighed, "I can't bring him back until he's in a more stable mindset but I'll check in on him." Just then her Star Sapphire uniform appeared in a flash of violet light.
"Thank you Carol." Diana stepped forward and placed a hand on the woman's shoulder, "I don't know how to repay you."
"Don't thank me yet." Carol replied, "We have no idea how much of a bad way he's in."
Zamaron, Sector 2813
Hunter groaned before he opened his eyes. He looked up to see a starry sky. He looked at the sky for a moment before he realized he didn't recognize those stars. He shot up and looked around to find a very strange environment.
Pink crystals stood tall across the rocky terrain. Far into the horizon he saw a large violet lantern standing tall above everything else. He stood up and took to the sky and scanned the area. It looked like nothing he's ever seen before.
Looking at the giant lantern in the distance he began to feel something pull him towards it. Something in his heart is telling him to go there. A violet aura engulfed him before he flew towards the lantern. As he drew closer he began to see floating figures silhouetted in the light.
They weren't human, he noticed. They were tall and thin with blue skin and shining black eyes. There were others with them of varying alien species. They were all obviously female and most shared a uniform with an eight pointed star.
"Hault!"
Suddenly chains made of violet light ensnared him from behind. He looked over his shoulder to see a woman who appeared to look human with dark skin. She looked ready to end him right then and there but she looked over his shoulder for confirmation.
"Wait Fatality." He looked up to see one of the blue aliens approaching. From her attire he could only assume that she was their leader. She reached down and took his right hand into her own and declared, "He is one of us, he is a Star Sapphire!"
"A male has never been worthy of a ring before." One of the blue aliens said, astonished.
"It's never been done before." Another said.
"Yes, a man has never been worthy of the ring." Their leader spoke as the chains released him, "Until today."
"Where am I?" He asked, looking at the leader.
"I am Aga'po, Queen of the Star Sapphires and this is our home planet, Zamaron." She gestured to the land around them.
"Star Sapphires?" He wondered aloud.
"We harness the violet light to defend love and fight against fear and hate across the universe." She explained as more and more Star Sapphires gathered around them, "Come we will show you our purpose."
The queen and her guard flew away with Hunter close behind. As they flew the Amazon took a good look at the terrain below. There were buildings carved into the rocky cliffs and there were hundreds of Star Sapphires going about their day to day duties.
"Of all the emotions in the spectrum, love is the most fluid." Aga'po explained, "Love for a lover, family, friends, and even love of a concept or an ideology. No matter the type of love we defend it all from every corner of the Universe."
"How could you possibly scout such distances?" He asked looking up at the stars above.
"We send out rings to every corner of the Universe looking for those worthy of wielding them." She explained, "Our goal is to have at least one Star Sapphire in each sector of the universe, tell me which planet do you hail from?"
"Earth." He replied.
"Sector 2341." Fatality replied, "Where John Stewart hails from."
"As well as Carol Ferris and Hal Jordan." Another said.
Hunter's face was downcast before he said, "I am sorry, there was an invasion on Earth and our Green Lanterns were killed."
They slowed to a stop to see tears streaming down the boy's face. Queen Aga'po approached the boy and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, "I am deeply sorry for the fate of your home."
He looked up to look into her glossy black eyes, "How can I defend love across the universe when I couldn't even save my loved ones?"
Aga'po places her hand over his heart, "This pain, do you wish it upon anyone else?" Hunter could only shake his head, "Our mission is to prevent this pain from occurring all across the universe."
"How can I help when I've already failed? What else can I do?" He asked desperately, his voice cracking.
"What we all do." Aga'po replied, "Follow your heart."
Mount Justice, 9:30 PM
The two days after the simulation were tense to say the least. The League explained to them what went wrong with the simulation. Seeing Aqualad die triggered M'gann's subconscious, causing the whole team to forget that the simulation wasn't real. Martian Manhunter went in after them but he lost himself on the way in. After Conner was shot down Hunter's divine power began to leak out despite his bracelets being on his wrists. Even after Miss Martian died the simulation continued with Hunter. His disappearance freed the others from the simulation leaving them in bewilderment.
M'gann felt guilty for what happened, when Kaldur died her own psychic abilities made everyone believe the simulation was real. Kaldur felt the blame was his to bear, if he was quicker then perhaps M'gann wouldn't have lost control. Wally acted as if nothing was wrong, Robin was unsettlingly quiet, and Artemis avoided everyone whenever she could. Conner had it worse than the others, he would snap at anyone who dared to talk to him and he would accidentally break furniture out of pure frustration.
Their thoughts weren't only haunted by the simulation but by a question they all asked at least once.
"Where's Hunter?" Conner demanded as he spotted Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern.
"Calm down." Batman replied as the rest of the team arrived in the mission room, "We have news."
"Wonder Warrior is alive and well." Green Lantern declared as relief engulfed the team. A holoscreen appeared above everyone and showed a picture of Hunter's unconscious body, "But during the simulation he believed that you all were dead. The despair he was feeling attracted a Star Sapphire power ring."
The team watched as the photo focused on a small ring, "The ring took him to Zamaron, homeworld of the Star Sapphires." Superman added, "It may very well be possible that Hunter still believes that the simulation was real."
"So he's somewhere in space thinking that we died and the Earth was invaded?" Wally asked, stepping forward, "Why don't we fly up and show him that we're all alive?"
"It's not as simple as that." Batman replied.
"Why not?" Conner demanded.
"There are seven aspects to the emotional spectrum. Green for willpower, blue for hope, red for rage, yellow for fear, indigo for compassion, orange for avarice and violet for love." Green Lantern explained, "Among them is a center. The emotions closest to the center such as willpower allows the user to control the energy of that emotion but the further they are the more the energy has control over the user. Love is the furthest from the center and the Star Sapphires harness the violet light of love."
"So this thing is controlling him?" Artemis asked, astonished, "Let's just rip this thing from his finger!"
"It's not as simple as that." Wonder Woman replied, "The ring took Hunter because he accepted it which means he's the only one who can remove it. It took hold of his heart and is keeping him from seeing the truth of the simulation."
"Took hold of his heart?" M'gann asked, concerned.
"He thinks we're all dead, his friends, family, boyfriend and not to mention the entire human race." Green Lantern replied, "That place he held all of those things in his heart are gone, leaving an empty void in it. The ring offers to fill that void with love."
"When will he come back?" Conner suddenly asked, "When will he figure out the truth?"
"We've sent someone to ease him towards the truth." Batman answered, "This is a delicate situation. Should anything go wrong, Wonder Warrior's very personality may be altered forever."
Conner blinked in shock. The idea of Hunter changing even in the slightest horrified him. He was kind, compassionate and understanding. He's what Conner thinks perfection is.
"All we can do is wait." Kaldur said before Conner spun around and stomped away.
"Whatever." He snapped before leaving the room.
Queen Aga'po left Hunter in Fatality's hands to begin his training. The queen explained to him about the training, studies and initiations he must go through before he can officially become a Star Sapphire. Fatality is their most militant member as she was once a member of the Sinestro Corps.
He studied and learned about the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum, their different aspects and the lights that represent them. He learned of the other Lantern Corps and the emotions they wield. The Corps they actively fight against are the red and yellow ring bearers as they wield rage and fear. They have a mutual agreement with the Green and Blue Lanterns, they don't actively seek out conflict with them but defend themselves if need be. They have yet to establish a solid relationship with the Indigo Tribe as they have yet to have any sort of agreement or conflict with them. The one orange wielder, Larfleeze, is a non-threat to them, not only are they immune to the orange light of avarice but he keeps to himself in his own sector of space.
Fatality taught him how to properly wield his ring. She explained how the only limits to his ring's abilities are the ones he places on it. Imagination is his greatest weapon in regards to creating constructs. She also explained to him the more subtle abilities of his ring such as regeneration, light refraction, phasing, scanning and a universal translator. The Star Sapphire ring also has abilities that are unique to it such as crystallization, where the wielder can encase something in a crystal and force them into a sort of hibernation, and love attunement, this allows a Star Sapphire to sense when love is in jeopardy.
Currently he's holding a sword construct in his right hand and a shield construct in his left. Fatality had her own constructs as well. At least two dozen spears floated around her all pointed at him. With a twitch of her finger every spear flew towards him.
He jumped and took to the sky and maneuvered and dodged the spears as best as he could. He deflected them with his sword and blocked them with his shield. Flew in an arch turning his attention to Fatality. The Star Sapphire remained still as he flew down towards her. His constructs disappeared before a warhammer appeared in his hands..
Raising his hammer moved to swing down at her before a large bazooka-like weapon appeared over her shoulder. She turned towards him before firing a large laser. He only had time to make a basic spherical shield but the force of the blast sent him flying back into a crystal pillar causing the field to break. He fell over a hundred feet to the floor below and landed with a grunt.
Hunter grumbled in frustration as he stood up, "Again." He declared before he raised his ring and created four missiles.
"Wonder Warrior?"
Looking up, Hunterr paused as he saw the Star Sapphire of Earth approach She landed beside him and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"He's our newest recruit." Fatality replied approaching the pair, "I must say it is a surprise to see you alive Carol after what we heard happened to you planet."
Carol gave Hunter a lingering look, taking in his defeated appearance, "I was patrolling my sector when it happened. When I returned it was too late.".
Fatality gave her a suspicious look before she looked at Hunter, "Let's continue, we've still got a week to prepare you for the final initiation."
"Right." He nodded.
"I'll help." Carol offered, "We'll be sharing a sector, it only makes sense."
"I suppose." She turned, "Hunter, go create a construct, the biggest thing you could think of."
"Ok." He flew a few feet away from the two before he raised his ring.
"What are you up to?" Fatality whispered as she watched Hunter create a blob of violet light.
"I'll explain everything after the final initiation." Carol replied, "Wow."
The two Star Sapphires looked up to see a ten-headed serpent staring down at them. The creature stood at six hundred feet tall.
"It's a hydra." said Hunter slightly out of breath, "It's the biggest creature I've ever faced."
"Impressive." Fatality approached the construct, "Let us see how powerful your construct is shall we Carol?"
Carol looked down at her ring before she replied, "With pleasure."
Mount Justice, October 23, 5:21 P.M.
Red Tornado, Captain Marvel and Martian Manhunter watched the team through a trinity of screens. They hung around the living room and kitchen completely silent. M'gann absentmindedly stirred the contents in a bowl while the others sat or stood around silently. It was painfully obvious that they were still in shock. They're still in shock over what happened.
RECOGNIZED
BATMAN 02
With a bright flash Batman entered the cave. He approached his fellow League members and asked, "How are they?"
"I am still shaken by what you and I wrought." Manhunter nearly snapped, "One can only imagine how these youths fare."
"I know our virtual simulation went badly but I hope the team would've rallied by now." Batman replied.
Manhuntet and Captain Marvel gave the Dark Knight skeptical looks, "Trauma tends to linger as I know you know my friend."
"Black Canary?" Batman asked.
"She has her work cut out for her." The Martian replied.
"What about Hunter?" Captain Marvel suddenly asked, "From what Star Sapphire told us he still thinks the simulation was real. What happens when he learns the truth?"
"Black Canary will work with Wonder Warrior when he returns." Batman replied, "But for now we have to trust Star Sapphire to look after him."
"And Wonder Woman?" Red Tornado asked, "I can't imagine she is taking this well."
"She decided that she needed to return to Themyscira for a few days." He replied, "It's hard to lose a family member even temporarily."
"Superman has suggested for Conner to live at the farm after everything has settled down." J'onn replied much to Batman's surprise, "He believes that Conner may need a safe space away from everything should he wish it."
"I can only imagine that conversation." Batman replied.
The week of training is up and Hunter's performance was described as 'passable' by Fatality. This meant he was ready for the final step into becoming a proper Star Sapphire. Now he is being escorted to the central power battery by Fatality and Carol. Hunter felt apprehensive about the final test, was he truly ready?
"Hunter Trevor-Prince of Earth." Queen Aga'po greeted him as they arrived, "You've passed all but one of your tests. Are you prepared to take the final step?" She raised her hand and gestured towards the power battery.
"Yes." He nodded.
"Step into the light, reach between the great lovers, Khufu and Chay-ara, and grasp the Star Sapphire gem." She instructed as he drifted into the central power battery, "Feel their eternal love course through your body."
Entering the light he didn't squint or flinch. Going further inside he saw two silhouettes. He saw the remains of Khufu and Chay-ara, said to have had the purest love the universe had ever seen. Between them was a gem, the Star Sapphire gem. Reaching out his hand hovered over the gem for a fleeting moment before he grasped it.
In a flash he felt pure, passionate and eternal love. Images flashed through his mind, it was like he relived his own life. He saw his mother and father, his grandmother, Themyscira and the Amazons. Those images were soon replaced with Mount Justice and the team, Rex and Conner. Soon it was only him and Conner, alone, happy and in love.
Releasing the gem he pulled away from the battery. It was when he reunited with the others that he realized that he was crying, tears of joy, "It was beautiful. More beautiful than anything I've ever seen." He wiped his eyes, "I saw them, all of them, my family and friends and most of all Conner. They are a part of me, it's as if they've never died."
"Yes, Hunter, your heart no longer has a hole in it." Aga'po declared, "Now it is full of the love you and the love you will create. Now that you've touched the Pure Heart you are now officially one of us. Your duty is not just to spread love but to save love." The queen placed her hand over Hunter's heart, "This will always tell you where you are needed. From the brightest star to the blackest hole, love awaits to be ignited. Only love can burn the hate, fear and sorrow away. Your time on Zamaron is over, Hunter, you are ready."
Placing his hand over his heart Hunter declared, "I swear on my heart, wherever true love is being attacked I will defend it to my dying breath, Queen Aga'po." He looked up at the stars before he flew, "Only love can save the universe."
Carol watched as Hunter faded into a distant violet light. She looked down at the queen before she let out a sigh, "Queen Aga'po, I'm afraid I have something to tell you."
"Star Sapphire Hunter."
Hunter needed to get used to the ring talking to him.
"Gordanians are placing eternal love in jeopardy." The ring created a map of where the love is being attacked, "The heart is being attacked in Sector 2828."
"Take me to it." He ordered as violet light radiated from his body.
A tether sprouted from his chest before it formed an eight pointed star at the end.
"Two hearts attuned."
Hunter was suddenly pulled forward towards their target.
"Tether connected."
He flew, he flew faster than he's ever flown before. Stars, planets, asteroids, comets, quasars, and nebulae, he flew past them all so fast they almost appeared as blurs. He made a vow to protect love no matter where it is and he will keep it. Eventually he began to slow down and spotted a ship in the distance. The ship was shaped like any other place he's seen but it also appeared alien in a way he hasn't seen before.
"Tether targeted." The ring informed just as he slammed through the hull of the ship.
Hunter stopped his flight just in time to find the heart he was tethered to. He looked around and found a girl trapped in a glass container. There was only a single Psion scientist in the room whom he quickly blasted away. The girl watched him steadily and he returned the gaze and observed her. She was nearly as tall as his mother had been, her skin was a bright orange and her hair was a waterfall of auburn but what caught his attention was her striking emerald eyes.
"I'm going to get you out of here." He declared before he broke the glass tube she was in. He easily broke her out of her restraints and stepped back so she could come out"Are you alright?"
"Yes, but my brother." She gasped, "They must have him in this ship, she said so." Her hair was suddenly alight in fife before she flew away.
"Who said so?" He asked as he flew after her.
"My sister, she staged a coup and sided with the tyrants of the Citadel." She spat out, "I was being held for execution as well as my brother but they kept us separated."
"Who are you?" He asked before she blasted down a door with a beam of green energy.
"My name is Koriand'r, princess of Tamaran." She answered before she landed on the metal floor.
"I'm Hunter Trevor-Prince, pri - of the Star Sapphire Corps." He replied as they entered a different holding room where another orange skinned person was contained in another glass prison.
"Ryand'r!" Koriand'r exclaimed before a purple beam of energy fired at them.
Hunter quickly shielded Koriand'r and raised his bracelets, blocking the purple blast. He looked up to see a third Tamaranean. She looked similar to Koriand'r but notably older, her hair was sleek and black and she had a murderous look in her emerald eyes.
"Komand'r." Koriand'r glared, "Free our brother at once!"
"Now why would I do that?" She asked raising her hand to the unconscious boy, "He, like you, is a threat to my claim on the throne. I would be a fool to let either of you live." Purple energy began to radiate from her hand.
"Wait!" Koriand'r exclaimed, "Please, sister! Send us into exile, we will never return to challenge your claim." She pleaded as Komand'r only laughed.
"So weak." She sneered, "That is why I am the rightful heir, a weakling like you could never lead Tamaran."
"Pleading for a loved one's life is not weakness!" Hunter suddenly exclaimed, "You're the worst kind of scum. You betrayed your own people, your own family and now you even threaten the life of your own brother all for the sake of a throne! Someone like you isn't fit to rule a tool shed let alone a planet!"
"You have no say in this outsider!" The energy in Komand'r's hand intensified, "As for you Koriand'r, what kind of a fool would I be to allow you two to roam free? All threats of my claim will be ripped out, root and stem!" She turned to face her brother and let out a malicious chuckle, "Goodbye brother."
"No!"
In a burst of speed Koriand'r tackled her sister down causing her to miss their brother but her blast then destroyed the hull of the ship. The vacuum of space then began to suck everything through the hole in the ship. Komand'r kicked Koriand'r off of her before she stood up. Hunter went to fire at her but she flew up through the hole in the ship.
"Koriand'r!" Hunter rushed to her side as she got to her feet.
"My brother!" She exclaimed as the hull of the ship began to rip apart.
Suddenly an explosion erupted from beneath their feet. Hunter grabbed Koriand'r and pulled her back before the ship ripped in two. He created a protective force field around them. He groaned as they flew through the vacuum of space towards a yellow sun. He closed his eyes and exclaimed, "Ring, take us somewhere safe!"
The ring responded the best way it could.
"Two hearts attuned."
A new tether formed from Hunter's heart before the two were launched into the void of space. Koriand'r watched in awe as they passed numerous astronomical bodies and objects. She never knew someone could travel so fast before. Eventually they closed in on a green and blue world, like none she's ever seen before.
They entered the atmosphere in the night side of the planet. Koriand'r looked to Hunter who appeared confused. They descended in silence before they landed in a grassy clearing behind a mountain. Hunter looked around utterly confused.
"But this can't be right." He muttered, "This should be - "
A metallic groaning caught their attention. A hidden ramp lowered before a group of people ran out. Hunter gasped at the sight of his teammates. Before he could react Wally zoomed across the clearing and engulfed him in a hug.
"Dude!" He cried out, "Thank God you're ok."
"Wally?" He muttered before the others finally caught up to the speedster. Hunter remained stunned as the rest of the team pulled him into a tight embrace. He blinked before he broke away from them and took a step back? "I saw you all die, how - what?" He began to pant from the confusion.
"You still don't know?" Robin asked.
"Know what?" He demanded as Batman and Martian Manhunter approached them.
"There is much we must clarify." J'onn stated.
"Hunter?"
Hunter gaspsd before looked passes the team and the League members. Conner stood at the entrance of the cave with Rex and Sphere at his side. Tears began to well up in his eyes before he gently pushed passed the team. He walked towards Conner like a man possessed, as if nothing else existed.
Conner couldn't wait any longer before he ran across the field and met him halfway. He swooped Hunter up in a tight embrace, lifting him off his feet. Hunter returned the embrace with just as much vigor. They didn't let go for a long while before they eventually pulled but with their arms still around each other.
"Is this real?" Hunter asked desperately as he gripped on Conner's shoulders as if he was afraid he'd disappear.
Conner tightened his grip on Hunter's back for the same reason, "It is, we're here."
A wide grin spread across Hunter's lips before he pulled Conner into a feirce kiss. The kiss was like none they've ever had before. The last kiss they had was when they thought they were headed for certain death. Now they wanted show the other how alive they are.
Their lips moved together like a dance, their tongues wrestling back and forth. Conner's hands drafted down to his hips and pulled Hunter impossibly closer. The prince's hands drifted down Conner's torso, caressing the hard muscle beneath the black fabric. Reach the hem of his shirt he began to pull the shirt up, revealing Conner's chiseled stomach.
Conner suddenly yelped before he pulled back, "Babe wait - " He couldn't continue as Hunter slammed their lips back together, "The others - " He said between kisses.
"Who cares?" Hunter replied uncaring as he played his hands over the skin of Conner's torso. A violet aura began to radiate from Hunter's body, "I want you, now." He closed his lips over Conner's neck and the clone could only groan at the pleasing sensation.
He cleared his throat as the others began to look away from the display, "I get it but the others."
Hunter pulled away from Conner's neck and snapped, "Who cares about the others?!"
Conner froze as he saw the violet light in Hunter's eyes. Looking down he saw the ring on the prince's right hand glow. He gently took Hunter's hands into his own. Hunter began to huff his breath as if he was ready to fight, "We could do this anytime but the others missed you to." He said carefully before Hunter turned his head to face the others.
In the blink of an eye Hunter's Star Sapphire uniform flashed away. The Amazon gasped and turned back to see Conner holding his ring. Before he could do anything it all began to weigh in on him. The sorrow, pain, rage, and loneliness he felt began return like a flood.
He couldn't take it all at once so he fell to his knees and Conner quickly caught him, "What's happening?" His voice cracked as he buried his face in Conner's chest.
"It's ok, we'll explain everything." Conner promised.
"So your friend?" Wally asked pointing at Koriand'r, "What's up with her?"
Koriand'r saw that the Star Sapphire was out of commission. She looked around at the group before she grabbed the nearest of them, the boy with black hair and locked lips with him. The people all stood in shock before she pulled away.
"Hello, my name is Koriand'r, princess of Tamaran." She introduced, "Although in your language I suppose it could be translated to Starfire."
"Well. . .Starfire may I ask as to why you just kissed our friend?" Artemis asked.
"Oh yes, my race can learn any language from lip contact." She explained.
"Useful." Robin smirked.
Wally then added, "I know some French if you wanna try again."
"Now is not the time." Kaldur said gently.
The team all looked back to see Hunter still crying against Conner's chest.
Mount Justice, October 24, 12:34 P.M.
Many things have happened in the last twenty four hours. Batman and Martian Manhunter explained to him about the nature of the simulation test. His mother came to the cave directly from Themyscira as soon as she heard of his returned, it was another teary reunion.
The Green Lanterns of Earth promised that they would send their colleagues of Sector 2828 to keep a look out for her brother. In the meantime the team took her in as protection from her sister, Blackfire. Robin eagerly explained to her about the Justice League and their team. She commended the admirability of their cause.
Conner told him of his little adventure with a group called the Forever People of New Genesis. Apparently Sphere was a sentient machine from New Genesis. She taken from their planet but they didn't know how it ended up in Bialya. He absolutely gushed about her transformation into the Superbike as Wally called it.
Now, Hunter sat across from Black Canary, "I overreacted." He scoffed, "Just like when I faced Ares on Themyscira or when I was succumbed to those hallucinations and killed - " He couldn't finished the sentence and buried his face in his hands.
"Hunter, you know that no one blames you for what happened." Black Canary states carefully, "You were drugged."
"But I blame myself." He sniffled, "Three times I lost control of my emotions and each time catastrophe follows. I'm supposed to have disciplined my emotions, I'm an Amazon of Themyscira and I let anger cloud my judgment."
"Hunter, you saw each one of your friends die. You took the reins and lead your team to the beast of your ability." The hero replied, "You're young and many people who are older and more experienced than you would've lost hope long before you did."
"But I wanted to, I wanted to fall to my knees and cry till my eyes burned." He admitted, "The only reason I kept going was because of my team. They were my strength but when they died one after the other I allowed my rage and pain to fuel me. In those final moments, I didn't care about justice or peace. I wanted to slaughter them all, pay them back for all the lives they've destroyed." Black Canary gave him a look of shock, "The moment I gave in to hatred, the moment I wanted to show no mercy is when I became no better than Ares. I only realized that after Conner took the ring off of me." He took the ring out of his pocket and looked down at it, "How can I call myself a hero, a Star Sapphire or an Amazon when I gave into the darkest parts of myself?"
"Hunter. Whether you're a hero, Star Sapphire, or an Amazon you're still human." Black Canary said, "You can't put so much on your shoulders or else you'll collapse under it all. You can't always think of yourself as a hero, a Star Sapphire or even an Amazon."
"Then what can I think do myself as?" He looked up at her almost desperately.
"As yourself." She answered, "You need to focus on yourself outside of the armor, away from the sword and without the ring. Pull that all away and you're only human. And like any human you had a moment of weakness but those moments don't define you, how you get back up and make up for those moments do."
Hunter could only ask, "How can I make up for it?"
"Look inside yourself and decide what the answer to that question is." She replied.
After the therapy session Hunter asked to be alone. He laid alone in his room and began to think hard on Black Canary's advice. What is he without his armor, ring and titles?
A gentle knock on the door caught his attention. Sitting up he cleared his throat, "Come in."
The door slid open revealing his mother, "Carol returned from Zamaron some moments ago." She entered the room holding a violet lantern, "You left so quickly you forgot your power battery."
Hunter took the power battery in hand before he placed it on his lap, "Thank you." He said softly as he looked into the violet light.
"What's wrong?" Diana wrapped her arm over his shoulders and pulled him closely, "You know you can talk to me about anything."
He shrugged, "My session with Black Canary got me thinking." He sighed, "Who am I if not a hero, a prince or warrior? It's all I've ever known."
Diana took his hand into her own, "You're my son, strip the titles, weapons and armor all away your are still my son as well as your father's. You're also a great friend, there's denying that the way your team anxiously awaited your return. Above all of that you're a good person, you've done good in and out of your armor."
"Like what?" He wondered.
"For starters you helped M'gann adapt to life here on earth, not to mention you aided Conner into seeing himself as more than a weapon." She replied, "You're more than your powers and your weapons. In these past months I've seen you affect the people around in a way I've never seen. You push your team into wanting to be better as they do you. I can see that you've all have become more than a simple team and I know that it'll only grow stronger."
"I gave into my anger more than once before - "
"As did Superboy or don't you remember?" Diana quickly asked, "From what the mission report says I believe you had a hand in his growth on that front."
"More like a slap rather than a hand." He replied, "But what if I lose control again?"
"Do you trust your team?" He nodded, "Sometimed when we doubt ourselves we need others to remind us of what we are capable of. And trust them to rein us in when we go to far. In the end it's our loved ones who we can trust to watch over us."
He nodded before looking down at the lantern, "I know what I have to do." He stood up with the power battery and walked away leaving his mother with a proud smile.
He walked down the corridors of the cave before he reached his destination, the trophy room. Wally stashed all of the souvenirs from their missions here. Entering the room he looked at them all before he found and empty space, "Here." He placed the power battery on the shelf, "I need time to step back and focus on myself." He took the ring from his pocket and placed it next to the battery, "I need to understand myself and my abilities more before I can bare the burdens and privileges of this gift."
"Hey." Conner entered the room, "You're not going to use it?"
"No, it took control of me because I was weak." He replied as Conner dropped his chin onto his shoulder, "Next time I bear the ring I want to be the one in control."
"I get it." Conner sighed, "I was worried about you while you were up there. I didn't know whether you were dead or alive."
"I'm sorry for worrying you." He turned around to face Conner. He took a deep breath as he looked up at Conner's steel blue eyes, "I know we didn't say it during the simulation and when I thought thay you died all I could think about was how much I regretted - "
"I love you too." Conner cut him off leaving Hunter in stunned silence, "I've known that I've loved you for a long time, longer than even before I realized. I thought I lost you, that I'd never see you again and that terrified me more than I thought it could."
"Conner. . ." Hunter sighed as Conner took his hands into his larger ones.
"I know with what we do we can't guarantee anything but I want you to know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you." His gaze never left Hunter's eyes, "As long as you want me around, I'll stay."
Joyful tears began to well up in Hunter's eyes but he quickly blinked them away before he replied, "Then I guess you'll be staying forever." He then pulled Conner in for a tender kiss.