Young Justice: Rise of the Black Knight
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Chapter 2: Danny Street USA
Aegon soon reached a sizable sept where he found a line-up of people waiting to enter the building. Joining the line, Aegon did his best not to turn his nose up at the sight of some of the shabby looking people. On some level he sympathised with the less than fortunate; growing up in Essos, he had seen the disparity between the wealthy and the poor. Lord Jon didn't think much of the poor and those who worked the field; he wasn't completely heartless, but he was a lord albeit one who had fallen on hard times and had fled to Essos in hiding.
Although Aegon knew that his status as prince put him above the common people, he did feel sympathy for the poor and needy.
As the line slowly moved, Aegon was soon served. A cheerful looking young woman holding a small ledger and a stylus smiled at him kindly. "Hello and welcome to the Gotham Shelter. Your name, please?"
"Ae… Griff," Aegon said after a moment of hesitation.
"Griff. Last name?" the young woman prompted.
Thinking quickly, Aegon said the first word that came to his mind. "Connington," he blurted out. He wasn't overly sure Lord Jon would be pleased that he was his House's name over his own, but Aegon didn't want to draw attention to himself any more than he already had.
"Griff Connington," the young woman said slowly writing the name down on her ledger. "Come this way, please. Dinner will be served soon," she told Aegon with a bright smile.
"Umm, thank you, my lady," Aegon said with a friendly smile feeling his mood brighten at the mention of food.
Entering the sept, Aegon soon rows of cots were laid with various, young and elderly, including some families and many of them looked like they had fallen on hard times. Sighing softly to himself, Aegon soon found an empty cot where he sat on the edge of it and wondered just what he was going to do with himself now that he found himself in this strange new world. For the moment he had some shelter and food, but for how long he did not know.
Aegon soon found another line where people were being served their meals. Hunger gnawing at him, Aegon joined the line and was served a bowl of soup, buttered bread and a clear bottle of water. Sitting at an empty space at one of the tables, Aegon quickly ate his meal in silence as other people conversed or ate their own meals.
After finishing his meal, Aegon rubbed his face in tiredness and headed for his cot and lay down on it, staring up at the ceiling.
Then a young sounding voice spoke to him, "Excuse me?" Aegon sat up to see a child wearing some slightly scruffy looking clothes holding a teddy bear in his arms looking at him. "Are you a knight?" the child asked innocently.
Aegon smiled despite himself at the child's innocence and he said, "What makes you ask that, little one?"
"You have a sword," the child said pointing to Blackfyre sheathed on Aegon's hip.
Aegon smiled a little more and said, "You got me. I'm a knight, little one."
"Have you slayed any dragons?" the child asked smiling widely.
"Sadly I have not, I was just recently knighted," Aegon replied.
Then a young man and woman, both wearing somewhat scruffy looking and tired expressions came over to the child. "Timmy! Don't bother the nice man!" the woman of the couple admonished the child.
"We're sorry if he's bothering you, sir," the father said to Aegon apologetically.
"It's fine. He's no bother," Aegon said kindly.
The couple apologised once more which Aegon waved off and the parents and their child then headed for their own cot. Aegon smiled softly at the child who looked back at him and waved. Aegon smiled and nodded his head at the child before laying back down on his cot and stared at the ceiling.
Closing his eyes, Aegon prepared to fall asleep when suddenly a voice called out to him.
"Griff? Griff Connington?" Raising his head up to see who was calling for him, Aegon saw the young woman from outside and standing beside her was an older man with dirty blonde hair and trimmed beard wearing a long brown leather. Curious as to what was needed of him, Aegon got up from his cot and walked over to the young woman and her companion.
"Is something wrong?" Aegon asked.
"Your father is here to take you home," the young woman informed him with a smile.
"Father?" Aegon stared at the man who smiled. "My father died," he said bluntly.
The young woman looked at the man who smiled easily and said, "Apologies, I should've said step-father. Apologies for the confusion."
"I see," the young woman said sceptically. "Well, in any case, Mr Connington. I hope things turn out well for you," she added before she walked off to attend to other business.
"Who are you? How do you know me? How did you even know where to find me?" Aegon asked the mysterious man who claimed to be his step-father.
"Not here," the man said quickly. "Follow me outside. I'll tell you everything on the way," he added.
Curious and yet cautious all the same, Aegon followed the mystery man out of the sept and into an alley. A flash of alarm came over Aegon's face and he asked, "What's going on? What is this?" His hand went to Blackfyre.
The mystery man smiled disarmingly and held his hands in a show of peace and replied, "Relax, Aegon. I don't have any ill intentions towards you."
Aegon's eyes widened in surprise at how the man said his real name, "How did you know my actual name?" he demanded.
"It's better if I show you," the mysterious stranger said before he looked down the alleyway and gave a whistle followed by, "Danny! Package is secure! Open the wormhole!" Then blinking into existence was a swirling vortex and a brightly lit street was shown in the vortex.
"Gods! Sorcery!?" Aegon exclaimed as he drew his sword partially.
"One could call it that," the mystery man smiled roguishly. "C'mon. We'll be safer once we're on Danny," he said.
"Danny?" Aegon repeated. "Who is Danny?" he asked.
"It's better if I let them explain it themselves," the mysterious stranger said.
"Who are you?" Aegon asked.
"Rip Hunter," came the reply. "C'mon. Let's not waste any more time!" The stranger prepared to walk through the vortex before he looked at Aegon and said, "You coming? Or do you want to stay here?" he asked.
Aegon thought about it for a moment and shrugged. He may as well find out just how this Rip Hunter knew his name and where to find him.
Stepping through the vortex, Aegon felt a sense of vertigo for a brief moment before he stepped out onto a bright sunny day on a street. Staring at his new surroundings, Aegon was lost for words as he looked around.
It was a bright sunny day and the buildings were painted in bright shades of blue, yellow, green and a multitude of colours. People in various modes of dress, Aegon swore he saw men and women dressed in clothing of the opposite gender respectively. Young and old all with bright friendly smiles on their faces.
"Where… where are we?" Aegon asked.
"Welcome to Danny the Street," Rip Hunter said to him. "Go on, say hello to Danny," he told Aegon.
"And where is Danny?" Aegon asked dumbly.
"Danny's all around you," Rip replied.
Aegon looked around in confusion and said, "I don't see him. I don't even know anyone named Danny."
Then bursting out of the ground came thick fog that formed words that floated in the air, Aegon read them.
Bona vada, Aegon. It's nice to meet you, the words read.
"This… this is all an illusion. Yes an illusion," Aegon said to himself.
"It's no illusion, Ser Aegon," Rip said to him in a serious voice. "Danny is a living piece of real estate and they and I have been expecting you," he explained.
"They? They who?" Aegon asked.
"Danny is what's called non-binary, and uses the non-binary terms they/them to describe themselves," Rip said.
"they-them? Has Danny no gender?" Aegon asked.
"Just go with it," Rip said with a smile. "Best not to think about it too hard otherwise you'll burst a blood vessel trying to figure it out," he advised.
"Right…" Aegon muttered. The fog then formed some different words.
Rip, the others are ready to meet the newest addition.
"Cheers, Danny," Rip said to the foggy words before he looked at Aegon. "C'mon the others are waiting to meet you," he added.
"Others?" Aegon asked.
"This way, please," Rip said as he walked down the street. Seeing no other alternative, Aegon followed Rip down the street and soon they came to a large building with blinking lights and music emanating from it and a large sign that read: Peeping Tom's Perpetual Cabaret.
"Peeping Tom's Perpetual Cabaret? What kind of establishment is this?" Aegon asked Rip.
"The beating heart of Danny," Rip replied. "The Mayor is almost always here conducting business and running the Cabaret," he said. "This way," he told Aegon leading him inside the building.
The foyer was dimly lit and Aegon was soon led inside a brightly lit area where crescent tables littered the floor facing a stage where apparently a musical performance was currently ongoing. The song that was being played was foreign to Aegon's ears and almost shrill in pitch as a group of women, actually correction, they were men dressed in skimpy women's clothing dancing on the brightly illuminated stage. The lead dancer was a tall muscular man with skin dark as oiled teak and with orange red hair on his head and heavy women's make-up on his face.
"What is this?" Aegon asked in bewilderment. "Why are they dressed like… that?"
"Best to let the Mayor explain it," Rip said.
"And where is the Mayor?" Aegon asked pointedly.
"Right up there with them," Rip said nodding his head at the lead dancer.
"He's the mayor?" Aegon asked looking bewildered. "Does he often dress as a woman?" he asked weakly.
"The mayor considers herself female. Best to just go with it," Rip said soothingly.
"And what is the Mayor's name?" Aegon asked.
"Maura Lee Karupt," Rip replied.
"Morally Corrupt? Is he-she a corrupt politician?" Aegon asked wondering just what he had gotten himself into.
"Maura Lee Karupt," Rip pronounced slowly. "Her actual name is Morris, but she prefers to call herself Maura Lee Karupt. It's a stage name," he said.
"I see," Aegon swallowed a lump in his throat. Soon the performance ended and the Mayor Maura Lee Karupt stood at the centre of the stage, the light illuminating him-her.
"Well, my lovelies, I hope you all enjoyed that little number," he-she said in a falsetto voice. "And we've just received a new addition to our little slice of home," he-she said and the lights suddenly fell on Aegon and Rip Hunter. Aegon put up a hand to shield his eyes from the blinding white lights. "Everyone, meet our newest friend, Ser Aegon Targaryen," Maura proclaimed. "Before anyone asks; yes, he is from the books of a song of ice and fire," he-she added.
"Books?" Aegon parroted. "What are you talking about?" he called out in confusion.
"Ah, I see our newcomer hasn't quite gotten up to speed," Maura said sagely. "Rip? Haven't you told him yet?" she-he asked Rip who replied, "I was waiting for you to finish up and get Bigby and Snow so that we can explain to Aegon what's going on."
"Well, if y'all excuse me, lovelies, I'm gonna have a little kiki with our dashing Captain Hunter and our knight in shining armour," Maura said to the crowd before leaving the stage.
"C'mon. Let's go somewhere private," Rip then said to Aegon and lead him through the area. Aegon followed Rip through the building, going a flight of stairs up into the upper echelon of the theatre into one of the booths.
Waiting in the booth was Maura Lee Karupt along with two other individuals who to Aegon's relief looked decidedly normal in comparison to the mayor. The first was a tall gruff looking man with red-brown hair on his head, amber yellow eyes that seemed more animalistic than human and wearing a slightly dirty white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black trousers and shoes. The woman looked cleaner and tidier in appearance; she looked quite attractive to the eye Aegon noted with hair dark as a northerner's done in a neat bun with a few strands flowing loosely, bright blues and her make-up subtle. She wore a light blue blouse with snowflakes embroidered on the cloth, a neat creamy white skirt and jacket completed the look and a calm measured expression was on her face as she and her companion looked at Aegon appraising.
"Bigby, Snow, good to see you both," Rip said to them holding out a hand to the man who shook his hand firmly and replied, "Glad to see you found the kid without any trouble."
"Do I know you both?" Aegon asked.
"Not yet, you don't," Bigby said gruffly.
"Not yet? What in Seven Hells does that even mean?" Aegon said. "Can someone please tell me what is going on?" he asked angrily.
"It's alright. You're among friends here," the woman said. "Perhaps introductions are in order. I'm Snow White, this is Bigby Wolf, Maura Lee Karupt and you've already met Rip Hunter," she introduced everyone.
"So, how is it you all know me? I'm quite certain I've never met any of you before," Aegon said.
"That is true, at least in this time period," Rip said vaguely.
"In this time period?" Aegon parroted. "What does that even mean?" he asked angrily.
"Perhaps, it's best to explain it from the start," Maura said sagely. "Sit yourself down, honey, you're in for a shock," she-he advised Aegon.
"Fine. I want to know everything you do and leave nothing out," Aegon said sternly.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: There! Second chapter of this is done and dusted. Yes, Rip Hunter, Danny the Street and the Dannyzens and the Fables are in this story! For any who guessed where Aegon would end up, congratulations, you get a cookie! *Hands over cookie*
And as you guess with the involvement of Rip Hunter, there'll be some time travel shenanigans going on with Rip's plan to change the course of the future that ends up happening because of Vandal Savage and the Light's manipulations. I'll be taking some inspiration from CW's Arrowverse Legends of Tomorrow, although not all of it because I know opinions are pretty divisive about the quality of the Arrowverse and its properties. Hopefully I'll be able to put my own spin on it and blend it with the Young Justice lore/universe and rest assured, Aegon's missions with Rip will have him encountering the Justice League and the fledgling Team. Who knows? Maybe Aegon's first mission will involve him breaking into Cadmus the same time Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad break into it.
Of course, I'm not gonna have Aegon join the Team as his ideologies and methods would differ from the Team and the Justice League's. Will this mean that Aegon will kill criminals that the League typically spare? Short answer: yes, Aegon's sense of justice is different in that he won't spare someone like the Joker after seeing the destruction people like the Joker create. A longer answer will be that Aegon is on the side of the angels, albeit somewhere in the thin line grey line between white and black as he doesn't see the sense in letting criminals like the Joker live to keep committing more terrorist actions such as mass murder and such and that the only way to do any real damage to the Light's plans is to take out as many of their agents and enforcers in a permanent fashion as possible as opposed to locking them up with nothing more than a slap on the wrist which is essentially what the Justice League and the Team do.
But I'm rambling and I'm sure none of you want to hear me rambling nonsensically about how what the Justice League does doesn't really do all that much in the long run while the Light plays the long game.
I'll leave this here and I'll see you all in the next one.
Be kind to one another,
Angry lil' elf.
