Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 10- A Truth
Oliver slowly makes his way through the small buildings that make up the village. The team has separated throughout the village, devoting themselves to various tasks. Natasha and Yelena are training with the villagers, learning how they fight and adapting their fighting styles to be able to match them.
As he walks through some bamboo trees, he hears the sounds of arrows hitting targets. Turning to the sound, he sees a second archery range, different from the range where Katy is currently being trained to use a bow. This is one set up for more advanced archers, with moving targets set up on a simple wooden track.
Oliver slowly walks over to the target range. The other archers training at the range see him coming and slowly move out of the way to make room for him.
Oliver stares across the range, watching the moving targets intently. Then, fast as a viper, he whips his bow off his back, draws an arrow, and fires, the arrow hitting the target dead on. Oliver continues firing, arrow after arrow hitting its mark. Oliver maintains his concentration, determined to be ready when it comes time to fight the Ten Rings.
On the far side of the village, Natasha is training with one of the best fighters in the village. Natasha throws blow after blow, but the man is easily deflecting all of them. Natasha tries jumping up and scissoring the man, but he easily slips out of her grip. He then ducks under strike from Natasha and sends her skidding across the spot where they're training.
Natasha stands up, looking at the man. "How are you able to stand against me so well?" she asks.
The man smiles. "We have trained in a style of martial arts unique to us, and we are empowered by the magic of the Great Protector. Do not feel frustrated at not being able to best me straight away," he says.
"Then show me how," Natasha responds. The man nods and settles into a fighting stance, motioning for her to come to him.
(Several hours later)
Oliver looks thoughtfully out over the lake as he tucks into a bowl of dumplings. Much of the village had taken a break from training for lunch, and the guests from Earth had joined them. Oliver was eating by himself, thinking about everything they he had encountered over the last few weeks.
"Taking time to your thoughts, I see."
Oliver looks behind him, and he sees Ying Nan coming up behind him. Oliver shrugs a bit and says, "Yeah. It's a lot to take in."
"Indeed. Especially for one such as you," Nan responds. Oliver just nods in response.
"You seem to be putting in even more effort than your wife and sister in law. Is there a reason?" Nan asks curiously.
"I'm the leader of the Avengers. And I failed to protect my wife from the Mandarin. I need to be ready to face him when he comes," Oliver says firmly.
"I understand your thoughts, Oliver Queen. When facing a threat you believe may be beyond your strength to defeat, it can motivate one to great strength in turn. I see now why you are chosen, Oliver," Nan says.
Oliver looks at her, confused. "Chosen?"
Nan smiles slightly. "You are what is known as a Paragon, Oliver. We sensed it when you came to Ta Lo. You will not know what that means for some time to come, nor can I tell you necessarily what it means. You must wait to discover it for yourself. YOu have much ahead of you, Oliver Queen. Much in the future rides upon your shoulders. And it will be your strength and determination, as you demonstrate now, that will prove all the difference."
Nan stands up and walks back into the village. Oliver stares after her, wondering what Nan was talking about.
(That night)
Oliver looks out over the lake next to the village, his focus on the faint glow of the Dark Gate in the distance. Oliver knows that the Mandarin is coming soon. Tomorrow is the day that Natasha said that he told them the path to Ta Lo would open. Tomorrow will be the fight with the Ten Rings.
Oliver hears footsteps behind him. Turning around, Oliver sees that it's Natasha. Natasha walks up behind him and sits down next to him, taking his hand.
"Are you alright?" she asks.
Oliver is quiet for a few moments before he finally responds, "I need to make sure we win this. Not just because if we don't, a soul eating monster gets unleashed on the world. But…something Ying Nan said. She called me a Paragon. And she said that in the future, a lot would be riding on my shoulders. I don't know why, but the way she said it rang different than normal. I don't know why."
"I think it would be obvious. Mephisto is still out there and Barry and Wanda still haven't returned. But it can't be much longer. They've been gone for months. Our fight with Mephisto can't be much further in the future. And we both know by now how dangerous and powerful Mephisto is," Natasha responds.
Oliver shakes his head a bit. "I don't think so. I don't think that's what she was referring to. We know from Kang that Mephisto is far from the last or even greatest threat we'll ever face. I think she was referring to something we will face well after Mephisto. And that makes me wonder what I could do in the face of such a threat."
Natasha smiles slightly, grasping his hand a bit tighter. "Oliver, you're the one who inspired Barry to become who he is. You took down Damien Darhk, a powerful magic user, with your own fists and bow. And on top of all that, you fought Thanos himself. And you came out of all of it with your life. And that's not your greatest strength. You have the ability to inspire people and keep them fighting. If there really is such a threat in our future, you are going to be the one to give everyone the inspiration and motivation they need to continue on."
Oliver nods a bit, then places his free hand on top of hers. "I just want to protect you, Nat. I want to live a good life with you, and make sure that any child we have is able to grow up free and safe," he says.
Natasha smiles. "And they will. I know it," she says. Oliver smiles back, and the two share a kiss by the lake.
And, I'll end the chapter there.
So, yes, in this series, Oliver will be one of my Paragons in my version of Crisis on Infinite Earths. I hope you like that reveal. I'll leave it up to your interpretation exactly how Ying Nan knew he was a Paragon. Also, just in case you all are wondering, there will be more Paragons in my version of Crisis, simply because there are infinitely more heroes to choose from.
Also, quick notice. I recently started a new story called Avengers: Age of Middle Earth, which is itself a sequel to my story The Hobit: An Unexpected Alliance. It centers around three Avengers taking part in the events of the Lord of the Rings. If you like that kind of stuff, go check it out.
Next chapter will start the fight with the Ten Rings. I will probably divide the fight into two chapters. Until it's up, please leave a review, and stay tuned!