Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.

AN:I'm glad the last chapter was enjoyed tremendously! Here is the next chapter. Hope you enjoy this one as well. Oliver's dilemmas increase. Whose assistance, if any, should he accept?

Previously:

One night, as he neared his discharge date, Oliver felt himself shake off the remnants of a dream to become more alert. He listened before he opened his eyes, wondering what had awakened him. Deciding there was no danger, he opened his eyes to see a man he had hoped never to see again standing next to his bed.

"I wondered if you were ever going to awaken, Mr. Queen."

Just as Oliver reached under his pillow to take out the gun Digg had snuck into the hospital for him, Ra's raised his hand, aiming the very same gun at Oliver's head.

"You have nothing to fear from me, Oliver."

"That's highly debatable, given our last encounter." As Oliver was about to push the call button, Ra's covered Oliver's hand with his own to stop Oliver from pushing it.

"I would highly discourage you from doing that. You don't wish any innocent bystanders to be hurt, do you?"

In a tightly controlled voice, Oliver asked, "What do you want, Ra's?"

"I only wish to express my admiration of you, for having survived our battle."

"Most of the praise belongs to my team."

"Yes, my daughter not only informed me the manner in which they saved you, but also an in-depth account of each member of your team. You do have very capable individuals on your team, Oliver."

A cold shiver went down Oliver's spine. He quickly pushed away the sense of dread and fear for his teammates. Instead, he forced his voice to be unwavering, with a touch of irritation for effect, as he repeated his question. "What do you want, Ra's?"

"To inform you of the prophecy, 'He who survives Ra's' sword will become the next Ra's.'"

A part of Oliver's brain went into shock as the other side asked, "Excuse me? What the hell does that mean?" It really couldn't mean what Oliver thought it meant. Could it? Was Ra's that crazy?

"Because you survived our duel, you are now my heir. My successor. To reign over my kingdom when I either die or step down."

Oliver pushed out the question through half-paralyzed lips. "I thought Nyssa was your heir?"

"I had recently begun to doubt her loyalty. Then you brought the prophecy to life, thus becoming a more qualified candidate."

A heavy sigh escaped Oliver's lips. "Who made this so-called prophecy?"

"Oh my, Oliver, recuperation certainly makes you crabby."

"I'm silly that way, finding the man irritating who tried to kill me."

"As I have told you, Oliver, there was nothing personal with this entire affair. It simply has been a matter of a very conventional society's tradition and long-held beliefs."

"Conventional, or antiquated?"

"I believe we will simply agree to disagree once again on the differences between my society and yours, Oliver. We have more important matters to discuss at this time." Pausing, he added, "You will become my heir without opposition. This is why."

Ra's reached into his pocket and pulled out a manila envelope. He handed it to Oliver, who took it with great trepidation. Oliver tore open the envelope and wasn't surprised to find photographs. Of Thea leaving Verdant. Of Diggle, Lyla and Sara leaving their home. Of Felicity entering her house. He could tell the pictures were taken over the past several days, for he recognized their clothing.

Throwing them down on the bed, Oliver asked, "What? You think I will do whatever you say because you dare threaten my family?"

Nodding towards the pictures, Ra's said, "Look at all the pictures, Oliver, before you respond too hastily."

Oliver glared at Ra's but picked up the pile of pictures and quickly scanned through them. Indeed, the first few simply showed Team Arrow going about their day. However, the rest showed how they were being watched by men with rifles, who were hidden from view. Without any of his friends being aware of such surveillance.

Oliver only stared at the pictures until Ra's' voice broke through his thoughts. "If that does not convince you, please look at this."

A smart phone was thrust into his hands. Oliver watched in silence as he observed Diggle and Felicity entering the back alley behind Verdant. Before Oliver could react, a shower of bullets flew at his teammates. He watched in horror as Diggle threw Felicity to the ground and covered her with his body. After several moments, without any further shots being fired, Diggle rose, grabbed Felicity, and they both ran back to the back door. Not until the door shut, and his friends inside the building, did Oliver began breathing again.

After calming his wildly beating heart, the Arrow asked while staring at the frozen screen, "What is this?"

"Is that enough to persuade you, Oliver? This time, my soldiers had orders to shoot only warning shots at them. Next time, if I must, I will order the shots to be fatal. Is that clear enough for you?"

After placing the phone on his tray table, Oliver's hands formed fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. Forcing words out of a throat drier than toast, he said, "Why me? When I'm opposed to doing this with my entire being?"

Ra's shrugged. "Because the Prophets have decreed it so. Who am I to argue with the Prophets?"

Oliver didn't know what to say to this, to this totally insane lunatic. He watched as the lunatic walked towards the door, stop and turn back towards him.

"I will be in touch, Oliver, with further instructions when it is time for you to join me in Nanda Parbat for your training. Until then, farewell." Ra's then walked out the door.

Oliver sat up in bed staring at the open door, mouth slightly open, lost in thought. His ringing phone jarred him out of his reverie.

It was Diggle. Informing him of a sniper's surprise attack on him and Felicity outside of Verdant. He apologized for waking Oliver up, but he thought it was vitally important because it appeared someone had figured out the Arrow identity….

"John," Oliver interrupted his colleague. "It wasn't that."

"What? What was it then?"

"Are you both okay?" Oliver interrupted his friend, his teammates' safety his top priority.

"Yes, it was almost as though they were only firing warning shots at us. Like Slade did when he attacked us here."

"It's almost as bad. It's Ra's. He just left after visiting me."

After swearing for a few moments, Diggle said, "Where's the guards I hired?"

Feeling slightly guilty he hadn't thought of them, Oliver said, "I don't know. I woke up to find Ra's beside my bed, the gun you had gotten for me in my face."

"Did he hurt you?"

"No, but I watched as you and Felicity were shot at from a smart phone he had kindly brought with him. I watched a live streaming of you two ducking for cover while bullets flew at you."

"Indeed, how kind of him." Oliver heard the sarcasm through the phone. "What is this all about, Oliver?"

"It seems now, since killing me didn't take, he wants me to become his heir. To someday take over the leadership of the League of Assassins."

"What?"

At a knock on his door, Oliver looked up to see a nurse entering. "Dig, can I call you back? The nurse is here."

"Let's talk in the morning. You get some sleep."

After disconnecting the call, Oliver turned to the nurse. "Is everything all right out there with my guards?"

The nurse didn't hide her surprise. "How'd you know? Someone struck them from behind. We found them stuffed in a linen closet. I ran here to make sure you were all right. You are all right, aren't you?"

Oliver nodded. The nurse asked if he needed anything. Oliver glanced at the time on his phone. 2 am. "No, not right now. I suppose I should try and get some more rest though."

The nurse smiled at him as she left the room, closing the door part-way. Oliver settled against the pillows, letting out a sigh. Sleep probably wouldn't return any time soon, so he allowed his mind wander as it explored this new problem.

Before he knew it, he startled awake, only to find another unexpected guest beside his bed. Unlike her father, Nyssa didn't have a weapon pointing at him. The clock on the wall said 3 am.

"What the hell, Nyssa? Not you too?"

"I gather my father paid you a visit?"

"Who does your father think he is, Nyssa? Are you aware of his newest plan?"

"Unfortunately, I am indeed very much aware of my father's plans to remove me as his heir because you apparently did not die, bringing the Prophets' prophecy to life."

"And you're simply accepting this, Nyssa?"

Nyssa glared at him. "If you would let me finish, Mr. Queen, I would be able to tell you I have an idea on how to contain this situation."

Oliver rolled his eyes. "Contain? Why must you and your father talk so formal and detached?"

"Because it is also one of our traditions. Like many items upon which you and my father have argued."

"Fine. What are we to do?"

"It probably will be best to curtail this discussion until you have recovered and returned to your home. I will be in contact then."

Before Oliver could say more, Nyssa had disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Oliver was left staring at the empty space, wondering if this night could simply be one long nightmare. If only it were that simple.

~~OQ~~OQ~~OQ~~

At a more decent hour, Oliver's physician visited him to determine how he was doing. Even though he was satisfied with Oliver's continued recovery, the physician wouldn't discharge him from the hospital until the next day, despite Oliver's insistence. Dig was able to convince Oliver of the wisdom of following the physician's orders. Oliver wasn't totally convinced until Felicity threatened digital harm to his financial records if he left against medical advice. Oliver reluctantly conceded to their wishes because of these threats to his physical and financial health.

Through mutual consensus, Team Arrow agreed to not discuss the situation until they were safely in the lair. So, upon discharge, despite his team's objections, Oliver insisted head straight to the lair to begin brainstorming. As they begun discussing the situation, Dig and Felicity both expressed their disbelief regarding Ra's new plans for Oliver. Or the fact Ra's claimed it to be some kind of pre-ordained destiny which couldn't be changed or altered.

"Oliver, this is just nuts. Crazy. Loonier than a coo-coo bird. I think this convinces me he is truly crazy. Who does he think he is, some kind of comic book villain?" Felicity said, beginning a ramble.

Oliver's lips quivered as he attempted not to smile at his girl's ramblings. "I don't know, Felicity. I really don't. He seemed very determined, as determined as when he was trying to kill me."

"Don't be fooled by Ra's' relaxed attitude regarding this. He is deadly serious about you taking your rightful place as his heir, Oliver."

All three of them turned towards the new voice, Dig aiming his gun at the newcomer. Oliver was about to aim an arrow at the stranger, but he then realized whose voice it was as he lowered his bow.

"Malcolm, you need to quit doing that. One of these times you might just get shot by mistake!" Oliver said.

"As if," Merlyn said, with a smirk.

"I keep telling you guys we need to update the security here," Felicity mumbled. "To keep out the rodents."

Merlyn shook his head as he approached the group from the back of the lair. "You know, a guy might develop a complex with such a warm welcome."

After receiving an Arrow glare from Oliver, Merlyn walked over to an empty chair at the other end of the desk and sat down. "As I was saying, Ra's is deadly serious about this, which makes him truly dangerous. Thus, whatever plan we come up with, better be good enough to do the job because we wouldn't have another chance."

Oliver began to slowly pace before the computers, a hand tugging at his chin. "Why don't we start with: what do you recommend, Malcolm?"

"You should go ahead and join the League, Oliver."

AN: What does Malcolm have planned? Of course, this story is only borrowing from canon, not a strict following it. Ha. Thanks for taking the time to read and review this story; always, always appreciated. And of course, please return when the next chapter is posted.