Author's Note: Before we get into the story, I just wanted to let everyone know that a page for Bad Idea has been set up on TV Tropes. I want to give a very big thanks to Bored321, for creating the page when I was unable to. You rock, man! I worked on it a good deal as well, feel free to check it out and add stuff to the page if you want. Also, to Bored321, I am going to try for more story-based chapters. It won't be easy, but I will try to take the deconstructions and put them into an appropriate direction. :)

Also wanted to give a shout out to Rayany Amor, for favoring this story. Check out their works, particularity Bat Family Mayhem. I kind of got the idea of different stories from them. Thanks again, Rayany, you also rock!

Last thing: I am not sure if this was a good chapter or a bad chapter. It felt weird in some places, but maybe that's just because I wasn't focusing so much on a cliche and just telling a story. Enjoy!

The Team had situated themselves within their usual areas in the Cave: Artemis was currently reading a large book out loud, pausing a few times when she came upon a word that wouldn't work well in the world at large today before continuing with vigor. Next to her was Rocket, who looked over Artemis's shoulder like a child and gave reassuring shrugs whenever the pauses occurred.

"It's how they talked back then." Rocket shrugged. "Still wrong, but as long as you know it's wrong, then there's nothing to worry about. Okay?"

"Sure." Artemis smiled. She mumbled to herself. "I still can't believe it was written almost a century ago. The writing's just...understandable!"

Meanwhile, Robin was teaching Conner how to use a Wii controller, keeping his voice level and low until Conner gave him a look that told him to stop talking to him like a dog. Robin had decided to start off with something easy so Conner could test his growing prowess on the controller with Twilight Princess. Wally suggested something more fun and required several people to play it at a time – he was looking at one of the additional game cases that Robin had brought along with longing – until Robin uttered the word "rainbow road" and the suggestions ceased.

No one wanted to see another television destroyed this week.

M'gann was sparring with Zatanna in hand-to-hand combat, guiding the younger girl through a series of basic movements similar to how Black Canary did with her. Several bruises decorated Zatanna's exposed arms and sweat made her sleeveless shirt cling to her body like static-charged socks. Garfield looked on per M'gann's instructions, even miming the moves that Zatanna was instructed to perform in his monkey form. He cheered his "blood-sister" on during the moments that the two were actually fighting, but those moments never lasted long.

In the kitchen, the two newest members, Tula and Garth, were talking to each other in hushed voices. The others had deemed it private and decided to drown them out as best as they could. Luckily, this allowed the two to discuss their agenda without fear of being found out.

"Are the preparations made yet?" Tula poured out some "orange" juice, still unsure of the Surface-dweller beverage. "Kaldur has been planning this for over two weeks and I don't wish for his work to be in vain."

"Fear not, my Coral." Tula blushed at Garth's pet name for her. "He'll be giving the signal within an hour, all we need to do is keep the Team from leaving the Cave until then."

Tula looked over to their newest companions, wondering what measures they would have to take in order to keep the surprise from being spoiled. They were fine, for the moment, with everyone doing their own thing. It would take something of epic proportions to put everyone into a "Let's Leave The Cave" mood. And since they had convinced Batman – whom Tula respected and Garth feared – to withhold putting the Team on any missions today, the chances of that happening are –

"Hey guys." Wally spoke up, having grown bored from watching Robin guide Conner through herding goats into a farm. "I was thinking...are there any good movies playing right now?"

"Well…" Zatanna staggered into the living area and plopped into the seat beside Wally. "There's the final Harry Potter movie –"

"Anything not related to magic?" Wally grinned at her.

Artemis put her book down. "We could go see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."

"What about something for the children?" M'gann gave a meaningful look towards Garfield, who had chosen that moment to start picking his nose with his tail.

Garfield noticed the others looking at him and looked up, pulling his tail out of his nose. "Huh? What was that?"

"How about that movie Zac Snider directed?" Conner looked away from the television screen as he spoke. He received a unanimous "NO!" in response. Thankfully, his hearing wasn't strained to super-sensory at this point, thanks to the lessons he received from Clark.

"Never mention Zac and Snider in the exact order in any sentence. Ever." Robin said bluntly. "Batman and Superman don't think he's that great. Besides, I think that movie's not in theaters anymore."

"Does that make him a bad person?" M'gann asked.

"No." Robin said. "I'm sure he's a nice guy in real life."

Conner smirked. "Are you implying that Batman and Superman actually agree on something not related to the Justice League."

"I know." Robin nodded solemnly. "These are the end times."

"Welp." Wally stood up from the couch and stretched. "I wanna get out of here for a bit. Getting kind of boring, if you ask me."

"Tula, do something!" Garth whispered frantically. Tula looked between her boyfriend and the Speedster before running towards Wally with great speed.

"Wallace!" Tula cried out. She could feel Garth glowering at her as she fell into Wally's arms. "Wallace, you must help me! Please!"

Suddenly, she was surrounded by the rest of the Team sans Garth and Kaldur, everyone talking over each other at once.

"What's the prob, AG?" Robin said, using the abbreviated term for Aquagirl. "Anything you need?"

"Um, Artemis, this isn't what it looks like, please don't glare at me like that." Wally said nervously as he tried to push Tula away from him.

"I'm not. Tula, let go of Wally!" Artemis started trying to pry the girl off her boyfriend, surprised at the grip she was maintaining.

"Lay your troubles on me, Tula, the Beast Boy is in the building."

In the back, M'gann raised an eyebrow in suspicion. Tula calmed herself and looked directly into the eyes of Wally.

"Wally, I need you to explain the ending to that show you showed Garth and I." Tula feigned panic. "I am losing sleep over it. What is with the church at the end? And why would the woman go back with Jack after all that he had done to her? And why was the baby still a baby even though we saw him grow up a little?"

Wally stared at her blankly. Everyone else looked at Tula as if she had just professed her love to him and wanted to have kittens. Then he said. "Tula, are you trying to distract me?"

Tula blanched at the accusation, unable to come up with a plausible answer. She wanted to turn her head towards Garth for help, but that would have tipped the others off to something that Kaldur insisted that they kept secret.

Thankfully, she was rescued from having to say anything when a loud CRASH! came from the kitchen.

"Garth!" Tula cried out and ran towards the sound. The others – thankfully – followed her and saw Garth standing frozen in place in front of a large pile of glass shards scattered all over the floor.

"Forgive me." Garth said frantically. "I thought they needed cleaning, so I picked them all up and lost my grip."

"You can use water magic, why didn't you just keep the glass where it was and just, you know, clean them?" Zatanna raised an eyebrow.

"I am not that delicate with my powers." Garth said quickly. Although it was true, the delivery came out a little too quickly to everyone sans Tula's liking.

Tula stepped away from the suspicious group slowly until she bumped into something solid. When she turned around, Conner was staring right back at her and crossed his arms.

"Talk. Now." He said simply.

"Well…" Tula began slowly. "The truth is…"

"We have been instructed by the Injustice League and what the League refers to as 'the Light' to keep you distracted while they demolish the outside world." Garth said grimly. Everyone stared at him with a dubious look on their faces. Some of them even looked to M'gann for help.

"Yes." Tula said as if it was exactly what she was thinking. She raised her arms dramatically. "We have been in league with the enemy since after New Year's time when the League was under their thrall –"

Robin whispered to Zatanna. "Still can't believe Batman of all people didn't think of bringing that technology back to the Batcave for safekeeping in case someone attacked."

"Yes. It was foolish of the World's Greatest Detective to not do what you just suggested." Tula said dramatically, trying to ignore the weird looks she was getting. "Surrender yourselves and we will show you mercy. You are no match for the power of two –"

"Oh! I know!" Robin jumped up and down excitedly like a child waiting to be called on by the teacher. "Waterbenders?"

"Um…yes." Tula put on the evillest grin she could muster. "Waterbenders who –"

"You know, the term 'bender' is often connected to homosexuality in Britain. So, does this mean you're coming out as bi?" Wally interjected. He quickly added. "Not that there's anything wrong with it!"

Artemis face-palmed herself while Robin glared at his best friend for the comment.

"Silence, puny heroes!" Garth shouted. No one flinched. "You are no match for us."

Garfield whistled. "Wow. Two Atlanteans with little water nearby against…"

He quickly pointed to everyone else in the room and muttered quietly before adding dryly. "So, it's two of you against eight heroes. We don't stand a chance."

"Do not underestimate us." Tula cackled. "The League has already fallen by our hands –"

"You mean flippers?"

"Shut up!" Tula summoned a stream of water from the kitchen faucet and hurled it at Robin. Caught off-guard, he took the water directly to the chest and was sent ten feet across the room. Tula silently fumed at the remark, trying not to start questioning the merit of befriending these heroes as Kaldur had done.

"Haven't you noticed that Batman has yet to contact us?" Garth had a look of irritation on his face – whether it was from the "flipper" comment or from people repeatedly stealing his thunder, Tula wasn't sure – and subtlety switched from looking at the Team to looking at the clock on the wall, wondering when the hell Kaldur would make it. "And why is M'gann doing a job that belongs to Black Canary? And the Flash –"

"Liar!" M'gann yelled. She flew right into Garth's face and glared. "You're hiding a surprise and reciting Ode to Aquaman won't keep me from knowing."

"Fuck." Garth muttered. Even that drove him mad, Garth thought the annoying song would be the ultimate defense against M'gann's telepathic abilities.

"Language." M'gann hissed and pointed to Garfield, who was suppressing the urge to laugh at the hammy performance that Garth had just given them.

"Kind of overkill, Megs." Rocket sighed. "Just tell us what's going on here, please."

"And don't start saying Tula's pregnant." Robin said.

"Or that you're pregnant." Garfield pointed a finger at Garth suspiciously. The glare quickly turned into an expression of childish curiosity. "Do you…actually get pregnant or is that just seahorses?"

Garth's face became a cherry-red as he started sputtering while the others laughed at the prospect.

"What is this I am hearing about pregnancies?" A familiar, calming voice spoke up. Everyone turned around, those of the surface dropping their jaws at the sight of their leader.

Kaldur'ahm, also known as Aqualad, had forgone his apprentice red tunic and black leggings for a new getup. He had decorated his face with blue paint streaking across his cheekbones and chin, giving him the image of a man with a small stubble of a goatee. His arms were bare, revealing his black tattoos. The tunic he wore was the same hue of blue as the paint on his face, though the chest was a little more exposed. And in place of his leggings was a dark-purple skirt that ended above his knees, rippling at the slightest movement like water on the sea.

"Um…why are you wearing a kilt?" Wally asked slowly. Memories of the Trickster in a similar getup haunted the corners of his mind, but at least Kaldur knew how to color coordinate.

"It is not a kilt, but a traditional Atlantean garb dating back several centuries." Kaldur chuckled. "Forgive me, my friends. I asked Garth and Tula to keep you all busy while the preparations were made."

"Kaldur!" Tula cried out. "They accused Garth of being pregnant!"

Kaldur's smile slid off his face. "What."

"Long story short, they tried to make themselves look like bad guys." Artemis said flatly. "They couldn't exactly keep whatever is a secret a secret with M'gann in the room."

"I will remember that." Kaldur muttered quietly.

Robin gave Kaldur two thumbs up. "Looking good."

"I apologize for my absence, everyone." Kaldur said. "Batman had agreed to this idea and the King has invited you all to attend dinner in a secluded location in Cape Cod, in celebration of what is known to you as the Cold Moon in December. But to Atlanteans, it is the Moontide Festival, in celebration of when Atlantis' first king came to the throne."

"That…sounds a lot like your version of Christmas…" Rocket said slowly.

"It is." Kaldur smiled. "We are celebrating it tonight back at home, but I wished to share the event with you all in a secluded location."

Robin held up his arm and tapped at the watch-device on his wrist. A projection screen came up, showing a map.

"Where is the place located?" Robin asked. "Cape Cod does have people living there. Not so much during the winter, though."

"How come?" M'gann asked.

"It's more populated during the summertime. Plenty of summer cottages there."

"Batman selected the location himself. Perfectly safe." Kaldur reassured him, "Again, I ask; will any of you attend this event?"

He looked to Wally, who had decided to start talking to Conner. "There will be food."

Wally's head snapped back to look at him in an instant. "I'm in!"

"This could be pretty interesting." Zatanna nodded her head.

"Cool. Free food!" Garfield jumped up in glee.

More murmurs of agreement followed.

"Do we have to dress like that?" Conner suddenly asked, pointing at Kaldur's attire with a small grimace.

Tula sighed. It was going to be a long evening.

One trip through the Zeta Tube and a boat ride later – and lacking any new apparel, much to the relief of Conner – the Team was proven correct about the "secluded" aspect of the event. A little island to themselves just a few miles off the mainland. A large table with enough seats for everyone on the Team was set before them. Kaldur silently thanked King Orin for allowing this, knowing how secretive the man was of many things in Atlantis. Their technology, slowly being integrated into the world above. Embassies hardly revealed themselves to any humans. And no civilians had yet to even leave the water and experience the world above them for the first time since the great city of Atlantis sunk into the ocean.

Until Orin had made contact with the Justice League and joined their ranks, the very idea of contacting with the upper world for reasons unconnected to war was nothing more than a dream. Now, as Kaldur looked at the people he had grown to see as more than just friends and as family, he knew that this was the beginning of a new age for his people. It was the start of bridges being built between two different worlds, now.

"I wish to thank all of you for agreeing to this event." Kaldur said as he took a seat at one corner of the long table. "The Moontide Festival is a cherished event in Atlantis. Traditionally, there is a festival before actual feasting, but we only had time to prepare the meal, unfortunately."

"Nonetheless, this will be a wonderful evening with all of you." Tula beamed, though Kaldur thought it looked rather…forced. Her outfit was swapped in exchange for an exact replica with blue and purple to complement Kaldur's attire. Her tunic left her lower stomach exposed. Garth was dressed similar to Kaldur, except he had no tunic on.

Out of the corner of his eye, Kaldur saw Rocket shifting her gaze from the steaming trays on the table to Garth every now and again.

"Mostly because of the food." Garth smirked as he and Tula took a seat in-between Garfield and Rocket. He didn't notice Rocket blushing at the glare Tula had given he and enclosed his hand around his girlfriend's own.

Garfield sniffed at the steaming trays with suspicion. "This isn't fish, right? Cause I don't eat fish."

"Why not?" Garth asked, looking at the green boy.

Garfield glowered at him. "What part of Beast and Boy do you not remember in my name?"

"Newcomer. Remember?" Garth said bluntly.

"Wait a minute." Robin paused. "Fish? I thought you didn't eat fish. You mentioned seaweed in your diet, once, but…"

Kaldur stared at him.

"I-I mean, you're fish, too!" Robin said hopelessly. He muttered under his breath. "Gonna shut up, now."

"Wait, does this make you guys cannibals?!" Artemis stared at the trays in horror while Tula banged her head against the table.

"I am beginning to wonder if any of you have a basic understanding of Atlanteans…" Kaldur said slowly.

"They called us 'Waterbenters' earlier, so I doubt it." Garth muttered loud enough for the others to hear. The shuffling of chairs that followed had no conversation, no excitement or interest in the event that was there just a few moments before. Only silence.

"Garth…" Tula chided her boyfriend, but Kaldur could sense that she too was becoming a little tense. But Garth pulled his hand that was just entwined in Tula's own away and looked at the others accusingly.

"First, they treat us like jokes when we tried stalling for time." Garth growled.

"You do realize it was because the 'mole' thing came out of nowhere and not because of you guys, right?"

Garth glared at Rocket and continued. "Then, they make remarks that I am certain were meant to be offensive, calling us 'Waterbenders' and then suggesting it had to do with sexual preferences. And then they suggested I was pregnant! Now, they are claiming we eat our own kind like it is some sort of joke!"

He slammed his hands onto the table at the end of this rant.

"They also said we had flippers instead of hands." Tula glared at Robin, who had the decency to blush and look down like a child scolded for naughty behavior.

Kaldur looked at his teammates. He sighed. "Someone explain this to me."

"Tula acted weird when Wally wanted to leave the Cave, something about an ending?" Zatanna started, her face suggesting confusion over some parts of the story.

"Lost." Wally said, startling Zatanna. "Tula said she was confused about the ending to the show, Lost. I got them hooked a few months ago."

"I could tell she was hiding something." M'gann added. "I mean, I wasn't trying to read their minds, but I could tell that they were hiding something."

"We all could." Conner pointed out.

"Garth dropped a lot of dishes and then they started to claim that they were in league with the Injustice League and the Light." Artemis said as if she were still trying to wrap her head around the earlier event.

"We might have pressed a few buttons." Robin added nervously.

"And by might have, he means we totally pissed them off." Wally said in a bored tone.

"Would it help if we said we were sorry?" Garfield looked at Kaldur nervously. Kaldur took a deep breath and looked at everyone.

"In light of this behavior, I am beginning to realize that I neglected to tell you much about life back home." Kaldur said. "And let me be the one to saw this and not ask how it came to be, but we in Atlantis do not have pregnant men."

"Okay." Garfield smiled. Kaldur returned the grin, expecting it to be the end of the awkward discussion when another question came out of the boy's mouth. "So…do you guys lay eggs or something?"

Garth and Tula looked at him incredulously. M'gann looked at Garfield disapprovingly. No one else attempted to speak up for a few moments.

"Um…" Wally began when no one bothered with making attempts at conversation. "So…Kal, what do you recommend we try out, first? Smells good."

Kaldur smiled at his red-haired friend. "We have tuna to your left and crabs in front of me. There are plenty of shellfish and wakeme, imported from Japan."

"Are there more of you in Asia, then?" Robin leaned towards Kaldur with a look of interest.

"No." Kaldur shook his head. "But Batman had this delivered for tonight in compensation for not joining us for the meal."

"Anything I could eat that doesn't sound gross or taste like fish?" Garfield asked.

Kaldur pointed to the large jug over by Conner's end with green liquid inside. "Spirulina makes for great seasoning and drinks, as I have recently learned on my time above the surface. Try it."

The jug was lifted off the ground, Kaldur could imagine invisible strings attached to it, and made its way towards the green boy. He caught the jug and slowly poured some of the concoction into his glass. He smiled at M'gann in thanks.

"How do you guys cook underwater?" Zatanna asked. She sniffed and pulled off one of the lids and gasped. "It looks delicious!"

"Water magic does not just involve manipulating the element to our will." Kaldur said. "If enough power is put into it, we can generate heat from the water we are controlling. Often to the point of firing hot jets of bubbles in conflict. It is not uncommon to see chefs throughout Atlantis that are skilled in water magic."

The conversation slowly moved away from food and more into the people themselves, which Garth and Tula helped to answer with no ill will among them, and eventually into politics. Robin quickly mastered the Atlantean salute for royalty – raising one's fist to their forehead, similar to the military salute for the surface world – and Conner, who was known to be a linguist, was shocked to hear Kaldur speak in his native tongue and failed to understand what he was saying.

As the Team began eating the food provided for them with earnest – Garfield avoided all the fish and kept to his spirulina smoothies – everyone started relaxing and started creating conversations in three groups. Garth, Tula and Kaldur were not together and began trading stories with their friends about their own separate adventures. Zatanna and Artemis surprised everyone with a chilling story from Halloween from a year ago, with Garth drilling them for details about what kind of magic their enemy, a man who called himself Harm, was using.

Kaldur and Tula took turns teaching Conner the Atlantean tongue, swapping groups whenever they wanted a break.

"– and that was when Kaldur and I struck Ocean Master from behind and allowed our king to win the day!" Garth said to his audience of Artemis, Robin, and Rocket. "It was afterwards that King Orin offered both of us a chance to be his companion and squire. Had I said yes that day, perhaps we would have known each other sooner."

"I could see that." Robin nodded along.

"Do it again!" Garfield cried out in glee, amazed at the fluid movements Tula went through in the technique she was demonstrating to him, M'gann, Conner, and Zatanna.

"Is there any hope for me to learn that?" Zatanna asked hopefully when Tula turned the water in her hands into ice. "Looks like it follows a similar principal."

Tula smiled sadly at her. "I am afraid that this magic is exclusive to those in Atlantis. Though you might benefit from a few tips."

"Some turn of events, huh?" Wally smirked at Kaldur, who had taken a step back and allowed Tula and Garth to interact with the others. He looked at the Speedster, unsurprised that he was enjoying his fourth helping of seaweed. "This is good stuff."

"I find it embarrassing that I never thought of telling you of my heritage until today." Kaldur said quietly. "If a relationship between the surface world and Atlantis is to survive, we must stop relying on stereotypes and false facts."

"Say, that reminds me." Wally swallowed a mouthful of seaweed. "What stereotypes do you guys have for us back at Atlantis."

"The usual." Kaldur said casually. "They believe surface-dwellers do nothing but pollute, engage in noisy warfare, and breed at a rate that suggest high child mortality rates."

Wally blushed. "That…does sound surprisingly accurate for the most part. Could I ask you one more question about Atlantis. Kal?

"All questions are welcome, my friend."

"This one might not be, though." Kaldur frowned. "So…what's the bathroom situation like? Do you swim in your own pee or is there a place where you handle that stuff?"

Kaldur surprised Wally by suddenly laughing. "You know something, Kid? I am not certain of that myself. Though, perhaps you would not mind if I asked where you put all of that food you eat each day?"

"You don't want to know…"

Author's Note: We never got a chance to learn more about Kaldur's culture in Young Justice and I sadly made a joke earlier in this story about him not eating fish. One reviewer suggested this and it wasn't easy, but I tried to expand upon a culture that was barely brushed up on, even in the comics. We only hear about the politics, not much about celebrations or how they cook food and the big question Wally just asked in the end.

The costume designs for Kaldur's fesitval attire were partially inspired by Atlantis: The Lost Empire (how a Disney movie would be considered bad for not having songs in them is nonsensical). As always, be sure to suggest cliches to tackle, everyone on the Team deserves love, even those in Season 2. I have several ideas for Robin, but he has agreed that his friends come first.

In the writing world, I will see you!