Hey Readers!

This is the last chapter of the story. Thank you to everyone who read, followed, favorited, and reviewed this story. This chapter's for you.

Goodbye to the Past, Hello to the Future:

"You can do this," Sam told himself, staring at the set of doors in front of him. "It'll be fine; you're ready for this." Still, he hesitated before opening the doors, walking into the room that would determine his entire future.

It was dark, with only a circle of light in the middle of the room being the only illumination; a spotlight almost, directing him where to stand. The teen cautiously walked forward, on guard for any attack, and stood in the center of the room, waiting to see what would happen. The other Rookies who went before him never came back outside; they were simply called into the room for their Final Tests one at a time, and now he waited with bated breath for whatever was to come.

He and the other Lanterns had flown back to Oa a little over a week ago, and the Rookies and he had finished their training with Kilowog, preparing them for whatever the final test may be. The training sergeant didn't know what the test consisted of, but made them do everything from sparring to drills to lecturing about lantern lore and even reviewing basics. Of course, there was a certain air of awkwardness; Elantra had been sent to the Guardians, tried for her crimes, and sentenced to some sort of prison called the Sciencells, where she would spend the rest of her life. Also, of course, there was Sam himself; everyone there saw how truly powerful he could be, and knew that they would never view their friend the same way.

Speaking of friends, Kilowog no longer insulted Sam, used him as a training dummy, or even called him a Poozer; however, he was still as adamant with him as he was with the others when it came to training, determined not to show favorites. However, each evening, they spent about an hour getting to know one another, simply talking about their lives, slowly and surely becoming friends. The Bolovaxian talked about his life back on his planet, his family, his son who was Sam's age when he was killed, and some of his adventures in the Corp. Sam, meanwhile, told him about his life before the Corp; the happy years with his dad was alive, the time he broke his arm after the neighbor's dog accidentally ran into his path, and of his time on Oa, training with the other Rookies and growing in his power. Of course, it was awkward at first, given the history between the two, but both found that the time spent just talking, not having to worry about protecting the universe or do anything else, to be enjoyable.

"Do you think I'll pass," he had asked the officer the previous day after training. "Even with my age and lack of maturity?"

The alien hesitated, but then nodded. "Yep. You're gonna be great."

"Honest?"

"Honest." And besides that, the teen had gotten no other support, but he knew that Kilowog was telling the truth, and couldn't prepare him for everything. All he could do was wait for his time to show what he could do, and hope that the Guardians-

"Samuel McDormand."

A light turned on somewhere above him, and Sam looked up, squinting as his eyes readjusted, his thoughts interrupted. Then, he gasped, finally seeing the Guardians of Oa for the first time.

They were on some sort of platform floating above him, staring down at him. They all looked similar; short, blue skin, and white hair. They stood there, maybe twelve or more of them, silently judging him; the teen found himself straightening up so he wasn't slouching. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to answer them or not, but they seemed to be waiting for something.

"Y-Yes," he finally said, trying to keep his voice even and praying it didn't crack.

"Present your ring," one of them said, his voice somehow echoing through the room. Sam wasn't sure what that meant, but figuring he should do something, he took off his ring, holding it up to them. It floated out of his hand, hovering in front of the tiny aliens, glowing brightly.

"You have come far since you were chosen, Samuel," one of them said, the ring floating over to his hands, and he examined it. "But your journey started long before the ring found you."

"Uh… yeah," he replied, not sure of what else to say; the Guardians had apparently been around for thousands of years, so he didn't doubt that they knew stuff about him.

"Your peers have told us of your exploits," another Guardian said. "Your reputation precedes you."

"Is… is that a good thing?"

A few of them actually laughed at that, only making him more worried about what might come. "That depends on who you ask," another one of them said, the ring floating back to Sam, who took it from the air. "But they are not the ones to judge your character or worthiness of the ring. We are." The teen gulped nervously, waiting for the hammer to fall.

"Now, one thing I've noticed is that he hasn't let his age go to his head," one of the aliens spoke up. "He's the youngest Lantern we've ever had so far, and human, no less, and you know how prone they are to bragging." There was a murmur of agreement from all sides, and Sam decided to keep his mouth shut, though his cheeks burned.

"But that doesn't mean he is without faults," another one said. "His age makes him especially vulnerable, since his mind is still adapting to the world around him, and he still has much to learn."

"But he is not inhibited by the mental restraints that most adults have," another one said. "He still believes that he could do anything with the ring, and that confidence has been seen in his fighting abilities and constructs."

"Yes, let's discuss that," a Guardian said, looking down at the boy. "You created a blast radius of over 300 yards, and a noise equivalent to that of a sonic boom." The others turned to the human as well, as if expecting an explanation.

"Um," Sam started, trying not to show how scared he was, "well… I kind of… let my emotions get the better of me, and-"

"We are aware of the circumstances surrounding your exit from Oa," one of the blue aliens spoke up.

"But what interests us," another continued, "is what happened on Earth; many of our Lanterns told us of what you did to save your friends, and we find it most curious."

"You and me both," Sam muttered.

"You have a great knack for memory constructs, visible throughout the odd music devices you created while you fought, and most prominent in the appearance of every past wielder of your ring. Never before had we met someone with that kind of ability; consider yourself lucky that you were able to hone it enough to help your friends."

"However it happened," another alien said, "the fact remains that he is too unstable to properly wield the ring!"

"But he has completed all of his training," another one argued. "And he saved not only a group of our Lanterns and his fellow Rookies, but his own species as well. The battlefield is where one needs to properly wield their ring, and I say he did a good job." More comments of the teen's ability to ring sling filled the room, and the human wondered if he would ever get tested on something; he knew that the Guardians were… interesting, but he couldn't stand just waiting for something to happen.

"But we must get back to the matter at hand," a Guardian said, silencing the others. "Samuel McDormand stands before us as a candidate of being a full member of the Green Lantern Corps. It is time for his Test."

"Agreed," the others spoke at once, their collective voice echoing through the room. Sam gulped, ready for anything that might come… hopefully.

"We have seen your life," a central alien told him. "Your ring contains your memories, your every experience before and after the ring chose you. You have great potential to be a great Lantern, and have shown the ability to overcome great fear. But you know that being a Lantern means certain sacrifices on your behalf; mainly, the absences from your planet and family, as well as loosing the youthful and care-free time of your life." Sam felt his heart sink at those words; did this mean he was being assigned somewhere off of Earth? How far away was it?

"Your final test," the Guardian continued, "is to say goodbye to the life you have led before this moment. Because once you bear the insignia of the Corp, your life is no longer yours, but belongs to every being in this universe under your protection."

The teen froze, not sure of what to do. He had to say goodbye to his past life? How the heck was he supposed to do that? Just say, "Sorry old me, goodbye forever?" It seemed like too easy a task, and wondered if it could actually be that simple. Besides, he and the Rookies were told that each of them needed to create a construct for the Guardians to observe, so how was he supposed to show that he was leaving his past-

The answer suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks, and he was scared, knowing what would happen next. Of course, he had no idea what to expect, but all thoughts of anything else he had prepared to make were out the window as he knew what had to be done. Why else would the Guardians focus on his memory construct abilities; they obviously wanted to see what he could do. Still, it was crazy to think about, and he spent a minute building up the courage and willpower to do what needed to be done. So, taking a breath and letting it go, he held up his ring, and two constructs appeared in front of him. He ignored the Guardians, focusing on the two most important people in his life as they stood before him.

His mother looked the same that she had looked the day he'd left Oa after the battle; trying to keep a brave face, but her eyes still tearing up. Of course, it wasn't really her; it was just a construct based on Sam's perception of his real mom, but, since it was based on his memories, it acted and looked just like his mom back on Earth. She smiled at him, holding the hand of the construct next to her.

Even after he'd gotten his ring months before, Sam had never made a construct of his father; he didn't want to see him again, plus he wasn't sure if it would even work. Now, his father stood before him, smiling as well. He looked the same he had so many years ago, even down to the tiny scar on his ear from the time an infant Sam had thrown his spoon at him.

"Hi mom," Sam said. "Hi… dad."

"Long time no see," his dad said, smiling, but a trace of sadness in his tone.

The teen nodded. "No kidding. Do you know that the real you-"

"I know," his dad replied. "But don't worry about me; I'm fine. Really, I am. But you know I have to say it."

"I… I know."

"I'm so proud of you, Sam," the construct told him. "You've come so far, and have grown into a fine young man."

"But," the boy said, "your music player-"

"Was just a music player; it was no longer mine once I gave it to you. In fact, it's almost a good thing that it was destroyed; now, you can go out and create your own stories. Your own happy memories and songs, so long as it is truly you. Promise me you'll do that?" Sam nodded, close to tears, as he turned to face his mom, not wanting to say goodbye to her again, even though it wasn't the real her.

"Mom," he said, "I just want you to know how sorry I am that this had to happen; you don't deserve to deal with the consequences of me being a Lantern."

"I know that," she replied, wiping her eyes, "but dang it, Sam; I knew that this would happen eventually. I knew… I knew long ago that I would have to say goodbye to you forever, resigning myself to living alone for the rest of my life. I will admit, I didn't expect it to come so soon, but know that I support you. Even if you cant see it or hear it, I will always love and support you. And… while visiting for Christmas may be a little bit harder, I think you have the will to do it." Sam laughed at that, a few tears in his eyes as his mom smiled and his dad grinned, that smile seeming to cheer him up for a little bit. Then he remembered what came next.

"I… I have to say goodbye to you both now," Sam told them, no longer able to tell that the constructs weren't real; even though they glowed green, they were his family to him. "Forever. Mom, I may never see you again for the rest of my life, and Dad-" He paused, more tears in his eyes. "I… I already said goodbye to you, but the music player brought you back, if only for a short while. But… it's time for me to move on again."

His parents nodded. "We understand," his dad told him. "I can't put a positive spin on this; all I can say is good luck, and that I love you."

"I agree," his mom said, crying as well. "But promise me this; don't forget us, or your life. You may have to say goodbye, but that doesn't mean you have to forget."

Now Sam was crying, his sobs echoing through the empty room. He never knew that being a Green Lantern involved so much emotion, but he figured that when you had a ring that tapped into your very mind itself, your emotions were probably affected in some way. The words were ready; all he had to do was say them. But, he couldn't help but run forward into his parent's arms, the three of them in one family hug, their sorrow and love shared as one. The constructs even felt like real people, and the teen almost smelled his dad's aftershave, along with the shampoo his mother used.

"G-Goodbye," he whispered, hugging them as more tears streamed down his face. "I… I love you both."

"We love you too," his dad told him as his mother hugged him. "And we forgive you." Then, as suddenly as they had appeared, they vanished, sending Sam to his knees, staring at the air in front of him.

Another cry echoed in the room, and Sam covered his face, trying to get himself under control; while his parents were gone, he knew that he couldn't very well sit there while the Guardians were watching him. And, knowing that he had to move on, he wiped his tears, stood up, and looked at the aliens, determined not to show weakness. He was still shaken by what he'd just been through, but he knew that he had to push through… it was no good to dwell on the past, especially with his new life ahead of him.

"You have passed the test," the central Guardian said simply, not affected by the emotional scene. "You are now a Green Lantern."

Hearing that, the teen was surprised that there wasn't more of a fanfare or happiness form him at the news. He was now a Green Lantern; he should be proud of himself, or at least glad he didn't fail, but he didn't feel different. If anything, he felt the same, and wondered if he was just still recovering from seeing his dad again.

"Now, for your assignment." The Guardians looked down at him, ready to deliver the sentence that would determine where Sam would live for the rest of his life. "Given your abilities with memory constructs, unlike any we've seen before, we have decided that you will be assigned to the following Sector of 2814. You will have the task of guarding the sector from harm, as well as assisting the other Lanterns stationed there, along with the unspoken assignment of defending Oa whenever necessary. However, you will also report to Oa in six months time, where you will be re-evaluated on your performance before returning to your sector. Do you accept this assignment?"

"Yes," Sam said, trying to remember where sector 2814 was; it sounded familiar, but he couldn't place where it was. He regretted now not researching where the important sectors were, so he had no idea how far from Earth this sector was. "Um… thank you, Guardians. I will serve the Corp with every ounce of being within me."

"Now, recite the oath," they told him.

Sam held up his ring, staring at it, still trying to remember where sector 2814 as he started to say the familiar chant. "In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who-" He stopped, his mouth dropping open in shock as he finally remembered that sector 2814 was where Earth was located. "YES!"

"What did you just say," one of the aliens asked, looking as surprised as the rest of them.

"Oh… sorry," the teen said quickly, flushing with embarrassment but smiling as he realized that he would be able to see his mom again, as well as visit her for Christmas. It looked like Earth, along with the other planets in the 2814 sector, had a new Green Lantern. So, as he recited the rest of the Oath, Sam couldn't help but grin as he knew that his life was about to change forever, but for the better.

IN BRIGHTEST DAY, IN BLACKEST NIGHT,

NO EVIL SHALL ESCAPE MY SIGHT,

LET THOSE WHO WORSHIP EVIL'S MIGHT,

BEWARE MY POWER… GREEN LANTERN'S LIGHT!

Five months later…

"I'm fine, mom," Sam told her, walking down a street in Canton, Ohio, where they lived now, finding it easy to hide in a crowd. "The movie was great."

"Just be careful," his mom replied, calling him during her lunch break at a middle school, where she worked as the office secretary. "Love you!"

"Love you too. Bye." Hanging up, he put on his headphones, went to his music, and pressed play on his playlist, smiling a little as "What's Up Danger" started playing in his ears.

Right now, life was good; sure, the move from Texas to Ohio was tough, but after everything Sam went through with the corp, it seemed easier. Plus, he and his mom were together as a family, which made him happy. Technically, he was supposed to be home schooled, but he didn't really study or need to; he'd be a Green Lantern until he died, so there was no need to study and get a degree. He still wanted to, though, but for now, he was content with exploring the city and protecting Earth, as well as occasionally hanging out with the Justice League, as well as a group of teenage superheroes who called themselves The Team (though John Stewart called them Young Justice). They'd offered for him to join their group, but he'd said no, deciding to wait until he knew his mom would be okay without him, as well as waiting for his meeting with the Guardians in a month to evaluate his behavior and skills, though he'd still go train with them a few times a week if they weren't on a mission.

Of course, after becoming a Lantern, he had to say some goodbyes. The other Rookies had their assignments in other sectors, and it would be a long time before he saw them again. Of course, having grown close over the two months they'd been together, it was sad for them all, but they all knew that they had their jobs now, so one by one, they left Oa. However, the teen still had his other Lantern friends from nearby; Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Jessica Cruz, and, whenever they could visit, Ch'p and Kilowog.

Now Sam and the Bolovaxian were friends, and had completely put their past behind them. Whenever the teen had to go to Oa to recharge his lantern battery or to check up on something for the other Lanterns of his sector, the training sergeant was there, the two of them acting like lifelong friends. And in a way, they were life-long friends now, seeing as how they'd be stuck working together for the rest of their lives, but the teen often joked that he'd outlast the Bolovaxian, which usually ended in the pink alien challenging him to a sparring match that the teen usually lost, though the alien would let him come close to winning. Sam always said he'd win someday, but the alien would simply help him to his feet, smirking at the thought.

But the most important change was with himself. Having moved on from the tape player, the teen had created two playlists on his phone; one held all the songs from his dad's cassette player, which he listened to every now and then. The other was his, compiled of his favorite songs, and each one having a specific memory attached to it. Maybe someday he'd tell someone about what each song meant, but for now, he was content with living in the moment, walking down the street, and witnessing a mugging in a nearby alleyway. Of course, it being a city, there was bound to be crime, and the teen always kept his eye out for anyone who needed his help.

"They can't ever take a day off," Sam said to himself, looking at the ring on his finger. "Well, let's get going then." Still listening to the music, he felt his uniform, now including a mask to hide his identity, covering his body as he stepped into the alleyway, and into the life of a Green Lantern.

And that's the end of the story. It was quite a ride from start to finish; looking back, I had no idea the story would turn out this way, and I feel that I'd gone on this journey with Sam. But now he's ready for the future, and I can rest easy, glad that my story turned out well.

Feel free to favorite this story, and feel free to leave a review on this chapter or others if you want. And, as usual, have a safe and happy week/weekend! Thanks for your support.

-aggiefrogger

Note: I do NOT own "What's up Danger" or Young Justice in ANY way, shape or form.