Darkest

Mount Justice

March 23

9:05 E.S.T

"Recognized, Wonderbat: B-00, Skotádi-," The overhead voice announces.

"Hey, Add's," Nightwing greets, standing in the center of the mission room.

"Hey," I reply, moving to give him a hug while Sko moves to the living room, most likely sensing Wolf lounging about.

"How are you doing?" He asks, returning the hug.

'Odd… Dick doesn't do 'hugs'... even after Jason,' I note haphazardly.

"I'll live, I suppose," I sigh.

"Thought you weren't coming in today?" He asks, pulling away from me.

"I wasn't going to, but I felt the extreme urge," I explain.

"To see Jay or Artemis?" He asks.

'He said 'Jay'… in the Cave… I can't even say his real name out loud in the Cave without putting Tim and Dick at serious risk of being discovered,' I mentally scrutinize.

"Both," I answer.

"I won't keep you then," He smiles softly.

'What's with the smile?' I wonder.

"Right, I'll just… be in the Grotto then… Call down if you need anything," I wave, making my way down to the shrines.

"You'll be the first," He smiles.

'Richard…?' I wonder if someone has replaced my brother with an imposter.

As I make my way down into the grotto, I feel a strong presence.

As my feet hit the rocky floor of the grotto, I spot Conner staring up at the hologram of Artemis.

"Hey Conner," I greet as I take the last few steps down.

"Add's?" He asks. "Didn't think you'd be in for a while."

"I wasn't going to, but, Han brought up a few points," I admit. "He said the time to grieve is after the war is won. Of course I'm paraphrasing, but you get the gist."

"Yeah, he's got a point, I guess," He nods, his bright blue gaze making it's way back up to Artemis' Hologram.

She looks so stoic. Standing up straight, shoulders back, eyes forward and bow in hand. I know she'd probably say 'Why not make it more realistic? Put me in some sweats, and sit me down on the couch. I'm not that serious guys.'

"Hey, I forgot to tell you happy birthday," I remember. "We're a whole six years old now."

"Feel's like it's been forever," Conner chuckles lightly.

"That I can concur to," I agree. "Some days more than others, it feels like just yesterday when we were rescued from Cadmus. But then on others, it feels like we've been out for twice as long as we really have been."

"Sometimes it's too much to think about," Conner states, his gaze softening at Artemis's hologram.

"She's in a better place, Conner," I try to reassure, placing a hand on his shoulder. "On Themyscira, we believe that death is the first step of many that a soul shall take. Once introduced to the Underworld, there are three paths one could take: Elysium, Rebirth, or Eternal Punishment. Artemis was a good woman. One of the best I know. She would not deserve punishment. So that option would be put away in her case. I'd like to think that she is resting happily in Elysium, but on the other hand, she's too restless for that. She might choose rebirth in a week or so."

Conner chuckles for a moment, silently agreeing with me.

I didn't hear them come in, but I sure heard them shoot a laser beam right past Conner's head, just before someone large attacked him into the ground.

On instinct, I flip up into the rafters, and observe the enemy.

'I spy… Icicle Jr… and Tommy Terror?' I wonder. 'No way those two are smart enough to get in here without help! There's more people here.'

"Terror! Move!" Icicle shouts, firing up his powers to freeze Superboy in place.

I decide to take action, leaping down from my spot, and onto the unsuspecting villain.

"What the- hey, get off!" He shouts as I grab him by the hair, and lead him face first into the wall.

He tries to freeze my arms in place, but is beaten when I feel Tommy grab my shoulder, and toss me off of him, and into the wall behind Jason's shrine.

"Ain't be recognizin' you, lil'girl!" Tommy shouts as I regain my balance.

My eyes narrow, and I take off at him.

'I'm small, fast, and angry. Use that to my advantage,' I mentally coach myself.

He readies himself to counter attack me, but I use his stance to my advantage. I jump on his knee, using this as leverage to launch myself up, using my own skull to knock his jaw up, in turn, taking him off balance.

"I don't know who you are, but I like you!" Icicle Jr shouts, catching me off guard, and freezing me in place.

'HOLY MOTHER OF HERA, THIS IS COLD!' Is my only internal thought as I attempt to break out of the ice, only to see Superboy frozen as well.

I can't hear what they're saying, but I do hear the ice around Superboy crack open mere seconds after he is encased in it.

He speeds over to me, and punches a hole through my own encasement, weakening it enough for me to shatter it as well.

"W.B, I think you should change now!" S.B shouts.

"Agreed," I narrow my eyes at the other two boys in the room, and begin to twirl.

My uniform takes no time to grace itself upon my figure as I prepare for a battle mere seconds after I transform.

"Wait," Icicle Jr stops himself. "That little girl is Wonderbat?"

He begins to laugh.

"I'm not little!" I shout, my face turning red at the term 'little'.

'Sure I'm short, but don't call me little!That's insulting!'

"Dude! You got your butt kicked by a 6 year old!" He cracks up even more.

I was too distracted by his sudden out burst that I didn't notice said Terror placing inhibitor collars around Conner's neck, as well as mine.

"Oi!" I shout, trying to rip it off of me, as Conner throws a punch at the Terror.

"Sorry kids, collar's done shut off your strength," Terror taunts, crushing Conner's fist in his large hand.

"And that's not all it can do," Icicle Jr.'s taunting voice states as he pulls out a small rectangular device, pushing the center, with is promptly followed by a strong electric current flowing out from the collars, and through my veins.

'I've felt this before,' I remember as the pain increases. 'The last time I felt this, I went out of control.

"Oh-ho!" Terror laughs at my struggle. "She ain't goin' down without a fight!"

"Like I said," Icicle Jr. steps on my arm, holding me down. "I like her."

'Keep it in, Addie! You can't afford to do that thing again! Not here! Not when there's a risk of hurting everyone in the cave,' I try to focus myself.

'Okay, think: You can't do that thing in here, but if this keeps up, you'll lose control. You can't just give up, but right now, passing out is the best, safest option for you, and everyone in the cave.' I list my options.

'Faint it is,' I nod internally, immediately ceasing my struggle, and letting unconsciousness take over my mind.

Haneul P.O.V

Coven's House

Dimension: Unknown

"Shouldn't you be telling you little lady about this?" The rough voice of Constantine asks through the crystal link.

Constantine, a close associate of mine, back in my… questionable days, has been assisting me in my search for a cure to my problem.

I told Adeline when we met for the second time that I was cursed. I blackmailed her into helping me find the crystal that would help me push it out of my body, but we were lured into a trap.

On the way out, neither one of us thought to grab a piece of it so we could exfoliate my cure safely, instead of Klarion slamming it back into me over, and over, and over, and over again.

"Wonderbat is already stressed enough," I answer. "She lost a dear friend not a few weeks ago, and a former team mate is the one responsible for her murder. She does not need this on her mind."

"That's not what I mean, Scar," Constantine huffs. "She needs to know that you're still dying. It won't be long until you start feeling more symptoms. And they won't be so light."

"Don't you think I am aware of this?" I almost snap at the man. "I've been alive for many centuries, Constantine. I remember my days of better health. I know that I don't have much time, but she needs me to be strong-"

"You and I both know that's a load of crap," Constantine interrupts, most likely taking a puff from his cigarette. "If she knew, she'd want to help you find the cure faster than we could. She'd baby you. And she has more than enough people there to be strong for her. Her brother, your brothers, the Amazons, et cetera."

I glare at the glowing crystal from across my bed.

"Don't make that face at me, you know I'm right," Constantine states. "Listen: In order to get the crystal, I've got to do a little more than I anticipated. Go through a powerhouse."

"What power house?" I ask furrowing my brows. "You said it was a bunch of nobodies."

"Yeah, well, 'a-bunch-of-nobodies' got taken out, and replaced with this other guy who found out about it," He explains.

"Who?" I ask angerly.

"Some kid who calls himself 'Fear'," He answers. "Stupid name if you ask me, but this kid isn't all that special. Not the only one of his kind anyways."

"How do you figure?" I ask.

"Kid's a Yellow Lantern," Constantine states.

"Yellow lant… Nash Jordan?" I ask. "This… this is troubling…"

"How so?"

"To put it simply, he and I have some…'beef' as you say," I partially answer. "He and I are not on the best terms. He's tried to kill me a few times. He almost succeded once, but my brothers showed up, and granted me much as I hate to admit it, he is strong. And he will not be an easy opponent. Believe me, Constantine. And pon top of this, he is aware of this crystal's properties. He won't give them up so easily."

"Well, good thing I got it from under his nose then," Constantine huffs. "Sound's like it wouldn't have been so nice to tussle with him."

I smile brightly, and run a hand through my hair.

"Constantine, you scoundrel-"

"Come on Scar, no one says 'scoundrel' anymore," He reprimands. "I'll have a few of my guys take it over to you. You still in that place down in New Orleans?"

"No," I answer. "But you can send your 'guys' there."

"Still don't trust me? After all of the trouble I went through to get this shiny little thing?" He asks sarcastically.

"I learned from the best, Constantine," I answer. "Trust no one."

"I suppose I did teach you well, kid," He says fondly. "I'll send it off now. Expect it within the next few weeks."

"I appreciate this, Constantine," I say truthfully. "We've had our troubles, but I'm glad I can still rely on you."

"Forget it, kid. I still owed you, remember?" He asks. "Consider this my pay-back. Now you get yourself well, you hear me? And settle down with the Amazon. She's tough, but she's got a good life ahead of her if you stay alive."

"Good bye, Constantine," I narrow my eyes at the crystal.

"I'm just saying she's good for you-"

I wave my hand over the crystal, ending the transmission.

'Settle down with Adeline, huh?' I recall, pulling out a newspaper from Bludhaven, turning back to the page filled with apartment's for rent, thinking over the ones already circled in blue pen.

My crystal begins to glow again, signaling a new call.

I wave my hand, and it brings it through.

"Eotteohge dowa deulilkkayo?" I ask.

"Han! Get to the cave!" The deep voice of Kyung shouts.

"Kyung? WHat happened?" I ask, sitting upright on my couch.

"It's gone! All of it! There was a bomb, and there were others here, hurry!"

"Wait… Adeline said she was going in today… Is she hurt? Is she okay?"

"We can't find her," He answers.

My eyes widen, and I make a portal to the Cave.

I don't grab my jacket, or any other items of magical significance. I just run.

Seconds later, I step out of my portal, standing next to Kyung and the others.

I come face to face with a mountain on fire.

I can feel the heat radiating off of the flames, making me begin to sweat, and I;m not even at the base of the mountain.

"...Adeline…" I whisper.

"We can't find her anywhere!" Seung states, using his locator magic to try to find her.

"Wait, what's that?" Jeong asks, pointing at a golden dot.

"Mal!" Hwan points out to the direction of the dot out at sea.

"Help him out!" Kyung orders.

Hwan and Seung use their magic to blast themselves out to the ocean, and help Mal take whoever was with him back to the shore.

"She is probably with them," Kyung states, placing a hand on my shoulder.

As Mal and the others are pulled to shore, I list them off:

Mal, Nightwing, Superboy, Wolf, Skotádi...

"Where is she?" I begin to panic. "Nightwing! Where is she?!"

I grip his uniform, and pull his face close to mine.

"She's gone…" He answers. "Kaldur, the Terrors, Icicle Jr, and a new girl, Tigress… They took her, Impulse, Blue Beetle, and Beast Boy… I-I don't know where…"

I feel my heart drop to the floor. Maybe it stopped beating at all. I can't be sure.

"What do you mean?" I ask quietly, releasing him. "You were supposed to protect her… what do you mean they took her?!"

"Haneul, please, we'll find her," Kyung starts to grab my arm.

"I will find her," I growl at him, yanking my arm back. "Clearly I'm the only one suited to do so!

I storm off, Sko following shortly behind me, sniffing the air for Adeline.

Hall of Justice

D.C

3:00 A.M

After I stormed off, I decided that I wanted answers. How did they get into the cave? Who were they with? Where is Adeline? Do I contact Donna Troy and the other Amazons?

I followed Nightwing all the way to the Hall of Justice in D.C.

'Why is he here? You have another base of operations in Bludhaven, and you still have a home in the Batcave,' I deduce, attempting to reach out and read his thoughts.

"Recognized. Kid Flash. B-0-3," I hear the computer announce, stopping me in my pursuit.

'Kid Flash? You as well?' I wonder from behind the bookshelf. 'What is going on?'

"What. Happened?" I hear K.F growl at Nightwing from the other room.

"It was necessary," Nightwing states.

"It better have been. Spill," K.F snarls.

'Necessary?' I repeat. 'What is he talking about?'

"Aqualad needed to find a way to help us rescue Lagoon Boy. He had already injected a microscopic tag into La'gaan's bloodstream," Nightwing explains. "And he used the raid on the cave to pass essential intel. A flash drive with, among other things, tracking software that can locate the tag."

"Like that's all he did," K.F snorts in disapproval.

'What?' My mind races. 'Nightwing, what is going on?'

"Wally, he had to make it look good. He put inhibitor collars on us. But he knew I'd get us out of them," Dick tries.

"He took four more hostages! Members of your team!" K.F shouts. "And not just any 'members'! They took Adeline! They took your sister! They took our sister, Dick!"

"And we'll rescue them when we rescue Lagoon Boy," Nightwing reassures.

'WHAT?!' I shout in my head, slapping my hands over my mouth so I don't make a sound.

"Dick, he blew up the cave! You guys almost died!" K.F shoves Nightwing in the chest with his fists, pushing him back slightly.

"No, it's all on the flash drive. He knew I'd have to pursue to make it look legit, and that's exactly what happened. He gave us time to get out. We just... We got caught in the debris fields from the explosion," Nightwing sighs, unpleased with himself.

"Do you even hear yourself? What if even one of you had been left behind? Huh? Why take that risk? Why go to such extremes?" K.F shoots off.

'NIGHTWING, YOU DID WHAT!?' I begin to let my magic swirl angrily around my hands.

"The drive explains that too. He- He needed to cement his position with the Light, and the Light's partner-"

"Wasn't that why he 'murdered' Artemis?" K.F air quotes 'murdered'.

"I guess it didn't convince everyone," Nightwing states.

'WHAT!?" I shout mentally. 'ARTEMIS IS ALIVE?!'

I didn't realize I choked out a growl until all conversation screeched to a halt.

My heart pounds as I decide to step out from behind the bookcase, with my hands still surrounded by magic.

Both boy's eyes widen as I step into the light. Both realizing their mistake of not talking in private, immediately.

"Han" Dick begins slowly.

"Don't 'Han', me, Nightwing," I growl. "You better have a good explanation for this, and you better explain in within the next two seconds if you want to keep your life."

"It's kind of a two minute thing-" K.F begins.

"SHUT IT, WEST," I roar at the former Kid Flash. "I want an explanation now, Richard Grayson. And this better be the best thing I've heard in my life."

"You're not going to like this," He begins.

"So Aqualad just up and leaving was planned?" I ask. "And Artemis is alive? And Adeline had some surge of mystical power over her death for no reason? And she's been on the brink of a mental breakdown because of her fake death for no reason? And she's been doubting her every move because she couldn't save Artemis from her fake death, for no reason?! And now she was captured by Aqualad in the cave today FOR NO REASON?!"

"Well, when you put it like that-" Dick sighs.

"Is there any other way I should put it?!" I all but snap at him. "Now I understand why people under stress go into a psychotic meltdown! No wonder Harleen Quinzel is so screwed up…"

"Han, think about it for a second!" Nightwing tries. "You know it isn't her fault, because it didn't even happen. Artemis is alive, and she's going to come back safe and sound."

"That's not the point, Richard!" I shout. "The point is, she almost became a murderer, again, because she thought Artemis died under her watch, by a former friend! She almost cooked him like a trout, and he didn't even kill her! Great spirits, Dick, what were you thinking?!"

"I was thinking about what's best for this planet, Haneul!" He defends. "I saw a pattern, and Kaldur was willing to help us figure out what was going on!"

"And why did you not bother to consult us with this 'pattern', huh?!" I argue. "Aren't we a team?"

"Of course we are!" Nightwing defends.

"Oh really?" I shout. "Teams are supposed to trust each other! Teams stick together!"

"Han, we hav-...had a plan," K.F tries to calm us down.

"It doesn't matter what the plan was, West," I turn to the speedster. "Clearly plans change. You know, like the Alien BOMB IN OUR CAVE?!"

"It was necessary-"

"You keep telling yourself that," I growl at Nightwing. "I need to leave."

"Wait, Han, come on," Wally tries to grab my arm.

"If you touch me, I make no guarantee you will keep that arm right now, West," I state, backing up, moving towards the zeta tubes. "I am in no mental state to be reasoned with, and if I do not remove myself from this situation, neither of you will be in a mental state to do anything but breathe and eat from a tube."

"Recognized, Scarlet Magician-" The female voice announces as it disbands my particles, and reassembles them to my new destination.

Eotteohge dowa deulilkkayo?= How can I help you?

Then again... google translate... please correct me if I'm wrong!

Listen... Voltron Season 2 came out on friday, new episodes of Sherlock too, season 2 of Seven Deadly Sins is coming out on valentines day... (good because Ban is my love.)... I'm too busy fangirling at the moment.

So yeah... I've been gone, Trump is president (cough not my president cough), and I give you a cliff hanger (literally/not literally) It's okay to hate me. Let's get to these reviews, yeah?

Blank Devil: Yeah... about meeting grandma... lol ;P they'll meet soon enough, and I promise it shall be more entertaining.

Luna Star Phantom: Yes. Brutality. I love it. Sorry to worry you! I'e just been busy with exams starting, and college essays... yeah. Busy me.

Tempestae Night: (hope I spelled it right!) Fairy Tail: Duely noted :)

Boyy 2K: I figure Han would want to give off a good impression when meeting Donna for thee first time :)

Mystery Lobster: Don;t worry! I know I sent you a message, but for others reading, this is not an M rated story. There will be no smut/lemons/limes, nothin! Not until Red Hood atleast... cough cough, nudge nudge... Just wanted others to know as well!

Josephguy217: Yes. Much better. lol

Well that about wraps it up! Except for those of you reading your own comments, here's this:

ATTENTION READERS:

1) this is not an M rated story. There will be no smut/lemons/limes, nothin!...

Not until Red Hood at least... cough cough, nudge nudge...

2) I need ya'll to vote on what fandom I should 'fic for' next! I'll post up a poll on my page, But if you are a guest and would like to vote, do so in the comment section! I'll still count it! So I'll repost the list here:

-Gargoyles (Brooklyn/Oc)

-Voltron: Legendary Defender (Maybe Shiro/oc... maybe Kieth/oc)

-Once Upon a Time (nightmare before christmas, Jack/Sally)

-Fairy Tail (Laxus/Oc) 1 vote already

-Magi (Sinbad/Oc)-recently added

3) PLEASE CHOOSE ONE. I NEED TO KNOW WHICH ONE TAKES PRIORITY. I'VE BEGUN THE FIRST CHAPTER TO ALL OF THEM.

-Gargoyle77