Greenhorn Hero
Chapter 6: Part of a Team
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or any of the characters involved except for Guardian F Forest and Guardian N Nature.
Blockbuster broke through the floor and slammed into a wall with Superboy, the others followed shortly after as he crashed back down to the ground. He turned toward them and released a roar.
"We gotta get him off Superboy!" Robin shouted.
The boys took off while Leaf held out her hands, they began to glow with a green aura.
"Finally, I can let loose," She said with a smile.
Kid Flash darted toward Blockbuster and easily dodged a downward smash before he delivered a powerful side-blow. Aqualad summoned a mace with his water handles and went to smash Blockbuster, but he was grabbed and thrown into Kid Flash. Robin threw some of his batarangs at the beast but it knocked them aside. It turned to hit him but suddenly fell forward onto its face, a vine of grass had snuck into the doorway and was wrapped around Blockbuster's ankle.
"I got him, get Superboy!" Leaf shouted as she lifted her hand, the vine lifted Blockbuster into the air and slammed him into the ceiling. The sidekicks recovered and retreated back to Leaf as she threw Blockbuster into a support pillar, sending him clean through and into the wall.
"That's it, guys, I've got a plan," Robin said as he pulled up a schematic of the room.
Blockbuster stood from the blow and shook his head, looking up he spotted the sidekicks huddled around Robin.
"Got it?"
They all nodded, "Good, now go!"
The team split up as Blockbuster roared a challenge and launched at them. Leaf ran to the left and dodged the charge as Superboy and Aqualad ran over to a pair of support pillars, smashing them down with two powerful blows. Kid Flash ran toward the door and looped back around as Blockbuster smashed into the wall on the opposite side.
"Hey! Over here you incredible bulk!" he shouted.
Blockbuster growled as he charged at Kid Flash who easily sidestepped his attack and watched Blockbuster destroy another pillar. Leaf had her hands out in front of her again and the vines smashed through the front doors, racing toward Blockbuster they wrapped around his ankles and upper arms, pinning them to his sides as he fell over.
Robin drew an X with some chalk as Aqualad poured water onto the ground, Superboy smashed another pillar before looking back at his team.
"Leaf, now!" Robin shouted.
She yelled with exertion as she threw Blockbuster toward the X, letting go with the vines he slammed into the floor and Aqualad knelt down, releasing lightning through his hands he electrocuted Blockbuster.
"We gotta go, now!" Robin shouted to the team.
Kid Flash darted back and picked up Leaf before rushing toward the door with the rest, as he ran past the last remaining pillars a pair of batarangs exploded, destroying all the support structures for the ceiling. The whole building began to collapse around them as they rushed toward the door, when it was clear they weren't going to make it Superboy and Aqualad leapt onto their teammates and shielded them with their bodies. After a minute the dust settled, and a large piece of debris was shoved out of the way as Superboy stood up. The rest of the team stood as well, heaving with exertion, their clothes in tatters around their bodies.
Leaf sighed as she leaned back and collapsed onto her back. "We did it," she said with a smile.
"Yes, we did," Aqualad confirmed.
Superboy was staring up at the sky however, the moon appearing large before his eyes.
"See, the moon," Kid Flash told him jokingly.
A figure began to appear in the sky, and as it approached it was revealed to be Superman.
"And Superman, are we good or what?" Kid Flash grinned as he crossed his arms over his chest. In short order the rest of the Justice League began to arrive.
Superboy approached Superman and showed him the S symbol on his chest, which seemed to infuriate the hero. Forest descended alongside Batman and Green Arrow was being flown via Green Lantern's ring.
"Nature!" He shouted.
She immediately shot up and stood, dusting herself off, her clothes seemed to stich themselves back together as she touched them. He approached her and when he was a foot away from her he was glaring down at her.
"What did I say?" He shouted.
"Stay put," she replied weakly.
"Stay put!" He shouted confirmation.
"Forest, perhaps this is a tad much," Batman said as he walked over and put a hand on his shoulder.
Forest turned to Batman with anger all over his face, but he quickly seemed to calm down, looking at Nature he smiled.
"Are you hurt?"
"Only a few minor cuts and bruises," She replied.
"Good, now stay here while we figure out what to do with this mess, ok?"
She nodded as he ruffled her hair. The league began to discuss and debate what had happened, eventually Batman informed the team that they wouldn't be doing any missions like this again, to which the group told him they would, each speaking to their mentor about how they needed to use the things they were being taught. Batman eventually stopped and the league called it a night as they all returned home. Nature and Forest were allowed to stay in the Hall of Justice for the night while they awaited the verdict tomorrow.
"So, how was your first adventure?" Forest asked her.
"It was fun, although…"
"Although?"
"I don't know if I'll be able to work alongside Superboy… when we first met, he dispatched the others so easily, and then he turned on me… I locked up, I froze because I was so scared he was going to kill me,"
Forest, who had been reclining on a couch, sat up and looked over at his young apprentice who was on the verge of tears.
"Hey, hey, it's ok… he's on our side now, I can guarantee he won't hurt you," Forest said with a smile.
"C'mon, get some sleep, you've got a big day tomorrow,"
Nature nodded and relaxed onto the couch that was serving as her bed. Soon enough she fell asleep. The next day Forest and Nature awoke and Nature was back to being male. They washed up and were Zeta-beamed to a large mountain. As they entered Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Superboy watched him approach, Superboy seemed confused and Nature avoided his gaze.
"Oh right, I forgot you were normally a boy," Kid Flash said as he approached.
"What's with the clothes?" Nature asked his friends.
Instead of their normal uniform each of them was wearing casual attire.
"Remember that thing about secret identities?" Kid Flash told him, "This is civilian attire, that way people don't know what we look like without our costumes on,"
Nature looked to Forest who shrugged, but then an idea occurred to him. He pulled his apprentice aside and knelt down in front of him.
"I have a feeling that 'Leaf' might suit this team better than 'Root' if you catch my drift,"
"You heard about that?" Nature asked.
"Oh yes, I heard about everything, anyway, it's your choice, but I know of a way to lock your form to one or the other… keep in mind this is a big choice, it can't be undone," Forest explained.
"What do you mean?"
"The Seeds are meant to serve as a taste of what it's like when you're training is complete, and to show what's it's like to live as a form of our Mother's creations, that's why you switch genders, if you were a girl you'd become a boy. Normally, this wouldn't be offered to you until your training was complete, but after last night I think you're ready to make the decision," Forest told him.
Nature looked at his friends who were currently checking out the cave, then down at his own hands. He clenched them into fists and smiled before looking up at Forest, tears were beginning to form on his face. "I never was any good with that flail," he said with a small laugh.
Forest nodded as he stood up. His hands began to glow green and he pointed at his apprentice.
"Kneel, Guardian N. Nature, and stand before the Mother for appraisal," Forest told him.
Nature knelt down and lowered his head, the others had heard Forest and were watching, wondering what was going on.
"Guardian N. Nature, you stand before me as an apprentice in the service of our Mother Nature, you have shown aptitude with her powers, and respect for her creations. As your master I name you a graduate in the arts of the Nature Guardian. Stand, Guardian N. Nature, in your true form,"
Nature felt his changes begin to take hold, his hair grew long down his back and his clothes shifted from their normal top with a slit and baggy pants to a billowing, dark-green shirt with a lighter-green shawl over top, his baggy pants became a floor-length skirt and he felt some basic slippers cover his feet, his frame thinned and his body became slightly smaller. When the transformation was done she stood and Forest nodded once.
"Congratulations," he knelt down and hugged his apprentice.
"If you're finished," Batman interjected.
"Oops, sorry," Forest immediately let go and stood up straight.
"Leaf, and the rest of you, this is Mount Justice, it once served as the hidden sanctuary for the Justice League, and has been recommissioned to serve as your base of operations. While you are here, Red Tornado will be your monitor, and Black Canary will be in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions," Batman explained as Nature approached.
"The six of you will work for the league on covert missions, we'll handle the obvious," Flash told them.
"Nice… wait, six?" Robin asked.
"Yes," Batman answered looking past them, they all turned and watched as Martian Manhunter approached with a young, red-haired girl. She was wearing a white shirt with a red X across her torso and a blue cape with matching blue boots and mini-skirt. The guys turned and approached her, Kid Flash was the first to introduce himself.
"Hey there, my name's Wally, or you might know me better as Kid Flash, that's Robin and Aqualad, though it's ok if you forget their names,"
She smiled, "It's an honor to meet all of you,"
Superboy approached and the group watched in amazement as her cape retracted into her body and her shirt changed to a black color to match Superboy's.
"I like your shirt," she told him.
He smiled, and then she looked past them to see Nature speaking with Forest.
"Who's that?" she asked.
"That's Leaf," Robin answered.
Leaf was frowning as she spoke with Forest.
"Are you sure you have to go?" She asked.
"Yeah, mission's being postponed. The creature isn't dealing any obvious damage and the council wants me back in rotation for clean-up,"
"So that means I'll have to say good-bye?"
Forest went to nod but then shook his head, "You're a Guardian now, albeit a bit young, you can make your own decisions until you inherit the title of Forest,"
"Really, then that means I can stay?"
He nodded this time, "Just look after yourself alright, I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you, ok?"
She nodded.
"Oh, and one more thing," He said as he held out his hand, a large, wooden staff appeared and he handed it to Leaf.
"That's yours now,"
"But wait, I thought Nature guardians used flails?" She asked as she took it.
"Nah, I just like them personally, besides, that staff will help you channel your powers a little better. Anyway, I really need to get going, so take care of yourself, I'll be back in a while alright?"
He leant down and gave his former apprentice a hug before he stood up and made a V with his middle two fingers, the back of his hand facing Leaf, she made the same gesture, but her palm faced Forest. He smiled and then disappeared in a flash of light.
"So, you're part of the team then?" Robin asked as they approached.
She turned and nodded, clutching the staff close to her chest.
"Well, if that's the case, maybe we should get you something a little less formal," Miss Martian said with a smile.
Leaf nodded, "That would be nice,"