The SECRET Training: Young Justice Seasons 1 & 2
Episode 11: Terrors (during the Bel Reve takeover…)
On the Kyle Property…10 feet below the surface…
Dick came at Stephanie with a high kick, which the blonde dodged, only to get hit with a rubber arrow. She fell to the matted floor. She glared over her shoulder at Roy.
Roy, Dick and Wally were all training Stephanie-to make her good enough to join the team. The boys bickered the moment Roy walked through the front door. Wally and Dick were still upset about Roy's attitude about the team. She let them have an hour to vent. Then she wanted to train, which put an end to their arguing.
Being the daughter and protégé of Catwoman didn't prepare her for a real fight. But she was happy that her three 'brothers', the Brotherhood if you will, actually took time out of their busy days to train her.
So train, they did.
Wally ran at her and she flipped over her body to stop. He turned as she landed and started to punch at her at a rapid pace.
Stephanie was blocking most of the blows. It was hard to keep up, but she was determined to show her 'brothers' that she could do this. She can go on missions with them. She could handle herself. Deathstroke may have rattled her but she wasn't going to let what he did stop her from being a hero.
Dick threw the rubber bird-a-rangs at her as Wally stopped his punching. One nailed her in the forehead. He watched as she stumbled back. While it was covered, there was a cut on her forehead. The blades broke through the thin layer of rubber coating it. He went at her.
She was disoriented. But Shadowcat's meta abilities kicked in. She sensed Dick was close to her so she grabbed his leg as he extended it at her head. She threw him back with it and caught Roy's bow as he tried to sweep her legs with it. She kicked him in the side, and grabbed Wally's arm as the speedster tried to punch her while she was occupied. She threw Wally and Roy, both landing in a heap.
Dick came at her with a series of kicks and punches. Shadowcat blocked everything but the Boy Wonder was nearly as quick as Kid Flash and he was getting hits on her. Only a few were landing, and they were glancing at best. He was giving his sister everything he had. She was taking it; he saw some of the visible bruises she was getting.
But he didn't let up.
And she wouldn't let up either.
Stephanie felt every hit, glancing as they were. She knew her brother wasn't going to let up. She had asked for this. The four of them training. Teaching her what they had learned the hard way.
It was great!
Shadowcat flipped over his head and kicked him low in the back, sending him forward. She smirked.
Robin turned as he fell, throwing the rubber-covered bird-a-rang as hard as he could. It was too hard, and he realized it as it smacked her in the stomach, throwing her back into the wall, the crack of bone audible and chilling. "Steph! Time, guys!"
Roy and Wally untangled themselves and the three slowly helped Stephanie sit up.
"Ouch…" came her small voice, arm snaking around her ribs.
"I'm so sorry!" Dick began but Shadowcat held up a hand to stop him.
"Do…do the bad guys apologize…after hurting…you?" she asked. She slowly got to her feet. "I think we need to call it for today. We've been at it for 4 hours."
"Dude, you're head's bleeding." Wally noticed, from his angle, the thin line of blood from the back of her head. Because of her blonde hair, it was quite noticeable.
"That explains the headache," she told them.
Roy wasted no time. He hauled her into his arms and made his way up the spiral carved staircase to the condo itself. It took 15 minutes but Red Arrow exited the kitchen closet and took her to her bedroom
Robin grabbed the first aid kit on their way to her room. Kid Flash raided the fridge first.
Dick and Roy were sitting on her frilly oval-shaped bed with her sitting up between them, kit open. Roy was bandaging her ribs while Dick tended to her bleeding head.
Wally waltz in with food and Stephanie was quick to respond. "Please, no food in here," she said quietly.
"Aw man! C'mon, I'm hungry!" he whined.
"Eat in the doorway," she told him.
He pouted. She wouldn't relent. He could tell by the way she glared at him.
So he was stuck at the doorway eating.
She winced as Dick unbraided her hair to check her injury. She shook her head to clear it and got dizzy. She fell back but Dick caught her. "I'm dizzy."
"No sudden movements. You might have a concussion," Roy said to her. He tied off the bandages on her ribs. "The first time we all train together and you get turned into a pin cushion."
Stephanie giggled. "I bruise easily. This is the most beat-up I've been in almost a year. I'm okay with it."
"You shouldn't be," Dick slipped out. His sister shouldn't want to be beat up on.
"As I recalled, I wanted this. I want to be on the team."
"And Batman be damned," Wally managed between ripping into the fried chicken.
"Well, kinda," Stephanie admitted.
"I had to give a cover story," Roy told Wally and Dick. "Batman cornered me."
"What did you say?" Shadowcat asked.
"Told him Sportsmaster tried to take the hit first. I stopped him. Dick and Waly helped. That was how you know us," Roy explained.
"And he bought it?" she asked.
"Yeah. For now, at least. You do know that in order for you to get on the team, you have to be one hell of a 12 year old," Roy said to her.
"In other words, a prodigy like Dick." Stephanie's face fell. She could never be like her brother. She didn't have his skills, nor that type of confidence. "I couldn't do that." Dick tapped a particular bruise and she winced.
"You don't have to be. You're fine just the way you are," Dick told her. "We don't have a lock picker on the team. We can use that as your strength. Everything else comes later."
Stephanie shook her head. Leave it to Dick to figure out how to make her feel better. "You know, I can heal faster if I change and nap."
"True. But we just beat you up," Wally said. Now that he wasn't eating, he walked into Stephanie's room. She was a huge Maroon 5 fan. Posters of the group were splattered on her walls and ceiling.
"Guilt? Really? Look, I asked you three not to hold back with me. Don't feel guilty because I got hurt."
"Fine with me," Roy said to the group. "You needed this."
"I think you're ready to be on the team."
Stephanie's eyes widened at her brother's announcement. "Really?"
"Yeah. We'll introduce you to Aqualad first," Roy told her.
Shadowcat squealed in delight.
"But first, change and heal up."
"Sure." Stephanie closed her eyes and she glowed for a few seconds before she shrunk down. Popping and contorting bones were heard as she grew fur and went dark, like Isis. She stretched carefully in her cat form, and purred as she took a nap in the middle of her bed.
"Aw, she looks so cute," Wally whispered.
'You called me cute!? So help me Wally West, I will castrate you if you don't leave!'
Wally gulped and left her room. Dick and Roy followed.
*So...is getting beat up on a good thing? Really? And now Stephanie has a chance to meet the team! Is Batman going to be okay with this when he realizes who she is? And what about Aqualad? Is he going to be mad about Shadowcat being kept a secret from him since he's part of their "Brotherhood" as well? Stay tuned to the next episode! And Happy New Year everyone! *