I do not own X-men or Young Justice
*Xavier Institute for Higher Learning: October 30, 20:30*
The head staff of the Institute had gathered in Charles Xavier's office to discuss the usual comings and goings of the school. But this week there was something far more interesting to discuss than the usual requirements for the school's upkeep.
This was of course their newest student, Laura Kinney – the daughter of Wolverine. Or at least that's how the rest of the Institute was taking it. How Laura and Logan saw their new relationship was still up in the air.
The man in question had taken his usual position, leaning against the wall as he took stock of the room, more out of habit than anything else. Aside from him and Prof. Xavier, there was Ororo Munroe (Storm), Hank McCoy (Beast), Scott Summers (Cyclops).
"Logan, how are things progressing with Laura?" asked Prof. Xavier.
"She's doing alright" said Logan. "Just needs time to get used to the place."
"Ah, so she takes after you."
"I should hope not" said Scott. "Last thing we need is another Logan running around growling at anyone that annoys them."
Logan rolled his eyes, while the others all smiled at Cyclops' comment, by now all too used to their somewhat hostile relationship.
"I can vouch for Laura not sharing her father's personality" said Hank. "She's been a model student in class so far. I'm sure we can all agree Logan, has never shown such an interest in learning."
"I agree, though I do believe you should encourage her to be more social, Logan" said Ororo. "While she's certainly proven to be a delight to teach, I worry she's not been interacting with her peers."
"Wouldn't worry too much, 'Ro" said Logan. "Kid's already got plans to meet up with a friend for Halloween."
*New York City: October 31, 19:30*
Not having seen each other for some time Laura had happily accepted Raven's invitation to join her in one of her favorite New York cafes. As she looked around the shop, she couldn't help but think the dark atmosphere suited her half-demon friend well, though she didn't share in Raven's love of dark poetry. Still Laura was enjoying the break from the Institute and the tea wasn't bad.
"So, things aren't going well at the Institute" said Raven, it wasn't a question.
"I am different from the rest of the students" said Laura. "I can smell their fear. They are unsure of what to make of me."
"Just a hunch, but saying you can 'smell their fear' probably won't make them less scared of you."
"Can't be worse than what Logan said to introduce me to the school: 'Yes, she could kill you if she wanted. So, don't make her want to.'"
The girls shared a laugh – uncommon to those that knew them, but there's something about having a true friend that can make even the most closed hearted person let their barriers down. Finishing their tea, the girls left the café behind, turning the topic of their conversation to reason behind Raven's visit to the Big Apple.
"So, why's Blood sending you to a museum of all places?" Laura asked
"The curator is an associate of Jason's, who's recently acquired something interesting" said Raven. "He wants me to retrieve it, while he runs down a lead on le Fey in Scotland."
But when they arrived at Metropolitan Museum of Art, the girls were surprised to find police leaving the building. Fearing the worst, Raven magically teleported them inside, where they found the curator fretting over a broken display case.
"Dr. Wells" Raven called out, causing him to nearly jump out of his skin in fright.
"Oh, you're Mr. Blood's student" Dr. Wells realized, as got himself under control.
"Yes, he sends his regards. He sent me here in regards to the sword."
"Sword?" Laura questioned. She knew Jason Blood was once a knight of Camelot, but it still seemed odd to go through all this effort for just a sword.
"Not just any sword" said Dr. Wells. "The Sword of Beowulf. And I'm said to say it's been stolen."
"Beowulf is real…of course he is" Laura sighed. First the Philosopher's Stone and now Beowulf, she was going to have to ask Raven to start fact checking legends for her. "I'm guessing it's not a normal sword?"
"Legend says it provides great power to the pure of heart" said Raven.
"So not a normal sword."
"There's even an old English incantation that's supposed to summon the power" said Dr. Wells. "Abanan aful Beowulf!"
"Harm is grateful" surprised by the new voice Laura, Raven, and Dr. Wells looked up to find a new comer looking down at them from atop a display case.
An extremely pale young man with long brown hair, green eyes, and four long claw marks on his face. Underneath his gray trench coat – they could see a glowing sphere, shining from inside his left pectoral. And in his hand sealed inside a gray humanoid arm – the hand clasping its guard, was the Sword of Beowulf.
The young man – Harm dropped down to the floor, a smug look on his face held up the Sword and placed his hand on the grip, and confidently spoke the incantation: "Abanan…aful…Beowulf."
Not wanting to see the legendary power of the Sword, Laura charged forward, popping her claws just as the arm released its grip on the magical weapon. But before she could take her first swing; Harm drew the Sword, bathing the room in a flash of light as the lightning energy of the blade charged the air.
Undeterred Laura didn't back down, certain her adamantium claws would be able to make short work of the ancient weapon. Only to be proven wrong, as the Sword of Beowulf didn't receive so much as a chip when Harm blocked Laura's claws.
A sadistic grin spread across Harm's face, as the Sword's blade started to crackle with energy. Sensing the danger Raven magically pulled Laura back, just as Harm swung the mystical blade releasing a surge of power sending the girls flying – crashing into display cases.
"How monumentally unsatisfying" Harm said disappointedly. "Harm and the Sword will require greater challenges."
"But the legend" Dr. Wells questioned, backing away fearfully as Harm turned his focus on him. "Only the pure of heart should be able to summon that power."
"The legend said the heart must be pure" energy crackled along the Sword's blade, as Harm grew ever closer. "It never said pure good." Without even the slightest bit of hesitation, Harm aimed the point of the Sword at Dr. Wells, vaporizing the man in a burst of light.
With the curator dead, Harm left the museum not even giving the girls a second glance.
*Mount Justice: October 31, 19:34*
A loud howl echoed through the Cave. Yet despite being the obvious suspect, Wolf wasn't the culprit. No, the genetically enhanced wolf was trying to sleep, while Wally stood over him, doing a rather poor werewolf impression.
"Really? You're not gonna join in at all" the speedster complained. "What kind of wolf are you?"
"Wally, stop torturing him" said Connor, while M'gann worked to turn the Superboy into a passable mummy.
"Hold still please" she laughed, trying to get the bandages around his head.
"M'gann, stop torturing him" Wally said cheekily. "Awkward for him anyway, being a third wheel on our date."
"Wally, I invited the entire team to the dance" said M'gann, growing tired of the speedster's antics. "Zatanna too."
"Good. Keeps us on the down-low." It took everything M'gann and Connor had not to smack the delusional Wally upside the head. "So…you going as my favorite Martian?"
"Not exactly." M'gann's form shifted; her skin turned a ghostly white with black rings around her eyes, while her clothes changed into a tattered bride's dress.
"Whoa, babe eat my brains anytime."
"Great minds think alike" they all turned to see Captain Marvel walk in, with white face paint on giving him the appearance of a zombie.
"Wow Captain, you look great" said M'gann. "Are you going to a Halloween celebration too?"
The Captain looked confused by the question. "Well, sure, I'm going with…uh, I mean, you did invite the whole team, right?"
"Yeah, we'll all be at the dance" she assured him, unware of what the Captain was implying. "Don't worry about us. Go, have a good time at your party."
"Recognized: Artemis, B08. Zatanna Zatara, A03"
Coming through the zeta tubes the girls arrived in their respective vampire and witch costumes.
"Oh, look, Zombie Captain Marvel" said Zatanna, taking in the League member's appearance. "That's hilarious. Is the Justice League having a party? Because my dad didn't mention it."
"No, no, no, no, see, I…Fine. I'm going trick-or-treating." Giving up, Captain Marvel flew off towards the zeta tubes. "And I'm not sharing my candy" he said vindictively as he teleported away.
Brushing off the Captain's strange behavior Artemis and Zatanna watched as M'gann went back to work on finishing Connor's costume, laughing and smiling the entire time.
"So how long have they been a couple?" Zatanna asked Artemis.
"Ha! Couple? No." the archer laughed. "They're not a…"
Artemis paused as they took another look at the two, noting that special look they gave each other. Suddenly the party didn't seem like much fun and Artemis turned back towards the zeta tubes.
"Uh, I-I'm sorry" said Zatanna, chasing after her. "It just seemed so obvious. I didn't realize…wait the dance."
"Not in the mood" Artemis said sullenly. "Of course, sitting at home with my mom doesn't sound any more appealing."
"Well, there is another option" a little magic and Zatanna and Artemis were in their hero attire. "Girl's night out."
This brought a small smile to Artemis' face and she knew just where she wanted to go.
*New York: October 31, 19:57*
"L…La…Laura wake up."
Groaning, Laura forced her eyes open, meeting Raven's concerned look.
"Have I mentioned how much I hate magic?" Laura groaned, as her healing factor was slow the repair her injuries.
"No but I believe it was implied" said Raven, helping Laura to her feet. "Harm's long gone…and feeling bloodthirsty" she added, pointing to all that remained of Dr. Wells – a scorched outline. "We need to find him quickly."
"I've got his scent. I can track him" Laura assured Raven.
As the girls rushed out after Harm, they failed to notice someone watching from the shadows. A pale young girl with long blonde hair, in a white – hooded, cloak like dress.
New York turned out to be the perfect place for Artemis to blow off some steam. Unfortunately for criminals, that meant the young archer wasn't holding anything back as she and Zatanna moved through the city, taking down lowlifes one after another.
"There were easier ways to take them" said Zatanna, referring to the last group of thugs, Artemis had taken out.
"They had it coming" Artemis defended. "No harm done."
As the girls approached their bikes they learned 'Harm' was far from done as the made swordsman appeared before them, destroying their rides with his sword's power.
"The its cannot escape Harm."
"Escaping isn't on the menu" said Artemis, as she started firing at the psychopath.
But Harm wasn't impressed, easily using the Sword of Beowulf to knock her arrows away. "Arrows do not impress."
"Fine" Zatanna took up the challenge "Teah taht s'nopaew letam!"
Zatanna's spell heated the Sword's hilt grip but the effect quickly faded; no match for the Sword's power.
"Neither does its magic. Both must do better or suffer Harm."
"We get it. Your name is Harm" Artemis snapped, nocking another arrow.
"Their ridiculous garb and rudimentary skills indicate instruction from Green Arrow and Zatara. Harm will study these two to learn methods for killing their mentors."
"Oh, you did not just threaten my dad" Zatanna glared. "Etativel drows ot em!"
The Sword startled to rattle in Harm's hand, as Zatanna's spell struggled to bring her the mystical blade.
"It wants Harm's sword? Very well."
Using the force of Zatanna's spell against her, Harm threw the weapon, the spell's power causing it to speed towards the young sorceresses' head, only missing her by a hair as it passed by with enough force to imbed itself in the side of the building behind her.
"Big mistake, harmster" Artemis said confidently.
Excepting him to be no challenge without his weapon, Artemis fired two arrows at Harm. But to their surprise Harm proved himself to be a capable warrior without the sword, as he leapt into the air and caught Artemis' arrows, throwing them back at the young heroines.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"
To the girls' surprise a wall of dark energy rose up in front them, protecting them against Artemis' redirected exploding arrows. Adding to the surprises when the smoke cleared they saw Laura standing on the other side of the shield, with a girl in a dark cloak by her side.
"They return to face Harm" the swordsman grinned.
"I'll show you harm" said Raven. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"
At her command a dark energy surrounds the nearby cars, lifting them of the ground and smashing them into Harm, consuming him in a fiery explosion.
"What the hell!" Artemis cried, moving out from behind Raven's shield to confront the half-demon. "We don't go wasting people!"
"You're assuming that just because he wasn't holding the Sword, he wasn't still protected by its power" said Raven, unfazed by the archer outburst.
In response to Artemis' look of confusion, Raven simply pointed over her shoulder to where they could see Harm standing in the wreckage unaffected by the flames.
"Ok does anyone want to explain what's going on?" asked Zatanna.
"The Sword of Beowulf" Zatanna's eyes widened in shock. "Guessing you've heard of it" said Raven "Good, basically as-long-as he's linked to the Sword its power will protect Harm."
This was made clear as Laura charged at Harm, hoping that while protected she could still do some damage to the mad man while he was without the Sword. But the blade's power did more than just protect Harm, it also enhanced him allowing him to fight on Laura's level, as he skillfully evaded each of her strikes, countering with a solid blow to the stomach that sent her flying, landing at her friends' feet.
"Great so what do we do?" Artemis demanded.
"Running doesn't seem like a bad idea" said Zatanna.
"Go, I'll cover you" said Raven.
Casting her power over the road, Raven split and raised it into a makeshift wall to block off Harm.
While she didn't expect it to keep him for long, it was long enough for her to help Laura to her feet.
"I hate magic" Laura groaned, as the bruising slowly started to heal. Clearly even without the blade in hand, magic was still flowing through Harm's body.
"Hey come on!" they heard Artemis call.
Making their retreat the girls ran down an alleyway where they spotted the mysterious girl who had been secretly watching Laura and Raven at the museum, beckoning them to follow her.
"She with you?" Artemis asked, Laura and Raven, who both had no idea who the girl was.
"Does it matter?" said Zatanna, going after the girl, making the decision for them.
The mystery girl led them down a side alley and up a fire escape, putting plenty of distance between them and Harm.
"Thanks for the assist but who are you?" Zatanna asked the girl.
"Secret."
"That won't cut it" said Artemis. "We need answers. Do you know Harm? Does he have any weaknesses?"
But all the girl said was "Secret" and pointed behind them where they saw Harm – once more wielding the Sword of Beowulf – leap up onto the rooftop.
"At least they make the hunt interesting" Harm smirked.
"He's fast. I'll give him that" said Artemis, nocking an arrow.
Firing at the nearby water tower, Artemis turned Harm into a drowned rat, giving Zatanna the opportunity to follow up a spell freezing and trapping the psychopath in a block of ice. Not trusting it to hold him for long; Raven added to Harm's prison with a spell of her own – creating bands of energy to wrap around the ice.
"Whoa the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak" Zatanna awed.
"Guessing that's good?" asked Artemis, looking to Laura for explanation but she had none.
"It's old high level sorcery not a lot of people left who know it" Zatanna explained. "Where'd you learn it?"
"I am a student of Jason Blood" Raven explained, uncomfortable with the attention.
"The Jason Blood?!"
"Hey!" Artemis interjected. "I get it cloak girls got some mad magic skills. Will it be enough to hold Harm?"
"Her name is Raven" said Laura.
"And no" said Raven, watching as the glow in Harm's chest brightened as the Sword's blade started to focus more energy.
A in a burst of power Harm shattered the ice and Raven's spell, the backlash leaving her dazed.
"Move!" Laura ordered, pushing Raven to the ground as Harm's sword fired off a bolt of energy, just barely missing them.
"Where'd little Miss Secret go?" Artemis demanded. The girl had vanished without a trace.
"Doesn't matter. Fight!" Laura charged at Harm, who's enhanced abilities kept him one step ahead of the girl.
Hoping to even things up, Artemis prepared her next arrow. Seeing this, Harm while still crossing blades with Laura, threw a dagger from beneath his coat at the archer, severing her bow string. That move created a break in Harm's focus, something Laura was quick to capitalize on. Breaking through his defenses, she aimed her claws for Harm's heart. But what should've been the finishing blow fell short as before she could follow through, Harm countered by severing her hand.
"It hesitates" Harm taunted, explaining how he was able counter Laura's last attack. "It struggles with inner demons and can't fight Harm while fighting itself."
Laura growled as she clutched the still bleeding stump; the Sword's magic preventing her healing factor from quickly repairing the damage.
With a sadistic grin, Harm released a surge lighting from his blade, taking pleasure in Laura's screams before she dropped to the ground, severely injured by alive.
"Harm doesn't battle his demons. Harm embraces them."
"Harm needs to shut up" said Artemis, coming at him with a flying kick.
Sidestepping Artemis' kick, Harm tossed the Sword aside, deciding to meet the archer's challenge of hand to hand combat. Not waiting for him to make the first move, Artemis immediately went on the attack, coming at him in a barrage of kicks and punches – showing the results of Black Canary's training. But as Raven said even when not holding the weapon, its power still fueled Harm's body, allowing him to evade and counter each of Artemis's attacks.
With things not looking good for them, Zatanna decided to take a chance. Rushing to where Harm had left the Sword, the young she attempted to pick up the weapon, in hopes of severing the connection. Only for the weapon to hit her with a painful jolt of electricity.
"Zatanna!" Artemis cried out, breaking her concentration, leaving her open to a knockout punch
"And it cares about others another weakness. The Sword rejected its impure heart. It has not made the sacrifices Harm has to become pure."
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" attempting to at least slow Harm, Raven fired a focused beam of dark energy at the swordsman.
Unimpressed Harm released another surge from the Sword, overpowering Raven and knocking her unconscious.
Harm stood over his defeated enemies, pleased with his victory. But his confidence quickly turned to rage as he realized just where he was standing.
"Ugh" Artemis groaned, as she slowly woke up to find herself tided to chair inside a dark room, the building itself seemed be old and decaying.
"It deigns to awaken" Harm's voice echoed around the room. An old television placed in front of her switched on – a divided screen showing Zatanna, Raven, and Laura each trapped like her. "It will tell Harm its secrets or its partners will pay the price."
Emerging from the darkness, Harm came up from behind Artemis and whispered into the archer's ear. "How did it know of Harm's home?"
The building? Artemis guessed, assuming Harm was referring to the rooftop the mystery girl – Secret had led them too. "Ask your partner. She lured us there…err, here."
"Harm has no partner" he denied, moving to stand in front of Artemis, his back to the television. "Harm is pure and works alone."
Unbeknownst to Harm, the screens displaying Raven and Laura went dark.
Bound in rope and with her mouth taped over, all Zatanna could do nothing to defend herself as she saw someone approaching her from out of the darkness. Assuming it be Harm, she tried to mumble out a spell but to no avail.
She couldn't help but flinch away as the shadowy figure reached out towards her – certain that this would be her end – only too much to her surprise, simply remove the tape from her mouth. While it certainly stung, it was better than the alternative.
Reciting a spell, Zatanna magically removed the ropes freeing herself, just as the shadowy figure stepped into the light, revealing not one person but three: Laura, Raven, and Secret.
"What's she doing here?" Zatanna demanded, pointing to Secret. "She traps us on a rooftop and now she's helping us?"
"We don't get it either" said Raven. "But she did free us as well."
Despite her empathic abilities, Raven couldn't get a fix on Secret's emotions. Something about the girl just felt incomplete. And of course, whenever asked a question the girl would only say "Secret".
"I heard Harm, saying something about this place being his home" said Laura, looking around the room.
Remembering what Harm had done to her, Zatanna was about to ask Laura how she was taking the loss of her hand, only for Raven to stop her. Sensing her fellow magic user's confusion over her lack of concern, Raven explained.
"Laura's healing abilities have already regrown the hand."
Zatanna's eyes widened in shock as she finally noticed Laura did in fact have two hands again.
"Magically inflicted wounds just take longer to heal" Raven finished, as she started to help Laura search the room.
Getting the idea, Zatanna joined in. While most of the room was a wreck there was one section of the place still in good condition. With stuffed animals, a four-poster bed with pink sheets, and simple white chest of drawers; it appeared to be a young girl's bedroom.
"I found something" said Laura, calling Raven, Zatanna to her side.
It was a framed photograph of Secret smiling happily with an equally happy and much healthier looking Harm.
"Is this your room?" Zatanna asked, turning to face the mystery girl. "Do you live with this nut job?"
But as expected all the girl said was "Secret."
Back in the other room, Harm continued to question Artemis, who despite his prodding wouldn't change her story.
"It seems honestly convinced Harm had help" he spoke to himself, pacing back and forth in front of his captive. "Perhaps the other its…" he paused as he finally noticed his other captives were loose.
Enraged he raced out to the other room, where he saw Zatanna getting free. Drawing his sword, he charged at the young sorceress only for his blade to pass through her, revealing it to be an illusion.
Certain that they went back for Artemis, Harm rushed out into the hall just in time to see all four of them making their escape to the lower level. Refusing to let them escape with the location of his home, Harm fired a bolt of energy at the girls, seemingly hitting them dead on.
But there was no sign of them when the smoke cleared, instead he found someone else standing at the end of the hallway – Secret. For a moment fear appeared the psychopath's eyes, before quickly burying it underneath his rage.
With Secret leading the way, the girls made their way out of the old building, where Secret had once again vanished. Looking around they appeared to be a backyard garden, fenced off and with a small simple makeshift grave in the center
"I understand now" said Raven, walking up to the grave.
Greta Hayes
Beloved Sister
Just then Secret reappeared, rising out of the grave.
"This is your grave" said Raven. The reason she couldn't fully connect with Secret's…no Greta's feelings was because she was dead, all she had been managing to pick up were the jumbled echoes left behind. "This is your secret."
"A ghost" said Artemis, completely stunned. "An actual ghost."
"I give up" said Laura. It seemed there really was no such thing as impossible.
"H-how did you die?" Zatanna asked.
Greta held up her hands, creating an image of the dagger Harm carries. Before they could go any further the door behind them blew open, as Harm finally caught up to them.
"They defile Harm's holy place."
"We defiled it?' Artemis scoffed. "You did this, to your own sister!"
A proud look appeared on Harm's face.
"You're proud of it? And you had the gall to write 'beloved'."
"Not gall truth" said Harm. "She was the only thing Harm ever loved. That's why she had to go. Harm's heart had to be pure. Greta had to be cut out, excised like an infection."
At the sound of her name Greta once more emerged from her grave, in full view of her brother. For a moment, the girls saw how greatly this affected Harm but once again he buried the feelings.
"Ah, the its casts another illusion spell."
"Except we didn't speak" said Zatanna. "Harm knows the its cannot cast a spell without speaking."
"It seems Great wasn't as existed as you thought" said Raven.
"Face it Harm. Your secrets out" said Artemis.
"No, Harm's heart is pure" he denied, pointing the Sword at Greta. "Harm's not sorry."
The sparks of energy around the blade dimmed as Greta approached the monster that was once her brother.
"I'm not!"
With the Sword, unable to harm the dead, Great walked up to Harm and reached into his chest, removing the glowing orb that once represented his pure heart. No longer pure the Sword of Beowulf broke out of Harm's grip and returned to its scabbard.
"I don't need the Sword!" drawing his dagger, Harm charged at Greta – passing harmlessly through her ghostly form.
No longer protected by the power of Beowulf, Laura started things off land a solid punch to Harm's face, breaking his jaw. Artemis then took her turn kicking him in the ribs, knocking him flat on his ass.
"So, unfocused" Laura mocked. "It can't fight us while fighting itself"
Harm glared as Laura and Artemis stood over him, sure of their victory. Then Raven approached wanting to have a piece of the action.
"You say you've embraced your demons" tendrils of dark energy started sprouted from beneath Raven's cloak as Harm started to tremble in fear. "Well how about embracing mine."
Harm let out a horrific scream as Raven's dark power enveloped him. It was only for a few seconds but when she backed off Harm was left a stuttering mess, trembling in terror.
Zatanna then walked up and recited an incantation transforming Harm's coat into a straightjacket, before magically putting him to sleep – leaving him to his nightmares.
With her brother defeated, Greta moved to stand by her grave.
"We'll make sure you receive a proper burial" Zatanna promised her. "We won't forget you, Greta."
With a small smile Great simply said "Secret" and sunk into her grave, finally at rest.
"I still can't believe anyone could do that to his own sister" said Artemis. "I mean, if my…"
"Your what?" asked Zatanna. But the archer remained silent.
"Forget it." the archer then turned to where Laura and Raven were collecting the Sword of Beowulf. "What're you planning to do with that?"
"We were originally retrieving it for my mentor" said Raven. "We'll be locking it away where no one will find it."
"Good" Artemis didn't want to ever see that sword again.
With the Sword of Beowulf and the sound of police sirens approaching the girls took their leave, but as they left the old building behind they made one last discovery. Across the street was an old magic shop. Most of the neon sign had burned out all except one word: Secret.
The last thing Greta ever saw.