A/N: HELLO FRIENDS! This is Chapter 5, and I already have 4 reviews and a small following! Thanks for your support! This is a small gap to explain a small bit of Cal's inner struggle and the introduction of Cal's mentor. For those curious, they are currently in Bialya which explains why they are absent.

I waited a full day after everyone else to start the process. I also made sure that Red Tornado was not nearby before making my way to the training room. It took me a short while to calm down and even out my breathing before using my energy to bring my shadow up off the floor at first it was just like a silhouette standing in front of me, but then the illusion's head tilted to the side and took a few steps back as he slowly came into focus. He was taller than me and much stronger, or so he appeared. He wasn't what he appeared to be last time. He was frail and weak then, and something inside of me knew there was no way I could send him back just through sheer force of will.

"You called me out… That's impressive in and of itself. You aren't as weak as I expected you to be… But you're spent for a few hours unless you want to burn yourself out."

I cringed as he smirked. He knew my limits and know that he was sure he was safe, the insults would begin.

"So how has been assimilating going? Considering you aren't trusted by one, another dislikes you and the one person you actually like on this team appears to love another and will soon abandon you, I would say it's going pretty good."

"Big words for someone who's only a fraction of what I am and pretends to be so much more than he actually is." My irritation was rising and I knew I had to calm down, but the words that came out of his moth were my own thoughts, the ones I would never verbalize.

"Why are you getting so defensive? I'm not Superboy moving in unintentionally on M'gann. I suggest you tone it down and admit that you might like her. And while we're on admitting things, you should also admit that you are weak and you can't compete with these people. You aren't strong enough, not yet."

"What do you think I've been doing here, twiddling my thumbs?!" I grabbed him by the collar as the sound of the Zeta tube called out a designation, but I wasn't paying attention to it. "So what if I do like her? That isn't important! What's important is getting stronger right now! Besides… She has someone else."

The shadow asshole actually smiled as he began to fade away. "You admitted it to yourself without doubt. My job here's done, for now."

My smile mimicked his until I heard someone clearing their throat to my left. I turned to see the Green Lantern that was here on my first day. He was smiling awkwardly as if he knew something he- Oh. OH NO!

"Y-you didn't hear that!" I borderline yelled at the guy as I hid my face in shadows. Of course the one time I actually say something about my feelings some guy comes by at just the right moment!

"Hey pal, if you don't want me to know, then I won't ask. I'm here for training, not for counseling." He chuckled at my confused expression before continuing. "My name's Hal Jordan, first Green Lantern of Earth… to my knowledge. Black Canary said you needed help with constructs, so she asked me to help out. For now, come at me… And try not to hold back."

I grinned as I slammed my fists together. "Sorry about any damage to your face!" I taunted as shadows from around the room formed chains that wound around him and locked him in place as the shadow of my first solidified and went toward his face.

A bright green burst of energy shattered my chains and deflected my fist. He grinned before bringing forth a fist of his own and launching it toward me. I sidestepped, but the fist exploded as it past me making a multitude of smaller fist constructs that doubled back. I had enough time to only make a small shield that shattered after a few fists bounded back before it shattered and I had to jump out of the way. They slung back toward me and I copied Aqualad's twin swords and got to work on fighting them back but I could feel the blades cracking, as if his constructs were overpowering my mental state.

What the hell are you doing? Get your ass in gear!

That wake me up call was the only reason I didn't give up right then and there. He was here to train me and make me stronger; I didn't have time to wallow in pity. I held out a hand in his general direction ad squeezed. The shadow chains reappeared but this time it squeezed tight and it took him a while to break out of its grip.

"Not bad, kid. But you're limiting yourself a lot. You can only make simple things right now, am I right?"

I nodded and his grin widened a bit. "Well let's see if we can fix that before the team gets back, shall we?"