Hey, everybody! Wanted to get this chapter out to you before the holidays.
Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice, or any other shows that are used in this story.
"Recognized, Batman 0-2." Batman walked out of the zeta tube and to the console on the side of the entrance. "Authorized Access, Paula Crock, 1-5. Authorization, Batman, 0-2." Mrs. Crock rolled out of the zeta tube. "Where is Artemis?" Mrs. Crock asked as she looked around for her daughter.
"Currently, she is in the training room with the team, Black Canary, Red Tornado, Green Arrow, Zatara, and the dragon." Batman replied as he walked to the room.
"… So he sealed me into the rock behind me. I am glad that I made him use up that much power, as that is how I am still alive, but still…" Pyroxivos's voice trailed off as he saw Batman and Mrs. Crock roll in.
Artemis got up from her spot with Pyroxivos's tail curled around her and walked over to her mother to talk to her while Batman walked over to his fellow League Members.
"What was he talking about?" asked Batman, as he was only able to hear part of what the demon was talking about. "He was telling the story about how he was sealed where Artemis found him." Red Tornado replied.
"I can't believe he had his brothers and sisters murdered." Black Canary muttered, shocked that he had gone through that.
"I can't believe the one who killed them was Merlin." said Zatara, shocked about who Pyroxivos had said had killed them.
Batman's eye slits widened for a few seconds before he nodded and walked over to Artemis, who had finished telling her mother that she was fine, and was now sitting back in the circle Pyroxivos's tail had made.
She then noticed the dark knight's approach and sighed. "I guess it's time to explain." "Joy." muttered her brother. She rolled her eyes and looked at him. "Hey, your the one who agreed to do this." "That is true, but you know how much I hate explaining things when I've already explained them before."
Artemis smirked at the draconic demon "I know, I know."
Wally was starting to get impatient. "Hey, are you going to explain or not?" He was about to say more but was silenced when the two looked at him with faces that screamed 'Shut up, we're getting to that'.
"Well, since Kid Flash wants us to, let us begin." Pyroxivos said, while Artemis nodded. "Yeah. We've hid this long enough."
"Hid what?" M'gann asked, curious as to what they were talking about.
Pyroxivos sighed before deciding to inform them of something that needed to be mentioned. "Demons, like angels, are re-incarnated when they regain enough energy after death. However, when they are re-incarnated, their abilities will be locked away if they aren't reincarnated into something that can use them." Pyroxivos explained, the audience confused about why he was telling them this.
"Guardians, like myself, have the ability to sense energy. Some had better detecting abilities than others. For example, the Guardian of earth could detect energy, but relied on another of his abilities to detect others, while the Guardian of lightning could detect energy that was thousands of miles away."
"While that is impressive, what does that have to do with anything?" questioned Aqualad.
"It is an explanation about abilities that affected the meeting between myself and Artemis." Pyroxivos said "Now, when I was released I detected a fellow Guardian's energy. It was faint, meaning that they hadn't been re-incarnated into a form that could utilize their abilities. When I looked at the source of the energy, guess who was standing there with a shocked look on her face."
Everyone looked at Artemis, who was looking at the ceiling with her arms behind her head, using Pyroxivos's tail as a recliner. "No way." Wally breathed.
"I told her of this, and when she didn't believe me, I told her of a spell I know. It reawakens memories of one's past lives, or in this case, life. After I said what it did, she asked me to cast it. I did, and she remembered who she once was." While Pyroxivos was explaining this, Mrs. Crock rolled over to Artemis, who looked away.
"Artemis, look at me." Artemis did so, and was greeted with her mother pulling her into a hug. "I don't care about who or what you were before. You're still my daughter, and nothing will ever change that." Artemis grinned and hugged her mother back. "Thanks mom."
"Wait, if she doesn't have access to her powers, then how did she nearly freeze Klarion's cat, and call you when she did?" Robin asked.
"The spell has a second effect when used on someone who has had abilities like ours in a past life. It will unlock their innate abilities. Artemis simply lowered her own body's temperature to freeze the area around her." Pyroxivos said.
"Okay, but what about how she called you?" Zatanna asked.
"The signal she sent out is a beacon to anyone that can sense it, and most don't know what it is, so a fellow Guardian can find and assist the one in trouble, usually without any additional opposition." "Oh." the magician said, surprised it was that easy to explain.
Batman then turned his attention to Pyroxivos, who was smiling slightly at seeing his sister and her mother's hug. "So, what will you do now?"
Pyroxivos looked at him for a second, before letting out a sigh and closing his eyes. "I plan on finding the rest of my brothers and sisters. I will contact them and ask them if they would like their memories back. If they agree, then I will cast the memory awakening spell. If they don't, then I will leave them alone."
Green Arrow, who had been silent up until that point, was perplexed by this. "Why would you do that? You would be able to make them remember who they were no problem, so why would you just leave them alone?"
"I don't want to force them into knowing. I only want to make sure they are safe, and that they know that I am here for them if need be." The group was shocked by that.
Artemis let go of her mother, and looked at her draconic brother. "I'm still going to need a while to answer that other question." Pyroxivos opened his eyes and looked at her with a smirk on his face. "I figured."
"Wait, what other question?" Mrs. Crock asked concerned for her daughter. Artemis let out a sigh. "Pyro knows a spell that will re-activate the rest of my powers. While it will also turn me back into a demon, it will also allow me to keep my memories of being human. So, knowing this, he asked me if I wanted him to cast it yesterday. I haven't decided on it yet, so he is giving me some time to think about it."
Everyone was shocked at what Artemis just said. Artemis then noticed the looks that everyone was giving her. "What?" she said, an innocent look on her face.
Pyroxivos looked over the group with a chuckle before looking back at Artemis. "I think you broke them." Artemis looked at the shocked group for a minute before looking back at Pyroxivos. "Considering how they haven't snapped out of it yet, probably."
The fire Guardian then got up and walked toward the hangar, Artemis trailing behind him to see her brother off.
As the two made their way to the hangar, everyone slowly snapped out of their shock.
"Okay, so Artemis is the re-incarnated form of an ancient demonic guardian." Black Canary said, "She is still Artemis."
"True, and… wait, where did they go?" Green Arrow asked. Batman walked over to the computer and began searching the security cameras for the duo.
"There. They're in the hangar." he said, bringing the image up onto the main screen.
"So, have you found anyone else?" Artemis asked.
Pyroxivos focused on his energy sensing abilities, finding the Guardians' unique energy signatures.
"Four of them are in the United States, one is in Canada, and one is currently traveling to the United States." "Let me rephrase my question: Who are you going to contact next?"
"I will try contacting the one in Canada. Who, if I remember correctly, is the Guardian of water." Pyroxivos stated, getting ready to take off.
"Alright." Artemis said, "Good luck Pyro, and tell Hyliskan I said hi."
Pyroxivos chuckled, "Don't worry, I will. Goodbye Cryosic, you know how to contact me if you need me."
Artemis nodded, a small smile on her face. "Bye brother."
Pyroxivos nodded before taking off, quickly flying out of the cave. He then turned north, to his sister in Canada.
So, yeah.
Next chapter will introduce the Guardian of water, Hyliskan! And, I bet no one can guess who it is.
I'll try to get a new chapter out before new years, but that probably will wait until next year.
Happy Holidays everybody! UltimateX13, out!