Hey! I know it's been a LONG time since I last updated. I blame high school and its unnecessary task to teach you the things in life that you don't really need to know: like why Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca incorporated the consequences of lies and treachery... ANYWAY.

I'd like to thank Ninja Daughter of Hermes, candi711, EmiStone, nequam-tenshi, and WalkingStranger99. Those of whom are still reading this fanfic also have my gratitude.

Special thanks to the anonymous user who submitted a suggestion. There was an error in my account and the review was deleted. I wish I had written down the name before it happened so I could give you proper recognition.

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me and to Buried Secrets, which has been a year old ever since November.

For those who submitted OC'S, they will be in the sequel. Check the list in the previous chapters to verify if they are correct.

And many of you have made very...interesting speculations on who Mirage is. I will not say anything regarding this, but I am very encouraged and inspired by your comments.

As I have said the last chapter, many of you will most likely retract your favorites and alerts and hate my guts after reading this chapter. All I can tell you is that I'm sorry, and please stick around, because I promise that it WILL get better in the sequel (which STILL needs more suggestions for the title).

I also have a poll (that is kind of bad) on my profile that I would like you guys to take. It concerns the writing style of the story, because a part of me would REALLY like to try first person and maybe switch around which character's view point we're in.

This chapter is the second half of sorts of the episode Auld Acquaintances. The title of the chapter was made up last minute, but you will understand it when you finish the chapter.

Italics = thoughts, "telepathic communication"/ "radio communication"/ "on television", time stamps, flashbacks

Bold= exaggerated words

Warning: Slight language and may be slightly confusing to reader. Characters are also OOC.

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice.

Gotham City

December 31, 7: 30 EDT

The girl bit her lip before her brown eyes stared at the clock again. She drummed her fingers on the desk in anticipation, counting down the seconds and willing for time to go faster.

"Put down your pen, please," the elderly, spectacled supervisor announced in monotone, his voice cutting across the silent tension in the room.

She had long since finished the exam. It had been so easy; clearly they had been expecting a lot less of her education. Of course, the Gotham Department of Education insisted that she used the regulated time of an hour. She had been restlessly waiting for almost half an hour.

During that time, she had pondered what she'd do for the rest of the afternoon. Her mother was patiently waiting outside for her. She'd no doubt ask her how the test went, take her out for a short and very fast lunch, and then drive her to back to apartment before going back to work.

Hopefully her older sister would still be there. She had just gotten up around the time they left. It honestly felt like forever since their conversation yesterday, and this time, the girl was determined to continue it without running off. If not, she always had her cousin to play with.

"Miss?" the man came up to her, holding his hand out expectantly for her exam paper. They were the only two in the room; the one other test taker had eagerly fled immediately after.

"Oh?" she blinked rapidly. "I'm very sorry. I was looking at the clock."

She sent him a sheepish smile before handing the rather thick pile over to him.

The man's hard eyes softened a little bit.

Many years had passed since the last time he had seen anyone as polite and modest as she. The children and adolescents that he had monitored were either arrogant know-it-alls or obnoxiously stupid morons. There was just something instantaneously likable about her.

"That's quite all right…" He adjusted his glasses, in order for him to see the name on her test. "…Alice Crock."

The Watchtower

December 31, 23:36 EDT

"So what's the plan?" Artemis asked as she trailed behind Robin, M'gann, and Superboy (who, of course, had Wolf and Sphere with him). Rocket, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Zatanna were out ambushing other League members to apply the cure-tech to them.

Robin smiled as he rubbed his hands in eager anticipation. "We stay whelmed for one. Then we observe and strike when least expected."

He turned to Superboy, "Can you see how many League members are on the observation decks?"

They were currently in one of the hallways leading to the main deck, but Robin wanted to gather more intel before barging in.

Superboy's eyes narrowed as he used his supervision, "Just Klarion, a few League members, and a girl with a purple cloak. No sign of Vandal Savage."

"Purple cloak?" Robin said to himself, pulling out his binoculars to look in. Artemis followed suit.

Klarion was floating in the air tapping on the red screens in front of him like it was a computer game. A girl leaned against a wall nearby to him, watching him in amusement.

Artemis's eyes narrowed behind the binoculars. Mirage.

"Four of my toys down already!" Klarion grumbled.

"The kiddie-team has arrived then," Mirage pulled her hood back over her head so that it concealed all but her glowing purple eyes.

Klarion shared a sly smile with her. "That'd be your cue."

Mirage laughed, "I'll go get the hostage."

"Hostage?" Robin echoed in confusion.

"Maybe Dr. Serling Roquette after she helped us with the cure-tech?" M'gann suggested.

"I doubt it," Artemis voiced, "Roquette probably hid in a cellar after we left. Not really a brave person is she?"

All stood completely still as they pondered who the hostage could possibly be. Superboy was the only one to make no suggestions.

Eventually, Mirage returned, dragging along a bound girl.

"Mmmph!" Mirage's hostage screamed loudly through her gags. Her eyes darted around frantically and her arms kept thrashing against its restraints.

"Where'd you get that?" Klarion asked snidely, crudely looking the girl up and down.

Mirage shrugged in disinterest, "Saw her around the Gotham zeta-beam transporter. She looked like a good hostage at the time."

"Great." Robin growled. "She's got a civilian. Now we've got to somehow get that girl out of here with minimal damage."

Meanwhile, Artemis had been observing Mirage, mentally preparing herself for another fight with the shape-shifter. She wasn't going to let Mirage get the upper hand this time.

This will be for Inferno. Artemis thought. A month or so back, he had been seriously injured during a fight against Mirage. As a result, it became just Artemis and Red Arrow doing their late-night patrol in Gotham.

Eventually, Artemis's gaze fell onto the hostage. Her eyes widened in realization as Artemis finally recognized who it was. "Alice," she whispered.

Somehow, Mirage had managed to kidnap her foster-sister. She didn't bother thinking about the likeliness or even the circumstances of the abduction.

In that instant of recognition, Artemis charged. Forgetting the original plan in a fit of sheer rage, Artemis rushed straight ahead at Mirage.

"Artemis!" Robin and M'gann shouted.

Not even caring if she did damage to the once semi-good thief, Artemis struck Mirage over atop the head with her bow, using all of the strength she had. Artemis was so concerned with Alice's well-fare that she barely comprehended that her bow went straight through Mirage, as well as that Mirage's image disappeared into thin air afterwards. . She even forgot about Klarion and Robin, Superboy, and M'gann.

Artemis turned to Alice, using her best comforting tone as she worked to remove the rope binding her hands together. "I'll help you…."

Alice's head slowly rotated around to her, like in one of those horror movies. What Artemis saw next was startling. Alice's usually kind brown eyes quickly turned purple in an instant, and a cruel, hard smirk formed in the place of Alice's sweet smile.

The breath of disbelief had hardly left her mouth before Mirage swung her leg into Artemis's abdomen….hard.

Groaning, Artemis could barely roll out of the way before Mirage could pin Artemis down with her boot.

Mirage smiled, but not like her usual playful smile. In an instant, six Mirages were walking tauntingly towards her as Artemis scrambled backwards on all fours.

"Guess you don't know about my ability to create illusions," she laughed harshly, taking a gleaming dagger from her side. "There's a reason for why I'm called Mirage, you know. And all I had to do was pretend to be this harmless frail girl, and you'd come running to the rescue."

Her eyes flashed, "Mess ahead, Artemis."

Mirage's dagger (which struck Artemis as really familiar) swung towards Artemis, and life flashed before her.

The Watchtower

December 31, 23:40 EDT

"What the-" Red Arrow started angrily. He had been battling Green Lantern under the control of Vandal Savage, only to all of a sudden be pulled out of the battle and off of the main deck.

He looked around, taking in his surroundings. He was at the dead end of a dark, secluded hallway.

"Quiet," a feminine voice spoke to him. But the way that it rang through his mind let him know that someone was speaking to him telepathically. And the voice was not Miss Martian.

"Whoever you are," Red Arrow notched an arrow and scowled menacingly, looking around him. "You better show yourself."

"Relax," A girl emerged from the shadows, holding her hands up in mock surrender. "It's just me."

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't shoot you in the head," Red Arrow snapped. He refused to respond telepathically. There had to be a reason for why she was trying to keep him quiet.

"I'm a friend," she spoke carefully, trying to not push any of his buttons. The archer was practically a ticking time bomb.

"Yeah," Red Arrow scoffed disbelievingly, "Like I'm friends with you."

"Believe it or not," the girl reached to her side, "I am".

He instinctively pulled the arrow further back in response.

"It's okay," she whispered, showing him what she had been reaching for.

Red Arrow's eyes hardened, but he loosened and left his bow hanging by his side. "Where did you get that?"

She smiled in response, purple eyes gleaming. "You'll find that I'm very good at obtaining knowledge."

He raised his eyebrow, "And I'm supposed to believe that you're just going to hand that over?"

"I will in a moment." She answered, before shooting him a very apologetic smile. " And I'm really sorry about this, but first … Broken Arrow."

The Watchtower

December 31, 23:38 EDT

"Nice try," Robin laughed as he deflected Mirage's dagger with his staff. "But you forgot about us."

Using Robin's distraction, Artemis scrambled upwards, quickly taking in her surroundings. Superboy, M'gann, Wolf, and Sphere were all taking on the League members that were in the room. Klarion was tapping away on the screens, cackling as he manipulated the League members.

"Now would be a good time to jump in, Artemis!" Robin exclaimed telepathically while he dodged Mirage's various swipes with the dagger.

"Right," Artemis's eyes narrowed at Mirage as she drew back an arrow, ready and poised to shoot.

"Two against one seems hardly fair," Mirage smiled darkly as she lunged for Robin again.

Robin's eyes widened, and he just barely dodged Mirage. "How did you-"

"Hack into your telepathic communication?" Mirage's grin grew wider and, if possible, even darker. "That was easier than tricking Artemis."

"I thought you said you were above all of this," Artemis snapped as she swung a punch towards the shape-shifter.

"I lied," Mirage caught Artemis's fist. She then shifted into an all-too-familiar form, Jade.

"Just like you did," Jade sing-songed, using Artemis's fist to pull Artemis over her head and onto the floor with such force.

Artemis lay sprawled on the floor, groaning. How did Mirage suddenly have the strength of Superman? Okay, maybe not Superman, but she certainly did use super-human strength. Jade didn't have super-human strength, so how could she use it with that form? Even the Martians couldn't imitate and mix-and-match their forms' abilities.

"No one," she purred, then changing into Alice. "can save you now."

Alice kicked away Artemis's bow, causing it to slide across the deck. Robin was too engaged in a fight with Batman to help. While Artemis had been battling Mirage, Klarion had summoned six more League members. In other words, Artemis was truly alone again…without her bow.

Artemis's eyes widened as she stared up at the dagger once again.

How does this keep happening today?!

Nonetheless, Artemis quickly swept her feet across, knocking Mirage down, but only for a few moments. Both girls got up at the same time, and Artemis swung a left hook.

Twang!

A sudden sound got Mirage's attention, and she quickly turned around, all the while dodging Artemis's fist.

Artemis blinked almost unbelievingly at the arrow with the red fletching buried into Mirage's right arm.

"An eye for an eye," Red Arrow called out, smirking. He kicked Artemis's bow back towards her, and she quickly grabbed and notched an arrow with it.

Hissing in what appeared to be pain, Mirage attempted to pull out the arrow, but faltered, swaying back in forth. Clearly something was in the arrow. It could've even been the knock-out poison that Artemis had attempted to use on her a few months back.

"NO, no, no, no, no!" Klarion suddenly shrieked. He had seen the archers attack Mirage. In a moment, a large black hand caught Mirage's falling body. "Don't mess with my favorite toy!"

Klarion's magically summoned hand quickly brought an almost unconscious Mirage to his side. Without Klarion really controlling the League members, it was somewhat easier for Miss Martian, Superboy, and Robin to subdue the League.

"It's almost strange," Artemis murmured to Red Arrow as he dashed over to her. The two got into their circle formation. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that Klarion actually kind of cares for her."

"Too bad I can't say the same," Red Arrow's eyes narrowed behind his domino mask.

Artemis watched as he sent an arrow at Teekl, Klarion's familiar. Artemis followed suit; the cat may have been nimble, but once she got so much as hit one time, Klarion would be sent away from the mortal plane.

"You kiddies will pay!" Klarion screamed stamping his feet while summoning a large red fireball. The immortal lord of chaos could feel a major temper tantrum coming on.

It just barely missed Artemis and Red Arrow, as they scrambled to get out of the way.

"Stop, Klarion!" Mirage shouted, clearly wide awake now. She quickly got off of the magically summoned hand that vanished in the instant her body left. "Vandal Savage is ordering a tactical retreat."

" Retreat!?" Klarion howled. "We can still take the kiddie club! We can still fight!"

"Yes, but you could destroy the satellite or kill some League members," Mirage responded calmly. "You know you'd bring in the chaos, Klarion."

Oddly, Red Arrow loosened his arrow at her response, even letting his bow drop back to his side. Rather than take the opportunity like Artemis thought he would, Red Arrow seemed to be letting them go.

"Fine," Klarion grumbled, summoning a large yellow portal. Nonetheless, he smiled somewhat softly at the shape-shifter. "And, yeah, I'd totally bring the chaos."

"We're just letting them get away?!" Artemis meanwhile demanded to Red Arrow. He was just…standing there.

"They're leaving anyway," Red Arrow responded with an uncharacteristic shrug of his shoulders.

"Take the shot, Artemis. Take the shot that Red Arrow's not going to make. Do you want to prove that you have no fear? Take the shot."

And it was because of the voice in her head, constantly telling her to shoot, that Artemis sent one of her last arrows at Mirage's retreating figure.

In less than one second, Mirage turned around, facing the arrow with a hard smirk. Words couldn't really describe what she did next, but, to simply put it, Mirage caught and sent the arrow right back at Artemis. A possible feat, but only for an advanced archer with a bow.

Artemis's dark grey eyes widened in slight fear as her own arrow came hurtling back towards her.

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

But Artemis's arrow never touched her. That was because Red Arrow had so stupidly, so brashly, so arrogantly, so bravely, and so selflessly got in the way. What an uber goob and arrogant jerk, assuming Artemis needed him to interfere!

"Roy!" Artemis screeched, immediately running to the fallen archer. She did not notice how all the battles around her stopped.

She turned his groaning form over onto his back and examined the wound. To her horror, it was a major wound, too big for her to do anything. A sick feeling washed over Artemis as she realized the familiarity of the scene unraveling before her eyes.

Blood. Blood was everywhere. The dark crimson stained almost everything in her sight, and the strong smell was too much to bear.

"You'll make it," Artemis began to babble, her hands constantly moving to try to find something that she could do. "You're okay. You can handle this wound, Roy."

"Artemis." His strong hand found hers. "Stop it."

"You're going to be okay," Artemis continued, insisting. But with each passing moment, it seemed more and more like she was trying to reassure herself.

"Calm down," Red Arrow attempted to comfort the hyperventilating Artemis. "You won't be able to get rid of me that easily."

A sob escaped from Artemis's throat. She had a bad feeling about where this was going.

"This is all my fault," Artemis looked down, ashamed and angry at herself.

My fault…. All my fault.

"No," Red Arrow frowned, "It's not. It's Mirage's fault."

His answer didn't make Artemis feel much better. After all, it was Artemis's arrow in Roy at the moment.

"Listen," he began. "On the unlikely chance I don't make it out-"

"You will," Artemis interrupted, panicking once more. "You're stubborn and strong. You can fight it."

"Artemis!" Red Arrow barked. "For God's sake, you're acting as if I'm dying!"

"But-" Artemis began to speak. Red Arrow interrupted her.

"Now," he winced as he attempted to sit upright. Artemis gently pushed him back down. "I'm probably going to be stuck in the hospital for some time, but in the meanwhile, promise me you'll try to find the real Roy."

"Promise," came out shakily from Artemis.

At this point, Artemis realized that the others had realized the fallen archer, and they were now all silently surrounding the two. The other half of the Team was back too, and Kid Flash angrily kicked the floor as they watched the stubborn- as- hell archer die. Strangely, it was like they were all okay just hanging around in the background. Maybe it was because they felt as helpless as she felt.

Do something. Do something! She screamed at herself. Artemis had just come to her senses.

Artemis's hands unsteadily reached for her arrow in Red Arrow's side, but, with shaky hands of his own, Red Arrow pushed it away.

"No," he croaked out. "Leave it there."

"I have to do something!"

Suddenly Artemis was beyond furious. Mad at herself for taking that shot when the Light was already retreating. Raging at Mirage for sending the arrow back at her. And, as much as she wanted to be infuriated with Roy, she couldn't. She could've been the one sprawled on the floor right now, but he had to try to be some glorified hero to make up for unintentionally being the mole.

"And you are," Red Arrow began to close his eyes. He was beginning to feel so tired. "Just stop crying. It's starting to freak me out."

"No!" Artemis screamed. She grabbed Red Arrow's shoulder and began to shake him. "Wake up! Don't you dare give in, Roy William Harper!"

"Ha…ha," Red Arrow laughed weakly. "You're making such a big deal out of nothing, Arty. I assure you I'm not dying."

"Then swear to me," Artemis demanded. "Swear to me that you won't die."

He coughed, "I swear. Damn, Artemis, you're stubborn 'til the end."

Artemis smiled a little. Just for him. "That's why we got along sooo splendidly."

"You know, Artemis," Red Arrow smiled back, "If it's one thing I regret, it's that I didn't have you back when I was being-"

"A stupid, arrogant ass?" Artemis supplied, her smile growing a little wider as memories of them flooded through her mind.

"Yeah," Red Arrow laughed, "That."

His face took a more serious look, "Look, Artemis, when you find Roy, he'll be in his angsty rebellious stage. In other words, probably a bigger asshole than I am. Don't hesitate to give him hell for it. I know that I would still be an asshole if it wasn't for you."

"You still are one," Artemis joked. Tears were even more freely falling out of her eyes.

"Stop crying," Red Arrow demanded. "And take off your mask so I can see your face."

"Then let me take off yours," Artemis countered.

"Fair enough," Red Arrow conceded.

Artemis leaned forward to peel back Red Arrow's domino mask, and he reached up to pull down her own mask.

"There," he smiled. Artemis took in his mask-less face for what she hoped would not be the last time.

Artemis began to lean back, when all of a sudden, Roy's hand came to the back of her neck and pushed her head towards his.

The lip contact did not last over a minute, but to Artemis, it felt like an eternity. The way that Roy was kissing her almost made her forget he was dying, because hell, he was such a good kisser. The passion and desire on his part was a large amount for anybody to have, let alone a dying person.

When they separated, Artemis's face flushed as her chest heaved and her brain screamed for oxygen.

Seeing Artemis's expression, Roy smirked. "Just wanted to do that. I have been, for a while."

Shakily, Artemis's fingers rose to touch her tingling lips.

"Happy New Year, Artemis," Roy looked beyond her, seemingly noticing the others for the first time. "And you guys too. You've all put up with me and let me into your family. I owe you guys."

Artemis looked up, catching M'gann's eyes. The Martian gazed sadly at the archer in response, tears brimming over. She had never watched anyone die before, nevertheless seen a comrade die before.

"Artemis," Roy's voice was softer than ever.

"Yes?" Artemis whispered back, turning to look at him once more.

"I know I don't deserve to…" Roy's eyes shut once more, and his hands began to loosen out of Artemis's grip. "…..but I still ….feel that way for you."

Artemis's eyes widened as his hand completely slipped out of her own.

"You can't!" Artemis finally found her voice. She screamed at him. "You swore to me! You swore!"

"Artemis," a hand reached for her shoulder. "ARTEMIS!"

It was Kid Flash.

"He's gone," Kid Flash said forcefully. His green eyes were dull and he physically winced when he heard his words out loud. "Roy's gone."

"No," Artemis began to rock herself back and forth. "no, no, no, no, no."

"I don't hear his heartbeat," Superboy added, looking struck. The two didn't initially get along, but Artemis had the feeling that Red Arrow and Superboy may have grown to be good friends. They certainly had a common point in their temper.

"He's not dead," Artemis protested, tears coming out of her eyes. "He can't be dead!"

"Artemis," Miss Martian's arm wrapped around her from behind. "I'm so sorry."

"And contrary to what you're thinking," Zatanna joined the embrace. "It's not your fault."

All in the room bowed their head in silence, a few of them sniffling and wiping their tears away with the back of their hand furiously. (For Kid Flash's sake, they shall not be named)

They had won the battle against the Light…but at the unnecessary price of a friend, comrade, and fellow hero.

The Watchtower

January 1, 00:02 EDT

"Happy New Years," Kid Flash quietly came up to a brooding Artemis.

When the League members had come to their senses, the Team had rather hesitantly informed them of the cost of the battle. Red Arrow's body was then removed, and the blood stains scrubbed away, though not even Batman and Red Tornado could bear to do it. Green Arrow had angrily punched a nearby wall several times before stalking out of the Watchtower. Black Canary, with tears of her own, followed. They, unlike Artemis, could not stand to see Roy's body, and fled before any could really try to comfort the two in their loss of a person who had been like a son to them. They only returned after a few minutes, composing themselves to say goodbye to him.

Only Artemis stayed the whole time by Red Arrow's side. The Team had to physically hold her back as mournful League members took his body away. Artemis continued to argue that Red Arrow couldn't have possibly died. Nobody had the heart to argue with her; after all, denial was one of the seven stages of grief.

"It's….It's not your fault, you know," He said, when no response came from the blonde archer.

"Yes," Artemis closed her eyes and bowed her head. "it is."

"Artemis," Kid Flash reached out to touch her shoulder. "You need to accept Roy's death, and the fact that it's not your fault…."

He punched the wall next to them, in a sudden fit of rage. "…It's that stupid shadow operative's… When I see her…"

Artemis's eyes widened briefly before darkening. "Who told you?"

Kid Flash gave her a look of disbelief. "Robin told me."

"Right," Artemis shifted her gaze away. She had forgotten that they had not been alone.

"Anyway," Artemis looked back at Kid Flash, "Thanks for trying to make me feel better."

She turned to leave the Watchtower; it had been a long and terrible day.

"Oh." Artemis stopped and spun back around. She gave Kid Flash a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Happy New Years, Wally," she said softly.

Then she left before she could cry again. Because when she had kissed the ginger, she had briefly imagined it to be a certain red-haired archer.

Well, I have gone where no other RoyArt fan has ever gone: I have killed Roy. The last part was VERY, VERY hard to write. Like I said earlier, I've been busy lately, and it didn't help that I was very reluctant to well, murder Roy. The dream that Artemis had back in Chapter 7 foreshadowed this event.

I always wondered how the others would react if they lost a comrade during a battle with the Light. I mean, after all, they lost teammates in much lesser battles. Why couldn't they lose one in the biggest battle of season one? In addition, my cousin, when finding out Roy was a clone, declared that there were too many Roy Harpers running around, and that the show should just kill one of them off (I disagreed with her, but I used her comment to do this chapter).

The part where I mentioned Inferno will be furthered explained in the next few chapters through the flashbacks. If you aren't so enraged by this chapter, stick around to read it. It will be mostly about how Artemis and Roy came to know (and eventually began to like-like) each other. Also, just to clarify, out of pride, Artemis DID NOT reveal her secret. Only Red Arrow and Robin knew. Artemis choked, and the secret stays buried. Again, more will be explained through the next two chapters.

Please stick around because you may end up liking the sequel.

Artemis denies Roy's death, while the others believe him dead. Do you believe Artemis or think she's gone crazy? And originally, I was going to have the other members of the Team cut in during the RoyArt moment, as well as cropped out the kiss, but then decided that some of the very faithful RoyArt fans may have found some way to hunt me down in the night and kill me if I didn't include. And because, I'd probably hate my own self for not doing it.

I also feel like I lost my affinity for writing the other characters so I cropped them out or left them reduced to very small lines and roles.

WallArt fans, for your sake, I put a small WallArt moment in the end, but only if you squint and determine it as that way.

Anyway, if you're still reading this, thank you very much!

One last thing, who do you blame for Roy's death? Artemis, Roy, or Mirage?

Please give me your comments, opinions, and suggestions!