Richard stared at his counterparts in awe.
"H-How the hell is this possible?" Richard asked looking from his younger self to Robin to Nightwing and back to his younger self. Robin looked at the younger Richard and they had a silent conversation.
"How this is possible is beyond any of us but as for why it's happening." Nightwing began looking at Robin and young Richard. "It's because you're going through a change that will force you to make a decision." Nightwing continued as young Richard raised his hand.
"Um Nightwing maybe we should skip to the part where we tell him what's wrong with his body and how to fix it." Grayson (easier to call him this) stated as Nightwing looked at him.
"Wrong with my body?!" Richard nearly shouted looking at the three of them.
"Richard, at the moment your body is currently in a coma while your mind is here." Nightwing replied raising his hand up which revealed a window of light.
Richard looked into the window and saw him on a medical bed with Slade sitting beside him.
"Oh my." Richard muttered as Slade rubbed Richard's hand which he was holding. Nightwing closed his hand and the window of light vanished. Richard dived at the window as it began to disappear only to end up crashing to the ground. "No, this can't be happening. This is all a dream and when I wake up Wally and Roy will be there comforting me." Richard said clearly in denial. Robin nodded at Nightwing who took a step forward and picked Richard up by his shoulders.
"Face it Richard, it's happening now, do you wanna get out of here or not?!" Nightwing yelled in Richard's face.
Richard clenched his fists for a moment and collected himself before speaking again.
"Yes." He said finally looking up at Nightwing.
"Good, then Grayson, your up first." Nightwing stated putting Richard down before he and Robin vanished in the shadows. Richard then turned to his young counterpart.
"What did he mean by your up first?" Richard asked as Grayson sighed.
"In order to wake up from your coma you must face the thing that ended each of us." Grayson said as darkness began to surround the two. Grayson then stood up straight. "Hello, my name is Richard Grayson and I watched my parents fall to their deaths." He said grimly.
A bright light then surrounded them both and when it dulled Grayson was nowhere to be seen. Richard on the other hand was sitting in the stands of a... circus!
"Ladies and Gentlemen let me introduce the family that can truly fly. The Flying Graysons!" A voice called out as Richard looked down to see Jack Haley standing in the center of the big top holding a microphone.
"No." Richard muttered as he watched as his younger self and his dead parents walked out into view.
Richard watched as they began the performance. He was smiling despite knowing what was going to happen. Grayson had the biggest smile on his face as he flew alongside his parents and for a moment Richard wondered how anyone could look so carefree. He watched and waited unaware of the man sitting in front of him with a brunette by his side. Richard clenched his teeth as he watched the ropes snap. John and Mary Grayson then began to fall to their deaths. Richard forced himself to watch not because it was probably the last time he'd ever see his parents in the air even if it was falling but because he had to do this. He had to wake up from his coma. He had to stop the Light's plan. All in order to protect his family.
He watched as the bodies crashed against the ground and the blood splattered all over the ground. He watched as young Grayson ran up to their bodies and cried. Richard however, did his best to refrain from crying. Richard didn't even notice as Darkness surrounded the area around him all except for the spot where the Graysons died. A young man walked into the light and put a hand on Richard's shoulder.
"It's alright to cry." The all so familiar voice told him. Richard turned to see his former mentor standing there with a smile on his face. When looked back Grayson was gone and so were the Flying Graysons. He turned back to face his former mentor.
"No, crying is a sign of weakness, and I won't cry while on a mission, that's one of the few rules you managed to drill into my head." Richard replied wiping his eyes.
"But this isn't a job Richard." Bruce responded with a sigh.
Richard shook his head and turned around.
"Maybe to you it isn't but I have to get out of here so I can protect everyone." Richard said as Bruce turned him around as bats surrounded him. Suddenly it wasn't Bruce standing there in front of him but Batman the Dark Knight of Gotham City.
"Your right, crying is a sign of weakness, but you've already shown me how weak you truly are, so what does it matter?" Batman asked in complete monotone. Before Richard could say another word he was engulfed in the shadows once more.
Roy sat in his looking for any updates from Richard. He had been silent for almost twenty-four hours and that wasn't a good sign.
"Roy!" Wally's voice cried out. A second later Wally was standing at his side. Roy looked up from the computer and up at Wally.
"What's up Wals?" Roy asked as Wally seemed speechless for once.
"Ollie and Barry are at our front door with some visitors." Wally said finally figuring out a way to say it.
"Visitors?" Roy asked, standing up as Wally nodded.
"You're not gonna believe this, but it's the whole Young Justice team." Wally replied bouncing around.
"Easy Wally. Where are Virgil and Richie?" Roy asked beginning to walk to the staircase with Wally close behind.
"They're currently entertaining our guests but dude, watch what you say, Artemis isn't in the best of moods apparently." Wally said as they began to ascend the staircase.
"What do you mean by that?" Roy asked opening the door to the house only to be knocked back by a punch. Roy fell to the ground and their standing above him was a seriously ticked off Artemis.
"That's what I mean." Wally said as Ollie put his hands on Artemis's shoulders.
"What the hell was that for?!" Roy growled as Artemis growled in response.
"That's for letting us all believe Nightwing went rogue!" Artemis replied as Wally helped Roy up.
"Easy Artemis, I think it's best if we all just sit down and talk about this." Ollie said leading her towards the couch.
"S-she knows?" Roy asked a little stunned at Artemis's response.
"Yes my friend we all do." Kaldur stated alerting Roy of his presence. "But how?" Wally asked as he looked up at Connor. He gave a weak smile to his boyfriend but said nothing.
"Apparently Nightwing delivered a letter to Artemis letting her know of the plan and to burn it afterwards." Barry answered for them.
"Why weren't we told?" Ollie asked calmly looking up at Roy. Roy and Wally looked each other in the eyes as Virgil coughed to turn the attention to him.
"You guys need to relax. I know you're all pissed and you have a reason to be but." Virgil began with a deep breath.
"But the fewer that knew, the better." Richie finished for him.
"Yeah, thanks Rich." Virgil replied rubbing the back of his head. Artemis took a deep breath and walked over to the window. She stared out it as if making a decision.
"Unfortunately, the only way we could tell you guys openly is if you joined Oath per Richard's request." Wally said as Connor stood up from the couch and walked over to him.
"So if we join Oath you won't keep anymore secrets?" Connor asked taking Wally's hands in his. Megan could definitely feel the tension coming off of Roy and Wally.
"Well yeah, and most of you guys were on our recruitment list." Wally responded as Roy walked over to where Artemis was.
"Recruitment list?" Kaldur asked as Wally nodded.
"You see, Richard knows the Light is up to something big and he wanted Oath to be prepared so he had us scouting people. Out of the people here: Kaldur, Connor, Artemis, Richie, and Virgil were on the list." Wally explained as the members nodded. After a few minutes of silence Artemis spoke up.
"I cried, you know." She spoke softly. Everyones attention was immediately on her. "I don't cry over anything and yet him going rogue killed a piece of me inside so I only have one thing to say." Artemis said turning around and looking Roy directly in the eyes. Everyone waited patiently for Artemis to state her decision."I propose that Young Justice and Oath merge meaning that all members of Young Justice will be a part of Oath but still a part of our own group." She said which quickly disposed of the tension.
Kaldur smiled. "I second the merger." He stated proudly. Ollie and Barry looked at each other with a smile on their faces.
"All that are against the merger say I." Kaldur continued and not a sound was heard. "All those that wish for the merger say I." He said afterwards. The room was filled a chorus of 'I's. Kaldur then looked up at Roy and smiled.
"So, what do we have to do to join Oath officially?" Megan asked from the knowing smirks of Richie and Virgil.
"You gotta take the Oath of course." Virgil spoke up as Richie chuckled.
"Then you gotta get the tattoo and it really, really hurts." Richie added as Kaldur looked up at Roy.
"Meet us on the roof top of Oath's head quarters in exactly two hours. Be there in your hero outfits and be ready to take the Oath." Roy stated as the rest smiled.
Two hours later all the members of Young Justice and Oath(superhero members) stood on the roof top of Oath's headquarters. Green Arrow and Flash were there too, but not to join Oath, to witness the ceremony as Roy called it.
"Artemis, step forward." Red Arrow said in a low voice. Artemis did as she was asked. "Do you swear to stand for a new light?" Roy asked as Artemis nodded.
"I swear." She said as Roy nodded and she stepped back.
"Connor step forward." Warp stated as Connor walked up to his boyfriend. "Do you swear to stand for a new light?" Warp asked as Connor nodded.
"If it means I get to see you everyday, then yes." Connor said with a small smile.
Warp blushed slightly as Connor walked back into his place.
"M'gann, step forward." Gear stated as M'gann did so. "Do you swear to stand for a new light?" He asked with a smile.
"If it means that I will be able to protect my friends better, then yes." M'gann replied as Gear smirked. M'gann went back to her place.
"Aqualad step forward." Static said as Aqualad did so. "Do you swear to stand for a new light?" Static asked completely serious.
"If it means I'll be able to be of more assistance, then yes." Aqualad responded with a smile smile before stepping back.
"Do all of you swear as a member of Oath to trust and protect your family?" Red Arrow asked standing up straight.
"We swear." The members of Young Justice swore.
"Do you swear to stand by us, even if the world should turn against us?" Warp asked as again the members of Young Justice nodded.
"We swear." They repeated as Red Arrow smiled.
"Now you will get your tattoo on your right wrist by your new partner." Red Arrow stated as the members of Oath pulled out tattoo guns.
"Partners?" Aqualad asked with a raised eyebrow. Warp chuckled a little bit because Red Arrow now had to explain it.
"Yeah, partners. You see, our members are growing rather quickly so we decided to make things easier on all of us that you'd get a partner and to make it more meaningful they'd be the ones to do your tattoos." Red Arrow explained as Gear smiled at Static.
"It's also to teach you how to adapt with other people." Gear added as Static nodded.
"Yeah, because what happens if the partner your most accustomed to is hurt or unable to fight meaning you have to fight. Basically it's to make it so you're never unprepared." Static finished for Gear.
"Artemis and I are a team seeing as how were the best archers here." Red Arrow stated as Green Arrow grunted at the comment.
Artemis smirked and walked over to Red Arrow for her tattoo.
"Big S, your with me." Warp said with a wink at Connor. Connor smiled and walked over to him to get his tattoo.
"M'gann, you're with me considering we're the smartest here." Gear stated as M'gann flew over to him.
"You forgot the part about her small head balancing out your big head." Static teased as Gear chuckled. "Aqualad you're with me seeing as how were both masters of electricity." Static said as Aqualad walked over to him.
"It's a pleasure to work with you." Aqualad stated holding out his hand. Five minutes full of grunts later the members of Young Justice all had Oath written on their wrists.
"With this, you now have a family that will stands for a new light." Red Arrow began looking at the new recruits. Flash, who had brought his camera, began taking pictures like crazy.
"A family that will trust and protect you." Warp continued looking at everyone.
"That will stand by you." Static continued looking at Gear a smirk on his face.
"Even if the world turns on you." Gear finished as everyone held out their right hands.
"We are OATH!" They exclaimed at once. As everyone began to talk, Static and Gear managed to slip away to the opposite side of the building.
"Wow, partners huh." Static said sitting down on the ledge.
"Yeah, hard to believe just a year ago it was just you and me taking down people like Hotspot and Ebon huh?" Gear asked standing beside his best friend.
"Yeah, but I can't help but worry we'll end up drifting apart." Static managed to say.
"Yeah right, and Nightwing will die in a fiery explosion." Gear responded with a chuckle. Static looked at Gear with an eyebrow raised. "Hey, I'm just saying that me and you drifting apart is as likely as Nightwing dying in a random explosion." Gear stated with a shrug.
"I guess your right. After all, we started the super hero gig together and we took the Oath together so there's no way we'll drift apart." Static said with a chuckle. "And there's no way Nightwing would die in an explosion I mean not until he sees your shrine of him at least." Static added as Gear's mouth opened wide.
"For the last time, it's not a shrine!." Gear yelled at Static who only continued to laugh.
Elsewhere somewhere very secretive and dark.
"How is the plan advancing?" A gruff voice asked from the shadows.
"Perfect, Birdboy's in the coma just like we planned." A high shrill voice said with laughter.
"And he'll see what we want him to see, right?" The gruff voice asked as another voice grunted.
"Of course, what do you take me for? A street magician? He'll see exactly what we need him to see and our plans will go exactly as we planned." Another younger annoyed voice answered.
"Good, continue to part two." The voice stated with a small smirk behind it.
Alright people, I know a lot of people will probably be mad at how I basically made Young Justice join Oath but I only have one thing to say to that. Idc. I'm planning this at it needs to be planned. Yes after 18 chapters I actually have a plan in mind which will blow your mind with the ending. Well read and review.