Hello everyone!
What's this, an update on time you ask? Allow me to explain.
I'm currently still on school holidays (Ha! Take that public schools! Private (like Gotham Academy) is always better!) and I've been feeling much more motivated this morning. So here it is.
DISCLAIMER: Do I really need one? I mean, I am on a FANFICTION website, just saying. But still, I am not cool enough to own DC and therefore, all rights go to them. All I own is my plot and the Robin T-Shirt I'm wearing today. Because Robin is awesome.
The sparring between Batman and I proves that even when I'm tired, I'm more than a match for him. We both find the fight equally challenging and enjoy ourselves immensely. Eventually though, we stop.
"I know you don't want to, but you need to go back to the medical bed now" he says.
I sigh and then smirk "Fine, but only because you asked nicely."
"Don't get cheeky with me, I can still ground you."
I smirk at the ground and obediently follow him outside and head towards the medical room. I'm relieved to find that the team is gone and then lie down in the bed, suddenly realizing just how tired I am. Batman does a few checks and then leaves after telling me to get some rest. My body promptly obeys him and within seconds I feel myself fall into the abyss of sleep.
# # #
I wake up to the white room and once again feel almost blinded. How bright is this room? After a quick look around I find that there's no one here at all. I don't know what time it is or if it's even night or day. I decide to get out of bed and try to find someone. Walking around the mountain, I don't see anyone. Not even a guard. What? Didn't Batman say that he would set at least one guard to me?
"Hello there Morgana"
Whipping around I see him standing there, watching me.
I swallow and slowly back away. Where is everyone?
"It appears your friends have abandoned you. They don't actually care about you. Did you think they did?"
"They'll come" I say back, my voice sounding so much more confident than I feel.
"That's where you're wrong Morgana. They're not going to come."
"My name is Morgan and yes, they are going to come!"
"Why would they come for someone they hate?"
"They don't hate me." I retort, hating how my voice falters slightly.
"Then explain this"
The screen beside me lights up with video footage of the team around Artemis's bed.
"I just wish A would die!" Robin exclaims "First she takes away my dad, then she insults all my friends and gets Slade onto us, she's nothing but trouble!"
"I have to agree with you Robin, so far, she has done nothing right." Aqualad agrees.
"She even got me almost killed!" Artemis exclaims.
"And then she wonders why I asked you guys to go into her head, she's a menace!" Kid Flash says, annoyed.
"She's a total weakling! She has absolutely no powers and no skill!" Superboy says loudly.
"And to top it all off, she acts like Slade!" Miss Martian adds.
"I don't trust her, I never did. I'm just keeping the enemy close so we can take her out at a moment's notice" Batman says as he slips silently inside.
"Too true" Shayera agrees.
The recording stops and I fall to my knees, tears leaking out of my eyes.
What I don't understand though is why when Kid Flash spoke, it hurt more than even what Robin or Batman said.
"You see Morgana, no one cares about you, and they all just want you dead. I'm the only one that you can trust anymore.
I look at him, fury burning in my eyes even through the tears.
"I'll never trust you. Ever."
"Then I'm afraid that more people will have to die. How about we start with the team?"
The screen comes on again and Slade pulls out a button. The image explodes in fire as the button clicks.
"NO!" I scream and suddenly pitch black shoots out of my hand into Slade's body.
My vision suddenly floods with white and I can't move. Still screaming, I see black shoot around the room every now and then.
The metal holding me to the table suddenly breaks and I'm free.
I roll off the bed and onto the floor. Curling into a ball, I stop screaming and instead sob hysterically. They're dead! I killed them.
"A!"
Batman!
I throw myself into his arms and sob into his chest. He slowly lowers us both to the floor and sits there with me, slowly stroking my hair and wings.
"It's ok A, it wasn't real. It was just a dream. You're safe now."
# # #
I eventually calm down and look up to see Batman looking at me worriedly.
"I- I'm sorry" I whisper
"Sorry for what?"
"For causing you so much trouble. I've brought nothing but misfortune to you, you'd be better off without me."
"No. Whatever you thought you saw in that dream, you are loved and wanted. Artemis was only calling you an idiot because she was so worried about you. She thought you were going to die. She just wanted you to be safe."
"All I do is cause trouble. How could anyone love me?"
"We've seen the beauty and kindness inside of you. You're a good person and to be honest, my life wouldn't be complete without you. You've become a part of my life that I couldn't live without. Ever."
"Thank you" I whisper.
It's then that I realise that Batman and I aren't alone. The rest of the team plus Shayera are here.
"You really thought that I hated you?" Artemis whispers softly.
"Yes" I reply equally soft.
"I'm so sorry" she whispers and then sinks to the floor and hugs me. I suddenly realise that she's crying when I feel something wet on my shoulder.
"I love you like a sister A, please don't believe anything less."
"Thank you Artemis, thank you so much."
We part and she gives me a watery smile. I see the relief in her eyes when I smile back and I can't help but think I must be one of a very small number of people who actually cares about her.
"I'm sorry to disrupt, but you were shooting out magic from your hands A. How long have you been able to do that?" Robin says hesitantly.
"So that's what all that black was?" I question.
"Yes." Shayera answers.
"It happened in my dream as well."
"You were probably subconsciously doing it in real life as well." Batman says, confirming my suspicions.
"What were you dreaming about?" Kid Flash asks, clearly agitated "For you to use that much power in a dream, it had to be about something serious."
What's got him so worked up? Wait, was it me? No, he likes Artemis, not me. I need to focus and answer their questions. Yes, that's right Morgan, focus.
"I- I woke up in here, or at least what I thought was here" I begin "There was no one around which didn't make sense because Batman had already told me that he would be posting guards to protect me from Slade. So I got out of bed and searched around the mountain, looking for someone; anyone."
"I was in the main room where you get your missions when I heard his voice. Slade was there, waiting for me in the doorway. He tried to tell me that you guys didn't care about me and saw me as a problem. I didn't believe him at first, but then he showed me video footage of you guys saying how much you hated me and didn't trust me."
"He told me that since no one else trusted me except him, then I could only trust and rely on him. I told him that I would never trust him. He then turned on the screen again and showed all you guys in a room. He told me that I had to be punished if I was thinking that way and then he pushed a button that exploded the place you were all in. You all died"
"I was so angry and upset and suddenly pitch black was shooting out of my hands and slamming into Slade. Then I woke up here and you all know what happened from then."
"You have more power than I first thought" Shayera says, "But the magic you're supposed to have is white. I don't quite understand why it wasn't white."
"It's simple really" a voice comes from the shadows
No, not again!
"When she's angry or upset, her magic is raw and untamed. It comes out black and it's extremely powerful. However, when she's calm and calls the magic willingly, it comes out white because it's controlled. It's not as powerful but it's safer. What I'd like to see is them combined."
My breaths slowly become shorter and more panicked until I'm hyperventilating.
"Thank you for the helpful information Morgana, I'll be sure to use it in the future. After all, nightmares can be manipulated quite well…"
With that, I feel his presence leave.
I get up abruptly and leave the room.
"A? Where are you going?" Kid Flash asks, his voice filled with worry. For me?
"Away"
"Why?"
I whip around to face them.
"Because the longer I stay, the more likely you are to either die or get tortured or hurt. Once I leave, you'll be safe from Slade again."
"It's too late now A. He'd just come back to hurt us anyway. You leaving is only going to hurt yourself. Stay with us, let us protect you and help you!" Batman says but I can hear the desperation in his voice.
He- he wants me here?
"We all want you here." Miss Martian says and I can't bring myself to be angry at her for reading my mind. Besides, that thought was so raw and full of emotion that she wouldn't have needed to read my mind to hear it so she probably didn't actually read my mind at all.
"I- I'll stay. But if one of you gets hurt, know that I'll never forgive myself."
"We know" Robin says softly and looking around, I can see the same thought reflected in everyone's eyes.
Looking down I whisper a word so softly that they can barely hear it.
"Thank you"
So there it is, chapter 8 (or 9. Depends if you count the Authors note as a chapter). I hope you all enjoyed!
Please remember review and all that because I like reviews. Also, check out the trailer on YouTube. The other chapters have the details cause right now I'm too lazy to write them down.
Before I go though, here are the replies to the reviews I got. I wanted to put it at the end so I don't clog up the story reading at the beginning or whatever.
Apologies and Hugs
piggythelaw: Thankyou! You don't know how much this means, I can never tell if something is emotional or not because I hate crying. Go figure.
: I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for reviewing, it really inspires me!
Sickness and Tears
Guest: Wait you cried? And that much? Wow, thanks! That's a huge compliment! It means a lot!
piggythelaw: Thank you!
: Thanks, I tried to make it intense but I wasn't sure how I went. Apparently it worked out quite well! Thanks again for the review.
So yeah, thanks for all the reviews guys and have a wonderful rest of day (no matter how long or short it may be)
Byeeeeeeeeee!
JuliaPossum