An Apprentice's Future

By: Malaizjan Dejesus & Reina Grayson

Author's Note: This is the climatic installment of the Batman Beyond Saga. Everything is coming together and this is the crossover fic. If you're a fan of either this series or Young Justice, than you will enjoy this! I am going to list the theme songs to various DC tv series and most of the theme songs can be found on Music of DC Comics: 75th Anniversary, which is available now, and the YJ Theme song is on its own album titled: Young Justice, which is also available. So if you don't have them, I suggest you go and buy them both!

Also, I had lots of help with this story. Reina Grayson deserves half the credit in getting 80% of this fic done. Reina also helped me write parts of this.

Chapter 15

Music Playing: Batman the Animated Series Theme Music (Sorry, sometimes you want a nostalgic feeling…)

In the past…At Wayne Manor…

Brian was bored. He ate every crumb of dinner (which was the greatest ever!) and he kept eyeing Andrew, who was talking to Luna and Molly. His wings were the perfect target. He rubbed his hands together.

In the Study…

"And that is it. I assume Master Bruce felt the need to go at it alone, with no one to past the mantle to." Alfred studied the young man before him with knowing eyes. "If I may say so, I am glad he is not alone in his old age."

"I think he often wishes it was him still out there," Terry said to Alfred.

"And that may very well be, Ma- uh, Terry." Alfred smiled as Terry caught him with a look. "You must understand that he feels, at least at this point in his life, that this is his life's mission. And he can be a difficult person to be around. I take his ways in stride, pick my own battles with him. I suggest you do the same when you return to your time. Pick your battles with him."

"And what about Catwoman?" Terry asked. "I know about Talia…the hard way. But Catwoman? Barely a peep."

Alfred smiled a knowing smile. "I believe she was his true love. But she was on one side of the law, him the other. She was the only true gray area in his life."

That got Terry thinking. Alfred was such a pleasure to talk to. And he learned so much about why Bruce was the way he was. But there were key pieces still missing. He knew he'd never get another chance. So he asked the most insane question possible. "Can I meet her? Talk to her?" he asked Alfred.

The butler's eyes widened.

Meanwhile, in the dining room…

Andrew was laughing at Wes' antics. Luna was holding the squirming baby, who must've wanted to crawl but was unable to at such a young age. "Luna, he's not going to rest until you let him down."

"He can't crawl. What's he going to do, fly?" she asked.

"Don't give him ideas, Luna," said Molly, laughing.

All of a sudden, Andrew was yanked back by his wings, which hurt. He stumbled back as a gust of wind hit him from behind. There was a laugh and Brian stood at the foot of the staircase. "YOU!" Andrew cried. "MY WINGS STILL HURT!"

"Aw, what'cha going to do about it?" Brian asked.

Andrew ran at him, mace raised to hit him. Brian moved out of the way and Andrew hit the railing of the staircase. He yanked his mace out. "Stay still, you stupid piece of crap!"

"Help!" Brian cried as he tried to get away but Andrew was on him fast. He was barely missing him too.

"You're on your own!" Molly told Brian, her and Luna looking for cover.

Andrew swung his mace at Brian, who got cornered the hallway. Brian ducked, and Andrew hit the wall, his mace trapped. "Hey!" He pulled on it to free it and chased the speedster down.

The commotion was heard and Tim and Barb left their rooms upstairs to see Andrew chasing Brian. "Guys, cut that out!" Tim cried.

Terry and Alfred also heard the commotion and both left the study to find Brian running from Andrew, and the young kid swinging his mace in anger. "Airhawk! What's going on?" he asked.

"He pulled on my wings!" Andrew shouted, still chasing him.

"I take it that those wings are sensitive to such things," Alfred said.

"His wings aren't fully healed, Al. They were nearly ripped off of him. I better try calming him down," Terry told him as he gave chase.

"I better inform Master Bruce then."

Outside of Wayne Manor…

Olivia sat in the tall oak tree, looking out at the night sky as Areina found the outdoor playground, which she used as her personal jungle gym.

Eolus and Mona were walking around the grounds, holding hands and staying away from unwanted eyes. The demi god could not believe that he really liked Mona. Being a part of Meygan, living as a human for the last 9 years, well, if you can past the horns and red skin, she was quite a funny person.

He sat on the back steps of the Manor, with Mona sitting on his lap. He didn't think he'd fall in love, let alone fall in love with a demoness. How could their relationsip work if she has to spend time as part of Meygan? How could they truly be a couple if Mona worried about Meygan?

"This…this won't work between us," Mona told him quietly.

"Sure it will. I just can't kiss Meygan while Kevin is around, that's all," Eolus joked.

"Meygan can still maim you," she warned.

"Mona, I really like you. And I can wait until she's immortal for you and I to try this out," he told her.

"You're looking at 7 more years. You have a life ahead of you. Don't waste it waiting on me," she replied sadly.

Eolus turned Mona's head so he could see her red eyes. "You like me."

"So?"

"Mona, I'm willing to wait. You're not a waste of time."

"I should have never told Meygan to beat the crap out of you."

Eolus grinned. "YOU beat the crap out of me, not her. And who better to keep me in line than you?"

Mona sighed. She was getting nowhere with Eolus.

Brian ran past him, Andrew closing in. Mona got up and caught the speedster by the arm and with a cry, lifted him up and slammed him into the ground. She kept a hand on his chest as Brian gasped.

"Airhawk?" Eolus asked.

"He yanked on my wings!" Andrew cried. "Hold him. He needs to eat my mace."

Mona was all for it as she smiled so Andrew could take his swing.

"Andrew, I was just joking around!" cried Brian, seeing that mace aimed for his head.

"Not with my wings!" the 10 year old cried. He raised his mace and was ready to END the young speedster's antics, but the swing was stopped by a hand.
Everyone looked up to see Dick holding the mace; and Andrew didn't want to anger the future mission assigner. They also saw Bruce standing behind him.
"What happened?" Dick asked.

"BRIAN KNEW MY WINGS WEREN'T FULLY HEALED!" Andrew screamed; still wanting to beat the speedster's brains in.

"Stop this, guys," a familiar voice said.

Everyone saw Areina standing there with Siren at her side. Andrew didn't care that his generation's fire controller was there but he was more worried about Siren as her song COULD affect him, even though he was 10.

"We have to be a team, and trust me Brian, getting everyone anger at each other isn't going to help us," Areina remarked. "Meygan's barely able to hold herself together. The LAST thing she needs is for us to fall apart."

Andrew had to take a breath so he wouldn't yell again. "Next time, Brian; NO ONE can save you," the Thanagarian remarked as he thought about his grandfather's ring. Next time, he was going to use it.

Siren was looking around, and from what she heard from her mother, if they were in the same area; the twins were ALWAYS together. "Um….where's Flamebird?"

This caused Areina to worry….her mother had come to the cave with them, but she wasn't out here to see what was going on.

"Reiena tried to singe that wound on Meygan's leg closed, and somehow Meygan lowered Reiena's body temperature, she's resting in the cave." Bruce said.

Areina was scared, she knew what it was like to not have powers, but then she thought about what happened when Meygan was 'broken' by Mathen. The second generation fire controller took off flying to the cave.

"This isn't good." Siren said, remembering how mad Areina got earlier.

Mona released Brian and everyone took off to get to the Batcave as quickly as possible.

Batcave

Meygan was worried; she tried to worn her aunt not to touch her, but she saw how Areina was so pigheaded at times. Areina was going to kick her ass. Reiena was conscious, and she told Meygan that she needed to rest to get back to normal, and forgave her niece.

It was just then that Meygan felt the cave heat up; well as much as she could, being numb to everything.

"What did you do?" An angry voice said.

"Areina, I'm sorry; I tried to warn them not to touch me skin to skin; you felt what happened when I did that to you. Aunt Reiena didn't listen; but the drop in her temperature wasn't too much. She woke up for a moment and I apologized. She forgave me," Meygan said, hearing the tone in her cousin's voice.

Areina was about to blow her stack at Meygan, but then calmness came over her and she knew her cousin was right. "Meygan, I'm sorry; I should have known that…..it's just that…"

"I know, I have both of my parents, but you never got to be around your mom till a year ago, and that wasn't for long," Meygan said as she limped over to her cousin.

"Thanks for understanding Meygan," Areina said. She went to hug her cousin and Meygan ducked her head so their faces didn't touch.

It was just then that Reiena woke up and actually sat up. "Honey, is everything alright?"

"Yea mom; I was just a little worried when I heard what happened. Meygan said you forgave her; and that's good enough for me," Areina said as she ran over and hugged her mother.

Dick, Bruce, Eolus, Mona, Andrew, Olivia and Brian came into the cave just in time to see the two fire controllers hugging and they all let out a sigh of relief.

Sometime later…

Meygan was feeding Wes when she saw Andrew yawn. Luna then rubbed at her eyes. "Ok. Time for bed."

"I don't wanna..." Andrew whined.

"We're fine, Mey-Mey." Molly then yawned.

"You three need to sleep. C'mon, you 3 can crash in the extra rooms upstairs." Meygan handed Wes off to Vincent, who held Wes awkwardly.

"Um..." Vincent said. "What do I do?"

"Burp him."

"Uh..."

"Oh give him here, bro," Areina said as she went to him.

Vincent eagerly handed him off to his sister.

Meygan picked Andrew up in her arms first. She then took Luna's hand.

"Follow me, Miss Meygan. I'll show you which rooms." Alfred led the way up the stairs. Molly was right behind him.

"Thank you. C'mon, Bri. You too."

"You're not my mom," Brian whined.

"Brian, you better listen to her; you know what she's capable of," Areina said as Wes burped while she patted his back.

"I'm not tired. I was in a coma. I slept enough."

"And you woke up and started fighting." Meygan stared Brian West down. "You haven't even eaten properly. You need to rest, regain your strength, then eat out the Wayne kitchen."

Bruce stared at her.

"I slept enough." Brian folded his arms.

Meygan sighed. "Then nap. You ran out of gas once already. You need your strength."

Brian couldn't believe it. He was older, why was he listening to her?! "I'm 8 months older than you," he taunted her.

"I'll give you you're 8 months with 8 punches to the face..."

Brian heeded the warning; he took off upstairs for his nap.

"What was in the water?" Tim joked.

Areina caught it and chuckled. Olivia was confused. "I don't get it, Tim," she said, curiosity in her voice.

"Something in history, Liv. He's saying that Meygan actually got Brian to listen to her." Areina set Wes down on the bed and actually yawned.

"I better turn in too." Siren yawned. "Night."

Komos soon followed. That left Terry, Areina, Meygan & Vincent.

Areina yawned again 10 minutes later.

"Go to bed, cuz." Meygan smiled. "I got Wes."

"I'm alright, I've pulled plenty of triple shifts before," Areina said.

"Listen to your cousin right now young lady," A familiar voice said. Meygan and Areina turned around and saw Bruce standing in the doorway of the study.

"I don't need it." Areina told him.

"Areina, if you don't go lay down; I'm going to have your mother send a fireball your way."

"I'll just redirect it." Areina said with a smile.

"You've been through hell the past few days; you need to rest. If your cousin says she can handle Wes; then let her. The others have gone to sleep, so you should too," Bruce said as he reached up and pulled on his cowl.

"Areina, I need you at the top of your game." Meygan told her cousin.

"What about you?" Terry stated.

"I haven't slept since I was 7."

Batman was shocked to learn that.

"So ever since...you don't sleep," Areina said, not wanting to mention in full what happened.

"Nope. Off to bed. You Too, Vincent."

The two heroes left out; knowing that Meygan was right; but they only went to please her.

Meygan looked at Terry. "Shouldn't you be in Gotham?" she teased.

"You need to sleep too."

"Don't worry Terry; I'll be fine. Ever since I was seven; I haven't slept one bit, never need it."

Batman came from the shadows, eyeing her.

"What do you want...grandpa?

He narrowed those eyes.

"I wasn't disrespecting you; technically you ARE my grandfather."

"I know. You should let someone else watch the baby. You need to plan."

"It's already done," Meygan smiled. "I'll tell them in the morning about it."

"Then I will come with you."

"You're offering? Don't need you to."

"You have a team of rookies. Anything can go wrong."

"Right now, yes; the team is a bunch of rookies. There are some good points though; Areina is very skilled. She said you train her since she was seven; AFTER she found the Batcave. Terry may be raw as Batman, but he's got the potential to be great. I know you're powerful in your own way, Bruce, but I know my WHOLE family well enough, and we're ready." Meygan stood up and held Wes. "I can compensate for the lack of experience... I am team leader after all."

Alfred came back downstairs. "All of them are tucked in, Miss Meygan. The younger ones were sleeping in moments."

"Thank you, Alfred. I'll come down to the cave when Wesley is asleep," she told Bruce, as Bruce made his way to the clock.

"And Terry, this is for you." Alfred handed the future Batman a note.

Terry read it and nodded.

Meygan finally got away from Wes. Alfred took him off her hands for the rest of the night. Now alone, she needed to call Brainiac 5.

She didn't want anyone to stop her but she wished she could tell them what she knew. Meygan tapped her ring, the L itself and a hologram image of Brainy came. His image floated above her ring. "Meygan?"

"There's no turning back. I'm going back in a few hours; alone." She kept her voice low.

"I'm trying to find another way! Don't go BACK."

"There's no option. Just...watch over Vincent...little brother." She favored him a sad smile.

"I shouldn't have told you. You...you can't die! Not now!"

"Remember when I and Irma saved you from the original Brainiac? History repeats itself in some fashion. That will never change. It can't be changed. It's ok. You've been a great little brother, Brainy. You better marry Kara soon or she'll kick your ass."

Brainy was sad as she said it.

"That's all what I've said to you most often." She took off her ring. "Thanks for trying, Brainiac 5. Just...give my ring to Areina when she turns 21, ok?" He nodded. "Good bye." The ring floated as a tiny portal opened. Brainy looked like he was crying as the ring went back to him.

History says that when Meygan returned to her time to save the rest of the team, she died…permanently...and Mona too. Now there was no turning back for Meygan Greyson. She only hoped that her death would save her timeline.

Terry went down to the Cave, seeing that the others were now in bed. It was almost 12 midnight, and Gotham villains never sleep.

Areina was sitting with her mother, with Meygan sitting up in the med bed next to them, knees drawn up to her chin. How Areina snuck down there was beyond him. But she was a born Bat; he wasn't going to make his head explode trying to figure it out.

Bruce was at the Bat computer, typing away while Barb, Tim and Dick stoic behind him, eager to go.

"The rest of the team is sleeping…finally. Even Wesley. Al wanted me to tell you."

"Thanks Terry," Meygan said but she sounded sad.

The rest of the Bat family said nothing.

Terry felt like a third wheel.

"Got it. Bane's got a shipment coming in at Pier 27. In 45 minutes. Suit up." Bruce got up from his chair.

Barb pulled on her partial face mask, and Tim put on his domino mask.

Dick looked back at his sister. His domino mask was pressed onto his face.

"Mom will be alright," Areina said as she smiled at her future uncle.

"Wait for me," Reiena said tiredly, sitting up.

"No mom."

"It's Bane. We need everyone in on this." Reiena moved to get out from under the thermal blanket.

Bruce moved to stop Flamebird. "Not you. Not tonight."

"I'll go," said Terry.

"This is Bane," Tim told the future Batman.

"Yea, and believe me, I'd rather see him in his prime than just needing the venom to survive," Terry remarked, remembering when venom was being sold to teenagers by Bane's doctor.

"What?" said Batgirl.

"That's what happens to him."

"This isn't a game," Bruce told him, his tone as intimidating as hell.

"Oh please; I've fought a Bane wannabe that crushed about five of my ribs AND fractured my arm. I'm sure I can handle the original."

"Terry, sit this one out," Areina said.

"No way. You need to stay. And you too, Meygan." Terry glared at Bruce. "Flamebird can't go. So I'll go."

"I can go," Meygan retorted, her eyes going red.

"No. If a baddie shows up, the kids need to be protected." Terry pulled his face mask on over his head.

"Joker won't come knocking," Meygan told him.

"Wasn't talking about him." Terry stood next to Nightwing.

Meygan slid off of the bed.

"You're not going either," Batman said firmly.

"Why not!?" she cried.

"You're still injured. One good kick will take your leg out," Bruce told her.

"So?"

"Meygan," Dick said, warning her.

"Alright Terry, you can come," Bruce amended. "But follow my lead."

Terry nodded. In this, he would listen.

"You're staying, Rave."

"Meygan, I could use the company," Flamebird said.

"Ok, Aunt Reiena." Meygan's eyes went back to normal.

Everyone got into their vehicles. Except Terry. He looked at them.

Bruce said nothing. He started up the Batmobile but said nothing.

"Get into the car," Dick told him, and Terry did, flipping into the passenger seat just as the Batmobile took off. 3 Bat Cycles followed.

Meygan fumed. She was so going to leave both Batmans behind in her plans.

"Come sit with me and Areina."

Sighing, Meygan pulled a chair up to be close to them, but not too close.

As soon as the others left, Reiena turned to her young daughter. "You were mad when you saw me under this blanket. Did you think your cousin did this to me on purpose?"

"There is still so much I don't know about my cousin. But I know she didn't mean to hurt you."

"The less you know, the safer you are," Meygan told her cousin.

"Meygan...Strife was inside me, remember?"

"I still don't get how," Reiena stated.

"He's a full-blooded demon that can enter a person at will and can make them voice what they keep in their hearts. The bad stuff, never the good things."

"That's why you were so mad at Meygan and sassing Eolus' power. Deep down you were hiding that. Areina, honey, I know you miss Orin; but you have to trust in your family...all of your family."

"I know," Areina said.

"I forgave her. It's nothing, Aunt Reiena."

"Meygan...you shouldn't dismiss others' perception of you."

"It's cool."

"You always dismiss the emotions. That's nerve wrecking," Areina stared rather annoyingly at Meygan.

"It's pointless to get emotional." Meygan eyed the mother-daughter pair.

Areina was really getting annoyed with Meygan...but the more emotions were brought up the more the second generation fire controller thought back to some files her grandfather had. "Meygan...I'm so sorry; I should've realized it...you're powers are linked to your emotions, just like Raven's."

"It is. It's not your fault," Meygan said to Areina. "You didn't get stupid and think you could stop Slade."

"Mathen's just jealous of you. You're more powerful than him and he's older."

Reiena eyed Meygan. "What do you mean?"

"A blood transfusion saved my life. But it gave me demon powers like my Aunt Raven."

"And why would this Mathen be jealous of you?" Reiena asked.

"After my transformation, the League focused on training me, and he got ignored."

"He should be mad at the League, not you."

"But he knows the whole truth about himself, holding himself back for three years."

"He had his own guilt?"

"Aunt Reiena, I can't say more, but he's a good big brother," Meygan smiled, but it lasted a few moments.

"Meygan's right mom; Mathen's a great guy; but there is a lot we can't tell you. I wish we could, but we can't."

"He's stronger than me; he just doesn't realize it. That's all I'm going to say."

Reiena smiled. "I understand."

"Aunt Reiena...would you have retired for Areina?"

"Huh?" Areina asked.

"Dad did."

"That's something...Meygan, wow..." Reiena was stomped.

Areina was wondering where he cousin was going with that.

"I would say that Dick and I always did the same stuff. If he retired to have a family, then I would too." It was an honest answer.

"I better go patrol the grounds. You two go to sleep." Meygan got up and went upstairs.

"I don't know how my twin does it," Reiena whispered.

"What?"

"Deal with Meygan and her powers. I can't imagine this was something he wanted for his daughter,"

"It was…it's still hard on her parents," Areina admitted.

Meygan was outside, walking around in a loose circle, checking everything with all her senses. Mona was at her side in an instant, walking with her. The pair were odd, Mona with her red skin and Meygan with her pale skin. But the pair had been linked since Meygan was 7- referring to Mona as her "demonic twin sister".

"Meygan? You're going back alone, aren't you?" Mona asked quietly.

"There's no other option. Something feels wrong and I don't know what it is." Meygan stepped over a raised tree root. "I know what Fate has in stored for me. You don't have to go with me."

"That's a load of crap." Mona folded her arms, glaring at her. "I'm going."

"Ok then. Just…don't be inside me. If I die, I don't want you to die too."

"That's fine. But let me suggest something; take Eolus."

"EXCUSE ME!?" Meygan cried.

"I know; he gets on your nerves. But he's a demi-god. Who better to have your back than him?"

Meygan then seized up and fell back. Mona caught her as Meygan's body spasm. Tears ran down her eyes. It lasted a few minutes but when she woke up, a melancholy feeling gripped her. She was out of time. Now there was no choice in her decision. Meygan hated it when Mona was right. "Okay. I'll ask. Which room is he in?" she asked quietly, sadly.

"What!?"

"You heard me, Komos. I need you to help me free the others." Meygan and Mona stood at the side of his bed.

"Ok. We're in the past. They're in the future..." Eolus said it in a flippant way. But Mona kept Meygan calm, he saw it.

"We're going back for them. We're ending the LOD occupation of Watchtower. I know Archeron can handle the team here. I want to get the others back."

"Because of Red Bird?"

"Not just her. Batman too."

"Why me?" he asked.

"Because shit can go south fast and you think fast, like me."

"I'll do it, Meygan."

"Really?" Meygan threw her arms around Komos' waist. Eolus was 6"4, a tall Amazon. She wouldn never admit it but she was glad she wasn't going back alone.

He smiled. He was Cassie Sandsmark's son. He loved a challenge.

"I wanted to warn you... I plan to go all out. I need you to not be afraid for what I'm about to do."

"Sure. I can deal. When to we leave?"

"5 am. Be ready, Eolus. We need to be fast."

"I didn't take you for a rule breaker." Komos smiled.

"Oh, shush you!"

***What did Meygan see that had her go ask for help? Is Komos and Rave really going to return without the rest of the team? What plan does Meygan have in her mind? ***