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 and I worked on this chapter, for I wanted to have events in the future play out... There is some swearing but I think it's like 2 words. Just a warning… Also, this is the wind down of AAF. There's maybe 2 more chapters at the most...

Chapter 21

Music Playing: Justice League Unlimited Theme Music

In the Future…

Darkin landed hard on his ass. He was mad that his plan didn't quite work out.

He noticed that he was back at the LOD HQ, but there was a purple shield around it, keeping him out. Ebon grinned. He could start over. And he didn't have to take orders anymore either.

"Darkin!? How'd you get out?!" Drow asked as the other villains made their way to him.

"Don't know. She missed me. That's good for me, bad for you."

"What are you talking about?" Mordred asked.

"I'm in control now, and you can go ahead and save your threats," Darkin remarked.

"You stupid piece of Dakota trash!" cried Luthor in his superior voice. "Get us out now!"

"Sorry, but the Legion of Doom is going in a different direction."

"I'M in CHARGE of the Legion of Doom!" yelled Drow.

"And yet you turkeys got your asses handed to you."

Yami was over on the side of the building watching the argument with little interest. He was going back to juvie and that was that.

"Hey vine boy; you want to join me?"

Yami looked at Darkin. "Me?"

"You're the only one with a power over vines, so yea."

"Why me?"

"You remind me of me. You just need guidance."

Yami shrugged his shoulders. "Sure!" An assassin wanted to teach him a few things? He was down with that!

Ebon thought of a black hole to Yami and he walked through. It closed up before Drow ran into it. Yami then appeared next to Darkin as the portal reopened.

"See you around, fools!"

"How can you have a LEGION with just the two of you?" Luthor asked.

That was when Manta II and Dymond walked up to the pair. Dymond was a human diamond and Manta...well, someone took up the mantle.

"My team. I have more, I just need to fetch them,"Darkin said to Luthor.

"But...Deathstroke killed you!" Ian remarked.

"He had more than just Tempest...Stalker," said Manta II.

"See you around, Fool!"

The four walked away and Drow and Luthor were yelling at them.

"So...where do we go now, Darkin?" Yami asked Darkin.

"I got a base. Oh, and Darkin is dead; it's time for Ebon to make a comeback!"

Back in the past…

Meygan began to think. She thought back to when she let go to stop the LOD. When she had Slade...something wasn't right...

It dawned on her. "NO!" she screamed. She transformed into a shadow raven and disappeared.

Less than 20 seconds later, gun shots went off in Watchtower.

"VINCENT!" cried Roy and Areina. Both turned as 5 shots went off.

"The prison deck!" Superman cried.

Roy and Areina took off with a speed that could rival Wally and Brian's and soon they were at their destination. Everyone took off to see if they could help them.

Vincent stood before who was Ian, as the image flickered out with Slade's.

When the flickering stopped, Ian was now Deathstroke. He was up against the wall pinned with 4 arrows; his gun clambered on the floor.

There were tears in Vincent's eyes.

Areina ran to her brother and hugged him, but it was then that she saw what had him crying.

Lying behind Archeron was Meygan, shot 5 times, once in the head, once at her heart.

He had an arrow knocked and aimed at Slade's head.

"What are you waiting for boy?" Slade taunted.

"VINCENT HARPER!" Roy called out, thinking that was his son's name.

"You are very wrong, RED Arrow." Slade laughed. "He's Vincent CROCK."

Tigress' jaw fell to the floor.

Roy stared in utter shock at Artemis.

"Vincent, I know what you're feeling, believe me I do; but it's never worth it," Areina said, trying to get into her brother's head and stop him from doing something he would regret for the rest of his life.

"He KILLED DAD! He killed Green Arrow! He got Arsenal killed."

"I know, but think about it, if you go down into that place, you'll never come back. It's easy to kill, but as heroes it's not what we do."

"And he killed Meygan….Again!" Vincent was going to do it.

Mathen pulled out a wing ding. Terry and Bruce pulled out batarangs.

"I felt her die, sis. She promised to always be there for me!"

"Then don't let her sacrifice be in vain," Areina told him.

"Vincent, don't do this." Roy had his bow out, ready to take down his own son, but he didn't want to.

"Please, listen to dad; it's never worth it to tarnish your soul with this killing." Areina had tears in her eyes, and they started to fall. She didn't want to see her little brother do this.

"He's hunted us archers for years; he was gunning for my mom next. I won't let it happen. I can take him out, in the here and now!"

"Vincent..." came the mental whisper in his mind.

He paused.

"I'm alright. Don't kill him. For me."

"Meygan..." he said out loud.

"I'm immortal, little brother," the voice continued.

Vincent closed his eyes. He was hallucinating. He had to be.

"You're as much of a pussy as your father was!" Slade spit out.

"See the true extent of our bond," the voice whispered.

When Archeron opened his eyes, he saw everything through Meygan's demon eyes. When he stared at Slade, his soul was shades of black and gray. "What am I seeing?" he asked mentally.

"The true Slade Wilson. Allow the demon within to destroy him. His time is coming, little brother."

Vincent lowered his bow. His bond sister was right.

"You are weak, boy. No guts, no glory!" Slade cried.

Vincent looked back at Meygan's prone form. He would have done it. Slade would have an arrow in his head if Meygan didn't say anything. The bullets popped out of Meygan, causing Molly to scream as she jumped into Mathen's arms.

Vincent walked up to Meygan's body and held out a hand.

"He's lost it," Brian whispered.

Meygan sat up. Eyes still closed. Then they were opened. Her eyes were blue but a shadow lurked behind them. She took Vincent's hand and stood up.

Brian peed himself.

She looked fine as she stared at Slade. "You missed," she said quietly.

Areina couldn't believe it; no one could….especially Slade.

Slade's one eye was wide with disbelief. "I NEVER MISS!" He shouted.

"No matter how many times you kill me, I'll always come back." She let go of Vincent's hand and walked up to Slade. "Heart & head? Thinking about Green Arrow, were we?"

Her voice was low, dangerous. "I will kill you, as soon as he dies!" Slade yelled.

"You can try, Slade, but you won't have to deal with JUST my cousin," Areina said, a fireball ready if he tried anything.

"Not pinned up like that, you won't." She smiled a dangerous smile. She reached out; a single fingertip touched his forehead.

Slade screamed. Then he fainted.

"Oh, I'm immortal, Slade. Guess you didn't get the memo."

Vincent just hugged Meygan, relieved.

Areina and everyone else didn't understand what was going on.

"I...I don't understand," Mathen said.

"A gift from our great grandparents, big brother…when I unleashed myself on the LOD."

"That's what I sensed around you," Kevin said. "There were spirits around you."

"I met my great grandmother. She was a descendent of a Master of Fate. Her magic was just as great as Merlin's."

"We're not going to be immortal until we're 22," Mathen told his sister.

"If that's so, then how did Meygan become immortal at such an early age?" Areina questioned.

"They granted mine early. So sue them."

"Then..." Vincent wiped at his eyes. "You see things then."

"I always did, but in pieces." She then held a hand up and it glowed purple. Slade was free of the wall, the 4 arrows removed from his body. He dropped like dead weight. "I don't have to hold back anymore. So I can do so much now." She looked at Vincent. "I didn't see that Ian and Slade traded places using image inducers to fool everyone until now. I couldn't let him take you out. That was the plan all along, from Slade's point of view. Take you out, then all the archers in the past."

"Meygan...what's happening to you?" Areina asked.

"I'll explain when we get back but...I'm not afraid anymore." Meygan closed her eyes and a sphere of black purple energy came into her hand. She threw it at the wall and it opened into a portal. "Let's go after the LOD and end this crap!"

There were cheers all around.

Meygan then felt funny. Her stomach was rebelling. "Kevin…bathroom…now…" she got out. Her portal closed fast.

Kevin got Meygan to the nearest bathroom so she could puke.

Her head was over the toilet, and he held her wig hair back. "My princess...I'm so sorry..."

"You didn't disembody Strife. Oh god..." She puked again.

Kevin held her hair back.

"Let it out, my princess."

At the same moment, Vincent was so sick to his stomach.

Areina noticed how pale he was. "Vincent, what's going on?"

"I don't feel good."

"I can see that, but what's going on, you were fine a moment ago; is it something with your bond with Meygan?"

"Yeah. I think...oh man!" He hurled all over the floor...

"Vincent!" cried Hector and Eric.

"Come on; let's get you to a bathroom, or at least a bucket," Areina said, and with that she helped her little brother walk.

"She shouldn't...have taken out...Strife..."

"What did she do...and don't lie, I know you can feel what's going on with her."

"She disembodied him, so he couldn't hurt anyone again."

Areina was shocked. Meygan was able to do that to one of Raven's siblings? She didn't know what to say, but just then, Vincent puked again, this time in the toilet they were able to get to.

"But by...doing that, she allowed his pride to get in the way. But we get sick from doing it."

"She has full control now, doesn't she?" Areina asked.

"Yeah."

"So she shouldn't get sick?"

"She has Aunt Raven's powers. She will."

Areina was starting to understand, she had only been reading up on Raven since she knew Meygan had her powers, and one thing that returned to the second generation fire controller from that knowledge was that she could increase a person's pride, but it made her sick to do so.

Meygan was no exception.

Meygan emerged from the bathroom pale but ok. At the same time Vincent and Areina exited one too. The bond siblings looked at each other and grinned. "Next time, let's just time it perfectly, alright Kevin," Areina said; a giggle in her voice.

"Yeah, but Meygan needs a few days." Kevin Kent grinned.

"So does my little brother."

"I'm not little!" Vincent cried out, tired of being called little despite his height.

"But I am, so deal." Meygan smiled.

"And besides, you're three years younger than me, so you'll always be my LITTLE brother." Areina said, her smile becoming the famous Grayson smirk.

Vincent shook his head, but he noticed Meygan. "You're not little."

"Stop it," Meygan said.

"No...Seriously, you're not little."

Meygan stared at him oddly.

"Find a mirror."

It took a bit but they found a full length one: the windows on the observation deck where everyone else was.

Vincent stood next to Meygan. When she saw her reflection, her jaw dropped….she wasn't 5"2 anymore. By becoming immortal, she grew to her proper height. She was 5"9.

"Meygan, it's incredible," Areina said as she saw the look on her cousin's face.

Tears fell from her eyes. "Guys..." When Meygan turned, she saw how Orin, Mathen,

Brian, Carlos and Kevin saw it. The original team.

"You're not Shorty anymore," Brian joked.

"I swear Brian, if Meygan doesn't get you back I will. I know you're Wally's son, but enough with the joking around."

"It's...Meygan, it's a miracle. It's like all the side effects from your accident are gone."

"What accident?" Then Meygan did something that none of the original team had seen in nearly 10 years.

She smiled genuinely.

"You're back," Orin told her.

"I better be or Hell has come to Earth," she joked.

The rest of the team was confused.

"You never left," Carlos told her.

"I know. Thanks Carlos." She then turned to Komos. "I have a spot left. It's yours."

Eolus was truly shocked.

"Wow, the demi god is speechless," Mona teased.

"Me?"

"You earned it. I don't just let anyone onto my team." Meygan held out her hand. "Kid Fate is on Omega Squad anyway. So I can deal with a 4-person team. As long as you understand that I'M in charge."

"Me?" Eolus remembered that his mom kept him from this team.

"Is that all you're going to say?" Mathen asked.

Eolus didn't know what to say.

"You're a part of our family now. You, Olivia and Hector; even Max and Dana. You.. You can refuse, you know," Meygan said.

"Speaking of, I'm declaring that there is no Beta Squad. Everyone on Beta is part of

Alpha Squad." Mathen smiled.

Meygan smiled. "Even you, Max and Dana, if you want it."

"No, no; I just want...him." Dana hugged Terry to her.

"Me too?" Max jumped up and down happily. "I'm on the team!"

Hector was high-fiving everyone.

Olivia turned Mathen to her and planted a hard kiss on his lips. She finally got her nerve.

"Go Mathen!" cried the boys.

"Well, looks like Ollie's DNA finally kicked in," Areina said; a smile on her face.

Eolus was still in shock and that's when Mona came walking over to the Amazonian demi god and grabbed his arm, and pulled him into a kiss.

Kevin held Meygan next to him. "Wow. Him and Mona?"

"Jealous?" Meygan asked.

"Never, my princess."

"Um, Komos? I need an answer." Meygan told him.

He still didn't know what to say.

"Meygan, I think he's worried," Mona told her.

"The wager after our fight is null and void, you have an invitation," Meygan said.

"I...my mom..." Eolus took a breath.

"I'm sure you mom was like a lot of the parents were after what Uncle Dick did, but if I understand it right; Meygan's leader of Omega, so she picks the missions," Areina said.

"It's not that." He took a breath. "I was rejected by the Amazons because I was male. My mom left them behind because she would not leave me to die. I don't want to wake up tomorrow and find out this was all a lie."

"It's not. You and your mom have us. It's ok." Meygan had no idea. How could anyone respond to that?

Wonder Woman stepped to Eolus. "Cassie's son?" she said to him.

"Yea, but why would the Amazonian princess want to speak to a male like me? You didn't even know it was possible."

"I know you now. Your courage knows no bounds. Your mother raised you well." Diana stared at him. "I won't let this happen again. Am I Queen of the Amazons in your time?"

"Yes."

"Then hear me now, Eolus Sandsmark. You are our brother. As of right now, at this moment, you are welcomed home; you and your mother." She took off her tiara. "Take this with you. When you return to your time, go to Themyscira. I'll be waiting for you to return that."

He took the tiara with great hesitation.

"Take the offer," Diana said to him.

He looked to Meygan. "Then yes. Yes is my answer." He couldn't wait to tell his mother back home. He was part of the team! And not just any team; he was part of the elite team!

There were cheers all around.

"Then let's go home and deal with the LOD…and the JLU…" Mathen said.

All of the kids were staying goodbye to their younger parents, even Orin as he and his father hugged. Olivia cried as she hugged her dad.

Meygan looked to Bruce and nodded and the Dark Knight nodded back.

Terry caught that.

Bruce and Meygan had a stare down. Even as the others were going through the portal that Carlos and Meygan made together.

Finally Bruce just walked from her, no words were said. But Meygan got the message loud and clear.

"Meyg?"

"Right behind you, cuz."

Batman was gone so Meygan turned to Superman. "Do me a favor. When my dad asks to reform the team, try not to protest too much. Because we kids will just rebel." Then Meygan walked through the portal and it closed behind her.

Carlos remained. He had a sad smile on his face. "Now to fix the timeline…" Carlos raised his hands at the Justice League and the team. "I'm sorry." Then he sent a beam at them all and he erased their meeting with the future team. But he isolated the Bat Family plus Roy Harper. For what he knew Meygan wanted to do, he had to keep the archer in the loop. When it was over, before he restarted time, he turned to the group he saved from the mind wipe.

"It turns out I can let your guys keep the memories," he told Reiena.

"Thank you Carlos. You don't know what that means to me."

"Well, considering what comes next, I got permission. Just do me a favor: don't tell anyone ok?"

Reiena nodded, tears in her eyes that she will remember the time she had with her future daughter and her nieces and nephew.

"And Batman? I'm sorry for what's about to happen. Just remember, it wasn't your fault. I can't undo his death. I wish I could," Carlos told Bruce.

Dick just stared at Carlos.

"I better go. The future isn't written in stone. So...good luck."

Before Carlos was able to leave, Reiena ran to him and hugged him in one last thank you.

Carlos then vanished in an Infinity symbol and he smiled at them.

Time resumed.

Back in the future…

The team stood outside of LOD HQ, after reuniting with their families, all armed and dangerous. Everyone but Carlos was there and joining them was Lila, the new Spoiler. Because she had freed some of the prisoners, she had a temporary spot on the team. With them were some of the aged heroes and Jason.

This fight was meant to be a massacre.

"Just remember, Meygan, Molly and I deal with Morgan. Keep Mordred from us. And Orin's in charge." Mathen nodded to his sister and Meygan raised a single hand at the shield. The shield shattered, raining glass onto the ground. "Happy Hunting!"

The team, the aged heroes and Jason all rushed the HQ...except Molly, Meygan and Mathen.

The three elemental wizards waited for Morgan La Fay.

They didn't wait long.

Morgan appeared using a spell, her metal mask in place over her real face. "You children are finished. Merlin's resurrection will never happen."

"We're not looking for a resurrection. We want you dead."

"Me? Dead? Unlikely, brats."

"I don't care if I die in this fight, Morgan; you WILL go down," Mathen remarked.

"You are short one, child."

Mathen just glared as he saw that his sisters' body language was giving the same vib as what he said.

"Retaw!" Meygan summon a tidal wave of water and it crashed into Morgan.

"You did it!" cried Molly.

"Not even close." Morgan raised herself above the water.

Molly was nervous. Meygan watched her every move.

Mathen moved in, a wave of fire rammed into the water, creating steam and burned Morgan's legs.

The ancient sorceress screamed and moved to a safe distance from them.

"Very well, children. If you want to die, so be it."

"For what you did to Camelot, to our mom's family, you need to die!" Meygan flew up to catch Morgan and threw her into the ground.

Morgan's body made a crater.

Molly saw her arm move and used her magic uprooted a tree and slammed it into Morgan.

Mathen and Meygan stated at their little sister.

"Oops," Molly said.

"Worht meht kcab otni eht tserof," Morgan said and an unseen force hit the three Graysons hard and threw them back, mixed in with the nearby trees.

"Oh, that's it, we end this now," Mathen said as he jumped from the tree. Meygan helped Molly out of the tree and she nodded to their brother.

The three siblings went to Morgan and formed a loose triangle around her.

"This ends, Morgan! Strength of Fire!" A wave of flame energy hit Morgan.

"Power of Wind!" Molly's wind energy beam hit Morgan.

"Death by Water!" Meygan's sea green beam of water energy hit Morgan.

The 3 combined beams only pushed Morgan La Fay back slightly as she held out against the powerful Magic.

"Like I said children, you are short one." Morgan remarked.

BBBBBBBBBBBB

Meanwhile, At Moon's Tower, Carlos was in his mother's spell casting room. The crystal with Marik Greyson soul in it was in the middle of the room.

The candles were lit.

Carlos held the spellbook in his hands, to read the words. He planned to give it back to its rightful owner: Lady Merline.

He was ready to go.

"Uoy hceeseb I sluos eht tcetorp taht stneicna eht ot..."

The crystal began to glow an amber color.

"Siht did ohw live shiuqnav ot dia sluos siht nopu llac I...tsap sraey ni deneppah sah ecitsujni na..."

It pulsed with strength.

"Live siht hsiuqnav ot dna, ylimaf siht htiw etinuer ot luos siht wolla. Gnivil eht ot nruter ot luos siht wolla!"

The crystal pulsed once...twice...

SHATTERED!

Marik's soul raced to his siblings' side.

BBBBBBBBBBBB

Back to the battle with Morgan La Fay...

The Greyson children were losing. They were almost drained of their magic and strength.

A rumble of the Earth.

It exploded and a form rose from the ground. He wore a set of wizard's robes, his blue eyes staring at Morgan. "Miss me?" he said in a voice so very similar to Mathen's.

"Oh my...god..." Mathen said, tears falling from his eyes.

"Carlos did it!" cried Meygan.

"NO! You're...you're DEAD!" cried Morgan. For the first time in centuries, she feared for her life.

"Spirit of the Earth!" cried Marik.

A brown energy beam of earth magic hit Morgan La Fay and she screamed.

The combined magic of the four elementals broke her immortality spell in a second.

Morgan La Fay aged a 1,000 years in 10 seconds.

She turned to dust as the four beams hit each other and those beams exploded on impact.

Morgan La Fay was gone. Forever.

He waited a few seconds before Mathen ran to his twin and hugged Marik hard, crying.

Marik was crying too, hugging his brother back.

Molly cried happy tears.

Meygan wiped at her eyes.

The others left the LOD HQ, the aged heroes, Spoiler and Red Hood dragging out the rest of the LOD behind them.

Orin stopped when he saw Mathen hugging... "It...can't be..."

Marik held out an arm to his best friend. "Orin..."

Orin ran to Marik and Mathen, and the three Musketeers were together again.

Jason realized what was going on and reached for his comm as Areina ran to the three hugging young men. "Dick, Serenity, you our need to come down. Now!"

The three boys stopped hugging but the tears remained. "Areina? Is that you?" Marik addressed Red Bird.

"So you're Marik. Thank you," Areina remarked.

"Huh? Oh, that was nothing." Marik went to her and hugged her.

"You kept Deathstroke from killing me when I was three days old, I wouldn't say it was nothing," Areina said as tears formed in her eyes.

"For me it was." Marik turned to Orin. "Now remember, you can't have a dozen kids with my cousin."

Orin flushed.

Marik laughed as he let go of Areina. "And don't worry, Areina. You live a long time."

"Any chance I can learn just how long I live?" Areina said, but she was just joking.

"Not as long as Meygan." Marik then went to Molly and hugged her. "Hey sis."

"Hi Marik."

"You look just like mom," he whispered. Marik then went to Meygan. "And my trouble making sister," he joked.

Meygan glared at him.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For accepting who you were meant to be. You have a long life ahead of you. Use that time wisely. And you can have a dozen kids if you want."

Meygan looked happily at Kevin.

Kevin turned his skin into a red color.

"Guess you two will be like Uncle Dick and Aunt Serenity," Areina remarked.

Then a Boom Tube opened up and speaking of the devil, Dick and Serenity came through first, followed by the first team. They were all shocked to see Marik standing there near his twin.

Marik turned to his parents. "Mom? Dad?" he whispered.

"Marik!" cried Serenity as she ran to her son. Dick was right behind her.

The three hugged and cried as Kaldur cried as well.

"I'm so sorry Mom, Dad..." Marik said through his tears.

"There's no sorry, Marik. We love you so much and we miss you just as much," Dick said.

"I can't believe you're back!" Serenity said happily.

"I'm only back for another 51 minutes." The three released the hug at the same moment. "I'm sorry."

"Marik." Kaldur then hugged the young man.

"Tula said hi," Marik said to him.

Kaldur choked on his tears. He was even more shocked when Marik reached into his robes after releasing the hug and handed a sealed letter to Kaldur. "Can you get this to Garth? It's not waterproof."

"I will." Kaldur took the note with pride.

Marik then went to the gathered group. "Which one is Brian?"

"I... I am," Brian choked on his words.

Marik reached into his robes and pulled out a letter and handed it to Brian. "I hope this brings you some peace."

Brian looked at the note. He saw who it was from. "How?" he asked.

"When the other souls heard I was coming back, they wanted to leave notes for some of you." Marik then turned to Kevin. "This is from Martian Manhunter. To your family." He handed the oldest Kent kid a letter. Marik reached into his robes once again and pulled out a letter. "Areina...dad; this one is to the both of you. Grandma and Grandpa wanted you both to know something."

"That's my parents' handwriting." Dick remarked, more tears falling.

"Oh Dick..." Serenity whispered; holding his hand.

"Um, excuse me. My mom didn't give you one?" Andrew asked.

"Andrew, didn't you know? Your mom's alive," Marik told him.

Andrew was beyond shocked.

"I shouldn't do this but..." Marik went to Andrew, kneeled next to him and whispered into the 10 year old's ear.

Andrew was blown away by what he learned. When Marik stood back up, Andrew hugged his waist. "Thank you for telling me!"

"You're welcome. I do, however, have a letter for you from someone else."

Andrew accepted the letter and saw that it was from his grandfather; this caused him to smile.

Marik saw Demona hanging out with Eolus near the back of the group. He went to her and took both of her hands. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For saving my sister's life. For everything you did to keep her safe. I made sure your soul was blessed with good things. And yes, children will happen to you both. But that'll be a bit. Enjoy your new life, Dequinauk. You deserve it."

Demona was floored. "You said my real name!"

"I know. I didn't butcher it?"

Demona shook her head no.

That was when Carlos showed up. "Good, you got a chance to meet everyone."

"There's only one thing I want to do," Marik told him. He turned to his parents. "Mom, dad…I want to go home. Take me home."