Previously, on Nightwing:
"Looks like whoever this guy is, he's back, and you've got to mobilize, Dick."
"I'll notify my super friends here, and we'll be on our way."
"You don't even have to ask me."
"Alright, we need to haul ass now. Let's go!"
- Outside of Bludhaven -
The emerald archer stood outside of the tunnel entrance, his breathing calm. Another day, another heist. By now, this was becoming a walk in the park, and with his array of trick arrows, there wasn't much that could stand in his way and stop him. All he needed to do now was wait for the armored car that Gotham National Bank was sending. Just wait…
Meanwhile, having entered the tunnel, Nightwing yelled to his left, "Clark! I need you to do me a favor!"
"What?" The Blur calmly responded.
"Run to the armored car and get it out of harm's way. The girls and I can take down the archer- just make sure that the armored car and the people in it will end up fine."
Nodding, The Blur picked up his speed. Like his nickname, he became a blur of motion, and, rushing past the waiting emerald archer, seemed to be nothing more than a welcoming gust of wind. What was less welcoming was the sound of tires approaching quickly behind him.
Turning around, the archer notched two explosive arrows and sent them flying towards the vehicles. Black Canary and Speedy jumped out of their car in time, as the arrow quickly hit the hood of the car and exploded. Nightwing, on the other hand, dodged the explosive arrow and accelerated, rushing past him with his Wingcycle. After getting a ways past the archer, he came to a stop and, getting off of the motorcycle, struck a defiant pose, yelling, "You have failed my city! Now put down your bow, or I'll make you put it down!"
Smiling sadistically in response, the archer retorted, "Brave words, Batboy, but you don't intimidate the Arrow."
So he knows my past… Nightwing thought to himself. "I don't believe you're the Arrow," he bluffed. "The Arrow fought crime- he didn't commit it."
"I'm trying something new," the man admitted. "After all, growing up in the Glades, you can only try to resist your nature for so long."
And there's the proof! "See, now I know for a fact that you're not the Arrow," Nightwing grinned.
"Oh? And how could you know that?"
"Because you're about to be a dead man!" a voice from behind him yelled, letting loose two arrows as she did so. The archer turned around, dodging one arrow and grabbing the other out of the air, before notching it in his bow and returning it to its sender. Speedy dodged the arrow and began notching a new one as Black Canary rushed forward, letting loose a powerful sonic cry. The archer was momentarily fazed by this, but seemed to recover and threw a small bolt towards her neck. A normally fatal shot, it was stopped by her choker, but at the cost of silencing her cry.
Seeing that he needed to get in on the action, Nightwing rushed forward, throwing two Wingdings and taking out his escrima sticks. With amazing flexibility, the archer bent backwards and dodged the Wingdings, which landed right in front of Speedy and Black Canary. Nightwing then jumped in the air and brought down his escrima sticks on the man, commenting, "You've got some spine-bending flexibility, fake!"
Though he was staggered down to his knee, he countered with an elbow that Nightwing had to block, before getting back up and throwing a kick that launched Nightwing back a bit. Black Canary took this as her opportunity to rush in with her police batons, and she tried to attack him from a variety of angles, but was frustrated by his bow and his guard blocking all her avenues of attack. As she tried increasingly to find an opening, she heard Speedy yell from behind her, "Down!"
Figuring what she intended to do, Black Canary crouched and went for his ribs, while Speedy launched two arrows that simultaneously flew towards either side of his face. The man had no way of being able to block all three attacks, and thus was struck in the cheek by an arrow as he did his best to blunt the attack coming from Black Canary. Though he was able to block most of it, it was still successful in knocking the wind out of him and forcing him back a few paces.
"What- what is he?" Speedy asked in horror as Black Canary retreated to her side. Where blood should have been dripping from the open wound, a silvery substance dripped instead, and the skin around the wound had turned silver as well.
"Not the real Arrow," Nightwing confirmed, getting back up from the earlier kick. "Like I said, this guy is a fake."
"How did you know?" the man asked Nightwing, turning his attention now to him as his wound quickly healed.
"I had my doubts from the evidence of the first robbery last night," Nightwing began to explain. "There were high amounts of silica left all over the crime scene, but what was MORE interesting was what wasn't left behind, or retrieved by the BPD: physical arrows, or any traces of metallic arrow heads.
"Furthermore, there's the deciding proof that you aren't the real Arrow: you claimed to be from the Glades in Starling City. You think that the real Arrow was Roy Harper, don't you? That's what Starling City believes, as reported by the news. But there's just one thing: Roy Harper wasn't the Arrow."
"Then who was he? And who's the Arrow? It'd be useful for the next time I play this guy."
"Sorry buddy, but no spoilers. Besides, we're not letting you impersonate anyone else ever again, so why don't you just show us what you really look like?"
"If you insist," the man chuckled, before his body began to transform right in front of the vigilantes' eyes. It churned like rough waters, and definition was lost until all that remained was the silvery outline of a man, but with a monstrous face.
"This… this is…" Black Canary muttered, not believing the transformation.
"What's your name?" Nightwing asked, his face serious.
"You know, in all the years that I've been doing this, no one's ever really given me a name," the man responded. "But I like what you said earlier. So why don't you just call me Spinebender?"
"Alright, Spinebender. Now come quietly. Last chance," Nightwing offered.
Before responding, Spinebender began changing forms again: this time, his body took on a black color. From his head were spikes that resembled a bat's ears, and from his back a patterned cape formed. Around his hands were three spikes, and around his waist was a yellow belt. As further modifications were made, Nightwing was finally struck with surprise as the familiar bat-symbol was etched into Spinebender's chest. Before Nightwing's own eyes was an image of his mentor- the Dark Knight himself.
"Maybe instead, I can teach you some manners, Batboy," Spinebender taunted.
"Sorry, but you really need to brush up on your history," Nightwing retorted. "It was never Batboy- and you're not Batman. My name's Nightwing, and you're nothing but a fake!"
Rushing in, Nightwing charged with drawn escrima sticks. Spinebender quickly reached into his utility belt and tossed some Batarangs at Nightwing, which he easily batted away with his escrima sticks. Nightwing finally reached his target, and began to strike at the impostor, trying to find an opening. As he struck this way and that, he observed from the corner of his eye that Black Canary and Speedy were simply standing where they were, still transfixed by the meta's transformation.
"Hey, when you two are done being awestruck, could you please lend me a hand here?" Nightwing yelled at them, trying to snap them out of their current states. "I'd like to say that I can take him down easily, but considering he's somehow mimicking skills as well as appearance, I'm gonna need help!"
Galvanized by Nightwing's words, Black Canary and Speedy nodded at each other, before Speedy yelled, "Keep him steady!"
Puzzled but hoping they had a strategy in mind, Nightwing kept launching attacks as Black Canary closed in from behind. Though he was expecting her to begin attacking from behind, he was surprised that she instead dove for Spinebender's legs. As Spinebender grumbled in annoyance, and as Black Canary continued to drag his leg, acting as a weight to keep him steady, Nightwing finally understood what exactly her strategy was. Tossing one of his escrima sticks in the air as a distraction, he dropped to grab onto the other leg, firmly rooting Spinebender where he stood.
"Let go of me!" Spinebender demanded.
"After you're a pin cushion!" Speedy bantered. She let loose arrow after arrow, all of them finding a home in Spinebender's back. Five arrows found their mark, and Spinebender began to transform once more, losing the definition of the Caped Crusader and returning to his generic, silvery form.
"Argh!" Spinebender yelled in pain. "Damn you!" Now in his original form, Spinebender began to morph his limbs: his left arm turned into a hammer, and his right turned into a sword. Meanwhile, his legs became as malleable as putty, and Spinebender leaped like a slinky towards Speedy with his hammer and sword arms, escaping the holds of Nightwing and Black Canary as he did so.
"Speedy!" both vigilantes yelled. Meanwhile, Speedy met the Meta with a smirk on her face, and drew an arrow from her quiver while discarding her bow at the same time. This arrow, however, was different from the others: instead of a wooden shaft and a metal head, it was simply a slender, flat blade, while the portion of the "arrow" that stuck out of her quiver- the small wooden portion with the feather- turned out to be a handle.
"What the-" both vigilantes said in absurd confusion.
Spinebender's sword arm met Speedy's blade. "Sword-Arrow," Speedy answered. "You didn't really think the Arrow's the only one with trick arrows, did you?" Meanwhile, Spinebender snarled and withdrew his sword arm, leading in with his hammer arm this time. This Speedy also parried quite well, and as Spinebender alternated with his weapon arms, Speedy demonstrated the depths of her training, parrying every strike that Spinebender could throw at her.
As Speedy defensively danced around Spinebender, Nightwing and Black Canary stood rooted to their spots. "What do we do now?" Black Canary asked. "Tell me you've got some sort of weapon to stop that… thing!"
"I'm thinking!" Nightwing responded. This was true- he racked his brains for a possible gadget in his utility belt to whip out and stop Spinebender. C'mon Dick, think! He would always have something ready- even for sharks! You've got to have something too!
Speedy, while this all transpired, was beginning to get slightly winded, growing increasingly tired by her defensive dancing. "Do you even tire out?" she asked Spinebender, who kept up his furious assault.
"Bitch, I'll stop when you're dead!" he roared, and continued swinging.
"Thought as much. Any time now, guys!" she yelled at the other two.
"Nightwing!" Black Canary implored.
"I… I…" Nightwing stammered, lost. He wasn't sure he had anything that could stop Spinebender. If he could retreat back to his loft, then maybe he could whip something up. But at this rate, there was no way all three of them could escape Spinebender- forget even the danger of letting a shape-shifter like Spinebender out of their sights.
Just when it seemed all hope was about to be lost, hope entered in a blur. Speedy, now slowing down in her fatigue, was able to block a hammer swing to her side with her blade, but was thrown a few feet in the air, landing roughly on the road. As soon as this happened, The Blur arrived, standing in between the wounded Speedy and the manic Spinebender. Without even saying a word, he began to blow out of his mouth, and Spinebender was first immobilized by the gust of air, then was beginning to freeze. In a few moments, despite a scream of desperation, the shape-shifting Meta was turned into an ice sculpture.
Nightwing and Black Canary stared first at the ice sculpture in disbelief, then The Blur in relief. "Looks like you needed help," he stated.
"Yeah, we did," Nightwing smiled. Black Canary rushed to check on Speedy, while Nightwing and The Blur walked closer to inspect the captive Spinebender. "Ah, good ol' freeze breath," Nightwing commented.
"Arctic Breath," The Blur corrected.
"Sure, kettle," Nightwing laughed.
"Now what?" The Blur asked.
"Now… I don't know. I'll contact S.T.A.R. Labs- friends of mine- and perhaps they'll be able to contain him in their running track- I mean pipeline. They should also, I hope, be able to help you find a way back to your Earth, because unfortunately, I can't help you any more than guess at how you got here."
"I've been meaning to ask: how did you get at your conclusion?"
"I learned theoretical physics when other kids were complaining about algebra. Being the son of Bruce Wayne and growing up as his ward has its perks, I guess."
"'Bruce Wayne'? I feel like I've heard the name before…"
"Perhaps one of your friends alluded to him before?"
"Maybe."
"Regardless, I'll contact rides for us so that we can get to Central City-"
Suddenly, gunshots rang out. Instinctively, Nightwing dove out of cover, and The Blur rushed over to cover Black Canary and Speedy, who were still prone on the ground. However, what Nightwing failed to realize was that they weren't the targets at all: Spinebender was.
A bullet had gone straight through his skull, and a few more had riddled his body, as well as causing cracks that separated Spinebender's head from the rest of his body, his head block sliding off with a solid thud before other parts of his body splintered off in similar ice slides. If Spinebender had been immobilized before, he was definitely dead now.
"You never did learn how to finish the job, Dick," a voice said in the distance. He wore a red mask, had a brown leather jacket, and an armored black suit, with a bat logo in red over the middle of his chest. He sheathed the twin pistols he had aimed at Spinebender, before revving up the motorcycle he was on.
"You-! Wait!" Nightwing implored.
The mysterious new man made a farewell gesture with his hand, before riding off into the darkness.
"I'll go after him," The Blur offered.
"No, don't," Nightwing said, holding out his hand in front of The Blur.
"Don't? Why not?" Black Canary asked.
"Because... he's my problem," Nightwing sighed, suddenly seeming as though he were weighed down by something. "I figured I'd run into him again… just not now."
"Then why don't you let us help you get him?" Speedy asked, now getting up.
"Because like I said, he's my problem," Nightwing said with a note of finality. Shaking his head as though he was shaking off whatever had suddenly come over him, he said, "Anyway, we need rides. I can call up some, since my Wingcycle can't carry more than two."
"Actually, we'll need to get going back to Starling," Speedy said. "Our job's done here- the Arrow case is closed."
"I see. Well, the least I can do is call you something, unless you'd rather risk hitchhiking for a ride?" Nightwing joked.
"Nah, we'd rather not chance that," Black Canary confirmed. Nightwing nodded, and touched his comm piece.
"Hey Barb! I need you to call in a WayneTech chopper to our current location," Nightwing asked.
"Sure. Bound for Starling, I bet?" Oracle asked from the other end of the line.
"Yup. Starling's masks need a ride back."
"Understood. Sending for one now. By the way, do you still need the full analysis of what you sent me? The lab stuff's done."
Nightwing looked at the remains of Spinebender at his feet, now beginning to dissolve. "That's… alright. It's not as pressing anymore."
"If you say so."
A sudden thought then struck Nightwing, and he asked, "Actually, could you please make that two? I'll need a second one headed towards Central City."
"Central City? What do you need there?"
"I'll… explain later. It's my spacey-wacey story."
"Alright… I'll be expecting that answer later, former Boy Wonder."
From there, Barbara cut the comm line between her and Nightwing, and he could only smile. As they waited around for the two helicopters to make their way to their location, the four vigilantes began exchanging their goodbyes.
"Well, this has certainly been a… fun experience," Speedy commented.
"I didn't know there were others like us outside of… well, us and the Flash," Black Canary added.
"Like I said, welcome to the wonderful world of masks," Nightwing grinned. "And if you ever need help, don't be afraid to ask. Just don't attack me first next time," he joked, offering his hand, which both of the female vigilantes shook.
Turning her attention to The Blur, Black Canary said, "I still can't believe that someone like you exists… but then again, that Spinebender guy and Barry Allen exist, so I guess there's just more to the world that I've got to know."
"Maybe we'll get to see our own- what was your name again? Clark Kent?" Speedy asked. The Blur nodded in affirmation. "Maybe we'll get to see our own Clark Kent soon."
"I doubt it," Nightwing commented. The three of them threw him a look, to which he responded defensively, "Well, our Superman's just very busy, what with the saving and all."
"Still, maybe we'll get to meet him sometime. Until then, it was nice meeting you," Speedy continued, shaking The Blur's hand. As Black Canary shook The Blur's hand, the chopper bound for Starling City arrived.
"Guess that's your ride," Nightwing pointed out.
"Genius job, Detective," Speedy snarkily remarked. She and Black Canary made for the chopper, waving farewell.
"Not detective- that's my father's title," Nightwing muttered. In a few moments, the chopper for Central City arrived, and the two other vigilantes boarded it.
- Central City -
After having arrived at Central City, the two of them checked into a hotel and rested the exhaustion of their fight with Spinebender away. Waking up in the day fully refreshed, the two of them made their way through downtown Central City, en route to S.T.A.R. Labs when the most recent weird thing happened: a giant hole in the middle of the sky appeared, and it looked like it was eating the city's buildings.
"Oh c'mon! What is this now!?" Nightwing wondered.
Hearing the familiar beep of his comm line, he clicked it and heard Oracle say from the other end, "Dick, are you in Central City right now?"
"Yup."
"Do you see the giant hole in the sky?"
"Yup."
"I suggest you get out of there in the fastest ground vehicle you can find. It's a singularity event. I'm detecting the presence of other universes in there- if you get swept up in it, who knows where you could end up?"
"Perfect."
"If I heard that correctly, your friend said that there were other universes in there?" The Blur asked Nightwing.
"Yeah, but if your super hearing picked up on what she said, she also pointed out that there was no telling where you could end up."
"Still, there's a chance I get back to my own world, right?" The Blur countered.
"I guess… You're gonna try, aren't you?"
"If it's my only way back… I have to."
Nightwing nodded, half in respect and half because he thought it was a stupid idea, and this might be the last time he'll see The Blur, so he might as well give him encouragement since he knew he couldn't discourage him. "Can you fly? You'll need to, since that hole, well, looks awfully high up."
The Blur looked at the singularity event that was gathering debris. "I can't fly… but I can run up buildings and leap onto those pieces of debris."
"Then I wish you the best of luck." Nightwing extended his hand, and The Blur shook it, before turning his attention to the singularity event. "Run, Smallville!" Nightwing cheered. And like another flash of red lightning that was streaking its way towards the singularity event, The Blur became a blur of red and blue as he raced off, first up a building, then towards the debris that were being attracted to the singularity event, before finally disappearing into the hole as The Flash seemed to as well.
Best of luck… to the both of you, Nightwing thought.
- Bludhaven -
After witnessing The Flash and The Blur disappear into the hole in the sky, Nightwing slipped out and managed to return to Central City by sunset. As he was still in his Nightwing disguise, he stuck to the alleyways and tried to avoid attracting too much attention- or at least, if he attracted attention, that it was from a brief moment. He was nearing his apartment when, all of a sudden, he was hit from behind, with a force that knocked him out cold.
- Within a dark location… -
Pain. That was all that Nightwing could remember upon waking up. His vision was still foggy, but he could definitely feel it: the pain. Two sets of strong arms holding him up as he was beat furiously by what felt like hundreds of fists assaulting him, then hundreds of knives cutting into suit, drawing blood from thick gashes to his sides and legs. As he was continued to be held, he felt surges of electricity course through his body, and all he experienced was pain.
Finally, with some semblance of consciousness forming, Nightwing looked to see a man in completely black clothing, complete with a black mask with red eyes. Also in red was a mark: a Greek Alpha symbol within a Greek Omega symbol, both of these being branded on his helmet and his chest.
"Ah. Mr. Grayson. You're finally awake," the voice finally said. It was dark and deep, completely calm and… familiar.
"Wait a second… you… I know you…" Nightwing weakly began. "You were there… after you had gassed me at Gli Amanti… you were there in the Starling City Warehouse… Asking me a question…"
"I'm surprised you remember me," the man calmly remarked, before mockingly applauding him. This was picked up and became a thunderous roar of mock applause from hundreds of hands doing the same, as well as some jeering now emanating from a crowd of masked people behind the man.
"Who… who are… you…?" Nightwing asked.
"I am the future. I am the god that will create a golden age for Bludhaven, a symbol that shall end the masks and the dangers they have brought upon their cities. Behind me stands my army- my Republic of Tomorrow. And I am perfection- I am Paragon."
"Paragon, huh? Stupid name," Nightwing tried to joke.
"Laugh while you still can, Mr. Grayson."
"You said that you wanted to end the masks… then why are you keeping me alive?"
"Because, Mr. Grayson, you are… interesting. You are hated by the Bludhaven Police and most of the city, and yet you still fight for them. You are trying to usher in your own future for Bludhaven. Only one future can prevail, so I've decided to see if you're strong enough to stand up for yours, or if you will fail your city and your future, as I expect.
"I've invited you here as a sneak peek, Mr. Grayson. The Republic of Tomorrow is growing stronger, and soon we shall bring revolution to Bludhaven. And when that day comes, I will personally unmask you, kill you, and bring about my future- the true future for Bludhaven."
Paragon nodded to the two people holding up Nightwing, and he was dragged to the edge of a platform, where he heard the sound of rushing water behind him.
"Really? You're gonna toss me over something? Very cliché," Nightwing bantered defiantly, flashing a bloody smile.
"Say what you will, this is a test," Paragon retorted. He then pulled out a knife, before swiftly embedding it in Nightwing's abdomen. "Let's see if you're strong enough to fight for your future, Mr. Grayson. There may be a next time for us. Until then- farewell!"
Thus saying, Paragon kicked the heavily wounded Nightwing off the platform, the knife still embedded in his abdomen. Nightwing eventually hit the rushing water, and as he was pulled under, his vision began to blur as his body was carried this way and that, until finally he lost consciousness once more.
A/N: Hey everyone! BKA37 here. I hope you enjoyed the second part of the "Flarrowing" crossover/the midseason finale! Now, while I could take this opportunity to take a month long midseason hiatus, I'm going to continue working on the series to make up for my random 2+ month long hiatus earlier this season. While I would like to say that this means I'll be releasing the next episode next week, I'll actually be traveling on holiday for the next three weeks, so I can't guarantee that the next episode will be up regularly on Thursdays. Regardless, I will do my best to upload the next episode as regularly as possible, or at least to upload an episode per week. So until next time, please feel free to leave me your feedback on this episode, and if there's anything you'd like to ask me- whether it be a question for clarification, a request, or something else- feel free to PM me as well. Once again, I hope you enjoyed the midseason finale. Until next time, everyone!